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* Consumer confidence down for 11th straight month
* Months of political protests hit consumption, investment
* Consumption seen subdued until late in Q2 - UTCC professor
* Carmakers, property firms, hotels all suffering (Adds detail, comments)
By Orathai Sriring and Boontiwa Wichakul
BANGKOK, March 6 (Reuters) - Thailand's consumer confidence tumbled to a 12-year low in February, a survey showed on Thursday, highlighting the toll that prolonged political unrest is taking on Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.
The economy has been nicknamed "Teflon Thailand" for its past resilience to turbulence, but consumer sentiment was weaker last month than it had been even after the devastating floods of late 2011, violent political unrest in 2010 and a deadly tsunami in late 2004.
After months of protests aimed at ousting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thais have become reluctant to spend and tourists are staying away, weighing on sales at automakers, property firms and hotels. The downward trend in spending is seen continuing in the coming months.
"People are worried about weaker purchasing power, smaller income and fewer new jobs. Consumption is likely to remain subdued until late in the second quarter," said Thanavath Phonvichai, an economics professor at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), which conducted the survey.
"There is no positive sign in the first quarter. It remains to be seen when a new government will be formed. If we have a new government and its policies in the second quarter, confidence will return," he told a news conference.
The UTCC's consumer confidence index fell to 69.9 in February - the lowest since November 2001 - from 71.5 in January. It was the 11th straight month of declines.
The survey showed that consumers' readiness to spend on new cars fell to its lowest in 26 months, underlining a recent sales slide in Thailand, Southeast Asia's biggest auto market. Auto sales dropped 45.5 percent in January from a year earlier after falling 7.7 percent in all of 2013.
PROPERTY FIRMS, HOTELS
Readiness to spend on new homes slid to its lowest in over 8-1/2 years, the survey also showed.
This has hurt property firms like LPN Development, Thailand's biggest condominium developer. The firm said on Thursday that it had cut its new project plans by half to only six or seven projects this year because of "the political and economic problems as well as our customers' situation."
Meanwhile, the number of tourist arrivals to the "Land of Smiles" rose just 0.06 percent in January from a year earlier, after growing about 20 percent in all of 2013.
Against this backdrop, Hotelier Erawan Group, operator of a five-star hotel in a busy Bangkok shopping area, this week cut its 2014 revenue growth target to just 2 percent from 10-15 percent. It said the unrest has dragged its occupancy rates in Bangkok down to 50 percent in the first quarter from 83 percent in the same period a year earlier.
"Travel warnings by countries will affect the hotel business in the first half. But we expect it to rebound quickly in the second half if the political situation eases," said Kanyarat Krisnathevin, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Erawan.
The protests are now in their fifth month, but at the weekend the remaining activists closed down several big protest sites and moved to a central Bangkok park. A state of emergency in the capital could be extended until the protests end completely.
Thailand held a general election on Feb. 2 but it was disrupted by demonstrators, leaving a caretaker government with limited powers to borrow and spend. It may be a long time before a new functioning government can be installed.
Thailand's economy, Southeast Asia's second largest after that of Indonesia, grew just 0.6 percent in the final quarter of 2013 from the previous three months and a year earlier as the turmoil hit consumption, investment and tourism.
Last month, the state planning agency, which compiles gross domestic product data, cut its 2014 GDP growth forecast to 3-4 percent from 4-5 percent. The central bank recently said growth could be less than 3 percent.
In 2013, the economy expanded 2.9 percent, far below the 6.5 percent recorded in 2012. (Additional reporting by Saranya Suksomkij; Editing by Chris Gallagher)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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18 Dec 2024 Festival of Motoring
The Festival of Motoring, renowned as Africa’s premier celebration of automotive excellence, is pleased to announce the 7th edition will take place from 31 August to 1 September 2024, at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. It marks the renewal of WesBank’s naming rights partnership for an additional three years.
This event promises a thrilling showcase of the automotive world. Judy Maharaj, the event Show Director, emphasised, “The Festival of Motoring provides the ultimate motoring experiential platform. Whether exploring automotive passions, enjoying the sights and sounds of favourite brands, test driving the next vehicle purchase, or simply indulging in adrenaline-fuelled fun with family, this event caters to diverse interests, drawing in all segments of the automotive landscape over three days”.
The Festival of Motoring is poised to deliver an immersive experience, showcasing the latest industry achievements, cutting-edge products, and technological advancements. Attendees can anticipate a plethora of engaging activities, from experiencing passenger and performance models driven around the renowned Kyalami track by professionals, to first-hand encounters with cutting-edge technologies.
Tickets for the Festival of Motoring 2024 will be available for purchase starting March 2024. For special requests regarding hospitality and gift packages, email firstname.lastname@example.org.
For more information, visit www.safestivalofmotoring.com

domain: news


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Evernever Games today announced Neverboard, which brings a library of tabletop party games to Oculus Quest.
Releasing later this fall, Neverboard is a free-to-play social VR experience for up to four players. Players join rooms as their Oculus avatars and find themselves sat around a table from which they can interact with games in realistic ways. Check out the trailer below.
Don’t expect any officially branded games from the start, but Evernever is asking board game developers to reach out if they have a product they feel would be a good fit. At launch, everyone has access to a free version of Crazy 8s but extra games are available via in-game currency. Evernever says you can either earn that currency by playing on a daily basis or using in-app purchases.
Another three games are available to purchase at launch, and Evernever says it’s working on other games it will put onto the store later down the line. You can, however, play every game in a single-player practice mode without purchasing it.
In a way, Neverboard looks similar to Oculus Rooms, the social VR experience that featured takes on Boggle and others, but never made it off of Gear VR and Oculus Go.
There currently isn’t a date for Neverboard’s full release, but it’s exclusive to the Oculus Quest for now. Hopefully we’ll see more platforms — and potential cross-play support — announced in the future. Interested in more VR board games? Check out our list of the best titles on Oculus Quest.


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To find cheap apartments for rent, search online on sites such as Craigslist.org for local properties available for rent. Narrow the list to a few suitable apartments, and conduct price comparisons to find the best deal, advises MarketWatch.
Factor in the time of year when conducting a property search. During summer months, more people are looking for rental apartments, meaning the prices are likely to be high and the chances of negotiating for lower rent are slim. However, during winter, fewer people are out searching for apartments, which presents an opportunity to haggle for cheap rent, says Forbes.
Consider single-family owners who may opt to rent out an apartment when they face difficulties in selling the property. The price of such a rental tends to be lower because it may offer fewer amenities and the owner may prefer earning less from the apartment than having it vacant, reports MarketWatch. Since the landlord of such an apartment may not know the market rate, he is likely to price it below market value.
For-sale listings, either in local dailies or online, provide an opportunity for a bargain hunter. Approach a seller with an apartment that has been on the market for a long time, and discuss the option of renting the property, which may be a way to snag a lower-priced deal, says MarketWatch.


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Ooredoo CEO Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani said: “Ooredoo is making every effort to ensure that Qatar achieves its vision of being a truly smart society, driven by innovation and the ambitions of our younger generation. We believe that the ‘Digital and Beyond’ incubator within QBIC could play a central role for Qatar, creating our own Silicon Valley of startups and developers, and enabling young Qataris to propel their ideas for new businesses to a global audience.
He pointed out that Ooredoo is currently constructing the infrastructure that will make the next generation of digital companies possible, including the development of its own communications network.
Committee and seed funding
Ooredoo will form a committee to evaluate and select `disruptive ideas’ in the digital space and provide seed funding for the aspiring entrepreneurs. The first wave of ideas to be assessed will include innovative digital ideas focusing on customer experience, healthcare, education, sport, smart living and other areas.
In addition, Ooredoo will manage a 251 sq. metre space within QBIC that will provide a modern working space for these startup entrepreneurs. Following the signing of the agreement, Ooredoo and QBIC formally launched the first open competition for young entrepreneurs.
Young people with a creative idea for a new digital product or service can submit their concepts via a special page on the QBIC website or through a link to that page on the Ooredoo website. Selected ideas will receive the support of mentors and business experts and also access to testing and trial infrastructure, before the winning entries move on to full incubation at the `Digital and Beyond’ zone.
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) CEO and QBIC chairman Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa said: “QBIC and QDB are committed to developing the SME sector in Qatar and by supporting technology-focused businesses, we will play a major role in offering employment, enrichment and development opportunities for young people.”
He added: “With the support of Ooredoo, we will be able to offer the kind of environment that enables startups to grow and flourish and transform digital ideas into international business opportunities.”
The incubator will include three zones designed specifically for startups: a community zone for relaxation and regeneration; a collaboration zone to encourage communication and teamwork; and private zones for meetings and innovative thinking.
The partnership will include coaching, mentorship and a wide range of support services. QBIC will also provide connections to its key partners and affiliates, such as QDB and the Social Development Center, for financing support.


text: Lithko Contracting LLC, one of the largest concrete contractors in the USA (approximately 2,000 employees), recently invited Ligchine to demo our BOSS 240 machine on a warehouse floor near Columbus, Ohio. The BOSS 240 machine placed over 46,000 square feet of flooring in an early morning pour. Lithko measured the finished floor and found the BOSS delivered FL 90 and FF 80, Super-flat numbers. Ligchine is pleased to announce that Lithko immediately purchased our BOSS 240 machine which was delivered for Lithko to use on their massive e-commerce warehouse they will be starting soon. We are excited to welcome Lithko to our ever-expanding family of worldwide customers and look forward to a long partnership.


