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With yesterday’s launch of Apple Pay in the UK, today we will go through setting up and using this new contactless payment system. Continue reading
A report by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) calls for the 999 emergency services to be radically updated to take into account the variety of methods in which we communicate, as well as exploit the technology now in peoples’ hands to help save lives.
The report, ‘Contacting Emergency Services in the Digital Age’ recommends that emergency services need to create a cross platform, data based system so as to filter reports and deploy responders. It calls for being able to use texting technology as well as apps to be able to contact 999 or send alerts. Continue reading
According to a survey conducted by YouGov, British homes have at least 7 devices on average to get online with, with smartphones being the most common device.
Seven out of ten households now have at least one tablet, with four out of ten having bought one in the past year. The breakdown of the types of internet devices per household is as below:
- Smartphone: 1.7
- Laptop: 1.3
- Tablet: 1.2
- Games Console: 1.0
- Desktop Computer: 0.6
- Connected TV: 0.5 Continue reading
Last week Ofcom published the results of their latest comparative study into 4G & 3G performance. The study looked at the overall performance and then broke it down into the individual mobile providers. This is part of Ofcom’s commitment to ensure that service providers are delivering what they promised when they won the bids for the 4G spectrum. Continue reading
Telefonica have announced that they have agreed definite terms to sell O2 UK to Hutchison Whampoa, the parent company of Three.
The sale will “result in the creation of the most customer-centric mobile operator in the UK” according to O2. However the deal is still subject to regulatory approval which could take up to 30th June, 2016 to complete, although this could be extended to 30th September, 2016.
On completion, Hutchison Whampoa will pay Telefonica “£9,250 million along with an additional £1,000 million once the cumulative cash flow of the combined company meets cash flow targets”.
Vodafone UK will launch Voice over 4G (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi Calling this summer, as part of its £1 billion investment into its network and services.
Tested last year by Vodafone, VoLTE is a technology that allows voice to route across a 4G network connection. Currently any calls on UK networks go over 2G or 3G. Vodafone will now start user trials ahead of a commercial launch. Continue reading
After last month’s report on Apple’s record breaking final quarter of 2014, analysis of the manufacturer’s market distribution has revealed that iOS is getting very close to equalling Android’s dominance in the UK. Continue reading
The UK Government announced this week that it has secured a “landmark deal for UK mobile phone users” with the big four mobile networks to increase mobile network coverage across the UK.
Vodafone, O2, EE and Three have all signed up to invest £5bn into mobile coverage so as to reduce the number of partial “not-spots” by at least half.
Partial not-spots are areas that have some coverage but not with all the networks, resulting in some users having no coverage at all. Continue reading
BlackBerry yesterday announced the release of a new handset that merges design of their classic smartphones with the improved features of BlackBerry 10.
When the first BlackBerry 10 handsets launched, not only was the software a huge change for historic users, but also the familiar keys had gone; the trackpad, BlackBerry menu button and back button. For some users, these distinguished features were greatly missed. Continue reading
The service comes as part of a £2 million investment to extend network coverage on both sides of the channel.
Vodafone UK currently have 2G and 3G coverage in the Eurotunnel and are working on introducing 4G in due course, although no date has yet been confirmed.


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The next-generation 2022 Nissan Elgrand could be one of a number of new Nissan e-Power models that will be introduced in near future. The same reports are suggesting various facts regarding the resurrected Toyota Vellfire competitor.
The Nissan Elgrand is the eldest of the Japanese executive minivan trio, having been in production for eleven years and being the third generation. The fifth-generation Honda Odyssey first appeared on the market in September 2013, while the third-generation Toyota Vellfire first appeared on the market in 2015. The sales will begin early next year and here’s everything we know about the Elgrand model.
2022 Elgrand Redesign
The upcoming 2022 Nissan Elgrand will gain a lot of cosmetic upgrades. This minivan is recognized for its long body and unique styling. However, Nissan will now provide new styling with a futuristic front fascia, borrowed from the Nissan Ariya electric crossover. The Elgrand model will also introduce new headlights, taillights, and even new bumpers. Nissan reportedly works on new optional wheels and new exterior paints. The Autech variant will be on offer in China.
This model comes with 18-inch aluminum wheels, a sportier stance, and more aggressive bodywork. Lastly, this version is available with Dark Blue, Pure White Pearl, Midnight Black, and Dark Metal Gray exterior paints. Anyway, the Elgrand minivan is getting significant exterior upgrades, which is great to hear.
Interior Changes and Updates
Although the current model has a third-row seating arrangement that is not particularly comfy, the third-row and luggage compartments are both somewhat narrow. Now, the 2022 Nissan Elgrand will deliver a smarter interior layout and a higher level of comfort. Designers intend to have taken these concerns into consideration when creating the completely redesigned car.
The Elgrand model will also gain a lot of high-tech features, including the latest driver-assistance aids. Still, we are waiting for Nissan to reveal more cabin details. Hopefully, the manufacturer will provide a larger display, along with the new infotainment system. Lastly, the upcoming MPV may use the company’s latest ProPilot automated driving technology.
e-Power Technology Will be in Use
The second-gen e-Power system employs the 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. The new e-Power system develops 187 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque in the Nissan Qashqai e-Power. The 2022 Nissan Elgrand could use the same powertrain, along with the Nissan X-Trail e-Power variant. Unlike the Qashqai e-Power, Nissan may provide AWD Elgrand e-Power with a second electric motor in 2023.
In November 2016, Nissan introduced the Note e-Power in Japan. e-Power has sold over 500,000 e-Power vehicles in Japan as of March 2021. By March 2023, it expects to sell over 1 million EVs and electric vehicles, including e-Power variants.
2022 Nissan Elgrand Price, Release Date
The forthcoming 2022 Nissan Elgrand will reportedly go on sale next year, in the first half. It is the next-gen model with significant updates, so the price will be higher than ever before. On the other hand, this is a good thing as the Elgrand model really needs a more modern appearance and technologies. The MPVs are slowly dying due to the increased popularity of crossovers and SUVs. Still, a good MPV is hard to find and the Elgrand could become one of the segment leaders in the coming months.

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Kimora Lee Simmons is heading to Hawaii for a fashion show featuring Baby Phat, Kouture by Kimora and Hello Kitty. It takes place Aug. 21 at Aloha Tower Pier 11.
Tickets for the fashion show will go on sale next week.
The show will be filmed by the Style network, to be aired during the fourth season of "Kimora: Life in the FAB Lane," which airs in more than 200 countries worldwide.
Big Ben Entertainment will be casting models for the show from 7 to 10 p.m. tomorrow at Oceans 808 in Restaurant Row. Model information and photos should be sent to Vivalicious Productions at email@example.com for consideration, and those younger than 18 need to show up before 8 p.m.


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‘Maturation redefined’: Kavalan predicts RTD and premium trends will drive Asian whiskey sector in 2022
Taiwan-based Kavalan Distillery has predicted that the whiskey sector in Asia is set to be driven by premium and ready-to-drink (RTD) products in 2022, while also revealing its secret to winning over 100 international awards last year.
With presence in over 60 countries from Asia to Europe and 30 different single malt whiskey expressions under its belt, the distillery recently won the much-coveted International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) Worldwide Whiskey Producer of the Year trophy, which is awarded to the highest-scoring whiskey maker across Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Americas.
“Many of our award-winning expressions are mainly single cask whiskies (unblended products where no two casks are alike; vs single malt whiskies which are made from blending different malt whiskies at the same distillery) – usually only ten out of 100 barrels in the maturation warehouse, or just one-tenth of barrels, are selected to be bottled as single cask whiskies,” Kavalan Brand Ambassador & Global PR Officer Kaitlyn Tsai told FoodNavigator-Asia.
‘Winning strategy’: Why hybrid meat / plant protein products can help overcome taste and texture challenges
Hybrid products containing both animal and plant proteins are offering manufacturers the chance to overcome taste and texture challenges, while simultaneously tapping into the large number of consumers who are eager to learn about alternative proteins.
Plant-based foods and beverages are continuously rising in appeal in the Asian region. And according to data from Kerry’s recent protein-focused report The Protein Mindset, many plant protein sources hold strong market potential due to positive associations with health and nutrition.
“Emerging plant-based food and beverage products have grown significantly in consumer appeal in Asia, where 75% of consumers regard plant protein as a more sustainable source and associate it with better quality and being more nutritious,” Strategic Marketing Director, Applied Health and Nutrition, Kerry Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa Jackie Ng said.
Fight back: How APAC’s alcohol sector is brewing success after COVID-19 hangover – Exclusive in-depth analysis
The alcohol sector in the Asia Pacific region was amongst the most heavily-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the closure of many hospitality outlets, but insiders say the outlook is positive thanks to retail modernisation, product innovation and sustainability drives.
This is why in this edition of the FNA Deep Dive, we take a closer look at the state of the alcohol industry in 2022, the major trends driving its growth, and the challenges that still lie ahead.
Making ramen healthier: South Korea zeroes in on noodles as major target for new reduced sodium labelling rules
South Korea has chosen to focus on national staple food ramen as the first target for the enforcement of its new reduced sodium labelling rules, doubling down on the category by announcing the specific sodium values for manufacturers to adhere to.
In October 2021, the South Korean government announced stricter standards for food manufacturers looking to label products as reduced/lower in sodium or sugar, and these standards officially have come into enforcement starting with ramen/instant noodles.
According to the new standards, instant noodle manufacturers may only label their products with terms such as less, reduced, or light if the product contains a reduction of at least 10% of the ‘average value’ of products in the instant noodle category.
“Instant noodles will be categorised according to whether these are sold in cup or bag format, and whether these have soup/broth [condiments] included or not,” the ministry said via a formal statement.
Meiji’s market insights: Functional yogurt sales continue to slide, but sports nutrition on a surge
Meiji’s sales of functional yogurt in Japan have been declining due to the levelling of demand and an intensifying market competition, but sports nutrition is on the up, the firm has revealed.
Net sales of functional yogurt dropped 12 per cent to JPY$24.2bn (US$209m) as compared to Q3 FY2020.
The reduction in functional yogurt sales has also dragged down the company’s overall sales and operating profit of its yogurt and cheese business by 7.9 per cent and 26.7 per cent in Q1-Q3 FY2021 as compared to the same period in FY2020.


