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Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 | 2:51 p.m.
The Las Vegas City Council cracked down Wednesday on two downtown convenience stores accused of selling stolen goods, revoking their licenses and fining the owners several thousand dollars each.
Metro Police began investigating E Z Market, 1109 Stewart Ave., in March after several reports the store was selling goods bearing stickers from other local retailers like Albertsons and CVS.
Over several months, store employee Nabiail Dhalai bought cigarettes and bottles of liquor from undercover Metro Police officers at a steep discount from wholesale prices, with the implication that the goods were stolen, authorities said.
The goods, which were marked and had been donated to the police department for sting operations, later showed up on store shelves, according to a disciplinary complaint presented to the council during its Wednesday meeting.
During the investigation, undercover officers were told by Dhalai that M R Beauty Supply & 99 Cent Store, 1935 Fremont St., also might be interested in purchasing some of the goods, the complaint said.
The owner of M R Beauty, Mazen Hamou, also was involved with Dhalai in the operation of E Z Market, which the two leased and planned to buy from previous owner Goitom Hailu.
Separate police searches of E Z Market and M R Beauty in June turned up numerous items believed to be stolen, including liquor and grocery store goods ranging from canned soups to deodorants bearing the tags of other stores in town, the complaint said.
Hamou, Dhalai and Hailu were brought before the city council Wednesday and presented with the findings against them by city attorney Brad Jerbic, who called witnesses from Metro Police and the city’s business licensing department to testify.
“I don’t think a case gets more obvious than this,” Jerbic said. “There’s overwhelming evidence.”
During the two-hour hearing, Dhalai and Hamou admitted to buying liquor and cigarettes from unlicensed distributors.
“It was a mistake. I was wrong. It was a dumb move,” Dhalai said.
Hailu maintained that he merely leased the business to the two men and was not heavily involved in its operation.
After hearing Jerbic’s presentation and questioning the three men, the council took swift action to revoke the business licenses needed to operate E Z Market and M R Beauty.
“I truly believe through the facts that have been presented by detectives, business licensing and comments made here today, none of you gentlemen should be in a position to have such a privileged license,” Councilman Ricki Barlow said.
In addition, Dhalai, Hailu and Hamou were fined $5,000 each for their involvement with E Z Market. Hamou, the sole defendant in the action brought against M R Beauty, was fined an additional $36,000 for violations at that business.
All three will be able to re-apply for business licenses after one year, provided their fines have been paid.
Hamou also faces felony criminal charges for attempted possession of stolen property. A jury trial is scheduled in June in Clark County District Court.


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Tesla Produces 5,000 Model 3 EVs in a Week
July 2, 2018—Tesla is speeding up the production rate on its most affordable electric vehicle, hitting CEO Elon Musk's goal for the final week of the second quarter even as questions linger about the company's ability to hit that pace consistently, USA Today reports.
The automaker said Monday that it had made 5,031 Model 3 vehicles in the last seven days of June, achieving Musk's goal of 5,000 a week.
The company's Model 3 production rate tripled from the first quarter to the second quarter.
"The last 12 months were some of the most difficult in Tesla’s history, and we are incredibly proud of the whole Tesla team for achieving the 5,000 unit Model 3 production rate," Tesla said in a statement. "It was not easy, but it was definitely worth it."

domain: news


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Rockville, MD (PRWEB) March 05, 2013
In a milestone representing a significant contribution to public health, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) announces that it has grown its portfolio of reference standards to now include 3,000 items. USP Reference Standards are highly characterized samples of active pharmaceutical ingredients and impurities, food chemicals, and dietary supplements and their ingredients. Regulators and manufacturers use USP Reference Standards to assess products’ conformity to standards of identity, quality, purity and strength. USP Reference Standards are specified in the monographs of the U.S. Pharmacopeia and National Formulary (USP–NF), USP’s flagship compendia of quality standards; the Food Chemicals Codex (for food ingredients), the Dietary Supplements Compendium, and the new Medicines Compendium. Drugs sold or manufactured in the United States are required by law to comply with standards published in the USP–NF, and these standards are enforceable by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Attaining 3,000 USP Reference Standards is important for USP, of course, but also for all stakeholders interested in advancing public health,” said Roger L. Williams, M.D., chief executive officer at USP. “USP relies on our volunteer experts who, with staff, set the standards, and on the manufacturers who donate the monographs and materials from which many of our standards are derived. Both are equally crucial in the standards-setting process, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all who understand the importance of public standards.”
Dr. Williams also noted USP’s focused effort over the last decade to strengthen USP’s public standards. This effort is ongoing, and is summarized in USP’s policy statements and in a '/>"/>
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World News: 13:11 GMT Monday 25th September 2017. [PPG via Businesswire via SPi World News]
PPG NYSEPPG today provided anon the impact of the recent disasters Additionally the company third quarter financial We have all witnessed the devastation caused by the rec ent hur...
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Danske Bank Takes Position on Cryptocurrencies, Will Not Interfere With Crypto Trading – Finance Bitcoin News
Danske Bank is not going to block bank cards utilized in crypto buying and selling, in accordance with its newly introduced place on cryptocurrencies. The Danish financial institution would additionally settle for deposits associated to crypto investments, though it follows a cautious strategy in the direction of decentralized digital property.
Denmark’s Largest Bank Clarifies Its Stance on Cryptocurrencies
Responding to mounting inquiries from clients and different stakeholders, Danske Bank has launched an official place on crypto property. “In recent years, cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum have received significant attention from investors and media,” the financial institution famous, outlining its present stance on crypto buying and selling and investing.
Denmark’s largest banking establishment acknowledges that “cryptocurrencies represent a significant digital innovation in financial services” and praises the “great potentials in the blockchain technology.” At the identical time, it continues to take care of “a very cautious approach towards cryptocurrencies.” The financial institution listed a number of causes for that.
In the primary place, Danske finds it arduous to fulfill its obligations to battle monetary crime and cash laundering as crypto commerce is “not always sufficiently transparent.” Pricing is opaque and fluctuating, the financial institution added, leaving traders with restricted market perception.
Furthermore, as crypto buying and selling is barely partially regulated, shoppers don’t get the identical stage of shopper safety that comes with different monetary merchandise, Danske insisted. The financial institution additionally feels that the “extremely energy intensive” processing of cryptocurrency transactions clashes with its personal ambition to advertise sustainable improvement.
Crypto Investors Are Welcome to Deposit Funds With Danske
Citing these considerations, Danske Bank reminded clients that its platforms don’t presently assist the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies and crypto-based monetary devices. The monetary establishment additionally suggested towards investing in digital property or associated merchandise normally. However, the Danish banking group pledged its assist for the event of crypto laws underneath the brand new EU laws known as Regulation of Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) whereas emphasizing:
We constantly monitor developments within the space of cryptocurrencies, and because the cryptocurrency market matures and is additional regulated, we are going to evaluate our place.
Despite its hesitant angle in the direction of cryptocurrencies, Danske is just not utterly turning its again on crypto merchants and traders. For instance, the financial institution stated it doesn’t block bank cards when they’re utilized in crypto buying and selling, offered clients adjust to relevant anti-money laundering guidelines and legal guidelines. The financial institution additionally pressured it could deal with deposits of funds stemming from cryptocurrency investments identical to deposits from every other sort of funding.
What’s your opinion about Danske Bank’s place on cryptocurrencies? Share your ideas within the feedback part under.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons


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It seems like nothing is more aggravating as attempting to hustle from gate to gate in an airport with bulky, overstuffed baggage. Chuang dominated that the teams have been seemingly to succeed in showing that the travel ban portion of the executive order was intended to be a ban on Muslims, and because of this, violates the U.S. Structure’s non secular freedom assure. The courts indicated that Trump’s personal statements about Muslims were proof that the ban is likely unconstitutional. Buses often are inexpensive, clean and supply travel perks reminiscent of electrical shops and Wi-Fi.
Thankfully, because of the space of the two points and the sheltered space, a tough crossing is rare. Count on loopy hours and a crazy life-style, it’s not as straightforward because it looks or sounds, but totally perfect for travel lovers. New York’s legal professional normal, Eric Schneiderman, mentioned on Thursday he would be becoming a member of Washington’s lawsuit towards the new ban and the state of Oregon said it could be part of too.
Jap Meadows is a vacationer operator in India which presents some exciting trekking cum travel packages to Dibang valley and likewise its neighboring districts. Travel insurance for Europe can be often generally categorized by the form of tourist to … Travel More


