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On PR Newswire: Spookiest Commutes, Best Universities, Holiday Spending Trends
With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire for Journalists. Here are some of this week’s most newsworthy releases you might have missed.
As the spookiest day of the year approaches, staffing firm Robert Half highlights the cities with the most hair-raising commutes. The company surveyed workers from 27 major U.S. cities to determine how long they spend commuting to and from the office and which cities have the most stressed-out commuters. Robert Half commissioned an independent research firm to collect the data. More than 2,700 workers in 27 U.S. markets were surveyed to determine average commute times and the cities with the most stressful commutes. The survey was conducted in September 2017.
As the threat from wildfires subsides, California’s Wine Country communities now face the daunting task of healing. Tourism is the wine country’s lifeblood. Many residents and businesses, even those not directly impacted by the fires, lost weeks of work as fires forced evacuations and road closures. Visiting now will help these communities recover. “We are incredibly grateful for the work of first responders who fought to save these communities, and we are relieved that firefighters have gained the upper hand,” said Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta. “Now we need to do our part to help the recovery.”
U.S. News & World Report released on Oct. 24 the 2018 Best Global Universities rankings. The overall rankings evaluate 1,250 universities – up from 1,000 last year – across 74 countries and are the largest and most comprehensive assessment of research universities worldwide. The U. S. leads the rankings again this year, with 221 universities making the overall list. The top four spots are held by U.S. schools, with Harvard University at No. 1. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology comes in at No. 2, followed by Stanford University at No. 3 and the University of California—Berkeley at No. 4. The United Kingdom’s University of Oxford rounds out the top 5.
The Food and Drug Administration announced on Oct. 18 the approval of Yescarta (Axicabtagene ciloleucel), a revolutionary new immunotherapy for adult patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Yescarta is a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, also known as CAR-T. Moffitt Cancer Center’s Frederick Locke, M.D., is the co-lead investigator of the pivotal ZUMA-1 clinical trial that tested the new therapy, which is manufactured by Kite, a Gilead company. “The results have been remarkable,” said Locke, vice chair of the department of blood and marrow transplant and cellular immunotherapy at Moffitt. “Many of the patients who have received CAR-T therapy had already relapsed several times with traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants. Thanks to this new therapy, patients are now in remission for months or in some cases more than a year later, and are enjoying their lives. This is a huge breakthrough.”
Brighter spirits may fuel a diverse mix of spending on experiences, self-gifting and gifts for others this holiday shopping season, according to Deloitte’s 32nd Annual Holiday Survey of consumer spending intentions and trends. “The amount people are actually spending on gifts remains steady compared with prior surveys, but we’ve watched the mix of total holiday spending shift incrementally over the last five years,” said Rod Sides, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and U.S. retail, wholesale and distribution leader. “It’s the lure of shopping and the experience that is flourishing and likely to remain in high demand — all which bodes well for retailers that have created an experience blending one-of-a-kind items, inspiration, uncomplicated navigation and frictionless transactions.”
Want to see more news like this? Keep up with the latest news in your coverage area with a customized newsfeed. Click here to sign up now or email us to finetune your existing profile.
Larry Grady is online content manager at PR Newswire for Journalists. He has worked in business media for nearly 30 years and enjoys reality TV and daydreaming about travel and wine.


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- For Latin America and the Caribbean, the economic recovery is expected to slow, having rebounded from the lows of 2020.
- Rising inflation has also hurt economic growth, linked to soaring food and energy prices, write three IMF economists.
- Underlying prices rose rapidly in Brazil (7.2%), Chile (6.4%) and Mexico (5.9%), suggesting that inflation threatens to become more widespread.
The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean are losing momentum after making a strong comeback last year.
After a dramatic economic collapse in 2020, growth in the region rebounded to around 6.8%, driven by robust growth in trading partners, rising commodity prices and favorable external financing conditions. On the domestic front, progress in immunization, continued fiscal support in some countries (eg, Chile and Colombia), and accumulated savings from 2020 also supported growth.
For 2022, we expect growth to slow to 2.4%, down from our October forecast of 3%.
A slowdown is inevitable as economies return to pre-pandemic GDP levels. But the downgrade reflects other challenges, including slower growth in China and the United States, continued supply disruptions, tighter monetary and financial conditions, and the emergence of the Omicron variant.
For 2022, we expect growth to slow to 2.4%.
—Ilan Goldfajn, Anna Ivanova and Jorge Roldos
The price spike
Last year was marked by a rise in inflation. In some of the largest economies in the region (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru), prices rose 8.3% in 2021, the biggest rise in 15 years and higher than in other emerging markets .
This rapid increase partly reflects soaring food and energy prices. Core inflation, excluding food and energy prices, increased less (6.3%), but still exceeded pre-pandemic trends and exceeded core inflation. underlying price in other emerging markets (5.3% on average).
Underlying prices rose rapidly in Brazil (7.2%), Chile (6.4%) and Mexico (5.9%), suggesting that inflation is threatening to become widespread, although there are substantial variations between economies.
Many factors have contributed to the rise in inflation: rising commodity and import prices (partly due to global supply disruptions), exchange rate depreciations, as well as the release of the pent-up consumer demand and a shift in spending towards goods rather than services. In some countries, wage pressures and indexation practices (contracts that automatically adjust their terms to inflation) are pushing prices even higher.
Given the region’s history of high inflation, major central banks reacted quickly and decisively to the sharp rise in consumer prices.
The speed of monetary policy tightening has varied across countries depending on their position in the business cycle, the degree and depth of price pressures, and central bank credibility. In Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, policy rates increased between 1.25 percentage points and 7.25 percentage points during 2021. These were often combined with forward-looking indications of further rate hikes in the months ahead.
Rising policy rates have helped keep inflation expectations anchored, as we noted in our October Regional Economic Outlook, while bolstering the hard-earned credibility of central banks.
Long-term inflation expectations remain relatively well anchored, reflecting confidence in monetary policy to bring inflation back to target. However, near-term inflation expectations are elevated, suggesting the need for continued vigilance and possible further action by central banks in some countries.
If rising inflation threatens to unanchor inflation expectations, central banks will need to raise interest rates further to signal a continued commitment to inflation targets and to avoid persistent price increases. This should be accompanied by clear and transparent communication.
Uncertainty about the evolution of the pandemic more broadly continues to cast a shadow over the recovery globally and in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Inflationary pressures in the United States and across the region, which may necessitate an even faster withdrawal of monetary easing, the potential change in investor risk sentiment and the resulting tightening of global and domestic financial conditions also represent major risks for the recovery. Policymakers could prepare for US monetary policy tightening by extending public debt maturities, reducing fiscal refinancing needs more generally, and limiting, where possible, the build-up of currency mismatches in the financial sector balance sheets.
Major challenges ahead
The pandemic hit after a year of widespread social unrest in the region, which had built up over years of economic stagnation following the end of the commodity boom. With a busy electoral calendar looming, social unrest remains a major risk and inequalities will need to be tackled.
The countries of the region must simultaneously take up three major challenges: ensuring the sustainability of public finances; increase potential growth; and do so in a way that promotes social cohesion and addresses social inequalities.
Addressing these challenges, which began even before the pandemic, will take time. Policy makers should start now to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with it and build societal consensus around this strategy.
Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean region have a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the engines of growth and move towards a more prosperous, sustainable and inclusive region.

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Opportunities in real estate
The Turkish real estate market is tiny. The country has twice as much land as Japan, but its commercial property, according to one estimate, is worth just 3.1% of that of the world’s second-largest economy.
Turkey has the 11th largest economy in Europe, but its real estate sector, by that same estimate ranks as 18th.
But from a low absolute number, startling potential can arise – for example the rental market in Turkey has recently generated such rapid rent rises (20% in 2004 alone) that in September, a local newspaper reported that the Cabinet was considering enforcing rent controls to ensure that further rises did not increase inflationary pressures.
Cansel Turgut, deputy general manager at TSKB Real Estate Company, says: “Development opportunities in Europe are limited, but Turkey gives investors and developers a chance to make money.”
Retail investors have been taking note. In April, Corio NV, one of the world’s largest property investment groups, paid $192 million for a 46.9% stake in Akmerkez GYO, the owner of Istanbul’s most-frequented shopping mall.
In October the Cevahir Shopping Centre, the second-biggest in the world after the Mall of America was opened.


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New vehicles at Fiat Chrysler’s factory in Detroit, US. Associated Press
China is likely to see vehicle sales drop again this year as opposed to earlier expectations for zero growth, the country’s biggest auto industry association said, after it unveiled data showing the sector contracted for a 12th straight month in June.
Steep drops in auto sales for China and India over recent months are serving as a painful reminder that the world’s two most populous markets are not living up to the earlier heady expectations.
Fiat Chrysler (FCA) plans to spend 700 million euros ($788 million) to boost the ‘Fiat 500’ electric production as the carmaker moves on from its failed $35 billion bid to merge with France’s Renault, a pioneer in electric vehicles.
Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, visited the pavilion of Ukraine in the Opportunity District at Expo 2020 Dubai,
Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (Dafza) is bolstering its efforts to attract direct foreign investments in Dubai and support foreign companies in establishing business in the Emirate,
The total value of the UAE’s foreign trade in the past five decades amounted to some $9.32 trillion (Dhs34.23 trillion), according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).