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It’s only a matter of time…The release date for Disney Plus’ Hamilton is a couple months away, so put on your Broadway stan hat and be ready to stream. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the original Broadway production of Hamilton, announced on Tuesday, May 12, that a filmed version of the original Broadway cast will be released on Disney+ on July 3.
“It’s only a matter of time… Our Hamilton film. THIS July 3rd. On Disney+. #Hamilfilm,” he tweeted with a 10-second video of an animated version of the musical’s original Playbill.
Broadway fans may remember that the original release date for the filmed version of Hamilton was October 15, 2021. However, due to the current health crisis, Miranda and Disney+ decided to release the musical a year and a half early, so we have something to watch in quarantine and before Independence Day. #Blessed.
“No other artistic work in the last decade has had the cultural impact of Hamilton—an inspiring and captivating tale told and performed in a powerfully creative way. In light of the extraordinary challenges facing our world, this story about leadership, tenacity, hope, love and the power of people to unite against the forces of adversity is both relevant and impactful,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to bring this phenomenon to Disney+ on the eve of Independence Day, and we have the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda and the team behind Hamilton to thank for allowing us to do so more than a year before planned.”
The original Broadway production of Hamilton premiered on January 20, 2015. Miranda, who starred in the lead role as Alexander Hamilton, wrote the music, lyrics and book for the musical. At the 2016 Tony Awards, the musical took home 11 awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. The musical, which draws from hip hop, R&B, pop, soul and traditional show tunes, retells the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton premieres on Disney+ on July 3, 2020.
Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.


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Apple is without a doubt one of the biggest and most powerful companies in America and even the world. They are very well known for selling various types of iPhones, iPods, watches, laptops and many other products. However, Apple has thought about taking there business in to a much different direction and apparently they have had this idea for awhile now.
Tony Fadell, the CEO of Nest and the man who is considered the father of Apple iPods, claims that Steve Jobs and him had discussed the possibility of Apple creating a car. Fadell claims that he and Steve Jobs “had a couple of walks” during which they talked about what kind of car they would make, what it would look like, how it will be powered, etc.
Personally I don’t believe that making an Apple car would be a great idea. To me it seems like there will be more issues that anything else and it seems like it would be a big risk to make. My problem with this is that Apple is a company that specializes in phones, laptops, application and these types of things. That being said I don’t see the Apple company as “qualified” to create a car. This is based off of speculation but I probably wouldn’t purchase an Apple car solely because of their lack of experience in the automobile industry. However, even though I would not be a customer of the Apple car, that does not mean the market does not exist.
The Apple corporation is already a multi-billion dollar industry and I don’t see there business spiraling down anytime soon. Whether Apple cars are a failure or not the company has more than enough money to spend so I can’t see this hurting them too much either way.


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Complaint against EC for failing to uphold rights in trade
INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION
Complaint lodged against the European Commission for failing to uphold fundamental human rights in trade policy
Brussels, 12 June 2018 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC, the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and the HEC-NYU EU Public Interest Clinic have today filed a formal complaint with the European Ombudsman. The labour rights organisations claim the European Commission is not taking into account its human rights obligations regarding trade policies towards Bangladesh, and is not transparent about doing so.
Bangladesh benefits from preferential tariffs on its exports to Europe under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), an EU instrument which was enacted to encourage sustainable development in beneficiary countries. The GSP requires those beneficiary countries to maintain certain labour standards and to respect human rights. As a UN-classified least developed country, Bangladesh benefits from the most favorable regime under the GSP, the “Everything But Arms” arrangement (EBA). As the name suggests, the EBA scheme grants duty-free and quota-free access to the EU Single Market for all export products except for arms and ammunition. Bangladesh is the most significant beneficiary of the EBA, and the EU is Bangladesh’s primary trade partner. The ready-made garment (RMG) industry accounts for a large majority of Bangladesh’s exports and employs four million workers.
Bangladesh has committed serious and systematic violations of fundamental workers’ rights. Conditions there are unsafe for millions of workers. Additionally, the labour laws of Bangladesh create significant obstacles to the exercise of the right to freedom of association, to organise and to bargain collectively. Further, the government has not effectively enforced even these flawed laws, and workers’ complaints to authorities are routinely ignored. Without bargaining power or legal recourse, workers have been forced to live in extreme poverty.
The European Commission has urged Bangladesh to improve conditions, but has not launched a formal investigation concerning Bangladesh's GSP status, while the GSP would provide a very powerful tool for the Commission to ensure that economic development does not leave workers behind. Furthermore, the Commission has failed to create a transparent and objective process for deciding when an investigation should be launched, making it impossible for NGOs or others to participate.
“The government of Bangladesh needs to stand up for working people, and not simply bow to the demands of powerful factory owners, many of whom are responsible for egregious exploitation. This complaint is aimed at getting the European Union to send a very clear message to Bangladesh, in line with the commitments the EU itself has made. We are working closely with the ETUC on this issue, and thank them for their support,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
“As Bangladesh’s largest trade partner, the EU has a responsibility to ensure that the workers who make Europeans’ clothing are operating in safe factory conditions. Launching an investigation will not lead to an automatic cut-off of Bangladesh’s trade privileges – instead, it shows that Europe is committed to upholding labour standards fairly and consistently,” said Paige Morrow, Executive Director of the HEC-NYU EU Public Interest Clinic.
The full complaint and appendices can be found here: https://www.ituc-csi.org/bangladesh-complaint-to-the


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Historically, memory prices have been as volatile as the RAM they are used in but recently this has changed. The demand for flash storage, volatile or not, has grown tremendously with the advent of SSDs, the ever increasing local flash storage provided on your phone and now even cars and other members of the IoT are devouring flash as quickly as it can be made. This has lead to the new pricing trend we have been seeing, a slow increase in the price of flash memory. Samsung is addressing this shortage, and looking to increase their revenue, by making a large investment in their existing infrastructure in South Korea. All told these investments total $31.2 billion dollars and will enhance existing production lines as well as adding Extreme Ultra Violet machinery to a Fab which currently lacks that technology. Drop by The Register for more detail.
"It says it will invest KRW 30 trillion ($26.1bn) by 2021 in its existing plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, to expand its semiconductor fabrication capacity. This fab, claimed to be the single largest in the industry, is now making 64-layer 4th generation V-NAND flash chips."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- Photobucket wrecks thousands of sites with £310 'ransom' for embedding photos @ The Inquirer
- Raspberry Pi's Smaller, Cheaper Rival: NanoPi Neo Plus2 Weighs in at $25 @ Slashdot
- Canadian gets 30 days to ditch his 'noreply' email moniker @ The Inquirer


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The recent market decline has been particularly tough on tech stocks, and Netflix (NFLX -0.27%) has been no exception. Since topping out in early July, the streaming giant has lost nearly a third of its value. The market's uncertainty continues, and given that reality, it might seem like an unlikely time to be calling for new all-time highs.
However, that's exactly the case being made by one analyst who thinks investors should buy Netflix while it's down -- but not out. He argues that Netflix shares could hit $531 -- 80% higher than they stand today.
Matthew Harrigan with Buckingham Research Group gave Netflix a rare double-upgrade, raising the stock from underperform to buy and raising his price target from $349 to $406. While he had been less optimistic due to Netflix's "elevated" stock price, its recent weakness is the primary motivator behind his current enthusiasm. "We have always viewed Netflix as the continued top streaming category winner," he wrote in a note to investors.
Harrigan believes Netflix could raise prices by a little as 3.5% per year through the middle of the coming decade to achieve his price target -- but he also sees another, more intriguing possibility. "Netflix could plausibly deliver 5.1% annual price increases through 2025," he wrote. "Management may be motivated to continue [to] defer some pricing realization to foster member growth momentum but we expect eventual price increases." At that rate, Harrigan thinks the stock could be worth as much as $531.
As viewing time increases, the price will follow
As Netflix ramps up its original content spending, there will be more programming available for subscribers to watch. The more they watch, the more willing viewers will be able to endure future price increases.
"The Netflix growth flywheel is driven by subscriber growth enabling more programming spend that both attracts even more members and drives increased engagement with more new programming for current customers," Harrigan wrote. "With Netflix currently charging only about 22 cents an hour for viewing, there appears to be nice upside in monetizing these viewing gains over time."
Higher-priced tiers will add more to the bottom line
Netflix currently has several tiers with higher price points than its lowest-priced "basic" tier at $7.99, which offers standard definition viewing and just one device per subscriber. The "standard" tier is priced at $10.99, allowing two devices and high-definition viewing (HD) when available. The top "premium" tier costs $13.99 per month, allowing four devices per plan and HD and Ultra-HD when available.
As technology improves and customers upgrade to newer and better televisions, they will likely be more willing to upgrade to subscriber plans that offer higher resolution in order to obtain the best viewing experience.
It isn't all sunshine and roses...
While pricing power could result in additional subscriber revenue, it may not work across the board. Harrigan believes Netflix's ability to effectively raise prices could be limited in certain geographic and socio-economic regions, and he surmises that as many as 30% of the company's future members might pay lower monthly subscription rates -- that could represent a 40% discount to what other viewers pay, on average.
Netflix Chief Product Officer Greg Peters acknowledged during the company's third-quarter conference call that while the company is currently happy with its pricing strategy in markets like India, he signaled for the first time a willingness by Netflix to test prices:
Now, we'll experiment with other pricing models, not only for India, but around the world that allows us to broaden access by providing a pricing tier that sits below our current lowest tier, and we'll see how that does in terms of being able to accelerate our growth and get more access.
Could it work? Maybe...
Netflix has been pretty conservative about raising its prices since the customer revolt in Sept. 2011, after the company split its DVD-by-mail and streaming services and raised prices, in a move that cost Netflix 800,000 subscribers and caused the stock price to lose an incredible 77% in four months.
It would take price increases of less than $1 per tier, per year to achieve Harrigan's estimates, eventually resulting in prices of $11.32, $15.57, and $19.82 for its basic, standard, and premium price tiers, with subscription prices that are 42% higher within seven years. However, Netflix likely will continue to be conservative in its pricing strategy. This serves to illustrate that gradually, over time, a monthly Netflix subscription could cost considerably more than it does today, and Netflix could be earning significantly greater revenue -- much to the delight of its shareholders.