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Paid News Digital Subscriptions Bubble or Breakthrough?
The 20,000 Foot View: Still feeling imbued with the often cited ‘Trump bump’, paid news media subscriptions continued their healthy growth trajectory throughout 2017 and into the first quarter of 2018. The market, excepting China and India, grew largely in symmetry with other digital behaviours, as premium news brands continued to make their case as a credible alternative to the clickbait-centric news feeds of social media. However, much like the growing pains of the traditional formats in video and music, news’s older print user base means subscription growth will not be linear. This has been exemplified by the decline in growth rates of major titles since 2017, the shift from a fractured market to a longer tail, fewer dominant titles and the problem in converting an older user base to paid subscriptions. Certain titles such as the Washington Post are also artificially experiencing a boom due to the influence of bundle deals, resulting in the growth of paid subscriptions.
- Premium news approximately million paid digital-only subscribers 2017
- Premium subscribers total million, 2018
- The most premium news service is the Post, growing by in 2017, in part to the bundling of Amazon Prime of consumers subscribed to multiple paid content services across online video, music and news in 2017
- The number paid premium news subscribers grew 2017 of premium paid digital subscribers only joined in the prior months; for comparison, of Spotify’s subscribers joined in the prior months
Companies and brands mentioned in this report: Alphabet, Axel Springer, Bild, The Economist, Facebook, Financial Times, Google, The Guardian, Nikkei, Le Monde, The New York Times, Read.ly, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Telegraph, USA Today, Die Welt


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Windows RT Woes Weigh on NVIDIA Revenue, Company Working on 2nd Gen Surface RT
August 9, 2013 10:40 AM
comment(s) - last by
Nvidia expects significant declines in Tegra profits for fiscal 2014
NVIDIA recently announced that it is expecting a significant drop in its Tegra chip revenue this year. NVIDIA is predicting that revenue may drop as much as 40% and is laying the blame for that significant drop at Microsoft's feet citing poor Windows RT adoption as the cause.
"We don't expect as much return from the investment as we had hoped," NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said this week.
Microsoft and NVIDIA worked together closely to ensure that
Windows RT would work on the NVIDIA Tegra 3 chips
. Lenovo was one the manufacturers that produced a tablet that used NVIDIA's chips, but that tablet, the Yoga 11, was
yanked from Lenovo’s online store
NVIDIA posted revenue for its Tegra line in the last fiscal year of around $750 million. The expectation is for revenue from the chip family in fiscal 2014 to be $200 million to $300 million less than last year.
Despite the fact that revenues are expected to significantly declined for NVIDIA's Tegra line, NVIDIA continues to work with Microsoft on the second-generation Surface tablets. Jen-Hsun Huang says that NVIDIA is working very closely with Microsoft to make Surface 2 a "big success."
If NVIDIA is onboard with Surface RT 2.0, we’re likely to see
Tegra 4 as the brains behind the machine
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
8/9/2013 4:27:47 PM
You miss my point. Nothing dictates to NVidia that Microsoft is the only company they can sell their chips to. They are more than welcome to expand their business to a sector that can be deemed as more profitable.
It is not Microsoft's responsibility *at all* to ensure the success of NVidia's chips. It is NVidia's responsibility to do that.
If they can't find anyone other than Microsoft to use their chips and Microsoft's products aren't selling well, then all they've done is make a product that isn't good enough.
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of these tariffs is linked to subsidy reduction by the developed world.
In order to qualify, green box subsidies must not distort trade or at most cause minimal distortion. They have to be government-funded (not by charging consumers higher prices) and must not involve price support. Hence, green box subsidies are allowed without limits, provided they comply with the policy-specific criteria. The green box is defined in Annex 2 of the Agriculture Agreement.
At present, there is ambiguity on including India’s food subsidy programme in the green or amber box and the country is seeking legal certainty on the same.
“India is trying to draw the attention back to its core interest and this has been a part of the modalities on the negotiating table for almost five years. India's proposal is not out of the hat,” said Abhijit Das, head and professor, centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
The National Food Security Bill, 2011, which makes the right to food a legal right, is currently pending in Parliament. It seeks to deliver food security by providing specific entitlements through the targeted public distribution system.
“If this is accepted, then the WTO rules will not put fetters around India. Besides, it is an attempt to see if there a consensus can be built on some issues before the Bali ministerial,” said an analyst requesting anonymity.
Some WTO members are looking at carving out pacts in select areas during the Bali ministerial conference.
Developed countries including the US want India and other emerging economies to be part of the four major sectoral pacts — trade facilitation (TF), IT, environmental goods and international services agreement. On these four matters, developed nations want to go plurilateral, that is, the trade benefits arising out of such an agreement will be shared only by signatories.


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On May 19, 2021, the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) published a joint statement setting out their shared views on the relationship between competition and data protection in the digital economy.
Both authorities recognize that the digital economy has the potential to have a hugely positive impact on people’s lives, from improvements to public services to companies driving innovations that can make. However, they have made clear that their collective position is that this can best be achieved where digital markets are competitive, consumer and data protection rights are respected, and citizens are empowered to exercise meaningful control over their own data. In their view, there are strong synergies between the interests of data protection and competition, as demonstrated by the close working relationship which has developed between the CMA and ICO in recent years. Continue Reading


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At Creaprint, we announced that we would be attending the International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair to be held 19th-26th October in Dusseldorf, Germany with our K 2016 stand.
There, we’ll present our latest new developments and spread awareness for our IML labels and the many ways they can be used. We’ll be participating with a 64 m2 stand where visitors may find out what Creaprint can offer them, with all of its new developments.
K 2016 Dusseldorf, Germany, the International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair is the number one event in the plastics and rubber sector. It is the place to display recent new developments and innovations related to the sector in all areas.
The previous edition featured the participation of 3,130 exhibiting companies and 242,000 trade visitors, which gives an idea of how important this event is for the plastic industries.


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Italian bank Banca IMI has explored the possibility of derivatives traded on the distributed server processing system ethereum, as part of a white paper published on Wednesday.
The bank, which is part of the much larger Intesa Sanpaolo group, drew up the report to examine how the $1.2 quadrillion global market for derivative instruments could be facilitated via blockchain technology.
In particular, the report focuses on an ethereum smart contract developed by the bank in partnership with blockchain firm Oraclize, which eliminated the possibility of default in derivatives contracts, even in cases that end in legal disputes.
The report was penned by the bank’s head of credit and interest rate models, Massimo Morini, and focuses on work central to his role at the firm. In addition to his work on derivatives, Morini also revealed several other projects that are under development, which could ultimately lead to an entirely new blockchain model for derivatives transactions.
Discussing the fundamentals behind the paper, Morini said Banca IMI had been working to develop a business model around offering these guarantees via the blockchain, in a bid to help create improved systems for derivatives trading.
“We tried to design a business model exploiting the technology such that from a financial point of view it works on the public blockchain, because the guarantees are so much stronger than those we have with standard technology,” he told CoinDesk.
The system focuses on collateralized derivatives, which currently experience delays, error and defaults as a result of generic contracts. However, with the Banca IMI system leveraging smart contracts for more precise paper in derivatives trading, their proposed model could eliminate these common issues.
Banca IMI revealed in the report that a proof of concept model had been developed and tested, demonstrating how in-built terms of derivatives in smart contracts could eliminate the potential for these problems to arise.
“In the end, it’s enough that the smart contract keeps a little amount of funds to be used in case one stops paying, to guarantee that even if one stops paying, in a few hours, you are out of the contract and you have lost no money…This is really a different business model from what we are used to seeing in standard financial markets, but financially, it works,” Morini said, according to the news outlet.
Note: Tokens in the SegWit chain are referred to as SegWit1X (BTC) and SegWit Gold (SWG) and are no longer Bitcoin. Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is the only true Bitcoin as intended by the original Satoshi white paper. Bitcoin BCH is the only public block chain that offers safe and cheap microtransactions.
New to blockchain? Check out CoinGeek’s Blockchain for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about blockchain technology.


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If, like us, you over-indulged somewhat at the weekend, this news couldn’t have come at a better time. Victoria Beckham has revealed her new fitness regime – and it involves[Read More...]
Launched in 2003 My Fashion Life is one of the UK’s leading top fashion blogs.
We’re dedicated to bringing you the juiciest gossip from the fashion world and delivering the best shopping guides we can muster, because hey, we’re just doing our job. And it’s a good job we love it!


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Donna Karan has called for more diversity on fashion runways.
The 71-year-old designer – who created the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels respectively – wants to see a return to the heyday when every country had its own unique style and identity.
In an interview with Footwear News, she said: "In the fashion industry, the consumer is confused."
On what made the 70s and 80s so great for fashion, she continued: "Everybody was individualised.
"You had the American world, the British world, the French world, the Italian world.
"And it was . . . the Americans were black. The British were funk."
Karan – who began her career as an assistant designer with Anne Klein in the late 1960s, before she was promoted to associate designer in 1971 – admits that her opinion is quite the opposite to "most" of her colleagues.
She added: "I like to feel differentiation between our cultures.
"And that’s where I’m at, which is a little bit different than most designers."
The legendary designer also admitted that she believes New York Fashion week is getting it wrong, because consumers have seen the pieces on the catwalk months beforehand.
She said: "I believe we’re giving too much information out.
"And now, because of communication, everybody sees everything.
"You know, and the customers see it six months before, which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
"It’s like watching a movie — you don’t see the movie before the movie is coming. You see the movie when the move has come."


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SDOT wants fewer bridge openings
By JOURNAL STAFF
Traffic is so bad in Seattle that the city wants to limit how many times it opens the drawspans on the Ballard, Fremont and University bridges.
Haggen files $1B suit against Albertsons
The small grocery chain Haggen is suing Albertsons for more than $1 billion, alleging the supermarket giant engaged in efforts to eliminate it as a viable competitor in five states.
Think stocks are crazy? Oil is wild
By JONATHAN FAHEY
The price of oil plunged 8 percent on Tuesday, following a three-day ascent of 27 percent, the biggest such jump in 25 years.