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She’s a real-life Wonder Woman!
A gutsy Bronx gal used some superhero moves to track down and collar a man who snatched her wallet and used her credit cards for a shopping spree, cops said Thursday.
Kirsy Polanco, 25, chased Corey White into the busy Union Square subway station and held him for cops — pursuing him even after he allegedly elbowed her in the face.
About the only thing Polanco didn’t do was wrap a golden lasso around him.
Polanco had left her wallet on a condiments counter at a Wendy’s restaurant in Greenwich Village at about 3:50 p.m. on July 17 after buying lunch there.
As she tucked into her meal, Polanco realized she had misplaced her gray Marc Jacobs wallet, which sells for as much as $200.
Before she could retrieve it, White allegedly snatched the wallet and sneaked away, taking $93 in cash and her bank card.
The 35-year-old White celebrated his score by heading straight to a nearby liquor store and buying $46 worth of booze, cops said.
He next headed to a Journeys clothing store on East 14th Street, near University Place, where he used her bank card to buy a $109 pair of shoes, cops said.
The quick-thinking Polanco, however, was hot on White’s trail after using a banking app on her smartphone to spot where purchases had been made with her bank card, cops said.
After seeing the shoe purchase, Polanco ran to the Journeys and spotted White in front of the store — allegedly holding the ill-gotten liquor and footwear.
In a panic, he allegedly threw the wallet at Polanco and fled.
She chased after him.
Shouting for police, she followed him into the Union Square station, where White tried to board an R train. As Polanco reached him, he wheeled around and elbowed her in the face, police said.
That didn’t stop her. She grabbed hold of White and kept him from escaping on a train until cops arrived.
White was charged with robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, cops said.
Police allegedly found her MetroCard and $93 dollars in cash on him when they patted him down.
Cops said they also retrieved surveillance video from the Journeys showing White making a purchase.


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As many of you may know (or may not know) China was the only country in the world where animal testing was required by law for cosmetic sales. What this means is companies such as L’Oreal, who stopped animal testing themselves in March 2013, and have been working with scientists in china to support alternative methods of testing. (source) may be coming to cruelty free lists near you soon. This also means that cosmetics companies that recently sold to parent companies that only test “where required by law” may be okay to buy again (hello Urban Decay and Tarte ;D) I say “may” because companies often find loopholes and wording that makes them seem more ethical than they actually are, I will have more information on this in the future.
While this change does not mean that animal testing for cosmetics is completely banned in China, it is a huge step forward and an event to definitely celebrate!


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Hong Kong T-shirts not against the law.
Back in November, we posted about G.O.D. getting busted by the cops because of their apparently pro-Triad T-shirts selling in Hong Kong. 9 people were arrested and the value of those 14K T-shirts went up and creating more hype for triads being ‘cool.’ Well, now all charges have been dropped and G.O.D. is free to go:
Police have decided not to take legal action against a trendy store which carried T-shirts bearing logos linked to a triad society.
The founder of Goods Of Desire, Douglas Young Chi-chiu, said he was told by police he and 17 of his design and sales staff would not be prosecuted for marketing T-shirts and postcards printed with a “14K” logo – with the numbers written in Chinese characters.
Everyone says how the police overreacted, but you never know just how serious the triads are in Hong Kong and more importantly how unfashionable the Hong Kong Police Deparment is!


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Long-term investing seems more difficult now than it has ever been, and finding stocks to buy and hold for years seems like a tough task.
Consumer tastes are moving away from dominant brands towards unique, smaller offerings. Commodity prices remain volatile, with both oil and gold well off peaks from earlier in the decade.
The increasing importance of technology stocks in the broad market adds a layer of complexity, and the increasing pace of technological chance makes forecasting even more difficult than it normally is.
While lower fees have pushed some individual investors into index funds, there’s little doubt that the complexity of today’s markets has been a factor as well. Traditional ‘buy and hold’ investing simply is more difficult in a world that seems to be moving much faster. Would any investor have guessed even five years ago that shares of a retail giant like Macy’s Inc (NYSE:M) would lose 70% of their value? Or that dozens of oil drillers would go bankrupt amid the U.S. shale revolution? Or that General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) would become one of the least-loved stocks in the market?
‘Buy and hold’ does seem a tougher path these days. But it’s not impossible. These 10 best stocks to buy and hold should stand the test of time, or at least the next decade. Providing a combination of income and (hopefully) share appreciation, these stocks should provide above-market returns for any investor, in any environment.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: Diageo plc (ADR) (DEO)
Ten years simply isn’t a long time for Diageo plc (ADR) (NYSE:DEO). The owner and distributor of alcoholic beverages worldwide has a number of products in its portfolio that are aged longer than that, most notably in its flagship Johnnie Walker line. Diageo also owns Captain Morgan rum, Tanqueray gin, Smirnoff vodka and Guinness beer, among many others.
There are some concerns about increasing competition from smaller brewers and distilleries, but Diageo’s portfolio is diversified enough to weather potential issues in specific markets. And so many of its major brands have decades, if not centuries, of brand equity that upstart rivals simply will not be able to erode. There’s still substantial room for growth in emerging markets, with Johnnie Walker in particular likely to benefit from the growing middle and upper class populations in India.
Add to that the fact that alcohol sales typically withstand overall economic weakness, and DEO stock looks downright cheap. At under 20x 2018 analyst earnings-per-share estimates, Diageo stock trades at a notable discount to other ‘defensive’ consumer stocks. The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO), for instance, trades at 23x forward EPS. Diageo appears safer, less challenged by political concerns, and with a 3% dividend, offers nearly as much income as KO. The combination makes Diageo a smart holding for the long-term.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: Dollar General (DG)
Buying any retailer with plans to own it for a decade or longer seems somewhat foolish in this environment. Even retail sectors supposedly immune to the e-commerce threat, like auto parts, have seen pressures increase.
But Dollar General Corp. (NYSE:DG) might be the exception to the rule. The dollar store space, including DG rival Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR), has seen growth slow somewhat of late. Notably, the channel’s gains against retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT) appear to have reversed, as WMT has improved its operations over the past few quarters.
But dollar stores still offer value to consumers, while low price points offset potential e-commerce pressure. (It’s still impossible for anyone to make money shipping a $3 or $5 item.) Dollar General earnings still are growing, yet the stock looks cheap, trading at under 16x next year’s estimated EPS. Brick-and-mortar retail may be pressured, but it’s not going to wither away for good.
DG seems likely to be one of the survivors, yet it isn’t quite priced as such.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)
From one standpoint, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) might seem an odd choice for this list. Most investors would agree that Amazon will at least be around ten years from now. But I imagine many are skeptical that a stock with a forward P/E of 125x won’t come back to Earth at some point.
But I continue to believe that it is short-sighted to assume AMZN stock is overvalued purely based on its P/E ratio. And from a qualitative standpoint, I’d add that no company of its size is better-positioned for growth over the next decade than Amazon.
Valuation aside, it’s fascinating to think where Amazon could be a decade for now. Amazon Web Services already is the preeminent cloud provider, well ahead of tech titans like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL). The acquisition of Whole Foods Market will jumpstart the company’s brick-and-mortar ambitions. And the company very well may have a delivery network that rivals FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) and United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS).
Regardless of its current valuation, Amazon likely is going to dominate the next decade, both in the U.S. and worldwide. And that makes the stock a buy and hold, particularly since its earnings power is much greater than headline numbers suggest.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: Pfizer (PFE)
Investors would be forgiven for wanting to avoid the pharmaceutical industry altogether. Political and regulatory risks abound, drugmakers have faced significant criticism about pricing practices over the past few years, leading to arguments in some quarters for price caps or importation of overseas products that could pressure margins.
But Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) likely is worth the risk. The world’s second-largest drugmaker, behind Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS), isn’t growing the way it once did. But it is still growing, with EPS expected to increase roughly 7% this year and 8% in 2018.
But PFE stock isn’t really priced for any growth, with a 13x forward P/E multiple and a 3.5% dividend yield. And that seems just too conservative. Pfizer isn’t going to be an explosive stock, but expecting 8-10% share price growth and a nice dividend doesn’t seem terribly outlandish at current prices. With a broad and diversified portfolio providing some downside protection, PFE’s upside potential is worth dealing with potential political risk.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: Lamb Weston (LW)
Investors might not be familiar with Lamb Weston Holdings Inc (NYSE:LW). The company was spun off by Conagra Brands Inc (NYSE:CAG) almost a year ago, and LW stock has gained nicely since then.
However, most investors know one of the company’s key products: the McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) French fry. McDonald’s accounts for 11% of the company’s sales, and other fast-food chains provide a substantial amount of sales as well.
Lamb Weston’s frozen potato products also are sold to smaller chains, independent restaurants, and overseas customers, along with a smaller presence at retail. Growth has been steady, margins continue to expand, and those international customers offer growth opportunities as French fry demand increases beyond the U.S.
LW stock isn’t necessarily cheap, but relative to other food producers it’s not terribly expensive. But with limited exposure to pricing pressure and deflation in supermarkets, the stock should trade at a premium. A 1.5% dividend adds income, and a sub-$50 price still looks cheap. As long as consumers eat French fries, LW stock should continue to rise. And one imagines that French fry demand isn’t going to decline any time soon, whether at McDonald’s or anywhere else.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: VF Corporation (VFC)
When looking for brands that will stand the test of time, look no further than VF Corp (NYSE:VFC).
VFC produces apparel under well-known brands like Wrangler, The North Face, Timberland and Eastpak. The company also manufactures licensed products for major sports leagues and Harley-Davidson Inc (NYSE:HOG).
VFC shares have risen sharply of late, climbing 15% just since mid-July. But there’s more room for the stock to gain. VFC trades at just 19x 2018 EPS estimates, despite analysts projecting a double-digit increase in profits after a modest pullback this year. With demand for jeans and outdoor apparel, in particular, unlikely to fade any time soon, VFC should be able to drive sales increases and margin expansion for some time going forward. And a 2.6% dividend yield adds to the bull case.
Consumer tastes can be fickle, but VF Corporation brands have managed those tastes for decades. I fully expect they’ll do the same for the next decade as well.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: Celanese (CE)
Diversified chemicals maker Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. And the company looks in good shape for the next century as well.
CE products have a role in products across industries worldwide. Celanese’s specialty polymers are used in automotive, medical and industrial applications. Sweetener Sunett is used in beverages and dairy products. And industrial products are used in paints, coatings and adhesives.
The diversified nature of the product portfolio and the consumer base leads to stable, and solid growth. CE stock has gained sharply of late, rising 63% over the past year. But the stock still looks reasonably cheap, trading at around 15x 2017 EPS guidance.
With those earnings growing double-digits, there’s room for both the multiple to expand and profits to grow. That should drive CE stock higher for years to come.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: Sempra Energy (SRE)
Utilities typically are relatively safe, long-term investments, offering dividend income but little in the way of substantial price movements. Historically, Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) has fit that bill, but right now the stock has a bit more spice than most utilities.
For one, SRE has operations in Chile and Peru, two of the most stable and fastest-growing markets in South America. Meanwhile, its U.S. operations in San Diego serve a growing market with some of the highest income and real estate prices in the country.
SRE stock has pulled back of late, after the company outbid Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A, NYSE:BRK.B) for Oncor Energy. Sempra has issued shares to help fund the acquisition and it has added debt as well. Investors clearly saw the acquisition as adding some risk to the stock, which may be true.
Still, the pullback looks like a buying opportunity. SRE remains a intriguing S&P 500 utility with a diversified portfolio and organic and inorganic growth opportunities. A 20x forward multiple looks a bit high for the space, but will narrow as Oncor contributes to profits. And a nearly 3% dividend allows investors to “get paid to wait,” as the saying goes. Sempra might not be the typical utility, but in this case, that’s a good thing.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: McCormick (MKC)
I’ve recommended McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC) in this space before, and MKC stock remains one of my largest holdings — one I intend to keep for the long-term.
McCormick stock isn’t cheap, but it rarely is. The spices and seasonings category continues to grow, as younger consumers actually use more of the product than their parents. The company’s acquisition of brands from Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC-ADR (OTCMKTS:RBGLY) will pay dividends beginning next year, and McCormick’s global reach should accelerate growth of Frank’s RedHot hot sauce and French’s mustard for years to come.
With MKC stock back under $100 after some choppy trading, the price looks reasonable relative to the long-term opportunity here. Category growth, international expansion and strong management offer more than enough at current levels.
Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade: Stepan Company (SCL)
Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL) is another relatively unknown stock, and another long-term buying opportunity. Stepan makes ingredients for cleaning products, detergents and shampoos, along with lubricants and foam used for insulation by construction companies.
It’s not a particularly sexy portfolio, but it’s been enough to drive solid revenue and profit growth for years now, as well as exceptional performance in SCL stock. There’s not a lot of reason to see that changing any time soon, and a 16x forward P/E multiple leaves SCL looking reasonably priced, if not outright cheap relative to its growth prospects.
Stepan’s dividend does yield less than 1%, but there’s room for improvement on that front. Even with such a small payout, there’s reason enough to see SCL continuing to drive shareholder returns, as earnings grow and investors come around to the story here.
As of this writing, Vince Martin is long shares of McCormick & Company.