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City’s tax receipts keep growing
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Albuquerque has reported its fifth month of Gross Receipt Tax growth.
The sectors with the biggest increases are construction and retail trade, according to a news release issued by Mayor Richard J. Berry’s office. Also growing were services including automobile repair, laundromats and beauty services. The only sectors which saw a slight declined was accommodations and food service.
In the most recent GRT report, the city saw more than a 6.5 percent increase, year over month which gave Albuquerque a cumulative growth of 3.1 percent for fiscal year 2014.
The GRT makes up 63 percent of the city’s general fund.
“I greatly appreciate the community-wide support seen from folks who are buying local and boasting about our city to friends and family across the nation,” Berry said. “This is a great indicator that the economy is picking up and it’s encouraging to see we’re all coming together to invest in our city.”
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Sony releases performance comparison movie of next-generation game console 'PlayStation 5' at event, processing performance 10 times that of PS4 Pro
Sony, on May 21, 2019 Sony IR Day 2019 (the announcement briefing), which was held in the (fire), often development
Sony Global-Sony IR Day 2019
At Sony's financial results presentation session, the performance performance of the current PlayStation 4 Pro and the next-generation PlayStation 5 were compared using the popular PlayStation 4 software Marvel's SPIDER-MAN . Michizuki Michizuki of the Wall Street Journal has published what shot the performance comparison video that flowed in the presentation on the account on his Twitter account, and Spiderman passed through the building at a tremendous speed. On some occasions, it can be seen that the building that is rendered and flows to the background appears clearly in the next-generation hardware, whereas in the PlayStation 4, the building looks vaguely vague.
Sony's official video comparing performance of PS4 Pro vs. next-gen PlayStation pic.twitter.com/2eUROxKFLq— Takashi Mochizuki (@mochi_wsj) May 21, 2019
Which is the current model PlayStation 4 Pro , compared with the normal PlayStation 4 to 2.1GHz from the clock frequency of the CPU is 1.6GHz, GPU alone at 1.84T FLOPS capacity and transfer rate of expansion was the will to 4.20TFLOPS, further storage The high-end models also improved. According to the materials of the financial results presentation that has been published, it is said that the loading time that takes 8.1 seconds with such PlayStation 4 Pro has been reduced to about one tenth that of the next-generation device under development, at a whopping 0.83 seconds. about.
And we announced that the next-generation model is compatible with Blu-ray disc media as well as PlayStation 4. However, in PlayStation 4 the game was released by 'disk' and 'download', but it seems that the next-generation machine also supports game streaming.
On May 16, 2019, Sony just announced that it had a strategic alliance with Microsoft on cloud gaming and AI.
In the interview of WIRED, Sony has already revealed details such as 'the latest CPU, GPU' 'SSD' 'Compatibility with PlayStation 4' 'Raytracing' '8K correspondence' '3D audio' of next-generation hardware The On the other hand, we have not disclosed the date and time, prices, countries and regions to be released, and specific titles.
However, since Sony has listed “the driving force behind engagement and revenue for the next three years” as an important role of the current PlayStation 4 in IR Day, at least until 2021 the business centered on PlayStation 4 It is thought to expand the model.


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Octavian, the leading fine wine services business, announced on 20th September 2012 that it has signed a long term agreement with Bordeaux Index, one of the world’s largest fine wine merchants, to provide storage and distribution services.
Over the coming months Bordeaux Index will be moving all of its stocks into Octavian’s Colerne Reserve, at Colerne in Wiltshire. The new state-of-the-art facility has been constructed to match the ideal conditions of Octavian’s original reserve at Corsham Cellars.
The Colerne Reserve incorporates state-of-the-art technology to control temperature and humidity and eliminate UV light within the heavily insulated facility, and embodies all the elements of Octavian’s benchmark storage standard to ensure fine wine is matured in the best possible conditions, maximising its potential when it is ready to drink. Over many years Octavian has refined and engineered its excellent storage facilities at Corsham, and this expertise has been further extended in the new facilities at Colerne to include modern barcoding and tracking technology, as well as the latest security systems and expertise.
Octavian’s uncompromising commitment to perfect storage conditions and exceptional service have seen the Octavian Standard become the hallmark for perfect wine storage resulting in the company becoming the world’s leading specialist with nearly one million cases of fine wine secure in the finest storage conditions.
Commenting on today’s announcement Nigel Jagger, Chairman of Octavian, said: “We are very excited at working in partnership with Bordeaux Index. The new reserves facility at Colerne has been built to exacting standards and having recently disposed of the logistics arm of our business, we have been able to do this from within our own resources. Bordeaux Index’s move vindicates our decision to continue investment despite the uncertain economic outlook.”
Gary Boom, Managing Director of Bordeaux Index commented: “Our substantial growth and our future plans have led to us reviewing our bonded storage and distribution needs. In Octavian’s new reserves facility at Colerne we have found the best possible storage conditions for our clients’ reserves, capacity for growth, and high levels of service together with the physical and financial security so important to us and our customers.”


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What do we have here then. Looks like it isn't just our iOS loving friends that get to have all the retro gaming fun. Following on from the colossal success of the iCade iPad cabinet, ThinkGeek have pulled the wraps off the latest concoction -- the iCade 8-Bitty. Only this time, the Android crowd gets to play as well.
The retro-styled controller can be paired via Bluetooth to any Android device. It should be compatible with an array of game titles and as it is a completely open platform, building in compatibility is a simple task for game developers. Costing a very reasonable $24.99, this one is sure to be a hit. The only downside -- for now we don't have any kind of release date.
Source: ThinkGeek via iMore
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Android 11 event and beta postponed: 'Now is not the time to celebrate'
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A PS5 event called The Future of Gaming is coming on June 4
After weeks of rumors and speculation, PlayStation has announced an event called The Future of Gaming. This event will focus on PS5 games and begin on June 4 at 1:00 p.m. PDT.
OnePlus will not be releasing any more ‘McLaren Edition’ phones
The collaboration between OnePlus and British sports car maker McLaren has come to an end. OnePlus is unlikely to release any new 'McLaren Edition' phone in the future.
Basic black to limited ed., here's every color PS4 controller you can buy
Sony has come out with dozens of Dualshock 4 colors and designs, some are beautiful and some not so much. We aren't here to judge, just to let you know every PS4 controller color you can get your hands on today.


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All 14 Payless ShoeSource Sites In Kansas City Area To Close As Company Liquidates
Topeka-based Payless ShoeSource is closing all 2,300 of its domestic retail stores, a company spokesperson confirmed to KCUR on Monday. About 1,200 retail stores outside the U.S. are not affected.
The news was first reported by Reuters on Friday. Sources told the news service the company plans to file for bankruptcy, less than two years after emerging from bankruptcy in 2017.
The company began liquidation sales at its American stores on Sunday. Online sales are also being eliminated.
“We expect all stores to remain open until at least the end of March and the majority will remain open until May,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Payless ShoeSource currently operates 14 locations in the Kansas City area. The company was unable to say when the Kansas City locations will close.
Signs advertising sales of up to 40 percent off were taped to the window of a store at The Landing Mall in Kansas City on Monday morning. A store employee declined to comment.
The company was founded in 1956 in Topeka. After decades of growth, the company — like many mall-dependent retailers — struggled to compete with online retailers.
The company laid off hundreds of employees after closing a distribution center in Topeka in 2008.
Payless ShoeSource maintains a presence in that city but also began moving some corporate operations to Dallas in 2017. At least 350 Topeka employees have been laid off since 2017, according to a report in the Topeka Capital-Journal.
The company’s former headquarters building in Topeka was recently put up for auction, the newspaper reported.
Hedge fund Alden Global Capital was among a group of creditors that took ownership of Payless ShoeSource after it emerged from bankruptcy in 2017, Reuters reported. Alden Global Capital also owns Digital First Media, a company known for buying financially distressed newspapers, including the Denver Post and San Jose Mercury News, and slashing staff to boost profits.