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Polyester is bad for our environment, many research studies say it. A few startups are working on tackling this issue. One of them is California-based Mango Materials, which recently found a way to convert waste methane into bio-polyester.
As previously explained in our guide for more sustainable materials, polyester is one of the most polluting materials to manufacture garments. Indeed, as it is manufactured from crude oil, it requires an energy-intensive process. Even worse, researchers are starting to uncover that even though some manufacturers are trying to reduce its impact by adding recycled polyester, from plastic bottles or other recycled plastic goods, these have the same environmental repercussions as new polyester! Worse, every wash releases plastic microfibers into waterways. Which leads to contaminated lakes and oceans, ingestion by animals and ultimately, plastic microfibers entering the food chain.
There comes Mango Materials, a startup hoping to use waste methane to grow bio-polyester based fully biodegradable clothing
Methane is well known for its greenhouse gas, which traps 25 times more heat than carbon dioxyde, but it also is useful, as a fuel and ingredient for plastics and fertilizers. What’s new? Californian startup Mango Materials has found a new use for methane: biodegradable clothing.
While it is still more expensive to produce compared to making plastic out of petroleum, the startup has explored what scientists have known for some time: under certain conditions, different types of bacteria can produce plastics called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). These bio-polyester fibers can in turn be harvested from the bacteria and spun into thread, and finally be woven into cloth. To reduce its production costs, Mango Materials seeks to use waste methane to feed the bacteria.
“If we increase the value of waste methane, that could change the whole story of carbon in the atmosphere, because we’d be collecting it and sequestering it into products,” Morse told FastCompany in an interview.
Envisioning a closed-loop system for fashion in the future, Mango Materials CEO and co-founder Dr. Molly Morse says that this would allow us to compost our clothes, instead of just throwing it away, with the resulting methane emissions being in turn captured and used to produce new garments.


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The UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee has called for a ban on the import of solar panels from Xinjiang Province, China, to tackle forced labour in the supply chain.
In a new report, Never Again: The UK's Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond, the committee lays out a number of actions the Government should take to stop the human rights abuses that the Chinese government is committing against the Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
This includes a number of boycotts and sanctions of products produced in the region, with solar in particular flagged alongside cotton.
“Unless proven otherwise, the mass incarcerations and connected factories and farms mean it should be assumed that any product originating from Xinjiang is the product of forced labour,” states the report. “While much focus has been placed on the textile and apparel sector, other areas such as solar energy, agriculture, and electronics also bear a substantial risk of using forced labour.”
The report follows the UK Government confirming in June that it was investigating allegations of forced labour in the global supply chain. At this point, it refused to state if it would enact sanctions on specific upstream manufacturers in Xinjiang, pointing instead to a “comprehensive package of measures to help ensure no UK organisations are complicit in the serious human rights violations” in the region.
Following months of speculation, the US announced it is going to block imports of some solar products with links to the Xinjiang region last month. This includes metallurgical-grade silicon produced by Hoshine Silicon Industry, one of the world’s largest producers of raw polysilicon, and products from Xinjiang-based subsidiaries of East Hope, GCL New Energy Material and Daqo New Energy, as well as Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
Concerns around the use of forced labour in the solar supply chain have been growing, with the Foreign Affairs Committee noting that the evidence of serious human rights abuses —endorsed by the Chinese government's central leadership — is irrefutable. A report from The Guardian in April found that 40% of UK solar panels include materials sourced from Xinjiang.
Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett said the industry “shares the committee’s determination to protect human rights and is taking collective steps to review best practice in supply-chain due diligence.”
He pointed to work undertaken by the trade associations Responsible Sourcing Task Force, with more than 80 companies signing its statement opposing human rights abuses anywhere in the global supply chain and supporting plans to develop a supply-chain transparency protocol in April.
“The evidence we have seen suggests that concerns relate primarily to the earliest stages of quartz mining and processing of metallurgical silicon, the product of which goes into a range of goods including aluminium, sealants, adhesives, semiconductors in electronics, and more. This matter goes far beyond solar PV,” Hewett continued.
“We remain in close contact with the UK government on this issue and there has been no indication that a change in policy is being considered.”
Solar Energy UK’s statement followed 175 solar manufacturers, utilities and developers including Lightsource BP, Tesla and LONGi signing a pledge to ensure the industry’s supply chain is free of forced labour and calling for more transparency.
Beyond the call for a ban on import of key products from the Xinjiang region, the Committee said the Government should ensure the Chinese Government faces consequences at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and that surveillance companies like Hikvision – which provides equipment to detention camps in the region – are forbidden from operating in the UK, amongst other steps.
“The evidence of severe human rights abuses and crimes against the Uyghur people is already overwhelming and indisputable, and Parliament has called it as genocide,” said chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat MP.
“UK Government should recognise Parliament’s decision, strengthen our response at home, and urge our international partners to protect our own supply chains being used to profit from abuses. China, Britain and others were key to building the institutions to prevent a repeat of the barbarity we saw in Asia and Europe eighty years ago. Now is the time to use them.
“No country is so powerful that it should be able to perpetrate atrocities with impunity. The UK can choose to act and use the mechanisms and levers built into the UN, and other institutions, to hold the Chinese Communist Party to account. As the Communist Party celebrates its one hundredth anniversary, it’s worth remembering that China has been a great civilisation for more than five thousand years. These crimes against the Uyghur people stand out as a black moment in a golden history.”
For more visibility into the PV manufacturing sector, see Solar Media's PV Manufacturing & Technology Report, which allows you to track, benchmark and forecast the shifts in the PV market.


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The cold weather isn’t coming, it seems.
In a research note Monday, analysts at Cowen & Company said we could be looking at another set of abnormally warm weather and traffic has already taken a hit because of it.
Total U.S. retail traffic fell 10.6% in the first week of November, which also happened to be the warmest first week of November in more than 25 years. This time last year—when unseasonably warm weather destroyed fourth quarter sales and left retailers with a glut of inventory going into to 2016—traffic in the first week of November was down a lower 9.86%.
Traffic in October was down 4.6% and was 5.1% slower in September.
Looking specifically at apparel, traffic last week was down 8.71%, which Cowen said could have had to do with both the weather and Halloween.
Precipitation in the first week of November was down 50 percent year over year, while average temperatures were more than 31 degrees warmer year over year and nearly 8 degrees above normal.
Week two of the month may not fare all that much better either. Cowen said it expects traffic to be down between 3 percent and 5 percent, which would be less of a decline that last year’s 8.75%.
According to Weather Trends International (WTI), the second week of November will be the warmest in more than 10 years nationwide. On the West Coast, it will be the warmest in more than 25 years, the South will cool a bit from last week and the East Coast could see temps slightly cooler than last year.
While apparel traffic remains volatile, Cowen said October was a “decent” month but November’s weather forecasts are “a concern.”
The news for November puts Cowen’s September announcement that a colder year-end might boost apparel sales and that winter would come early and stay a while into question.
At the time, Cowen said December is more than 90 percent likely to be cold, allowing for cold weather apparel to be sold at full margin—which all remains to be seen considering temperatures haven’t yet cooled much.