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Want your own New Years robot clone? Bring money…
At the start of every new year Japanese stores, especially major department stores, go over the top with special sales promotions. The rapidly approaching New Years holiday is no exception. One of the country’s biggest retail operators, Sogo & Seibu Co. just announced a special holdiay sales event featuring live size, functional, humanoid robots designed to accurately replicate their lucky owners.
The holiday androids are being manufactured by Kokoro, famous for their realistic robots, and will be priced at 20.1 million yen each.
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German tennis star Boris Becker has been drafted in to promote the forthcoming roll out of Barclays Cycle Hire to casual users.
Transport for London is launching the hire scheme to non-members on December 3rd. All cyclists need is a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card when they hire a bike from one of the docking stations.
Becker’s affiliation with London dates back to 1985, when he won the Wimbledon title at the age of 17. Becker is currently acting as ambassador for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals held at the O2 this week.
“London has many fond memories for me – I still have a home in Wimbledon and enjoy being part of the community,” enthused Becker. “The Mayor’s Barclays Cycle Hire bikes are certainly transforming the city for the better. It’s a great way of getting around and also seeing the sights that are on offer, whilst at the same time it is environmentally friendly and allows people to get active.
“I am sure that many German visitors, and others from across the world, will be using the scheme when it is available to casual users.”


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Real Estate Daily News Buzz is designed to give news snippets to readers that our (yet to be award winning) editors thought you could use to start your day. They come from various business perspectives, real estate, government, the Fed, local news, and the stock markets to save you time. Here you will find the headlines and what the news buzz for the day will be.
Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial average fell 21.29 points, or 0.1%, to 16,722.34. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index was down 0.73 points, or 0.04%, to 1,924.24. The NASDAQ composite index fell 3.12 points, or 0.1%, to 4,234.08. Benchmark U.S. oil for July delivery rose 19 cents to $102.66 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
SURPRISE ARIZONA: NEW CONTENDER FOR TESLA PLANT
The Phoenix suburb of Surprise could be a serious contender to land Tesla Motors' much coveted $5 billion electric battery factory. The Surprise City Council will meet in a private executive session Tuesday evening to discuss a possible new business operating at the Southwest Railplex development. An official with knowledge of the Tesla site selection says the Surprise council will discuss a possible $50 million incentive package aimed at bringing the 6,500-worker factory to the West Valley.
5 ARIZONA COMPANIES MAKE THIS YEAR'S FORTUNE 500 LIST
Five Arizona-based companies are on this year’s Fortune 500 list -- one fewer than a year ago. Arizona lost US Airways Group Inc. from the list after its merger with Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines. All the Arizona companies making the list are based in the Valley with four in Phoenix and one in Tempe. There were eight more Arizona companies on the expanded Fortune 1000 than a year ago, including Sprouts Farmers markets, Inc., which went public in August. Texas, New York and California continue to have the most Fortune 500 companies, according to the business magazine. Click here to see the Arizona companies that made both Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 lists.
BEFORE RECALLS, WAS SAFETY TOO LOW FOR GM HIERARCHY?
DETROIT (AP) — To understand how General Motors allowed a problem with a small part to balloon into a crisis, look at the organization chart. As of early last year, the director of vehicle safety was four rungs down the ladder from the CEO, according to a copy of the chart obtained by The Associated Press. Finance, sales and public relations had a direct path to the top. That structure — as well as what new CEO Mary Barra has called a culture that valued cost savings over safety — is likely to be a prime target in a report expected this week from former U.S. Attorney Anton Valukas. He was hired by GM to investigate why the company took more than a decade to recall millions of cars with a defective ignition switch that has now been linked to at least 13 deaths.
EUROZONE INFLATION DROP SEALS DEAL FOR ECB
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Another unexpected drop in inflation in the 18-country eurozone has made it a near certainty that the European Central Bank will act this week to support the economy. The annual inflation rate fell to 0.5% in May, below the 0.6% that markets expected, the previous month’s 0.7% — and way, way below the ECB’s goal of just under 2%. The worryingly low figure has stamped out what few doubts may have been left that the ECB will loosen its monetary policy at its monthly meeting Thursday by cutting interest rates, and possibly more, to try to boost a weak recovery that’s fraught with worries.
AS SABERS RATTLE, VIETNAMESE BUSINESSES FRET
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Like thousands of other factory owners in Vietnam, Nguyen Van Phuc relies on China for the expertise and raw materials needed to keep his production line humming. But spiking tensions between Hanoi and Beijing over maritime territorial claims are threatening that relationship and his bottom line. Chinese technicians scheduled to upgrade his equipment are too spooked to visit following anti-China violence. His Chinese suppliers no longer accept cash on delivery, fearing an even sharper deterioration in relations would leave them out of pocket, so Phuc must now pay more from a third-party supplier.
ONLINE PIRATES THRIVE ON LEGITIMATE AD DOLLARS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Movie and music piracy thrives online in part because crafty website operators receive advertising dollars from major companies like Comcast, Ford and McDonald’s. That’s the conclusion of several recent reports that shed light on Internet piracy’s funding sources. Content thieves attract visitors with the promise of free downloads and streams of the latest hit movies, TV shows and songs. Then they profit by pulling in advertising from around the Internet, often concealing their illicit activities so advertising brands remain unaware.
5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT EPA’s POWER PLANT RULE
Monday the Obama administration announced plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the chief greenhouse gas, from power plants. The proposal calls for the nation’s fossil-fuel fired power plants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30% from 2005 levels by 2030. But Environmental Protection Agency data shows that the nation’s power plants already have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 13% since 2005, or about halfway to the goal. The EPA also says the regulation will also reduce other pollutants that create lung-damaging smog and soot by more than 25% by 2030.
STOCKS EDGE LOWER, HILLSHIRE BIDDING WAR HEATS UP
NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market fell slightly Tuesday, pulling back from record highs the day before. Hillshire Brands jumped as a bidding war for the company heated up, while Krispy Kreme Doughnuts plunged after issuing a disappointing forecast.
US FACTORY ORDERS UP FOR THIRD MONTH IN APRIL
WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U.S. factories rose for a third consecutive month in April, adding to evidence that manufacturing is regaining momentum after a harsh winter. Orders increased 0.7 per cent in April, pushed higher by a surge in demand for military hardware, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. That followed a 1.5% increase in March and a 1.7% climb in February. The improvements followed two big declines in January and December, which partly reflected a harsh winter. A key category viewed as a proxy for business investment plans fell by 1.2% in April, though that drop came after a 4.7% surge in March. The three solid monthly gains in factory orders should provide support to the overall economy, which is expected to stage a robust rebound in the April-June quarter.
US HOME PRICE GAINS SLOW IN APRIL AMID TEPID SALES
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home prices rose in April compared with a year earlier, but the increase was the smallest annual gain in 14 months. Price gains have slowed this year as sales have faltered. Data provider CoreLogic said Tuesday that prices rose 10.5% in April from 12 months earlier. That is a healthy gain, but it is down from March’s 11.1% increase and February’s 12.2% rise. On a month-to-month basis, April prices rose 2.1%. But CoreLogic’s monthly figures aren’t adjusted for seasonal patterns, such as warmer spring weather. Higher mortgage rates, tight credit and a limited supply of available homes have slowed the housing recovery. Sales of existing homes ticked up in April after falling to a 20-month low in March. They were still 6.8% lower than a year ago.
4 HAWAII FARMS SETTLE THAI WORKERS SUIT FOR $2.4M
HONOLULU (AP) — Four Hawaii farms are settling a discrimination lawsuit for a total of $2.4 million over allegations that they exploited hundreds of Thai workers. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was expected to announce the settlements at a news conference in Honolulu. An EEOC spokeswoman declined to comment on the settlement details until after the agency’s announcement. The EEOC filed a federal lawsuit in 2011 against California-based labour contractor Global Horizons and six Hawaii farms. Allegations include farm workers being subjected to uninhabitable housing, insufficient food, inadequate wages and deportation threats.
EGG TITAN, SON PLEAD GUILTY IN FOOD SAFETY CASE
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A self-made titan in the egg industry, his son and the Iowa company they ran pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal food safety violations stemming from a nationwide salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands in 2010. Austin “Jack” DeCoster and his son, Peter DeCoster, pleaded guilty to misdemeanour charges of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett will later decide their sentences, which could be up to one year in jail, fines of $100,000 apiece and additional restitution for victims.
HILLSHIRE TO TALK WITH TYSON, PILGRIM’S PRIDE
NEW YORK (AP) — Hillshire Brands says it will hold separate talks with Pilgrim’s Pride and Tyson Foods, as the two meat processing heavyweights engage in a bidding war for the maker of Jimmy Dean sausages and Ball Park hot dogs. The announcement by Hillshire comes a day after Pilgrim’s Pride raised its bid to $55 per share, or $6.8 billion, from $45 per share. That tops Tyson’s offer of $50 per share, or $6.2 billion, made last week. Those values are based on Hillshire’s 123 million shares outstanding. Pilgrim’s Pride puts the total value of its new bid at $7.7 billion. Tyson Foods values its proposal at $6.8 billion, including debt.
WEEBLY MOVING TO SCOTTSDALE PLANS TO HIRE 250
Weebly, a San Francisco-based website creation service, has picked Scottsdale as its North American customer operations headquarters, with plans to open the local office Monday and hire more than 250 employees over the next three years. Alan Chmbless, vice president of customer success at Weebly, said Scottsdale was chosen for the company’s big expansion because of the great talent pool, proximity to the corporate headquarters and a favorable cost of living.


