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In a development certain to increase pressure on Congress to get moving on passing federal data privacy legislation, the Commonwealth of Virginia appears to be on track to become the next state to enact a comprehensive consumer data privacy law. Both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates recently passed nearly identical pieces of data privacy legislation with strong bipartisan support, which bodes favorably for a straightforward reconciliation of the two bills.
Virginia's Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA) now heads to Governor Ralph Northam's desk for him to sign the bill into law or to veto it. Presuming the bill is signed into law, the CDPA will become the next state-level data privacy law in the United States, and the next in a landscape (in the absence of federal data privacy legislation) that looks to be shaping into a patchwork of individual state privacy laws.
The CDPA closely mirrors other sweeping data privacy laws before it, like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Once Virginia's law is passed, it will become effective on January 1st, 2023, affording Virginia residents extensive data protections and holding to account the organizations that process Virginians' personal data.
Consumers in Virginia will be granted the following five rights under the CDPA:
- The right to confirm whether a controller is processing personal data and the right to access that data (Right to Access).
- The right to correct inaccurate personal data (Right to Correction).
- The right to delete personal data (Right to Deletion).
- The right to obtain personal data in a portable and readily usable format (Right to Data Portability).
- The right to opt-out of the processing of personal data for targeted advertising, sale of personal data, and "profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning the consumer" (Right to Opt-out).
The CDPA defines personal data as "any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable natural person," not including "de-identified data or publicly available information."
As far as data controllers are concerned, the CDPA would apply to any organization that conducts business in Virginia or produces products or services targeted at Virginia residents, and either controls or processes the data of at least 100,000 Virginia residents in one calendar year or controls or processes the "personal data of at least 25,000 consumers and derive(s) over 50 percent of gross revenue from the sale of personal data."
Data controllers would be obligated under the law to maintain a level of transparency regarding their data practices, including drafting privacy notices and informing consumers of the sale of their data or any use of their personal data for targeted advertising. On top of that, controllers would be required to adhere to principles of data minimization and purpose limitation. Additional data controller obligations under the law would include completing data protection assessments for the processing of highly sensitive personal data and the requirement to obtain informed consent from consumers prior to processing sensitive personal data.
Any organization bound by the CDPA would face fines of up to a maximum of $7,500 per violation, enforced exclusively by the Virginia Attorney General. Notable also is that private rights of action are explicitly prohibited in the CDPA, meaning consumers themselves wouldn't have the right to bring any action against a particular organization for any perceived violation under the law.
Though compliance with such laws can be expensive and resource-intensive, the January 2023 effective date should give businesses enough time to get their ducks in a row and prepare for compliance with the law. Indeed, organizations across the country should be preparing for data privacy compliance in any case, as more and more states will certainly be introducing similar legislation moving forward as progress on a national data privacy law remains stalled due to a partisan impasse in Congress.
It is clear that American consumers are desperately in need of strong data privacy protections. But in the absence of federal legislation protecting all Americans equally across the board, it has been up to individual states to introduce data privacy laws to protect consumers and hold companies accountable for their data practices.
A patchwork of 50 different state-level data privacy laws in the US is not an ideal scenario, but that is where the country will be headed if Congress remains unable to agree on how a national law should be implemented. Perhaps Virginia following in the footsteps of California and passing a comprehensive data privacy law of its own will put added pressure on Congress to finally get something accomplished on the federal level.