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How a foreign entertainment app captured the kids market in China
China’s mobile market is notoriously difficult to penetrate. Case in point: right now, nine of the country’s top ten highest-grossing iPhone apps come from Chinese developers. But in February, an app from Brazilian developer Movile called PlayKids managed to crack the top 5 grossing list in the “kids” category. How did a foreign entertainment and education app start raking in downloads and cash in the Middle Kingdom? I spoke with PlayKids head of global expansion Eduardo Henrique to find out.
License the right content
First and foremost is licensing local content. Henrique called this “the most important adaptation.” “All content that you see on PlayKids is different country by country,” he said, “because we bring in local content to adapt the platform for the local market.” That might seem obvious, but which content will appeal to Chinese kids isn’t always clear, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of offering only foreign content and marketing the app as one of the billion other “English learning” educational apps out there.
To find the right content, PlayKids did its research and came across Chinese content provider Beva. Beva was perfect for PlayKids, Henrique says. “Their content is very focused on kids under five, [which] is our target,” he told me, “and they’re a huge success in China.” Beva’s 20-billion-plus views across China’s streaming platforms convinced PlayKids that they were the right content provider to partner with, so the company licensed a lot of Beva’s content. The result, as PlayKids’s app rankings bear out, have been very well received.
Translate your content and your marketing
Wholesale translation into the local language is another important step, according to Henrique, and that doesn’t necessarily mean going word-for-word. All of the app’s spoken audio was re-recorded in Chinese; no corners were cut. But PlayKids also came up with a Chinese-language description and screenshots for the Chinese app store, and these marketing materials aren’t just translations of the English app store content. “The [Chinese] description is totally different,” Henrique said, because it places more emphasis on the importance of educational entertainment and the educational activities in the app. That’s hugely important, he said, because the app description and screenshots on the app store are usually the first thing your users see. PlayKids hired local experts and did focus groups to figure out what sort of marketing appealed most to Chinese parents.
PlayKids has also partnered with local ad networks including Tencent’s and Baidu’s, and Henrique said the app is also moving into Chinese social media. “In the West we use Facebook a lot, but we don’t have Facebook in China so we have to adapt the marketing to the local players.” That’s why PlayKids is setting up a WeChat account that will begin operation sometime this month.
Localize your culture
Another key to success: adapt to the local culture! PlayKids is a Netflix-like app that allows kids to watch episodes of various education kids shows, Henrique told me. But because young children can’t read, the app is navigated visually with a cute train: each boxcar attached to the train can be tapped to open up a show or educational game. But in honor of Chinese new year, PlayKids gave the app an (optional) visual overhaul for Chinese new year, complete with traditional colors, lions, dragons, lanterns, and fireworks. That may seem like a simple thing, but for children—who are often drawn to and comforted by the familiar—it’s a big deal.
Understand the differences, and move fast
I asked Henrique what he would recommend other app developers interested in China do if they want to enter the market. “My advice first is to understand the local differences,” he said. “So hire a Chinese country manager that will help you to plan how to localize the product. That’s mandatory.”
“The other advice is that you have to move fast,” Henrique continued. “In China, competitors are extremely agile […] You have to adapt fast and innovate fast because your competitors will copy you, and if they are more adapted to the local market you will lose the competition. So launch, iterate fast, launch new versions, listen to your users, and innovate fast.”


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PYMNTS.com – Yoke Payments is a startup that wants to help sellers take back their storefront popularity as eCommerce continues to disrupt physical retail. The company has developed point-of-sale technology that allows consumers to scan a product barcode and pay for a product with a smartphone — a self-checkout solution that includes inventory management for the business.
“When we entered the corporate world, we were really fed up with how hard it was to eat healthy,” Johnson explained. “The idea for Yoke really came as a solution for a checkout platform for micromarkets, which is a mini health food shop that goes right into a corporate break room.”
That idea came to fruition when CSI Enterprises came into the picture. The corporate payments company, which launched the CSI globalVCard brand, also launched its CSI Kick Start initiative this month, an incubator program to help other payments startups disrupt the industry. Yoke Payments is its first startup, which can access not only the financial support of CSI but also its payments and corporate expertise as well.
Read the full story on PYMNTS.com.


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Tesla Motors can continue to sell its vehicles in the state of New York and might eventually move into the dealership mode that it has continued to fight.
The New York Automobile Dealers Association and Tesla reached an agreement over the electric car company’s five stores in and around the New York City area.
The NYADA was seeking a way to have the stores shut down charging that the stores were violating the auto dealership laws that did not allow selling direct to customers. Every other automaker must rely on dealers that are independently owned to sell their vehicles.
As part of Friday’s compromise, Tesla will continue operating its existing stores. However, any new ones will only be allowed through a dealership arrangement.
Tesla said they were pleased with the new agreement, and indication it is planning dealerships down the road.
Tesla argued that it needed to have direct sales to the consumer so that its own sales people would be able to explain all the advantages of driving an electric car.
Tesla said if it was required to use dealers, who are also selling gas-powered cars that are cheaper, the auto dealers would neglect the latest model vehicle the Tesla Model S that starts at $69,000.
Tesla has a goal of introducing an electric car that is less expensive over the next three years. It hopes it can sell 500,000 cars annually within the next 6 years, which is up from a 2014 projection of 35,000.
Tesla’s company filings concede that having no outside dealership network would be limiting increased sales of the new car.
This latest agreement is just days after Tesla was allowed a deal in the ban on sales in nearby New Jersey.
This agreement with New York is only days after the electric car company was given a delay on a ban for its sales in nearby New Jersey.
The state of New Jersey was set to stop the two stores from Tesla from selling any cars from April 1 on, however that was delayed this week until April 14.


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April 30, 2018
Nintendo has announced that sales of Breath of the Wild have hit 9.98 million between the Switch and Wii U versions, making it the best-selling Legend of Zelda game to date! The Switch version has sold 8.48 million copies, with the Wii U adding 1.5 million copies to the total. This passes the previous record holder, Twilight Princess, which sold 8.85 million copies.
Now there are a few caveats to this milestone. These numbers don’t include remakes or updates. If you factor these in, then Breath of the Wild still sits in third place, behind Ocarina of Time (11.6 million units between the N64 and 3DS versions) and Twilight Princess (10.08 million units between the original and HD remake). However, given how strong sales of the Nintendo Switch continue to be, it is only a matter of time until Breath of the Wild surpasses these numbers as well!


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Equifax: Auto lending gains strength
Auto credit balances are increasing steadily, with the number of new accounts opened approaching pre-recession levels, according to Equifax’s National Consumer Credit Trends Report.
Auto lending through June 2012 has reached $207 billion, a 13.7 percent increase over the same period in 2011.
Sales of new cars and light trucks increased about 15 percent during the first half of the year, dominated by sales of smaller, more efficient and cheaper vehicles.
The number of auto loans originated during the first half of the year — at 10.7 million — is the highest since 2007 when 11 million loans were opened.
Delinquency and write-off rates on auto loans and leases are below levels seen at the start of the recession.
“The average age of cars on the road today in the U.S. is the highest ever recorded and consumers are ready to replace these older vehicles,” Equifax Chief Economist Amy Crews Cutts said in a news release.
“At the same time, the financial picture has improved sufficiently that we are seeing auto lending markets become facilitators rather than obstacles to meeting this demand, especially in the near-prime segment of the market that had all but ceased to exist during the worst of the financial crisis and recession.”
Other highlights from the report include:
- Bank credit card limits have increased more than 36 percent
- Bank credit card accounts exceeded 300 million for the first time since April 2010
- Retail credit card credit limits increased more than 15 percent
- Retail credit card balances stood at more than $51 billion – a 33-month high
- Student loan credit increased more than 15 percent
- Balances of student loans have increased throughout the recession and subsequent recovery, reaching more than $800 billion
- Student loan write-offs totaled $10.6 billion, an increase of more than 10 percent
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It’s a big world out there, with three-quarters of the world’s producing power outside the United States.
For a numbers-oriented CEO, the realities of our dependence on world trade are ever-present, and Louisiana as a big exporting state has much to lose if, as one CEO recently put it, "we don't get trade right."
For the second time in as many years, the head of Union Pacific railroad warned a Louisiana audience of the problems with the new and combative approach of the Trump administration to international trade.
Last year, at the Port of New Orleans, he deplored the prospects of tariffs on steel and aluminum — the original shots in the Donald Trump trade wars — and this year, he gave a somewhat more upbeat report at the annual meeting in Baton Rouge of the Public Affairs Research Council. But it was still a cautionary speech.
Acknowledging that the new president had reason to object to some trade practices in China, Lance M. Fritz said he had advised Trump and others: “If you do anything, get trade right.”
For the railroad he runs, Fritz said, about 40 percent of business is dependent on international trade, moving products to and from 23 U.S. states to ports like those in California and Louisiana. Trade-related jobs pay better across the economy, and American exports now include oil and gas, because of “a wonderful revolution in oil and gas production” onshore in the United States.
Getting commodities to market, though, is one part of the trade equation; another is having someplace for them to go. Fritz regretted that the new administration pulled out of a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, but he added that the good news is that the president appears committed to one-by-one trade agreements with partners like Japan.
But of the TPP benefits that would have been gained for the United States, Fritz said he expected that about 85 percent would be covered under the new bilateral agreement worked out with Japan, as an example of the new approach.
Fritz said the conclusion of a trade deal that revised the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada was constructive. “For now, it appears to be working out,” he said.
But he also noted that Congress must still approve the new language.
“We can’t take that lightly in terms of getting it ratified,” he said.
With a strong economy emerging from the chaos of the 2008 financial crisis, America is poised for growth, and Louisiana’s markets — Mexico and Canada in the new trade agreement, but also countries in Asia as well — must be connected with trade agreements.
NAFTA 2.0, as it is should be called, is good for Louisiana as well as the rest of the country. We urge Louisiana members of Congress to support its ratification.