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SAPD seeks tips on suspects accused of biting 2 Macy's employees during robbery
Crime Stoppers and the San Antonio police are searching for three people they accuse of stealing clothes from a department store and biting two employees who tried to stop it.
The incident occurred Saturday, July 13 in the Macy's department store at North Star Mall.
According to the police, the three believed to be involved fled the department store with the clothes. Two employees chased them outside, and that's when, police said, two of the employees were bitten.
Two of the suspects left the location in an SUV. It is unclear where the third fled to.
Anyone with information on the case can submit tips anonymously by calling (210) 224-7867 or online at www.sacrimestoppers.com.
Tips that lead to an arrest could earn up to $5,000.
Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | email@example.com | @CillaAguirre


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Hy-Vee, Inc. announced a new strategy to allow the supermarket chain focus in three key areas, Information Technology (IT), HealthMarkets and restaurant development. As a result of the restructuring, approximately 60 corporate positions were impacted, the company said.
More than 50 new full-time positions will be IT-based and work at Hy-Vee’s new facility in Grimes. The new facility will serve as a creativity center where those in IT and marketing will work together to develop future apps, programs and online content that will provide customers with more convenience and customer service, while showcasing the company’s culinary expertise.
“We are redirecting how we are supervising and structuring certain administrative areas of the company,” said Hy-Vee spokeswoman Tara Deering-Hansen.
At least 50 of the people whose positions were affected were offered job reassignments within the company, including opportunities at the store level or the new positions being created.
The changing nature of the grocery business necessitated the changes at the corporate headquarters, which has about 550 people.
“We are a growing company,” Deering-Hansen said. “As we continue to evolve our services and product offerings, we will grow other areas within the company.”
Hy-Vee in the list of the top 25 largest supermarket chains in US
The remaining nearly 20 new positions will work out of Hy-Vee’s West Des Moines corporate office and oversee future development and expansion of the company’s Hy-Vee Market Grille restaurants and HealthMarkets, which provide organic, natural, gluten-free and allergy-friendly foods.
The company has 103 Hy-Vee Market Grilles and 179 HealthMarkets across its eight-state region. Currently, there are more than 400 full-time retail positions available at their stores.
Hy-Vee ranks among the 25 largest supermarket chains and the top 50 private companies in the United States, according to company officials.
From its Iowa headquarters, the company oversees 244 stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Hy-Vee is a $9.8 billion company with more than 84,000 total employees.


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IAB Canada was pleased to release the 2023 Internet Ad Revenue Survey report this week. The digital advertising industry experienced a year that could best be described as unpredictable. A strong start in the first quarter showed recovery momentum from the Covid-19 pandemic. Emerging categories like CTV, Audio and Retail Media showed strong growth and innovation, while other channels performed as expected.
By Q2 of 2022, IAB Canada members were reporting slowed growth expectations and the industry at large adjusted investment strategies in the face of market uncertainty. Budget shifts towards the more tightly controlled performance media channels like search and social are evident in our reporting.
As in prior years, category reporting in our survey reflects the national advertiser expenditure via media agency reporting and does not fully capture the long tail of online advertising which has been adopted as the most important channel for small to medium sized businesses across Canada and accounts for upwards forty percent of media investment in the country.
Our industry faces several headwinds in the coming months. All stakeholders must turn their attention to compliance with increased regulations and invest in addressability strategies as the 2024 cookie deprecation deadline draws nearer. We also continue to monitor market instability caused by several factors including the elevated Consumer Price Index, continued supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine. Attracting and maintaining customer attention is becoming more challenging and loyalty is not guaranteed in a volatile economy.
The good news is that these factors are positive indicators for digital advertising. Always-on strategies to keep customers’ attention coupled with assertive challenger brand activity bodes well for media. Moreover, advertisers are shifting their demand towards higher value inventory that meets several new areas of a focus including privacy preserving, environmentally acceptable and attention-driving. Digital media is by nature innovative, adaptive, and ready to deliver. For these reasons, we remain optimistic for the year ahead.
We would like to thank IAB Canada members who participated in the survey and look forward to engaging in further discussions as we size up an industry that is in major transition.


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Some economic indicators mean more than others. Consumer spending, for example, accounts for roughly 70 percent of U.S. GDP. So a "surprising" 1.3 percent "surge" in consumer spending in August is getting a lot of attention in this morning's financial press. The month-to-month percentage jump was the biggest since May 2008.
But August was Cash for Clunkers month.
From the Bureau of Economic Analysis:
Purchases of durable goods increased 5.8 percent, compared with an increase of 1.8 percent. Reflecting the impact of the federal CARS program (popularly called "cash for clunkers"), purchases of motor vehicles and parts accounted for most of the August increase in purchases of durable goods and more than accounted for the July increase.
As part of a slew of economic data releases today, we will find out what the post-Cash for Clunkers U.S. auto market looks like, when automakers report their September sales. The news could be grim -- some prognosticators have been suggesting that September will be the worst month for car sales since the recession started. If that pans out, the verdict on Cash for Clunkers will be that it "stole" sales from the future, and the consensus on August's consumer spending bump up will be that it was only a temporary boost.


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(Wall street Jounal, 04 May 2016)
The French banking supervisory authority and the country’s securities regulator are teaming up in a bid to support innovation in France’s nascent fintech sector.
Speaking at the Fintech R:Evolution conference in Paris on May 3, Bank of France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau announced that its prudential arm, the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Resolution, and the Autorité des Marchés Financiers regulator would set up dedicated fintech teams with a joint remit to work with French fintech startups.
The regulators aim to provide a common structure for “dialogue” between themselves and fintech startups to help companies seeking licenses, the central bank governor said. The ACPR’s team will be established in June, Mr. Villeroy de Galhau added.
“Innovation in principle is very good for the French economy,” Mr. Villeroy de Galhau said, noting however, that regulators must balance fintech‘s opportunities and risks.
“Regulation is a not a contradiction with regards to innovation. It is an addition… It brings trust, stability and therefore growth.”
French fintech startups welcomed the move, noting that it could help speed up the regulatory process, which has been seen as a big hurdle for companies in France.
Damien Guermonprez, chief executive of payments startup Lemon Way, said “the single window for fintechs is going to enable the entrepreneurs to save precious time because the answers of the ACPR and the AMF will converge.” Lemon Way is part of France Fintech, a recently launched lobby group for startups.
The move by France’s regulators follows the launch of a similar unit by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority in late 2014. Established as part of the U.K. government’s wider plans to help foster fintech, the FCA’s Project Innovate assists companies through the regulatory process. Its also provides a “regulatory sandbox”, an environment for financial companies large and small to test new products safely.
Also speaking at the fintech conference in Paris on May 3, French economy minister Emmanuel Macron noted that the FCA’s regulatory sandbox “should be a source of inspiration” for France.
Macron gave his backing to the country’s fintech sector, saying that it should be seen as an “opportunity of transformation and not just a risk”. With regards specifically to alternative finance, such as crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending, he added that it “allows to expand the range of financing” of the country’s economy.
Macron said that although fintech required a regulatory framework that was more dynamic, it couldn’t be a “no man’s land”.
France’s fintech push comes as regulators across the world increase their scrutiny of the sector.
In a joint report on the risks and vulnerabilities in the European Union financial system published in April, the European Securities and Markets Authority, the European Banking Authority and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority warned that the fintech sector needed tighter supervision.
In the U.S., the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is looking to establish a regulatory framework for fintech.
At the same time, governments from Singapore to the U.K. are seeking to make their countries an attractive destination for fintech startups.


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Mercedes Benz was named top seller of luxury cars for 2016 as it captured 16.8 percent of the US market. All in all, Mercedes Benz sold 340,237, leaving Lexus trailing behind after selling 331,228 vehicles and coming up third was BMW, with 313,174 vehicles sold. This enabled Daimler to recapture the title that it last won in 2013. This proves that Daimler is still number one when it comes to luxury car production and sales.
Daimler was able to break the winning streak of BMW, which held the title in 2014 and 2015. Sales actually went down but still, Mercedes Benz proved its supremacy in luxury car industry when it was able to sell the biggest number of luxury cars in 2016 during a time when it seems that the sales of vehicles under this segment was notably dipping. Yet, Mercedes Benz was still able to sell more luxury cars, according to Automotive News.
As early as November, the sales figures had shown that Mercedes Benz is leading and is moving towards recapturing the crown that it relinquished to BMW for the years 2014 and 2015. Its biggest number of cars sold was the C-Class and E-Class cars. This is a remarkable feat considering that the hottest vehicles in America now are the SUVs. In fact, sales of its SUV also increased during the last quarter of 2016, according to BMW Blog.
Mercedes Benz experienced great sales of its three luxury cars: the S-Class Cabriolet, SL and SLC Roadsters and the E-Class. These are the three dream cars of Mercedes Benz and indeed, they were the top sellers for 2016 as well. These three cars were hoped to outsell the company's competitors in 2017 and beyond, according to Business Insider.
Mercedes Benz will hold the crown until December of 2017, after which another car maker will be chosen. For the mean time. Mercedes Benz is savoring the fruits of its labors to become the leader in the SUV segment. If sales volume continues, Mercedes Benz might again be given the title of best luxury car maker and seller.


