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8 indicted in $22m fraud against AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile
An indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court this morning charging Courtney Beckford, Gabe Beizem, Rawl Davis, Lennox Lambert, Marsha Montayne, Saul Serrano, Ron Shealey, and Rohan Stewart, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. Beizem, Montayne, and Stewart were also charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The charges were announced by Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Brian G. Parr, Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Secret Service, New York Field Office.
According to the indictment, between February 2005 and July 2009, the defendants fraudulently obtained over $22 million worth of wireless devices from AT&T and T-Mobile without payment. As part of the scheme, Beizem, an owner of Got Wireless, also known as USA Wireless, a former authorized AT&T and T-Mobile dealer that operated in Brooklyn, obtained dealer access codes for AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s online customer databases. Stewart, the owner of KP Wireless, an authorized T-Mobile wireless device dealer operating in West Palm Beach, Florida, also obtained dealer access codes for T-Mobile’s customer database. Using these access codes, Beizem, Stewart, and Montayne, and others, fraudulently obtained existing customer information from the customer databases, including customers’ names, addresses, and personal identifying information. Montayne, and others, then fraudulently assumed the identities of existing customers and obtained new wireless devices without payment and without the customers’ permission by (1) calling AT&T and T-Mobile, adding new lines of service to existing customers’ accounts, and requesting new wireless devices to support the new lines, (2) calling AT&T and T-Mobile, falsely claiming that a wireless device subscribed to an existing customer was damaged or defective and requesting replacement wireless devices, and (3) calling AT&T and Asurion, falsely claiming that existing customers’ wireless devices were lost or stolen and requesting new wireless devices pursuant to AT&T’s insurance program with Asurion.
As a result of these fraudulent requests, AT&T and T-Mobile shipped new or replacement wireless devices for express mail delivery by FedEx, DHL or UPS. As alleged in the indictment, FedEx and DHL shipments from AT&T were generally shipped to addresses along the routes of private express mail drivers whom Beckford, Davis, Lambert, and Stewart, and others, recruited and paid to divert the packages. FedEx and DHL drivers, including Serrano and Shealey, then scanned the packages into their respective carrier’s computerized tracking systems as “delivered” to the stated delivery addresses, but actually diverted the packages to Beckford, Davis, Lambert, and Stewart, and others. UPS shipments from T-Mobile were shipped directly to addresses connected to the defendants and their associates.
Beckford, Beizem, Davis, and Montayne, and others, allegedly then sold the fraudulently obtained wireless devices to others. When charges were incurred on these devices they were billed to existing AT&T and T-Mobile customers’ accounts. When the customers reported or confirmed the fraud on their accounts to AT&T and T-Mobile, the companies absorbed the losses, which included the cost of the devices, insurance payments, shipping costs, and wireless service and other calling charges.
“Identity theft can ruin customers’ credit and seriously disrupt their lives,” stated United States Attorney Campbell. “The type of fraud alleged in the indictment strikes at the very heart of our modern digital economy and imposes substantial costs on commercial businesses. It is a serious problem that requires serious action. Those who commit identity theft can expect to be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Mr. Campbell thanked the New York State Police for their assistance.
Secret Service Special Agent-in-Charge Parr stated, “The results of this investigation are an example of the strategic partnerships between the Secret Service, the New York State Police, and our private sector partners. We continue to prioritize investigative cases, focusing on electronic and financial crimes which have a significant impact on the community, and deploy cutting edge technology to pre-empt criminal ingenuity.”
If convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, the defendants each face maximum sentences of 20 years of imprisonment. Defendants Beizem, Stewart, and Montayne also face additional mandatory two year consecutive sentences if convicted of aggravated identity theft.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Stoer, Karin Orenstein, and Thomas Sullivan.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District New York
Update: On September 3, T-Mobile filed a breach report with the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. I think it may be this incident that they are basing it on, but am not sure.


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Battle of the Immortals dates Titan update
Battle of the Immortals has placed a release date on its upcoming Titan update: July 13, this Wednesday.
The Titan update will feature a new instance (Titans’ Throne) that can be completed once per day with at least 3 level 115 players, and will reward a new set of Soul Gear plus the artifact Thunder. Two new maps, Black Dragon Lair and Giants Kingdom, will also reward Soul Gear.
Battle of the Immortals is published by Perfect World Entertainment, which also publishes Forsaken World, Jade Dynasty, and Perfect World Online.
Battle of the Immortals Gameplay Screenshot
Perfect World Entertainment is pleased to announce that Battle of the Immortals players need to wait no more as the Titan Content update will be launching this Wednesday, July 13!
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Last Wednesday (5/3/22), the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a half percentage point, the largest rate increase since 2000. The Fed previously raised its rate a quarter percentage point in March. The Fed rate increases are meant to lower inflation while not slow down the economy so much that it tips into recession.
However, rising interest rates mean the cost of capital goes up. Increased interest rates mean higher payments for credit cardholders and new mortgages. The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 5.55%, the highest it has been in more than a decade.
Small businesses will be impacted by the higher cost of capital. Short-term rates in particular will jump higher. Interest rates for business lines of credit and other variable-rate loans will increase making payments more expensive. This increased cost may cause businesses to halt recovery and growth.
Women-owned or Minority-owned Business Enterprises (WMBE) were polled by the Research, Policy, and Impact Center at the National Institute of Minority Economic Development about the potential impact of this rate increase.
Respondents indicated that there would be a ‘cooling off’ of business activities as a result of the increased cost of capital. More than half (58.1%) said they would delay planned business expansion and 54.8% said they would put off purchasing new equipment.
One small business owner said, “This rate increase will negatively affect our business throughout our production/supply chain ladder. As we are already battling supply shortages and paying higher prices for materials, this rate increase will only add to the struggle.”
Two-fifths (41.9%) of respondents would cut other business services causing ripples in the Business-to-Business (B2B) marketplace.
An WMBE explained, “As a small business, our line of credit is tied to the prime lending rate. The results of the increase will add to our operating costs which have already increased substantially due to inflation, the labor shortage therefore affecting our bottom line. There has been a heavy pattern of slow pay from general contractors to small business contractors over the last few years which will result in many small business subcontractors going out of business.”
This rate hike comes just as many WMBEs were beginning to recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic. During the pandemic, Governor Cooper established the Small Business Impact Grant Program (RETOOLNC) program to help certified Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) recover from unexpected adjustments to their business. Grants of up to $25,000 were awarded to certified small, underutilized businesses to help them with pivotal industry business changes needed during the pandemic.
One RETOOLNC recipient explains, “A rate increase will definitely be disastrous for minority and women owned small businesses. Especially when we are just beginning to see our business come back to normalcy. We did not have enough income last year to feed our families. It was thanks to loans and grants that we received that we could survive.”
Small businesses have been feeling the uptick in inflation. According to the Federal Reserve, inflation reached 6.6% last month, the highest point in four decades.
WMBEs, already struggling to remain profitable as fuel prices, supplies, and services costs increase, feel the coming rate hike will cause further uncertainty: “The surge in cost has affected me with travel due to rising fuel cost necessary to reach my customer, then the rise in cost for meals while on the road and meals necessary for PR with customers. Pricing jobs are very concerning because as a reseller, I cannot control rising cost for raw materials and shipping; these cost are controlled by my large business suppliers. A job that may take six months to a year to complete, will now most likely consist of an unforeseen price increase in materials. When this happens, it is usually a loss from the profit for the small business.”
The rate hike will also impact employees of WMBEs. More than a third (38.7%) of respondents to our poll indicated that they will be forced to reduce employee hours and 35.5% said they would not add new employees that were planned. Others said that they may have to postpone staff training (12.9%) and a few may even lay-off or furlough workers (9.7%).
Customers and clients of small businesses will also be impacted as they pass on the higher costs. Says one WMBE, “Any increases will have to be passed on to my customers and I’m not quite sure how receptive they will be to that news. It just makes everything increase. Costs of equipment, payroll increases, and we are still in the middle of supply chain issues that have a lot of my business in a holding pattern for equipment to complete jobs. So, profitability does not exist right now. The worst part of it all is I can’t predict when this will turn around.”
Download a printable version of this page: HERE


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LG G3 upgrade to Marshmallow begins this December, confirmation comes more or less from an LG Poland representative.
Poland seems to be the country of choice for many OEMs when it comes to software updates roll out. A new report coming from a local Polish blog called Tablety.pl hints at a mid-December start date for LG G3 users who are anxiously waiting for an upgrade to Marshmallow.
The news comes in the form of a tweet reply to a Twitter user posted by Jaroslaw Bukowski, an LG Poland executive. Apparently, the G3’s firmware which includes Android 6.0 is in its final testing stages and it could start deploying in the country between December 16 – 18, with other countries to follow soon after, if all goes well in the first wave.
LG G3 captured the ‘Smartphone of the year’ award back in 2014, prize split in two with Apple’s iPhone 6 at the time.