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SHERWOOD PARK, Alberta, Nov. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Ford Mustang is an iconic performance car, drawing legions of fans over the years on the back of its stellar power, bold style and availability for customization. The 2020 Ford Mustang GT Premium Convertible is no exception, so with the help of ROUSH Performance Support Technicians, Edmonton-area dealership Sherwood Ford was able to install a supercharger kit inside the 2020 Mustang GT that adds greatly to its power, precision, and appeal.
This ROUSH Performance Kit is able to fit all 5.0L Ford Mustang GT models from the 2018 to 2020 model years, and is compatible with either automatic or manual transmissions. All told, the kit can bump the Mustang GT's power ratings up to 700 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque with 91 octane fuel in the tank.
As part of ROUSH's Twin Vortices Series (TVS) line of superchargers, this kit offers an all-aluminum intercooler and full-face radiator, pressure relief port for reduced necessary input power, and bigger bearings and thicker timing gears for increased durability. In addition, a high-flow induction system has also been installed to increase efficiency and air flow, thanks to its larger throttle body than in years prior.
By purchasing this kit, drivers will also have the opportunity to upgrade its software when updates are available, helping to calibrate the engine for higher performance and better reliability. A 3-year, 60,000-kilometre Limited Powertrain Warranty plan is standard when buying this kit, which is priced at $12,000 CAD.
This world-first supercharged 2020 Mustang GT is currently on display at Sherwood Ford, and the dealership would like to give a huge shoutout to Drew Pearse, the Performance Technician who took on a huge role in getting this tune and build completed.
Any members of the public who would like more information on the ROUSH Performance Kit, or have further questions about the build, are encouraged to contact Sherwood Ford by phone at 780-638-5043 or online at sherwoodford.ca. The dealership is located at 2540 Broadmoor Boulevard in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
SOURCE Sherwood Ford


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The latest hype surrounding Sony’s PS4 console is that an updated version will be announced soon. Also labelled the PS4K and PS4.5, the rumours and discussion has being greeted with be positivity and negativity. In the past, of course, with previous console releases, Sony would update a console with a Slim edition, often multiple times through the console’s lifespan. Take the PS2 Slim and PS3 Slim editions as examples, yet this possible PS4 console upgrade is set to go far beyond just a slimming down.
It’s important to realise that technology is striding on at a pace not seem back in the days of the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. Perhaps it’s this reason which is making console manufactures think hard about how they approach this issue. After all, you can’t have an updated PS4 releasing every year, it wouldn’t make sense and consumers wouldn’t be able to keep up. This is where the great argument lies, Sony could ultimately alienate current owners by making a brass decision, but this would depend on multiple factors.
As Nintendo work on project NX, things are hotting up for console manufactures. The PS4 Neo could potentially offer advanced hardware, be a little slimmer and more.
If this does happen, does this mean that a PS5 won’t happen? Absolutely not. The idea that Sony would continuously upgrade the PS4 isn’t just a daft idea, but it can’t happen when you consider how cloud gaming will continue to develop over the next 10 years.
If all of the rumours and reports are true, and let’s face it, they might all be wrong – totally wrong, then an announcement at this year’s E3 makes perfect sense. It could just be that Sony are working on an updated PS4, but not on the scale that these reports suggest, maybe like Chinese whispers, things have been taken out of context.
One big question on the table has been weather this new console would entertain exclusive game releases. According to reports, this will not be the case, meaning everything will be kept even across the board for PS4 owners – good news for current owners of the base models. However, this isn’t to say that a PS4 Neo wouldn’t run games better and at a higher resolution, such as 4K. This is when the consideration between Sony’s upcoming PS VR become a possible highlight for an updated PS4 console gaming system.
Many fans seem to like the idea that once you’ve purchased the PS4 you get new and exciting features further down the line, but without the need to go out and buy yet another ‘updated ps4’. And this is totally reasonable for consumers to want this. When the technology is quite outdated, then is the time for a brand new console to move in on the red carpet, namely the PlayStation 5.
How do you feel about the concept of an updated PS4 console? Get the discussion going in the comments below.


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Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exploding issue has caused the company to recall all the units which may end up costing the Korean company over a billion dollars.
SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus have announced that customers who have purchased the Galaxy Note 7 can get a full refund for returning their handset.
In case you can’t recall, there have been many incidents of the smartphone catching fire — with batteries exploding — while charging. Samsung took the issue seriously and it was later revealed that the main cause is faulty batteries in some of the handsets which caused the company to recall the handsets.
In the United States, T-Mobile also offered users with a full refund for the handset. The Korean company is also giving its customers an option to swap the device with a Galaxy S7 or the Galaxy S7 edge at any of their service centers at no additional charges.
Hopefully, Samsung will be able to figure out the root cause for this issue and fix this before things get out of hand. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything more about this issue and when customers will be able to purchase the Galaxy Note 7.
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On Friday, Iranian families will mark the winter solstice, the longest, darkest night of the year. Yalda festivities are usually a time to recite poems and feast on cured meats and fresh fruit, especially the pomegranate.
But this year sanctions have kept the precious fruit on vendors’ shelves – its price is out of reach for many grappling with the flailing economy.
In the northern Iranian city of Rasht, fruit vendor Farshid says families are unable to afford a decent quality of life or to spend money on recreation, manifested in their reluctance to buy fruit for the solstice.
“Yalda night is a time of the year we sell more, but this time, it seems that there’s no trace of increased sales. The prices are so high that people prefer to spend their Yalda night with only a watermelon. They don’t go on a lavish shopping spree for pomegranates,” he told Asia Times.
“I’m not sure if our authorities are aware of the situation or pretend that they don’t know anything about the prices.”
In taxis and bread lines, shopping centers and family gatherings, these days it is not uncommon to hear Iranians complaining about their decreasing purchasing power and worsening livelihoods.
Iran’s economy is going through a tumultuous period. With the United States tightening the noose and Tehran defiant and unwilling to negotiate, ordinary citizens are paying the price for a bitter political rivalry between two stubborn governments not ready for compromises.
Disappointment is the common denominator in their description of their living conditions. Despite claims by the authorities that people are resisting the pressure of the economic sanctions, the public is hit hard by Washington’s punitive measures against the country, and the national economy is suffering gravely.
In May, US President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal that was signed by Iran and six world powers and endorsed by the UN Security Council through Resolution 2231. Trump’s decision paved the way for the reinstatement of unilateral sanctions against Iran. All the sanctions that had been lifted as part of the nuclear deal snapped back into place.
Trump made it clear that countries doing business with Iran would not be doing business with the United States. The stated goal of the Trump administration was to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero through a “maximum pressure” strategy, aimed at coercing Iran into capitulation and negotiating a new deal.
The US apparently does not have a tangible alternative to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, popularly known as the Iran deal. Senior officials speak vaguely of the need for Iran to behave like a “normal country” and the administration is obviously displeased with Iran’s “malign influence” in the region.
However, aside from the grueling sanctions that will certainly strangle Iran’s economy, the US under Trump does not appear to have a clear vision for its future interactions with the Islamic republic.
In recent remarks, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif acknowledged that US sanctions hurt the average citizen, but he said they will not lead to a change of policy. Iranian officials say they will not negotiate with the United States under the shadow of sanctions and political pressure.
Not even carpets
The US sanctions against Iran target the country’s oil, banking, shipping, aviation and insurance sectors and are aimed at paralyzing the oil-rich nation’s economy. They are so all-encompassing and extensive that they even include restrictions on Iran’s carpet industry.
According to Trump, these sanctions are the most stringent ever instituted by the United States. The first round of sanctions was introduced on August 7 and the second phase of the sanctions went into motion on November 5.
In the first round of sanctions in August, limitations on Iran’s acquisition of US dollars, Iranian trade in gold and other precious metals and the purchase or sale of Iranian rials outside Iran were put in place.
In the second round of sanctions, buying oil or any petrol-based product from Iran was banned; some 200 people and vessels connected to Iran’s shipping lines were sanctioned; transactions by foreign finance organizations with 50 Iranian banks, including the Central Bank of Iran, were declared forbidden; and 67 aircraft belonging to Iranian airliners and 23 people and organizations linked to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran were put on the US Department of Treasury’s blacklist.
All of these penalties imposed by the United States, coupled with mismanagement on behalf of the authorities and widespread corruption, have rendered the Iranian economy ailing and its prospects unpromising.
The national currency, the rial, has strikingly lost its value against the US dollar, at times trading at about 190,000 rials per dollar, and the price of consumer goods, food and medicine has soared to incredible levels.
Can’t afford a fridge
An optometrist in Rasht, which sits along the Caspian Sea, is unhappy about how the sanctions have impacted her enterprise.
“The number of patients has been halved. People’s purchasing power has declined unimaginably. The optical lenses that could be bought for 200,000 rials are now 800,000 rials. High-quality lenses and spectacles are not imported anymore and those existing in the market are offered for horrible prices,” she told Asia Times.
Hyperinflation and the inability of families to secure a decent living constitute the basis for many of the Iranian people’s grievances. They blame the current economic chaos on the government in Tehran and the US sanctions alike.
Shohreh Rahimizadeh is a teacher and school principal with an infant child. She says her lifestyle and her investment in her child have been hugely affected as a result of the sanctions and the economic turmoil engulfing the country.
“My income and that of my husband hasn’t changed significantly since last year, but the prices have jumped unbelievably. The diapers I used to buy at 210,000 rials per package are now 580,000 rials. Baby milk that I could buy for around 160,000 rials is now sold for 210,000 rials,” she said.
Rahimizadeh said she had saved 100 million rials last year with the goal of buying a new refrigerator to replace her old, broken one. The price for the same item is now 350 million rials and she cannot afford it.


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WeWork’s Q2 net loss widens from a year ago but is less than half that of Q1 as recovery accelerates
WeWork reported Friday a second-quarter net loss that widened slightly from a year ago, but was less than half that of the first-quarter, as the flexible-office-space company said recovery trends that started earlier this year accelerated. WeWork is set to go public by way of a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) BowX Acquisition Corp.
WeWork reported a net loss of $888.85 million for the quarter ended June 30, compared with a loss of $863.83 million in the year-ago period but down from $2.06 billion in the first quarter. Revenue fell 32.7% from a year ago to $593.48 million, and was down slightly from $598 million in the first quarter, but the company said revenue increased sequentially each month in the second quarter. The company expects third-quarter revenue to improve to $650 million to $700 million. “Regardless of how companies are thinking about the future of work, access to a space to collaborate, innovate, mentor and build culture remains critical,” said Chief Executive Sandeep Mathrani. “The demand from businesses of all sizes accelerated through the quarter and steadily continued into July, delivering strong sales momentum that will drive occupancy and revenue growth.” BowX Acquisition’s stock edged up 0.1% in premarket trading.