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Big Silicon Valley companies have often competed for talent with specialized skills, like expertise in artificial intelligence, or trendy new programming languages.
Now they’re competing for heart doctors.
Apple hired Dr. Alexis Beatty, a cardiologist, to its growing health team in July, according to a LinkedIn search. Amazon hired Dr. Maulik Majmudar, also a cardiologist, the following month. Alphabet’s life sciences company Verily named Dr. Jessica Mega as its chief medical officer almost three years ago. Mega, of course, is a cardiologist.
This might just be a coincidence. Cardiologists tend to be well educated and hard working, and big tech companies have a track record of recruiting such people.
In recent years, all of these companies have started to invest in products and devices that are targeted to millions of people who could benefit by tracking their heart health.
Apple’s smartwatch now includes an electrocardiogram, which can detect heart rhythm irregularities. Verily’s study watch, which is designed for clinical trial research, also tracks heart rate and heart rhythm, and it’s doing a lot of work in chronic disease management. Another Alphabet team, Google Fit, worked closely with the American Heart Association for its design revamp. Amazon’s plans in cardiology are less clear, but the company does have a secretive research and development team that is working on a variety of health projects under the leadership of an electrical engineer—former Google X employee Babak Parviz.
So, the more likely explanation is that tech companies are interested in healthcare, and they have all concluded that cardiology should be an early (if not initial) target.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the world, and strokes are among the leading causes of death.
And that’s not all that cardiologists treat. “Our scope covers other common disease such as high blood pressure, which impacts about a third of people in the U.S.—75 million Americans—as well as lipid and cholesterol disorders, ” said Dr. Mo Elshazly, a cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Many cardiologists are also experts in nutrition and exercise science, which impacts a huge number of people who are committed to staying healthy. That’s useful for the teams within the largest tech companies that are more focused on wellness and fitness applications, rather than on health and medical. Alphabet has Google Fit. Apple has a fitness group for its Apple Watch. And Amazon is looking at health and wellness applications for its Alexa voice assistant.
Cardiology is among the most-studied fields in medicine, meaning there’s already a lot of evidence to understand the root causes of heart disease, as well as how to prevent it. That’s attractive for tech companies, which tend to base their development decisions on data.
Some companies are also interested in running studies of their own to learn more about cardiovascular disease, which their on-staff cardiologists could support. Alphabet’s Verily is funding longitudinal research, called Project Baseline, to understand why healthy people get sick, and Apple is working with Stanford University on a study to use its Apple Watch to detect heart rhythm irregularities in a diverse population.
Apple launched its first Apple Watch model with a heart rate sensor, never expecting that people would use it to discover they were pregnant, at risk for a heart attack, or experiencing a dangerous irregular heart rhythm.
But as people began sharing examples of how the Apple Watch saved their life, the company started to invest heavily in the science and technology to drive more of these stories. A lot of that work culminated in the first-ever clearance for a heart rhythm sensor called an ECG for Apple Watch earlier in the summer.


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Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Updates Q4 2018 Earnings Guidance
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) updated its fourth quarter 2018 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $0.80-0.82 for the period, compared to the Thomson Reuters consensus earnings per share estimate of $0.82. Abbott Laboratories also updated its FY 2018 guidance to $2.87-2.89 EPS.
A number of brokerages recently commented on ABT. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $77.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday. BTIG Research reiterated a hold rating on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a buy rating and set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, July 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Abbott Laboratories presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $75.22.
NYSE:ABT opened at $70.23 on Thursday. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $53.61 and a 52 week high of $74.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $128.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.49.
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 15th will be given a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 12th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.59%. Abbott Laboratories’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.80%.
In other news, insider Daniel Gesua Sive Salvadori sold 5,000 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction on Friday, September 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.39, for a total value of $366,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 93,321 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,848,828.19. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Sharon J. Bracken sold 1,732 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction on Friday, September 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.35, for a total value of $127,042.20. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 39,229 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,877,447.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 155,321 shares of company stock worth $10,492,583 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.74% of the company’s stock.
Abbott Laboratories Company Profile
Abbott Laboratories discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. The company's Established Pharmaceutical Products segment offers branded generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency; irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm; intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms; gynecological disorders; hormone replacement therapy; dyslipidemia; hypertension; hypothyroidism; Ménière's disease and vestibular vertigo; pain, fever, and inflammation; migraines; and anti-infective clarithromycin, as well as provides influenza vaccine and products that regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.
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About 87 million people in the region also lack access to drinking water at home
Numerous other vaccine developers have indicated plans to initiate human testing in 2020
It is human activity that enabled the virus to jump to people, and specialists warn that if nothing changes many other pandemics will follow
For years, leaders from Benin to Zimbabwe have received medical care abroad as their own poorly-funded health systems limp struggle
Students of a premier Kolkata school for the visually impaired who are currently at home due to the lockdown, are worried
Experts share the dos and don’ts of skin fasting, a novel beauty regime that advises cutting down on excessive skincare
Have oily skin? Follow these little tips so to make sure your makeup doesn’t budge.
Fashion designer Adarsh Makharia talks about his latest bridal collection, his celebrity connections, and more.
Fashion designer Manoviraj Khosla, while disagreeing with Armani offers his insights.
London offers winter warmers with a festive flavour.
With Christmas around the corner, Chef Manish Khanna has given modern twists to two of the most popular and traditional desserts of the season.
Ants, crickets and cockroaches: healthy snacks that taste like potato chips.
Got GUAC? tap into your inner caveman with this recipe.
Different cooking styles make use of different oils.
Unfortunately, another traveller, Tanmay Sharma, was not as lucky as Rittam’s solo-traveller friend.
Tourism's gifts and woes for Santa and Sami homeland.
Pollution in the sacred river has come down by over 40 per cent and is likely to increase as the lock down continues across the country
'Iceberg Corridor' sparks tourist boom on Canada's east coast.
The capital recently inaugurated the ninth edition of its Youth Festival, which is doing a splendid job preserving the cultural heritage of the city.
Wooden relic of Jesus manger on pre-Christmas display in Jerusalem.
An art exhibition that explores the impact of signed artwork through works of India’s some of renowned contemporary artists.
Chhath Puja: These Muslim artisans have been in Chulha-making business for decades.
The burqa-clad Nazma Aapi’s political commentary has made Saloni Gaur a national sensation
Fathers around the country cherish the family time they’re getting with their kids, courtesy the lockdown
As the world locks down, bedroom doors are opening, rekindling romance or will too much proximity hinder the relationship?
Teenagers less responsive to mothers with controlling voice: Study.
Dad and dad, mom and mom, or a single parent — it is all the same, as long as the parenting is wholesome and holistic.
As the actor preps for Takht and three other real-life characters, we take a sneak peek at the actor’s plate.
Go Away Coronavirus, an illustrative digital book by Divya Thomas for kids, helps beat the lockdown boredom
The coastal state had reported seven COVID-19 positive cases
The guest list divas are on top of the priority list.
Many work-from-home pros are searching for that ideal spot where they can briskly get something done
Arif sees learning and growing as an eternal process
Ayman considers that failure to be a pivotal point in accelerating him towards success
Aayustaar has been putting herculean efforts to push his brand par-excellence
Besides paying a soulful tribute through a webinar, NMC also provided monetary compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to his widow