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The authorities in Abu Dhabi had fined over 900 food outlets, including restaurants, eateries and other establishments, last year on charges of flouting hygiene norms in a bid to uphold public health safety amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (Adafsa) said on Wednesday that the violations were detected during 150,419 inspections carried out on food outlets in the UAE’s largest emirate last year.
Data showed that 31,014 warnings, and 4,056 notices were issued, and another 967 violations came to light.
“Altogether 20,664, or 57 per cent of, actions were taken against food facilities, including 18,242 warnings, and 1,781 notices were issued, and 641 violations were detected, in Abu Dhabi city. In Al Ain, 10,699, or 30 per cent, actions were taken against food facilities, including 8,248 warnings, and 2,238 notices and 213 violations were detected,” said the Adafsa in a statement.
“Similarly, 4,674, or 13 per cent, of administrative actions were taken against Al Dhafra’s food facilities, including 4,524 warnings, and 37 notices were issued, and 113 violations came to light.”
The inspections were part of the authority’s efforts to ensure the emirate’s food safety.
Adafsa said it conducts routine visits to monitor compliance with norms and ascertain the facilities’ commitment to correct malpractices, and closure notices are issued for repeat offences.
The inspections target food catering facilities, restaurants, food stores, distribution centres, retail outlets and all facilities undertaking food-related activities in the regions across the emirate.
Adafsa aims to tighten control over all food facilities, enforce Law No. 2 of 2008 on food in the emirate and ensure the adoption of the best public health safety standards.
Adafsa keen on implementing Covid-19 safety measures
The inspections also focused on monitoring the implementation of public health requirements and precautionary measures issued by Adafsa to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and, in turn, promoting food safety and community well-being.
“Adafsa’s inspectors strive to ensure the commitment of food facilities to hygiene and food safety measures, especially in places dedicated to store, prepare and display foods. They are working on raising awareness about food safety practices, including proper ways for preserving and storing food, the cleanliness of kitchens, personal hygiene, and the provision of adequate sanitisers in the facility,” said officials.
”Besides, food workers are educated about the importance of washing hands in designated places, wearing protective clothing, such as head cover, masks and gloves, and closing any openings in storage facilities’ doors and windows in a bid to keep the raging contagion at bay,” they added.
The authority has called on consumers to report any violations they detect in any food facility by contacting Abu Dhabi Government’s Contact Centre on 800555. The move will help the authority’s inspectors take the necessary action, to ensure providing safe and healthy food to all consumers across the emirate, the officials added.
Copyright © 2021 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).


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TEXT OF COMMENTARY
Tess Vigeland: Americans aren’t the only ones bummed out about the price tag of a vacation across the pond. Tourism officials all over Europe are trying to reassure us Yanks that a holiday there wouldn’t be that bad.
The Emerald Isle just launched a campaign with the tag line: “Ireland — Can you afford not to go?”
Commentator Robert Reich thought he probably couldn’t afford a trip. Then he did the math.
Robert Reich: After finishing what I can honestly say was a hard year’s work, I decided to dip into my savings and take a vacation this summer. But when I looked into my savings, I discovered there were a lot less of them than when I last looked.
Well, the dollar so weak against the euro, that European vacation I was dreaming about would have cost me a fortune anyway. So I cancelled that trip and congratulated myself on saving thousands.
So many Europeans will be vacationing over here to take advantage of the strong euro that I figure America’s prime getaways will seem European anyway. Cape Cod will feel like the Riviera; the Rockies will have the ambience of the Alps.
So then I decided to hop into my car and head to one of those great USA getaways. But with gas up around $4 a gallon, I figured I could save a pile of money by canceling that plan, too. “What’s wrong with home?,” I asked myself. It will be a great chance to walk around and sample the local cuisine.
But with food prices soaring, local restaurants are becoming much more expensive. So I figured I could save even more money by planting my own vegetable garden and eating at home. And what’s wrong with eating your own vegetables? It’s healthier that way.
By this time, I figured with all the money I’ll have saved by not going abroad, not taking that road trip, not eating out and by growing my own vegetables, I’ll just about have broken even with my losses in the stock market.
But, of course, I won’t break even if the stock market keeps dropping.
So I’ve decided to forget about saving money this summer. I’m driving to Europe, eating at every first-class restaurant along the way and to hell with my own vegetables.
Vigeland: Robert Reich teaches public policy at the University of California Berkeley.
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Wow, it’s been two years already since our first public release, The Dark Mod 1.00! While it wasn’t quite as planned as it seems, let’s celebrate this anniversary by relaunching our new website. Since we’re using a proper CMS now we’re hoping to give you more regular updates on the website too.
On a related note, the team is currently moving towards freezing the TDM 1.07 development branch and go ahead with testing the release package.
A new Halloween speed-build contest is underway! There are at least half a dozen mappers participating, including heavyweights Melan and Bikerdude.
The mission must have at least one element that evokes Halloween. Scary missions will be preferred but things like: playing tricks, finding candy, fall decoration (Gourds, Pumpkins, etc), Pagan harvest festivals, etc … are all acceptable ways to evoke the holiday. Missions must be completed by October 31th.
Also we have a new Facebook Page! Visit us there for more frequent updates and info, or to give us feedback.


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It was only a matter of time before people figured out how to live with the new reality that features a pandemic. We started using masks as a way of precaution to protect as many people as we can and breaking the chain of infection. But soon the necessity took a turn on the path of luxury and now a mainstream legendary designing house is ready to launch a set of the luxury face shield. You read that right. Louis Vuitton is all set to unveil their take on personal protective equipment (PPE) on October 30.
LV Shield is the latest high-fashion face visor from the Parisian fashion house. According to a Vogue report, from October 30, this protective gear will be available in all of their stores worldwide. This shield has an elasticated monogrammed strap that goes around your head. The plastic shield is fixed in place with two golden studs on either side. Of course, these studs are engraved with the label's logo. Even the visor is trimmed with signature Louis Vuitton monogram print.
Since it is a luxury piece, it also comes with two special features. The plastic used for the shield is light sensitive and it transitions from clear to dark when you step outside in the sun. If you are not going to a place where you might need a face shield, you can flip it upwards to make it a peaked cap.
This is not the first time these protective gears have put on the couture garb. New York-based designer Joe Doucet was one of the first ones to design couture protective gear. Pairing the sunglasses with the shield, Doucet's conceptual design creates a minimalistic yet glam option for those who would use it for a non-medical purpose. It was his way of making an unwanted necessity a likeable option. He visualised the concept in April and now these shields are ready for the launch. Called Vue Shield by Joe Doucet, this protective gear is priced at $39 and you can RSVP for sale when it goes live on September 15.
Masks were already ahead of shields to get couture treatment. Another New York-based designer Christian Siriano was one of the first ones to use his superb designing skills to make designer luxe masks. Siriano was responding to New York governor's call to help make medical masks for the frontline health professionals at the beginning of the pandemic. While the petite mains in his studio were now working on producing more than 100 masks a day, he carved out time to let his imagination run wild and created a few designer masks that would go perfectly well with some of his designer gowns.
As people started stepping out of their houses and the reality of living with the coronavirus until the vaccines come out was settling in the society, experiments with this additional piece of clothing brought out various versions.
Last month, singer Jennifer Lopez posted an image urging her followers to wear masks when they go out in the public. With the caption, she debuted a sparkling mask so chic and worthy of the popstar's status. Called the Disco Ball, the pretty mask is a $26 creation by Katie May.
But the prize for experimenting with face shields and masks goes to Mother Monster Lady Gaga. At the 2020 MTV VMAs last month. She started the night by wearing a fishbowl like the cover on her head. It definitely made her look otherworldly and yet it wasn't the most extravagant outfit or the protective gear of the night. For her Chromatic performance, she wore a hi-tech LED mask. To accept the song of the year award she paired her green gown with a Lance Victor Moore mask that had horns and spikes. She looked like a million bucks when she accepted the artist of the year award wearing a silver Mety Choa mask.
Masks have become an important accessory in any wardrobe and now people are using them the same way they used to t-shirts to drive a point across. Showing her support to Black Lives Matter movement, 2020 US Open finalist Naomi Osaka wore black masks with the names of victims of police brutality printed on them.
Whether you like it or not PPE is mainstream now, might as well get luxe with it.


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HOGG Robinson is considering a return to the stock market after an absence of almost six years.
The business travel and corporate services group, which went private in 2000, is said to be consulting with City investment banks to find the best advisers in the run-up to a float.
The move would potentially value the Basingstoke-based company at around £700m.
Reports say the firm's "final barrier" to a flotation was removed this week when it dissolved its Business Travel International joint venture with the Dutch travel group BCD Holdings.
Hogg Robinson was taken private by Permira, the private equity group, as part of a £400m management buyout in May 2000.
Reports said the company's profits suffered in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks but last year enjoyed a recovery as it sold three pension and benefits businesses for more than £100m and acquired Sea Gate Travel, a New York corporate travel provider.
The business has travel operations in more than 13 countries including, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark and Finland and employs more than 3,000 people across the UK. It was founded in London in 1845 by brothers-in-law Francis Hogg and Augustus Robinson.