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News Briefs: Two May events canceled in Fremont
Two May events canceled in Fremont
FREMONT - Downtown Fremont has announced that Cinco De Mayo set for May 2 has been canceled. The Fremont Fishing and Outdoor Festival slated for May 16 also has been canceled.
Budget commission to hold session
PORT CLINTON - The Ottawa County Budget Commission will meet at 10 a.m. April 28. Call-in options are available at 419-734-7555, option 3, code 434521.
Flea markets canceled in Tiffin
TIFFIN - The Tiffin Flea Markets at the Sandusky County Fairgrounds are now canceled for April 25 and 26 and May 16 and 17.
Reverse raffle postponed
FREMONT - Annual Sandusky County Fair and Agricultural Reverse Raffle on Saturday April 25 has been rescheduled for Oct. 30. Anyone who has already paid for a ticket will be refunded.
BBB warns of "free trial offers"
TOLEDO - With many people staying at home due to COVID-19 and spending more time on the internet, chances are they will encounter deceptive “free" trial offers. The true cost of these free trials — ongoing monthly subscription plans — is buried in small print and behind links, if disclosed at all. After the December 2018 release of BBB's free trial offer study (link below), Mastercard and Visa issued new policies to increase transparency for free trial offers. Visa's policy changes went into effect April 18.
The internet is rife with ads and links leading to pictures of celebrities and “miracle” products that promise easy weight loss, whiter teeth or disappearing wrinkles. You may be enticed to try these products through a “risk-free” trial: Just enter your name, address and credit card number, and the product will be on its way for only a nominal shipping and handling charge. An in-depth investigative study by Better Business Bureau, however, finds that many of these free trial offers are not free. BBB receives complaints from free trial offer victims nearly every day and warns consumers to use extreme caution before agreeing to the offer and entering their credit card number.


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As a large plumbing supplies wholesaler with nationwide distribution, Newport News, Va.-based Ferguson Enterprises Inc. is an expert not only at providing top-quality parts, but also at delivering them to customers in mint condition.
Some inventory items are tougher to ship than others, however, and in recent months, the $15 billion company found it was experiencing high damage rates for the heavy porcelain toilets it was shipping via a ground carrier.
In an effort to cut down on the expense of replacing and reshipping those goods, Ferguson turned to its packaging supplier, Salt Lake City-based Packsize LLC, for help. The two firms have partnered since 2012 on packaging solutions and often collaborate on ways to improve shipping techniques.
After analyzing the problem of packaging fragile toilets for safe transit, Packsize recommended a complete overhaul of Ferguson's existing packaging method—a process that involved inserting quick-setting foam into cardboard boxes and which was messy, expensive, and not particularly environmentally friendly. In its place, the company proposed a streamlined solution that would provide better product protection and be much easier to execute: Ferguson would simply create a custom-sized box for every item shipped—using Packsize's On Demand Packaging software and Packsize box-making machine—and then add foam corners made of low-density polyethylene foam.
"Of the many different protective packaging options in the market, we chose to go with polyethylene foam corners because of how well they work with our 'right-size' packaging machinery," said Brandon Henderson, director of systems engineering at Packsize. "We designed a custom corner that can work with Ferguson's spectrum of products and at the same time, reduce material and labor costs while increasing sustainability."
Before launching the new system, Packsize and Ferguson tested the proposed design by doing drop tests and also shipping actual toilets. The results were solid enough to convince the plumbing supplier to put the
TIME AND COST SAVINGS
As for how it's all working out, the new system has done exactly what it was intended to do: reduce shipping damage. Since Ferguson switched to the new packaging, breakage rates have dropped from 5.33 percent to 4.0 percent. That alone would justify the change, but according to Packsize, the benefits don't end there. Along with reducing damage, the new method has slashed packaging material costs by 61 percent, cut the time it takes workers to pack each toilet by 78 percent, and streamlined Ferguson's carton configuration options from four to one. In addition, the foam corners use 85 percent less plastic foam and are suitable for curbside recycling programs.
"Our customers are looking for the most cost-effective means of getting their product to their end users. If fragility happens to be a factor in the shipment, we have found that our Packsize corners are the best option out there to reduce damage to product being shipped," Henderson said. "This solution also helps [shippers respond to] the Amazon effect—it allows you to focus on fulfilling the customer's order as quickly and accurately as possible, rather than having to worry about issues that [are of little concern to] the customer, such as protective packaging."
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Full House Resorts released its Q3 earnings report on Nov. 8. Revenue increased 73% compared to Q3 2022, from $41.4 million to $71.5 million, according to the financial release.
The company, which operates The Temporary by American Place in Waukegan and has a sports betting skin in partnership with Circa Sports, cites its growth in Illinois as a reason for increased performance.
Temporary plans to open high-end steakhouse by year’s end
The Temporary by American Place became one of several Illinois casinos to come online in 2023 when it opened in February. It enjoyed a successful first stretch. PlayIllinois put together an in-depth review soon after it opened. The permanent American Place casino is expected to open in 2025.
In his earnings call, Full House Resorts President and CEO Daniel R. Lee spoke about the success of The Temporary so far.
“As envisioned, results at The Temporary by American Place continued to improve during the third quarter. Our table games business at The Temporary was strong initially, and continued to build as we hired more dealers and increased the number of available table games. Our slots business also continues to ramp up, aided by our guest database that continues to grow meaningfully in size with every passing week. As a result … revenues at The Temporary increased from the second quarter of this year, reaching $23.9 million. The Temporary’s available amenities also continue to expand, with the on-site sportsbook welcoming its first bets approximately one month ago.
“We are close to unveiling the last remaining amenity at The Temporary – North Shore Steaks and Seafood, the property’s high-end dining option – which we expect to open at the end of the fourth quarter.”
Full House Resorts expects this upward trajectory to continue as the initial costs of running a new casino start to level out, including marketing and hiring costs.
The addition of Circa Sports Illinois – both as a retail offering within The Temporary and an online partnered sportsbook – will continue to expand the company’s foothold in the state.
In the months since The Temporary opened, Illinois casinos have continued to make moves. Bally’s Chicago opened and secured a license to operate through 2026, until the planned opening of its permanent property. Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet plan to move to new lots in the coming years as well. Meanwhile, Golden Nugget Danville has received its final license.


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VA Linux CEO Sees Profitability In Software - Eventually
VA Linux Systems CEO says the company can turn a profit by selling software, but not for several more quarters.
VA Linux Systems Inc. can turn a profit selling software, but it won't start booking revenue from those sales for several more quarters, says CEO Larry Augustin.
VA, once a high-flying stock, in late June exited its main business selling and installing servers running the Linux operating system. Augustin, who started the company in 1993 as a Stanford University graduate student, has said the company couldn't crack new accounts after dot-com customers such as eToys Inc. went out of business. Now, VA's trying to survive by selling software called SourceForge, which lets IT managers manage software development projects.
"We believe we have enough cash to get to profitability with this model," Augustin said in an interview at the LinuxWorld Conference & Expo in San Francisco this week. VA reported $82.9 million in cash and marketable securities on hand at the end of its fourth quarter ended July 28. The company lost $290.1 million during the quarter, on sales of $16 million, mostly due to goodwill write-downs and restructuring charges. VA says its first-quarter net loss will be $10 million to $13 million, on sales of $3 million to $4 million.
"People need to realize it's going to take a few quarters to get this whole thing ramped," Augustin says. "Our model's going to look a lot like a typical software company." VA has signed Agilent Technologies, Compaq, and The Goldman Sachs Group to contracts for SourceForge Enterprise Edition, priced at $600 to $1,600 annually per seat, plus installation charges. Hewlett-Packard has purchased a different edition of the product. But VA has booked "virtually no revenue" from these deferred contracts, and doesn't expect to for several more quarters. "We're looking at six- to nine-month sales cycles to close these contracts, if not more," says Augustin.
Augustin says he'll try to keep VA--which plans to change its name--afloat as an independent company, but will entertain buy-out offers if they help shareholders. VA's shareholders are hurting--the stock LNUX-Nasdaq closed Aug. 30 at $1.45, and has been trading below $5 since late May. Its 52-week high was $63.625.
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The State of IT & Cybersecurity Operations 2020Download this report from InformationWeek, in partnership with Dark Reading, to learn more about how today's IT operations teams work with cybersecurity operations, what technologies they are using, and how they communicate and share responsibility--or create risk by failing to do so. Get it now!