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Doug Field has made the largest Ford Motor Co. share purchase by an executive outside the Ford family in at least 20 years, according to a company that tracks stock transactions.
Field, a former Apple and Tesla executive who is now Ford’s chief electric vehicle, digital and design officer, bought $2 million worth of stock in the automaker, according to a Dec. 11 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He acquired 182,000 shares at $11.05 each.
His purchase is double the $1 million in stock that then-COO Jim Farley purchased in May 2020 as he tried to project optimism in the company’s recovery plans early during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Doug has a substantial ownership interest in Ford stock, which shows he believes in the company’s future,” a Ford spokesperson said in a statement to Automotive News.
VerityData said Field’s purchase is the largest by a nonfamily Ford insider since its database began in 2004. Ben Silverman, VerityData’s director of research, said it’s also a sign that Field believes the stock is undervalued.
“When you look at what Ford and Field in his position are trying to accomplish, you can get the idea he’s making a long-term bet,” Silverman said in an interview.
He said the purchase is especially notable because Field’s compensation already is more tied to the company’s stock price than other Ford executives.
“That makes it very compelling when you see someone who is getting a significant dollar value of stock every year, which removes the incentive to really ever buy,” Silverman said. “So why would they be buying then? He’s sending an undervalued message.”
Ford stock has fallen roughly 7 percent this year and was trading around $11.15 per share Tuesday afternoon. Despite their 2023 decline, shares have risen about 45 percent since Farley became CEO in October 2020.
Field, who joined Ford in 2021, is responsible for a host of vehicle services, including over-the-air software updates and the technology platforms that underpin vehicles across the globe. He previously was Ford’s chief advanced technology and embedded systems officer.


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"Australia's biggest attraction is me," he would insist as he sat alone.
The surly one with the fuzzy ears has been off U.S. TV since 1991. But on April 11, the airline breaks three 15-second TV spots touting its upgraded business-class service, and the somewhat devilish koala will be there-enjoying the roomier seats, attentive service and improved food.
The seeds for the revival were sown in late 1995, when Aussie Peter McLaughlin arrived in southern California to run Qantas' marketing operations for North and South America.
EVERYONE REMEMBERED HIM
Wherever Mr. McLaughlin was-at the House of Blues in Los Angeles or riding a cab in New York-he learned that U.S. consumers still identified Qantas with its defunct TV icon.
"It didn't matter where you went," said Mr. McLaughlin, VP-marketing for the Americas. "Everyone seemed to remember the koala commercials."
Qantas' scientific research yielded similar results, and the 45-year-old, one-time Qantas flight attendant gave the go-ahead to bring back the koala.
The ads by M&C Saatchi, Sydney, will run on national cable TV through June. In November, another flight will run, along with two new koala spots. A print ad campaign follows sometime after midyear, and three more TV spots are expected in 2000.
Spending on the campaign wasn't disclosed.
Qantas offers direct flights to Australia from Los Angeles and Honolulu, and claims to be the No. 1 carrier between its homeland and the U.S., with 43% of the market. United Airlines and Air New Zealand also offer direct service.
SUPER BOWL PRESENCE
The new campaign follows up on a single commercial that Qantas ran during the Super Bowl pre-game show in January, designed to raise general brand awareness. That spot, which was its first advertising in the U.S. for nearly a decade, featured Australian girls and boys choirs traveling the globe.
Qantas officials say the revitalized koala campaign is designed to promote the more than $500 million it has spent since 1997 on reconfiguring its planes and upgrading its profitable business-class service. Seats now include a push-button control panel for adjustments and the new cuisine is from Neil Perry, a chef with the type of pedigree in Australia that Wolfgang Puck enjoys in the U.S.
Though airline officials deny any link, the campaign's timing comes just before the world turns its attention to Australia for the Sydney Olympics in September 2000. Many fans are making travel plans to head Down Under already, and the coverage of Australia on prime-time TV next fall could increase its popularity as a tourist destination long after the Olympic torch goes out.
Still, Mr. McLaughlin said, "If there was no Olympics, the campaign would be happening anyway."
Marketing experts, however, say the pre-Olympics ad blitz is a smart move for Qantas and feel the airline may benefit from this early persuasion.
"Sometimes associating yourself with the Games can just be a question of timing or, literally in this case, of accent," said Lee Berke, senior VP-marketing for Marquee Group, New York, a sports and entertainment marketing company. "You have an Australian narrator, an Australian airline being advertised, and you talk about going to Sydney 18 months before the Games."
"It makes an awful lot of sense," said Renee Frengut, a consumer psychologist who works with marketers. "With people going to be traveling to [Australia], it's certainly putting in their minds [that] we're still here and we're better than ever."
DEAL WITH NBC
Losing out on being an official Olympics sponsor-it bid less than competitor Ansett Airlines of Australia-didn't stop Qantas from inking a deal with NBC to carry its employees and guests to Sydney before and during the Games.
NBC Sports VP-Sports Information and Special Projects Ed Markey said it was unclear whether the agreement involves any promotion of the airline during the network's broadcasts.
Like the Taco Bell chihuahua and Budweiser frogs and lizards, the new advertising uses the koala's cuteness and humor to appeal to consumers-as Qantas


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Just build cars and stop trying to join a stupid fad.
Bentley is best known for building ultra-luxurious highway missiles such as the Continental GT and Bentayga, but this historic British automaker has an eye on the future, and we're not talking hybrids or electric vehicles, we're talking NFTs. Non-fungible tokens have taken the world by storm in the past year, and the automotive industry has jumped on the bandwagon quicker than you can shout scam. McLaren has released an NFT of its P1 Hypercar, and even the final Lamborghini Aventador came with an NFT. These tokens are basically digital data stored on the blockchain and are a fugazi trend if we ever saw one. But that hasn't stopped Bentley from jumping aboard the bandwagon.
Bentley has announced its first NFT drop which will go live on the carbon-neutral Polygon network. The drop, which is scheduled for September 2022, is limited to just 208 pieces, representing the top speed of the Continental GT Speed, and the total production run of the R-Type Continental of 1952. The first Bentley NFT has been created by Bentley Design and will be minted on Polygon, an Ethereum scaling platform that lives within the Web3 ecosystem. If this all sounds like gobbledygook then you're not alone. As the cryptocurrency and NFT markets continue to crumble, we wonder if now is the best time to be launching an NFT. Even if the NFT itself is completely useless (read valueless), at least Bentley's first one will be completely carbon neutral, playing into its vision of being carbon neutral by 2030.
This sounds like a hollow gesture if we've ever heard one, but Bentley promises exclusive community opportunities, rewards, and unique utilities to owners. Anything tangible? Doesn't seem that way.
The proceeds of these internet fun tokens will partly go towards the brand's philanthropic efforts, including funding for students studying manufacturing and design.
"Bentley customers are living their lives online, purchasing luxury goods with digital currency, and establishing businesses in the Metaverse," said member of the board for sales and marketing, Alain Favey. "We've always engaged our customers where they explore their passions, and today that means being present in digital marketplaces and offering NFT assets. We've seen how NFTs have raised the profiles of both art and artists, and we believe the same can happen in the luxury automotive space."
Buy the Bentley, not the dip, bros.