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KINGSTON, ON – Fine Balance Brewing has announced the release of a new collaboration with Toronto’s iconic Bar Volo.
Bene Extra Hopped Italian Pilsner (5.4% abv):
Bene is inspired by the extra hopped Italian pilsner made by Birrificio Italiano in Northern Italy. We double dry-hopped this Pils with Tettnanger and Saphir hops in order to achieve a balance of earthy spice, floral, and light fruit aromas and flavours.
Bene is available now at the Fine Balance taproom and online shop. A launch event will be taking place today (May 5th) at Bar Volo (17 Nicholas St., Toronto) where it will be featured on tap this evening alongside four other Fine Balance beers, and in cans for takeaway sales.
Source & Photo: Fine Balance Brewing


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Stressed out? Sore body? In need of some relaxation?
Montana Avenue is now home to Massage Envy, a self-described “pioneer and national leader” of affordable massage and spa services.
Franchisee Kim White held a grand opening celebration Tuesday at the clinic located at 729 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica (the soft opening was Nov. 16, 2012).
Nearly a decade ago, White said Massage Envy was launched to create a completely new category in the wellness industry.
“Our intention was to promote a healthy lifestyle through affordable massage and spa services,” White said. “As it turned out, people liked this idea.”
In addition to professional massage services at affordable prices, White said another key component to their growth has been constant communication with their clients.
“It’s for this reason that in 2009 we opened our first Massage Envy Spa, which featured Healthy Skin facials using Murad skin products and additional spa services,” she said. “We just launched our latest offering, sugar foot scrub therapy.”
Today, there are more than 800 Massage Envy and Massage Envy Spa locations in the United States.
Prior to franchising with Massage Envy, White and her business partner had professional backgrounds including real estate to sales and marketing.
They met in college and both lived in the South Bay after graduation.
“My business partner moved away, but came back for a visit a few years ago,” White said. “She mentioned that she wanted to get a massage to relieve stress in her back and told me about her experience with Massage Envy. That started our discussions about how the concept would be such a great addition to the local beach communities and their commitment to health and wellness. We opened our first Massage Envy Spa in Manhattan Beach, next door to Murad’s headquarters. In fact, our Manhattan Beach location was the launch site for the initial facials offered by Massage Envy Spa and are now offered at all of our locations.”
White said Massage Envy’s unique membership program affords their clients the opportunity to incorporate therapeutic massage and skin care as part of their ongoing wellness routine at affordable membership rates.
She said she was thrilled at the location they had found in Santa Monica.
“When we had the opportunity to lease the former Wachovia Bank space at the Piazza Montana Building on Montana Avenue, we jumped at it,” she said. “We are so thrilled and proud to be part of the active and vibrant community that embraces such a healthy lifestyle. We feel very proud to be a part of the exclusive Montana business community.”
Massage Envy is located on the northwest corner of Lincoln and Montana Avenue.
It is open seven days a week from 8 am to 10 pm.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 424.247.2200 or visit www.massageenvy.com.


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Popular pizza delivery franchise positions itself for further growth with leadership announcement
Whitewater, WI (RestaurantNews.com) Toppers Pizza is excited to announce a strategic transition in its leadership team as founder Scott Gittrich passes the CEO reins to longtime Toppers team member, Adam Oldenburg.
After leading the popular pizza delivery franchise for over 30 years, Gittrich will be assuming a new role as Chairman of the Board, proudly supporting the brand from a different perspective. As the visionary behind Toppers Pizza’s success, Gittrich remains dedicated to maintaining the unique culture that defines the brand and is excited to witness the continued growth and momentum under the new CEO’s leadership.
“After several years of record performance, this leadership transition marks an exciting new chapter for Toppers,” said Gittrich. “Along with guiding the brand for over three decades, I have also had the privilege of preparing Adam to succeed me as CEO. With several years of record performance and an exceptional leadership team in place, the future of Toppers Pizza is incredibly promising. The remarkable growth potential, combined with our proven track record and enduring culture, positions Toppers Pizza as a standout brand.”
A rabid pizza fanatic and a seasoned business leader, Oldenburg has been an integral part of the brand for over 17 years, starting as a delivery driver and moving on to roles in management, Corporate Operations Director and most recently as Vice President of Operations. He is also part of an ownership group that owns five Toppers locations and was recently awarded Franchisee of the Year. With his extensive experience and deep understanding of Toppers, he is primed to lead the company into a new era of growth and development.
“I am honored to step into the role of CEO at Toppers Pizza,” said Oldenburg. “As a pizza guy at heart, I am fully committed to preserving the culture that makes our brand special. With Scott’s unwavering support, we’re excited to keep up the momentum for Toppers and drive new heights of success and achievement.”
Under Gittrich’s visionary leadership, Toppers Pizza has experienced remarkable success, expanding its presence from a single location in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to over 70 restaurants across 16 states. His passion for innovation, exceptional customer service, and bold menu offerings has firmly established Toppers Pizza as a prominent player in the industry.
As the brand now looks to the future, it remains dedicated to expanding its franchisee network, delivering innovative menu offerings, and leveraging cutting-edge technology and marketing. Toppers Pizza is poised for continued success and is actively seeking like-minded franchisees to join its thriving system.
For more information or to order online for delivery or pickup, please visit www.toppers.com.
About Toppers Pizza
Founded in 1991 as an alternative to big-box pizza, Toppers is built on a bold attitude with the product to back it up. Headquartered in Whitewater, Wisconsin, 70+ Toppers locations are on a mission to redefine what customers should expect from QSR pizza. The menu features unique flavors, bold recipes, crave-worthy Topperstix, signature wings, specialty desserts and a growing selection of offerings for diverse lifestyles. By consistently giving customers what they want, Toppers has forged an untapped space in the pizza industry and is thriving in a digital-first, post-pandemic world. World-class technology ranking among the top QSR pizza concepts, consistent menu innovation, a powerfully focused digital media strategy, and Gen Z-centric social media channels drive 75%+ of sales online for the brand. With franchisees achieving a $1,100,000+ average unit volume across the entire system and 18 consecutive quarters of same-store sales increases, Toppers Pizza is primed for major growth and is looking for like-minded franchisees to join its system. For more information, visit toppers.com/franchise and follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.
- More from Toppers Pizza
The post Toppers Pizza Executive Takes the Helm as the New CEO first appeared on RestaurantNews.com.


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Sunday, June 17, 2012
Linus Torvalds doesn`t like Nvidia
Linus Torvalds the father of Linux has a beef with the graphics cards company Nvidia.
While speaking at Aalto University in Denmark, Linus Torvalds called NVIDIA "the single worst company he has ever dealt with. NVIDIA has traditionally offered little to no hardware support for its products on the Linux platform (I can attest to that). NVIDIA also refuses to release the info necessary to create an open source driver fearing they would reveal too much about their intellectual properties.
So watch the video and see what Linus REALLY thinks of Nvidia.
at 4:23 PM


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Roche Holding rhhdy said its Accu-Chek Aviva blood glucose meter was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The meter will be available for consumers in the US later this year. Roche shares were 0.2% lower in early Swiss trade.
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The second Africa Prospects Indicators report, recently released by Nielsen Africa, shows that Côte d’Ivoire has taken over Nigeria’s leading position in terms of overall outlook for opportunities for existing and potential investors. The report ranks leading African countries based on their macro-economic, business, consumer and retail prospects.
Nigeria, which held the top position overall last year, has slipped to fourth place – a result of a slump in commodity prices, which have driven down the country’s macro-economic indicators. This has also impeded consumer prospects and overall investor confidence.
“Despite this, Nigerians continue to be some of the most optimistic consumers on the continent, with more positive sentiment for their job prospects and personal finances, even though immediate spending intentions and levels of spare cash are more strained,” notes the report.
Côte d’Ivoire, on the other hand, now holds the top position in terms of its retail outlook and has improved in the ranking in business sentiment. While it only comes in third in terms of its macro-economic rank, the report cites its solid economic growth, stable inflation climate, and recent peaceful elections as reasons why the country has a good investment environment.
“Its principal prospects for realising growth remain consumer-related elements such as identifying and fulfilling consumer needs, building category, brand and product awareness, as well as trust and recommendation,” states the report.
Below are a number of other findings recorded by Nielsen Africa.
East African markets climb rankings
Kenya and Tanzania have climbed the overall rankings to second and third position respectively. Both markets have also recorded improvements in their macro-economic outlook ranking, with Tanzania taking first place, and Kenya second.
“Business sentiment for Kenya remains a little more sceptical, as the ranking declines amidst slower sales off take impacting company performance.”
South Africa’s ranking improves
South Africa has received an overall ranking of seventh place, a slight improvement from its ninth position in the previous report. Its greatest prospect is seen among the consumer indicators, where the country took fourth place.
“The South African economy accounts for the largest base of consumer spend in sub-Saharan Africa and has one of the most favourably-priced common item baskets. This provides more promising avenues for growth through product innovation and choice, thanks to a greater product/value equation,” continued the report.
“Retail execution, route to market and distribution are also far more easily achieved in a country with the highest concentration of modern trade on the continent.”
Angola takes dive in perceived growth opportunities
Business executives across the country were also asked to rank 26 sub-Saharan African markets based on their view of growth opportunities for the next 26 months. The ranking incorporates both sentiment for the country’s overall economic growth, and the outlook for their companies’ growth.
Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Kenya take up the top four positions, which remains unchanged from the previous year. Nigeria holds fifth position.
South Sudan, Mali and Burkina Faso were ranked as least favourable in terms of perceived growth opportunities, while Angola saw the biggest drop down the rankings – from fifth to 16th position.