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Here’s how Gen Z and Millennials feel about a TikTok ban—and where they’ll go if it actually happens …
By now, you’re probably aware of the news swirling around about the potential ban of TikTok in the U.S. Headlines about the app over the last week have in large part been focused on security threats, how user data is handled, and its ties to China—and how organizations in the U.S. are questioning the app’s safety. India has already officially banned the app, and the U.S. government is reportedly looking closely at the platform and considering following suit. Companies are also beginning to take action. On Friday, Amazon sent an email to employees banning TikTok from company phones which they then said was sent in error. But Wells Fargo is asking their employees to uninstall the app, and the Army and Navy have both banned service members from using the app on government issued devices.
These company bans are building up the buzz that a ban in the U.S. is imminent—and Gen Z and Millennial users haven’t exactly been taking the news lightly. Last week, a glitch caused panic on the app when users reported that they were seeing “zero” likes on the posts. Though it was eventually fixed, speculation and rumors spread under the hashtag #tiktokshutdown that the glitch was linked to the recent news that it may be banned in the country.
To get a full picture of what a TikTok ban would mean to young consumers, we asked them ourselves. Using YPulse’s real-time data tool PULSE, we asked 16-34-year-olds to tell us what they really think about a ban, whether their data is safe with TikTok, and where they would go if they couldn’t use the app anymore. Here’s what we learned:
The majority of young consumers (67%) tell YPULSE that they think TikTok shares user information with the Chinese government. This is, of course, the primary reason that the ban is being threatened, though according to the Verge the app reports that “it stores American user data in the U.S.” Amazingly, when we asked this question of just TikTok users, 50% said that they believe the app shares user information with the Chinese government. Clearly, this potential security and privacy threat is not stopping them from using the app. And in fact, though most Gen Z and Millennials believe that TikTok shares user data, that doesn’t mean that they want it banned:
Our PULSE data shows that over half of 16-34-year-olds say that they would not support a TikTok ban, despite the majority believing the app shares user data. Of course, TikTok users feel even more strongly about keeping TikTok alive in the U.S.: 65% say they would not support a ban. When we asked these young users how they would feel about a TikTok ban in the U.S., annoyed and sad were the top responses. Many users have developed and fostered friendships on the platform. Especially during COVID, it became the breakout social network of the pandemic, and YPulse’s data shows that 52% of 13-18-year-olds are currently using it. When The New York Times asked creators and users about the potential ban, some said losing the app would “be like losing a little bit” of themselves. The hashtag #SaveTiktok has even gained traction on other social apps as young social media users have been showing support and solidarity with TikTokers.
When we asked how the ban would impact them, many TikTok users were effusive about the app’s ability to connect them with others. As one put it, “It would make me lose a fun platform that I’ve connected/made internet friends on,” and another user explained that they would lose “a positive community, amongst other things.” But users were perhaps most likely to say that without the app they would be bored, or “bored as f” in the words of one respondent. Some even said that a TikTok ban would mean they would spend less time on their phones, or that it would “change [their] daily schedule” because they use it so much.
However, the potential ban of the app has opened up opportunities for other companies who are vying for the spot to be the next TikTok. While users are protesting the ban, others have been posting on social media about moving to similar apps like Dubsmash or Vine successor Byte. So, who stands to win the most users in the wake of a TikTok ban? When we asked users what platform they would use if TikTok shut down, there was a clear leader:
Young TikTok users were most likely to say that they would use Instagram if TikTok shut down, leaving more similar competitors like Byte and Dubsmash in the dust. Instagram is already testing a new editing tool that imitates TikTok’s best features. The video-remix feature Reels will let users create 15-second videos and set them to music, which can be shared on Stories or a new “Top Reels” section of the Explore tab. Facebook’s attempt at a TikTok clone, Lasso, was built from scratch and marketed as a standalone product—and was shut down this month. But Instagram is hoping to steal from TikTok’s success by offering these tools to an established user base—and has had success borrowing features from competitors in the past. The feature was initially being tested in Brazil, but started testing in India after TikTok was banned there. According to our PULSE survey data, they have a good chance of showing the new feature off to former TikTokers if the app shuts down here as well.


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As you can see in the video above, Apple’s new fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5s isn’t restricted to human users. After commandeering a cat, I tested a colleague’s hypothesis that you could register
Just before the new iPhones launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Design chief Jony Ive, and Software head Craig Federighi have sat down with Bloomberg Businessweek for a wide-ranging interview. The interview does
On the eve of the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook, chief designer Jony Ive, and head of software Craig Federighi have spoken to Bloomberg Businessweekto discuss the company's recent
The 64-bit A7 chip used in the iPhone 5s is ‘only’ dual-core, rather than the quad-core most had assumed, according to chip review site AnandTech – and it has the same 1GB RAM as the iPhone 5. But no to
Sennheiser, Klipsch, Phiaton... what is it about audio brands that don't easily roll off the tongue? It's the latter that interests us today, of course, after announcing two new sets of headphones for
Apple chief of design Jony Ive is rarely seen publicly outside of the bright white room he sits in for polished videos on the design of the company's latest products, but he and other executives are granting
Google today announced it is making Quickoffice free for everyone. That means Android and iOS users can edit Microsoft Office documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on the go without paying a dime.
Apple just released its “biggest change” ever to iOS — and it’s hard to argue with the company’s phrasing. From top to bottom, every corner of the operating system looks different, even if it all still


text: (AJC) — Despite a tough economic climate, Georgia last year saw a 2 percent increase in the number of companies coming to the state, along with an 11 percent rise in the number of jobs promised. Still, the Peach State wasn’t one of the top 10 destinations for business relocation. Georgia ranks sixth in overall business climate, according to this month’s Site Selection magazine, which tracks the competition among the states. Every state wants economic development, usually aiming for a mix of home-grown expansions and move-in businesses. But they must pay a price for that development. Getting into the contest means ponying up — money for marketing, for improvements to local infrastructure, for tax breaks.


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Last week, the KIA CEO made a significant announcement, with a commitment to 'putting the customer at the heart of our discussions and actions'. This signals a profound change for a business about to break away from the traditional manufacturing model, significantly reinforcing the statement with a new brand identity, even going as far as changing the company name.
Though new products and services headlined the announcement, perhaps more significance can be read into the impact of taking control 'throughout the entire purchase and ownership journey, focused on the customer', will have on traditional ways to sell cars. Success suggests new retail models and a move beyond the current default best practice of providing multiple sales channels, to an omnichannel view, owned by the OEM and organised around an ongoing conversation with the customer through initial purchase and beyond.
A new approach featuring omnichannel customer journey optimisation will be required to bridge the gap left by a traditional single-channel mindset, encouraging meaningful conversations with the brand and helping to break down silos that customers are often left to negotiate.
Providing the right technology, currently supporting existing sales channels has a pivotal role in helping customers throughout the buying stages, ensuring smooth handoff between channels and interaction points, removing the requirement for customers to decode the monologue currently supplied by car brands. This will enable a dialogue with the brand, using a fair exchange of information to build lasting relationships as they go.
Insights currently available in the data can help understand how to support the customer as they navigate the car-buying journey, made up of many starts and stops, with interactions often carried across different channels over long periods.
Building on the fact that individual interactions might be well optimised in isolation and enabling a great transition to the next interaction point, insights can also provide the best place to start for KIA – use data science to understand who this customer is, what they enjoy or struggle with today, and how to help them in future.


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Mooted Russian gold sales in support of local companies and budget
As gold prices have hit a record high in recent days, it could be there's no better time to sell gold. Yet, with the dollar weakening, many countries are moving in the opposite direction according to Marat Gabitov, Mining and Metals Analyst at Unicredit, building up their reserves, while slowly moving away from volatile currency holdings.
“Most governments are now buying gold, especially China and other developing countries. Now there are a lot of worries around the future of dollar, and gold is apparently a hard asset which will help preserve international assets of Russia.”
However, Chris Weafer, Chief Strategist at Uralsib believes that the Finance Ministry’s decision to sell gold is not primarily meant to help ease the current budget deficit, but rather to generate new cash to support local industries.
“One explanation is they are simply looking to raise money from selling some gold to do that – the more likely reason though is that the agency responsible for gold holdings, for buying precious metals has been more actively engaged in supporting another state company – Alrosa – which is the world’s second largest diamond producer and they’ve been buying diamonds from that company to support the company while the international market is weak.”
Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin recently announced that Russia would be issuing $17.8 billion worth of Eurobonds to help cover the budget deficit. Supporting local industries may be the reason for the sale – but ultimately it's unclear where this extra revenue is meant to go.
However, analysts agree, if the government goes through with the sale, it will not be a trend for the future and it will soon look to replenish its gold reserves.


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The big news this past week in the Geeks.Online and tech world is a security flaw which can be used by hackers, known as the Heartbleed bug.
The Heartbleed bug affects OpenSSL, which is used by over 60% of the web to securely send data. The function of OpenSSL is to scrambles (encrypts) private communications between computers. When you are checking webmail, online banking, or making a online purchase- the green padlock symbol up in your browser address bar means that you are using HTTPS- and your passwords and all other data should be secure from hackers.
Due to the Heartbleed bug, any personal information loaded on your computer’s memory, including usernames, passwords, email addresses, etc. could be exposed to hackers.
Thousands of online services that use OpenSSL- such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, Pinterest, Google, YouTube, Gmail, Foursquare, Flickr, Tumblr, Yahoo! Mail, GoDaddy, Amazon Web Services, Dropbox, OKCupid, SoundCloud… have potentially been a goldmine for hackers for over two years. You may already have received emails from some of these sites recommending that you change your passwords. Thankfully, many of the largest sites were patched for Heartbleed before the issue was publicly announced. No one has actually reported the exploit as being used in the theft of passwords or data.
GeeksOnTime recommends changing your passwords on the sites affected by the Heartbleed bug- it’s the safest course. Don’t allow hackers easy access to your old, insecure passwords. LastPass is a free/cheep tool to help you change your passwords


