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Since the world’s recent top runner in the Crypto Currency industry, Bitcoin have already been creating some serious headlines, and some critical changes in the last 6 months. Everyone has seen of these, and just about everyone posseses an opinion. Some can’t fathom the indisputable fact that a currency with any price could be created from nothing, though some love the idea that something without Government get a handle on could be exchanged as an invaluable entity in its own right.
Where you take a seat on the “Must I Buy Bitcoin?” wall possibly fundamentally comes down to 1 question: May I Make Money from link ?
Can You Make Money from Bitcoin?
In just the last 6 months, we have observed the price go from $20 a coin in March, around $260 a coin in April, back to $60 in March, and straight back as much as $130 in May. The cost has settled to about $100 a Bitcoin, but what are the results next is anyone’s guess.
Bitcoin’s potential eventually rests on two important parameters: their adoption as a currency by a large audience, and the lack of prohibitive Government intervention.
The Bitcoin community is growing fast, curiosity about the Crypto currency has distribute substantially online, and new solutions are accepting Bitcoin payments increasingly. Blogging huge, WordPress, allows Bitcoin obligations, and African-american based mobile request provider, Kipochi, are suffering from a Bitcoin budget that’ll let Bitcoin payments on cellphones in creating nations.
We’ve previously seen people produce millions on the currency. We are seeing raising amounts of people trying out residing just on Bitcoin for months on conclusion, while documenting the ability for documentary viewing.
You can get a takeaway in Boston, coffee in London, and even several vehicles on Craigslist applying Bitcoin. Pursuit of Bitcoin have rocketed in 2013, with April’s hike and subsequent fall in the Bitcoin price. The other day the very first large purchase of a Bitcoin business was made for SatoshiDice, an on the web gaming site, for 126,315 BTC (about $11.47 million), by an undisclosed buyer.
This quick growth in recognition and uptake seems collection to continue, if rely upon the currency remains strong. That leads to the next dependency. Government regulation.
Even though created specifically to work independently from Government get a grip on, Bitcoin can inevitably be afflicted with Governments in a few way. That ought to be the event for just two reasons.
Firstly, to achieve high levels of ownership, Bitcoin must be accessible to large numbers of persons, and which means scattering beyond the realms of hidden transactions on track daily transactions for people and businesses. Secondly, these Bitcoin transactions could turn into a trackable section of people’s taxable wealth, to be stated and governed alongside any kind of wealth.
The Western Union has declared that Bitcoin isn’t classed as a Fiat currency, or as money, and as a result, will not be governed in a unique right. In the US, the 50 state program and number of bureaucratic figures involved has inevitably created decisions more difficult, without consensus reached ergo far. Bitcoin isn’t considered to be money therefore, but it is known as to do something like money.
A successful Bitcoin industry in the US includes a more uncertain future for now, and any conclusive legislation in the US could either employ a positive, or perhaps a very bad influence on the ongoing future of Bitcoin.


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As Washington Investigates Huawei, is it Time for US Tech CEOs to Get Nervous?Posted: June 1, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: china, huawei, made in china, silicon valley, tech trade war, trade war, trump, US china relations, zte Leave a comment
Here’s a version of a piece I wrote for IDG Connect recently about the escalating tech trade war between the US and China. While Trump is blowing hot and cold on what to do with ZTE, an even bigger potential problem is looming.
A full-on trade war between the United States and China just got another step closer after Washington opened an investigation into whether Huawei broke US sanctions on Iran. The Department of Justice (DoJ) has already slapped tariffs on $60bn worth of Chinese steel and aluminium, but this turn of events could have arguably more serious repercussions.
On the one hand it could cause panic in US tech boardrooms if China ends up banning sales of electronics components made in the Middle Kingdom. But in the longer term, this could accelerate China’s push towards self-sufficiency, locking out US firms like Qualcomm for good.
A seven-year ban?
The Justice Department investigation is said to have stemmed from a similar probe into whether Shenzhen rival ZTE broke US sanctions by exporting kit with American components in it to Iran. It was found guilty not only of breaking the sanctions, which resulted in an $892m fine, but of breaking the deal’s terms by failing to punish those involved. The resulting seven-year ban on US firms selling to ZTE will severely hamper its growth efforts, especially as it relies on chips and other components from the likes of Qualcomm and Micron Technology.
The probe of Huawei, which is said to have been ongoing since early 2017, could result in a similar punishment if the firm is found guilty of breaking sanctions. Washington has belatedly realised that the US is being supplanted by China as the world’s pre-eminent tech superpower and that has meant increasing roadblocks put in the way of the number one telecoms equipment maker and third-largest smartphone maker in the world. National security concerns have been used to keep Huawei down, first in 2012 when it and ZTE were de facto banned from the US telecoms infrastructure market after a damning congressional report, and more recently when AT&T and Verizon were lent on to drop plans to sell the latest Huawei smartphones, and Best Buy stopped selling its devices.
Like ZTE, Huawei could be severely restricted if it is hit with a US components ban. But is Washington shooting itself in the foot with this heavy-handed approach?
A global problem
First, China and its new leader-for-life Xi Jinping is more than ready and willing to fight back against what it sees as unfair trade practices by the Trump administration. It has already fired back with retaliatory tariffs on US food imports and will do so again if a mooted additional $100bn in tariffs from the US goes through. By the same rationale, could China respond to orders banning sales of US components, by banning the sale of China-made components to US tech firms?
Potentially, believes China-watcher Bill Bishop.
“The US-China technology war may run much hotter than the overall conflict over trade. Xi continues to make clear that China can no longer rely on foreign technology and must go all out to end its reliance on it,” he wrote in his popular Sinocism newsletter. “Technology CEOs the world over with supply chain dependencies in China — so probably all of them — should be increasingly nervous and focused on their firms’ efforts to have viable contingency plans for a US-China technology cold war.”
Beijing-based Forrester principal analyst, Charlie Dai, told me the potential for disruption to US supply chains could be “significant”.
“It’s hard to find effective contingency plans and the only way is to have everyone, especially the US government, to realise the importance of collaboration,” he added.
“In a world where the global supply chain and value ecosystem have already become critical drivers for the business growth of large countries like US and China, any further action like ZTE’s case will hurt the economic relationship between the US and China, which is the last thing that companies and customers want to see.”
In the longer term, this could be the reminder Beijing needs that it must become self-reliant in technology to achieve its “rightful” place at the global number one superpower. This has been a goal of Xi’s for years. In fact, that’s what the controversial Made in China 2025 initiative is all about – reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
“Heavy dependence on imported core technology is like building our house on top of someone else’s walls: no matter how big and how beautiful it is, it won’t remain standing during a storm,” Xi said as far back as 2016. The Chinese government has already set up a fund which aims to raise up to 200 billion yuan ($31.7bn) to back a range of domestic firms including processor designers and equipment makers. But although chips are the number one target, China’s efforts to become self-sufficient in tech expand to other spheres. It has long been trying to nurture a home-grown rival to Windows, although efforts so far have not been hugely successful.
It’s not just Chinese firms the US must be wary of, according to James Lewis, SVP at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“The seven-year ban on US components will only encourage foreign suppliers to rush into the space vacated by US companies,” he said of the ZTE case. “It will reinforce the Chinese government’s desire to replace US suppliers with Chinese companies. And it will lead others to begin to make things they did not make before, causing permanent harm to the market share of US companies.”
One final word of warning to US tech CEOs: if China is looking to close the gap on technology capabilities, be prepared for a new deluge of cyber-espionage attempts focused on stealing IP. Innovation may be the first of Xi’s “five major concepts of development”, but that hasn’t stopped the nation pilfering in epic quantities in the past to gain parity with the West.
“It’s impossible for most countries, if not all, to be self-sufficient in all tech components,” claimed Forrester’s Dai. “One chip relates to many different hardware and software components. It requires continuous investments which are hard to realise in the short-term.”
That may be so, but bet against China at your peril. If any country has the resources and now the determination to do it, it’s the Middle Kingdom.

domain: news


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Concept Art House Announces Funding to Boost Unrivaled NFT Platform
SAN FRANCISCO, May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Concept Art House, a creative studio who has provided art for some of the most successful game companies globally, today announced that Animoca, Gala Games, Hard Yaka, Forte/Rally founder Kevin Chou, and Kabam co-founder Holly Liu have participated in a recent funding round as the firm scales up its NFT business through newly launched division Crypto Art House. Terms of the raise are not being disclosed.
The respective investments from these leading players across blockchain, gaming and venture capital signifies the opportunity to combine forces to grow alongside the burgeoning NFT marketplace and its next iteration as it continues to evolve.
Crypto Art House sits at the intersection of gaming, art and IP so is considered to be at the fulcrum of the NFT ecosystem and recently announced a partnership with Gala Games to establish an end-to-end capability to support artists, creators and IP holders, as they bring their digitized art works to the NFT stage.
"We have in essence been creating various forms of digital media for decades so before NFT's were called NFTs," said Concept Art House/Crypto Art House CEO James Zhang. "Our recent Frank Miller offering is just the tip of the iceberg and signifies the rich and diverse opportunities we can create in conjunction with our artists and ecosystem partners."
"As a veteran investor across the blockchain realm and with intimate knowledge of gaming, I believe that NFTs represent a massive commercial opportunity while concurrently decentralizing and democratizing how digital art is bought and sold," said Matthew Le Merle, Chairman of Concept Art House and Partner at Blockchain Coinvestors.
If you are an artist or creator with an established IP and fan base, contact us to hear how we can offer you an end- to- end NFT solution.
About Crypto Art House
A division of Concept Art House, which since its founding in 2007 has created art for such notable gaming franchises as Call of Duty Mobile, Fortnite, Game of Thrones,, NBA 2K series, ROBLOX, and many more, Crypto Art House has been established to bring digital art collectibles in the form of NFTs to the marketplace -- tapping its rich IP, artist talent and partners in the space. The first such collectible launched was legendary artist Frank Miller'sSin City30th Anniversary NFT offering in collaboration with Gala Games.
Armel Leslie, firstname.lastname@example.org
Matt Yemma, email@example.com
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/concept-art-house-announces-funding-to-boost-unrivaled-nft-platform-301288973.html
SOURCE Concept Art House


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The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) and a Chinese company, Cheezmall Private Limited joined hands on Saturday, in a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Cheezmall, basically Shanghai-based, is an online shopping website. Its office is established in Islamabad, Pakistan. The company wants to expand its e-commerce business in Pakistan by working in collaboration with PBIT.
PBIT CEO Ms. Amena Cheema and the Cheezmall CEO Aurangzeb Khan signed the MOU. Other company members of the Cheezmall were also a part of the delegation. Ms. Amena Cheema highlighted the increasing trend of e-commerce in Pakistan and the different opportunities present in this field. She further emphasized that nowadays, almost every Pakistani has easy access to the internet, and this is a golden chance for the foreign companies to invest in Pakistan’s e-commerce sector.
Mr. Aurangzeb also addressed the ceremony and emphasized the Government of Punjab and PBIT to create a business friendly environment in Pakistan. He also praised the government for their improved governance and security measurements, due to which Pakistan can attract foreign investors, especially China.