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Partners deploying the cloud for industry sectors aim to make it a team activity.
The technology's traditional one-size-fits-all-industries proposition has changed course amid digital transformation. More businesses view cloud computing as a way to reinvent themselves, rather than strictly a source of cost or efficiency improvements.
"Enterprises who have realized significant benefits from cloud adoption are the ones who have aligned their technology strategy with their most pressing digital business transformation needs," said Sudhir Kesavan, global head at Wipro FullStride Cloud Services, a cloud transformation business. "It is this set of clients who are now leading the adoption of industry cloud."
But doing so means clouds must tightly fit specific uses cases and compliance duties within a vertical market. Public cloud providers are taking steps in that direction. But their offerings typically require at least some tweaking, if not significant custom development, to make them viable as industry clouds.
Collaborating on industry clouds
Consultants and service providers point to co-innovation as the appropriate response. That is, collaborating and investing with customers, cloud providers or, possibly, both types of organizations to creatively solve a problem beyond the scope of a single entity. Market research firms such as Gartner and Forrester also point to co-innovation as a key partnering trend for handling complex IT problems.
Industry-specific clouds fit that profile.
"This initial wave to create industry clouds is going to be heavily co-innovation," said Andy Thompson, managing director and industry cloud lead, Technology Strategy and Advisory at Accenture. "That is not just co-innovation with hyperscalers -- it is with clients, as well, who are responding to disruption, responding to key drivers and choosing to invest."
Nicholas Merizzi, principal in Deloitte Consulting's Cloud Strategy offering, cited a similar approach to industry-cloud building, which he called co-creation. In this approach, hyperscalers, SaaS providers and 5G companies offer the building blocks for cloud. Deloitte works with its customers to create specific applications and business processes on top of that foundation.
"I do see a lot of that co-creation happening," Merizzi said.
In addition to third-party resources, Deloitte provides its own library of assets and prototypes to help clients meet their industry needs. The consultancy's intellectual property includes reusable data models, workflows and APIs.
"These can be assembled together and taken to market with clients within specific verticals," Merizzi said.
For some projects, Deloitte partners with a client and a hyperscaler to bring to life a cloud for industry. The various forms of industry cloud partnering tend to focus on outcomes, Merizzi added. Outcome-based contracting links some or all of a service provider's payment to meeting performance objectives such as achieving faster processing times or enabling a new product launch for a client.
Wipro, meanwhile, uses cloud provider partnerships to facilitate industry cloud projects. "We are partnering with all the hyperscalers, and we plan to make industry-specific cloud solutions a key cornerstone of our partnership with them," Kesavan said.
The company builds its own IP, but also buys, partners with and invests in third-party IP offerings to create industry clouds.
"We believe that the future of industry cloud solutions will be built around ecosystems versus a single homogenous stack," he said.
Wipro, with headquarters in India and New York, kicked off a 3-year, $1 billion investment in cloud technologies and partnerships in 2021.
Trianz, a digital transformation consulting firm based in Santa Clara, Calif., offers reusable frameworks, accelerators and software for migrating on-premises applications and expanding data sciences capabilities, among other services, said KC Sreeram, vice president, Cloud and Infrastructure Practices at Trianz.
The company works across a range of cloud platforms to create its industry cloud IP. For example, Trianz was among a handful of partners to build on AWS' Athena Federated Query (AFQ) Extensions, according to Sreeram. Trianz's AFQ offering and its soon-to-be-released data mesh platform will provide industry-specific cloud analytics.
Niches within niches
Co-created industry clouds will tend to be highly focused. Customers want clouds to suit their needs at the sector or subsector levels within an industry, as opposed to a broader industry cloud, Merizzi said. A cloud specifically designed for capital markets, versus a cloud for banking, is what they have in mind.
"We're starting to see those types of solutions coming a lot more to the forefront," he said.
Accenture's Thompson said he envisions clouds for sub-industries or specialized value chains that may span several industries. In a similar vein, Merizzi cited the reinvention of value chains, or parts of value chains, as a role for industry clouds. He pointed to the example of sports leagues, which are embedding sensors in players' gear and relaying the signals back to a central analytics platform in the cloud.
"From there, visualization layers and a set of APIs are built to track and study players' behaviors and performance in ways that were never available in the past," Merizzi said.
As for specific industries, financial services, manufacturing and healthcare are among the sectors to watch. Regulated markets such as the U.S. federal government also show strong demand for industry-specific clouds, said Paul Wilkinson, executive vice president for 1901 Group, an MSP in Reston, Va., and a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos.
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) sets standards for cloud adoption in the federal sector. Cloud service providers -- from the hyperscalers to smaller IT services providers -- must implement FedRAMP security controls to conduct business with agencies.
A large-scale procurement for an industry cloud is in the works. The Department of Defense's Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability (JWCC) is a multi-vendor contract with an estimated value of $9 billion over five years, Wilkinson said. The DoD in November 2021 selected AWS, Google, Microsoft and Oracle to compete for the deal. JWCC replaces the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure program, which the Pentagon cancelled in July 2021.
The U.S. intelligence community also has an industry cloud -- the Commercial Cloud Enterprise (C2E) -- to address classified data and systems. "C2E is like JWCC in that it is a multi-vendor, cloud contract," Wilkinson noted.
Industry cloud's next phase
While specialized clouds can spark business transformation, they may prove too much of a good thing. "We have to make sure that some of that co-creation is universally leveraged across an industry to be beneficial," Merizzi said. "We don't want a whole bunch of silos."
Over time, however, industry clouds suitable for a particular sector will become generally available for a wider number of customers. Those clouds will be ready-to-run and won't require co-innovation or co-creation, industry executives said. A combination of hyperscalers and enterprises with long histories in the cloud will generate such offerings.
"We will see an increasing number of industry cloud solutions available," Thompson said. "As they mature, this model of co-innovation to create them will flip to consumption of industry clouds," he added.
The consumption phase will provide democratized access to industry clouds but will also change the nature of differentiation. As co-created clouds become commoditized, the secret vertical sauce will move higher up the cloud stack. At that point, differentiation will stem from the unique AI algorithms layered on an industry cloud, according to Thompson. Those algorithms will illuminate a client's data and create novel customer experiences, he said.
An industry cloud in healthcare, for instance, could harness several converging trends: emerging standards for secure, longitudinal patient records; innovative technology such wearables; healthcare data exchange standards; and new data types including genomic and behavioral varieties. That data could be streamed continuously into algorithms to drive more useful and timely insights. Those insights, in turn, could inform a patient's discharge plan, which might call for digital therapeutics to be delivered via smartphones or other consumer devices.
Such initiatives will take time to solidify as the initial co-innovation phase of industry clouds will take years to unfold. Partners acknowledge the exact shape of clouds to come remains unknown.
"What is commodity today and what is differentiated today will look different tomorrow," Merizzi said. "The bar constantly changes at the rate of innovation."


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EHang has announced a new partnership with Qingdao West Coast New Area, one of China’s national new areas in Shandong province, in a bid to make Qingdao a recognized urban air mobility (UAM) demonstration area, as well as establishing a Northeast Asia regional headquarters, and a national firefighting business center.
Qingdao West Coast New Area will facilitate the local governments’ applications of EHang’s full range of products while providing comprehensive support to the company’s local business operations, sales and services, production and infrastructure construction, among other things.
According to EHang, the partnership comes with a binding $10 million equity investment and a potential additional investment of $10 million in the future. Qingdao’s investment arm will initially invest a total of $10 million in the company through a private placement of newly issued Class A ordinary shares of the company.
Guilong Shi, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Qingdao West Coast New Area, said: “EHang is a global leader in the eVTOL sector ranging from hardware to software. Its AAV products and fleet operations are fully in line with Qingdao’s development requirements for smart, eco-friendly and highly efficient UAM solutions. We believe it will be a ‘win-win’ cooperation with our joint efforts to advance high-end industries and aviation sectors in Qingdao and to create a beneficial UAM industrial ecosystem.”
Xin Fang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang, commented: “This strategic investment and business partnership is a significant milestone for EHang’s long-term growth. With more funding and strong product demands in the Qingdao local market, which is estimated to reach the level of RMB100 million in two years, EHang expects to accelerate the development of Qingdao’s AAV industry through new aviation business and low-altitude economy. We believe our cooperation will propel Qingdao to be a world-class, innovative UAM application demonstration area with comprehensive AAV industrial chains and commercial operations.”


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It could be your wrist or your car, neither or both, or something else entirely. But for those betting on where the Internet of Things will be a big hit in the coming years, don't bet against the home, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman told CNBC Monday.
"It's not like even making a prediction," Hoffman said of the completely connected home on "Squawk Alley." A house running on a home operating system connected to the cloud, he said, is as certain as "apples [falling] from trees."
So did he think Google got a deal on Nest? Sort of.
"Is Nest a great buy? Yes. Is it a great buy at that price? I don't know," Hoffman said.
In addition to the Internet of Things, the LinkedIn chairman, who was promoting his new book on reinventing the boss-employee relationship in the networked age of Facebook and Twitter, also explained why he has been investing in bitcoin.
"It's very hot. It's very early. It's very speculative," said Hoffman, who owns bitcoins but is more interested on the ledger side. "You can have a bitcoin stand for something that isn't just bitcoin," he explained. "It could mean your car."
Read MoreWhat is bitcoin? CNBC Explains
The car, for example, can be accounted for on a general ledger that "you can do electronic contracts, you could put leans against it, you could do all kinds of other things, moving it all into the electronic age," he added.


