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In the past, the National Retail Federation has surveyed shoppers about a variety of topics, from technology to personalization. This year’s study?
Expectations. What exactly are people expecting to get out of a retailer when they begin moving toward a transaction? The survey of 30,000 respondents from 16 countries focused on apparel, luxe brands, shoes, consumer electronics, personal care and home merchandise showed that they are fully ready to tear down the walls between the physical and the digital. The top five things consumers anticipate from retailers are:
- Price consistency
- In-store, the ability to locate an out-of-stock item and get it to the customer at home
- The ability to track order status
- Consistent assortment of products
- The ability to return in-store items bought online
These items are steadfast, holding up throughout all 16 countries and across all generations and income brackets.
A few other relevant details: The march toward shopping digitally continues apace. In 2012, people made 87% of their purchases in store—but that number dropped to 72% last year. Amazon’s growth rate is 33%, a number not many stores can match. There has been plenty of conversation around showrooming, in which consumers go to a store to see but then you buy online, but that trend only grew from 6% to 8% of purchases.
Not surprisingly, social is also a big buzzword. The survey found that 33% of people post about what they buy, and 53% visit a social-media site more than once a day. Another 43% of consumers post about their experience buying something at a retailer. But friends still rule when it comes to influencing purchases; 59% of respondents consider their friends to be the top source of advice for buys.
That said, people still want to hear from and talk to retailers. Fifty-two percent of people still find theirs emails relevant. And people willing to share their location went from 19% in 2011 up to 36% to 2013, as long as they get an offer or something else back.
Another 38% said they were willing to share their mobile number with retailers. In fact, not only did respondents think that was okay, some wondered why businesses aren’t already asking for their digits.


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YouTube has launched 4K live streaming for 360-degree videos and standard videos, enabling content creators to stream “incredibly” high-resolution clips.
“The image quality is just mind-blowing on screens that support it, and in 360 degrees … the clarity can truly transport you,” senior product manager Kurt Wilms said in a blog post.
“4K video isn’t just a little different from HD video; it’s a giant leap. It shows 8 MILLION pixels total, with an image that has four times more image definition than even 1080p video. What does this mean in real world terms? Live streams look better, show a more detailed, crisper picture, and aren’t as blurry when there’s fast action on screen. Basically, 4K makes everything better to look at. And because we support 4K at up to 60 frames per second, creators can make content that looks silky smooth, and more realistic than ever before.”
YouTube added 360 degree technology to the platform last year and 360-degree live streaming this past April. Combined with 4K, 360-degree streaming should be spectacular.
If you want more information on how to stream in 4K, head on over to this Help Center article.

domain: news


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The County Government of Uasin Gishu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Afex Fair Trade Limited to purchase maize from farmers across the county through cooperative societies.
The MoU was signed by the county through the Department of Cooperative and Enterprise Development on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
Speaking on Tuesday, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Cooperative and Enterprise Development Ms. Esther Mutai said the county will oversee the agreement as outlined in the MOU to ensure the terms of engagement are fair to the parties and farmers.
Several farmers’ cooperatives across the county also signed the agreement.
Among the cooperative societies that signed the MoU were, Mateeny Farmers’ Cooperative, Kaptait farmers’ cooperative, Lemook farmers’ cooperative, Tuiyotich Farmers’ cooperative, Borotet Union, Takawa Farmers’ Cooperative, and Ndubeneti farmers’ cooperative.
The MoU comes as a major boost to farmers – especially those that are unable to deliver their produce to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
Maize farmers have in the past also faced a challenge of lack of market for their produce, something that will be a thing of the past with the latest MoU with the Afex Fair Trade Limited.
Afex Fair Trade Limited (Kenya) is an organization that offers various services to small-scale farmers and cooperatives. The company currently has its warehouses in Moi’s Bridge, Jua Kali in Turbo Sub County, and Moiben Sub County.


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ORLEN opens up to e-fuelling
Electric car quick recharging points will appear at the ‘star’ service stations in Germany, with similar facilities also to be installed at the ORLEN Group’s stations in Poland and the Czech Republic later this year. This has been made possible thanks to PKN ORLEN’s collaboration with Tesla, a US-based manufacturer of electric cars and a leader in quick charging technologies.
The first recharging points will come into service by the end of August 2015 at ORLEN Deutschland’s ‘star’ service stations. The stations located in Grimmen (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and Uckerfelde (Brandenburg), near the border with Poland, are currently being equipped by Tesla with the world’s fastest charging ports, which can be used by four vehicles simultaneously. With these ‘Supercharger’ points, Tesla Model S cars can be recharged for free in less than 30 minutes, which gives them a range of as much as 270 kilometres. A 40-minute session will charge the battery up to 80%, and a 75-minute one will enable a full charge. With a fully-charged battery, the car’s range is 460 kilometres.
For many years, we have kept a close eye on the latest trends and developed innovative business segments. Without a doubt, the manufacture of emission-free and low-emission vehicles is a trend gaining more and more traction in the global automotive industry. Our partnership with Tesla, a leading manufacturer of electric cars, is our way of adapting to the changes ahead. Marking the next step in securing our competitive advantage, it is also a friendly gesture towards our customers, who value alternative mobile solutions which protect natural resources - said Marek Podstawa, Member of the PKN ORLEN Management Board, Sales.
Analyses are being carried out to launch pilot recharging stations in Poland and the Czech Republic, with final decisions due by the end of this year.
Worldwide sales of electric vehicles amount to about 300,000 per year, and the global charging network already consists of close to 100,000 stations, including 22,000 in Europe. According to experts, global annual sales in the segment are expected to reach 7 million in 2020 (10% of total passenger car sales), and the network of charging stations will expand to several million.


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Technology giants Microsoft completed the purchase of Swedish game developers Mojang, famous for giving the world Minecraft, for $2.5 billion.
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Minecraft recreates all of Denmark
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Minecraft to become a movie
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'Minecraft' dev says 'Scrolls' might go free-to-play
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School of Management faculty question theories and bring new perspectives to pressing challenges. Here are recent insights they’ve generated around eco-friendly business practices.
Researcher: Aditya Vedantam
His discovery: As fashion brands make more green claims, Vedantam’s study is the first to quantify the profitability and environmental impact of two popular resale strategies.
Why it matters: By 2023, the secondhand apparel market will exceed $50 billion in revenue, according to ThredUp.
Researcher: Feng (Jack) Jiang
His discovery: Personal experience with extreme weather affects how corporate directors perceive climate risk and, in turn, shapes the company’s sustainability policy.
Why it matters: Customers are demanding action from brands—and corporate boards play a critical role in setting those policies.
Researcher: Cristian Tiu
His discovery: When universities adopt responsible investing policies, endowment performance may be constrained, but donations go up, offsetting any negative performance.
Why it matters: Responsible investments do not inhibit endowment growth—and, in fact, increase a university’s value by fostering more research and attracting students.
Researchers: Vedantam, Nallan Suresh and Khadija Ajmal
Their discovery: The amount of U.S. plastic going to landfill is up 23.2% since China enacted its National Sword policy in 2017.
Why it matters: Plastics pollute our waterways—but with the creation of the New York State Center for Plastic Recycling Research and Innovation, UB is poised to be part of the solution.
Researcher: Richard Kraude
His discovery: Vertically integrated companies tend to produce less waste than other firms—with no corresponding decrease in carbon emissions, however.
Why it matters: Sustainability is a nuanced issue, and consumers must look beyond packaging and advertising to see how a company truly impacts the environment.


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What you need to know:
- Many government-owned enterprises lost competitiveness as a result of thinking that they are too big to fail.
A Nigerian advert is stoking controversy on Africa’s priorities.
In this CNN advert, a wealthy-looking woman explains the importance of wearing masks. Poverty-stricken children try on the expensive glassy-looking brand of mask.
In the background is the advert with the message that for 2,299 Naira, the protective gear will be delivered to your doorstep by Universal Parcel Service (UPS).
The problem is that from the advertising medium to the product and the courier service, nothing is Nigerian, except the consumers. Strangely, UPS is preferred over Nigerian Postal Service (Nipost) which offers parcel services, e-commerce and logistics, financial services, mails, counters, and even a training school.
My quick research shows that Nigeria is endowed with locally manufactured masks, but many such adverts have a subtle message – local is poor quality – and could not possibly be legitimate. This narrative is similar across the continent where imports and foreign companies are given preference by consumers over local establishments.
Neither government nor the people have risen to demand that local money remains local for the greater benefit of the communities. Indeed, governments in Africa are the first culprits in undermining local circulation of money to sustain local economies.
Most government parcels are carried by private enterprises. Why? Because many of the government-owned enterprises lost competitiveness as a result of thinking that they are too big to fail or do anything as mundane as delivering an urgent parcel to a customer on time.
Unfortunately, every other postal service on the continent harbours the same mentality. As a result, they have lost the trust and confidence of the people. Despite the many opportunities these enterprises have to share ideas, they seem not to understand that they are in dire straits.
Instead of thinking innovation, many of them seek support from their governments.
They are losing their lunch to new, digital and nimble courier companies, which now use digital to deliver bills and other documentation to their clients. What they refer to as innovation are models discussed at Universal Postal Union that more often than not alienate the true customer who now finds private courier services responsive to their needs.
It is becoming difficult to make the case for postal services in Africa as a strategy to sustain local economies. When Posta Kenya tried to persuade the National Assembly to make it mandatory for companies to have letterboxes before registration, the office of the registrar of companies swiftly opposed the move as retrogressive in the digital era and could claw back gains made in the ease of doing business in Kenya.
A quick survey on the role of Postal services revealed serious responses that policymakers need to be aware of. The majority of generation Z have no idea what the role of the postal service is and those who are older see no reason for visiting a postal office.
However, many of the respondents have used different courier companies, including global ones.
As bad as it looks, all is not lost. Some postal services could claw back their glory. In Kenya for example, by March 2020, the number of courier companies as per the Communications Authority of Kenya’s register were 253 and growing.
Due to the spread of broadband, many cities, municipalities and towns are becoming convinced that many other services can be overlaid on the existing infrastructure to create a nationwide e-commerce infrastructure for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The state must relinquish its control over these giant corporations through privatisation or corporatisation to make them viable enterprises. If the new organisation creates an agency network throughout the country, it will attract other organisations like telecommunication companies to sell their product.
It will perhaps be the best model, given that there may not be any redundancies of staff. Their roles, however, could change.
Their first task is to understand the growing number of digital customers and begin to leverage technology to build trust. The idea of leveraging local services and goods is critical to economic growth.
Research shows that when money circulates locally, it has positive economic effects, including: helping small businesses to be sustainable, create local jobs and a sense of community.
We need to learn from other communities. A study, Asians keep a dollar in their community 120 times longer than African Americans, by Nicole Kenney, an economic programme specialist with National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) established that:
“A dollar circulates in Asian communities for a month, in Jewish communities approximately 20 days and white communities 17 days. How long does a dollar circulate in the black community? 6 hours!!! African American buying power is at 1.1 Trillion; and yet only 2 cents of every dollar an African American spends in this country goes to black owned businesses.”
When we import foreign goods, promote them in foreign media and courier the goods with foreign entity, there isn’t a coin left circulating for our MSMEs to be sustainable.