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By Brian Albright, Field Technologies magazine
UPS has mastered field mobility and recently added route optimization software that will save millions in fuel costs.
UPS is a pioneer in mobile computing and delivery automation, having debuted its first DIAD (Delivery Information Acquisition Device) mobile computer in 1991. The company has continued to break new ground in mobile technology and real-time supply chain tracking in the ensuing decades. There are now some 108,899 DIADs in use around the world, which help provide the data to manage the 47.5 million tracking requests the company receives each business day.
So when a company like UPS — which has been doing so much with mobility for so long, so well, and on such a large scale — finds a way to further improve the flow of packages through its network, this effort is worth a closer examination. In this case, UPS spent more than five years developing a new platform to use the data it collects (in this case, very, very Big Data) in a new route optimization solution. While it was at it, it also upgraded its venerable DIAD devices to a smaller, lighter platform — for the first time, using commercial off-the-shelf technology.
In 2013, UPS announced that it had launched its On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation (ORION) solution, new route optimization software that has saved the company in excess of 1.5 million gallons of fuel in its first year. While the system was deployed on 10,000 routes last year, its development was a decade in the making.
Shaving Miles Off Routes
More than 10 years ago, UPS launched what it calls its Package Flow Technology (PFT) solution, which moved the company from manual driver dispatching to an electronic dispatch system. “Customer data flowed into the package operation centers, we married that data with a dispatch plan, and produced a manifest that is downloaded each day to the drivers’ DIAD devices,” says Jackie Woods, director of IT at UPS. “It worked very well. The drivers understood exactly what packages they had to deliver. Prior to that, they were working from hand-written sheets with address ranges and shelf positions.”
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How McDonald's Turned Around Its Slumping Sales When Steve Easterbrook took over as CEO in 2015, he needed to figure out how to get McDonald's back on track.
Chipotle Mexican Grill and its fast-casual brethren were being hailed as the cooler, healthier dining option, with hormone-free meals and stores that resembled lounges and cafés more than utilitarian pit stops. In Asia, it faced a food-safety crisis after OSI, a supplier that had worked with McDonald's since the days of founder Ray Kroc, was found to have repackaged old meat for sale. And months before Easterbrook's first day on the job, McDonald's posted its first annual drop in same-store sales in 12 years. According to Euromonitor, the chain's market share of the U.S. fast-food market slid from 17.4 percent in 2012 to 15.4 percent in 2016.
"The pace of change outside McDonald's had been quicker than the pace of change within," says Easterbrook, a decades-long McDonald's veteran, who, before taking over, had been credited with revitalizing the company's U.K. business.
He quickly set the course for a rigorous turnaround in global operations that refocused the company's vision -- and the results have pushed the Golden Arches to the top of this year's Franchise 500 list. The company has been on a hot streak, giving consumers their much-requested all-day breakfast, as well as value items it once took away. Having hit upon a sweet spot between value and quality within its menu, store sales at McDonald's 37,000 global restaurants are now up 6 percent, according to its third-quarter 2017 results.
And thanks to hitting its target of selling off more than 4,000 company-owned stores to franchisees, earnings per share soared more than 50 percent from the previous quarter. Easterbrook has also been plowing more than $1 billion into McDonald's stores to reimagine them as "experiences of the future," complete with touch-screen ordering kiosks and meal delivery.
Meanwhile, Chipotle, dogged by a string of E. coli and norovirus outbreaks, was recently blamed for the "near-death experience" of an actor on The CW's Supergirl. Its stock price tumbled for almost eight consecutive quarters before bottoming out last November. The tables, it seems, have turned.
Easterbrook's first order of business was to restructure. McDonald's needed to move faster -- no small feat for one of the world's largest private employers. "Part of my mindset early on was, how can we organize ourselves, as a large, somewhat complex business, so we can adapt and be more nimble?" he says. "Instead of using our size as an excuse, [how can we] amplify our size as an advantage and respond to customers?"
Within three months, Easterbrook began stripping away layers of bureaucracy from McDonald's global operations. He regrouped and consolidated each market segment by need, instead of by geographic region, which had become inefficient over time. As a result of the move, for example, McDonald's split China and South Korea out of its former Asia/Pacific/Middle East/Africa (APMEA) region and moved them into its "high-growth" category, along with other markets with franchising potential, including Italy and Spain, and the president of the APMEA region became lead for the high-growth group.
Easterbrook then made delivery a global goal, creating a cross-functional "fast action" team of executives whose specific regional experience could now be tapped and extrapolated globally across the organization. "It's incredibly energizing," Easterbrook says.
The CEO also supercharged McDonald's plans for selling its company-owned stores to franchisees. When he took over, the goal was to sell 1,500 restaurants this way annually. Easterbrook shifted that to 4,000 and gave the company until 2019 to do it. His plan, as it turned out, was insufficiently ambitious. McDonald's crossed the threshold nearly a year ahead of schedule. This was realized, in part, thanks to a blockbuster deal struck in August to sell roughly 2,740 restaurants in Hong Kong and mainland China to the state-owned Citic and privately owned Carlyle Group, creating the company's largest franchisee outside the U.S. Working through this deal, McDonald's hopes to open 2,000 more restaurants in China over the next five years to take a huge bite out of the country's $125 billion fast-food market.
The result of these sales: In just less than three years, McDonald's increased the percentage of its franchised stores from 81 percent to 91 percent, with the goal of being 95 percent franchisee-owned -- bringing it closer to competitors such as RBI (Burger King, Popeyes) and Yum! Brands (Taco Bell, KFC), which are working toward being, respectively, 100 percent and 98 percent franchisee-owned.
Why is this important? For one, it's more efficient to let franchisees run stores, freeing up operating income and insulating the company, at least somewhat, from risk. According to Sara Senatore, a senior analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, the New York-based investment management firm, this shift "typically has positive implications for the company's financials over time. It generates higher returns on capital, and it tends to lower the volatility around their revenues." And indeed, McDonald's expects the new strategy to help save $500 million by the end of 2018 and make good on the $22 billion to $24 billion cash return it promised to shareholders by 2019.
But it's also key to Easterbrook's vision of McDonald's becoming faster and more adaptable -- to not only implement new changes but also make sure they're implemented effectively. Local operators, after all, are the best judges of when and how to introduce new products and protocols to their local communities. "By tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit of our [franchisees], they are going to help us go at a much faster pace than we would be able to do on our own," says Chris Kempczinski, president of McDonald's U.S. business.
Easterbrook often talks about his "modern progressive burger company," both on earnings calls and in interviews. Some industry onlookers have described the phrase as corporate-buzzword lingo, but Easterbrook says that misses the point. Those words are for his staff. "The rallying call of "modern progressive burger company' was about giving us the confidence around understanding who we are, and being proud about who we are," Easterbrook says. His customers first seek value and consistency, he says, not necessarily a finer dining experience or a menu dotted with health food. But even if diners are coming in for what they know, what they know could use some improvement. "It's not about being a different McDonald's; it's about being a better McDonald's."
In other words, it's about focusing on what McDonald's customers love most -- and apparently, that's breakfast and discounts. After much clamoring from consumers, McDonald's launched all-day breakfast in October 2015. The transition had its hiccups; some McDonald's stores, for example, couldn't offer both biscuits and McMuffins at the same time because it was a logistical headache. But the chain kept tweaking, investing in new kitchen equipment that would allow franchisees to cook all breakfast items -- plus the regular menu items -- simultaneously. Helped by all-day breakfast, McDonald's saw four straight quarters of same-store sales growth in the U.S. "We had gotten a little too focused on serving stuff that works for us," says Kempczinski. "All-day breakfast was the first real thing where we said, "This is something the customer wants, and even though it's going to create some complexity in the kitchen, we have to figure it out.'"
Another example of past mistakes corrected: Despite being known for its value, McDonald's had nixed its Dollar Menu in 2013 because franchisees found it hard to profit off the items. Their hope at the time was to punch up at pricier competitors like Chipotle and Panera. Customers balked; they saw McDonald's as a place for deals, and rather than spend more, they moved on to competitors like Wendy's, with its four-for-$4 offer.
So in 2017, McDonald's introduced its mix of value items, from its McPick 2 offerings -- two-for-$2 and two-for-$5 deals that included favorites such as fries and nuggets -- to $1 coffees and sodas. This struck a balance of sorts: Customers could dine without splurging, and franchisees weren't stuck with razor-thin margins. The company kicked off 2018 with new Dollar Menu products for $1, $2 and $3.
McDonald's is still looking for ways to reconcile low prices with a rising customer desire for quality (or at least an intensifying disinclination toward harmful ingredients). In March 2017, it said it would start making certain sandwiches, including the Quarter Pounder, with fresh beef to order -- and would roll that out to most U.S. restaurants by 2018. In response to concerns about antibiotic resistance, it also said it would eliminate the use of chicken exposed to certain antibiotics in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Europe, with the goal of eliminating them from all stores by 2027.
"The majority of reasonable folks," says Easterbrook, "will always feel warm toward an individual or company looking to improve itself."
The last piece of McDonald's puzzle is technology. In the past year, it has rolled out app-based delivery to 10,000 restaurants in 20 countries to boost its sizable delivery business. Asia and the Middle East alone logged nearly $1 billion in deliveries. The tech makeover also includes outdoor and indoor digital menu boards, and ordering kiosks.
These changes have gotten mixed receptions. Organizations like the National Restaurant Association say most consumers embrace tech in their dining endeavors, but the pricey remodeling efforts have upset some franchisees. So, too, has the introduction of customized products like made-to-order McCafé drinks. In a 2017 survey of McDonald's operators released in October by analyst firm Nomura, 27 franchisees who collectively own 241 stores rated their relationship with McDonald's HQ at less than 2 out of a possible 5 points, complaining of "forced equipment purchases" and "slow ordering time, slow make time and therefore slow service time."
Kempczinski sees franchisee frustration as part of the deal when things change. "We've been very clear with them about where we're going and what our expectations are around performance and investment," he says. "What we've said since day one is "There will be parts of the plan you may not like. But are there enough that you're really excited about that you can sign off on it in totality?'"
This isn't the only issue McDonald's must contend with. It's also facing ongoing battles over worker wages, and whether it should be held responsible for what franchisees pay employees -- sticky legal, financial and social issues that may continue for years to come.
Still, if McDonald's track record is any guide, it will evolve accordingly and close rifts with franchisees enough to boost its bottom line. After all, franchisees also raised concerns about all-day breakfast -- which started McDonald's toward its recovery.
Easterbrook, unsurprisingly, remains confident. "The beauty of getting momentum is that we now have an opportunity to look further out at future innovation," he says. "And we're restless to find more."
For more on franchises, check out 2018's Franchise 500 list here.