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KAR Auction Services will be presenting at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2018 Auto Summit later this month, according to the company.
2018 Conference of Automotive Remarketing
The 2018 Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) detailed the biggest topics concerning wholesale remarketing, and also elaborated on technological developments that may impact the industry as a whole. Read the full story here. Photos by Andy Lundin.


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The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, alleges that Eric Lam, his mother Melanie Suen and brother Gordon Lam, all residents of Vancouver, British Columbia, engaged in a ploy that generated invalid clicks on links for online advertisements. Microsoft is seeking $750,000 in damages.
The click fraud scheme, in which someone clicks on ads by imitating a legitimate web user, disrupted competitors' advertising campaigns and increased traffic to their own ads. In addition, the scam caused a "substantial" loss of revenue for Microsoft, the suit claims.
Microsoft's advertising network, called adCenter, uses the pay-per-click advertising model, which also is used by all other major search engines. In this model, advertisers bid on keywords so that their website will appear at the top of the “sponsored results” for that term. The winning bidders agree to pay Microsoft a certain amount each time a potential customer clicks on their ad.
By using this method, a fraudster can exhaust a competitor's advertising budget by clicking on their ads many times over.
The suit contends that the defendants searched for keywords related to auto insurance, such as “car insurance,” and “cheap car insurance,” and then clicked the top sponsored search result thousands of times, resulting in a charge-per-click for the advertiser. In an effort to conceal their IP addresses, the defendants used proxy server networks when conducting the click fraud. In addition, the defendants targeted advertisers who bought search terms related to the online video game World of Warcraft.
“The result is that while competitors' advertising budgets were exhausted or sponsors' site performance was decreased as a result of the click fraud, the defendants' advertising budgets were not impacted, causing Lam's sponsored sites to assume higher rankings and increased traffic, leading to increased revenue for Lam and the other defendants,” the complaint states.
Efforts to contact Eric Lam by phone and email Tuesday wereunsuccessful. In addition, a person who answered the phone at a numberbelieved to be for Gordon Lam hung up when contacted bySCMagazineUS.com Tuesday.
Through its investigation, Microsoft determined that Suen and the Lams owned companies in Wilmington, Del. called Super Continental US and UMGE, which were in charge of sales and marketing for websites related to World of Warcraft and auto insurance, according to the complaint.
As a result of this fraud, Microsoft had to pay back $1.5 million to various auto insurance and World of Warcraft advertisers, the complaint states.
The incidence of click fraud has decreased from 17.1 percent during the fourth quarter of 2008 to 13.8 percent in the first quarter of 2009, according to online traffic auditing vendor Click Forensics, which has monitored the problem of click fraud for the past four years. But the study found that during the first quarter of 2009, advertising networks were “especially vulnerable” to click fraud attacks carried out with the help of malicious scripted programs.
“The lessons here are pretty clear," wrote Steve O'Brien, president of sales and marketing at Click Forensics, in a recent blog post addressing Microsoft's civil case. "Click fraud is still a problem and solving it requires constant vigilance. The online advertising community needs to work together -- search engines, ad networks,advertisers, and third-party auditors -- to protect ourselves from this threat.”
David Perry, global director of education at security vendor Trend Micro, told SCMagazineUS.com on Tuesday that even though the amount of click fraud is falling, with the amount of fraud still occurring, online advertising is becoming almost too disreputable for businesses to use.


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AppleInsider reports that Apple has reportedly blocked employee and support personnel vacation leaves for September 15 to 28, with the move essentially viewed as the company’s way of preparing for the upcoming launch of the new iPhone and the new iOS 7.
The report stems from a sourced internal company circular that indicates that AppleCare personnel leaves have dropped on the above mentioned dates, pointing to the possibility that the “leaks and rumors” surrounding the launch of the device may just be true.
Talk of Apple intent on seeing to the launch and release of two iPhone models have been the hottest newsbit delving into the matter.
A huge chunk of “leaks and rumors” point to the reported launch of two new iPhone units – a first in the history of the company – the “iPhone 5S” and the “iPhone 5C”.
Rumor has it that the “iPhone 5S” will be the more premium-rated handset of the duo, to come with an advanced fingerprint reader. The “iPhone 5C” is reported to bear a more mid-range vibe, to be made with plastic components and to be made available in a variety of body-color options.
Many are convinced that the “iPhone 5C” is most likely the low-cost iPhone everyone’s been talking about since February this year.
With reports of a September 10 launch, Apple is expected to release the new “iPhone 5S” and “iPhone 5C” by September 20, which somewhat fits with the reports of AppleCare personnel leaves being blocked.
We’ll know for sure soon enough if two new iPhones will be launched this month.


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we hope you’ll find interesting and useful
Our always up-to-date list of current AvailableCar vacancies we have at our four showrooms in Castle Donington, Cannock, Sutton in Ashfield and Leeds.
Since May 2009, AvailableCar has supported Rainbows Children’s Hospice through our Castle Donington and Sutton in Ashfield stores. Our Cannock store supports Acorns Children’s Hospice since July 2014 and our new Leeds store supports Martin House Children’s Hospice.
What’s hot right now?… well they’re not Fords or Vauxhalls as you might expect (although those perennial favourites are still very popular), no, you may be surprised to learn that they’re both SUV’s and they’re both from the Far East…. Continue Reading →
Last week the RAC assured us that there was no need to panic over increased oil prices and that these increases wouldn’t find their way to the pumps. We expressed our doubts. Now the RAC are warning that both petrol… Continue Reading →
At AvailableCar, with so many cars for sale and to help ensure Customer satisfaction, we need to make sure we do as many checks as possible. We use HPI to check our car’s history. What is an HPi Check? –… Continue Reading →
The recent sudden rise in oil prices will not lead to an increase in fuel prices at the pumps, according to the RAC. A recent meeting of OPEC confirmed that they were cutting the production of petroleum for the first… Continue Reading →
AvailableCar received some fantastic news recently, that the ‘Third Sector Business Charity Awards’ have presented AvailableCar with ‘Highly Commended’ for their partnership between their Team and their adopted partner, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. Rainbows put AvailableCar forward… Continue Reading →
It’s approaching that time of year again (again!) where the weather turns wet and we have to make adjustments to our driving to allow for the more dangerous and difficult conditions. The Institute of Advanced Motorists have given drivers some… Continue Reading →
TV adventurer Bear Grylls tested out Land Rover Discovery’s new in-car tech which folds down seats in mid-air after jumping out of a plane. Obviously.
It seems more British motorists are picking up personalised number plates than ever before as 335,000 plates sold last year, according to official figures.
Sales of used cars have reached their highest level to date, breaking the four million mark in the first six months of 2016, figures have revealed.
Audi launch a intuitive traffic light information system, providing the driver with a real-time countdown, saving you becoming an ‘amber gambler’ at lights.
If you thought Uber was the future of taxi services, think again, as Ford plans build a huge fleet of fully-autonomous cars that can drive themselves and pick people up around cities.
The RAC Foundation are calling for smartphones to feature a ‘Drive Safe’ mode to improve road safety and stop motorists being distracted when driving.
Elvis Presley died 39 years ago today. Nearly four decades on, we remember his great love of cars – especially his collections of Cadillacs and Lincolns.
After decades of digs and being the butt of countless cheap jokes, Skoda has had the last laugh after the brand has been named Britain’s most reliable car.


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They recently raised $280 million in a funding round. $200 million of this was from Alibaba, who now owns a 25% stake in the company. They are also backed by the likes of Sands Capita and Abraaj Group, whilst Paytm has also expressed interest.
Bigbasket supplies consumers in 25 cities with a variety with over 18,000 different products from over 1,000 different brands. Products include fresh fruits and vegetables, dried foods, meats, personal care items, cleaning products, kitchenware and more. They also deliver products from local speciality shops like bakeries and florists.
The company has been negotiating this investment from Alibaba for several months now. Before this, they had been in contact with Amazon.
Competition for the Indian grocery market is fierce between Alibaba and Amazon. Amazon has announced plans to invest $500 million in the market over the next few years!
The competition is tough, and a number of grocery delivery startups have closed down in recent years. The trouble with growth is that the lack of logistics and infrastructure can make expanding outside of major cities almost impossible.
There is a very limited supply of warehouses and refrigerated vehicles, which are needed to safely store and transport food products. Amazon plans to invest heavily in logistics and infrastructure, and has already received approval from the indian government to make a food retailing investment in the country.