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Some crypto projects don’t have any noble goal or ambitious vision to change the world. In fact, many blockchain projects are only about making money for investors and are designed with that purpose in mind.
One of these is a rapidly growing new altcoin called SafeMoon. While some have called SafeMoon a glorified get-rich-quick scheme, investors can't deny that SafeMoon has built one of the fastest-growing crypto communities around. With prices skyrocketing by tens of thousands of a percent over the past three weeks, this super speculative token might be worth checking out.
What is SafeMoon?
One unique type of altcoin that’s been soaring in popularity recently has a deflationary tokenomics model. Essentially, these tokens have a built-in mechanism that destroys a small part of every transaction in that currency. In theory, as more people trade the currency, the supply will continue to get destroyed, which pushed the prices up. This automatic burn tends to be combined with an auto-staking element as well, which means that every transaction will see some of its value distributed to the remaining holders of the said token.
For example, SafeMoon has a 5 percent burn rate and a 5 percent auto-staking rate. If you buy or sell $100 in Safemoon, $5 of the token will be destroyed permanently, while another 5 percent will be transferred to the remaining holders. Long-term holders of SafeMoon can watch their wallets automatically keep growing, while available quantities continue to shrink due to the burn rate.
Is SafeMoon a scam?
SafeMoon officially launched on March 8, which makes it an incredibly young project. In many ways, SafeMoon was inspired by another deflationary altcoin project, Hoge, which saw similar growth during its early stages. While Hoge, originally a meme coin, is working on expanding its scope with charity projects, SafeMoon doesn’t have the same ambition to be anything more than a way to make cryptos rich (hence the name).
Is Safemoon a scam? There have been a number of cases where developers create a coin, hype it up, then thanks to a backdoor in the code, they pocket all the money from the owners. This is what’s called a “rug pull.” It has happened quite a bit over the past few weeks. SafeMoon hasn't undergone a serious third-party audit yet, which is necessary to know whether it’s a rug pull or scam.
SafeMoon's stock price forecast
Mainly, people are buying up SafeMoon because they hope that it will continue to go up more. While some coins, like Doge and Hoge, are based on memes, SafeMoon isn’t—it’s just a speculative rollercoaster. As long as prices continue to soar, new investors are going to jump in. However, once prices stop rising, there’s a good chance that SafeMoon will crash.
If playing a speculative game of musical chairs sounds appealing to you, there’s a chance you could make some gains with SafeMoon as a short-term investment. However, for most people, by the time they find out about SafeMoon, their chance for a massive 10,000 percent or more gain is out of the picture.
Right now, SafeMoon is trading at a mere $0.00000023. It’s likely that prices could rise by 10x, maybe more, within the next few months. However, no one knows when the bubble will pop and when prices will start crashing. That could be next week, next month, or maybe next year.
How to buy SafeMoon
The only way you can buy SafeMoon is by using the Binance Smart Chain, which is Binance’s blockchain platform. This is a type of centralized exchange, different from decentralized exchanges like Uniswap, that's commonly used for these types of deflationary and speculative altcoins. It’s going to be a long time before SafeMoon gets listed on a more popular exchange, like Binance, so don't' expect that anytime soon.

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PETALING JAYA: Preventive measures are being put in place by e-commerce and social media sites to curb any unscrupulous attempt to falsely peddle “Covid-19 vaccines.”
Shopee Malaysia’s operations director Esten Mok said it has mechanisms to ensure that listings of so-called “Covid-19 vaccines” do not get published on its platform.
“We have a team that regularly screen product listings to make sure they do not violate our policies.
“If products are found to be illegal or do not meet our stringent standards, we will remove the product listing and take swift action against the sellers, ” he said.
Mok also stressed that a recent viral image depicting the sale of Pfizer’s vaccine on Shopee was fake.
Mok added that Shopee has also taken pre-emptive measures to blacklist any related keywords for Covid-19 vaccines to intercept attempts to sell such items on its platform.
“When, in isolated cases, determined bad actors manage to evade these screening processes, we take immediate action to protect the Shopee community.
“We also encourage users to reach out to Shopee if they encounter similar listings on our platform, ” he said.
Facebook temporarily prohibited advertisements which promote certain high-demand products related to Covid-19, including content promoting the sale of vaccines.
A Facebook spokesman said it has taken “aggressive steps” to keep people safe and informed.
“We also have robust policies to protect people from those trying to exploit this emergency for financial gain, ” the spokesman said.