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The New York Times printed an article (which I hear is on the front page) saying things were GETTING BETTER IN IRAQ and THE SURGE WORKED!!!! Please pull out your winter coats and send them to Hell--- it has frozen over!
I am amazed that I am actually writing this, but I am going to say this is a must read article.
The surge appears to have worked
People are returning to homes
Liquor stores are open (proving that the Islamic Extremist are not running everything)
People are returning to work
People are staying out past dark


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I read with great interest earlier, this BBC News article about the Coalition Government's plans to bring in a minimum price for alcohol in England and Wales.
In the Coalition Agreement, it was stated that: "We will ban the sale of alcohol below cost price". Ministers are now fleshing out their proposals to make this a reality.
It will work by banning shops and bars from selling drinks for less than the tax paid on them. It is hoped that this will send a signal that the Government is clamping down on the sale of extortionately cheap alcohol.
As the Home Office released table below shows, it works out that a 4.2% can of lager will not be able to be sold for less than 38p, whilst a beer must be sold at about 21p per unit and 28p per spirits which equates to £10.71 for a litre of 37.5% vodka.
The BBC however reports that Professor Ian Gilmore, of the Royal College of Physicians stated on Radio 4 that this isn't enough. He said: "It's a step in the right direction but I have to say, it's an extremely small step. It will have no impact whatsoever on the vast majority of cheap drinks sold in supermarkets."
Health campaigners have backed a higher minimum price of 50p per unit minimum to take into account also the cost of production and therefore likewise believe that this initial step doesn't go far enough.
Supermarkets Vs Public Houses
Personally, I'm very pleased to see this planned introduction and see it very much as a 'starting point'.
I've always been greatly frustrated at how cheaply supermarkets often sell alcohol - often delibereately sold as a 'loss leader'.
I've personally been of the opinion that pubs around the locality here in Cardigan and Ceredigion and further afield have often been unfairely tarnished and accused of fueling under-age drinking and irresponsible, anti-social behaviour. Whilst there are no doubt some that do flout the licensing laws, I personally find, as a member of Ceredigion County Council's Licensing Committee, that the vast majority of licensees are responsible and have many safeguards to ensure that all of those who drink in their taverns are legally old enough to do so and do not do so to excess.
For me, it's the ability to buy drinks (or get your friends to buy drinks) at a cheap rate from the local off-license that can often lead to more problems. Again, the vast majority of off-licenses work within the law but if you're a 15 year old wanting to drink a bottle of cider, it's going to be much easier and cheaper to get an older friend to buy the alcohol to drink off the premises than it would be to drink a pint of it, on the premises.
A Step in the Right Direction
So a minimum alcohol pricing policy is certainly a move in the right direction in my mind.
Does it go far enough? Maybe not. But then, introducing such a scheme in itself is a bold move which the previous Labour Government failed to do so we shouldn't expect to make the leap that some capaigners want in one fail swoop.
But by introducing the principle of a minimum alcohol price, it will make it much easier in future to use this as an additional means to try and clamp down on anti-social drinking.
It isn't a one size fits all remedy of course. It is only one component of a much wider strategy that needs to focus on this detrimental aspect of modern living.
But will it make a positive difference? Despite what some may say, I believe it will and I welcome it.


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Two Vietnamese Named in Southeast Asian Top Ten Youngest Billionaires
|Vietnam’s richest man may enter world's top 50 billionaire list|
|Six Vietnamese billionaires make Forbes 2021 world’s richest list|
|Vietnamese billionaires’ worth up by $500 mln as stock market scales new high|
|Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao (Photo: BStyle)|
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao
Asset: USD 2,4 billion
Thao is a Vietnamese businesswoman and the President and CEO of VietJet Air. Phuong Thao met with early success while studying finance and economics in Moscow, where she began distributing goods from Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea in the then Soviet Union.
Since then she has developed a portfolio of business interests, including VietJet and Sovico Holdings, that itself holds a 90 percent stake in Ho Chi Minh City's Dragon City development. She ranked 62nd in the list of Power Women 2016. She is listed in Asia's 50 Power Businesswomen 2016. She is Vietnam's first self-made woman billionaire after she took her budget airline, VietJet Air, public in February 2017, according to People Hill.
She holds two bachelor's degrees in financial credit management and labor economics at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics and a doctoral degree in economic management at the D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia.
|Ho Hung Anh. (Photo: Zing)|
Ho Hung Anh
Asset: USD 2,2 billion
Ho Hung Anh is chairman of Techcombank, a large commercial bank in Vietnam that went public in June 2018. Ho and fellow billionaire Nguyen Dang Quang, whom he met while studying in Russia, are two close business partners whose interests are intertwined.
Ho started investing in Techcombank, in which Nguyen was already an investor, in 1995. They took control in 2006. Together they control two big listed companies, Masan Group and Techcombank, a commercial bank, through Masan JSC, a holding company that they co-own.
|David Cheng (Photo: SEA)|
Asset: USD 3,1 billion
David Chen is a cofounder of Singapore-headquartered gaming and e-commerce firm SEA, best known for its hit mobile game, Free Fire. He's the chief product officer of Shopee, the e-commerce unit of the NYSE-listed company. Previously he was Sea's chief operating officer and chief of staff.
Chen co-founded Sea in 2009 with Forrest Li and Gang Ye, both of whom are also billionaires. A computer engineer, Chen worked with Temasek-owned port operator PSA Corp before becoming an entrepreneur, according to Forbes.
David holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering with first-class honors from the National University of Singapore, said SEA.
|Gang Ye. (Photo: South China Morning Post)|
Asset: USD 10,2 billion
Gang Ye is SEA's co-founder and has been a member of the board of directors of our company since March 2010. Gang has served as our group chief operating officer since January 2017 and served as our group chief technology officer between March 2010 and December 2016. He previously worked at Wilmar International and the Economic Development Board of Singapore.
Gang holds B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Economics from Carnegie Mellon University.
|Forest Li (Photo: Good News from Southeast Asia)|
Asset: USD 15,8 billion
Born in Tianjin, China, Li emigrated to Singapore shortly after earning a degree in engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong University, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Stanford grad Forrest Li founded and runs an online gaming firm and e-commerce firm Sea, which also has interests in e-payments and financial services, according to Forbes
Li entered the ranks of Singapore's richest, after listing Sea on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2017. Backed by Tencent, which now has a 20% stake, Sea's other investors include private equity firm General Atlantic and Robert Kuok's son Kuok Khoon Hua.
|Niti Osathanugrah. (Photo: Minor)|
Asset: USD 1,4 billion
Niti Osathanugrah gets a chunk of his wealth from a stake in Osotspa, his family's 130-year-old maker of popular energy drink M-150. The company, which was listed in 2018, is run by his cousin Petch, who is an avid art collector.
Niti also has valuable stakes in fellow billionaire William Heinecke's Minor International, Central Plaza Hotel, and Home Product Center, said Minor.
Niti holds a Master of Arts in Economic Law, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, Amherst College, USA.
|Photo: Bangkok Post|
Asset: USD 1,7 billion
Vonnarat Tangkaravakoon is the eldest son of Prachak Tangkaravakoon, who chairs TOA Paint (Thailand), Thailand's biggest paints company.
Vonnarat became a billionaire after the backdoor listing of his cable and wire firm, Stark Corporation, in 2019. Vonnarat also owns a stake in TOA Paint (Thailand).
TOA Paint has three plants in Thailand, plus factories in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Cambodia. His brother Nattavuth runs the family's investment arm, TOA Venture Holding.
|Tan Yu Yeh (R). (Photo: Rojak Daily)|
Tan Yu Yeh
Asset: USD 1,5 billion
Tan Yu Yeh gets his wealth from his stake in Mr. D.I.Y, a home improvement retail chain, which he founded in 2005. The company was listed on the Malaysian stock exchange in October 2020 making him and his brother, Tan Yu Wei, both billionaires.
Mr. D.I.Y has 684 stores in Malaysia and four stores in Brunei. D.I.Y stores are typically 10,000 square feet and carry products across ten categories including electrical items, stationery, and toys. Tan worked as an engineer and then as a remisier before setting up his home improvement venture.
|Zhang Yong (Photo: Doanh nhan Sai Gon)|
Asset: USD 11,6 billion
China's richest restaurateur, Zhang Yong is chairman of Sichuan hotpot chain Haidilao, which went public in September 2018. Haidilao now has $3.8 billion in sales from 768 restaurants, mostly in China but also in the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
Haidilao is renowned for its spicy dishes and attentive customer service, including offering free manicures for waiting customers. Having never finished high school, the budding entrepreneur says he didn't even know how to prepare the typical Sichuan hotpot when he started.
Three friends, including one who became his wife, helped with seed money, but he ran the place.
|Tan Eng Kee. (Photo: The Star)|
Tan Eng Kee
Asset: USD 1,2 billion
Tan Eng Kee is the co-founder and CEO of Malaysia-listed Greatech Technology, a maker of factory automation equipment. He set up the company in 1997 with his school buddy, Khor Lean Heng, who's the company's COO.
Greatech's customers include EV makers, solar energy producers, and semiconductor companies. The company, which was listed in 2019, has eight factories and a testing facility in the U.S., one of its biggest markets.
|Who is Billionaire’s daughter-in-law accused of killing police officer in Belize |
Canadian socialite, Jasmine Hartin, was transferred to the Belize Central Prison on Tuesday, after being charged with killing police officer, Henry Jemmott.
|UK billionaire’s daughter-in-law charged after police officer death |
Jasmine Hartin, daughter-in-law of British-Belizean billionaire Michael Ashcroft, has been charged with manslaughter by negligence.
|With assests rising sharply, more tycoons join Vietnam's top richest list |
The assets of the richest people in Vietnam have risen sharply in recent times, as any tycoons have earned huge recently.