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NFT whale Machi Big Brother sold and bought back 1,010 non-fungible tokens, causing market fluctuations and potential BLUR airdrop profits.
A record-breaking NFT dump of 1,010 tokens in just 48 hours has been completed by Machi Big Brother, a well-known NFT whale. The sale amounted to 11,680 ETH, equivalent to approximately $18.6 million. It is the largest-ever NFT dump, according to Andrew Thurman, a psychometric enhancement technician at Nansen.
The Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC), and Otherdeed NFT collections were among the top collections that Machi initially dumped. Macho reportedly sold 90 BAYC NFTs, 191 MAYC NFTs, and 308 Otherdeed NFTs. However, Machi Big Brother promptly bought back 991 NFTs. Thurman suggested that it could be a play to book some profits while also conducting “one big wash trade to generate huge Blur airdrop profits” or a “pretty naked market manipulation.”
Some think that the NFT dump was a strategic move to take advantage of the upcoming Blur marketplace’s airdrop. Machi is reportedly one of the biggest receivers of the Blur (BLUR) token airdrop from upstart NFT marketplace Blur, which recently surpassed OpenSea as the top-ranked NFT platform in trading volume. The project started distributing its first round of airdrops to the community on February 14, with the number of airdropped tokens based on the user’s level of platform engagement and Ethereum-based NFT trading activity.
On February 17, blockchain analytics platform Arkham Intel reported that Machi had received 1.8 million BLUR. He presumably cashed out $1.3 million. As a result, Machi could benefit from the next round of BLUR tokens by increasing NFT trading activity. On the other hand, other whales may be looking to do the same.
However, this NFT dump may have caused some markets to suffer. The floor prices of top collections that Machi initially dumped, such as BAYC, MAYC, and Otherdeed NFTs, saw their prices decline by 7.77%, 9.2%, and 8.16% respectively in the last 24 hours, according to data from NFT Price Floor. Thurman highlighted this market disturbance in a later post. He stated that “one man’s quest for an airdrop is wrecking some markets.”
The price of BLUR declined by 17.7% in the past seven days, according to CoinGecko. The current price is around $0.79. The Blur team announced recently announced that the project would soon airdrop $300 million in tokens in its second round.
Machi recently responded on his Twitter by stating that he wanted to “decentralize OSF and Mando’s apes.”
It remains unclear whether Machi’s actions were motivated solely by a desire to benefit from the upcoming BLUR airdrop or whether market manipulation was involved. However, the NFT market continues to experience a significant amount of volatility. Some even went on to ask for more regulation to stop market manipulators.


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U.S. decides against national security tariffs on rare earth magnets from China, Japan, EU
Instead of tariffs, Commerce suggests investments in key segments of the U.S. magnet supply chain.
President Joe Biden has decided against restricting imports of neodymium magnets that come primarily from China and are used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and a variety of other tech and defense applications, the White House said Wednesday.
The decision avoids a new trade fight with Beijing, as well as with Japan, the European Union and other countries that export the magnets or have hopes of doing that to meet an expected upsurge in demand in coming years. It also should allay the concerns of U.S. automakers and other manufacturers who rely on imports of the magnets to produce finished goods.
Biden’s decision is based on the results of a 270-day Commerce Department investigation which found that U.S. reliance on imports of the powerful magnets are a threat to U.S. national security and recommended a number of steps to increase domestic production.
Commerce’s suggestions included making investments in key segments of the magnet supply chain; incentivizing domestic production; working with allies and partners on supply chain resilience; supporting the development of a skilled workforce to produce neodymium magnets in the United States; and supporting ongoing research to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities, the administration said.
The rare earth element magnets are also used in military fighter jets and missile guidance systems in addition to other commercial applications like computer hard drives, smartphones and MRI machines.
The Commerce Department, in the report ordered by Secretary Gina Raimondo, did not recommend imposing tariffs on magnet imports, as former President Donald Trump did on steel and aluminum in 2018, following a similar national security investigation under Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act.
“Obviously tariffs are a tool authorized under the Section 232 statute,” a senior administration official said. “But there are many other tools that we also have in our toolkit.”
The Biden administration already has used the Defense Production Act and other authorities to invest nearly $200 million with three companies — MP Materials, Lynas Rare Earths, and Noveon Magnetics — to increase the U.S. capacity to process rare earth elements, such as neodymium, and to boost U.S. production of neodymium magnets from current negligible levels.
“According to the Commerce Department’s findings, the efforts we’ve already taken, as well as the efforts that we’re directing coming out of this report, could lead to a significant decline in import penetration by 2026,” the senior administration official said.
More precisely, the Commerce Department report estimated that “domestic sources could potentially satisfy up to 51 percent of total U.S. demand” in only four years. Currently, the United States is “nearly one hundred percent dependent on imports to meet commercial and defense requirements,” the report said.
Noveon is the only firm in the United States that produces “sintered” neodymium magnets, which is the type the Commerce Department focused on in the report. Last year, China supplied 75 percent of U.S. sintered neodymium magnets imports, followed by nine percent from Japan, five percent from the Philippines and four percent from Germany.
The administration expects that its efforts to boost U.S. production will reduce imports from China more than from the other suppliers, the senior administration official said.
Raimondo’s decision to launch the 232 investigation in September 2021 was prompted by the White House’s 100-day supply chain review in June of that year, which found that China dominated every aspect of the neodymium supply chain. Raimondo transmitted the department’s findings to Biden in June, starting a 90-day clock for a presidential decision.
U.S. automobile and wind tower manufacturers already rely heavily on the magnets, which GM helped develop in the early 1980s. However, demand for the magnets is expected to spike in the coming years, leading to a potential global shortage. That’s because electric vehicles use about 10 times as much of the magnets as conventional gasoline-powered cars.
A report last year from the Chicago-based Paulson Institute estimated that electric vehicles and wind turbines alone will require at least 50 percent of the high-performance neodymium magnet supply in 2025 and nearly 100 percent in 2030.
That means other uses for the magnets, such as in military fighter jets, missile guidance systems, MRI machines and smartphones, could face “supply bottlenecks and rising prices as soon as 2025,” the Paulson Institute report said.
“We see a massive increase in demand in the coming years,” the senior administration official said. “We need to make sure we get out ahead of it, both to make sure they are literally available on the market, that there aren’t short supplies, and to make sure that we don’t continue to be heavily dependent on China.”


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Mercedes-Benz has something pretty righteous coming to the Geneva Motor Show, but before it gets there, it's time to hit the wind tunnel.
Mercedes released a few new pictures of itsahead of its debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The pictures show the four-door GT -- Mercedes calls it a coupe because of its sloping roof, but let's be honest, it's a sedan -- undergoing aerodynamic testing.
There's no additional information on offer, just some pictures. The GT sedan could sport the same 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 as its two-door sibling, but there's a chance it could be even wilder --rocked a hybrid powertrain good for more than 800 horsepower. Electrification is all but a given here in some form, given Mercedes-Benz's decision to start stuffing 48-volt mild hybrid systems into some of its cars, starting with the .
Don't expect the sedan to be a visual carbon copy of the coupe, either. From what we can surmise through the camouflage, the headlights will be closer to the next-generation peepers we've seen on the newand . The rear end, on the other hand, seems pretty close to the current two-door.
We'll know for sure, and we'll bring you all the details, once we land in Geneva in the first week of March.


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Retailers have demonstrated incredible resilience and adaptability over the past few years. In the face of a once-in-a-generation challenge, they invested and innovated. But now, as the cost of living continues to increase, and supply chain challenges and inflation impact prices, businesses are navigating a new set of challenges that are significantly impacting on operations once more.
In the light of the economic downturn created by the pandemic, businesses that made investments in digital transformation during the pandemic have fared better. They now need to continue to build on these investments during the cost of living crisis.
The uncertain economic environment today is changing the way people shop and hitting retailers hard. But, as learnt during the pandemic, technology could help retailers to find new efficiencies and shape new experiences for customers that actually increases transaction volumes.
Our global research – surveying more than 40,000 consumers and 11,000 businesses across 26 countries – reveals how consumers’ habits have changed and gives clues as to where businesses should look to invest. Here are some top-level findings:
Consumers have the appetite for tech-enabled shopping experiences
Most importantly, our research found that those that invest in technology to improve their businesses will outgrow and outperform the rest. This is particularly the case in the UK where less than half of consumers (49%) say they prefer to shop in store – one of the lowest markets of all countries surveyed, and well below the global average of 59%.
That’s not to say physical stores are dead – that’s a long way off. But it needs a tech overhaul. For shoppers in the UK that doesn’t mean magic mirrors or VR. They want technology to create a frictionless, easy shopping experience on any channel. In fact, 41% said they are more likely to shop with retailers that use technology to improve the shopping experience.
Indeed, the key to a great experience for UK shoppers is getting the basics right. It’s about building a seamless link between online and offline channels and having a choice of how to pay. One in four consumers have left a store because they haven’t been able to pay the way they want, with a fifth preferring to shop with Apple Pay or Google Pay. The numbers are similar when it comes to online shopping – 25% will abandon their basket if they can’t pay how they want.
Retailers need to stay on top of this, and offer technology across the entire experience, in order to benefit from customer loyalty. This extends to making reward schemes easier and more effective. With the majority of shoppers (59%) encouraging more intelligent use of reward schemes, it’s clear they are receptive to the greater use of tech, whether in-store or online.
Businesses now need to decide how to best build on these opportunities, namely where they should prioritise investment and therefore innovation.
Streamlining processes shape shopping experiences
And while we’ve seen that customers are keen for a smoother shopping experience, there is a slight disconnect. Only one in five (21%) of UK retailers connect their payments and CX systems across the business such as operations and inventory/supply chain management. Using technology to connect systems and break down silos throughout a retail business creates a virtuous circle, which has two very important benefits.
First, it will help the flow of data and insights across the entire organisation to identify ways to improve operations, provide more data for decision-making, enhance productivity, and ultimately make the business more profitable.
Secondly, customers say they are more loyal to retailers that enable a smooth, seamless experience. Unified commerce can help to create more opportunities to improve customer interactions, either through more efficient processes, or better data insights to deliver a better service.
Digital transformation will fuel growth
We’ve seen this in action. 47% of British retailers say unified commerce has improved their customer experience, 39% say it has increased sales and 41% say it has increased customer loyalty. This is so important for retailers.
Experience and loyalty will be vital in the current climate where discretionary spend is completely under threat. Digital transformation is the key to enhancing customer experience, as well as finding efficiencies across the entire business.
Taking full advantage of this opportunity requires a mindset shift. Data, intelligence and insights should be constantly fed across the business, from customer-facing elements, to marketing and operations, and vice versa.
That’s why now is the time to double down on digital transformation. Those that do this look set to outperform their competitors and thrive in the next era of retail.
Colin Neil, managing director, Adyen UK