text: EACH week, economist Edward Hyman, chairman of the International Strategy and Investment Group Inc., publishes a list of large American companies that have recently laid off workers.According to Mr. Hyman's latest count, 156 firms - from Citicorp to Chrysler - have terminated employees since July 15. The most stunning announcement came two weeks ago from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), which will cut 20,000 workers, in addition to earlier layoffs, in an effort to reduce costs. While these high-profile payrolls make the headlines, state employment offices point out that small and medium-sized businesses are also making employee cuts - or simply shutting down. Small businesses have been widely regarded as generators of jobs and economic growth. "Job layoff reports, like Ed Hyman's, which fill an entire page with small print, show there is a real impact on the people who work for those companies. But they also influence public confidence," says Raymond Worseck, chief economist of A. G. Edwards & Sons Inc., a St. Louis-based securities firm. Mr. Worseck says: "It's one thing if a person knows the plumber or the electrician down the street who's out of work, [and] he thinks it's because of the recession. But when IBM announces tens of thousands of layoffs, then he thinks in more drastic terms: 'Well, if IBM is having problems, everyone must be in bad shape. More than 50 percent of America's jobless are at high school education level or below. They face the toughest market for reemployment, says Wayne Vroman, a labor economist with the Urban Institute. That grim statistic is reflected in November's consumer confidence index. Published by the Conference Board, the index plunged to its lowest level in more than a decade. Fear of unemployment is the chief concern. "For every person who's laid off, there are 20 more who fear that their jobs may be next," says Robert Reich, a professor of political economy at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. "Nothing inhibits consumer purchases [some two-thirds of the country's economic activity] like that fear. It has a very depressive effect on the economy." Mr. Reich calls massive layoffs "irrational" decisions for US companies that are trying to stay competitive, because job cuts jeopardize worker loyalty. "It makes sense for companies to hold onto their workers," he says. "Companies can't be flexible and innovative without the full commitment of workers." The labor pool is "the one unique aspect of a firm," he says; all the other components of a business - machinery and other tools of the trade - are physical elements that can be copied by any competitor. "With their skills, insights, and commitment, workers become more valuable because they are ready to solve the next, more-complex problem. Layoffs deplete know-how and drive, leaving only the machinery." On balance, firms like IBM are making a mistake, Reich says. "Companies with cash-flow problems should use the time they don't ordinarily have [when business is booming] to train and educate their employees; they should reduce their salaries and promise them a share of future earnings." He says this would preserve worker loyalty, upgrade labor skills, and trim costs. A company passively waiting for business to improve and pushing workers out during tough times will have to spend more money and time rebuilding the same caliber of work force later, if the firm can still compete, says Reich. Early retirements - a popular method of paring down the payroll rid firms of their most experienced workers," he says. "Many of the most valuable workers will take their severance pay and start up new firms." Sharon Canter, strategic information director at Wisconsin-based Manpower Inc., sees a lot of those unemployed middle managers, with honed skills, opening their own businesses. But the failure rate of start-up firms is high during this recession; borrowing is tight, cost exposure is broad, and the market is uncertain. Manpower Inc., a temporary labor supplier, does quarterly employment outlook surveys of 15,000 public and private employers from all sectors of the economy in 474 cities across the US. The number of jobs lost over the next three months will be matched by job creations, resulting in "a zero gain," according to the latest survey, released Dec. 2. Worseck says economic growth won't mean "a big jump in employment. Companies will try to squeeze more blood out of a turnip" by employing workers overtime rather than by hiring additional labor. Ms. Canter says: "Downsizing companies are looking for short-term gains. They will have to find different ways to increase productivity, such as on-site training."


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Mark Howley, group managing director of ZenithOptimedia, explores the growing awareness of the power of data
As the internet celebrated its 25th birthday, its founder Tim Berners-Lee called out for an Internet Magna Carta to protect the independence of the medium and the rights of users worldwide. We are seeing more companies come to the fore that are putting the power to collect and manage online data back into the hands of consumers. Surprisingly, it’s not just smaller brands that are taking this approach; we are also seeing big brands developing new ways for consumers to take greater control. Are we shifting towards “the web we want” that Berners-Lee seeks where consumers are more in control of their data? And if so, where is the benefit for brands?
The business of collecting data is not a new concept and has actually been around for decades. Consumer data use has generally always been a two way transaction, with companies such as Tesco introducing the Clubcard as a way to give value back to consumers in exchange for personal details and in-store purchase information. However, with the growth of digital and the sheer volume of data being generated today, a new economy is emerging, whereby control over data is handed back to consumers. This greater control and awareness over spending patterns allows consumers to make more informed decisions about future purchases and interactions. Interestingly, this can be a real asset to companies when trying to build consumer trust and operate transparently.
Contrary to common belief, many consumers are comfortable with sharing data if they feel it has a useful benefit. Recent research by GfK revealed that 56% of consumers would share personal data if it helped them make better decisions, and 60% if services provided were more tailored to their needs. One example of how this has been put into practice is the government’s efforts to increase competition across the energy sector by making it compulsory to place a QR code on every bill so energy consumption data can be uploaded by the bill-payer onto price comparison sites. This subsequently gives UK consumers instant access to market-wide comparisons, helping them to attain a better deal or switch to alternative tariffs where necessary.
Consumer awareness of the value of their own data has led companies such as Yes Profile to grow. The company allows users to create a profile, ticking the brands and interests they like to interact with and set up direct relationships with advertisers. The consumer can then rent out their profile and select brands they wish to share information with while charging a fee. This is a world away from brands which simply collect information and build a profile of consumers. There is far less prediction here as consumers are directly telling a brand they are happy to engage with its products and services. In the UK, Westfield has adopted an approach that is similar although without the attached fee. The shopping centre takes a collaborative approach that allows its visitors to use a mobile app whereby they move tiles on a screen to choose the brands they like and dislike to help the consumer receive more relevant, targeted offers.
The growing awareness of the power of data is resulting in “personal analytics”, an emerging phenomenon that certain sectors are using to great effect. How consumers feel about data in the context of their everyday lives is set to really evolve as new devices penetrate the market on a large scale. Very soon, consumers will be able to micro-manage their personal data through the use of apps and mobile devices – the much talked about “internet of things”.
The utilities sector is seeing huge benefits from the connected home. These brands will be able to develop a real-time understanding of usage patterns, while simultaneously allowing consumers to take greater control of that same usage. This will help energy providers calculate bills more accurately, as well as presenting an opportunity to greater personalise tariffs. For a sector that struggles with consumer trust, this will be a real step change. The consumer becomes more empowered and in turn, the brand benefits through providing a more relevant product offering.
In an era where consumers are savvy to just how much their data is worth, brands need to be even more aware about striking the balance between using consumer data to better target communications, while offering the right incentive to make this a worthwhile exchange for the consumer. In addition, businesses now need to be aware of the opportunities that exist for consumers to use data to their advantage and the empowerment that access to data provides.
As digital touchpoints continue to grow, brands will be under ever greater pressure to educate their customers about data-use and the benefits it provides. Yet, some savvy-businesses are already starting to realise that handing control back to the consumer and developing a more open relationship can be the solution to building consumer trust while improving the bottom line.
Mark Howley is the group managing director of ZenithOptimedia


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UK tourism board VisitBritain and Turkish Airlines have announced a new global partnership to attract more international visitors to Britain, with a focus across the airline’s five regional airports in the UK including Birmingham.
As part of the partnership, VisitBritain and Turkish Airlines will launch an international marketing campaign over the next 12 months, which will initially focus on Indian, Saudi Arabian and other Gulf markets. Showing aspects that make Britain a much sought-for destination, the campaign is aimed at inspiring global tourists ad travellers to explore all the nations and regions of Britain through the airline’s current gateways.
VisitBritain Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: ‘We are very pleased to be the first national tourist body to develop a global partnership marketing campaign with Turkish Airlines. There are significant growth opportunities in the markets served by Turkish Airlines, including the emerging market of Saudi Arabia, using the airline’s global connectivity and rapidly expanding network. This partnership will also allow us to target our marketing to inspire more international visitors to come and explore all the nations and regions of Britain, so we can continue to create jobs and deliver our ambitious plans for growth.’
Turkish Airlines Chief Marketing Officer Mr Ahmet Olmustur said: ‘This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Turkish Airlines and we are delighted to be teaming up with such an acknowledged and reputable brand as VisitBritain. The travel market in the UK continues to go from strength-to-strength and therefore we strongly believe this partnership will further enhance visitor numbers in the UK in the coming year. Turkish Airlines is always investing in the UK and, along with partnerships such as this, we hope to see big inroads being made in terms of visitor numbers.’
It is the first time that Turkish Airlines is partnering with a national tourist board for a tourism promotion campaign. Turkish Airlines is set to move to its new hub at Istanbul New Airport in 2018 with nearly 20 million passengers a year expected to be flying through the new airport by 2020. Turkish Airlines was recently chosen as the Best Airline in Europe for the fifth year running by the Skytrax Passenger survey.


text: Starbucks recently lowered some prices on its drink menu, but now the chain is making headlines for just the opposite — double-charging customers for their purchases. On Friday, May 22, and half of Saturday, May 23, the coffee chain unknowingly double-charged a million customers in 7,000 stores for their debit and credit card purchases. Starbucks explained that most of its customers never noticed the "settlement processing error" — although consumers' receipts indicated the correct amount had been deducted, later twice that figure was taken out of the buyers' accounts when stores settled the transactions at the end of the day. Starbucks is hoping to reassure its patrons that the problem has been resolved. "As soon as we noticed the error, we had it fixed right away," a spokesperson for the company said. If you're concerned you were affected by this error, Starbucks is recommending that you contact its customer service department. Since I visit Starbucks daily, I'm checking my bank statement to make sure I wasn't charged double. Were you affected by this? Are you surprised that an error of this scale could occur within a company as large as Starbucks?