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geneve - The World Health Organization (WHO) says a report of processed and red meat last week is misinterpreted. The UN organization now adds that she does not ask if people want to stop eating processed meat.
The organization warned in the report for the meat and reported that each year 34 000 people die from cancer because they eat lots of processed meat. Red meat is probably responsible for 50 000 deaths per year.
" We are not saying that you should completely stop eating meat. Remove flesh from your menu as it has nutritional value ", WHO spokesman Gregory Härtl told The Irish Times. " We just want something not too much done. Research shows that reducing the consumption of processed meat can reduce the risk of colon cancer. "


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Vegan Yogurt Market Growth & Trends
The global vegan yogurt market size is expected to reach USD 6.5 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 18.9%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising importance of plant-based food in developed economies of North America and Europe as a result of growing popularity of vegan nutrition products among health conscious consumers is expected to be a key driving force. Furthermore, growing concerns regarding lactose intolerance on a global level have paved the way for milk alternatives such as vegan yogurt over the next few years.
Vegan yogurt is sold in various flavors including raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, vanilla, peach, lime, macchiato, salted caramel, lemon, cherry, chocolate, mango, rhubarb, pear, fig, kiwi, blackberry, kiwi, banana, pineapple, acai, apple, cinnamon, maple, chia, granola, pina colada, hibiscus, and date. While a number of flavors are being introduced in the market, the plain version is among the most preferred variants. It offers the option to add toppings like fresh fruits, nuts, or condiments based on personal preferences. Plain yogurt helps in moderating sugar intake depending on the requirements. Manufacturers have been taking these trends into consideration and have been launching products with low-profile flavors. Vegan yogurt with less than five grams of added sugar has been known to be preferred among consumers.
Some companies have been exhibiting a conscious effort to create environment friendly products. In January 2019, Yofix Probiotics Ltd. launched a dairy-free yogurt that is also free from soy, almond, and cashew, all of which require a great amount of water. The production process is designed to ensure zero waste and thus, the raw materials utilized in production remain in the final product. This vegan product is, therefore, environment friendly as well.
The manufacturing process for vegan yogurt has been undergoing rapid technological transformations. Most plant-based yogurts are made using starter culture developed in dairy products. In a research conducted in January 2020 by the Technical University of Denmark in collaboration with Carlsberg, Naturli’, and Novozymes, the researchers discovered that lactic acid bacteria can be used to create starter culture. Another production method used in the industry is the Bio 5 formula. Yofix Probiotics Ltd. uses this method, which lends vegan yogurt the texture and stability of conventional variants.
Vegan Yogurt Market Report Highlights
- The soy segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2019 by contributing 47.1% of the global revenue and is expected to maintain the dominance over the forecast period. The dominance is attributed to the lower cost of the product in comparison to most available alternatives in the market
- Rice is anticipated to be the fastest growing product segment, witnessing growth at a CAGR of 19.8% from 2020 to 2027. The product has been gaining popularity among customers as rice milk is considered to be the least allergenic milk amongst all the dairy milk alternatives
- The hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2019 and is expected to maintain the dominance over the forecast period owing to the availability of large grocery stores chain across the globe with a large customer base
- Europe dominated the market and held a share of 51.3% of the global revenue in 2019. Positive outlook towards plant-based foods in Western European countries including Germany, France, and Italy is expected to have a positive impact on the market.


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Tesla recalls 123,000 Model S vehicles over power-steering faultMarch 30, 2018
New York, (UNA-OIC) – Tesla is recalling 123,000 of its best-selling Model S vehicles due to problems with its power-steering mechanism, the electric vehicle manufacturer told customers in an email Thursday.
The voluntary recall – the widest yet by billionaire Elon Musk’s company – affects models of the luxury sedan built before April 2016.
Tesla determined that in colder climates, power-steering bolts could corrode excessively, making steering more difficult.
There were no risks to safety and customers could continue to drive their cars, Tesla said. There were no known accidents or injuries linked to the fault, the company added.
On Tuesday, Tesla stocks dropped sharply after the US government announced it was investigating a fatal crash involving a Model X SUV last week.
The car hit the median strip of a road in the Californian city of Mountain View and flipped before being hit by oncoming vehicles. The male driver later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Source: International Islamic News Agency


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A Measly 1 in 4 Small Business Approve of Biden's Economy
Some even say it is time the Biden administration takes blame...
The United State’s economic conditions and the route which the Biden administration is taking to fix it have left citizens with a bitter taste. Not only are citizens hating the economic conditions alone, but the citizens actually back the idea of a domestic fossil fuel infrastructure.
27% of small business owners agreed the economy was in “good” or “excellent” condition according to a poll released today by a Job Creators Network Foundation. The poll began a year ago and provides figures which represent the lowest economic outlook among small business owners since that time. The findings also show that businesses that employed fewer than 20 workers have shown the most negative economic outlook.
“While the Biden administration is touting a ‘small business boom’ and misdirecting the public, our polling shows without a doubt that Main Street is suffering. Small businesses are having a difficult time grappling with persistently high inflation, disruptive supply chain problems, and labor shortages - not to mention the threat of higher taxes and government red tape. It’s time for the White House to stop playing the blame game and take some responsibility.”
Job Creators Network Foundation president Elaine Parker, Job Creators Network Foundation president, said in a statement.
One of the surprising figures is that 90% of the business owners said the United States should be boosting domestic manufacturing in an effort to decrease foreign reliance on imports. The Job Creators Network Foundation poll also showed that 77% of small business owners support expanding domestic oil and natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
The small businesses claimed this would be the most helpful to create jobs, improve the economy, and address domestic supply chain issues.
57% added that they would need to make operational adjustments soon to stay afloat.
According to the first Job Creators Network Foundation poll released in 2021, 35% of small business owners predicted Biden’s economic and tax policies would help them while 42% claimed they would hurt.
The poll surveyed 500 small businesses from April 5 to April 28 and had a margin of error of 4.4%.


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Unfortunately, this is true.
There are places in the world where Guns are sold like Roses.
In Pakistan there is one such market. – Darra Adam Khel
It is a market thriving on regular demand from anti-social elements.
It boasts a Gun Market with Gun Smiths !
Image Courtesy – Al Arabiya
Image Courtesy – Al Jazeera
Guns being an integral part of terror driven agendas, its rather unfortunate that we have such markets thriving. One can hear gun shots being fired by the buyers testing the products and shop owners showcasing their latest arrivals.
Darra Adam Khel is governed by Pakistan government centrally.
However, in 2018 Pakistan parliament passed a law which made Darra Adam Khel part of another neighboring province.
This should ensure micro management and governance much required at such a place.
Hoping that this step brings a change and Government of Pakistan accommodates the tribal workers in alternate professions.
Unless this is done, it will always be the innocents that become victims of such activities.
Below image is of a Suicide blast victim that happened in the area.
Image Courtesy – The Nation


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A new gadget from the smartphone giant, Google, could make it easier for people to print photos and documents on their phones.
The device is a mini-photography printer, and it can be attached to any smartphone that supports Google Glass.
The printer itself is a small piece of metal that can attach to a smartphone’s frame.
Once attached, the printer can print out photos, documents, and other digital files.
The Google Glass-enabled phone could then scan the photos and print them out on the printer.
The printing could then be shared with someone who’s using Google Glass, or someone else who has the device, so that other people could see and print photos on the device.
The feature isn’t limited to smartphones.
The camera of the new printer is also capable of printing photos in 3D, so Google can also add support for the feature in the future.
We’ve also heard rumors that Google Glass could also support a printing feature that works with photos.
Google says that the feature will be “available soon,” but Google Glass isn’t currently in production.
We’ll have to wait until the Google Glass 2 to see if Google Glass 3 is ready for prime time.
Read next: How to take photos with your Android Wear watch and take them with a phone