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Sunday, November 11, 2012
Faulty hip implant shows up failings of EU regulation (1 of 3 in a series)
Deborah Cohen describes an investigation showing how a fake hip prosthesis with dangerous design flaws stood to be approved for the EU market
A joint undercover investigation by the BMJ and the Daily Telegraph has exposed flaws in the EU system used to grant market access for devices such as replacement hips, cardiac defibrillators, and breast implants.
The investigation involved submitting a fake application for a large diameter metal-on-metal total hip prosthesis for approval by a notified body in Slovakia—the commercial organisations charged with evaluating the safety and performance of medical devices across Europe by granting them a CE certificate.
The hip—whose specification was designed for the purposes of the investigation—had similar specifications to the DePuy ASR XL acetabular system—a device that has been recalled from the market after failing at unacceptable rates and releasing metal ions into patients’ blood.1 Nevertheless, last week the notified body provisionally allowed the product to go forward to certification.
One notified body authorised to certify products for medical use across Europe, has been secretly recorded admitting that it is “on the side of the manufacturer.”
Last night, Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, said it was “completely unacceptable” that patient safety could be endangered by potentially dangerous implants.
“The safety of patients is paramount so it is completely unacceptable that patients could be subject to substandard implants,” he said. “I will ask the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and British Orthopaedic Association what we can do to ensure that patients can be confident they will receive the highest quality of devices when they need them.”
ITC, a regulatory organisation in the Czech Republic was also prepared to consider licensing the product, despite widespread concerns about the use of large diameter metal-on-metal hip prostheses. In some countries, surgeons have been told not to use them.
One representative of ITC told reporters that his company would not put “obstacles” in the way of approving the device and said it was “on the side of the manufacturer and their products, not on the side of the patients.”
Another notified body was recorded admitting that some of the dossiers for products legally on sale were “horrible” because of the deficiencies of the regulatory system.
When we later put this to ITC, it did not respond directly to any points raised but said it complied “in full accordance with the law.”
The investigation raises serious questions over the safeguards protecting patients. The system of licensing medical devices and surgical implants works on a pan-European basis and regulators in this country refuse to disclose where products have been certified.
More than 70 private agencies are competing for business—meaning the system is susceptible to corrupt practices, such as those uncovered during the recent PIP breast implant scandal.
The regulatory system works in a similar way to the licensing process for household electrical appliances and toys rather than the far more rigorous system applied to approving drugs.
Writing an accompanying editorial in the BMJ, Peter McCulloch, reader in surgery at the University of Oxford, has described the current EU rules for licensing medical devices as: “fragmented, privatised, and largely opaque; safety is dealt with in an unsatisfactory way and efficacy not at all.”2
He said that patient safety and not trade should take centre stage of the system to regulate medical devices.
The European system of regulating medical implants has been heavily criticised after a series of high profile device failures and recalls, exposing large numbers of patients to additional investigations and revision surgery.
Reporters purporting to represent a Chinese medical company contacted the notified bodies about approving a hip implant for the European market. The proposed product was a large diameter “metal-on-metal” total hip prosthesis, which should have raised concern. Many of these products have a high failure rate and pose a risk of metal ions being deposited in the blood stream.
But some notified bodies said it would not be necessary to perform clinical studies on the implant because similar ones were already on the market. The reporters submitted a detailed technical dossier describing the device they wanted to be certified to EVPU, a notified body in Slovakia.
Notified bodies are only supposed to certify— or reject—a product for sale, but EVPU also appeared willing to give advice with its fee dependent on passing the implant.
At a meeting in the company’s office in Nová Dubnica, Peter Luley explained that although EVPU couldn’t give “exact advice,” it sometimes “crosses the line” when telling clients what to do and this was why clients’ applications were so successful.
“We just cross the line and say just do this and it will be ok,” said Luley. “Therefore we have so high rate of successful certification,” he explained.
The cost of approval would be €2750 (£2240; $3590), with 50% to be paid up front and the rest on certification of the product. His colleague, Lubica Skrovanova, said that only four applications for the regulatory certificate had failed in the past five years.
The BMJ and the Daily Telegraph submitted a 70 page dossier based on the DePuy ASR XL acetabular system—a device that has been recalled from the market. However, even though the file explicitly listed the ASR XL as an equivalent device along with another that has also been recalled and a third that is subject to safety concerns, Skrovanova indicated she would provisionally allow the application in respect of the implant to go forward. The technical file also included a wear report on the fake hip implant that clearly showed that it released toxic levels of metal ions.
Once the contract had been signed and payment made, EVPU emailed its comments. A document outlining the content of the file noted that some sections of the dossier were missing—largely relating to the manufacturing process and risk assessments. However, the pages detailing the “product” features and “principle features of the device” were described as “OK.”
Skrovanova said the fictional company needed to submit documents relating to the manufacturing process before a certificate was issued. A factory inspection would also be necessary before CE approval. These were not related to the design specifications of the product.
EVPU declined to answer follow-up questions.
At Szutest, another notified body in Brno, Czech Republic, an executive openly admitted that the system was riddled with problems and that unsuitable devices were on sale.
Michael Bauer from the firm said: “Some of the notified bodies from eastern Europe and also western Europe have—well, they are not going well with the directive [an EU document that sets out patient safety standards].”
“When I have seen some certificates issued for some products, it was horrible.”
He added: “I have seen some notified body… that certified some product that, well, was from Korea, South Korea of course, and the product was completely different, the final product than was in the instruction for use.”
“It was certified. And it caused here in Czech Republic some issue and it [caused] some injury.”
Szutest said that it “fully complies” with EU procedures and the meeting was “merely an introductory session before commencement of the contract as such.”
They said that the company had not started the process of certification and even if they had accepted the order, it would not have guaranteed success.
The company said that the statements made by Bauer were “entirely his personal opinion.”
Posted by Connie at 3:58 PM


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What’s it like to work on the campaign to launch one of the biggest novels this year?
In September Margaret Atwood’s hotly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments, was published, to incredible demand and critical acclaim – including being announced as one of two winners of the 2019 Booker Prize. We spoke to Fran and Mari, from the Vintage Publicity Team, about what it was like to create a campaign for the biggest book of the year, and what their favourite moments were.
What was your role, and what did it involve?
We planned and implemented all aspects of the UK publicity campaign and co-ordinated the publicity for our group companies in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & Asia.
Our campaign spanned from the first tweet Margaret sent out announcing the book on 28th November 2018 to the midnight launch in London on the eve of publication on 10th September 2019, to the Booker Prize and beyond. It involved a global press conference on publication day, a special edition of the Sunday Times Style magazine, 24-hours of back-to-back broadcast coverage on publication day, a 500-copy review mailing, front page news, political cartoons, internet memes, fashion trend pieces and much more.
What was it like to work with such a high-profile and highly-esteemed author?
It was the joy and honour of our careers. Exciting, fast-paced, high-stakes and…fun! Margaret is so much fun to be around, we really laughed a lot.
What was it like to work on the campaign for the biggest book of 2019?
It was incredibly satisfying to see the impact a book could have, it really felt that everyone was talking about The Testaments. To see a book projected onto the National Theatre in London gave us chills – that kind of thing doesn’t happen in our world every day. It felt truly momentous and special.
What was your favourite moment of the campaign?
There were so many highlights – we can’t pick just one! So here are three. Seeing the first copy of Sunday Times Style special Margaret Atwood issue with Tim Walker’s incredible portraits of Margaret literally made us weep tears of joy. Margaret ringing the bell at Waterstones Piccadilly at midnight to signal that books were on sale (after months of work this moment was truly special!). Seeing Margaret Atwood and Berdardine Evaristo collect the Booker Prize as joint winners of the Booker prize for 2019.
What book/campaign are you next working on?
We are working on Sam Leith (the Spectator’s Literary Editor)’s Our Time in Rhymes – it’s a review of 2019 in comic verse. A testament of a very different kind!


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There’s a saying that goes: “The easiest way to become a millionaire is to become a billionaire and buy a football club.”
However, with the right planning and structure, there is a lot of positives (mainly financial) to buying a NFL franchise.
This list, according to Forbes latest figures is the 14 richest businessmen that own NFL franchises.
In order to get where they are today these gentlemen have done it all, all in the name of money.
14. Dan Snyder – Net Worth: $2.1 Billion
Snyder has owned the Washington Redskins since 1999.
After buying the team and the FedEx Field for $800m, Snyder has helped improve the annual revenue from $100m to $245m.


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Nashville SC has secured a jersey partner for its inaugural USL season, as the club has announced a multiyear sponsorship from Nissan.
As part of the announcement, Nashville SC unveiled one of two jerseys that will be worn during the club’s debut 2018 campaign. Fans are being invited to vote on the club’s second jersey through an online poll at www.nashvillesc.com.
“We are proud to have Nissan, a pillar of the Middle Tennessee community, as our flagship jersey sponsor,” said Michael Schetzel, Vice President of Ticketing and Corporate Partnerships for Nashville SC. “Nissan and Nashville SC represent what makes Tennessee special, such as commitment to community, diversity and entrepreneurial spirit. Nissan’s reputation as an innovative, global brand is one we aspire to build at this club. Partnering with such a well-respected company as Nissan is another affirmation of the significance Nashville SC has in this community.”
Nissan has strong ties to Nashville with its North American headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., its vehicle and battery assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn., and powertrain plant in Decherd, Tenn., employing more than 12,000 in the area. The global vehicle manufacturer also holds a strong global soccer portfolio, which includes partnerships with the UEFA Champions League, the English Premier League’s Manchester City, and the Mexican National Team’s U.S. Tour.
“Soccer is truly the World’s Game with a very loyal following – unifying communities and erasing borders,” said Jeremy Tucker, Vice President, Marketing Communications and Media, Nissan North America. “It’s exciting to share our support and pride with our community, our customers in Tennessee, and those around the world who are passionate fans of the game. Like Nashville SC, Nissan is a close-knit team continually striving to be the best – and we are proud to call Tennessee home.”
Nashville SC will make its USL debut next March, when it plays its first game at First Tennessee Park. It is one of five club slated to join USL in 2018, along with Fresno FC, Las Vegas Lights FC, North Carolina FC (from NASL), and a Gwinnett County, GA-based team owned and operated by MLS’s Atlanta United FC.
Image courtesy Nashville SC and USL.
RELATED STORIES: Nashville SC Set to Begin USL Play With MLS Dreams