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Customers can use the virtual currency in 30 of the retailer's 265 UK stores.
The head of UKFI made the revelation at a treasury select committee hearing today.
The Bank of England's crucial payments system has been on the blink today.
Chief exec Dave Lewis is set to announce early findings of investigation into profit black hole.
Savers will be able to dodge the taxman by lending to consumers and entrepreneurs.
Two former City traders are on a mission to make private company shares more liquid.
The challenger bank has dropped its plans because of unstable markets.
The home of Cornwall's big white domes is launching a mini bond crowdfunding round.
Share indices across the world have tumbled since their summer peak and there could be more losses to come.
Activist shareholder and Apple fanboy Carl Icahn thinks Apple is 'seriously undervalued' and that the firm should buy back even more of its own stock, pdq.
The veteran activist investor said he's sending an 'interesting' open letter to Tim Cook today.
Latest from MT
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16 January 2013 10:26
Nine out of 10 holidaymakers look at online consumer reviews before booking their holiday
Exclusive research for Travel Weekly has revealed the importance of online consumer reviews in helping people make decisions about where they go on holiday. Carried out by Explore Research, the survey of 500 UK adults found that nine out of 10 holidaymakers go on the internet to look up consumer reviews before deciding on a destination.
Two out of three people do this often or always, yet three out of four rarely contribute their own reviews - meaning the minority have a disproportionate influence. Bad reviews often act as a deterrent, with one in five looking elsewhere for a hotel or holiday after reading one.
Of the respondents, 33% always study online consumer reviews before booking, 30% often do, 29% sometimes do and 8% never do. Meanwhile, 35% admit they never post reviews, with 41% doing so sometimes, 15% saying often and 9% saying always. People who regularly jet off on holiday can save money by covering themselves with
annual travel insurance.
03 December 2016
Thousands of Britons could be heading off on snow-sports holidays without appropriate travel insurance cover, it has been warned.
01 December 2016
Pilots at German airline Lufthansa are on strike again after a two-day break in their campaign of walkouts.
02 December 2016
Britons are among the top spenders in Europe when it comes to holidays, new research has found.
30 November 2016
The UK should think about resuming flights to the popular tourism resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, according to a major United Nations agency.
29 November 2016
Plans are in place to develop a new aviation arrangement between the UK and US, to ensure holidaymakers can still fly between the two countries once Britain departs the EU.
26 November 2016
Hundreds of Lufthansa flights have been grounded after pilots working for the airline took part in a strike.
25 November 2016
The US is warning its citizens that Europe is facing a "heightened risk of terror attacks" at Christmas markets and other seasonal holiday events.
24 November 2016
A groundbreaking radiotherapy machine that can track the changing position of tumours in real time will soon be used to treat cancer patients in the UK.
23 November 2016
Top airline bosses are urging the government to scrap air passenger duty ahead of Wednesday's Autumn Statement.
22 November 2016
Winter sun is now the most popular holiday type, according to new research conducted by travel experts.
19 November 2016
A holiday price increase of 10% on trips to Europe could cause tourists to postpone their getaways next year, experts are warning.
18 November 2016
British citizens will no longer be able to travel freely to Europe without paying a "travel tax" or filling in visa forms under plans unveiled by Brussels.


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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate estimated to need 16GB of giveaway space …
July 15, 2018 - Super Smash Bros
With DLC included, Super Smash Bros. 4 compulsory about 15.7GB
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate looks like a pretension that will be positively tangled container with content. It was announced that every singular fighter that has seemed in a Super Smash Bros. pretension will be returning this time. No doubt there will be additional “big” gaming icons like Ridley who will also join a roster.
Interestingly enough, a central inventory on Nintendo’s Japanese website estimates that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will need about 16GB of giveaway space in sequence to play. Masahiro Sakurai has managed to step things adult each singular time.
Super Smash Bros. 4 on a Wii U compulsory about 15.7GB of giveaway space in sequence to download after all a updates and DLC. Those with a 8GB Wii U had to acquire additional storage only to play a diversion with updates.
It’s probable that a distance and range of a diversion could continue to boost until a Dec 7, 2018 recover date. Many have been speculating on what calm will be announced after down a road.
After a diversion is launched, we could potentially see some post-launch DLC identical to what was given to players after a recover of Super Smash Bros. 4. Should this happen, some-more space on a Nintendo Switch will be required. Remember that SD cards can be used for storage.