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New Rules Create Potential for "Drone Economy" In Nebraska
By Jack Williams , Managing Editor and Reporter Nebraska Public Media News
Oct. 12, 2016, 6:45 a.m. ·
Listen To This Story
A new set of federal regulations is making it a lot easier for drone operators to make money and could also open up a whole new economy in Nebraska. Now local drone enthusiasts say they’re thinking about new businesses that could turn their hobby into cash.
For most people who own drones, those small, unmanned aircraft you probably see buzzing around your local park on the weekends, they’re nothing more than a hobby, a fun way to take pictures and video from the air.
But thanks to new federal guidelines released at the end of August, there’s a good chance you’ll soon see more drones in the air making money.
Drone operators at a meet-up in Omaha talk about new federal regulations and test. (Photo by Jack Williams, NET News)
It’s now much easier and cheaper to fly drones commercially in Nebraska, which could mean the start of what some are calling the drone economy.
At a busy restaurant in Omaha, Ryan Baker and four other drone enthusiasts have gathered around a table. They’re discussing a new drone exam, called the Part 107 test, that will make the process of flying a drone commercially a lot smoother.
“It’s definitely a very doable test and I think compared to the old regulations with the Section 333 and having to have a pilot’s license, it’s a lot more attainable,” said Baker, who took and passed the Part 107 test about a month ago. “I mean, $150 to take the test is pretty cheap.”
The Federal Aviation Administration released its new regulations for commercial drone operations on August 29, and within the first 15 days, more than 5,000 people took the exam, with an 88-percent pass rate. The 60-question, multiple-choice test takes about two hours.
Across town at Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Dustin Shropshire is maneuvering his drone over a nearby lake. The craft has four small rotors and a stabilized camera that takes video and still pictures.
“So right near you, you can definitely hear it, but once it gets up a little way, you’re not really bothering anybody with the sound too much,” Shropshire said, as the drone buzzes about 50 feet above him.
He’s a surveyor by trade and is studying for his Part 107 exam. He’d eventually like to use his drone as part of his job.
“I’m really interested in comparing the data to traditional methods. So go out and fly a piece of property and then have my survey crews go out and topo that property through either our GPS or our robotic station methods and kind of compare them and see how accurate they are to each other,” he said. “I think that will help me decide a final application that I would like to use it for.”
Drones have come a long way over the past few years. Instead of cheap plastic toys, today’s drones are much sturdier, with longer battery life, GPS and the ability to carry an array of sensors that can be used for many different commercial applications.
The Part 107 test and a new set of rules for unmanned aircraft systems could be the start of a new commercial drone reality.
David Silchman owns Nebraska Flight Center in Omaha. It’s one of a handful of FAA testing centers in Nebraska.
David Silchman, owner of Nebraska Flight Center in Omaha, an FAA testing center. (Photo by Jack Williams, NET News)
He’s seen a steady stream of people come in to take the Part 107 exam and says most of them pass on the first try. It’s a lot easier than the old rules that required commercial drone operators to have private pilot’s licenses and complicated exemptions from the FAA.
“The drone movement is here. There is no way the government can stop it,” Silchman said. “I believe that the best they can do is regulate it and help the people who want to do it right, do it right.”
The FAA predicts there will be 600,000 commercial drones in the air within a year. The federal government says commercial drones could generate over $82 billion for the U.S. economy over the next decade and support 100,000 new jobs by 2025.
Surrounded by half-assembled drones and drone parts, Matt Waite feels like he’s on the front edge of something big. He’s a professor of journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the founder of the Drone Journalism Lab there.
“There is now a clear, a clear and unambiguous path, to somebody using a drone to make money,” Waite said. “107 makes it not the Wild West anymore. There is actually territorial law now and we can sort of move forward from there now.”
He says whether people like it or not, commercial drones are here to stay and they’re soon going to be a regular part of life, whether it’s through the delivery of goods by companies like Amazon or drones buzzing over fields in Nebraska, using sensors to analyze soil or gauge plant stress.
Matt Waite, professor of journalism and drone policy expert at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. (Photo by Jack Williams, NET News)
“You can’t un-ring the bell. These devices are here,” Waite said. “We’ve miniaturized computerization and processing power and batteries to such a point that a small flying device that can stay in the air for a useful enough period of time is just a part of the deal now.”
Waite says along with a smoother path for commercial drone operators comes major concerns about things like drone safety, privacy and a big one, private property rights.
“Drones are going to directly jump into that private property place that we haven’t gone to because we haven’t had to,” he said. “We’re going to have to answer the question of where does your control of airspace above your property stop and where does the public street that is the skies begin?”
The new Part 107 rules also restrict commercial operators to daytime flights within line of sight, flying lower than 400 feet and using drones that are less than 55 pounds.
They’re rules commercial drone operators say they’re willing to live with as a new era of flight opens up for them and thousands of others.
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February 6, 2018
Union Station by JP's grand opening set for March 1
Housing and Dining Services announces the grand opening of Union Station by JP's will be March 1.
The JP's brand is bringing its same great food and service to the K-State Student Union with its new gastropub concept. Located on the first floor of the Union, Union Station by JP's offers excellent views, seating for more than 150, elevated outdoor patio seating and a unique menu of handcrafted items.
Join the department for the grand opening from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, March 1. A short presentation, ribbon cutting and tours of the gastropub will be followed by samples of its menu. At 5 p.m. the gastropub will open for normal business to the K-State campus and Manhattan community.
Union Station's menu was developed around its state-of-the art smoker, which allows it to smoke a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables and other chef specials. With locally sourced meats and cheeses from Weber and Call halls and freshly baked goods from Housing and Dining Services' Bakery, guests will be able to get a real "taste of K-State." Brick oven artisan pizzas also will be on the menu, along with house-made items like herb- and roasted-garlic-infused olive oil, salad dressings and more.
There's a new spot that you'll love full well and that's Union Station by JP's. With free parking after 5 p.m. and on weekends, Union Station will bring the Manhattan and campus communities together for great food and great service.
Spread the word about the upcoming grand opening through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for a chance to win an invitation to a soft opening during the last week in February.


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The Geneva Motor Show 2015 has given us so many cars to drool at. Not all of them will be seen here in Pakistan, in fact, one or two, if we’re lucky but there is something in the grand show that would interest us, the Pakistanis.
Toyota has revealed a MMC of the current generation Corolla in an animated video. The video shows the new road safety assistance systems that will be equipped in the Corolla. Further, seen in the video is a revamped front with new headlamps, chrome grill and a new bumper. The rear has unnoticeable changes, if there are any.
It is reported via a source that the company had finalized a facelift for the Corolla prior to the introduction of the current generation model because the management at Toyota think that they are slow in revealing facelifts as compared to their counterparts.
Earlier, we reported the reveal of the Corolla Hybrid in China which carried similar changes as the one seen in the animated video. This means, Toyota would announce the Corolla facelift or the Corolla Hybrid in any of the forthcoming Asian Motor shows this year.
Below is the video that Toyota played at the Geneva:


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The new paid search ad platform will be piloted in limited markets later this year.
Following several days of media hype predicting MSN's imminent launch its own pay-per-click ad network, Microsoft today will reveal more modest plans. The company will demonstrate a prototype of a new paid search advertising platform at an event for ad clients in Redmond.
At the sixth annual MSN Strategic Account Summit, Microsoft plans to show off to 500 of its top customers the new MSN adCenter, a platform that will eventually be used for ads throughout its network. The first component of adCenter is the paid search piece, which will be piloted within the next six months in Singapore and France to gather customer feedback. Eventually it will be launched worldwide.
"We're rolling out the pilots to demonstrate and learn what value software can add to the search platform," said Eric Hadley, senior director of advertising and marketing for MSN. "Right now, everybody thinks search is just about clicks, but it's about more than that. It's about connection with the customer."
The platform promises in-depth analytics and audience intelligence, including geographic location, gender, age group, lifestyle segment and time of day. Advertisers will be able to access this information before placing their ad, so they will know what to expect before launching their campaign.
"This will really help drive ROI and the effective results of a search campaign beyond just knowing if somebody clicked on it, but to know if someone is likely to click on it. We think that's a huge step forward in this category," Hadley said.
While the full-scale deployment of the platform is not likely to happen before the end of the year, MSN is getting some early praise for providing advertisers with more control over their campaigns.
"Microsoft has laid out a roadmap for a product that looks to be a leap forward," said Fredrick Marckini, CEO of iProspect. "By raising the bar, we're likely to see Google and Yahoo raising the bar to keep up."
Providing advertisers with more variables for targeting will potentially make campaigns more efficient, Marckini said. For MSN, an unintended side effect of increasing efficiency may be to reduce revenue -- with fewer wasted clicks, advertisers pay less for the same number of qualified clicks.
"Having inefficiency in search is a moneymaker," Marckini explained. "But improving efficiency by doing what's technologically possible, despite it being slightly less profitable in the very short term, is real long-term thinking because great results will ultimately attract more advertiser dollars."
"Advertisers are looking for control, and one thing is clear, Microsoft is looking to provide advertisers with more control," added Kevin Lee, executive chairman of Did-it.com.
MSN's agreement with Yahoo to provide ads alongside its search results is set to expire in June 2006. MSN renewed the deal in November, extending the three-year-old agreement, which previously ran through June 2005.
A key element of the new deal allows Microsoft to begin selling and displaying its own ads on search results pages, a move that allows it to begin ramping up its ad sales program while still maintaining service levels and garnering revenue from Yahoo-supplied ads on its site. Microsoft already offers a fixed-price featured ad unit that appears above the search results.
Kevin Newcomb joined ClickZ in August 2004, covering search marketing and other online marketing topics. He has been reporting on web-based businesses since 2000.
Before the bubble burst, Kevin was a marketing manager for an online computer reseller, handling copywriting, e-mail marketing, search marketing and running the affiliate program.
With a combination of real-world marketing experience and years of business journalism, Kevin brings to ClickZ a unique ability to deliver news and training materials that help online marketers do their jobs better.
2015 Holiday Email Guide
The holidays are just around the corner. Download this whitepaper to find out how to create successful holiday email campaigns that drive engagement and revenue.
Three Ways to Make Your Big Data More Valuable
Big data holds a lot of promise for marketers, but are marketers ready to make the most of it to drive better business decisions and improve ROI? This study looks at the hidden challenges modern marketers face when trying to put big data to use.
December 2, 2015
1pm ET/ 10am PT
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
5pm HKT / 5am ET