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Additives for Polymers (v.2015, #12)
UK masterbatch manufacturer Silvergate Plastics has launched a new range of masterbatch products developed specifically for 3D printing. The company says it can customize any colour and offer both acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) polymers, the two thermoplastics most commonly used in 3D printing filaments. The new range was introduced at the 2015 TCT Show in Birmingham, UK, a leading event for the 3D printing and additive manufacturing sector.
In North America, Arkema has introduced the latest innovation in its Vul-Cup® line of crosslinking peroxide products. According to the company, Vul-Cup 40C-SP2 answers a need from the region's rubber and elastomers industry due to recent changes in the market for chlorinated polyethylene. The new crosslinking agent was presented at the 2015 International Elastomer Conference held in October in Cleveland, OH, USA.
Chemicals giant BASF SE has extended its amines range with the addition of cycloaliphatic diamine methylcyclohexyldiamine (MCDA). The new product, which is marketed under the brand name Baxxodur® EC210, is used as an aminic hardener in epoxy resin-based systems.
US speciality chemicals producer Chemtura Corp has announced its exit from the manufacture and sale of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-based flame retardant products, citing ‘an unsustainable commercial environment’ for the chemical.
Air Products and Chemicals has introduced the new Polycat™ 204 catalyst for use in rigid polyurethane (PU) foams. According to the company, the non-emissive catalyst is specifically designed to help PU foam producers maximize their foam performance and achieve up to six to eight months of system stability when incorporating ‘next generation’ hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) blowing agents, such as Honeywell's Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) [ADPO, December 2011].
Trexel, Inc of Wilmington, MA, USA, has been granted an exclusive licence by Polyfil Corp to develop and commercialize the TecoCell® chemical foaming technology for all injection moulding and automotive blow moulding applications. The companies claim that TecoCell produces a highly consistent microcellular foam. Polyfil will continue to market the foaming technology under the EcoCell name for extrusion applications.
Carbon black supplier Orion Engineered Carbons SA and Evonik Industries AG have announced agreements on transactions whereby Orion will acquire Evonik's 52% stake as well as Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH's (DEG) 15% stake in Qingdao Evonik Chemical Co, Ltd (QECC). QECC is a joint venture established by Evonik, DEG and Jiaozhou Finance Investment Center (JFIC) in 1994 based in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. It has a production capacity of approximately 75 000 tonnes of carbon black per annum.
In China, BASF and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec) have inaugurated their world-scale isononanol (INA) plant in Maoming Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. The plant, which has an annual capacity of 180 000 tonnes, will be run by the partners' 50–50 joint venture BASF MPCC Co Ltd (BMC) [ADPO, March 2013]. This is the first INA plant in China and will serve the growing demand for next-generation plasticizers, the companies say.
UK-based company Akcros Chemicals has acquired the PVC Additives business of Italian chemicals producer Lamberti SpA, effective 1 December 2015. According to Akcros, the transaction brings together ‘two leading additives producers’, both with ‘a strong reputation’ for quality, technical innovation, flexibility and customer focus. The deal extends their combined leadership position in flexible PVC additives and broadens their geographic scope of operation, the company adds.
Chicago-headquartered company Hallstar has acquired fellow speciality chemicals producer Fortinbrás, based in Jaguariúna, São Paulo, Brazil. According to Hallstar, the transaction is the latest move in its ‘steady growth trajectory and global expansion’. The acquisition increases the company's presence in the fast-growing emerging market of Brazil and in the greater Latin American region.
For the third quarter of 2015, Cytec Industries Inc reported net earnings of US$59.5 million on net sales from continuing operations of $497 million. Excluding special items, net earnings from continuing operations were $65.8 million. By comparison, the company's net earnings from continuing operations for 3Q 2014 were $53.8 million (or $54.2 million excluding special items) on net sales of $507 million.
Colorant specialist Penn Color is expanding its European plant at Venray in the Netherlands in a move that doubles the facility's production capacity for colour and additive masterbatches. According to the company, the expansion was necessitated as a result of its ‘continued rapid growth in Europe’.
Switzerland's speciality chemicals group Clariant International Ltd reported sales of CHF1.41 billion (€1.30 billion) for the third quarter of 2015, a decline of 6% in Swiss franc terms from sales of CHF1.507 billion in 3Q 2014. However, the sales total represented growth of 2% in local currencies, with both volumes and prices up 1%, the company says. Net income from continuing operations was CHF60 million in 3Q 2015, up 3% from the previous year.
For its fiscal 2015 fourth quarter ended 31 August 2015, Akron-headquartered A. Schulman, Inc posted consolidated net sales of US$674.0 million, compared with $627.4 million in the same quarter of 2014. Sales were boosted by its Citadel Plastics acquisition but reduced by $79.8 million of unfavourable foreign currency translation. Income from continuing operations was $24.0 million for the quarter, up from $15.2 million the previous year. Net income rose from $15.39 million in 4Q 2014 to $23.97 million this year.
San Francisco-based market research and consulting company Grand View Research, Inc (GVR) has published a new report analysing the global plastics additives market and providing forecasts to 2022. The market is examined according to additive function and product type.
Events calendar (12).


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Skype’s technology lets users make free calls between two PCs, smartphones or TVs, but the company charges users to call over land-line phones. The company is profitable, earning $13.1 million for the six months ended June 30, according to its S-1 filing to go public. No date has been set for its IPO.
Skype rushed the app for New Year’s Eve, the biggest day of the year for video calls. More than 70 million iPhones and nearly 7.5 million iPads have been sold. A new iPad is rumored to be unveiled soon and feature front and rear video cameras, according to multiple websites, including DigiTimes, citing unnamed sources. USA TODAY was unable to confirm the report.
Few details are in Skype’s IPO regulatory filing, including how much the company — owned by private investor Silver Lake Partners, eBay, venture fund Andreessen Horowitz and others — plans to raise or how many shares it intends to sell.
Regardless, Skype appears ready to go public. With 25 million concurrent users a day — 140 million to 150 million unique visitors a month — it is aggressively expanding its customer base beyond PCs and smartphones. It has designs on tablet computers and televisions, as evidenced by deals with the likes of Samsung and Panasonic that will put its products into about 40 million TV sets.


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DOT slogan-bearing firms boost Philippine tourism-A A +A
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
THREE private companies -- two of which are based in Davao City -- have thrown full support to the country's tourism industry by carrying the Department of Tourism (DOT) slogan.
From airplane to taxi units to coffee cups, the DOT slogan "It's More Fun in the Philippines" will be inscribed as the country intensified its campaign to lure more tourists, especially in Davao City, which is touted as the next tourism gateway of the Philippines.
No less than Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. spearheaded the launching of the DOT slogan in the Southeast Asia Airlines (Seair) aircraft, Mabuhay black taxi units and Blugre coffee cups.
The launch coincides with the city's 27th Kadayawan Festival celebration, which attracted hundreds of foreign and local tourists.
Seair, Mabuhay Taxi and Blugre Coffee took the initiative of bearing the DOT slogan to help the department promote Davao and the country in general as a tourism haven in Asia.
On Saturday, executives of the Mabuhay Taxi officially launched its 25 Black Taxi units, each of them carrying the slogan and with photos of tourist sites of the Davao Region printed on both side doors.
Pierre Ryan Tan, assistant manager of the Mabuhay Taxi Davao, said those pictures printed on every unit are unique to one another.
He said his company was the one who proposed to the DOT-Davao headed by Arturo Boncato to carry both the tourism slogan and different pictures of the best destinations in the region.
All Black Taxi Units are equipped with point-of-sale (POS) devices or swiper and global positioning devices (GPS), which is first in the Philippines.
These taxi units became viral on the internet because of its POS devices, an additional feature that can spruce up convenience for passengers through the use of a debit card.
However, these POS devices don't accept credit card to pay up the fare, but Tan said some time in the last quarter of this year, they might as well allow the use of credit cards for the delight of the passengers.
For homegrown Blugre Coffee, Joanne Siy, vice president for operations and franchise, said putting the slogan "It's More Fun in the Philippines" in their coffee cups is part of promoting the coffee shop in the nationwide scale.
Siy said Blugre is among the most-sought after places in Davao for tourists and joining DOT in its campaign will also promote the coffee shop.
"We're also expecting an increase in revenue now that we have the slogan on our cups," she said.
On Sunday, Seair opened new flights from Davao City to Metro Manila with the tourism slogan of the country emblazoned on its fuselage.
Seair chief executive officer Patric Tan said their brand new Airbus 320 will fly twice a day. He said the frequency of flights will increase to thrice a week starting October 8. The aircraft has 186-seating capacity.
The firm also plans to acquire at least two brand new units of Airbus 320 every year for the next three years.
Jimenez earlier declared that Asia is the next tourism spot of travelers around the world and that the country must be ready for the possible influx of more visitors in a few years' time.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 21, 2012.