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Additionally, 789 new DxO Optics Modules are now available with over 25,000 optics modules in the DxO OpticsPro.
You can download the latest version of DxO OpticsPro here on the DxO website.
DxO has announced a new camera, the DxO ONE, which attaches to an iPhone’s Lightning port and works with an iOS app. The DxO ONE features a 20.2MP 1″ CMOS sensor that will capture RAW format images, along with a new SuperRAW Plus format that automatically merges four RAW files into one. [Read more…]
More details on DxO’s website.
DxO OpticsPro 10.1 is now available and adds support for the following cameras: [Read more…]
DxO Mark has published its review of the new Canon 7D Mark II, including an in-depth look at the sensor performance. Notably, DxO Mark says the 7D Mark II’s sensor lags behind competitors in low ISO performance. DxO still considers the Sony A77 II a better choice for overall image quality. [Read more…]
DxO Labs has released DxO OpticsPro 10, which adds DxO ClearView, a new feature that eliminates atmospheric haze. This new version also enhances its PRIME denoising technology, a noise reduction approach that DxO claims can improve image quality of up to one full stop over the best noise reduction algorithms currently on the market. [Read more…]


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Southeast Asia are embracing blockchain technology and digital currencies as a way of helping the poor get better access to banking services that can help lift them out of poverty, as well as speeding and improving interbank payments and cross-border settlements.
Areport on Central Bank Digital Currenciesissued on April 3 by the World Economic Forum singled out the National Bank of Cambodia as a leader in bringing blockchain technology into its national payments system for use by both commercial banks and consumers.
With technology scheduled for implementation in the second half of 2019, Cambodia’s central bank is planning to experiment with blockchain technology in its interbank payment and settlement system, which the report describes as inefficient. “This opens the window for experimentation to improve upon and potentially ‘leapfrog’ traditional wholesale interbank processes,” read the report by Ashley Lannquist, project lead, blockchain and distributed ledger technology, for the World Economic Forum.
The other way Cambodia is using blockchain technology is to benefit its poor, underbanked population which tends to use either cash—the Cambodian riel or U.S. dollar—or mobile-based payment apps to store and send money.
“Retail savings and payments are fragmented, and citizens are unable to reliably save money in mobile phone-based accounts,” she wrote. “They also have difficulty transferring money to those who use a different mobile money application from themselves.”
The new blockchain-based system will give consumers access to both commercial bank accounts and the various mobile phone-based apps. The goal is to both improve interoperability of the various payment systems and encourage underbanked people to open bank accounts in order to increase savings and improve financial stability.
In January 2018, Bank Indonesia, the Southeast Asian country’s central bank, announced plans to launch its own centralized cryptocurrency, the digital rupiah. At the time, the bank said it was looking at a 2020 launch.
As a result of the central bank’s friendliness towards blockchain technology, five other banks in the country are investigating ways to integrate the technology as well,The Asean Postreported on April 9. These are Bank Negara Indonesia, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Mandiri, Bank Danamon, and Bank Permata.
With a population of 264 million, Indonesia is the largest country is Southeast Asia, and the 14th largest recipient of remittances from migrants working abroad, according to the World Bank. Cutting the high fees charged by banks and money transfer firms like Western Union would increase the funds received, currently estimated at $10.5 billion annually.
While the goal of Project Inthanon is to explore the potential and implications of a CBDC for interbank settlements rather than bring it immediately into use, Santiprabhob said, “These efforts should pave the way for faster and cheaper transaction and validation due to less intermediation process needed compared to the current system.”
Another project in the pipeline would use scriptless bond issuance to cut the time it takes to allocate bonds to retail investors from 15 days to just two, he noted. The bank is also looking at blockchain forsupply chain financing and document authentication, Santiprabhob said in December.
Developed by Singapore’sEverex, the system will allow workers to send remittances from Thailand’s Krungthai Bank to Myanmar’s Shwe Bank. Promising competitive exchange rates, the system will allow recipients in Myanmar to “receive money by home delivery, cash pick up at Shwe Bank branches, or direct deposit to Shwe Bank account,” according to the release by the Bank of Thailand.
“Central banks in the region have worked together to support development of financial technology,” said Veerathai Santiprabhob, governor of the Bank of Thailand. “Central banks can play important roles as the facilitators and catalysts to promote payment connectivity. One key enabler is the interoperability of financial infrastructure and standards … which will facilitate more efficient cross-border payment linkages and encourage further innovations.”
Several other projects were announced at the ASEAN conference that use blockchain technology.
Bangkok Bank has partnered with a subsidiary of PTT Global Chemical Company Limited to test trade finance transactions between Thailand and Indonesia using theVoltron applicationto create and exchange letter of credit, built onR3 Corda. The goal is to cut processing time and paperwork in half.
Bank of Thailand is also testingKungsri Bank Blockchaininternational funds transfer service, with the initial goal of sending money from Laos to Thailand, and from Thailand to Singapore in seconds.
In wealthy Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) may be cooling to the idea of creating a CBDC version of the Singapore dollar based onR3’s Corda distributed ledger technology, to be used for inter-bank payments. The project wassuccessfully tested in March 2017, and involved 11 major banks, including Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Citi, HSBC, and JPMorgan.
MAS’ managing director threw cold water on the idea of a digitized version of the wealthy city-state’s currency in aninterview with the Financial Times(paywall) in January 2018. Still, the CBDC test was a part of the broaderProject Ubin, which is still moving ahead with other plans, including cross-border payments and smart-contract payments.
In August, theMAS and Singapore Exchange (SGX) announced plansto work with Deloitte, Nasdaq, andAnquan Capitalto create a “Delivery versus Payment” (DvP) system built across several blockchain platforms that would allow financial institutions and corporate investors to carry out the simultaneous exchange and settlement of digital currencies and securities assets
“This initiative will deploy blockchain technology to efficiently link up funds transfer and securities transfer, eliminating both buyers’ and sellers’ risk in the DvP process,” said Tinku Gupta, chair of Project Ubin and head of technology at SGX, in a statement. “This is a collaborative innovation bringing together multiple players to pursue real-world opportunities that will benefit the ecosystem.”
There are a lot of financial projects underway in the Philippines, where financial authorities this month approved the 29th cryptocurrency exchange. Analysts feel the central bank’s governor sees blockchain as a tool with which to advance the growth of electronic payment systems in the island chain nation, in which 70 percent of the population is unbanked,according to Voice of America.
On March 18, theStellar-poweredIBM Blockchain World Wireannounced that it hadreached an agreementwith the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) in the Philippines, to release stablecoins denominated in the Philippine peso. Five other nations had banks doing the same, IBM said at the time.
In Vietnam, there are signs of a thaw in the anti-cryptocurrency mindset of the country’s financial authorities which banned trading in digital assets in July 2018, followed a month later by a ban on the import of new cryptocurrency mining computers.
On March 22, Zug, Switzerland-based blockchain firmKRONN Ventures announcedthat it had signed an agreement with Linh Thanh Group, a major Vietnamese distribution firm, to produce cryptocurrency and establish a licensed cryptocurrency exchange.
Yugra, a province in the North West Russia, launch a blockchain-enabled tourism platform. The Regional Development Fund commissioned the Universa Blockchain to launch the platform. The goal is to connect all participants in the tourism […]
Blockchain-powered agricultural project GrainChain has partnered with the Mexican state of Tamaulipas to expand its grain tracking service in the country, Forbes reports. According to the report, the Tamaulipas government is now using GrainChain’s software […]


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British, Canadian and American travel advisory boards warn tourists to exercise extreme caution when traveling to the Caribbean island.
Erica Campbell reminds us in this Faith Walk that God said, "fear not, for I am with you."
Erica Campbell urges us to use the power God has given us.
A new racial discrimination lawsuit filed against CNN and TBS alleges that Black employees received less pay and other claims,…
As we commemorate the 45th anniversary of the legalization of abortion, we must recognize that the right to choose doesn’t…
We're tired of brands making brown skin an afterthought.
New data shows that the number of incarcerated African Americans declined during the Obama-era.
"People are taking this to a whole 'nother degree," the journalist said.
Is it possible to be this delusional?
Trump's campaign released a new racist ad that said Democrats will be "complicit" with murders by illegal immigrants.


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Unions say financials show USPS is viable
- By FederalSoup Staff
- Aug 12, 2014
While the U.S. Postal Service has blamed some of its red ink on the proliferation of the Internet, one union leader this week called the Internet "a net positive for USPS."
Commenting on the Postal Service's fiscal third-quarter financials, which were released Aug. 11, National Association of Letter Carriers President Fredric Rolando highlighted the upside of the earnings report.
"The figures released today by the Postal Service show an operating profit of slightly more than $1 billion for the first three quarters of fiscal year 2014, continuing the operating profitability that began in October 2012," Rolando said in a statement.
"This performance is driven by two underlying trends," Rolando said. "As the economy improves, letter mail revenue is growing. And as more people shop online, package revenue is skyrocketing. The Internet is now a net positive for USPS, auguring well for the future as e-commerce grows. In the third quarter, which the Postal Service’s CFO called 'a very good quarter in a lot of ways,' package revenue rose 6.6 percent, standard mail revenue rose 5.1 percent and first-class mail revenue was up 3.2 percent."
NALC, like other postal unions, blames the bulk of USPS losses on the 2006 congressional mandate that requires USPS to spend billions each year to prefund its future retiree health benefits. USPS itself has called on Congress to act on the issue.
"That annual $5.6 billion annual charge accounts for most of the 'losses,'" Rolando said.
Rolando urged Congress to recognize the improvements and take action to halt looming service standard reductions and processing facility closures that are part of USPS's plan to "right-size" the organization.
"Given the positive mail trends, it would be irresponsible to degrade services to Americans and their businesses, which would drive away mail—and revenue—and stop the postal turnaround in its tracks," Rolando said. "Lawmakers need to preserve and strengthen the profitable postal networks—which are the future of the USPS as it increasingly delivers not just six but seven days a week—while fixing the prefunding fiasco."
American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein also highlighted the positive results.
“Despite the good news, Postmaster General [Patrick] Donahoe continues to paint a desperate picture of postal finances to justify his push to privatize the U.S. Postal Service,” Dimondstein said on the union's website. “But USPS financial reports show the Postal Service is rebounding from the economic collapse of 2008 and can thrive as a public institution—if it is allowed to do so.”