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According to McKee, Silver Therapeutics has submitted its application for a license to sell recreational marijuana, with the goal of the Orange location serving as a “hybrid shop” selling marijuana for medical and recreational purposes.
There is no difference, McKee said, between the marijuana to be sold to medical and recreational users, and it’s the same “high-quality cannabis and cannabis products.”
However, the host agreement with Orange is specifically written to allow a medical marijuana dispensary only, and is being rewritten to allow recreational marijuana sales, hence the delayed opening.
“It’s just a little more back and forth (with the town) as far as the host agreement goes, and we’re looking at possibly breaking ground this summer,” McKee said.
While certain members of the Planning Board and Selectboard have lent support, and meetings with the Zoning Board have been productive, McKee said, there has been some ambivalence about the shop from residents, particularly from owners of neighboring businesses.
However, Silver Therapeutics CEO Joshua Silver has made it a point to conduct community outreach to alleviate concerns.
At a discussion with surrounding businesses and members of the Planning Board in March, Silver said the store will be discreet, with no marijuana imagery, and will be strict about security and not selling or advertising to minors.


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Recently rumored that Huawei think is the other in the launch of a smart phone foldable. This was not surprising given the pace made by this company in the smartphone market to become rapidly within the first three best-selling smartphones in the world, so it was only a matter of time before we see Huawei trying to create her smart phone rollaway. Having said that, has revealed one of the executives in the company Huawei that the first smart phone from the company supports the 5G will have in fact a folding screen.
Revealed Mr. Ken Hu, a chairman of the board of Directors of the company Huawei during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum that his company will launch the first smart phone that supports 5G in the middle of the year 2019, and it will be a folding screen.
According to Mr. Ken Hu, stated in a panel discussion by the forum economic world by saying : ” in the first smart phone won’t support 5G, we’re going to offer a folding screen “. It should be noted that the discussion of this revolved around the benefits of 5G in the short term. Was excited to speak in detail relating to this phone, but it keep Show the benefits of networks of the fifth generation and what it means the next generation of the mobile technology industry as a whole.
Operators in a few markets operate on a continuous basis to launch 5G to consumers in the next year. The company will be the Huawei one of the few companies that will launch a smartphone compatible with the 5G in the year 2019.
The post the first phone compatible with 5G of company Huawei will have a folding screen appeared first on electronic.


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LG teases its new “Velvet” smartphone and has released a video this weekend showing the design and an important specification. LG says this “Velvet” phone is the first in a “new product roadmap” and that the company “Move of alphanumeric labels “in its branding. In other words, the LG G-Series is dead and this is the phone that the LG G9 would have been.
We are mostly here because the rumors were true and this “flagship” smartphone is not equipped with Qualcomm’s most expensive chip, the Snapdragon 865. Instead, the Snapdragon 765 is being shipped prices, Snapdragon 765 devices should take smartphones out of the stratosphere while maintaining the speed and functionality of a flagship. The chip is popular in China and other more competitive smartphone markets, but we haven’t seen a phone with the 765 in the U.S. yet. The Nokia 8.3 has a Snapdragon 765G and will be launched worldwide sometime in summer 2020, as well as Google’s Pixel 5 should also use the chip.
The Snapdragon 865 is a two-chip solution with the usual computer components on the main SoC, while the LTE and 5G connectivity runs on a separate modem. A two-chip solution is larger, more expensive, and more power-hungry than the typical all-in-one setup. By incorporating the additional modem and mmWave components into devices, OEMs need to build larger devices with larger batteries to power the more power-hungry components, and all of this increases the price of smartphones.
On the other hand, the Snapdragon 765 is a strange quirk in Qualcomm’s lineup. It’s not the flagship chip, but it has a more forward-looking design: an integrated 5G modem. The Snapdragon 765 slightly reduces the 5G modem to reach theoretical speeds of only (only!) 3.8 Gbit / s, while the separate modem in the 865 can theoretically reach 7.5 Gbit / s. The 765 itself is cheaper, and the single-chip solution should also help reduce the size and power consumption – and therefore the ancillary costs – of the rest of the phone.
The video mainly shows the design of the new LG cell phone. The front has a U-shaped notch and slim bezels. The back has three camera lenses and skips the “rectangular camera block” design trend that you see on Apple and Samsung phones. Instead, it just cuts a few circular holes in the glass bottom. The back is available in four colors: black, white, green and a trendy color change option in red / orange.
Unfortunately, like on a Samsung or OnePlus phone, the display is curved left and right. LG highlights this in the video by swirling light over the phone and glass, causing the curved display sides to absorb a lot of glare. That’s the problem, LG! A display that catches glare from ceiling lights is bad and one of the most annoying aspects of a curved display. Curved displays also distort everything you look at along the curve, as websites and apps are flat.
The bottom edge of the phone should make some people happy by having a lower speaker, a USB-C port, and a headphone jack. After Samsung removed the headphone jack from its flagship devices, LG was one of the few outfits that shipped one in a high-end smartphone.
LG’s joke suggests that the Velvet should be released soon. Korean media reports Let’s say the phone will be off on May 15th.
Listing picture by LG