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Over the last six months, Jim and Suzanne Millar have been through a rollercoaster of emotions like no other.
Not only did the husband and wife team refurbish an empty restaurant within the space of a month, they opened, became a roaring success, and then were forced to close just as quickly.
If this was any other year, such a story would seem impossible, and completely devastating.
But the couple are just one of hundreds of business owners in Northamptonshire trying to smile and carry on in the face of a situation which they have no control over.
“We were open for eight weeks and two days when the announcement came we had to close. So it was a bit of a shock but we have done everything we can,” Suzanne, 38, explains.
“I have to be honest when the Government said we needed to close completely I just stood there and cried.
"Jim just said ‘let’s ride it out’ which is what we are doing. It’s how we have always been. You get knocked down, get back up, brush yourself off and carry on.”
For the family-of-four, the journey to buy the Willow and Brook in the village of Apethorpe has been a long time coming. With Jim a chef, and Suzanne a front-of-house manager, it was only after years in the industry that they took the leap to open their first venture once they’d helped friends do the same.
From there, the hunt was on - until they fell in love with what was then the Kings Head on Kings Cliffe Road late last year.
Suzanne said: “I fell head over heels with the building, came a few times to visit and that was it.
“It was a huge undertaking, we put in the cellar, put in the bar, put in the kitchen - the kitchen needed everything from ladles to cookers and ranges and everything in between.
“I knew it was a done deal so I started getting suppliers in place and getting furniture and cookers so all of a sudden when we got the keys we knew everything was booked and delivered that week. We opened a month and two days later.
“There was no Christmas, our only day off was Boxing Day.”
From there, business was surprisingly quick to take off. Instead of a few customers stopping for a quick drink as they expected, Jim and Suzanne found themselves welcomed by the community keen to book themselves in night after night.
Suzanne explained: “You don’t have to look at the dates to know when social distancing came in. We went from absolutely full most evenings in the restaurant and then when you get to March 18th it went nearly empty.
“On that Friday we just sold pints for £1 to get rid of the keg. One supplier will refund the kegs we couldn’t use and then we managed to get takeaway containers to sell beer so while we didn’t make the same margins we sold it rather than it going in the bin.”
As like other restaurants across the country, Jim and Suzanne received a £10,000 government grant to help them keep afloat until more news comes. As a new business however, they are facing a bigger challenge than others to keep going until that time comes.
Suzanne said: “We had an order arrive the day before we closed so all the money and wages came out two weeks later but our income had stopped. That grant was a lifesaver, now we are just trying to keep our head above water.
“We don’t want to get into further debt. The business is in debt from opening so we don’t want to get more loans as that’s something else to worry about. It’s what we are trying to avoid but it might not be possible. If we have to make rent, we have to make rent, but that’s only in an emergency only.”
While the Willow and Brook may be empty at the moment, it doesn’t mean the Millar family are slowing down.
To keep them busy they are doing takeaways ranging from fish and chips to curry nights and afternoon teas - with the help of nine-year-old Ryan and 11-year-old Freddie.
For Suzanne it’s about keeping her occupied, as well as ensuring some income.
She said: “If you sat down and wallowed in misery you’d turn into a pot of jelly. All we can do is see what people are missing other than actually going into a restaurant.
“I cannot thank the community enough, the residents have been absolutely fantastic from the day we opened to the day we had to close.”
Over in Wellingborough, lockdown has seen Jodi Jenny’s restaurant June Plum undergo a 360 degree turn.
While takeaways were once only a very small part of what the Jamaican eatery once did, Jodi and her team are now busier than they would sometimes be on a normal day delivering around the county.
After starting with a skeleton staff of three as lockdown started, she now has a team of six helping her to keep up, including two just to keep track of the orders coming in from two phones as well as social media.
“The first week it got real for everybody it went dead,” Jodi, 36, said.
“I thought this would be the end of us because we are a small business and there’s no contingency fund, but then I pulled my finger out and doubled down on social media to find different ways for people to remember us. I not only want to survive but come out of this free from debt.
“The first couple of weeks everyone was feeling pretty uncertain but then we got crazy busy.”
As someone who started her business seven years ago in a trailer, Jodi is already someone who knows how to adapt to change.
It means she is already planning how June Plum will work when restaurants are finally able to open again.
Jodi said: “Even when we are allowed to reopen people may not feel comfortable coming in and I’m not sure when they make the announcement that I will feel comfortable with lots of people coming in.
“I had this idea of creating more destination experiences like cooking courses where we can socially distance with six people and then still do deliveries, or hold wine tasting - things like that.
“We won’t be able to do the same number of covers as before so I’m thinking about that experience rather than waiting for tables to come.
“Everything has to be switched up - even like things like Hello Fresh [meal kits] but with an island vibe or ready meals that are chilled.”
As well as the business side of things, Jodi’s other priority is keeping people happy. To do that when she’s not in the kitchen she’s doing everything from virtual quizzes on her Facebook page to cooking tutorials with special guests.
She said: “My mum has diabetes and my sister has special needs so they had to go into lockdown before and I knew how they were feeling so I wanted to be able to leave people smiling."
At La Pazienza in Northampton, restaurant owner Orlando Lupsa has also been doing takeaway meals.
While they are not flying out of the door at the same rate as they are in Wellingborough, he is doing it for his loyal customers who have been coming to him over the years.
“We are doing some deliveries. It’s not working but most of it is delivered to old customers so we are doing it for their sake to keep them happy,” Orlando, 42, said.
“They have come back so many times I think they want a piece of that from the comfort of their homes.
“They are having weekly orders just to keep up. We are in survival mode.”
Before lockdown was even put in place Orlando had already made the decision to only allow one table to dine in the restaurant at a time.
While it wasn’t great for him financially, for the restaurant owner safety comes first.
He said: “My ethics are I want everyone to be safe. I am doing this for love, of course I am running a business to make money but it’s not that important, I put safety first before the money.
“At the beginning it was so sad, I couldn’t believe it.”
After receiving a grant from the council, Orland has been able to cover his rent until July.
What happens after that though he, like other business owners, isn’t sure.
He said: “Everyone is affected the same way. It’s hard for companies like ours, we have to figure out how to survive basically. The smaller the business the easier it is to break it, to go bankrupt.
“From July onwards I have to figure out from my own pocket paying my rent. We will be reducing the tables for in house dining but we only have 11 tables in the restaurant, it’s a small restaurant.
“Hopefully everyone will come together with the communities, and not just for me but for all types of businesses for everybody to move forward in the same way and help each other. “


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Mubasher: US wholesale inventories ticked up in May, higher than the provisional estimates, amid strong rises in machinery stockpiles, official data showed on Wednesday.
Wholesale inventories, excluding manufacturing sales branches, rose 0.6% to $633.5 billion in the fifth month of 2018, instead of the initial reading of a 0.5% gain last month, the US Commerce Department’s Census Bureau said.
Stockpiles at wholesalers increased 5.9% in May compared to the same month last year.
Machinery inventories climbed 1.5% in May following a 0.4% increase in the previous month.
Meanwhile, wholesale automotive inventories fell 1.2% in the fifth month of the year, after inching up 0.2% in the previous month.
Wholesaler sales were 2.5% higher in the fifth month of the year, recording the largest rise since March 2011, while auto sales saw a notable recovery, jumping 2.9% after falling 0.4% in the preceding month.
Given May’s sales pace, wholesalers would take 1.24 months to clear shelves, the lowest the inventories-to-sales ratio seen since November 2014, compared to 1.27 months in April.


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The “Bulldogs Biggest Fan” photo contest on Facebook offers a chance to win a VIP Homecoming Package! The package includes: four tickets to the Bulldog Forever tailgate; four tickets to the football game; four Truman Homecoming T-shirts; Bulldog Forever koozies; and one hotel room for October 12-13. The easy submission process is online.
Celebrated on the first Friday of October, this year’s Spirit Day is Oct. 5, 2018! Students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends are encouraged to wear purple or other Truman gear to show their support for the school! No matter where you live, you can stay connected to the Bulldog Community by participating in Spirit Day and the “Bulldogs Biggest Fans” photo contest!


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Samsung increases profit significantly thanks to strong chip demand
Samsung is benefiting from the large demand for capacity in data centers. This is what drives profits in the chip business in particular.
The continuing boom in demand for chips has once again brought the electronics giant Samsung significant increases in sales and profits in the first quarter.
The surplus rose by 58.5 percent year-on-year to 11.32 trillion won (about 8.5 billion euros), as the South Korean company reports. Sales reached a quarterly record of 77.8 trillion won (58.2 billion euros). Samsung Electronics is the market leader in memory chips as well as smartphones and televisions.
Semiconductor manufacturers benefit from pandemic
In the corona pandemic, the need for capacities in data centers has increased noticeably. Despite delivery bottlenecks, semiconductor manufacturers such as Samsung and Intel in particular benefited from this.
In the first quarter, the business with memory chips in particular exceeded market forecasts, according to a Samsung statement. This is due to the fact that prices have fallen less than expected thanks to robust server and PC demand.
The operating profit of the semiconductor division alone rose to 8.45 trillion won at the same time as a quarterly record – more than twice as much as a year earlier. With a view to the second quarter, Samsung predicted that the demand for memory chips will continue to develop robustly despite ongoing uncertainties.
Positive development also for smartphones
In the smartphone business, the Group can also look back on a positive development despite a general decline in demand. The decline, both in comparison to the fourth quarter of 2021 and in a year-on-year comparison, is due to the weaker season and “geopolitical uncertainties”, it said.
Nevertheless, sales and profitability increased despite delivery bottlenecks for components. The growth was also driven by strong sales of the new flagship models from the Galaxy S22 series released in the first quarter. The business with smartphones suitable for the mass market for the 5G mobile communications standard has also proven to be profitable.
The competitor of the iPhone manufacturer Apple also expects a slight decline for the entire market for the second quarter. At the same time, the South Koreans expressed confidence in the sales of the new models from their own production.