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December 28, 2016
If a trip to India isn’t in the cards for 2017, New York City’s Madison Avenue has shoppers covered with two excellent fine jewelry boutiques.
December 27, 2016
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff weighs in on the most important news stories of the year for the jewelry industry.
December 16, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator rounds up the stories that shaped the colored gemstone industry this year.
December 16, 2016
Nobody would accuse the jewelry industry of being ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. But, now, it can hope to at least keep up in one area.
December 14, 2016
A GoFundMe page has been launched to raise funds for construction of a library at a Tanzanian school.
December 6, 2016
The owners of Long Island’s Mayfair Jewelers are leasing a 3,000-square-foot space near their store for private appointments and extra-special events. Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff reports.
December 1, 2016
As 2016 enters its final month, Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator spotlights the December gems: tanzanite, turquoise and zircon.
November 29, 2016
Tanzanite: Born From Lightning tells the gem’s story, from discovery at Mount Kilimanjaro to the designer jewelry world.
November 22, 2016
Today’s greatest living jeweler straddles the line between fine art and high jewelry.
November 15, 2016
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares what she learned at the recent forum on lab-grown diamonds held in New York.
November 7, 2016
An official partner of the organization Turquoise Mountain, Small is dedicated to empowering her fellow jewelers in beleaguered Afghanistan.
November 1, 2016
TEFAF’s first New York edition brought four illustrious design houses to the Big Apple.
November 1, 2016
Here are 12 pieces of citrine and topaz jewelry to ogle as the gemstones step into the spotlight this month.
October 26, 2016
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff gauges the online reaction and shares her initial impressions of “Real is Rare.”
October 20, 2016
The GIA’s Tom Moses explains the reasoning behind the more general color and clarity grades the lab assigns to synthetic stones.
October 17, 2016
The innovative Danish jewelry designer is a trend-starter and non-conformist with a cult following.
October 14, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator takes the 10 hot hues of autumn, as predicted by Pantone, and coordinates them with a variety of colored gemstones.
October 6, 2016
Eric Larsen is one of only about 50 people to ever make an unaided trek to the North Pole. Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff recounts what she learned from listening to him talk.
October 3, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator highlights the two stones that step into the spotlight this month: tourmaline and opal.
September 27, 2016
The hotly debated and anticipated not-a-trade-show trade show hosted some fantastic up-and-coming fine jewelry brands.
September 20, 2016
New York designers embraced bold, notice-me earrings not for the faint of sartorial heart.
September 14, 2016
Associate Editor Ashley Davis takes an Insta-look at the few design houses that adjusted to the new tone of the Paris Biennale des Antiquaires.
September 12, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator shares the insights gleaned from her trip to the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair.
September 1, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator rounds up 10 pieces of jewelry set with sapphires, a gemstone that’s been selling very well lately.
August 23, 2016
The latest “3 Pieces” features queen of California cool Jacquie Aiche.
August 22, 2016
In the spirit of the 2016 Olympic Games, which closed Sunday evening, Senior Editor and Olympics super-fan Brecken Branstrator shares some interesting tidbits.
August 18, 2016
NY Now, the home, lifestyle and gift trade show, is hosting a bevy of talented jewelry designers in its handmade section Aug. 20 to 23.
August 15, 2016
The owners of the Cumberland Diamond Exchange talked with National Jeweler about hiring the right people and how long customers spend in their jewelry store. (Hint: It’s not long.)
August 8, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator gives her own set of awards to pieces from the AGTA’s annual Spectrum design and lapidary competition.
August 5, 2016
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff on the site’s most-read stories of 2016 and what they say about the state of the jewelry industry.
August 3, 2016
Arguing that members of her generation aren’t “lazy,” Senior Editor and millennial Brecken Branstrator talks about the need for a new conversation to help recruit this group.
August 1, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator highlights jewels featuring the August mainstay, peridot, as well as the newly added birthstone for the month, spinel.
July 28, 2016
Associate Editor Ashley Davis takes a look at the new brands to know from the JA New York Summer show.
July 27, 2016
Associate Editor Ashley Davis plays favorites at the New York Antique Jewelry & Watch Show.
July 21, 2016
In our new monthly feature, Associate Editor Ashley Davis converses with jewelry designers about three of their creations that are particularly meaningful. This month features British legend Solange Azagury-Partridge.
July 19, 2016
The head of the Israeli Diamond Institute answered questions from National Jeweler about the U.S. economy, the biggest challenge facing jewelers and the upcoming election.
July 5, 2016
Here are 10 pieces of jewelry that show off the ruby, a gemstone that represents passion, protection and prosperity.
June 29, 2016
Associate Editor Ashley Davis takes us through her favorite emerald finds from the Las Vegas show.
June 27, 2016
After walking the aisles at JCK Las Vegas and Couture, here are the colored stones Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator has picked out as being most prominent.
June 17, 2016
Stephen Lussier of De Beers and the Diamond Producers Association on the thought process behind “Real is Rare,” why income inequality worries him and more.
June 15, 2016
In our new monthly feature, Associate Editor Ashley Davis converses with jewelry designers about three of their creations that are particularly meaningful. Our first conversation was with visionary designer Wendy Yue.
June 3, 2016
While the pearl is perfectly positioned as the gem of the month, June also can call alexandrite and moonstone its birthstones, and this 10X blog showcases great pieces featuring each.
June 2, 2016
As the trade shows kick off in Las Vegas, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff reminds jewelers what they’re really selling when they sell jewelry.
May 27, 2016
Vegas is going to be a whirlwind, but Associate Editor Ashley Davis won’t leave Sin City without checking out this set of new and established jewelry designers.
May 6, 2016
In honor of Mother’s Day, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares two Mother’s Day commercials she thinks are really cute.
May 4, 2016
The pieces our associate editor thinks really embodied the idea of Man vs. Machine at the annual benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
May 2, 2016
The green stone is perfectly suited to be the birthstone for the month of May, representing the renewal of spring and thought to bring fortune and foresight.
April 18, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator recounts what she learned at an AGS Conclave education session on identifying gemstones presented by Gem-A.
April 8, 2016
From the large sums of money that can be recovered from carpeting to the trichroism of tanzanite, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares what she learned over her weekend at Stuller headquarters.
April 5, 2016
Those born in the fourth month of the year get to celebrate with what is arguably the most coveted stone of all--the diamond.
March 30, 2016
Small, thinner watches and jewelry that transitions easily from day to night were among the trends our editor-in-chief spotted in Switzerland.
March 30, 2016
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator and others who knew him well share fond memories of gemstone dealer and mine owner Gichuchu Okeno, who was changing the East African gemstone market for the better.
March 23, 2016
After 25 years in business, Julie Romanenko’s brand still is going strong and has gained a new following with the launch of a bridal collection.
March 10, 2016
In the last installment of a multi-part series about her trip to East Africa, Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator discusses visiting a rural Tanzanian school that the jewelry and gemstone industry is helping.
March 10, 2016
An article published in The Washington Post this week about how bars are dealing with the deluge of requests to charge patrons’ smartphones brings up the larger question of, when is it OK to say “no” to a customer?
March 8, 2016
The brand’s most recent collection offers boldly colored gemstones, like green quartz and blue topaz, set into its signature sterling silver metalwork.
March 4, 2016
One Florida jeweler recently donated a pair of wedding bands to a couple who’ve been married for nearly seven decades but never had a wedding, until now.
March 3, 2016
This month is reserved for one of the most well-known beryls, aquamarine, which is thought to increase intellect and release anger and stress. Here are 9 pieces of jewelry set with the blue stone.
February 26, 2016
Which states are home to the country’s biggest diamonds? What are the most popular diamond shapes where your store is located? Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff examines it all via White Pine’s new report.
February 23, 2016
As Tanzania and Kenya move to have the export of all rough banned, both will need to focus on growing their cutting industries. Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator talks to a few people who are playing a part in that.
February 18, 2016
What began as a prototype 15 years ago is now a collection, as Bulgari unveils an extension to the B.zero1 line.
February 17, 2016
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff sits down with the founder of Stone & Strand to better understand what the e-tailer hopes to gain by opening a physical space.
February 10, 2016
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff highlights her 5 favorite features of the new and improved NationalJeweler.com.
February 3, 2016
This month celebrates the purple stone that once was considered just as valuable as rubies, emeralds and sapphires and was set in crowns for ages. Here are 7 pieces of jewelry centered on amethyst.
January 26, 2016
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares her thoughts, and others’ memories, of Cindy Edelstein, who was everything to the jewelry industry.
January 26, 2016
Senior Editor Hannah Connorton shares six strong jewelry looks from the Vicenzaoro Winter show in Vicenza, which runs through Wednesday.
January 22, 2016
In the second installment of a multi-part series about her trip to East Africa, Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator talks about her experience visiting two mines in southern Kenya.
January 15, 2016
These expressions used to describe the current state of retail are so common they’ve become meaningless, even irritating. But you won’t quit hearing them, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff writes.
January 12, 2016
Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator reports live from East Africa, where she is exploring the colored gemstone market with a group from the industry.
January 5, 2016
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff dishes on the three New Year’s resolutions the National Jeweler team made to improve the website in 2016.
January 4, 2016
This month celebrates the popular gemstone that was named for its resemblance to the pomegranate seed and which, according to lore, balances energy.