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47 in Falls, 3 in Aurora lose jobs with Toys R Us closing
AKRON — Three area Toys R Us stores are expected to close permanently at month’s end, the company has confirmed in a notice filed with the state.
The company announced its liquidation in March after it was unable to reorganize following its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. It did not publicly disclose details about the number of workers affected and closing dates until this week.
The chain’s demise affects 33,000 employees nationwide, including 1,178 in Ohio.
In its Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) Act filing received Monday by state officials, Toys R Us said the closings affect 47 employees at its Cuyahoga Falls store near Chapel Hill Mall, 47 at its Belden Village Mall store in Plain Township and 36 at its Copley store in the Montrose shopping area.
The filing also said three employees were affected by the May 15 closure of the Toys R Us Express store at Aurora Farms Premium Outlets in Portage County.


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Sunday, April 2, 2017
Call for Stricter Regulations on Chinese Food Imports
Target: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Goal: Urge the FDA to impose stricter investigations and labeling on imported food from China
A report from the European Nation points out that China has had a long history of importing tainted foods into other countries; in 2012 alone, there were over sixteen foods rejected by the EU, including pumpkin seeds mixed with glass chips, maggot-infested pasta, and noodles containing high levels of aluminum. As large numbers of investigations and reports find malpractice in China’s food production, the FDA must impose more rigid regulations for Chinese imports in order to protect Americans from food contamination.
The United States is a large importer of Chinese food products: 80% of our tilapia, 51% of cod, and 49% of our apple juice is from China. However, the FDA only inspects 2.3% of all food imports, making Americans extremely vulnerable to food contamination. Though American consumers may make efforts to be more conscious about their grocery shopping, it is difficult for them to make accurate evaluations because food products from China that are processed in other countries are labeled as processed or packaged in those countries, with no mention that the raw food product is from China.
By signing this petition you will urge the FDA to conduct stricter and more frequent investigations on food imported from China to maintain safety and sanitation for American consumers.
Dear Food and Drug Administration,
Seeing as the U.S. imports so many food products from China, recent reports of tainted food imports have made me very concerned for the well-being of American consumers. Though we can hardly stop China from selling tainted food in their country, the FDA should be able to inspection our food imports thoroughly enough to ensure that contaminated products rarely find their way into our homes.
I have been informed, however, that only 2.3% of food imports are inspected by the FDA. Yes, that is probably a lot of food already, considering how much food we import from other countries, but the problem with China’s food is so severe that we need to direct more attention toward ensuring the safety and sanitation of these products.
In addition, it would be a great help to consumers who want to shop consciously if we could work towards labeling foods that originated from China as such, instead of just under the country that the food was processed in. Especially for foods like meat and fish paste, which can be easily contaminated in its place of origin before the paste-making process, it is important for consumers to have the right to know where their food originally came from so they can make conscious food choices.


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Atlanta Business Chronicle | The MET shows off new courtyard, connection to neighborhoods
Carter has released updated designs for its redevelopment of a more than 1 million-square foot former cotton warehouse in Southwest Atlanta.
The images show that the longtime Atlanta real estate company and the project's architect ASD|SKY want to reconnect the redevelopment to Murphy Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods. The project will feature amenities such as a courtyard with an open air marketplace, along with food and beverage options.
Carter expects to announce its first leases with food and beverage operators in the next several weeks, said David Nelson, an executive vice president with the developer leading the conversion of the old warehouse.
Click here for more images and the full article.
By Douglas Sams, Commercial Real Estate Editor, Atlanta Business Chronicle
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Wine Enthusiast says Early Mountain Vineyards has received notable recognition for wines that show the state’s terroir in its best light. Early Mountain is headed by winemaker Ben Jordan.
Wine lovers, pack your bags: It’s time for a trip to Bulgaria. Wine Enthusiast picks its top 10 travel destinations for wine lovers. Here’s what made the list. (Photos)
D.C. restaurants are being recognized for more than just what\’s on the plate. A new list praises what\’s in the glass as well.
Recreating the District in video game form was no small task. Here's how the developers did it.