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Swisscom set out ambitious plans for its commercial 5G launch, detailing strategies for both its network rollout and device availability, although it still awaits a green light for the move.
At an event today, CEO Urs Schaeppi (pictured) said: “As soon as we obtain the concession rights we will switch on 5G. Everyone is in the same boat in Switzerland, not just us.”
At launch, the network will encompass 100 sites in 50 cities and villages, but Swisscom said it is targeting more than 90 per cent population coverage by the end of the year. The operator is working with Ericsson as its equipment supplier.
It indicated it is ready to flick the switch once it receives permits.
“Of course, in the beginning this will be used by early adoptors, but it will be enlarged and upgraded, and by the end of the year we will have the whole of Switzerland covered,” Schaeppi said.
The first available device will be a version in Oppo’s Reno smartphone line, which itself was unveiled today at a separate event in China. Available in May with a CHF999 ($998) price tag, the operator said its existing inOne subscriptions will include 5G, although a CHF10 per month Premium Speed option will also be available.
Oppo’s device will be followed by smartphones from LG (also from May), Samsung (July) and Huawei (Q3).
In a statement, tech giant Qualcomm said a number of the device makers working with Swisscom (Oppo and LG for smartphones; Askey and WNC for in-home equipment) are using its X50 modem technology.
Swisscom’s first 5G devices use 3.5GHz spectrum and during a media event speeds of up to 1.86Gb/s were demonstrated. Lower frequency bands will be added to deliver the wider coverage it is targeting.
In a statement, Schaeppi also talked up the potential of 5G for enterprises and his company’s position with this: “The full potential of 5G will initially be exploited by companies. This requires a full-service provider like Swisscom, who combines the possibilities of 5G with the IOT, the cloud or data analytics.”
Swisscom and its peers picked up 5G frequencies late in 2018. Rival Sunrise is in the early stages of offering a fixed wireless access service.Subscribe to our daily newsletter Back


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DO NOT FORGET -- SUNDAY IS MOTHER'S DAY! There, I said it, I warned you. If you forget, it's all on you now LOL
This Mother's Day is going to look a LOT different this year thanks to quarantine, but that's still no excuse to forget about mom!
According to a new study here's the breakdown on what mom's ACTUALLY want to eat on Mother's Day!
Only 19% of moms actually want brunch for Mother’s Day.
48% would rather celebrate the day with dinner.
And 53% would prefer takeout or delivery from their favorite restaurant.
Overall, 39% of moms would love a homemade meal this Sunday, but you don’t have to knock yourself out.
74% say they’d rather have a comfortable and classic meal, rather than an indulgent and fancy one.
But don’t expect mom to eat healthy, with 64% saying they’d love to enjoy some of their guilty pleasure foods.
Another way to impress mom could be breakfast in bed.
75% of moms enjoy eating Mother’s Day breakfast from the comfort of their beds.


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AmCham Taipei Announces Name Change to AmCham Taiwan
Effective January 1st, 2021, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei will be using its new name, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. The year 2021 also marks the Chamber’s 70th anniversary in Taiwan and AmCham continues to be a vital bridge between the United States and Taiwan.
President Tsai addresses AmCham’s 2020 Annual General Meeting
For the second consecutive year, American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei has had the honor of having President Tsai Ing-wen address its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Announcing the US-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement Coalition
The US-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement Coalition launched on September 15, 2020. The Coalition will provide a mechanism for businesses and organizations across a wide range of sectors to express their support for negotiating and signing a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the United States and Taiwan.
American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei – Chinese National Association of Industry & Commerce, Taiwan Joint Statement on a U.S.-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement
Our two organizations – respectively the leading institutions representing domestic and American business enterprises operating in Taiwan – call on the U.S. and Taiwan governments to begin negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement.
AmCham Taipei Applauds Taiwan’s Move to Open Beef and Pork Market
The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham Taipei) greatly appreciates President Tsai Ing-wen’s announcement that her government will act to remove Taiwan’s restrictions on imports of pork and beef from the United States.
President Tsai addresses AmCham Taipei’s 2020 Hsieh Nien Fan
President Tsai Ing-wen delivered the keynote remarks on her administration is committed to securing a robust investment environment at AmCham Taipei’s annual Hsieh Nien Fan banquet last evening at the Grand Hyatt Taipei.
AmCham Taipei reports a record-tying 11 issues solved in White Paper
The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei announced today that 11 – or 13 percent – of the 82 issues raised in last year’s Taiwan White Paper have been resolved, tying a record set two years ago.
COVID-19 Survey Press Conference
AmCham Taipei invited over 400 member companies to take our survey about COVID-19 and its impact on their business. The survey was conducted between April 6 and April 9, 2020. How confident are they about Taiwan’s economic recovery in the coming 18 months? When do they expect the pandemic will end? Are there plans for layoffs or furloughs? What do they think about the Taiwan government’s performance in disease control? And much more.
2020 Business Climate Survey Press Conference
The annual Business Climate Survey is one of AmCham’s most important publications. Global business leaders share their views on a variety of questions: How confident are they about Taiwan’s economic outlook and their own revenue growth? Is the US-China trade war a concern? Are there more hiring plans? Are Taiwan’s policymakers meeting the needs of business? And many more questions.


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Evergreen blocked from offloading cargo from Ever Given
Egyptian court confirms both vessel and cargo have been arrested
Cargo owners had hoped efforts to separate cargo and vessel would have allowed containers to be transhipped to other vessels. But hopes of that have now been dashed
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Pippa Middleton stole the show at the Boodles Boxing Ball charity event in London this weekend when she turned up with boyfriend Alex Loudon in a plunging red evening dress by one of her favourite fashion designers, Temperley. Looking every inch the trendsetter, Kate Middleton’s younger sister teamed her statement red frock with a sequin envelope clutch bag, gold drop earrings, matching gold shoes and smokey eye make-up. And Pippa Middleton wasn’t the only one who opted for a red evening dress for the charity bash, as Geri Halliwell and Prince William’s ex-girlfriend Jecca Craig also rocked long scarlet dresses, complete with plunging necklines. However, it was Pippa who stole the style crown and was LOOK’s best-dressed guest of the night. Has Ms Middleton caused another fashion frenzy? We think so! Shop the celebrity fashion trend on the high street now. SD
Scroll down to see all Pippa Middleton’s best fashion moments in the gallery below.


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Demand for TSMC's 7nm foundry services has been strong, with lead time for the node extending to about six months. The tight supply is expected to last throughout 2020, and Intel reportedly might also come knock on the door for TSMC's 7nm supply. In China, SMIC has started volume production of chips using its 14nm FinFET process at a fab in Shanghai. In Taiwan, an auction for 5G spectrums has completed, with winners paying exorbitant prices. Meanwhile, Digitimes Research's latest special report on the global server industry shows that worldwide server shipments will resume growth in 2020.
TSMC 7nm lead time remains extended, with Intel reportedly looking to place orders: TSMC 7nm process lead time remains at about six months, with tight supply expected to last through 2020, or even worsened in the second half of the year if speculation about Intel possibly seeking to place orders for the Taiwanese foundry's advanced processes materializes, according to industry sources.
SMIC scaling up 14nm chip output: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) has kicked off volume production of chips built using 14nm FinFET process technology at its manufacturing site in Shanghai since the third quarter of 2019, according to the China-based pure-play foundry.
Taiwan completes 5G spectrum auction: Taiwan's auction of 5G spectrums came to an end on January 16 after 261 rounds of bidding with total bids reaching NT$138.08 billion (US$4.604 billion), according to an announcement of National Communications Commission (NCC).
Global server shipments to grow 6.6% in 2020, says Digitimes Research special report: Global server shipments, having declined moderately by 1.4% in 2019, will return growth in 2020, thanks to significant demand from the datacenter sector, according to Digitimes Research's latest special report on the server industry.
TSMC 7nm foundry supply remains tight
Photo: Digitimes file photo


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In another boost to the British high street’s fashion credentials, John Lewis yesterday unveiled its highly-anticipated Fashion Pavilion, a new shopping concept that will exhibit exclusive collaborations from hot designer […]
Post Tagged with: "Collaborations"
Well, what do we have here? An accessory by Alexander Wang that we might actually be able to afford? Be still our beating hearts. According to reports, everyone’s favourite off-duty […]


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A breach in a vendor's system that processes online sales of hunting and fishing licenses in Idaho, Oregon and Washington state exposed several million records containing buyers' personal information, officials said Friday.
Utah-based essential oil company doTERRA is warning customers and distributors that their personal information may have been compromised in a data breach in March.
As the US tax season draws to a close, authorities are warning of an alarming rise in "phishing" scams designed to steal sensitive personal and financial information.
The fight over encryption isn't going away just because the FBI has figured out a way to glean the data off the iPhone used by a San Bernardino attacker.
The web portal used by millions of consumers to get health insurance coverage under President Barack Obama's law logged 316 security incidents in just under 18 months, said a report Wednesday by nonpartisan congressional ...
As more personal information is collected up by ever-more-powerful computers, giant sets of data – big data – have become available for not only legitimate uses but also abuses.
The Homeland Security Department on Thursday formally began sharing details of new digital threats with private business and other government agencies, a culmination of a longtime effort to improve cybersecurity.
The University of California, Berkeley says a hacker broke into a computer system holding financial data of 80,000 students, alumni, current and former employees.
Fears of terrorism are once again trumping talk of civil liberties.
The Japanese company that owns the Hello Kitty brand said it has fixed a security leak in an online fan site for the famous character that compromised the personal information of 3.3 million users.


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ChatGPT is one of the latest trending topics among us. The AI bot could generate copies of written docs for blogs within a span of a few minutes. People have been wondering if this is the beginning of the decline of writers.
But, the latest news from Reuters is that Amazon Kindle has seen a sudden spike in e-books that are either authored or co-authored by ChatGPT. They have stated that there are over 200 e-books of such origins – taking only the ones mentioned into consideration. Therefore, the numbers may be more if we take the ones that might not have mentioned it as such.
Amazon Kindle has prided itself on having fewer barriers for any author, making them an outlet for new writers to publish their works. But, this recent change in dynamics may hinder the market as similar AI-generated pieces start flooding in.
Currently, the Amazon Kindle publishing guidelines have no restrictions against AI-generated works. Amazon has stated, “all books in the store must adhere to our content guidelines, including by complying with intellectual property rights and all other applicable laws.” This means that it will take some time for an update in the guidelines to tackle this issue.
The main problem with this turn of events may lead to similarly themed books entering the market, as AI generates output by learning from already existing works. This turn of events may hinder the chance of progress by upcoming writers.