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Ralf Brandstatter, CEO, Volkswagen, has hinted that the VW ID.4 launch in India won’t happen. In a conference call yesterday, Brandstatter said that the Indian market is not mature for electric cars and that a proper EV infrastructure is not in place yet. He also pointed out that EVs are too expensive for India.
Brandstatter said that Volkswagen keeps a close watch on India, but it hasn’t decided whether it will bring the MEB platform (Modularen E-Antriebs-Baukasten) to the country. Until now, the VW ID.4 was expected as one of the biggest electric car launches in India by next year, though a low-volume one.
MEB is the Volkswagen Group’s most volume-focused platform developed exclusively for all-electric cars. Currently, it can form the basis for C- and D-segment models as per global classification. The VW ID.3 is a VW Golf alternative, while the VW ID.4 belongs the VW Tiguan class. These segments don’t fetch high volumes in India, and A- and B-segment cars drive the auto industry due to the affordability.
Affordability is a word not synonymous with MEB at this point, as it’s a sophisticated technology. Even the smallest version (A0) of the nearly decade-old ICE platform MQB from 2012 is deemed too expensive for India. The Volkswagen Group has done heavy modifications to derive a low-cost variant (A0 IN) just for our market to generate affordable petrol and diesel cars.
Volkswagen Group is likely to modify the MEB platform in the future to make it compatible for smaller cars. It has confirmed that it will launch a VW ID.1 (VW eup! successor) and a VW ID.2 (VW Polo alternative) in 2025.
The MEB platform, be it in the original or the ‘lite’ version, would need extensive cost-cutting for it to make sense in India. If there’s a remote chance that Volkswagen Group would even consider such a capital-intensive move, it would only happen if the local subsidiary can convince Wolfsburg that that there’s enough demand for electric cars.
Volkswagen Group is already investing one billion euros in implementation of the MQB A0 IN platform-backed India 2.0 project. This massive investment won’t start generating cash until next year, which is when the first MQB A0 IN model will go on sale. Amortization of this investment would be the company’s priority before it looks at bringing down new platforms and localizing them. The punitive tariffs and measures by the government to curtail imports put importing MEB cars for mass sales out of the question.


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If passed, Michigan would be the second state in the country to have that low a limit, something the author of this legislation says has been proven to save lives. Utah is currently the only state with a limit at .05, and that just went into effect a few months ago.
Hammoud made two proposals. The first is to lower the legal limit. The second is to add an interlock device to anyone’s vehicle on their first conviction of drunk driving.
Currently, the state only adds this device to those convicted of super drunk driving, which is a blood alcohol level at a level of .17 or greater.
"The science is there," said Hammoud. "The research is there. That these measures will save lives. We put these preventative measures in place, we can reduce the amount of fatalities we have due to drunk drivers."
So how much could someone drink before being above .05? Dr. Michael Eggebrecht, a family physician, said it just depends on the individual.
"Some people will have very minimal impact," said Eggebrecht. "But other people will have impact on their coordination or their attention, or processing, or even just thinking. Even some judgement can be impaired, but it depends on the individual."
Factors such as weight, height, and how much food they’ve eaten could all affect the impact, but Eggebrecht said even one drink can start to slow response times.
"Granted one drink probably won’t push you up to that .05 or .08 limit," said Eggebrecht. "However, even at .01, you’re going to see some impact on coordination or attention, so even one drink can impact your ability."
Hammoud agrees that instead of focusing on how much drinking you can get away with, don't drive after you've had any drinks at all.
"The thousands of lives we have lost to drunk driving, this is about making our roads safe," said Hammoud. "This is about changing behavior so that we push for behaviors that say either drink or drive, never do both."
Hammoud told us that the .05 standard is actually very common in many European countries.


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California Bans Default Passwords for All IoT Devices
Using default passwords can seriously weaken the security on your devices. By banning them, the legislation aims to fend off hackers and improve cybersecurity.
California has passed a law that bans default passwords for all Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the legislation (Senate Bill No. 327) requires manufacturers of a connected device to equip it with a “reasonable security feature or features.” The bill mandates that manufacturers must provide default passwords that are unique to each device or prompt the user to generate a new password before using the product.
Most physical security and life safety systems are now connected to the Internet, making them vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. Video surveillance, security cameras, and fire systems all fall into these categories.
Chuck Davis, Hikvision’s director of cybersecurity says it is crucial to apply cybersecurity best practices or your systems could become quite vulnerable.
The bill aims to improve security for the vast number of consumers who do not change default passwords — such as “123,” “password” or “admin” — that come with new devices. In doing so, the legislation effectively bans pre-installed and hard-coded default passwords to any connected device, which is defined as a “physical object that is capable of connecting to the Internet, directly or indirectly, and that is assigned an Internet Protocol address or Bluetooth address.”
Although the goal of the bill is to thwart hackers from installing malware and use infected devices as part of botnet attacks, the ban has left some cybersecurity professionals skeptical of its true efficacy.
“I think the law that the State of California is contemplating is a great first step, but it’s just a first step in a very long road to ensuring security around the globe,” Bill Evans, senior director at One Identity, told the Verdict.
Evans said a preferred approach would be one that doesn’t mandate specific action. “Rather, governments should use the levers at their disposal to incentivize enterprises to solve the problems in ways that meet their needs,” he said.
The bill was approved by the California Assembly and Senate in August and was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 28.
This article originally ran in Campus Safety’s sister publication, Security Sales & Integration.


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E-commerce expert and founding partner of RMG Media Ryan Gellis on how TikTok has selected Oracle over Microsoft to be their corporate partner in the US.
A source within Microsoft told the NY Times yesterday that TikTok has chosen Oracle for its US operations over Microsoft's offer. TikTok’s popularity has been rising rapidly in the last two years. Parent company ByteDance, founded in 2012, has raised billions of dollars in funding reaching a valuation of $100 billion according to PitchBook.
Oracle, much like Microsoft, is primarily an enterprise software and data company that seeks to modernize itself to stay relevant in today’s evolving technology marketplace. TikTok’s value to Oracle lies in advertising space and user data, especially for the prized millennial and generation Z demographic. The question is whether Oracle can capitalize properly on TikTok.
Ryan Gellis also notes the following points/questions
- Ten years ago Fox bought MySpace, which at the time was the biggest social media platform in the world--and proceeded to run it into the ground. Can Oracle avoid the same mistakes?
- YouTube is rolling out a product called Shorts and testing it in India to compete with TikTok.
- Will Oracle be able to set up strategies that target a new market for them - millennials and generation Z?
Do you agree with Trump's big move on TikTok? Will the company have a successful future? Or is it just a fad which will burn out over time? Tell us by sounding off in the comments section below.


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Staff at delivery firm FedEx UK are now expected to do much more than deliver parcels following the takeover of its main competitor, according to HR director Wendy Dean.
FedEx acquired ANC Express in late 2006, bringing Dean across after a 14-year career at the rival firm. “People are rewarded and recognised on how they deliver our core values,” she said. “It’s OK delivering a parcel, but it’s what you do on top that makes the customer want to stay with you.”
She said the integration of the two companies was progressing well and leading to some changes for former ANC employee. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for people who were old ANC and we are progressing at a good pace,” she told Personnel Today’s sister title Motor Transport.
The takeover did not cause staff morale problems, Dean insisted. “Everyone [at ANC] was expecting something to happen eventually, it was just a case of who and when we had already seen some of the other [parcel] companies undergoing integration,” she said.
“FedEx is a household name so we were delighted about it – there was a really good reaction from the workforce.” FedEx UK employs 2,100 staff directly, with a further 2,400 in franchises.