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According to CMR’s India Mobile Handsets Market Review for the year 2012, India registered 221.6 million mobile handset shipments for CY (January-December) 2012. Great news is that Nokia, was the overall market leader with 21.8% share of the total mobile handset shipments!!
India still being the Featurephones dominated market, only 15.2 million smartphones were shipped in year 2012. Nokia was second largest smartphone player with 13.7% share, which is still good considering Lumia WP8 devices were launched only in January 2013. In case of featurephones, Nokia has shipped 22.8% of overall featurephone units shipped in 2012.
Further, it seems Featurephones have grown by 20% and smartphones registered nearly 35% of Y-O-Y growth. Hence, even in 2013 India will see majority of mobile handset shipments belonging to featurephone category, but smartphone may see their overall percentage of total shipment growing!! This is where low-end smartphone like Lumia 520 and Lumia 620 become important for Nokia, considering price sensitivity of Indian market.


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Toilet-finding iPhone applications are really starting to gain traction. As the de facto king of the porcelain throne, it makes sense for toilet-paper giant Charmin to get in on the pooper-finding action. To that end, Charmin has released their own toilet-hunting iPhone application – the SitOrSquat iPhone application.
The apparently sexist iPhone application (although, “SitStandOrSquat” doesn’t quite roll off the tongue) offers users a database of 52,000 bathrooms in 10 countries around the world. SitOrSquat offers iPhone users an easy and flexible way to search for nearby restrooms, changing tables, handicap access and other amenities with a flick of the finger. Toilet locations are updated socially by the SitOrSquat userbase, and is constantly being updated. SitOrSquat even allows users to leave feedback on the toilet location they just visited, so you can be sure to find the nicest bathroom in your area.
Charmin has already seen 1,600 downloads of its iPhone application, with 500,000 unique visitors checking out the SitOrSquat website every day.
Grab SitOrSquat for FREE here. (iTunes link)
Full press release after the break.
Charmin Launches Global Sponsorship With ‘Sit Or Squat’ Website and Mobile Phone Application
“SitOrSquat” Connects Consumers with Clean, Public Restrooms Around the World!
CINCINNATI, March 24 /PRNewswire/ — Charmin(R), the country’s leading toilet paper, is launching a new global sponsorship of the “SitOrSquat” website, iPhone and Blackberry application, designed to help people on-the-go find the cleanest public restrooms around the world.
“Our goal is to connect Charmin with innovative conversations and solutions as a brand that understands the importance of bringing the best bathroom experience to consumers, even when they’re away from home,” explained Jacques Hagopian, Brand Manager for Charmin. “Helping people find a bathroom that is clean and comfortable is exactly what the SitOrSquat project is all about.”
This is the first time that a toilet paper brand has partnered with a downloadable mobile application. The SitOrSquat iPhone and Blackberry application is the world’s first Wiki for recording and accessing bathroom information globally. SitOrSquat allows users to find bathrooms, changing tables, handicap access and other amenities with ease. The application users are responsible to add content to the service and provide feedback when they’ve used one of the featured toilets. To date, SitOrSquat has over 52,000 toilets in 10 countries worldwide.
For nearly a decade, Charmin has been dedicated to giving consumers a great public bathroom experience. This commitment started in 2000 with “Charminizing” public restrooms at State Fairs, then the mobile unit ‘Potty Palooza’ from 2003-2005 and finally, with the next evolution, The Charmin Restrooms in Times Square. Charmin has operated The Charmin Restrooms installation in New York City for the past three years. With 20 clean, free and family-friendly stalls, New Yorkers and tourists have made the Charmin Restrooms one of the most popular destinations in Times Square during the holiday season.
“SitOrSquat is a perfect partner for Charmin,” says Jacques Hagopian. “Charmin understands how difficult it can be for families to find clean public restrooms when they’re out and about and this partnership allows us to continue to help consumers.”
Since the SitorSquat service launched, over 1,600 users have downloaded the application and the SitOrSquat has over 500,000 unique visitors to date.