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Growth in enterprise app stores
“Apps downloaded from public app stores for mobile devices disrupt IT security, application and procurement strategies,” said Ian Finley, research VP at Gartner. By 2017 Gartner expects 25% of enterprises to have developed their own app stores and to be negotiating with software vendors for products that can be added to the ecosystem. We believe this shows the move from apps downloaded from traditional commercial App Stores to business stores hosting secure, trusted Apps for corporate use.
Live Messenger closing down, Skype & Lync on talking terms
Microsoft has announced it will be enabling its two communication products; Lync and Skype to talk together to enable audio call and Instant Messaging interoperability as well as shared presence. In addition Microsoft is shutting down Windows Live Messenger and encouraging users to login to Skype, we see these aggressive actions as a way of ‘market share growth’ for Microsoft over the coming year.
Datacentre risk v cost.
With increasingly tightening budgets, businesses are taking risks when choosing a datacentre strategy. Reports show cost is becoming the single top priority over resilience, capacity and backup strategy. However, as recent high profile failures show, if data is lost or hard to recover, the original cost savings don’t look quite as good. This is a warning to choose your datacentre (or datacentres) wisely.
Google on the high-street?
Recent rumours indicate Google may join Apple and Microsoft with their own physical retail stores. Google would be able to use these stores to sell their Nexus phones and tablets directly to customers in addition to their Chrome Book. Google could also let the public get “hands-on” with in development products like their wearable computer; Google Glass. We think products like these “smart glasses” are a tricky sell without being able to try before you buy.
Amicus ITS makes Global MSP Rankings
The annually published MSPmentor 501 is a global ranking of the World’s Top 501 Managed Services Providers, and celebrates quality of Service, Growth and Expertise within the Global MSP arena. Amicus ITS are delighted to have been placed 29th Globally and 4th in Europe. This is a great accolade of what we think has been a fantastic effort from all of our teams for our role as trusted advisor and service provider to our clients in both the healthcare and corporate markets.
‘It is an honour to be recognised this year as one of the Global Top Managed Service Providers. To be ranked 29th in the world and 4th across Europe is a fantastic achievement by the team’ said Steve Jackson, Managing Director Amicus ITS who himself was ranked as one of the Top 250 entrepreneurs in his industry at the end of last year.
Dell goes private with help from Microsoft
Michael Dell, the original founder and current CEO of Dell is taking the company private. This is possible through a combination of cash and equity direct from Dell, investors affiliated with Silver Lake, MSD Capital and a $2 billion loan from Microsoft. Microsoft may be looking into making Dell the ‘signature’ platform for Windows 8 PCs and tablets and if so how will this affect Microsoft’s own new hardware team and other OEM partners?
Have you been Scroogled?
“Scroogled” is a Microsoft made anti-Google marketing campaign, It shows users how Google uses your personal information from searches, emails and documents, to help push paid adverts over perhaps more relevant unpaying results. Microsoft’s marketing team has been pushing these “Scroogled” ads recently on their new Outlook.com website. This is an aggressive move against Google, but aims to promote their Bing service.
Surface Pro succeeds where other have not
After just hours of the Surface Pro going on sale last Saturday the 128GB version was sold out. Customers were upset at not being able to pick up the new device on launch day. Microsoft will need to be careful on treading on the toes of their OEM partners who have not yet made a huge splash selling Windows 8 tablets.
Can 4G resolve problems with on-the-go access to data?
The continued rollout of new wireless network, 4G, is expected to give users the fastest broadband in Europe. With speeds of up to 5 times faster than the previous 3G, how will 4G impact desktop virtualisation? We believe the new wireless network may help aid the adoption of desktop virtualisation on mobile devices, allowing users to remotely access their information more often and at a much faster rate.
Google back ‘one password’ strategy
With the huge increase in cyber-crime and phishing attacks, Google thinks it’s time to say goodbye to the traditional password and look to something new. Google’s security experts, Eric Grosse and Mayank Upadhyay, propose consumers use an encrypted USB-like device that people would use to log into password-protected websites and online accounts. The web giant stated how the miniature device could be used to log into websites with a single password. We understand that with the great challenge this poses to governance procedures, this is far from being put into practise. However it does highlight some critical issues in the current online environment.
What can the Surface Pro offer a Business Environment?
Microsoft have announced their much anticipated Surface Pro tablet will be released at the later than expected date of 9th February in the U.S. This latest tablet has been one of the top talking points for IT professionals over the last couple of months, but to what extent can the Surface Pro make a significant business impact in your organisation? We predict a noteworthy one. With its incorporated Windows 8 OS and its ability to access the same business applications as you can on a laptop, the Surface Pro is destined to see the rise of mobility at work.
Nokia 3D printing for phones
As competition in the mobile market becomes fierce, mobile operators are constantly coming up with new innovative ideas to make them stand out from the crowd, and Nokia’s 3D homemade case is no exception. Embracing 3D printers, Nokia have released design files so users can ‘make their own’ plastic accessories. With the current hefty price tag of 3D printers, will users miss out on the Nokia’s latest innovation?