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Blockbuster to shut a quarter of its UK stores
Film rental chain Blockbuster is to shut 72 British stores – axing 452 jobs.
The closures will mean the loss of about a quarter of its 264 outlets and 2,000-strong workforce.
Earlier this week the chain, which has been hit hard by competition from supermarkets, the internet and delivery services like LoveFilm, went into administration for the second time this year.
The firm is holding talks with potential buyers for the remaining shops and a further update is due within the next week.


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Mar 28, 2022
Bitcoin Drugs Market
Its products include everything from drugs Genesis Market is a newer market crypto markets, privacy, harmGenesis Market Darknet - How do I buy drugs on. And with untraceablecryptocurrency as the primary means of payment, close cooperation Wall Street Market and Valhalla, two of the largest drug markets. OxyMonster sold drugs on the dark web marketplace Dream Market. Malware Trends on 'Darknet' Crypto-markets: Research Review. "The BTC transaction fee has made buying from DNM untenable for me," noted another. "Is there a way round this? None of the markets seem to take. US seizes 28m in bitcoins linked to online drug market. 'Largest ever' seizure of digital currency seized from alleged owner of online Silk.
Silk Road televend link was a black market digital platform where users conducted illegal transactions like buying drugs using bitcoin. 80 percent of all dark web market-related cryptocurrency dealings. say that Hydra enabled users to buy and sell illegal goodsdrugs. The bitcoin drugs market. imposed new sanctions on Hydra Market and Garantex as it counterfeit currency and illegal drugs are all available on Hydra. An image of the Hydra marketplace prior to its takedown. The raid also involved the take down of Bitcoin Bank Mixer, a well-known. Authorities to crack down on Silk Road, the Internet black market drug trade, and the digital currency that funds it, Bitcoins.
Following the Wall Street Market takedown in May 2022 and the filing laundering cryptocurrency, and spreading drugs around the world,. They also blocked over a hundred linked BTC addresses. dangerous drugs and other illegal offerings through the Russian darknet platform. Around 72 billion of illegal activity per year involves Bitcoin, televend darknet market which is close to the scale of the bitcoin drugs market. and European markets for illegal drugs. Of all of bitcoin's usesas a currency, a payment system, On those markets, the price of drugs and other illicit and licit goods are. Bitcoin boomed in value and everyone holding the cryptocurrency for drugs, other illicit online black market trading, and terrorism.
Since their inception in 2009, it has become a medium for all kinds of black market activities online. Here's what you need to know about the. "The BTC transaction fee has made buying from DNM untenable for me," noted another. "Is there a way round this? None of the markets spurdomarket market seem to take. Darknet markets let you buy drugs online, without dealing with the dangers To buy anything dodgy on the Internet, you'll need Bitcoins. Authorities Shutter Online Criminal Market AlphaBay hundreds of millions in cryptocurrency, and a Darknet drug trade that spanned the. By S Foley 2022 Cited by 608 Cryptocurrencies are among the largest unregulated markets in the world. We find that approximately one-quarter of bitcoin users are involved in illegal.
1 billion in Bitcoin from former dark web drug silkkitie market market Silk Road The cryptocurrency was seized during the dismantling of Silk Road. The amount of cryptocurrency spent on so-called dark net markets, where stolen credit card information and a wide array of illegal drugs can. By J Aldridge 2022 Cited by 77 There are limits on the extent to which cryptomarkets may reduce drug market violence. The vast majority of the cryptomarket drug trade is generated by cannabis. Agency says a hacker stole funds in 2022, 2022 from drug website, left untouched for years. A large cache of seized bitcoins once belonged to. Bitcoin has a bad rep. A lot of people view it as a black market currency, which to be fair isn't false. The first place Bitcoin was.
Empire Market is an Alphabay-style market with BTC, LTC, XMR, MultiSig, and PGP 2FA features. When ISPs or governments block access to the Tor network, our users rely on bridges to connect. Cybercrime is an industry with significant technical expertise, extensive funding, and a rich target environment. From in or before November 2014 until the date bitcoin drugs market of this indictment, the defendants,,ontrolled a bitcoin wallet that they used to receive the kickback payments for purchases completed on the various Darknet marketplaces. The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very. Payment transactions checkbox on general data tab and select the customer and vendor bank instantly. When you see links on the Internet that point to websites that are selling weapons, drugs, and other illegal items, they are in fact bitcoin drugs market links that point back to the DarkNet marketplace. Spurdomarket uses the traditional account-based system, which means you must first fund your account before attempting to make a purchase.
During the bitcoin drugs market last few weeks, a number of darknet markets (DNMs) like Dread and Empire have been attacked relentlessly with heavy DDoS attacks. Perhaps, though deep web and dark web are bitcoin drugs market still young terms; those who currently confuse the two don’t have any strong biases either way, so these terms are far from skunked. For example, if banks are the target, the attackers ask the botnet owner for a list of IP addresses and select nodes relating to financial organizations and their partners. Christian Keuschnigg and students on the open science project "Next Generation", the challenges of producing the texts and the benefits for the general public.
Distributed by blakkboy, LLC.


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StartUp Master Class on Sept 29 in Pune: Guiding entrepreneurs through thick and thin
StartUp Master Class has roped in Shubhalaxmi Acharya, Mind Elements, a registered company which has devised a specific test that will help map the founders’ mind and determine the strengths and weaknessesUpdated: Sep 22, 2019 16:20 IST
The Pune Chapter of the Alumni Association of IIT-Kanpur and Delhi will bring their StartUp Master Class (SMC) in the city on September 29. This is the fourth edition of the StartUp Master Class which will be held at the IISER auditorium.
Nitin Parab, managing committee member and media head of IIT, Kanpur, tells us what startups can expect of this event. “Our past events have shown us that one of the biggest issues faced by startups is finding a compatible co-founder. Failure to build a great team is one of the most important reasons why startups fail. We have received 60 applications from startups who are looking for co-founders. We will help them find the right one through our unique testing method and matchmaking,” said Parab.
StartUp Master Class has roped in Shubhalaxmi Acharya, Mind Elements, a registered company which has devised a specific test that will help map the founders’ mind and determine the strengths and weaknesses. Based on this mind mapping, founders will be able to tie up with compatible co-founders.
The StartUp Master Class 2019 will also enable a corporate connect where the participating startups can pitch directly to the 15 top companies. Parab said, “The companies have been given profiles of the startups and they will indicate their interest in the specific startups. Those startups will, then, pitch before them.”
There is also a presence of a strong VC panel, about 12 of them led by Alacrity India Fund, venture capital fund house, a part of the Canada-based investment management firm Wesley Clover International.
“Our team of investors will rigorously evaluate the applicants beforehand on various parametres like fundamentals, market fit, team among others, so that they will be better positioned to cash in on the final day,” said Parab.
The startup community in the city seems to have attracted some international attention too. At the event, a panel of speakers Annie Dube, consul general of Canada and Girish Bhagat of India Nivesh, will share their views on the synergies that exist between startups in Pune and their countries. They will also expand on how Pune startups can tie up with those in their countries.
Pune is increasingly being seen as a startup hub with large acquisitions (Raincan by Big Basket and Torqus by Times Internet) and the emergence of local Software as a service (SaaS) based startups, Dhruva Technologies, MindTickle and Icertis fast-growing to a Unicorn status shortly. This is also helped by the fact that Pune Ideas Factory Foundation was recently incorporated into Pune Smart City Development Corporation as a one-stop shop for startups. Pune Ideas Factory Foundation has created a ₹5 crore fund for startups in Pune and will support 19 incubators.
The StartUp Master Class 2019 is supported by IISER for the venue, Rotary, Event Glint and Cross Link International.


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This year aspiring fashion journalists were able to win a trip to New York Fashion Week by entering an online social media competition from G-Star. All they had to do to become RAW Reporters was sign in with their Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Flickr account, show off their talent, and gather lots of votes from their friends.
Today the winners are revealed: Violet, an American YouTube presenter; Vincent, a Belgian Facebook fanatic; Cindy, a Canadian tweeter; and Lucio, an Italian photographer. Also, a couple of golden tickets were given to young bloggers BryanBoy and Jessie Thorpe (that’s me OMG!) from Denimology.com.
G-Star started the social networking contest because today’s world is dependent on social networking because it’s the fastest way to find out and discuss, fresh trends and new styles. The RAW Reporter competition was the first time a fashion brand has invited social media reporters to broadcast show coverage through Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. This week G-Star also announced a free iPhone app: the RAW City Guide New York, which will be updated throughout NYFW by RAW Reporters and the app’s users.
On Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at the Hammerstein Ballroom, G-Star Raw will present the men’s and women’s NY Raw Fall/Winter 2010 collection during New York Fashion Week. G-Star says this seasons line will show its signature denim craftsmanship coupled with elegant tailored pieces in vibrant colors to create a collection that exudes ‘Raw’ Luxury. Above are a couple of the sketches for F/W 2010.