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VietNamNet Bridge - In January, Vietnam’s fashion industry received good news: the collections of designers Cong Tri and Phuong My would appear during New York Fashion Week, one of the four most influential fashion week events in the world. The aim of both My and Tri was to open shops that sell high-end made-in-Vietnam fashion products in the US. In 2017, Rhihana chose a design of Tri in his Em Hoa Collection introduced at Tokyo Fashion Week for a shoot to advertise a shoe brand. Meanwhile, Katy Perry ordered Tri three outfits for her world tour Witness. In 2017, Rhihana chose a design of Tri in his Em Hoa Collection introduced at Tokyo Fashion Week for a shoot to advertise a shoe brand. Meanwhile, Katy Perry ordered Tri three outfits for her world tour Witness. RELATED NEWS Vietnamese fashion brands make difficult comeback in home market Foreign brands dominate Vietnam’s fashion market Mai Lan … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s fashion enters the world market
World markets news
1. Bear hugs After swallowing markets from Germany to China, the bears reached U.S. shores in December. Markets there are fighting back but the outlook is not great. For one, growing numbers of global indices have notched up the 20 percent peak-to-trough drop denoting a bear market. U.S. stocks, which seemed invincible until mid-year, have posted the worst December performance since the Great Depression. Second, the world economic outlook is steadily darkening and upcoming PMI data should confirm that. Sure, the U.S. economy is still expanding nicely. But when high-growth, investor-darling tech stocks fall prey, it shows optimism about growth is fizzling. And segments such as the Russell 2000 small-cap benchmark are stuck deep in the bears’ lair. Small firms often carry higher debt loads than larger peers so falling share prices highlight credit risks. In Europe, Germany’s DAX fell to the bears in early December and the euro zone bank and auto sectors are down a whopping 40 … [Read more...] about Take Five: The Year of the Bear! World markets themes for the week ahead
The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange was up 0.17 per cent to 924.16 points. — Photo freedomsphoenix.com The market recovered strongly on Thursday morning thanks to optimistic investors and positive information from the global market. The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange was up 0.17 per cent to 924.16 points. It added 0.39 per cent to close at 922.56 points on Wednesday. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index climbed 1.08 per cent to end at 105.02 points. It slipped 0.01 per cent to end at 103.90 points on Wednesday. Nearly 106 million shares worth a combined VND2.3 trillion (US$99 million) were traded on the two bourses. World stock markets rose on Wednesday, with Wall Street tipping higher on gains in technology and energy shares, while oil rebounded from a steep sell-off as U.S. government data pointed to strong demand. Oil prices rose about $1 a barrel on Wednesday, bouncing from the lowest levels in months, after U.S. government … [Read more...] about Shares rebound with world markets
Brokers say market recovery in sight this monthPhuong Thao HCMC – The local stock market is expected to make a sharp turnaround this month as business results in the second quarter of listed companies will support investor sentiment, said Nguyen XuanBinh, deputy director of analysis and investment consulting unit of Bao Viet Securities Company. This month, the market will receive supporting news instead of the shortage of positive information in May. Besides, the launch of covered warrants is expected to give a boost to the VN-Index, Binh was quoted by vietstock.vn as saying. Regarding the banking sector, the expert said credit organizations have seen sharp correction last month after making impressive gains since early this year. Therefore, bank stock prices have become more affordable after the heavy losses. Lenders are forecast to bounce back in the coming time as they will benefit from the faster pace of economic growth in the second half. However, banks may not play the … [Read more...] about Brokers say market recovery in sight this month
VietNamNet Bridge - Both Vietnamese and foreign investors are rushing to pour money into coffee farms and coffee house chains as the market is very promising. But not all of them will succeed. More new coffee brands have turned up More new coffee brands have turned up in the Vietnamese coffee market, where ‘veterans’ like Trung Nguyen, Vinacafe Bien Hoa and Nestle are holding their firm positions. Three ‘big guys’ Though the trio has similar products, each has special characteristics which make them original. Trung Nguyen ranks Number 1 in terms of diversity with many coffee products, from instant to roasted coffee to civet coffee. Nescafe provides a wide range of mineral water products, food for children, and coffee and dairy products. Meanwhile, Vinacafe only focuses on products made of coffee, offering diverse coffee flavors for choice. More new coffee brands have turned up in the Vietnamese coffee market, where ‘veterans’ … [Read more...] about Is it easy to make money from Vietnam’s coffee market?