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The 2017 Ford Fiesta ST doesn’t get much in the way of changes other than a new orange paint job. However, Ford is throwing in free training at their Octane Driver’s Academy with every ST purchase. Read more...
We would welcome any sporty car Toyota gives us. Continue reading A sporty Toyota Yaris could compete with the Ford Fiesta ST A sporty Toyota Yaris could compete with the Ford Fiesta ST originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2016 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
The latest upgrade centers around a new turbocharger for Ford's 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine.
The arrival of the bonkers Focus RS gave rise to rumors that Ford is also considering an RS-badged version of the Fiesta. Unfortunately, such a scenario was dismissed by FoMoCo in January 2016, leaving Fiesta enthusiasts to look at tuning shops for more power. Show More Summary
The closest thing you'll get to a Fiesta RS. Continue reading Mountune's Ford Fiesta ST turbo upgrade will add an extra 80 hp Mountune's Ford Fiesta ST turbo upgrade will add an extra 80 hp originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Oct 2016 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
The next-generation Ford Fiesta ST is likely to be fitted with a powered-up version of the company’s turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder, according to a new report out of the UK. Speaking to Auto Express, Ford Europe’s head of small cars, Darren Palmer, said the company is exploring the potential of the three-cylinder Ecoboost engine. “We’re seeing more […]
The expanding lineup now includes the Mustang, Focus RS, Focus ST and Fiesta ST.
Alex writes: Hi Bark, The lease on my BMW M235i runs out next summer and I’m looking at options for my next car. I’m mostly considering the Ford Focus RS, Honda Civic Type R, and Volkswagen Golf R, but also the Ford Fiesta ST (since you’ve praised your FiST so much) and Ford Mustang GT (because it’s a Mustang?). Show More Summary
it's all about performance, the 2016 ford fiesta st mountune. that's why this already brilliant hot-hatchback gets a power upgrade first - up a beefy 24kw and 80nm - and the infotainment and feature upgrade comes later. ford will later this year hike the fiesta st’s price to $27,990 plus on-road costs. Show More Summary
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year and a half since I said “I do” to Ford Credit and the 2015 Ford Fiesta ST. In that time, we’ve gone autocrossing, battled tractor trailers, bought a whole lot of groceries, and even got rid of the FiST’s big brother. Show More Summary
The next-generation Ford Fiesta three-door hatch has been spied for the first time undergoing testing on public roads. Compared to the five-door hatches that have been already spied in both regular and ST guises, the new three-door seems to feature the same front end design, with the tailgate and tail-lights carried as well. The major […]
The Ford Focus RS is already a certified giant killer, but even giant killers can be made quicker. Not content with its work on the Fiesta ST, British tuning house Mountune has turned its hand to the hottest hatch in the Ford Performance...Show More Summary
For a while now the Ford Fiesta ST has been considered the benchmark hot hatch in the budget arena in Australia. And now you can buy an even hotter version, 2016 Ford Fiesta ST Mountune MP215. Essentially this version sees the Blue Oval brand offer buyers the opportunity to add a few new parts to […]
The Ford Fiesta ST200 adds more power and performance to the the base car -- but at a price.
Senior Producer Chris McGraw reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute. Continue reading Porsche Panamera photos, Jeep Wrangler and Ford Fiesta ST Spied | Autoblog Minute Porsche Panamera photos, Jeep Wrangler and Ford Fiesta ST Spied | Autoblog Minute originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Jun 2016 10:58:00 EDT. Show More Summary
The next-generation Ford Fiesta has been spied again, this time at the Nurburgring. However, this particular prototype is mooted to be a hotter 2017 Fiesta ST variant. With the standard Fiesta test vehicle snapped a fortnight ago in the European Alps, this prototype has a visible oil cooler in the front bumper – in addition to the Nurburgring […]
If Ford is really prepping a next-generation Fiesta ST, its first prototypes is as low-key as possible. Continue reading 2018 Ford Fiesta ST spotted looking sporty 2018 Ford Fiesta ST spotted looking sporty originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jun 2016 12:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] is currently developing its next-generation Fiesta hatchback and today we have spy shots of a prototype for the sporty ST model. The engineers have tried to make the tester look like one of the prototypes for the regular Fiesta but a few clues give away its identity. The most obvious are the uprated wheels, tires and...
Not quite up for a full Focus or Fiesta ST? Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] thinks it has the right way to bridge the gap between its standard models and its hot rods with a new package called ST Line set to be offered in Europe. ST Line consists of visual effects, not mechanical or suspension upgrades, meaning it offers buyers the chance to get the...
It was 50 years ago that the original GT40 secured a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and this year Ford is returning to France hoping to secure another historic win with the new Ford GT. Returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the new Ford GT isn’t the only way the company is celebrating that win 50 years ago, though. Show More Summary


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Even today, the song gets quite a bit of airtime around the time of Halloween. Pickett was a one hit wonder with the song. It’s been re released over the years and certainly, other musicians have done covers of it as well. I don’t know the exact dates or the exact time line of the story, but that is the least important part of the story. The love they found and the life they built is what this is all about. I hope I am honoring them by telling this story..
Deer Park residents complained of storm drains near Oakton and Deer Park Roads. Have one running through our yard and we see critters coming through them all the time, said Roger Dalman. Cats, opossums, raccoons, rats. The book starts with a spooky beginning. There was a mysterious house that people thought was haunted because no one lived there. One character, Turtle, was dared to go to the house, and when she arrived she found a dead body.
Others, however, saw the ploy as only expanding a customer waistline, suggesting the fast food chain had already given out enough muffin tops over the years.But while the menu item is welcome, there is confusion about what will happen to the discarded stumps.Eat there often enough and you get your own personal muffin top.In the US, the fast food chain has identified lost breakfast customers as the main culprit to dwindling sales and lost market share.took our eye off the ball on breakfast, chief financial officer Kevin Ozan said at a May investor conference, as published on The Financial Post.everything else going on, we just lost a little focus on that breakfast day part. To Linda VanGosen, vice president of menu innovation for the US, breakfast is the most profitable part of the day for the chain. After reaching an all time high in January, McDonald shares in the US are down more than 10 per cent.After introducing a menu item designed to save people money, the move has actually led customers to spending more while placing their order.Global profits at the burger giant jumped 13 per cent to almost $2 billion, earlier this year with Macca making a motza from a fast food innovation, premium burgers, pioneered in Australia.Around the world, McDonald’s is losing money, but not in Australia.
I’ve had this knife of mine for nineteen years and I’ve cut up thousands of oxen with it, and yet the blade is as good as though it had just come from the grindstone. There are spaces between the joints, and the blade of the knife has really no thickness. If you insert what has no thickness into such spaces, then there’s plenty of room more than enough for the blade to play about it.


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Chinese demand safe rice
Jun. 21, 2017
Food safety is becoming a serious problem in China as the country's pollution worsens year by year. Now the urban middle class is taking a closer look at what they put in their rice bowls.
Food safety is a growing concern for many of China's middle-class urbanites. One family in Guangzhou insists on eating organic rice.
The cost is nearly 5 times that of non-organic options, but the family prefers peace of mind over price.
"I have been looking for safe foods, so I was happy to find it," says homemaker Lin Xintao.
The rice is grown in a village that's a 3-hour drive from the city.
Liu Shangwen contracts farmers to produce rice through organic methods.
Liu quit his job at a foreign consulting firm 5 years ago to start an organic food business. At first, most farmers didn't want to deal with him because organic farming is time consuming and costly.
But Liu didn't back down. He used the internet to educate consumers in the city about how his rice is produced.
"A video will actually show how our rice is grown. This medium allows me to connect with consumers," says Liu.
Liu used social media to generate interest in the business and to raise funds. He now supplies over 800 families.
Now he is recruiting more farmers to meet growing demand.
Liu and employees from his company recently met with farmers to explain some of the benefits.
"Organic farming is good for the soil. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides cause the soil to become hard," one of his employees explains.
To avoid using pesticides, farmers use their hands to remove the river snails that feast on the rice plants.
"When we used pesticides, the skin on our hands and feet peeled. Our lives are better now," says one of the farmers.
When Liu first started, only 7 farmers agreed to work with him. Today, there are over 50.
Liu also held a workshop for children from the city.
The aim was to explain how rice is made to people living far from the fields. The children try the different kinds of rice.
Liu hopes such efforts will make children more interested in their rice and help cultivate future clients.
"I want to improve the environment, and create better farming villages, to have people in the city eat food that is healthy. It is simple, but this is my dream," says Liu.
A new farming method aimed at improving food as well as lives, is gradually catching on.


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BSkyB has reached its investment peak in the area of broadband, the high price paid for a meal league football rights as court profits to £295 million for the first half of their financial year.
The number of people canceling, their subscriptions, which was running at 11%, has fallen because of BSkyB cutting back the discounts. It offered. Thus discouraging customers switching from rivals, and then switching again searching for the best promotional deal.
The number of new clients paying full price for subscriptions has increased 300%, increasing income per customer to rise by 7%. Overall, there were 385,000 new customers, added to the client base.
Company boss Jeremy Darroch said that “We’ve eliminated ‘offer riders’ from the base and If we are going to go into a period where the consumer economy is more challenging [we don’t want] a lot of customers on a deal.”
BSkyB’s premiership league games contract, was watered down, by her being forced to share the rights with, Setanta Sports. Nevertheless, Mr. Darroch said, “In terms of interest in the platform and viewer ship it is as strong as ever,”
He also said that BSkyB would continue to broaden its range of sporting events, pointing to its recent darts match that attracted a record 4.3 million viewers. He said, “You wouldn’t want to be overly exposed to one individual package [and] sports fans like a breadth of content,”
He also said that within three weeks. The company would have to decide whether or not; it will appeal against a government ruling that they must sell most of its stake in ITV


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GlaxoSmithKline, Ranbaxy settle Valtrex patent dispute
Generics drug firm Ranbaxy Laboratories said it has reached an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline resulting in a dismissal of US patent litigation regarding Glaxo's herpes pill Valtrex (valacyclovir hydrochloride).
Under the agreement, Ranbaxy will be allowed to introduce its generic version of Valtrex in the US in late 2009 and will have 180 days of sales product exclusivity.
In early February 2007, Ranbaxy received a final approval from the FDA to market and manufacture valacyclovir hydrochloride tablets.
Glaxo's Valtrex patent is set to expire in 2009 in the US and most of Europe. The drug was first introduced in 1995.
Total global sales of Valtrex were around $1.3 billion for 2006.


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US and Indonesia Agree to Step Up Work to Expand Trade
Officials from the United States and Indonesia met earlier this week under their Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), agreeing on next steps for expeditiously resolving bilateral issues and further building their trade relations.
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer welcomed the shared commitment to intensify engagement under the TIFA. In a concluding meeting with Indonesian Investment Board Chairman Tom Lembong, Lighthizer emphasized the Trump administration’s interest in enhancing ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the importance of addressing outstanding trade issues in the next few months, and the priority of lowering the bilateral trade deficit, the United States’ 15th largest.
During the TIFA meetings, the US side outlined the Trump administration’s trade agenda and focus on making concrete progress on agriculture, high-technology products, digital services, financial services, and other issues. The two countries agreed on follow-up actions on these issues and discussed a work plan for addressing US intellectual property concerns, recognizing the urgency of progress in this area given Indonesia’s listing on USTR’s Special 301 Priority Watch List.
The United States and Indonesia agreed to conduct detailed and regular discussions under the TIFA in order to maintain momentum in their dialogue and ensure continued progress. They also exchanged views on regional and global trade developments, including related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other regional and multilateral trade arrangements. US and Indonesian officials also held meetings with stakeholders from both countries to hear directly from them about key trade issues of concern.
The US had a $13.2 billion trade deficit with Indonesia in 2016. Two-way goods trade between them totaled $25 billion in 2016, with US goods exports to Indonesia almost doubling in the last decade to $6 billion in 2016, and goods imports totaling $19.2 billion. US services exports to Indonesia have increased more than 70 percent in the last decade and now total $2.5 billion. Services imports from Indonesia amounted to $780 million in 2015. In 2016, Indonesia represented the 35th largest goods export market for the US.