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Future site of the West Queen West mission to Rosedale.
The Drake Hotel is not quite a country of its own yet, but it will soon open its first embassy—in Rosedale.
The hotel that arguably launched West Queen West as we know it will open a second, even smaller location of its General Store near the doorsteps of some of the city’s wealthiest residents, hoping to discover among them an appetite for retro Canadiana, cutesy tchotchkes, and ironic toothpaste.
Drake staffers—some of whom may be experiencing a sense of vertigo caused by spending time north of Bloor—are presently hard at work preparing for a December 5 launch. (We are told there will be cookies on opening day.) The new space is at 1011 Yonge Street, formerly the location of fashion boutique Shop Nyla.
Among the northern-trekking Drakeists is Joyce Lo, co-director (with Carlo Colacci) of the General Store. She tells Torontoist that beyond a few tweaks, the newest branch of Jeff Stober’s growing Drake empire should look a lot like the first Drake General Store, which opened beside the hotel a year ago.
“We want to maintain the spirit and the look and the feel of the original,” Lo says. However, she notes, “There will be several lines that we have that will be exclusive to the new store.”
Among the Rosedale-only collections will be ceramics by Alyssa Ettinger, hand-knit wool sweaters from Granted of Vancouver, and more wool in the form of Pendleton blankets from Oregon.
How did Rosedale end up in Stober’s sights? “As we were looking at different neighbourhoods, Rosedale has a great collection of independent retailers selling everything from food to furniture. And in our store we kind of have a bit of everything, too,” Lo says. “So it was a good fit.”
A closer look at the store’s developing storefront.
Speaking of fit, cramming the merchandise into the new location should prove a challenge: Tight as the existing General Store is at around six hundred square feet, the new one is a positively bachelor-apartment-tiny 450.
Lo sees the move as an opportunity to bring a taste of west-end bohemia to midtown. “The Drake General Store has been really well-received since we opened it, and it’s something we want to share with the rest of the city,” she says. The store, then, is “an opportunity to promote Queen West.”
Far from being put off by any quirk the Drake General Store promises to bring them, Lo has faith that the locals will dig the vibe. “The people in Rosedale, [judging by] the stores that are already there now, I feel they also have excellent taste. They would get it.”
For those Rosedalians who would like to feel a connection to the air of Trinity-Bellwoods while remaining cozy in their northern climes, the new store will feature a Batphone linked directly to the Drake’s reservations line, while a television mounted on the wall will be synched to the Drake’s eclectic in-house, looping programming.
As a final, homey touch, a corkboard will highlight events in both neighbourhoods. Don’t be too surprised if someone pulls up to your next gig at the Dakota in a Bentley.
All photos by Joel Charlebois/Torontoist.


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The billionaire co-founder of Swiss private equity giant Partners Group Holding AG said the firm has grown more cautious on China, warning that conflict might ultimately break out over Taiwan.
“We are more careful,” said Urs Wietlisbach, whose $142 billion firm hasn’t done a transaction in the country in about two years. “A Chinese deal today just needs to bring a much higher expected return because you take much more risk.”
Wietlisbach’s assessment speaks to a growing anxiety in the financial industry — that long-simmering geopolitical tensions can flare up with unpredictable speed, endangering the overseas outposts that firms spend decades building. That’s what happened to lenders such as Citigroup Inc., which wasn’t able to extract itself from a subsidiary in Russia before that country invaded Ukraine.
In China, private equity firms are already having trouble unloading some of the assets they’ve acquired. While much of those difficulties stem from a slump in the market and valuations, political strains also weigh on the minds of some would-be bidders.
“It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when and how” China will go into Taiwan, said Wietlisbach, who co-founded the firm with Marcel Erni and Alfred Gantner in 1996. If it does happen, “one thing is for sure: There will be some type of sanctions,” he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told an audience of business executives in San Francisco this month that his country wants to be friends with the U.S. and won’t fight a war with anyone. U.S. spy chiefs and the Pentagon assess that Xi wants his military to be capable of overwhelming Taiwan by 2027, while cautioning that they don’t have evidence he currently plans to do so.
Partners Group, which has an office in Shanghai, has long been underweight in China but is still committed to the market, he said. It’s also looking at Thailand and Vietnam. About 10% to 15% of the firm’s investments are in Asia, a spokesperson for the company said.
Direct and portfolio exposure to China accounted for 4% of assets under management, according to a presentation last year. China investments include display-fixtures maker BCR Group and casual-dining group Green Tea Restaurant, as well as an office and retail complex in Beijing.
Deals are run through a centralized investment committee in Zug, an ultralow-tax Swiss town of around 30,000 people where the firm is based.
Supply chain risk is also a consideration, he said, adding that some firms increasingly want goods produced closer to home, even if they’re more expensive, rather than relying on China.
“We told our companies, ‘Make sure that you’re not too dependent on China,’” he said in an interview in Singapore. “If you have 40% of your product delivered from China, you have to be careful.”
That shift was prompted by the pandemic, which reduced the supply of goods from the nation, as well as political uncertainty, he said.
A broader economic risk comes from China’s shrinking population, Wietlisbach, 62, said. The nation, which has traditionally relied on a large labor pool to power growth, is confronting a growing demographic crisis, with its population declining for the first time in six decades last year.
Despite a recent dip in deals, Wietlisbach said private equity activity globally is picking up this quarter, and he expects firms to do more deals next year. Interest rates may top out soon, and many companies are ready to be sold within the portfolios of buyout firms, he said.
“It’s not the best environment, but it’s also not a disaster,” he said, adding that the current market is about half as bad as it was after the global financial crisis. “You don’t have huge blowups, you don’t have debt packages blowing up left and right,” although valuations and multiples have come down substantially, he said.
Lower interest rates would boost stocks as well as private equity valuations, which should lead to more companies being sold, he said. Partners Group’s own shares have rallied 38% this year, trouncing the less than 1% gain for the benchmark Swiss index.
Still, his expectation for a rebound is dependent on the market’s not falling apart. Geopolitical tensions have been rising in recent years, pitting China, Russia and others against Europe and the U.S. in what almost amounts to a cold war, he said.
“This definitely has never been as severe as it is today,” he said.


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The Google Pixel 4 will be officially revealed on October 15th
The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL have been the subject of a ridiculous number of leaks lately. Finally, the devices will become more official next month. I say “more” official because Google actually surprised everyone and confirmed their existence way back in June. We finally know the date of the announcement, though, as Google is inviting members of the media to an event on October 15th.
The event will be held in New York City on October 15th at 10 AM EST. Google has already scheduled the live stream so you can set a reminder now. The Pixel 4/4 XL are the obvious devices expected, but they likely won’t be the only ones. At last year’s Made by Google event, for example, we saw the Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL, Pixel Slate, Google Home Hub (now called the Nest Hub), and a new slightly revamped Chromecast.
As for the Pixel 4, we know almost everything there is to know. It will have two cameras on the back, be available in three colors (Black, White, Orange/Coral), have a 90Hz display, new and improved Face Unlock, more features in the Google Camera app, Soli radar-powered “Motion Sense” gestures, and much more. There are so many rumored features that the actual hardware specifications have taken a back seat (those are looking good, too).
We’re sure there will be plenty more leaks from now until October 15th, but soon we can put it all to rest. The 4th Pixel generation is coming soon.


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Amazon is now accepting pre-tax health spending accounts in the form of health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible savings accounts (FSA), providing users with discounts for hundreds of everyday health items ranging from glucometers to fever strips.
The retailer told CNBC March 15 it was “excited to announce” the change, which allows users with health insurance to set aside a portion of their salaries before taxes to cover medical expenses that would otherwise be paid for out-of-pocket. According to the Amazon spokesperson, using HSA and FSA debit cards for eligible Amazon purchases eliminates the need to pay out-of-pocket or submit any receipts for reimbursement.
Some of the products eligible for HSA and FSA payment include:
- Insulin pens
- Blood glucose monitors
- Blood pressure kits
- Over-the-counter contraceptives, like condoms
- First aid supplies
- IV equipment
- Cholesterol meters
- Ultrasound devices
A full list of eligible products can be found here.
Since over-the-counter medications require a prescription to be HSA or FSA eligible, Amazon said the new program doesn’t support such purchases. However, users who do want to buy over-the-counter drugs on the platform can do so—just not with an HSA or FSA card. Amazon suggested people who opt to pay out-of-pocket request reimbursement from their insurance company.
Prescription drug services aren’t currently integrated into the HSA/FSA program, but Amazon did acquire online pharmacy company PillPack last summer.
In an article published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, consumer expert Clark Howard said having the option to divert money tax-free “is really powerful,” and the people who might benefit the most from an HSA or FSA are those with the highest income.
“Unfortunately, only one in five people who are eligible to do an FSA through their employer actually do it,” he told the AJC. “But more people should, because you get to pay for medical expenses with pre-tax dollars instead of post-tax dollars.”
The health FSA contribution for 2019 is $2,700, according to the IRS—a $50 increase over last year’s limit. For an HSA, the limit is $3,500 for individuals and $7,000 for families.


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Official Microsoft Zune Press Release And Statement
Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used). The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue:
a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year. That being the case, the issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009. We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on. If you’re a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.
Customers can continue to stay informed via the support page on zune.net (zune.net/support).
We know this has been a big inconvenience to our customers and we are sorry for that, and want to thank them for their patience.