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There were strong rumors doing rounds on the internet that Lexus would be bringing the Lexus LS model to Japan for the Tokyo Auto Show. But, as a contrary to this rumor, Lexus now has announced that it will be showcasing a luxury concept car at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Show. The new concept that will be showcased at the Tokyo show will be highlighting the Lexus future vision of progressive luxury.
This is the luxury marquee car that Toyota will be launching in the market to compete with the likes of other luxury brands like Audi, Mercedes and BMW. The Tokyo Auto Show is all set to begin on the 30th of October and coincidentally Lexus will be celebrating its 25th anniversary during the period. So, there is no doubt that the Lexus pavilion at the show will be the main talking point during the show and a lot of footfall will be seen at the Lexus pavilion.
There are expectations that the progressive luxury car that Toyota wants to bring to the market is one that offers great styling and performance. There are more reasons to suspect that the progressive luxury car that Lexus is talking about could be the LS luxury segment that would be offered with revved up the features and underpinning to make it sit with the likes of Mercedes S class and the BMW 7 series in the car market.
Toyota the owner of the Lexus brand has always been one step ahead of its competitors when it comes to making use of the latest technologies on their car. But, with the Lexus progressive luxury car, Toyota wanted to bring out a car that would compete with all the top luxury models in the market.
In fact Lexus has also come out with the public showing of the self driving car technology that it was developing last month. It revealed the Highway teammate concept that will help the car to maintain its lane discipline and also maintain a safe distance between the cars on a multi car road. The car also demonstrated how it can easily overtake on its own on the roads and also exit or get into the highways.
These Lexus autonomous cars are targeted for the United States and the China markets. Along with the new progressive luxury concept car, Lexus will be bringing out 10 more vehicles to the Tokyo Show that includes RX SUV and GS F sedan.


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Memory prices were supposed to level off toward the end of this year, but guess what? That ain't happening. In fact, according to Bloomberg, DDR3 prices have reached a two-year high in the wake of a fire at one of SK Hynix's factories in China. Here's the skinny:
The price of the benchmark DDR3 2-gigabit dynamic random-access memory chip reached $2.27 yesterday, compared with $1.60 on Sept. 4, when a fire forced the closing of SK Hynix’s factory in Wuxi, according to DRAMeXchange, Asia’s largest market for the components. Icheon, South Korea-based SK Hynix expects to resume production on the fire-hit line next month.
In a statement to Bloomberg, analyst Oh Sang Woo predicts that memory prices "will continue to rise throughout the fourth quarter." At the very least, he adds, "There will be no drop until the operation gets into full swing."
Oh well. So much for those of us eying a new PC upgrade this Christmas.
|Biostar's Ryzen motherboards race toward release||53|
|TSUBAME3.0 gears up for AI supercomputing with 2160 Tesla P100s||26|
|Master of Shapes brings Vive tracking to Daydream VR||4|
|Deals of the week: Z270 motherboards, storage, and more||15|
|Phanteks Glacier gear flows into the water-cooling market||11|
|Display your graphics card with Thermaltake's PCIe riser cable||23|
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|Unreal Engine 4.15 arrives with HDR and AFR support||60|
|MSI Aero ITX graphics cards put Pascal in petite places||5|


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“At halftime of the Super Bowl of trade relations”
President Trump might keep some tariffs on Chinese goods even if Beijing and Washington reach a trade agreement, he told the NYT yesterday, after delegates from both countries wrapped up another round of negotiations.
“Without the tariffs, we wouldn’t be talking,” he said in an interview.
How were the discussions? According to Mr. Trump’s posts on Twitter, they went well, “with good intent and spirit on both sides.” He hosted the negotiators in the Oval Office and suggested that President Xi Jinping of China was willing to welcome more American companies and to buy more American products — including five million tons of soybeans. The Chinese representatives, led by the American-educated vice premier, Liu He, said that the two sides had made “important progress” and had “candid, specific and fruitful” talks. Robert Lighthizer, the top American trade negotiator, was less sanguine. “We did not come off the rails,” he said. “That’s significant.”
What’s next? The two sides hope to reach an agreement by early March, before Mr. Trump plans to increase tariffs after a 90-day truce. Mr. Lighthizer and Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, will go to Beijing after the Chinese New Year holiday this month to prepare for talks between the two presidents. Mr. Trump said that summit meeting would happen “in the near future” and that it would address “some of the long standing and more difficult points.” According to Myron Brilliant, the head of international affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “we are in the fifth inning of a nine-inning game.” He also used another sports analogy to describe the negotiations:
I would now say we are at halftime of the Super Bowl of trade relations.
Today’s DealBook Briefing was written by Andrew Ross Sorkin and Stephen Grocer in New York, and Tiffany Hsu and Gregory Schmidt in Paris.
A reminder to Facebook and Google: Don’t mess with Apple
Facebook’s 35,000 employees got a reminder this week of Apple’s power over their day-to-day routines. So did workers at Google.
After Facebook and Google ran afoul of Apple’s rules for distributing apps, Apple hit back by blocking the two Silicon Valley giants from using the internal apps and updates that run on iPhone software.
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, told the NYT that the offending app had not been a secret and had operated with users’ consent. Apple eventually restored access for both Facebook and Google, but its point had been made: Cross us at your peril.
The tension with Apple was not Facebook’s only concern.
• The social network, in a collaboration with Twitter, said that other countries appeared to be following the Russian playbook for using social media to disseminate propaganda and disinformation. One campaign, from Iran, touched on the conflict in Syria and conspiracy theories about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Facebook said it had removed 783 pages, groups and accounts with ties to Iran, while Twitter said it had taken down more than 2,000 accounts.
• Facebook, already being investigated by the authorities in Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, is also said to be the target of several more inquiries, including in Connecticut, Illinois and Pennsylvania, over its mishandling of user data.
A Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank merger seems increasingly likely
Deutsche has been in a lot of trouble for a very long time. Now, it’s looking increasingly probable that the German government will step in to combine it with its smaller, but also struggling competitor, Commerzbank.
Deutsche reported its first full-year net profit since 2014 today but still failed to meet analysts’ expectations. Its fourth quarter showed continued weakness.
The bank has lurched through various failed restructuring efforts, has been hit with fine after fine and was recently raided by prosecutors pursuing a money-laundering investigation. Its stock price has more than halved in the past year. If it is unable to recover on its own, it is thought a merger with Commerzbank may occur by midyear.
But that may not be wise, writes Elisa Martinuzzi of Bloomberg:
The deal looks like the option of last resort. Combining two of Europe’s most inefficient banks to create an even bigger supertanker would require tens of thousands of job cuts and a risky (read costly) integration to stand a chance of working.
Expect ambiguity in the jobs data
The Labor Department will release its monthly estimate of hiring and unemployment at 8:30 a.m. But there’s even more uncertainty than usual, writes the NYT’s Ben Casselman. Here’s what to look for:
Crucial time: The United States’ decade-long expansion could be nearing its end, and the partial government shutdown has added to those fears. Not all the effects will show up in the jobs data, but they will make the report unusually hard to interpret.
Potential impact: There is one place the shutdown will probably show up: the jobless rate. Unemployment could go up by one- or two-tenths of a percentage point.
Solid foundation: The job market is strong, however. Claims for unemployment insurance recently hit a nearly 50-year low, and paychecks are growing.
Earnings reports show looming challenges
Investors looked to earnings reports yesterday from two bellwethers of the U.S. economy: Amazon and General Electric. Both seem to be struggling with growing pains.
Stiff competition: The latest quarterly results suggested that Amazon’s retail business not only faced more competition, it was also maturing, as growth slowed from its usual breakneck pace. But the company compensated by expanding its highly profitable cloud and advertising businesses. Its revenue guidance fell short of expectations, sending shares down sharply in after-hours trading.
Seeking a turnaround: G.E.’s fourth-quarter results pointed to the depth of the company’s challenges, despite a strong performance by the company’s jet engine business. G.E. made no forecast for what its profit and revenue would look like this year, and its chief executive, Lawrence Culp, said that 2019 was “still very much a work in progress.” The company also said that it had reached a $1.5 billion settlement in an investigation of its role in the 2008 financial crisis, reassuring investors.
More earnings news: Nintendo shares dropped more than 9.3 percent after it cut its full-year target for sales of its Switch video game console.
Intel named its interim chief executive, Robert Swan, as its permanent leader, ending a seven-month search. (NYT)
Symantec said its chief financial officer, Nicholas Noviello, planned to step down in the coming months to pursue other opportunities. (FT)
John Brumby, a former Australian lawmaker, retired from the board of the Australian subsidiary of Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant. (FT)
• Blackstone and Apollo, two of the biggest private equity firms, recorded sharp declines in profit in the fourth quarter of 2018 after investments were hit by rocky markets. (FT)
• Seeking to narrow its focus to consumer appliances, Electrolux plans to spin off a unit that supplies restaurants and hotels with food, beverages and equipment. (FT)
• Blackstone said it would buy a controlling stake in Tallgrass Energy, a midstream energy company, for $3.3 billion. (Reuters)
• Jeff Bezos’s space venture, Blue Origin, reached a deal with Telesat of Canada to launch part of a satellite constellation intended to provide faster internet access. (Reuters)
• New e-commerce rules in India caused widespread disruption on Amazon’s website there. (Reuters)
• Elon Musk blamed layoffs at SpaceX on the company’s “two absolutely insane projects.” (CNBC)
• Mark Zuckerberg added $6.2 billion to his net worth after Facebook posted revenue that beat Wall Street estimates, sending its shares soaring. (Bloomberg)
Politics & Policy
• President Trump said in an exclusive interview with the NYT that he would proceed with a border wall regardless of the result of talks with lawmakers and dismissed any suggestions of wrongdoing in the investigations that have ensnared his associates. (NYT)
• The Republican-led Senate voted 68 to 23 to advance legislation that strongly opposes President Trump’s withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Syria and Afghanistan. (NYT)
• President Trump signed an executive order intended to funnel more federal funding into infrastructure projects that employ American workers. (NYT)
• Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the Senate majority leader, called Democratic legislation that aims to clear obstacles to voting and to make Election Day a federal holiday a “power grab.” (NYT)
• Mr. Trump is said to be considering Herman Cain, the former pizza company executive and Republican presidential candidate, for a seat on the Federal Reserve Board. (Bloomberg)
• Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, wants a 2 percent tax on household wealth exceeding $50 million, and a 3 percent tax for those with more than $1 billion. Here’s how the plan from the presidential hopeful would work. (Bloomberg)
• Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has his own plan to subject billionaires to a 77 percent estate tax. Here’s how much Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett would have to pay. (CNBC)
Best of the Rest
• Fears that supply chains will be severely disrupted in the event of a no-deal Brexit are leading to shortages of food and medicines in Britain. (Reuters)
• Nearly a third of British companies could move their operations abroad because of Brexit, according to a recent survey. (BBC)
• The timing of Italy’s recession could not be worse: Europe is at an economic standstill, raising anxieties that the world is on the verge of a significant slowdown. (NYT)
• The Venezuelan company Citgo Petroleum, one of the largest refiners in the U.S., is considering bankruptcy after the Trump administration placed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector. (WSJ)
• Chinese factories increasingly make goods for the country’s middle class, but when those consumers hold back, local workers can suffer. (NYT)
• Lime, a scooter start-up based in San Francisco, is raising $400 million in its latest funding round, which values the company at $2 billion. (WSJ)
• Palantir, a data-mining company, is handing out more bonuses and cheaper stock options after a succession of shareholder write-downs and political controversies tied to its co-founder, Peter Thiel. (Bloomberg)
• Shell Oil reached a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers union to increase pay by 11 percent over three years for 30,000 American workers. (Reuters)
• Banks and smaller companies helped lift the stock market, a sign that investors are favoring sectors tied to the U.S. economy as trade tensions cloud global growth. (WSJ)
• E.U. antitrust authorities have accused eight banks of colluding from 2007 to 2012 to manipulate the market for eurozone government bonds. (FT)
• The cosmetics company e.l.f. Beauty imported 156 shipments of false eyelash kits with material sourced from North Korea, violating sanctions. The company will pay a settlement of nearly $1 million to the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control. (CNBC)
• As China’s economy slows, gambling revenue in Macau fell 5 percent to $3.1 billion in January, the first fall since July 2016. (FT)
• The polar vortex may cost American retailers and restaurants nearly $1 billion. (FT)
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the country’s largest bank, may struggle if a powerful government inquiry intensifies regulatory pressure. (Reuters)
• The curious case of why shares of PG&E rose after the utility company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (WSJ)
Thanks for reading! We’ll see you on Monday.
We’d love your feedback. Please email thoughts and suggestions to email@example.com.