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As of now, we know that OnePlus is preparing for its first fitness tracker that is the OnePlus band. The company already launched the companion app for the smart band that will be used to manage the device called the OnePlus Health. There are also some of the leaks which reveal the feature of this upcoming device and now we have recently got the confirmed date on which the company will release the OnePlus Band.
Amazon India has started teasing this upcoming smart band with the launch date and time. This suggests that OnePlus will launch this new gadget on January 11 at 11 am IST. While other than the launch date the company has not revealed any other detail about the device regarding its price and other feature including its full design.
However, we have some leaked information about the device which indicates that the OnePlus Band may be priced at 2,499 INR ($34). At this price segment, it will compete with Xiaomi’s Mi Band 5 which is already available in the market.
Although we have not yet received any details regarding the features of the smart band but as per the leaked information, the smart band will sport a 1.1-inch AMOLED display that can be controlled with the touch. While there will be 13 different exercise modes. The band will offer up to 14 days of battery life and will be IP68 certified for water and dust resistance.
Many other features of the OnePlus band are still a mystery and we’ll get to know more about it once it goes official. And also it remains to be seen, what OnePlus will offer with the band as a USP to make it different from the other fitness trackers that are available in the market.


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Eponymous designer Sejal Kamdar presented a marine inspired collection titled ‘Costal Whispers’ at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in Mumbai and highlighted traditional Ajrakh textiles, patchwork, and other handicraft techniques.
The Sejal Kamdar runway show was designed to fuse traditional and modern styles to create wearable textile art, Lakmé Fashion Week announced in a press release. The collection had a colour scheme of blues, purples, and pinks and featured corsets, tunics, and jumpsuits inspired by the rolling waves of the sea.
“I am thrilled to be here at Lakmē Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI presented by One Infinite, to share the timeless beauty of Ajrakh,” said designer Sejal Kamdar in a press release. “In a world where fast fashion often obscures the stories behind our garments, Ajrakh stands as a poignant reminder of the artistry, culture, and soul woven into every thread. It is a symbol of heritage, resonating with generations and preserving the rich traditions of our past.”
Lakmé Fashion Week ran from March 13 to 17 at Mumbai’ Jio World Convention Centre. The fashion week featured runway shows for brands including Rahul Mishra, Deme by Gabriella, and Valliyan among others as well as panel discussions and design contests.
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But the forecast is that the sector is likely to continue to be under pressure for most of the year
Retail conditions appear to be improving in Durban, but landlords will need to keep bearing down if they hope to survive continued financial pressures ahead.
While nationally and even globally, this property sector has been severely challenged by the emergence and growth of online shopping, landlords will also continue to face pressure on rents and escalations for the “better part of the year”, says Broll senior retail leasing broker Laura Timms.
The good news is that, despite this, inquiries for retail space have improved in the past three months. “Most of the ‘mom and pop’ retail inquiries emanate from those who have immigrated to South Africa from places such as Pakistan and other African countries,” says Timms.
“Mom and pop” retail refers to small, independent businesses that are usually family-owned and not franchised. Timms says vacancies in Broll’s managed retail portfolio are below 2% of Gross Leasing Area (GLA), although some service-orientated stores, such as hairdressers, have opted to relocate to standalone sites offering lower rents. Although branded fashion and health and beauty retailers generally continue to deliver good results, restaurants and luxury goods retailers are under pressure.
The biggest challenge for local retailers, Timms says, is managing their total costs of occupying space. “For example, restaurants are faced with rising electricity and employment costs.”
Rising operating costs are a hurdle all business sectors are grappling with. In 2018, total commercial property operating costs accounted for 35.7% of gross income, according to the South African Property Owners Association’s (Sapoa) latest Operating Cost Report. The retail sector reported the highest cost-to-income ratio.
According to the Sapoa report, total operating costs by retail store size were:
● Retail warehouse: 26.5%
● Unit shop: 36.2%
● Community shopping centre: 41.1%
● Regional shopping centre: 35.8%
● Small regional shopping centre: 37.9%
● Super regional shopping centre: 37.1%
The affordability challenge has become huge for retailers, says FNB commercial property economist John Loos in a new Property Insights report. He says it is just as much of a challenge as the emergence and growth of online shopping.
“In addition, the retail space affordability challenge has become far more acute in recent times which, it could be argued, contributes in part to a drive to cheaper retail alternatives (including online retail), because retail space affordability has deteriorated sharply over the past two decades.”
Examining commercial property values per square metre from 1996 to 2018, Loos says retail property has increased by 883.3%. By comparison, office property value increased in value by only 511.7% and industrial and warehouse property by 612.6%. In real terms (adjusting for inflation) retail property has grown by 110%, which is more than double its real value in 1995.
“All commercial property/square metre values became significantly less affordable over a 23-year period from the 1995 base year, but retail property’s affordability deterioration was far more extreme than the other two major categories,” Loos says.
For tenants, the increase in rental per square metre and operating costs has been just as extreme. A major portion of operating costs is the various municipal rates and charges, and utilities tariffs, notably electricity.
“In real (inflation-adjusted) terms, retail property saw its operating cost/square metre rise by 129.7%, compared to 93.4% in the case of industrial space and a far lesser 19.9% for office space.
“A strong consumer period, however, especially from around 2000 to 2008, enabled retail tenants to absorb strong operating costs and rental inflation for much of the time.”
But this is no longer the case. The fact that retail space affordability has deteriorated significantly over the past two decades or so “likely contributes in part to the drive to find more affordable retail alternatives regardless of technological advances”, Loos says.
“More affordable alternatives include the shift to greater use of online retail, but also include traditionally cheaper retail trade and consumer services alternatives, which include smaller community or neighbourhood centres, or even retail warehousing.”


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Experts, Enthusiasts Meet for Social Media Week
With numerous social media and social network sites catering to an overwhelming slew of interests, meeting with accomplished owners, executives and aficionados will certainly boost one’s proficiency in the social media game. That’s why social media proponents will converge at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia this 13th to 17th February for the Malaysia Social Media Week (MSMW). The event aims to assemble top executives, content experts, enthusiasts, journalists, social strategists (and other social media specialists) in a five-day festival of activities.
Organizer My Events International promises fun and learning experiences at the MSMW.
(Participants will be) connecting and communicating ideas and experiences to advance our understanding of social media’s role in society. Social Media Week brings hundreds of thousands of people together through learning experiences that aim to advance our understanding of social media’s role in society.
Some of the interesting activites slated for the event include the Socia-Poly game — a derivation of Hasbro’s Monopoloy, tailored for the MSMW celebration. Social media gadgets and workshops constitute the educational side of the program, while the artistic aspect features a music concert, photo and graffiti art contest. For kids (or adults who are kids-at-heart), there’s the ubiquitous treasure hunt game called the Amazing Social Media Hunt — with an online and offline twist.
Five interesting days do seem to be on the horizon in KL, and the social media sphere will be enriched by this event’s meeting of minds. We will be running interviews with speakers, participants and organizers, so watch this space.
- Applied Materials manages supply chain and semiconductor research
- The evolution of business hubs in an age of decentralization and rising challenges
- Analog Devices reaffirms its position in Singapore’s semiconductor market with a new facility
- The US is preparing an executive order to restrict investments in China, but Elon Musk isn’t worried about it
- SEMI: The five Ws and one H to a supply chain initiative for the semiconductor industry.


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BlackBerry 10 L-Series and iPhone 5 Side-by-Side
There’s been plenty of leaked images of the BlackBerry 10 L-Series but a new photo has appeared which shows the device next to an iPhone 5.
This is the first time that we have seen a BlackBerry 10 device next to an existing competitors phone.
Visibly it is very identical in height and slightly wider than the competitor. None the less looks much elegant with its all black button-less panel.
We still don’t know the production name of the L-Series but with a screen size of 4.3 inches diagonally, it comes in slightly larger than the screen of the iPhone 5.
What do you think of them?


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Apple Inc. has debuted a new section on their website detailing their role in U.S. job creation:
The numbers tell the story. Apple is one of the biggest job creators in the United States, responsible for two million jobs in all 50 states. Last year, we spent over $50 billion with more than 9,000 U.S. suppliers and manufacturers. Since we launched the App Store in 2008, U.S. developers have earned over $16 billion in App Store sales worldwide. And we’re just getting started.
Jobs in every state. You’ll find Apple employees, suppliers, and app developers working in every state, in communities large and small, and in thousands of professional fields.
Apple jobs span a wide range of roles — designers, scientists, construction, manufacturing, retail, customer support, marketing, hardware and software engineers — and their ranks continue to grow at unprecedented rates. Apple tech support call centers serve our North American customers with 13,000 representatives across the United States. And unlike with many companies, all Apple Store employees, whether full- or part-time, are eligible for the same benefits.
From the people who manufacture components for our products to the people who distribute and deliver them, Apple directly or indirectly supports hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs. We work with manufacturing locations in 38 states and more than 9,000 suppliers in all 50 states. And every one of our core products — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV — contains parts or materials from the U.S. or is made with equipment from U.S.-based suppliers.
Jobs in the app economy. Apple created the app revolution with the launch of the App Store in 2008. And in less than a decade an entire industry has been built around app design and development, generating over 1,500,000 U.S. jobs and earning more than $16 billion for U.S. developers. – Apple Inc.
Apple’s Job Creation page here.
MacDailyNews Take: Timing is everything.
Apple to invest $1 billion to promote manufacturing jobs in the U.S. – May 4, 2017
Apple’s top manufacturing partner to meet with U.S. President Trump today – April 27, 2017
Apple could help Westinghouse in completing new nuclear plants – April 17, 2017
Apple supplier Sharp may begin building $7 billion U.S. plant in within months as Japan PM meets President Trump – February 8, 2017
Foxconn-Sharp considering LCD plant in USA, plans in response to President-elect Trump’s ‘Make in America’ call – January 13, 2017
With President Trump soon to take office, Apple looks to boost its ‘Made in America’ credentials – January 10, 2017
Make America Insanely Great Again: Apple seeks to expand Made in USA manufacturing – January 9, 2017
Apple invests $1 billion in SoftBank’s massive tech fund; may help company get in President Trump’s good graces – January 4, 2017
Softbank to invest $50 billion in the U.S., create 50,000 new tech jobs after meeting with President-elect Trump – and Apple supplier Foxconn is in on the deal – December 6, 2016
President-elect Trump invites tech leaders to roundtable in Manhattan next week – December 6, 2016
President-elect Trump tells Apple CEO Tim Cook that he’d like to see Apple make products in the U.S. – November 23, 2016
President-elect Trump says Apple CEO Tim Cook called him after election victory – November 22, 2016
Apple could make iPhones in the U.S.A. under President Trump, sources say – November 17, 2016