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KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Malaysia’s exports probably rebounded in January from a surprise plunge in the previous month as higher prices of commodities and healthy global demand of goods lifted trade activity, a Reuters poll showed.
Factory output may have also improved in January following a slowing in December as demand for manufactured products rose in line with the better exports.
The median forecast of 14 polled economists was for 2.6 per cent year-on-year growth of January exports, compared with December’s 5.8 per cent fall, the worst result in three years.
The forecasts for annual export change in January ranged from a contraction of 3.3 per cent to growth of 8.9 per cent.
“Lower palm oil export tax at zero per cent in January likely boosted crude palm oil shipments, while improving global demand may have lifted manufactured exports,” said Bank America Merrill Lynch economist Chua Hak Bin.
The Lunar New Year holiday came in February this year, so it had fewer working days than usual. “There was a rush of exporters trying to export their products earlier in January because of the shorter month in February,” said RHB economist Peck Boon Soon.
He added that February’s exports could, in turn, decline because of the holiday and a high base from a year earlier.
Imports in January probably climbed by 4.8 per cent compared with a 6.5 per cent tumble in December, the poll showed.
Economists expect that imports of capital and intermediate goods increased as they believe domestic demand stayed resilient.
The trade surplus was projected at RM8.2 billion, the same as recorded in the previous month.
Faster pace for factory output
Factory output, as measured by the industrial production index (IPI) probably rose 5.5 per cent in January year-on-year, quickening from 3.7 per cent in December. In the poll, forecasts for January ranged from 4.1 to 7.0 per cent.
Economists said stronger industrial output was likely driven by domestic-oriented manufacturing activities and complemented by the rebound in exports in the same month.
Malaysia’s manufacturing output rose 5.8 per cent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, up from 3.3 per cent in the previous quarter, defying a sluggish export performance.
Construction activity rose 18.1 per cent in the last quarter, on an annual basis, and for all of 2012 surged 18.5 per cent, compared with 4.6 per cent in 2011.
“January’s IPI growth would continue to signal that domestic-oriented industries remain decent and supportive of the economy despite the drag that persists from the external front,” said OCBC economist Gundy Cahyadi in Singapore.
Full-year exports in 2012, accounting for about 60 per cent of Malaysia’s economy, grew a mere 0.6 per cent from 2011. But the overall economy recorded surprisingly robust growth of 5.6 per cent as buoyant private and public investment offset a poor trade performance.
Bank Negara, the central bank, yesterday kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged for the 11th straight time, saying its current monetary stance is appropriate and in line with the country’s growth and inflation outlook.
In January, Indonesia’s exports fell 1.24 per cent from the year before while Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports rose a weaker-than-expected 0.5 per cent. Thailand’s January exports jumped 16.09 per cent but that was largely due to low-base effects from severe floods in late 2011. — Reuters


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The Salvatore Ferragamo Group, one of the world’s most renowned luxury brands, continued to grow and expand in international markets, with multiple store openings in China this year.
In Shanghai, the Florentine brand consolidated its presence with the opening of its third and fourth mono-brand boutiques, one in L’Avenue, a luxury shopping centre located in the new residential area adjacent to Hongqiao, and the other in Times Square on the Huaihai Lu shopping street. The Group also extended its reach and expanded further with two new stores in as many tier 2 cities.
In Wuxi, one of the oldest Chinese cities on the banks of the Blue River, Salvatore Ferragamo opened the first mono-brand boutique in Center 66, a new shopping mall for luxury brands, while within the historic port of Dalian, one of the most picturesque cities in Northeast China, Ferragamo’s new store is situated in the city’s most exclusive shopping centre, the prestigious Dalian Times Square.
Each of the new boutiques features Ferragamo’s signature style and elegance, creating a refined, understated ambience with a decor that reflects the design concept for Salvatore Ferragamo stores around the world. The furnishings, colours and structure of the space are perfectly balanced to welcome guests in an intimate atmosphere and offer a modern shopping experience.
The Salvatore Ferragamo Group has continued to pursue travel retail openings as well, with new store openings in the Shanghai Hongqiao, Hangzhou and Shenyang airports, in addition to the recently unveiled Shenzhen airport designed by the celebrated Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas.
Thanks to these new openings, the Salvatore Ferragamo Group has further strengthened its presence in Mainland China, where it has been active since 1994 and currently boasts 55 retail stores and 20 travel retail doors. Overall, the Group currently has 75 stores in 36 cities in Mainland China.


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The price of bacon keeps getting heftier.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of a pound of bacon in American cities rose another 6 cents in June, to an all-time high of $6.11. That’s a 14 percent increase since June 2013 and a whopping 41 percent more than it cost in June 2012, when people were already writing articles about how expensive bacon was.
For what you’d spend for a pound of bacon today, you could buy a whole four-pound chicken, a six-pack of PBR, 10 pounds of bananas, 36 eggs, or a paperback copy of the fourth installment of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Feast For Crows.
Of course, prices rise all the time — that’s the nature of inflation. But the dramatic spike in the price of bacon goes far beyond inflation, which is hovering around 2 percent a year.


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Motorola announced on Thursday that it is now rolling out Android 4.4.4 for the Moto G on Verizon, just two days after seeding the software update for the UK version model of the smartphone. The latest version of KitKat for Moto G includes an OpenSSL security fix, video recording pausing, updated phone dialer, new Motorola Alert app download, stability improvements and more.
Android 4.4.4 has been slowly rolling out to various smartphones since Google released factory images for the Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10 in late June. Android 4.4.4 is also available for the Google Play edition Moto G, Droid Maxx, Ultra and Mini on Verizon and Google Play edition HTC One M7 and M8. A few other devices have also received Android 4.4.4 through CyanogenMod (11.0 M8).
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Since the end of the Great Recession in 2009, growth stocks have been a powerful force on Wall Street. Historically low lending rates and the Federal Reserve's easy money policies have allowed fast-paced companies to hire, innovate, acquire, and invest in their businesses.
Even with the Fed hinting at raising rates to control runaway inflation, these dynamics are unlikely to change to a large degree anytime soon, which makes growth stocks still a good bet to continue to outperform.
With the S&P 500 still setting new all-time highs, the following pair of hypergrowth companies have what it takes to make you richer in the years to come. So long as you invest with money you don't need to pay bills or set aside for unforeseen emergencies and won't need for three to five years -- a decade or more is even better -- a $10,000 investment today in these stocks could turn into $50,000 by 2025.
1. Teladoc Health
Just how big of an opportunity is virtual healthcare? Market researchers at McKinsey peg telemedicine as a quarter-billion-dollar market, and Teladoc Health (TDOC 2.38%) is in the vanguard of changing the way healthcare consumers see this emerging trend.
Already a growing phenomenon before the pandemic, global lockdown orders showed just how effortless, convenient, and effective virtual visits and consultations could be. And Teladoc reaped the rewards.
Revenue soared 75% in 2020, compared to a 32% increase in 2019, as virtual visits rocketed to 10.6 million from 4.1 million the year before. This trend continued into 2021, with visits over the first three quarters of the year up 20% vs. the same point in the prior year.
However, that's why the short-term thesis surrounding Teladoc has sent its stock falling more than 70% from its high point in March. Analysts worry it won't be able to maintain the same rate of growth it enjoyed during the pandemic, which is short-sighted considering Teladoc didn't lose customers after global economies reopened. Instead, the company kept adding customers, though admittedly not at the same frenetic pace.
The real growth driver for Teladoc is its $18.5-billion acquisition of Livongo, which it forecasts will allow revenue to grow between 20% and 24% annually through 2024. By creating a virtual healthcare giant, revenue will reach $4 billion a year.
Livongo is enjoying rapid growth of its own, with the number of customers surging 31% through nine months of 2021 while targeting new classes of customers who suffer from hypertension and weight management issues.
The acquisition increased Teladoc's debt load significantly, which at the end of the third quarter swelled to $1.2 billion. Its net loss rose to $84 million at the end of the quarter from $36 million, though the company did end the quarter with over $800 million in cash and short-term investments.
Wall Street is still looking for Teladoc Health's stock to double to $180 per share in the next year, and revenue is expected to jump from $1.1 billion in 2020 to $5 billion for a 35% CAGR. So an investment in virtual healthcare could get your $10,000 investment to $50,000 in a hurry.
2. Jushi Holdings
It's hard to believe the marijuana story is just getting started. Still, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize adult-use less than 10 years ago, and to date, only 18 states have legalized marijuana possession for adults. Some of those have created bureaucratic nightmares, as occurred when Canada legalized cannabis.
Virginia, for example, made it legal to possess and use marijuana last year, but lawfully buying and selling it won't be allowed until 2024. Taxes are another problem since pot stocks can't deduct many normal business expenses because of marijuana's classification as a Class I controlled dangerous substance.
Yet some marijuana companies, like Jushi Holdings (JUSHF -1.47%), are making a go of it regardless and have a phenomenal outlook before them. According to FactSet, the multi-state operator (MSO) is expected to generate $391 million in sales in 2022, an 86% increase over the $210 million Jushi forecasts for this year. Then it should continue to grow at a 66% compounded annual rate through 2025, to $1.6 billion, while per-share profits will rise at a 51% annual clip.
To achieve this, Jushi will continue expanding its dispensary footprint from its 26 operating dispensaries in a half-dozen states. It will add a handful more in Nevada when it closes on the acquisition of NuLeaf in the next few months.
Key to its growth and success is its primary focus on limited license states, those that dole out operating licenses to just a few select companies, limiting the total supply and the competition Jushi can face. Pennsylvania is Jushi's biggest market, with 16 retail locations open. With the number of licenses Jushi has been awarded, it can open as many as 18 more stores in the coming years, though it will expand into additional markets too.
It's still a relatively small operator in the marijuana industry, but by targeting states that limit its competition, it can rapidly grow without having to worry about deep-pocket rivals. With a discounted share price that analysts have set an $8 per share consensus price target on, there is at least 150% upside modeled into its stock over the next year, and it could gain even more by 2025.