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There’s so many of us lady bosses up and down Harrison Street in the Oak Park Art’s District. To celebrate we’re holding our annual shopping event on March 9th💛!! So save the date to come out & shop with us! Many businesses will have gifts with purchases and other fun promos!
PSB💜 personally will be hosting a fun in-store event that day as well (more details to come). Follow #shoponharrisonstreet for more news !!


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PSDI helps Pacific countries achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth by improving their business environments.
Reforms supported by PSDI reduce constraints to doing business, incentivize entrepreneurship and investment, foster new business models, and remove barriers to women’s full participation in the economy. This allows the private sector to formalize and grow, which creates jobs, increases tax revenues, and helps lift people out of poverty.
Innovative Financing Mechanisms, such as small-scale offers regimes and investment-geared crowdfunding, can help bridge the financing gap for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Pacific region, says a new PSDI report.
The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) on 13 January 2024 launched the destination's first ever Sustainable Tourism Policy, alongside it’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, developed with PSDI support.
PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA (23 January 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) welcomes a new framework for public–private partnerships (PPPs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) aimed at unlocking private investment and know-how, and allowing PNG to expand and improve infrastructure service delivery.
FDI can be a powerful driver of economic growth and human capital development. A strategic approach and targeted reforms can support Pacific countries to attract, retain, and assess FDI effectively, according to a comprehensive study of the FDI frameworks in five Pacific countries.


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As the world becomes increasingly connected, the growth represents significant sales opportunity for companies that manufacture networking devices and equipment to gain market share: specifically, IC vendors such as Broadcom, Qualcomm, TI, Marvell, MediaTek (News - Alert), and others.
These solutions, which are known as Wireless Connectivity Combo ICs, have already seen rapid adoption in smartphones and are now seeing strong usage growth in many other end applications including laptops, flat panel TVs, and automotive infotainment systems. Total annual market shipments are expected to surpass two billion units by 2017, according to a new report by ABI Research (News - Alert).
Image via Shutterstock
"Combo ICs have seen strong adoption in the smartphone market as attach rates of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are very high,” said ABI Research’s practice director, Peter Cooney. “This move towards combo ICs has not only helped reduce BoM costs but has also changed the competitive environment entirely. Whereas once there were many competitors, all focused on individual technologies, there are now fewer vendors with wide product portfolios able to push combo ICs into many new markets,” he added.
A lot of the growth potential is in the growing adoption of smartphones. In 2011, smartphones accounted for almost 60 percent of total wireless connectivity combo IC shipments, said ABI. Soon, however, devices such as laptops and tablets will start to use combo ICs in ever-increasing numbers. Other markets will include feature phones, games consoles, health and medical equipment, home automation gateways, and many more that will adopt combo ICs.
"The next phase in market development is the further integration of wireless connectivity technologies into platform ICs,” said Cooney. “This is already starting to happen in the smartphone market and is expected to accelerate as lower-end smartphones, with tight costs constraints, become the largest section of the market over the coming years. We expect many vendors to follow the path that Qualcomm (News - Alert) is setting with its snapdragon 4 platform,” he added.
Edited by Brooke Neuman


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Microsoft unveiled its vision of the future of business communications on Tuesday. Chairman Bill Gates said in a statement that the new "unified communications" products will help reduce the cost of the average corporate VoIP system by half.
Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft's business division, went further. "Unified communications software," he said in a statement, "will transform business communications as fundamentally as e-mail did in the 1990s."
The products include Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Office Communicator 2007, Office Live Meeting, Roundtable, and a service pack update for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. The company said that Unified Communications Open Interoperability standards would qualify telephony systems, so that products could be certified as working with Microsoft's unified communications software.
Savings of 30 Percent
The launch event, held in San Francisco, showcased several corporate customers that the Redmond, Washington-based software giant said had made "dramatic time savings" and cost savings of up to 30 percent over traditional systems by using the new tools. These companies included Gibson Guitar, Global Crossing, Quanta Computer, The Shaw Group, Virgin Megastores, and Volvo.
Systems integrators, software vendors, mobile device manufacturers, and telephony providers pledged their support for Microsoft's unified communications platform. For instance, Ericsson said its Enterprise Mobility Gateway will be built on the VoIP capability in the new Office Communications Server, to reduce costs for enabling office communications in any mobile device.
Mitel Networks said it would leverage the VoIP call-management capabilities in the Server for the small- and medium-business markets. And SAP said it would integrate the unified communications platform into its Duet product, which gives Office applications access to SAP processes and data.
Integrate and Streamline
The new products and versions are intended to integrate and streamline the communications flows that threaten to engulf the average information-laden employee and enterprise. Communications Server 2007, for instance, delivers VoIP, video, instant messaging, conferencing, and "presence" to Office applications, as well as to upcoming versions of the company's Dynamics ERP and CRM releases.
Office Communicator 2007 provides voice, IM, and video on mobile devices as well as on the PC, and Office Live Meeting enables collaborative meetings "from virtually any computer." For those who want that 360-degree sense of presence, RoundTable is a conference phone with a camera that can track the speaker or videotape meetings.
Gartner analyst Mark Margevicius said that nothing in the new releases "knocked my socks off." But, he added, Microsoft customers will now be comfortable spending money in this space and he pointed out that the new platform does say a lot about the new Microsoft. "This is a company that still generates most of its income" from shrink-wrapped products, he said, but now it clearly understands the software business is not just about new features on a given product.


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BitPay and the Art of Underwhelming Upgrades
BitPay enhancement fails to impress.
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Although BitPay now allows users to pay merchants from any crypto wallet or exchange, the P2P payments company’s move was met with a tepid response from crypto users.
BitPay Improvement Protocol: Slow And Steady
BitPay has rolled out users’ ability to pay all BitPay invoices from any cryptocurrency wallet or exchange from Feb. 4.
The move, the company says, will benefit merchants by putting them “back in control of which wallets, apps, or exchanges they’ll accept payments from.” The change also “empowers consumers to use any wallet, app, or exchange to pay their favorite merchant.”
The Atlanta-based crypto payments gateway’s most recent upgrade was adding support for XRP in late January.
BitPay now supports BTC, BCH, Ether, and several ERC20 tokens, including stablecoins USDC, GUSD, and PAX, in addition to XRP.
Too Little, Too Late?
The crypto payments processor’s latest development was met with a tepid response from the crypto community on Reddit.
Criticisms were largely focused on poor technological design, prior missteps, and the fact that the move to make transacting in cryptocurrency easier has been long overdue.
Whether BitPay will be able to win back some of the customers it has lost along its journey in light of the announcement remains to be seen.
BTCPay Server and OpenNode appear to have stepped into the breach left by BitPay’s sluggish product development rate. The former announced on Jan. 21 that it would be launching the BTCPay Vault which allows hardware wallets to communicate with BTCPay’s full node function.
OpenNode updated their product last month to allow users around the world seamless bank transfers from BTC to their local currency.
Neither offering has taken an outright lead, but BitPay may not be moving as swiftly as its competitors. Indeed the company’s waning followers seem to think so.


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(NEW YORK) Outerwear brand Andrew Marc has named Richard Chai creative consultant. The designer will help the brand expand its signature spate of men’s and women’s leather jackets. The news comes on the heels of Stephen Budd‘s appointment last month as the company’s new president; Budd previously served as president of brand collections at Elie Tahari. Prior to his role at Elie Tahari, Budd spent five years as group president of BCBG Max Azria and was based in Los Angeles.
Chai will create men’s and women’s outerwear and sportswear for the brand under the label Andrew Marc by Richard Chai and will debut the new line during his runway show for his own eponymous line for Spring 2014. Also on his plate? Chai will be overseeing the launch of the brand’s new line, Denim & Leathers, which is a moto-inspired collection based on a previous Andrew Marc offshoot collection called Mark Moto. The line will launch at Saks Fifth Avenue in late summer. Chai will also oversee Andrew Marc’s secondary line, Mark New York, as well as Noir, a sportswear line that will launch in time for the holidays. Looks like Chai will be having quite a busy year, non?