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SHANGHAI — Even with an overwhelming number of new shopping centers being built throughout China, there remains a shortage of prime real estate for luxury brands looking to open in the country or expand deeper into smaller cities on the Mainland, according to a new global retail report by CBRE Group Inc.’s CBRE Consulting.
Eight of the top 10 most active development markets for new shopping centers are in China, the report said. Out of the top 25 cities globally with the most new malls being built, 13 are cities on the Mainland. At the top of the list is Tianjin, a city outside of Beijing, where 26.4 million square feet are under construction. Shenyang, a city in the northeast, ranks second on the list while Chengdu, a metropolis in the south, is third.
The ongoing issue of pent-up demand stems largely from the fact that the new retail space is being “developed in up-and-coming areas of a city and not in the prime areas where international brands want to locate,” said the report, titled “How Global is the Business of Retail?”
“When you start to look at these big numbers, it is very frightening,” said Sebastian Skiff, executive director of CBRE’s retail division in Asia. “Of that space [being developed], how much of it is being built in prime locations and is being built with developers who truly understand how to create and manage a quality retail operation? There will be some losers in terms of the shopping center developers and developments.”
Skiff said the situation is being exacerbated particularly by luxury brands that are realigning their growth strategies in China to much more calculated openings in key cities versus breakneck expansion in as many markets as possible, as was more common in the past.
“If a new project was opening, very likely they [luxury brands] would make a few calls between their peers and decide if they were going to go into it,” he said. “Now there is much more choice, and you have to be more strategic. We are more busy because the retailers and the brands are realizing they need a bit more strategy around a particular city they are looking at. There is quite a lot more due diligence.”
The outlook is not totally bleak when it comes to finding prime real estate on the Mainland, according to Skiff, who said that increasingly developers are launching projects that are much more targeted in terms of the consumers they aim to reach. While it is true that the retail space being constructed here may not be suitable to top-tier brands, new malls, outlet malls and regional shopping centers are being built around cities that target middle-class consumers, as well as pockets of wealth, particularly in the suburbs of Beijing and Shanghai.
Skiff said that these developments bode particularly well for “bridge brands,” such as CH Carolina Herrera and Ted Baker, that are entering China and looking for locations to reach up-and-coming middle-class consumers who can’t afford a lot of luxury but are looking to change their consumption to something that is not so mass market.
“We are seeing some segmentation in fashion, which is translating into the brand mix of these new centers,” he said. “They are more focused on what is the next up-and-coming bridge brand location. They are not trying to be the catchall but trying to be more niche focused, so are focusing on a narrower age range, a narrower income level and essentially not trying to capture everyone [who would buy] Armani Exchange through to Giorgio Armani.
“They are being very selective to create their own brand story, which really shows a maturing of the customer and of the retail real estate market,” he said.
L’Avenue, an upscale retail complex that is being developed in the Shanghai district of Hongqiao, is one example. The complex will feature a mix of luxury brands as well as higher-end labels in an area that is home to a particularly affluent population of consumers, according to Skiff. L’Avenue is backed by L Real Estate, which is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton chairman Bernard Arnault’s investment firm Groupe Arnault, and STDM, which is owned by Hong Kong billionaire Stanley Ho.
“L’Avenue is a case in point,” Skiff said. “Once you have secured your major retail locations, the next step is to look at representations in the market that are affluent.”
Other trends on the Mainland include the opening of more multibrand stores as well as fast-fashion labels looking for retail space in more third- and fourth-tier cities. Skiff said he expects to soon see more international department stores eyeing China as well. Galeries Lafayette is slated to open a flagship department store in Beijing by 2013.
He also said that so far the retail sector is not experiencing side effects that indicate a deceleration of luxury consumption in the country. Brands such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry have reported slowing sales figures on the Mainland in recent months.
“I know the temptation is to maybe say that the marriage might be over, we are heading for tough times,” Skiff said. “I don’t see that. What I see is that there has been such a tremendous amount of expansion over the last few years, particularly if you look at someone like LV, they have essentially penetrated all of the second-tier cities and quite a large number of the key third-tier cities. Now that they have penetrated [these markets], naturally there would be a lesser increase [in growth] until the next wave that comes along.”
My character, Dinah Madani, is just the coolest, [most] badass woman imaginable," says @amberroserevah. The actress stars in @marvel's newest series on @netflix, @thepunisher. To prepare for her role, Revah sat down with Homeland agents to get a real sense of with Dinah's day-to-day life is really like. Read our full interview on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
A scene from the 91st annual @macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade, which boasts 50 million TV viewers and 3.5 million on-site spectators, is considered one of the largest and most watched parades in the world. (📷: Jason Szenes/EPA-REX)
The circus came to @bloomingdales 59th Street on Tuesday night and lit up Lexington Avenue with acrobatic dancers, death-defying knife throwing, sword swallowing and aerial acts with no net. The 45 minutes of theatrics built up to unveiling the holiday windows depicting @swarovski crystal-encrusted circus pieces and scenes from “The Greatest Showman” – songs from the soundtrack included. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: Joshua Scott)
The psychedelic fashion that pervaded the ’60s is back with an exhibit at the @museumofcityny. “Mode New York: Fashion Takes a Trip” chronicles the changing styles from 1960 through 1973 and features designers such as @ysl, @oscardelarenta and more. The exhibition, which is on display through April 1, is organized into four periods: First Lady Fasion, Youthquake, New Bohemia and New Nonchalance. Pictured here is model Pat Bardonella during the Garvey Day Parade in 1968. (📷: @kwamebphoto) #wwdeye #wwdfashion
“People should be a lot more honest in expressing both the dark and light of themselves. We need to give each other the space to do that because it’s the only way we can grow and evolve,” says @noelwells of her new film “Mr. Roosevelt,” which is largely based on her own struggles. Unexpectedly leaving @nbcsnl in 2014 after just one season, Wells felt set back in her self-esteem and career trajectory. She quickly refocused her energy to more personal projects, which led to the completion of “Mr. Roosevelt.” Read the rest of WWD’s interview with the “Master of None” actress on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
@barbrastreisand is giving fans a chance to see her perform up close in a new concert series, which makes its debut on @Netflix today. From behind-the-scenes takes to her concert performance in Miami last December, the two-hour streaming special captures Streisand in her element. Pictured here is the singer/actress photographed for WWD in 1963. (📷: Palmieri Tony) #wwdeye #wwdarchive
@chanel and @pharrell dropped what’s being dubbed as the world’s most exclusive sneakers yesterday. The Adidas Originals NMD Hu, which Williams designed in collaboration with Chanel and @adidasoriginals, has a waiting list of over 120K people who pre-registered online at chanelatcolette.fr –– and only 500 pairs are on sale. The singer predicted the resale value of the shoes could reach $40K. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: Dominique Maître)
@imanshumpert is diving deeper into his creative endeavors and relaunching his clothing line, Post 90s, and is helping to raise money for the hurricane victims in St. Maarten with a jersey he’s designed with his brother. The Cleveland Cavaliers player talked to WWD about kneeling during the national anthem, working with fashion brands and how he wants to be more than an @nba player. Read the interview on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)


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In the press: The end of BYOD? Company mobiles are as dead as the company car
March 11th, 2012
The days when company fleets of Vauxhall Cavaliers rolled over UK roads are over. Monty Munford reports that a similar terminus is likely for the company mobile phone.
While there seems to be some way to go until the death of the car, the end of the road for the company car has been approaching for years.
Many employees have opted to take a car allowance rather than have a company car foisted upon them, an outsourcing model that empowers and gladdens employees as well as cutting the costs of maintaining expensive car fleets.
This trend is now being replicated with company mobile phones and perhaps surprisingly it is a trend that companies are actively supporting.
The report bears this out. Out of the companies that support BYOD 80% have more than 2,000 employees, 60% have more than 5,000 employees and a staggering 35% have more than 10,000 employees.
QuoStar Solutions is an IT service that supports providers to the UK SME IT market and its Managing Director, Robert Rutherford, is wary of the dangers that a BYOD model entails.
“Devices should be owned, supplied and controlled by the company. If you want to allow employees some freedom on these devices then so be it – but don’t take risks. No, we haven’t had a major security breach on major platforms such as Apple or Android – but we will,” he says.
Security alarms apart, it would still appear that BYOD heralds the end for company mobile phone, not that some equate it with the slow death of the company car.
That may be so but company cars were always more functional than prestigious and a questionable perk. At least with BYOD, it means employers can now bring their work home with them… not in the back of a fleet vehicle, but in the comfort of their own device.
By Monty Mountford. Source: telegraph.co.uk
In the press: New BlackBerry hits UK stores
The latest BlackBerry smartphone will hit UK stores today after being, unveiled yesterday. Two BlackBerry 10 handsets with a new software system, were launched by parent company Research in Motion (RIM) at six events around the globe, in tandem with an announcement that the Canadian firm has rebranded itself as BlackBerry in line with its […]
In the press: Seven months to go: ‘Business as usual’ throughout the 2012 Olympic games
In just seven months time, the world’s greatest sporting event will be taking place in Great Britain. The Olympic and Paralympic sailing competitions, hosted in Weymouth and Portland, are expected to attract up to 50,000 people a day – as residents and visitors make the most of a free live site and cultural events. An opening […]
Can remote working make firms more productive?
Both hailed as the future of working and criticised as the destroyer of efficiency, is remote working for every firm? Remote working has existed since communications have been available to the roaming and remote worker. It has been pushed and pulled by enterprises of all sizes, and it has been claimed as the future of working […]