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Vigia AG is creating transparency and trust in the supply of the first legally sold cannabis in Switzerland.
Cannabis consumers have often been prevented from receiving heart transplants due to their use of the medicine.
The studies have been selected for presentation at the IACM Conference on Cannabinoids in Medicine, Basel 2022.
Sapphire Medical Clinics is launching a new app to improve access to care.
New research shows how CBD can be utilised as a bioplastic for medical implants and more.
The trial has been carried out by Radicle Science and Open Book Extracts.
A new study has demonstrated the efficacy of a cannabinoid receptor agonist for the treatment of amyopathic dermatomyositis.
The event will take place Friday 19 - 21 August.
Results from a study contribute to understanding how cannabis helps maintain central nervous system homeostasis in children with autism.
A study has shown the cannabinoid could be beneficial for safely managing pain


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Blizzard's StarCraft 2 is more evolution than revolution -- and we think that's a good thing
From Battle.net chat channels to master leagues, stalemate detection, and a new 'extreme' graphics option, the latest StarCraft II patch is here and it's a doozy.
According to a representative from Blizzard Entertainment, a bug in the authentication system, not a change in policy, is responsible for problems some gamers are experiencing with playing StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty offline.
The official StarCraft II Australian launch was in Brisbane, but last night many keen video game fans rocked up at EBGames' George St store in Sydney at midnight to pick up a copy of Blizzard Entertainment's latest flagship game StarCraft II.
Forcing anonymous gamers to de-cloak (well, sort of) Blizzard says it'll soon require them to use their real names when they log on to the company's official message boards.
Video game manufacturer Blizzard Entertainment is facing a wave of dissent from Australian gamers furious about the company's decision to lock Australians into only being able to play multiplayer games of its upcoming StarCraft II title against playe...
There's no doubt that StarCraft II's release has been breathlessly awaited; twelve years have passed since the original was released to much acclaim and fanfare and a lot has happened in that time. That's why we thought it would be interesting to tra...
Earlier this month, we were invited along to Blizzard's headquarters to have a crack at the single player campaign of StarCraft 2, and have a look at some new gameplay elements and inclusions. This is what we found...
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.


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LG ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF SOLAR SPECIFIC WEBSITE
Sydney, 20 February, 2013 - LG Electronics Australia (LG) today announced the official launch of its solar business website. Not only will the website carry a great deal of specific information about LG solar products, the LG believes the site will become one of the more comprehensive solar information sites used by Australian consumers and dealers alike.
Markus Lambert, National Sales Manager for Solar and Lighting at LG lauded the consumer-centric nature of the website. “LG is quickly becoming a key quality solar brand in the market and with the launch of the website LG will actively seek to support the industry and consumers in a crowded and sometimes confusing information stream about solar.“
“We endeavour to present straight solar facts and extensive product information to ensure that our customers have all they need to make an informed solar decision,” said Lambert.
“The exhaustive nature of the information we wanted to provide meant that this was not an overnight project, but rather a long term project specifically designed to gain appropriate industry feedback/research before we embarked on its implementation.” he added.
Among many of the features contained within the website is a list of sixty-odd dealers across Australia with their own mini websites and contact points embedded into the site. Early testing on the website has found that consumers are contacting the website featured solar dealers directly, and with averageviews per dealer in the 1st week exceeding 40 customers for most dealers, the website is already providing a boon to the industry by generating sales leads.
Mark Kibby, a leading industry professional at AEG Power Solutions, talked enthusiastically about the website.
“The many topics and more than 200 solar Q&A provided on the website offer a very comprehensive overview about all relevant solar topics such as how to consider the return on investment or what makes a quality solar system. This solar encyclopedia can give potential solar system buyers hours of meaningful research material to assist their buying decision. It sets a benchmark for our industry.” said Kibby.
Speaking about the website, Markus Lambert said he was most proud of the solar calculators that were designed especially for the site.
“My favorite solar calculator allows consumers to actually draw their (LG) panels onto their own roof via Google so they can really quickly see how many panels will fit, and what they can expect to generate. It is a really neat little tool,” said Lambert.
“Other calculators predict your future electricity bills, or estimate how much electricity different size solar systems can generate in different parts of Australia. It’s an innovative way to bring consumers closer to solar by simply giving them the opportunity to learn, understand and quickly assess their own potential,” added Lambert.
Commenting on the website, Nigel Morris, Director at Solar Business Services sees the site as a valuable tool for consumers.
“LG’s new web site provides a vast array of educational information for solar consumers and their solar roof calculator is a real time saver.” said Morris.
LG Electronics Australia
LG Electronics Australia is based in Sydney and is a subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc, a global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In Australia, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” mantra.
For more information, please visit LG.com.au or connect with us on Facebook.com/LGAustralia


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China has the world’s second largest horse population, and now equestrian sport in the country is aiming for big things following a new partnership led by the FEI.
Horse sport’s world governing body has entered into a five-year deal with China National Sports International (CNSI), a sports and entertainment company that specialises in equestrian sports in China.
CNSI will now be the FEI’s Official Business Partner in China, with the two entities developing a large-scale e-sport, e-commerce and social media presence for equestrian sport to launch in 2018.
The FEI’s decision to focus efforts in China comes on the back of rapidly growing enthusiasm for equestrian sport in the world’s second largest economy, which also boasts the world’s second biggest horse population.
Against a national strategy spearheaded by China’s General Administration of Sport to increase sport participation, experts are now predicting that the horse sport industry – which already has an economic impact of over 1.5 billion USD in China – is set for huge growth.
Currently, there are 400,000 active equestrians in China with one in 1000 fans riding regularly, and 300,000 people directly employed in horse sport.
The burgeoning sports industry in China, according to a report from Bank of China International earlier this year, was worth 1.5 trillion yuan ($US222 billion) in 2016, is on track to double by 2020 and could reach 5 trillion yuan by 2025.
“Equestrian sport interest is growing rapidly in China,” said FEI President Ingmar De Vos.
“The sky really is the limit, and by working with China National Sports International we will be tapping into the vast Chinese sports fan base with directly relevant content on key platforms and via popular mobile, gaming and social media services used by sports fans in China.”
China National Sports International board chairman Zhang Baosheng said the size of the sports landscape in China represents a huge opportunity for growth for the FEI and for sponsors of equestrian sport.
“The key to the success of our alliance with the FEI will be our content offering to Chinese sports fans, and by working with the world governing body for equestrian sport we will be able to offer sports fans exciting and sophisticated equestrian content – this will drive even deeper interest in equestrian sport,” Zhang Baosheng said.