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Written by: Natalie Marchant
Easy to grow and fully biodegradable, mycelium – essentially, the vegatative part of a mushroom – could prove to be the ultimate green material for the future. It can be turned into everything from fashionable handbags, to packaging, to even bricks.
Mycelium is the mass of branched fibres making up a fungus. It is a safe, strong and biodegradable material with a wide range of uses. However, unlike plastics and other synthetic materials – which can take hundreds of years to decompose – mycelium-based products naturally degrade after their intended product cycle.
More sustainable, these products could also help create a circular economy, which aims to eliminate waste and transform how we produce and use goods. It is estimated that the circular economy could offer up to $4.5 trillion in global economic benefits by 2030, alongside environmental benefits such as lower emissions and better land use.
To help support circular innovation, the World Economic Forum has created the Scale360° Playbook, an initiative developed to build lasting ecosystems for the circular economy, bringing together technologists, researchers, entrepreneurs and governments to help maximize resources and expertise. Additionally, emerging innovators from around the world can connect and work together in sharing ideas and solutions through UpLink, the Forum’s open innovation platform.
Here are five sustainable alternatives that can be made with mycelium.
1. Greener building materials
Mycelium composites – made by growing mycelium on agricultural waste – can create low-cost and greener building materials, which could help reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based products in the construction industry.
Meanwhile, Redhouse Architecture says it can recycle derelict homes by demolishing buildings and mixing the remains with mycelium to create new material – a process which could also create temporary homes in disaster zones using a portable ‘biocycler’.
2. Sustainable clothing
Clothing manufacturers are increasingly turning to mycelium to create green alternatives to leather and synthetic textiles. These could prove vital in reducing the carbon footprint of the fashion industry, one of the world’s most polluting sectors.
Examples include MycoWorks’ leather alternative, Reishi, which was unveiled at New York Fashion Week and hailed by Vogue as “nothing short of revelatory”. Meanwhile, Bolt Threads has signed a deal with global fashion houses including Adidas and Stella McCartney to use its mycelium-based textile Mylo in products like footwear, clothing and accessories.
3. Compostable packaging
Mycelium can be used to make standard and custom-molded packaging that is 100 percent biodegradable, thereby reducing reliance on plastic and polystyrene. Mushroom Packaging uses hemp hurds and mycelium to create water-resistant and insulating solutions that compost within 30 days when added to soil.
Swedish furniture giant IKEA and computer manufacturer Dell are some of the biggest businesses to have already committed to using mycelium-based packaging, with smaller firms such as UK-based non-alcoholic spirit maker Seedlip also joining the trend.
4. Animal-free meats
Mycelium can also be used to make plant-based ‘meats’. Unlike other meat alternatives which predominantly come in ground form – such as burgers or mince – mycelium can be grown into a 3D form or shaped post-processing.
Meati, a Colorado-based alt-meat brand, claims its mycelium-based products will eventually use 99 percent less water and land and emit 99 percent less carbon than industrially-produced animal meat.
5. Disposable healthcare products
In a bid to address disposable plastics in the beauty industry, Ecovative Design has created MycoFlex foam, which the company says is 100 percent compostable. The foam can be used in anything from make-up sponges to single-use slippers and masks.
As for the future, the company thinks mycelium will be capable of creating medical products – even organs. “My dream is to one day grow a lung and seed it with lung cells and use the mycelium to create the capillary network and use the human cells to create the actual lung,” CEO Eben Bayer told CNN.
If this sounds a stretch, Tradd Cotter, microbiologist and owner of research company, Mushroom Mountain, sounded a similarly optimistic note in National Geographic: “As far as [mushrooms’] versatility in agriculture, medicine, and in the laboratory, there’s not much they can’t do.”
Header Image Credit: Unsplash/Jesse Dodds
Republished with permission from World Economic Forum


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Three years after launching of the GST, the centre has for the first time admitted that it has no money to pay the state governments their share of GST compensation as promised under the GST law.
Even before the lockdown, since August 2019, the economic situation is such that GST collection is almost half of what is due to the states. Solutions include either raising taxes on some items or bringing exempted items under the tax net.
Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Union Finance Secretary told the Parliamentary panel on finance ministry that “the central government is in no position to pay the share of the states” under the revenue share formula laid down in the GST Act.
First Meeting of the Committee
Members of the opposition in the first meeting of the committee raised the problems faced by the states due to non-release of states’ share over the past few months. The members claimed that states are making huge expenses to battle COVID-19. While also assisting migrants, those who lost jobs. Coherently, there is a severe resource crunch.
Finance Ministry’s Stand on the matter of GST Compensation
During demands for GST compensation and dues among the states, the Finance Ministry stated that the central government has released Rs 13,806 crore of GST compensation pertaining to the FY 2019-20.
Explicitly, the GST Council takes decisions on such matters. Thus, it scheduled a meeting in July to discuss an alternative formula of compensation for cash-strapped states. But the council has not called such meeting yet.
The Payment Mechanism
The central government compensates states bimonthly. That is, after the inclusion of certain charges like value-added tax under the goods and services tax. The payout can only be made out of the compensation cess fund. It is guaranteed for five years, and is calculated at a growth rate of 14%; keeping 2015-16 as the base year. As indirect tax collections declined last year, the government had stopped releasing the compensation to states.
Current Revenue Position
In a recent press release, the government announced the release of Rs 13,806 crore of GST compensation to states for March 2020. It stated that once this amount is taken into account, the entire compensation upto 2019-20 will stand released to states.
However, notably, the total amount of compensation released for the year 2019-20 amounts to Rs 1,65,302 crore while the amount of cess collected in the year 2019-20 amounted to Rs 95,444 crore.
The Centre also stated for releasing the compensation for 2019-20 the balance cess amount collected during 2017-18 and 2018-19 also stands utilised. Moreover, Centre had transferred Rs 33,412 crore from Consolidated Fund of India to the Compensation Fund; as a part of an exercise to distribute balance of IGST pertaining to 2017-18.
As per government’s background note in the current fiscal year 2020-21, the central government has released Rs 15,340 crore to the states and UTs as GST compensation. This was despite of a small collection due to the relief provided in terms of filing of return and payment of taxes due to nationwide lockdown.
GST Shares in Previous Years
While in Financial Year 2019-20, the central government had released Rs 1,20,498 crore GST compensation to states and union territories; as it had collected only about Rs 95,000 crore in the form of compensation cess. In the Financial Year 2017-18, a total GST compensation cess of Rs 62,611 crore stood collected; out of which a sum of Rs 41,146 crore stands released to the states/UTs as GST compensation.
In the Financial Year 2018-19, Rs 95,081 crore was collected as GST compensation cess; out of which Rs 69,275 crore stands released to the states and UTs as GST compensation. The note stated that on an average the monthly GST compensation cess requirement was about Rs 14,000 crore; while the cess collection average was only near Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 crore per month.
Finance Secretary’s take on the matter of GST Compensation
Finance secretary Pandey informed the parliamentary panel that alternative solutions are built in the GST system to make up for low GST collection. He stated that there was constitutional commitment for the central government to provide 100 percent compensation. That the GST Council shall decide the mode of raising additional resources including borrowing from the market which could be repaid by collection of cess in the sixth year or further subsequent years.
On changing the formula for compensating states, the centre needs an amendment in the GST (Compensation to States) Act after approval from the GST Council. Notably, if the Centre makes amendments without approval from the council, then the states can challenge it in the courts.