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Tata Motors has announced that its entire engine line-up now abides by the Bharat Stage 6 Phase-II norms. With this, all petrol engines from Tata are now RDE (real driving emissions) and E20 (20 percent ethanol and petrol blend) compliant, while the diesel engines are now RDE compliant. This comes ahead of the new, stricter emission norms kicking in from April 1, 2023.
- Punch, Altroz get engine start/ stop
- Nexon diesel engine retuned for better performance
- Tiago, Tigor get TPMS
Tata Motors BS6 Phase II engines: what’s new
Along with making its engines RDE and E20 compliant, Tata has also tuned them for better efficiency, refinement and driveability. These engines will now be cleaner as they are tested for emissions in more stringent real-world conditions, apart from being tested in a laboratory environment on the MIDC (Modified Indian Driving Cycle). Furthermore, to be E20 compliant, these engines will have a few modifications to the fuel systems, engine calibration and rubber hoses to handle the more corrosive nature of ethanol. E20 fuel will start rolling out in a phased manner from April 2023 onwards.
Tata believes there is still plenty of demand for diesel and hence, the 1.5 diesel engine will continue in the Altroz and Nexon. The Revotorq diesel engine in the latter has also been revamped to deliver better performance. However, Tata didn’t mention if this retuned engine develops more power than before. Furthermore, it says the enhancements also improve the NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels.
Tata Punch, Altroz, Tiago, Tigor get new features
The Altroz and Punch now also get engine start/stop functionality that will enable them to improve their fuel efficiency. This will be available across all variants of Tata’s premium hatchback and sub-compact SUV. According to Tata, the low-end driveability of the two models has also been enhanced and they now have smoother power delivery in lower gears.
However, the biggest update to the entire product portfolio is the standard warranty. Earlier, the carmaker offered a 2 year/75,000km warranty as standard, which has now been increased to 3 year/1 lakh km as standard.


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Google as well as Samsung voiced the Galaxy Nexus smartphone (previously rumored as the “Nexus Prime“). But the phone is usually as great as the software, as well as Android Ice Cream Sandwich, which will entrance upon the Galaxy Nexus, is the vital refurbish which will in the future be the customary for Android phones as well as tablets.
Ice Cream Sandwich strives for the same minimal, wireframe vibe as this year’s Android Honeycomb tablets, with pointy edges as well as slim lines separating elements of the user interface. The OS additionally has the brand brand brand new rise called Roboto which looks the bit rounder than prior fonts.
A brand brand brand new app called People will reinstate Android’s aged Contacts app, with the brand brand brand new demeanour which includes incomparable form cinema instead of little thumbnails. Contact pages can additionally embody new updates from amicable networks..


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Insolvency expert and former chairman of a major bank has passed away.
A major bank has announced its director, retail and marketing has resigned after five years with the bank.
New Zealand's sizzling economy has prompted Goldman Sachs to go out on a limb and call an end to the country's easing cycle.
Product ranges and pricing have improved over the last year, our Advisers on Banks report reveals
NZ Adviser’s first ever Advisers on Banks report is out, revealing 2016’s Bank of the Year.
Commission for Financial Capability said tactics ranged from emails, letters and phone calls to face-to-face meetings
Almost half of New Zealand businesses do not have cyber insurance in place, report states
NZ dollar dips below 69 US cents as risk appetite, commodity prices fall


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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reportedly sent subpoenas to Tesla after CEO Elon Musk tweeted that he planned to take the business private.
According to The Guardian, sources told Fox Business Network (later backed up by The New York Times and Wall Street Journal) that the SEC is "formally investigating" Musk's tweets after his claim he had "secured" funding to take the business private at $420 per share. If his claim proves to be untrue, Musk may be in violation of US securities law.
While some have suggested Musk's comments were flippant, a formal investigation by the SEC could prove troublesome for the company, whose share price rocketed 11 percent the day Musk tweeted about the funding (it dipped 4 percent with this latest news). Tesla has been operating at a loss and is currently being sued by investors who claim that Musk's tweets were "false and misleading."
On Monday, Musk published a blog post attempting to clarify his announcement.
“The only way I could have meaningful discussions with our largest shareholders was to be completely forthcoming with them about my desire to take the company private. However, it wouldn’t be right to share information about going private with just our largest investors without sharing the same information with all investors at the same time,” he wrote.
Tesla's board of directors has been attempting to limit the fallout from Musk's actions, with some members asking the CEO to stop tweeting. According to the NYT, the board's independent directors have hired law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to represent Tesla as the SEC investigation progresses.
In related news, Elon Musk responds to Azealia Banks' claims that he tweeted while on acid.


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Cowichan challenged to live life without genetically modified food
Who knew 70 per cent of the food in our supermarkets and most birdseed and livestock feeds contain at least traces of genetically modified organisms?
How can you tell if you’re buying a genetically modified product?
And if you make a conscious effort to avoid GMOs, doesn’t that mean you’ll be paying more for organic or local products?
Cowichan Green Community believes it has the answers to these questions and others residents may have.
And the organization is offering a challenge to everyone to go without consuming or using genetically modified products for a month.
The valley’s first GMO-free challenge aims at providing residents with information to help individuals and families steer clear of GMOs, says CGC’s executive director Judy Stafford.
“Each week participants will be provided with tips and ideas for improving their knowledge on where GMOs are found and ways that they can go about avoiding them,`` adds the group’s Debra Cebula.
For example, try not to buy processed foods and avoid eating things with more than 20 items listed on the label, she suggests.
As well, CGC knows that individuals and families on a budget may find this selective purchasing a challenge.
“People might choose to advocate for better product labelling. They can do this through supporting the passage of bill C-257 which has gone through first reading in the House of Commons,” Cebula says.
The challenge runs from Jan. 18 to Feb. 16 and culminates with a one-day conference at Cowichan Station.
You can register for the challenge through www.cowichangreencommunity.org or call 250-748-8506.


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Portales, NM—In late November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) closed a Sunland manufacturing facility, located here, that FDA says was responsible for producing Salmonella bredeney-contaminated peanut butter. In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA investigated Sunland as the source of a multistate Salmonella outbreak that infected 42 people in 20 states. Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt was found as the source of the outbreak, which was traced back to its sole distributor, Sunland.
Los Angeles and Oxford, U.K.—An international data analysis has found that nations in which high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is prevalent in the food supply suffer from a 20% higher rate of type-2 diabetes. University of Southern California (USC) and University of Oxford researchers focused on 42 countries in North America, Asia, North Africa and Europe. Though the United States leads the way in HFCS consumption, other countries have rapidly been adding the sweetener to foods and beverages.
In recent weeks, the controversy over the possible health risks of energy drinks and supplements has come into the limelight. Here, we dissect the latest issues surrounding their safety, and what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is doing about it.
Vernon, NJ—Healthy Thymes, a small natural products store is not just another business that felt the effects of Hurricane Sandy. In the last month, the store was exposed not only to a hurricane, but also an earthquake and a snowstorm. Miraculously, physical damage was minimal at Healthy Thymes. While wind was the main culprit of damage in this area of the state, owner Dan Segal says that his store lost power for four and a half days. In that time period, Segal was forced to discard all of the products that he keeps in his 22-door refrigerator and frozen department.
New York, NY—For more than 15 years, LifeThyme Natural Market has provided customers with the finest natural and organic products. Located in Greenwich Village, the store certainly felt the disabling effects of Hurricane Sandy. Although the store did not sustain any property damage, they were left without power for a week, resulting in the loss of many frozen and dairy products. The store was up and running as of November 3rd and was fully stocked by November 5th.
Ocean, NJ; Basking Ridge, NJ—Hurricane Sandy wasn’t very kind to Dean’s Natural Food Market, New Jersey’s largest organic grocer with locations in Ocean, Shrewsbury and soon-to-open Basking Ridge. The 7,400 ft2 Ocean location was hit hardest by Sandy, with power outages and store closures for 10 days, says owner and founder Dean Nelson.


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Ever scrolled through your phone, looking for the perfect emoji and noticed that your hair texture is just not represented? That ends on Nov. 4, when Dove released a series of curly haired emojis for all occasions to join the already-existing straight-haired ones.
No matter if your locks are short, long, wound in tight ringlets, or graceful waves, there's now an avatar that fulfills your every hairstyle need. Rainy day giving your curls a humidity problem? There's an emoji for that now. Finally nailed Kate Middleton's signature bouncy blowout? Yep there's one for that too. Take a look at the full keyboard of images below.
The new collection is part of Dove's ongoing #LoveYourCurls campaign, which focuses on celebrating and taking pride in all types of curly, natural hair. "Dove Hair is committed to… ensuring women and girls see accurate reflections of themselves in the world around them, including… social media — which is why we're so excited to introduce the Dove Love Your Curls Emojis," Unilever said in a statement. "1 in 3 women in the United States have curly or wavy hair, yet there are zero images of these women today in the increasingly common language of emojis. That felt wrong to us, so we're fixing it and hope by doing so, we will continue inspiring all women to love their curls."
What do you think of the new curl-focused language? Tweet with @UsWeekly using the hashtag #stylebyUs!
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on Youtube!


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At the recent Gamescom opening night event, New World released a brand new trailer and announced that Open Beta will begin on September 9 at 7:00AM PT (2:00PM UTC) and continue until September 12 at 11:59PM PT (6:59AM UTC). Interested players will be able to request access beginning on September 8 at 7:00AM PT (2:00PM UTC).
You can read the full announcement here
, and can check out the new trailer below! ☒