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Virdia raises $20M, unveils big plans for Mississippi plant
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The company's new funding comes from existing investors: Menlo Park-based cleantech venture capital firm Khosla Ventures, San Francisco-based Burrill & Co., a financial services firm focused on the life sciences, and Tamar Ventures, based in Herzliya Pituach, Israel. It plans to use the capital to fund its pilot projects.
Tamar Ventures is a boutique-style venture capital partnership that invests in Israeli-based technology companies. Virdia is headquartered in Redwood City, but has a technology center in Danville, Virginia, and a research center in Tel Aviv, Israel.
In addition to the $20 million, Virdia closed $10 million in a venture debt deal with Menlo Park-based global financing provider TriplePoint Capital.
Virdia has raised a total of $70 million in public funding to date, Lavielle said.
Mississippi's cleantech hub
Virdia has used some of that funding to purchase $10 million in equipment for its demonstration facility in Virginia to prove it can reach technical targets in an economic and environmentally stable way, Lavielle said. Once it has demonstrated its process at pilot scale, the company’s focus will be on building its first commercial plant in Mississippi.
CH2M HILL Inc., which has an office in San Jose, has been selected as the engineering partner for the plant.
Virdia said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Development Authority to build its manufacturing facility within the state — known for being rich in biomass. Virdia was offered an incentive package including $75 million in low-interest loans as well as up to $155 million in various tax incentives over a 10-year period.
Lisa Sibley is the Social Media & Engagement Manager at the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Her phone number is 408.299.1830.
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Soul trader: Spotify goes public
~ sole trader 个体户
~ soul, music is the food of soul
Shares in the Swedish music-streaming service will begin public trading this morning in a highly unusual direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Spotify opted against a conventional initial public offering.
- opt against 反对
- initial public offering, IPO
Instead existing shareholders will unload some of their own equity onto the open market, giving insiders an opportunity to cash out while also setting a market value for the company (possibly $20bn).
- equity （公司的）股本
All this means it is unclear how many shares will even change hands.
- change hands 转手
This is a rare chance for Wall Street to engage with a music-streaming service, and there is no doubt that sellers will find eager buyers.
Spotify has changed the way people listen to music.
It has 71m paying customers around the world, about twice as many as its nearest competitor, Apple Music.
It is risky—the firm loses hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and has well-funded competition in Apple and Amazon—but many investors will chance it.
- chance 冒风险


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Manitowoc Cranes is celebrating a successful showing at the sixth edition of the Italian Cranes and Access and Heavy Transport Show (GIS) 2017 in Piacenza, Italy. During the three-day show, the company displayed a few of its industry-leading all-terrain cranes, the Grove GMK4100L-1 and GMK5150, which feature new taxi configurations for more efficient road travel.
Visitors to Manitowoc’s booth also had the chance to learn more about the company’s new MAXbase outrigger technology, which enables cranes to be set up on various types of outrigger bases, providing the cranes with more flexibility during erection and increased capacities during operations.
- Manitowoc enjoyed a successful show at this year’s GIS, in Italy, where the company displayed two of its innovative all-terrain taxi cranes.
- The company also displayed its new MAXbase outrigger technology, which provides the cranes with more flexibility during erection and increased capacities during operations.
GIS 2017 ran from October 5 – 7, and was attended by more than 9,000 visitors. The event covered three hectares of exhibition space and showcased cutting-edge machines and technology from over 300 companies. GIS is regarded as one the most important European trade shows for the construction industry.
Davide Camperi, sales manager for Manitowoc mobile cranes in Italy, said that the event was a great opportunity for Manitowoc to not only showcase its cranes, but also for the company to connect with its customers, learn about their needs and help them earn a higher return on investment.
“Our goal is to increase Manitowoc’s participation in the Italian mobile cranes market by offering our industry-leading products and services that will help our customers increase their efficiency and profitability,” Camperi said. “This is the Manitowoc Way at work, which means putting our dealers and clients at the center of our business.”
Grove’s Italian partners received awards during the trade show for “Best Rental Companies” in Italy. The winners of the Italian Lifting and Transportation Awards 2017 were revealed during a gala dinner. Several well-known companies were recognized for their professionalism, development and strategic role in the Italian economy.
VOITH, another of Grove’s partners in the region, was also part of the exhibition. A representative from the company spent all three days with Grove customers, explaining the features of the VIAB Turbo Retarder found on the all-terrain models, as well as the new Secondary Water Retarder, which uses liquid from the crane’s cooling system and shares braking force along the entire drive line.
The 100 t capacity, four-axle taxi Grove GMK4100L-1 all-terrain crane features a 60 m boom, the best load charts in its class and a narrow, 2.55 m-minimum width. Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver on the narrowest of job sites. The new single-engine concept on the GMK4100L-1, with the latest EUROMOT 4/Tier 4 Final engine, reduces fuel consumption to a minimum. Using ECO mode, the GMK4100L-1 is the most fuel efficient crane in its class.
The five-axle GMK5150 has a 150 t capacity, making it the leader in its class. It features a 51 m boom with a maximum counterweight of 45 t. The crane is also powered by a single engine, reducing the overall weight and allowing it to carry more counterweight. In addition, the crane benefits from the laser-hybrid welding technology in place at the Wilhelmshaven, Germany plant, which increases welding precision and creates booms that both weigh less and perform better. (A version of the crane with a 60 m boom, the GMK5150L, is also available and already becoming a best seller in the market.)
“The whole Grove team appreciates all efforts made for GIS 2017 to be an enormous success. We are confident that the show will lead to great deals in the near future,” Camperi said.


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(Desloge) A new national survey that’s been released says nearly 80 percent of the people responding have a new appreciation for small businesses because of COVID-19. Of the two thousand Americans surveyed, 79 percent say they pandemic makes them realize just how important local businesses are to their community. Cheri Henderson is the director of the Desloge Chamber of Commerce.
The poll was commissioned by the graphic design company Canva. It also showed that 71 percent of those responding are actively supporting small businesses over big corporations.


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NEW DELHI: HMD
Global, the Finnish maker of Nokia-branded feature and smartphones, is doubling down on key markets including India to aggressively expand its market share by investing heavily in retail expansion, marketing and new devices
India is already among the company’s top three markets by revenue, if not the No. 1, and the immediate goal is to be among the top five handset players in the country by the end of this year, CEO Florian Seiche told ET.
“This year, we have a quite ambitious business objective to make an impact in terms of market share in some of the key markets including India… It is also our obligation now to invest more in retail presence, consumer engagement and marketing activities (in India),” Seiche said, without disclosing any numbers.
A key to market share growth will be the launch of the company’s 4G feature phone
, Nokia 8110
, in May, in partnership with an operator.
“With 4G feature phone, it is giving those people who prefer the more traditional phone experience an ability to step into a data world. We believe that the opportunity is even bigger from the volume perspective in the feature phone segment,” Seiche said.
HMD Global plans to launch the 4G feature phone in collaboration with a telecom operator in May in India, which will pit it directly against Reliance Industries’ JioPhone. Both companies are targeting a bulk of the roughly 500 million basic phone users who have not upgraded to smartphones for reasons of affordability and use cases.
In addition, beginning next month, the company plans to launch Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus, new Nokia 6 and Nokia 1 handsets in India.
The company has already started discussions with manufacturing partner Foxconn to ramp up its manufacturing in the country for existing as well as new smartphone and feature phones, said Ajey Mehta, country head (India) at HMD Global.
Besides, the company is making efforts to increase its retail presence by around 10%, from 110,000 stores through 510 distributors currently. “For us, the offline channel is a core strength, and it will continue to drive our business. One of the focus areas this year is to increase the visibility at the point of sale,” Mehta said.
In addition to offline expansion, the company is talking to its online partners to improve its presence significantly.
“Online is about 30% of the market, but it is an important part. It plays a very important role. If you want to be among top players in India, you have to have a good play in e-commerce and online,” Mehta said.
Seiche said that the company is expanding its portfolio to address key price points such as sub-$100 (about Rs 6,500) segment. “We feel there is a great opportunity for us. And, then the upper mid-range or premium segment is another key opportunity we see,” he said.