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Jez Corden is the Managing Editor for Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his Xbox Two podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!
For Lilith Diablo IV is likely going to be a massive hit, and we now know when the launch date may likely be.
📈📈📈 Microsoft is one of the most successful businesses in the world, but how does it stack up against its biggest competitors?
REVIEW The Elgato Wave XLR and Wave DX mic combine to create a high-value, high-impact package for your sound set up.
RTX on? Halo Infinite has been one of Microsoft's most controversial game releases in recent memory but is still getting a bunch of new updates.
Gaming This rare World of Warcraft mount is becoming a Twitch Drop for the Dragonflight launch window.
HOW TO If you're struggling with the same connection problems I had, this might fix it for you.
Tired of getting smashed by mouse and keyboard players in games like Call of Duty or Sea of Thieves? You can effectively stop crossplay using this toggle on the Xbox system OS. Here's how.
PRICE INCREASE? Xbox has held steady on price increases, but that could be coming to an end.
OPINION The Surface Duo 2 was a bit too unpolished for me to consider as my daily driver when it launched, but a year later, things have changed.
NEW FEATURES The Xbox dashboard recently got a range of new features, and in this video, we went hands on to show you what's what.
Xbox Some thoughts on the very real possibility that regulators could block the deal to protect Sony.
Colorize The Xbox Design Lab has been updated to help you customize an Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 with a range of new colors and other features.
Microsoft Microsoft's previously announced layoffs are now taking place, with around 1,000 employees affected according to reports.
New new Vegas? A new Fallout from Obsidian? Never say never. Studio head Feargus Urquhart says he'd love to make another Fallout game, if the opportunity arose.
Gaming Razer has teamed up with Verizon on its first full gaming handheld, the Razer Edge, designed for high-quality Android native gaming and Xbox cloud titles.
Surface The Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 no longer have the second screen experience, but Microsoft says a fix is in the works.
A mixed reality The year is 2077. Your brain is now hooked up to the Microsoft Office Metaverse.
REVIEW The GameVice Flex is essentially a Razer Kishi without the branding, but it's actually not more of the same.
20% OFF The brand new Xbox cloud gaming accessory from GameSir is already grabbing a nice deal.
Bing Xbox cloud gaming is expanding rapidly in the face of Stadia's demise, with new features arriving regularly.
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hotshot law firm of Carr and Ferrell regrouped for a deep think after pumping out some fairly weak arguments in its case against Apple -- according to a new draft of Psystar's countersuit, the Florida-based computer reseller should be allowed to sell whitebox Mac OS X machines because it legally purchased copies of Leopard at retail. That's the first sale doctrine, if you're into copyright law -- it states that the purchaser of copyrighted materials (like a book) can sell or dispose of them however they want. Here's the thing though: a big part of Apple's case (but not all of it) is based around the fact that consumers license OS X under the terms of the EULA -- and courts are basically up in the air over whether the first sale doctrine should apply to software transactions. It's an interesting tactic with a ton of repercussions beyond Apple if it's successful, but we honestly can't see it working -- in the cases where first sale has been used to overcome a EULA, it's generally been for used software, not companies like Psystar, who are modifying and installing new copyrighted software sold by a first party. We'll see how Apple responds -- things just got interesting again.
Update: World Of Apple notes that this argument has been present from the outset, but it sounds like Psystar's really pushing it now. We'd say so -- we think it's the only plausible one we've heard so far.
Disclaimer: Nilay's a lawyer and about to fall over from CES, but he's not your lawyer, and this isn't legal advice or analysis.


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The telecommunications industry has been talking about 5G for so long that it’s easy to forget 5G deployments are still in their infancy. The architectures have been painstakingly mapped out, the use cases thoroughly discussed, and the projections for revenue impact clearly outlined. The only question that remains unanswered for wireless operators is perhaps the most crucial question of all: Where are the best 5G revenue opportunities for our business right now?
It’s a question that wireless operators would have posed to industry analysts or market research firms in the past. Increasingly, however, they’re asking their 5G vendors to not only help them integrate their 5G technology but also help them innovate with it by identifying profitable 5G use cases, co-designing solutions, and co-developing a go-to-market strategy. It’s a question that, frankly, many 5G equipment vendors would just as soon avoid. That’s because most of those vendors are one step removed from enterprise customers and have little experience developing, deploying, and marketing enterprise solutions. And that’s part of what sets Dell Technologies apart from most 5G vendors because we build business solutions every day.


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Speaking at an AAPS Hot Topic seminar, Richard Moreton, vice president of pharmaceutical science at FinnBrit Consulting, highlighted the level of change that will be needed in the coming years.
Moreton demonstrated the current state of affairs by asking if any of the R&D workers and clinical trial suppliers in the audience knew the source of every ingredient they used; very few, if any, hands were raised.
To minimise the risk of a repeat of the glycerin and heparin scandals Moreton called on companies and regulators to initiate changes in policy and attitude. Glycerin contaminated with diethylene glycol has killed around 600 people over the last 70 years.
Relating to raw materials across the board Moreton said that non-specific assays need revising as they make it easier for fraudsters. Before changes to assays are implemented Moreton said that companies should be aware of their particular limitations, which is especially important for excipients.
In addition to changes to particular technologies Moreton said that education and attitudes to raw materials need to change. There has been a trend towards this with three bills currently in the US Congress, which would impact on the excipient and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) supply chain.
Moreton also mentioned the Food, Conservation and Energy Act 2008, which if applied literally would require any plant derived material used as an excipient to have its botanical source listed on the label.
If applied to the pharmaceutical industry Moreton believes it would be a “nightmare” but went on to say that regulations far more inconvenient than those currently in place could be applied in the future.
One such hypothetical regulation Moreton referred to was the adoption of glycerin-style quality controls for other products; a move he said would be costly but remained a possibility.
He added that any regulation must be globally applicable and highlighted material pedigrees as a system that has to be implemented; even suggesting it could be adapted to cover APIs.
With changes to regulations possible in the foreseeable future Moreton said that companies need to be preparing for this while being proactive about improving their own checks and balances.
He believes that all suppliers will need to be fully audited to ensure quality, with paper audits being regarded as little more than questionnaires by Moreton.
The logistics of achieving this pose companies some difficulties, with Moreton saying that if a facility can be audited 50 times a year and has 200 customers, creative solutions will be needed to implement two or three year audit cycles. One way to resolve this problem would be to undertake group or third-party audits.
While preparing for new regulations Moreton also said companies should be initiating their own actions, reminding the audience that the product license holder has ultimate responsibility for the safety of the drug.
Consequently he recommended that companies get to closely know their suppliers and the supply chain, including details such as whether the product was shipped in a dedicated container and whether it went by air, rail or sea. These factors all raise different contamination threats, as do a products transfer points and packaging, and companies should be aware of these risks.