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With 2020 around the corner, it’s time to evaluate B2B marketing practices of the past year.
Since the behavior of B2B buyers changed a lot in the past couple of years, B2B marketers had to step up the game and adjust efforts to the needs of their (potential) customers. Nowadays, B2B buyers want B2C experience. That’s how storytelling, for example, became one of the main tools for B2B marketers.
In order to find out which B2B marketing trends were the best in the past year, we asked a couple of marketing experts to give us their opinions.
Here they are, the top 4 marketing trends of 2019 according to experts:
PODCASTS (and marketing automation)
Shane Barker, a digital marketing consultant who worked with Fortune 500 companies, influencers with digital products, and a number of A-List celebrities, says that a lot more B2B marketers and businesses have started using podcasts in 2019.
2019 Podcast Trend Report states that 82.4% of people listen to podcasts for more than 7 hours each week. Some even spend more time on podcasts than social media. If we are to believe the numbers, it’s not questionable whether podcasts will remain one of the main tools for marketers.
Along with podcasts, Barker mentioned one more trend that started gaining popularity among B2B marketers – marketing automation.
According to Barker:
“Marketing automation was another marketing tactic that was prevalent in 2019. Though the adoption is still at a nascent stage, it is increasingly being used by B2B marketers.“
ACCOUNT BASED MARKETING
Executive Director of Boston Content and Senior Product Marketer for IBM Watson IoT, Sarah Dudley says that 2019 brought an increased emphasis on personalization and customization through account-based marketing (ABM).
According to Triblio, more than 90% of marketers believe that ABM is essential to B2B marketing. Furthermore, more than 60% of companies plan to implement an ABM program within the next year.
When it comes to content creation, Dudley thinks that we’re seeing a change in the content creation:
“We’re starting to shift from the era of “create, create, create” to only “create more of what works great, in a very targeted way, and far less of everything else”. This goes for everything from blogs to videos to webinars and improves the customer experience through the entire journey.”
Erik Huberman, founder/CEO of Hawke Media who made it onto Forbes 30 Under 30 list thinks that the most important thing we saw in B2B marketing in 2019 was the use of branded content to help drive conversion and retention.
Nowadays, consumers hold companies to a higher standard and demand authenticity. In this case, branded content became a useful tool for “humanizing” your brand and establishing long term relationships with your customers.
Huberman states that companies were able to move the needle drastically in many ways by creating content that engaged their audience above and beyond a purchase decision.
LIVE COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN THOUGHT LEADERS
Mandy McEwen, founder/CEO of Mod Girl Marketing and top B2B marketer according to Linkedin highlighted leveraging live collaborations between thought leaders as a B2B marketing trend that worked extremely well in 2019.
As an example, McEwen suggests hosting a live summit with some of your industry’s top experts, hosting a live webinar where you co-host with another industry leader where you can both provide value to attendees and build up your brand awareness at the same time.
2019 Edelman-LinkedIn B2B Thought Leadership Impact Study showed that a lot of B2B professionals underestimate the power of thought leadership. This data comes as a surprise if you take into account that B2B buyers are likely to pay more to work with companies who have clearly articulated their vision through thought leadership.
With the marketing industry being fast-paced and consumers’ behavior ever-changing, it’ll be interesting to see which of these trends will stick in the upcoming year and which ones are yet to emerge.
For a practice that’s proven to boost your marketing efforts, check out our Media Analytics For Marketers ebook below!


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Later this week, Google is approaching to betray a brood of new products: phones, a intelligent home hub, a Wi-Fi router and presumably more. It’s all things we can hold and collect adult — objects done of atoms.
But don’t let a hype around a new hardware dope you. The launch event, holding place in San Francisco on Tuesday, isn’t unequivocally about hardware. As is roughly all Google does, this is resolutely about code.
Think of hardware, either it’s a rumored Pixel phone or a formerly denounced Google Home speaker, as a earthy gateway into a company’s software, that can’t exist on a own. That’s how Google creates income — by regulating program to collect your data, that advertisers covet. These products safeguard that once we hang yourself with Google software, we stay that way.
So what kind of software, specifically, is Google perplexing to offshoot we on?
It goes behind to Google Assistant, a practical supporter that a hunt hulk introduced during a annual I/O developer discussion in May. Google CEO Sundar Pichai heralded it as a destiny of Google. In fact, he said, a program is all we consider of when we consider of Google — search, pushing directions, grill information — unbound from a normal hunt bar where we form in queries.
Instead, Google Assistant will know we personally. You can speak to it with voice commands, or discuss with it in a messaging app. The some-more we use it, Pichai said, a some-more it learns your habits, likes and dislikes, and a improved a synthetic comprehension can offer you.
Get prepared for a AI rumble
Google is only a latest to pull a idea of a digital assistant, with Apple carrying kicked off an synthetic comprehension competition with Siri behind in 2011. Since then, Microsoft rolled out Cortana (named after a Master Chief’s AI sidekick from a Halo video diversion franchise) and Amazon offers Alexa by a Echo family of speakers. AI has increasingly turn both a fruitful bridgehead and an eventuality for companies to rope together to teach a open about a benefits.
Google thinks it can tip those other services since of a prolonged story as a hunt association — and a plateau of information it’s already collected. Google already expelled a initial snack into Assistant progressing this month, with a discuss app Allo. With a mobile app, on Android and iOS, we can form in hunt requests while chatting with a friend, or we can discuss with a Assistant directly, like we would a chatbot.
On Tuesday, Google will approaching speak about a few inclination that will tie into Assistant. The many distinguished are a Pixel and Pixel XL phones, that symbol a mangle from a company’s story of Nexus phones. While Nexus phones were grown in partnership with other vendors like LG or Huawei, Google is holding full tenure of a Pixel phones, approaching to be presented as super flagship phones means to contest with a likes of a iPhone 7 and Galaxy Note S7.
Pixels will approaching share a theatre with a Google Home speaker, that was denounced during I/O. But again, a hardware eventually doesn’t unequivocally matter.
“In and of itself, Google creation a orator is vaguely interesting, though it unequivocally is a program and a Google partner that creates Home an engaging device,” pronounced Jan Dawson, an researcher during Jackdaw Research.
Getting personal with Google
Google Home gives a association a code new challenge.
While Google has offering predictive searches for years with Google Now, already found on Android phones and iPhones, carrying a singular orator in a vital room means Google will have to support to a series of opposite family members of varying age — all with singular personal tastes.
How it becomes personalized for any member of a family — instead of only particular phone users — is what Google will have to explain on Tuesday.
Google’s AI in ubiquitous could mount to use some-more hands-on knowledge with consumers. As mentioned earlier, a some-more we use it, a improved it gets. And right now, it’s still not all that great.
When Google expelled Allo progressing this month, CNET editor Lynn La tested out a handful of scenarios where a app’s “Smart Reply” underline — that produces processed answers regulating Google’s synthetic comprehension — reacted to genuine universe situations. Mostly, Google’s program had plain responses. Others, not so much. Take, for example, this unfolding where she used Smart Replies to conflict to removing fired. (Smart Replies are in purple):
The examination shows only how inapt Google’s AI program can be right now.
But, again, there’s a reason. Before Google initial teased Allo in May, we asked product manager Amit Fulay about Smart Replies. He pronounced those replies aren’t only canned responses — they turn some-more tailored to we a some-more we use it. So, for example, if we use a certain emoji a lot, Smart Reply competence eventually advise it in certain scenarios.
And that illustrates since Tuesday is so critical to Google. The association is finally going to give a program some extended genuine universe experience. There are firm to be people barking questions during Google Homes and Pixel phones and removing behind some befuddling answers, since a program doesn’t know a new owners yet.
Google hopes this eventuality outlines a start of when it’ll finally overcome those flourishing pains.


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Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC boosted its position in shares of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) by 5.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 75,117 shares of the social networking company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,677 shares during the quarter. Facebook comprises about 2.0% of Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC’s portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC’s holdings in Facebook were worth $13,255,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Facebook by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 162,530,760 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $24,538,895,000 after buying an additional 5,151,190 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Facebook by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 138,877,313 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $20,967,696,000 after buying an additional 4,032,727 shares during the period. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in shares of Facebook by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 56,817,768 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $8,578,347,000 after buying an additional 833,810 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Facebook by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 26,454,900 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $3,994,161,000 after buying an additional 114,694 shares during the period. Finally, TIAA CREF Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Facebook by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. TIAA CREF Investment Management LLC now owns 16,088,607 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,429,058,000 after buying an additional 198,882 shares during the period. 58.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
In related news, insider Michael Todd Schroepfer sold 38,017 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.83, for a total value of $7,140,733.11. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 381,521 shares in the company, valued at $71,661,089.43. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Sheryl Sandberg sold 55,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.25, for a total value of $9,748,750.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,467,131 shares of company stock valued at $798,223,122 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 17.23% of the company’s stock.
Shares of Facebook Inc (FB) opened at $184.76 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $536,730.00, a P/E ratio of 29.99, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.64. Facebook Inc has a 52-week low of $137.60 and a 52-week high of $195.32.
Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The social networking company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.96 by $0.24. The business had revenue of $12.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.58 billion. Facebook had a return on equity of 26.49% and a net margin of 39.16%. analysts forecast that Facebook Inc will post 7.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.
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Facebook, Inc is focused on building products that enable people to connect and share through mobile devices, personal computers and other surfaces. The Company’s products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Oculus. Facebook enables people to connect, share, discover and communicate with each other on mobile devices and personal computers.
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Officials during the event.
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) said that the first half of 2019 has witnessed a remarkable growth in the number of the new companies that joined the SCCI, where the number of the new members reached 2720 members,
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) held at its headquarters a forum on the “Best Practices for Sharjah Excellence Award”. The event comes as part of SCCI’s keenness on further enhancing the effective partnership
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) received two high-ranking diplomatic delegations from South Africa and Uzbekistan to discuss Sharjah’s most important investment advantages, develop and reinforce economic and trade relations,
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) organised on Tuesday the UAE Sri Lanka Forum to promote investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka and share economic and trade-related ideas and views between the two sides.
Dubai attracted 7.12 million international overnight visitors between January and June 2022, recording more than 183% growth in visitors compared to the 2.52 million tourists
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has announced the formation of the Dubai Digital Assets Business Group (D2A2),
Dubai CommerCity, part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and the region’s first and leading e-commerce free zone,