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By Dima Kats, CEO, Clear Junction
Despite the disruption of the financial industry due to the pandemic, Brexit, changing regulations and more, UK fintechs have managed to secure $4.1 billion in funding in 2020 and are a key growth driver in the UK finance sector. In response to this rapidly shifting environment, incumbent financial institutions have approached experts from smaller fintech firms with niche expertise that can provide their customers with bespoke and streamlined digital solutions, whatever the business strategy.
McKinsey’s research shows that the share of fintechs with B2B services increased almost 16% from 2011 to 2016, highlighting a significant shift in start-ups away from pure B2C offerings towards partnerships with financial institutions. Partnering with fintech experts helps financial institutions navigate a multitude of challenges including compliance, digital offerings and expanding into new markets.
The challenge facing financial institutions
The Covid-19 crisis and Brexit have both come on top of the pre-crisis challenges to traditional financial business models. Before the pandemic, financial institutions were already tackling numerous problems, such as changing customer expectations, higher operating costs, and innovative technology, all within an evolving regulatory landscape. As economic shocks to people and businesses continue, so too do the risks of banks’ lending increased amounts of money. If these institutions want to prosper in a post-Covid world, they need to modernise legacy banking platforms, which can be a risky process.
Since 2008, the volume of regulations globally has increased at a rapid pace and led to a crisis of non-compliance surrounding payments across challenging borders. Brexit has led to uncertainty among some European banks concerning British origin transfers. As the UK is still a member of SEPA, payments should be accepted in the same way as they were before Brexit, but the fact that some aren’t shows the confusion that exists. Additionally, the US is increasing its sanctions on Russia, and Germany looks likely to change governing party for the first time in 16 years. These new political forces in Europe and America are likely to create added uncertainty in an already complex compliance environment.
The challenges facing financial institutions are numerous and complicated. The rise in non-compliance signals the challenge some of these players are facing. Meanwhile, small fintech start-ups are disrupting the finance sector and generating vast amounts of money. It is no wonder many of these groups are seeing each other as potential partners rather than competitors.
Partnerships are positive
The benefits of partnering with a fintech go beyond increasing revenue. From challenger banks such as Revolut and, credit innovators like Klarna, fintech firms have quickly become serious players on the global finance stage. One of the reasons for this market growth is the innovation in software and technology that fintechs provide. Digital native fintechs can often supply a more tailored and streamlined digital customer experience than legacy institutions. This allows larger organisations to accelerate their growth strategy by outsourcing trivial aspects of their business, which allows them to focus on the bigger and arguably more fundamental areas.
A partnership between a fintech and financial services company also allows financial institutions to offer customers useful features and functions previously unavailable, such as money management tools or mobile check deposits. Partnerships with large institutions can also give smaller and newer fintechs access to a larger market and business network. The legacy institutions gain the ability to relinquish control of some of the more costly and time-consuming functions to smaller partners who focus on these areas, with the possibility of white- labelling the solution. Outsourcing a function such as payments means that compliance and data security become solely the remit of the payment‘s expert rather than the partner.
The partnership between fintechs and financial institutions can be quickly scaled up or down, depending on consumer response and overall needs. If the initial partnership is a success, the two (or more) companies can brainstorm ways to deepen the relationship or add more services and features. This agility, innovation, and customer experience upgrade provided by fintechs enables mature financial institutions to explore new customer segments and engage new markets with an up-to-date, digitally prepared set of services.
Facing the future
The multiple challenges the finance industry has faced over the last year has highlighted the need for fresh thinking to face the future with strength and confidence. Fintech partnerships can create a significant opportunity for streamlining internal processes, adding technological capabilities, and improving the end customer experience. Companies like Clear Junction offer businesses a combination of these benefits and opportunities at one time. Continued collaboration and partnerships between fintech companies and banks are essential for the future of the financial services industry, the finance sector, and meeting the changing expectations and needs of customers, who are prioritising speed, service, and digital access.
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The Nashik Power Expo 2016, to be held between May 27 to 30, will focus on promoting manufacturing of electronics in the country. This is the second edition of the expo and it is organised by Nashik Industries & Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA).
Companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Crompton Greaves Ltd, ABB Ltd, Siemens Ltd etc will be present in the expo and the organisers feel that there will be around 150 exhibitors at the expo. The theme of the expo will to be highlight local manufcaturing of electronic products because India has been lagging behind in it and still 65 per cent of electronics is imported in the country.
Many state governments are setting up new electronic policy guidelines to attract investments in the country and the state of Maharashtra is also doing a lot to encourage electronics manufacturing. The state is also promoting local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in manufacturing electronic goods.
Recently the chief minister of Maharashtra highlighted how his state is trying to woo investments in the electronics sector and they are getting positive response from many corners. EMS giant Foxconn has recently announced their plan to setup a $10 billion manufacturing unit in the state to make Apple iPhones.
By Atanu Kumar Das


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© 2020 All rights reserved to Maaal Newspaper
Publisher: Maaal International Media Company
Informed sources revealed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is in talks with the American electric car manufacturer Tesla about establishing an automobile factory in the Kingdom, as part of an ambitious campaign by Saudi Arabia to secure the minerals necessary for electric cars and help diversify its economy away from oil.
Saudi officials said, according to the Wall Street Journal, that the talks with Tesla, conducted by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, began this summer, and are at a very early stage. Saudi officials noted that the American electric car maker has expressed interest in talks, but the company can still reject the proposal.
For its part, the Wall Street Journal considered that the success of the deal with the Saudis could help Tesla achieve its aspirations to sell 20 million cars annually by 2030, up from about 1.3 million in 2022.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the electric car maker needs approximately ten factories to achieve its own goal, and could announce the establishment of another factory by the end of the year. The company currently manufactures electric cars in the United States, China and Germany, and plans to do so in Mexico.


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Tags » Digital Signage
These days, a positive, rising business is influenced by on many more issues than in the past. It’s not astonishing that in such a modest environment, business owners or managers are obligatory to put additional pains in their marketing plans just to stand out. 439 more words
Step back in time with Louis Vuitton’s innovative Time Capsule exhibition at ION Orchard, Singapore.
After Hong Kong, Berlin and Bangkok, French luxury brand Louis Vuitton is bringing its Time Capsule exhibition to Singapore. 253 more words
By Corey Moss
A discussion took place on ‘The AV Life’ Episode 53 – a podcast show devoted to digital signage and NYDSW (New York Digital Signage week) – about data analytics and content management, which led to this discussion that also included facial detection. 173 more words


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Continental market gets thumbs down from council
TRADERS in Weston town centre have suffered a big loss after North Somerset Council refused permission for a Continental market on the Italian Gardens.
TRADERS in Weston town centre have suffered 'a big loss' after North Somerset Council refused permission for a Continental market on the Italian Gardens.
Town Centre manager, Steve Townsend, says businesses will not benefit from the increased number of shoppers the market brings.
He said: "We have Had Continental markets on the town square but stall-holders do not make enough money. The one held on the Italian Gardens last year was a success.
"And we know from the police that antisocial behaviour goes down dramatically when we hold these types of events.
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"I think it is a big loss because the market would have given people a reason to come in to the town centre. We know that it increases footfall.
"It makes money and it is a nice thing to have in the town."
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The unitary authority's licensing committee rejected plans for the sale of olives, breads and cheeses on the site after it received an objection from a High Street trader.
The market, which would run for four days at a time, was due to take place from March 27-30.


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Boston, February 15, 2017 – U.S. consumers pay approximately 14.7 billion bills annually, shelling out roughly US$3.9 trillion. Of those, 2.2 billion are paid online via a financial institution’s website or mobile app. But bank bill pay only represents 27% of all online consumer bill payments—consumers pay almost all the rest at each individual biller’s website. So how can financial institutions make bank bill pay more convenient to consumers than the biller-direct model?
This report sizes bank bill pay volume, highlights leading vendors, breaks down the bill payment activity by channel and by institution type, and uncovers insights into how all generations conduct bank bill pay activities. Based on a Q3 2016 Aite Group survey of 2,429 U.S. consumers, the report also analyzes bank bill pay volume and gross dollar value across the top six most popular categories of bills.
This 23-page Impact Report contains 14 figures and nine tables. Clients of Aite Group’s Retail Banking & Payments service can download this report, the corresponding charts, and the Executive Impact Deck.
This report mentions ACI Worldwide, FIS, Fiserv, Jack Henry & Associates, and Payveris.


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Tyson Foods is recalling about 52,000 pounds of chicken wings that may be adulterated due to an "off odor" scent, the USDA said in a release Tuesday.
The recall involves 28-oz. retail bags containing Tyson Any'tizers fully cooked hot wings chicken wing sections coated with a hot, tangy sauce with certain use by/sell by dates and packaging dates. The wings were produced on two days last month and shipped to retail locations throughout the country.
People who bought the item should not consume it and instead should return it to the place of purchase or throw it away, according to the release.
Tyson first discovered the problem with it received complaints about "off-odor" wings in addition to reports of consumers developing mild illness.
There have not been any confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to eating the product.
Customers with more questions can contact Tyson Foods at 866-328-3156.
To learn more about the recall, click here.