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News for August 4, 2021
Recent Transactions in the Nutrition and Health & Wellness Industry:
New Primal nabs $15M from Manna Tree
Manna Tree has invested $15 million in New Primal (Charleston, South Carolina), maker of clean-ingredient meat snacks such as grass-fed beef jerky, as well as seasonings, dressings and condiments. The private equity firm was the sole investor in the Series B funding round. The New Primal will use the funds and Manna Tree’s robust network to expand distribution and retail relationships as well as supporting key hires.
Food tech company NotCo raises $235M in Series D round
NotCo (Santiago, Chile) raised another $235 million in a Series D round, giving the food technology company a total of $350 million and a $1.5 billion valuation. Tiger Global led the round with participation by athletes Lewis Hamilton and Roger Federer, musician and DJ Questlove, among others. Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer invested an undisclosed sum in June. The company, which uses proprietary artificial intelligence technology to match animal proteins to their ideal replacements among thousands of plant-based ingredients, has four product lines that are available in the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Columbia.
Quinn Snacks raises $10M to fuel growth and innovation
Snack maker Quinn (Boulder, Colorado) secured $10 million in a Series B funding round led by growth equity firm NewRoad Capital Partners. Boulder Food Group, Echo Capital and Sunil Thakor also participated. The company, which manufacturers better-for-you popcorn, chips and pretzels, will use the funds to support growth, product innovation and the company’s regenerative agriculture focus. Quinn has seen 60% growth in revenue year over year since 2019 and has grown to distribution in 10,000 stores.
Recovery drink brand The Plug Drink raises $1.5M in seed funding
Plant-based, East Asian-inspired recovery beverage startup The Plug Drink (Los Angeles, California) has raised $1.5 million in seed funding from prominent figures such as wish.com’s CEO Peter Szulczewski, NBA basketball player Myles Turner, Miley Cyrus’ manager Adriana Arc, Backend Capital’s general partner Lucy Guo, FL player Troy Hill, actor Frankie Delgado and others. The company currently only distributes online and in liquor stores in Michigan and South California but plans to use the new funds to expand nationally.
ADM to purchase soy ingredient supplier Sojaprotein
Archer Daniels Midland (Chicago, Illinois) has announced plans to acquire European non-GMO soy ingredients group Sojaprotein (Bečej, Serbia). “Thirty years ago, ADM invented the soy vegetable burger, giving rise to the plant-based protein segment,” said Leticia Gonçalves, ADM’s president of Global Foods. “Today, alternative proteins represent one of our core growth platforms, and as this $10 billion global industry grows to $30 billion over the next decade, we are investing to expand our unparalleled capabilities.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
India’s The Whole Truth secures $6M in Series A round
Launched in 2019, The Whole Truth (Maharashtra, India), which makes muesli, protein bars and other clean-label foods, has raised more than $6 million in a Series A funding round. The company claims to be the only Indian brand to list every ingredient that goes into its food. The round was led by Sequoia Capital India with participation from others. “At TWT, we’re hell-bent on bringing the truth back to food. We do this through our 100% clean-label products, and through clutter-breaking content that helps consumers spot the misleading information they’re being provided,” said Shashank Mehta, founder of The Whole Truth and an ex-Unilever marketeer.
Peeled Snacks sold to Deep River Snacks founder
Peeled Snacks (Cumberland, Rhode Island), which had declared bankruptcy in March after facing significant declines in sales due to the closure of schools and airports during the pandemic, has been sold to Jim Goldberg, founder of tortilla and potato chip company Deep River Snacks. Peeled Snacks makes a variety of snack options to meet the needs of diet tribes such as vegan, grain-free, paleo and gluten-free. The B Corporation was launched in 2004.
Manna Tree invests $18M in plant-based brand Urban Remedy
Plant-based food company Urban Remedy (Richmond, California) has secured $18 million in a Series D fundraising round from Manna Tree. Existing partners Builders Fund and Obvious Ventures joined the round in supporting the maker of certified organic ready-to-eat meals, snack and cold pressed juices. The company will use the funds for key hires and resources to support further manufacturing efficiencies as well as digital marketing efforts. Founded in 2009 by licensed acupuncturist Neka Pasquale, Urban Remedy doubled its kiosk locations during 2020 while ramping up its online platform.
Fungi protein brand Nature’s Fynd gets $350M
Food tech company Nature’s Fynd (Chicago, Illinois) raised $350 million in a Series C funding round, bringing the company’s total financing to over $500 million. The company plans to use the capital to enter multiple brand-aligned partnerships with retail stores and quick-serve restaurants as well as significant geographical expansion, focusing on Asia. Nature’s Fynd makes meat and dairy alternatives from a fungi protein it calls Fy from a microbe sourced from volcanic springs. The Series C round was led by SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 and joined by new investors Blackstone Strategic Partners, Balyasny Asset Management, Hillhouse Investment and Hongkou.
Undercover Snacks takes home $13.7M equity investment
Chocolate snack brand Undercover Snacks (Englewood, Colorado) has raised $13.7 million of equity for a minority stake in the company. The company will use the funds for marketing initiatives to support its growing retail footprint and expansion of the company’s production facility, as well as building the management team. Undercover Snacks launched in 2017 with chocolate-covered quinoa and doubled its distribution in 2021 to over 10,000 retail locations across North America. Terms of the equity financing were not disclosed.
Prebiotic ingredient company Prenexus raises $15M in Series B round
Prenexus Health (Gilbert, Arizona), which manufactures organic prebiotic ingredients for supplements, foods and beverages, has closed a $15 million Series B funding round, with additional financing related to the close bringing the total to $23 million in expansion financing. The funds will be used to significantly expand production capacity at the company’s manufacturing plant, which uses a novel process to produce certified organic XOS (xylo-oligosaccharide) from U.S.-grown organic sugar cane, branded as PreneXOS.
Plant-based cheese startup Nobell Foods raises $75M in Series B round
Nobell Foods (San Francisco, California) has raised $75 million in a Series B funding round, bringing the total raised to a whopping $100 million for this company on a mission to make a stretchy vegan cheese. Founder Magi Richani and her team developed a method to recreate the genetic code of casein in soybean seeds and grow plants that have the same dairy caseins found in conventional dairy. The company is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Bill Gates-backed Breakthrough Energy Ventures, with notable support from Robert Downey Jr.’s FootPrint Coalition Venture. Nobell will use funds from the round to expand its team and farming partnerships, scale production and bring its product to market.
Athletic Greens to get investment from Lewis Hamilton and others
British racing driver Lewis Hamilton is participating in a funding round led by SC Holdings, a private equity firm, for Athletic Greens (Carson City, Nevada), which is taking on external investors for the first time since it was founded more than a decade ago. Other celebrity investors in the company include actor Hugh Jackman, model Cindy Crawford and musician Steve Aoki. Athletic Greens expects to surpass $100 million in revenue in 2021 and will use the funds to market the direct-to-consumer brand.
Disclaimer: NCN does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any NCN news item. Before relying on any NCN News item the information should be independently verified.


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This archived news story are available simply for your own personal, non-commercial usage. Information in to the story might be outdated or superseded by more info. Replaying or reading the storyline in its kind that is archived does represent a republication of the tale.
HELENA, Mont. (AP) In an account Sept. 8 about tribal financing that is payday The Associated Press reported erroneously so just how much income through the Chippewa Cree tribeвЂ™s online mortgage company ended up being received by three tribal users. It turned out 7 percent, a maximum of a third.
HELENA, Mont. (AP) The Chippewa Cree tribeвЂ™s wellness that is previous along with 2 past leaders regarding the tribe-owned unsecured guarantor loan company secretly received 7 percent about the earnings from the business which includes made $25 million since 2011, brand brand unique documents revealed. Information about the concealed payments made to previous Plain Green specialists Neal Rosette and Billi Anne Morsette, along with ex-health supervisor James Eastlick Jr., are revealed in a arbitration americash loans review honor that is connected by having a lawsuit filed this 30 days by the tribe.
The July 31 reward by Patrick Irvine with regards to united states of america Arbitration Association unearthed that Encore that is services https://badcreditloanslist.com/payday-loans-mo/ that are nevada-based tribal leaders hid the agreement that delivered 5 percent of Plain GreenвЂ™s gross profits to a company called Best Consulting owned by Rosette and Morsette.
Eastlick received a share for this money, plus another 2 % of profits funneled up to a business that is ongoing owned called Trio Consulting.
The funds was indeed provided in to the consulting companies through the 15 % share of Plain GreenвЂ™s profits fond of Encore, which offered management and solutions which are consulting the tribeвЂ™s online funding programs.


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Meet 22-year-old paralegal Gabrielle Reilly, from Virginia.
Reilly told BuzzFeed News that she always wanted to make earrings for her AirPods because she didn’t want to lose them.
She said: “I absolutely refuse to lose them. My cat ate through two pairs of Beats Bluetooth earphones, and all my other earphones.
“So I got the AirPods because there was no wire for her to chew but I still needed something to connect them.”
She went: “So I made earrings. I also have a chain necklace that I used to connect them. It took me maybe around an hour to make the earrings because I had to custom-make the piece that connects the AirPods to the earrings.”
Reilly has decided to call them “Airings” and sell them for $20.
The Airings are detachable, so you don’t need to worry about charging them.
People thought Reilly’s idea was futuristic.
Reilly said going viral was absolutely wild.
She said: “I have had tweets run high stats but nothing like this. It’s not even a good quality video haha. But it’s a fun and interesting experience. I appreciate all the support I’m getting for it.”
Reilly said the responses have been mixed: “Airpods have become a meme, so for most people, I feel like the earrings are a joke. And they kind of are to me. But, a functional joke.”
Ikran is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.
Contact Ikran Dahir at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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You’ve got to hand it to him – Elon Musk really knows how to cause a stir! He recently attempted to purchase Twitter for an amount of money that most people would love to have 10% off in their bank account and everybody is wondering what his next move is.
He has joked about putting a certain removed ingredient back into a popular cola beverage. That inspired a meme that Musk should purchase a popular fast-food chain to fix its ice cream machines. Unfortunately, he claims that he can’t “do miracles.”
Some Tweeters are willing to compromise though if he could bring back the occasional rib-flavored sandwich.
at least bring back the mcrib— aerial (@suchhodl) April 28, 2022
Some are suggesting other things for Musk to buy, from video games to sports teams.
will there be a chance you buy fortnite?— dyox (@dyoxfn) April 28, 2022
BUY THE YANKEES, ELON!!!!— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) April 28, 2022
What else do you think that Elon Musk could fix if he bought it?


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Where Does Apple Spend its Money? [InfoGraphic]
Although it has lost “the world’s most valuable company” title recently to Exxon, Apple is still the best place to work, as Tim Cook pointed out in his meeting with company employees right after announcing a record holiday quarter.
Now analysts and investors have a reason to worry: the infographic put together by the editors at Master’s in Business Administration Degree Guide shows Apple’s spending is increasing. The only question is where does the tech giant spend its money? On advertising, like Samsung?
Looking at the fiscal year 2012, we can see that Apple has $10.04 billion on selling, general and administrative costs, a significant increase compared to the previous fiscal year, when the above costs were only $7.799 billion.
What is more interesting, though, is that Apple is investing heavily in Research and Development. The data shows Apple has spent $7.04 billion on data centers in 2012 – a 94% increase compared to a year prior – and another $7.1 billion was budgeted for product tooling, manufacturing process equipment, corporate infrastructure and facilities, information services enhancements, software and hardware.
Source: A Bite Out of Apple
Another interesting finding is that Apple spends much less than other big companies on advertising and lobbying. The company spent just $500,000 on lobbying compared to Google’s $5 million.