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ONE Championship looks set to increase its already-wide reach on social media platform Facebook.
ONE announced a multifaceted global partnership with Facebook, which includes distribution of exclusive content on Facebook Watch; a Facebook Gaming channel in which ONE’s top athletes will stream gameplay and gaming commentary; and the addition of ONE Virtual Reality content to the Venues app on the Oculus platform.
“ONE Championship is committed to finding new ways to connect authentically with our fans and allow them to experience the stories of hope, strength, dreams, and inspiration created by our athlete superheroes,” said ONE Group CCO Hari Vijayarajan.
“Our long-term partnership with Facebook has been instrumental in allowing us to build reach and audiences around the world. We are excited to expand our partnership and leverage the power of the Facebook platform, be that VR with Oculus, the rapid growth of esports and community gaming with Facebook Gaming, or simply non-stop action clips for Facebook Watch you cannot find anywhere else.”
Martial arts and esports fans will have a new experience because of this partnership.
ONE and Facebook have agreed to deliver custom content to martial arts fans globally, featuring unique camera angles, behind-the-scenes footage, and more, exclusively made for Facebook Watch and IGTV.
A dedicated ONE Esports channel will be launched where fans can watch their favorite ONE athletes stream their gaming activity exclusively on Facebook Gaming, playing and engaging daily.
Moreover, the launch of an ‘Only on Oculus’ VR content in the Venues app for Oculus Quest where martial arts fans across the globe can experience the best seat in the house, virtually.
“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with ONE Championship as we grow our sports collaboration across our platform. Community is at the core of ONE Championship and we will continue to help them reach their audiences whether it is through premium content in Facebook Watch, or to our new engagement opportunities through Facebook Gaming,” said Facebook Asia Pacific director for Sports Partnerships Joyee Biswas.
“The announcement today to also bring content to the Oculus platform is testament to ONE Championship’s ability to anticipate where their community will engage and create a meaningful experience for fans.”


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A new distribution partnership between Maizex Seeds and BrettYoung was announced today by the two companies. BrettYoung will now distribute the Elite Soybean brand in Western Canada starting in the 2020 production year. All Maizex and Elite soybean varieties will soon be consolidated and marketed under the Elite brand.
According to a news release, Maizex Seeds says it is also committing to additional variety research, testing, and soybean support agronomy, focusing on the needs of farmers across Western Canada as soybean production expands.
“We see a tremendous long-term future for soybean production in Western Canada,” says Stephen Denys, director of business management with Maizex Seeds. “This agreement supports our goal of testing, commercializing and making widely available soybean varieties that have been developed to meet the specific needs of farmers here. BrettYoung has a proven track record in their marketing of Elite soybeans, and we anticipate that this relationship will further support their focused efforts in providing growers the best soybean variety options available.”
Additionally, Maizex Seeds will be responsible for marketing seed corn with BrettYoung to continue to support existing Elite corn sales for this year’s growing season.
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General Motors will work with one of the nation’s largest suppliers of ventilators to help it boost the supply of the medical devices which are in critically short supply due to the rapidly expanding coronavirus pandemic.
Though details are still being worked out, leaders of the GM manufacturing team met with officials from Ventec Life Systems on Thursday to work out specific ways the automaker could assist in ramping up ventilator production. That could include a variety of steps, TheDetroitBureau.com has learned, including the use of GM plants to produce parts or even whole ventilators.
“With GM’s help, Ventec will increase ventilator production,” Chris Kiple, Ventec’s CEO said in a statement released Friday night. “By tapping their expertise, GM is enabling us to get more ventilators to more hospitals much faster. This partnership will help save lives.”
The number of Americans stricken by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has escalated rapidly in recent days, known cases at one point increasing by about 50% in a 24-hour period. But medical experts have complained that the U.S. remains seriously short of key supplies, starting with basic tests needed to determine who has the disease. There are no vaccines nor medicines yet known that can reduce the impact of COVID-19 which, in extreme cases, causes serious lung problems. At that point, a patient is likely to require a ventilator in order to have even a chance for survival.
“If we don’t have enough ventilators, it’s obvious people who need it will not be able to get it,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the expert leading the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic said earlier this week.
Severe shortages have already been reported in some of the viral outbreak’s epicenters in the U.S., including Seattle, San Francisco and New York City.
On Wednesday, GM CEO Mary Barra told Larry Kudlow, the president’s top economic advisor, she would like to assist in efforts to attack the coronavirus. Separately, Barra was contacted by StopTheSpread, an ad hoc group seeking to coordinate action by the nation’s business community.
According to a spokesperson, the CEOs of 1,500 U.S. corporations have now signed on to work with StopTheSpread. Some, like Ventec, have specialized capabilities, such as producing ventilators. Others, such as GM, are looking for ways to use their own expertise to assist in the effort.
The group’s stated mission is to bring the business community together to see how they can help address the issues raised in dealing with the pandemic.
Within less than a day after telling the White House it was ready to help, GM flew leaders of its global manufacturing team to Bothell, a suburb of Seattle, where Ventec is based. The two companies are “looking at all options,” a GM spokesman told TheDetroitBureau.com.
Specifics are still under discussion, but several GM sources indicated the goal is to move quickly. Among the possible options:
· Using GM manufacturing know-how to help Ventec speed up its own production lines;
· Help Ventec overcome bottlenecks that may limit the supply of key ventilator parts;
· If needed, GM might be able to supply some parts, such as motors, perhaps using 3D printing technologies to produce things like ventilator masks;
· It might be possible for GM to assemble some ventilators at its own plants.
“We are working closely with Ventec to rapidly scale up production of their critically important respiratory products to support our country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Barra said in a statement. “We will continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis.”
Ford Motor Co. also reached out to the White House to see how it could assist in the fight against the coronavirus, though it has not yet announced any specific plans. Tesla also has expressed an interest in working to boost the supply of ventilators.


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Whether it’s an Apple iPhone, a Samsung Galaxy or a Sony Xperia, the smartphone is now an essential piece of kit for every entrepreneur.
It means sending emails, doing internet research and making notes is possible with the swipe of a finger – and made even easier with the introduction of digital personal assistants like Siri and Cortana.
As the capability of smartphones continues to soar, more and more business leaders are admitting that they do the majority of their work from their handheld gadgets.
In fact, a survey carried out by Forbes Insights for Google showed that nine out of ten executives used smartphones for business, even while they were in the office, and some 10 per cent said smartphones were their exclusive device used for decision making.
What does it all mean?
So what does this growing trend mean for businesses of the future? Do companies that don’t want to get left behind have to say goodbye to offices and desktop computers, and simply give staff a smartphone and let them work from anywhere?
Well, according to Ulrik Nehammer, GM at Coca Cola, the answer is yes. "Today I run most of my business from my smartphone," he said, adding: "The most dangerous place to make a decision is within the office."
Nehammer’s comments are interesting because they highlight a reason for the growing popularity of using smartphones which exceeds more than just convenience.
A new type of freedom
Using a your phone to run your business means you can essentially work from anywhere, as long as there’s Wi-Fi or 4G connectivity. With this comes a new type of freedom – not just from the confines of a stale office building, but creative freedom too.
The opportunity to work from wherever you choose – whether that’s a coffee shop, a beach or your bed – means being able to work wherever you feel most inspired. And you don’t need us to tell you that inspired employees tend to come up with the best, most successful ideas.
Harder to 'switch off'
However, alongside the advantages that smartphones bring, there are also some concerns.
Running a business from a smartphone, and shunning the typical office-based nine to five role, can mean being 'on call' 24/7 and rarely having the opportunity to unplug and switch off from the stresses and strains that inevitably come with being a business leader.
Needless to say, this can have a negative impact on our stress levels and our overall wellbeing. According to Adrian Furnham, professor of psychology at University College London, smartphones can be "as much a blessing as a curse" as employees who use them find it hard to switch off.
Best of both worlds
He says: "In trying to make people more productive, such as by giving them electronic gizmos, you make them less so. Our grandparents knew this, but they chose different metaphors. All work and no play makes Jack a less productive, anxiety- and error-prone ruminator."
There are also other issues to consider. For instance, it can be challenging to work collaboratively via a smartphone as editing documents and typing while talking on the phone can be more difficult than it would be if sitting at a desk and using a desktop computer.
However, better apps and bigger screens along with developments in AI are likely to help with these problems as time goes by.
The problem of stressed, hyperconnected employees is a more complicated one to solve. While the opportunities and advantages that running a business from a smartphone are clear, businesses of the future will also have to invest time and money in helping their people learn how to separate work and leisure.
As Adrian puts it, staff need to "be encouraged, given permission, and taught how to relax, but also to take time out, enjoying friends and family."
After all, a frazzled employee is an unhappy and ultimately less productive employee – and that’s not just bad for health and wellbeing, but bad for business, too.