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Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Video Assist 12G which are new models of the company's popular combined monitoring and recording solutions.
Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic RAW 1.5 a new software update with support for Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer, plus Blackmagic RAW Speed test for Mac, PC and Linux, so customers can work on a wider range of platforms and editing software with their Blackmagic RAW files.
Blackmagic Design today announced a major new software update for Blackmagic URSA Broadcast cameras that adds Blackmagic RAW support as well as a whole new image processing design for improved quality.
Blackmagic Design today announced Videohub Master Control Pro, a newly designed router control panel that allows spin knob scrolling of all router sources and destinations as well as direct button entry of any router crosspoint.
Blackmagic Design today announced Videohub Smart Control Pro, a new elegantly designed router control panel that's designed to be the fastest way to switch router crosspoints.
EditShare Associate, EditShare Engineer, and EditShare Sales Professional learning tracks accelerate the path to mastery of EditShare tools and workflow solutions for sales and video professionals
Seasoned business executive and technology leader with extensive expertise in broadcast media to lead Dalet APAC business unit
AI SaaS platform now seamlessly integrated with Ooyala Flex Media Platform; smart captioning capabilities enable more efficient productions and delivery; contextual recommendations boost creative work from planning through production


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South Canterbury businesses highlighted in new book
South Canterbury businesses have been highlighted in a newly released book which aims to tell the stories behind New Zealand's food.
Source New Zealand is the product of more than a year's work finding stories from the regions that produce products for the food industry.
Authors Gerhard and Henri Egger spent nearly 15 months travelling the country and approaching farmers to write "their story", Henri Egger said.
Four South Canterbury businesses are featured in the book.
Mt Cook Alpine Salmon, deer farmer Graham Carr from Peel Forest Estate, Havoc Farm Pork at Hunter Hills and deer, sheep and beef farm Clayton Station, near Fairlie all feature in the book.
Clayton Station manager Hamish Orbell said the feature was an exciting chance to be able to share the heritage of the farm.
Orbell is the third generation operating the station, which the family has run since the 1960s.
"This is what we're trying to do, this for the story."
He said for all farmers, it was about sharing the love and pride of the land, whether they were stock or crop farmers.
"It's why we do it."
Havoc Pork owner Linda McCallum-Jackson said she and her husband Ian had been in the business for 17 years - and "everything is for the pigs".
She said "it might not be the tidiest farm but our pigs never suffer".
The operation prided itself on how it was able to tell people how their meat was produced, she said.
Henri Egger said "most New Zealanders have a vicinity with farming, whether that be through family or friends, and we've lost that".
"A lot of people in cities don't realise cows make milk and cows have a calf [for example] , it's perhaps the story of where it came from."
The book explored this, she said.
She said the Mackenzie businesses had "rich" stories to tell, mostly all with strong with family ties, and the farms were all working towards a sustainable future.
Mt Cook Salmon, for example, grew from a group of fisherman into a fully-fledged business - and "it's beautiful", she said.
"It is about the people who make it happen, the source if you like, of where it all begins."


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Not that anyone really doubted its legitimacy, but the recent rumor of a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite being in the pipeline is now just about confirmed, thanks to a Wi-Fi certification, Zauba listing and User Agent Profile expose.
Codenamed SM-T110 in a Wi-Fi only flavor and SM-T111 with 3G connectivity on top, the Tab 3 Lite should break cover at CES in January and go on sale a few weeks later for a starting price of roughly $135 (€100) in Europe.
Since the standard GTab 3 7.0 costs $200 (€150) give or take, a number of downgrades were to be expected. But surprise, surprise, that doesn’t seem to be the case, or at least not according to the UA Prof uncovered by Sammy Today.
There appears to be a dual-core Cortex A9-based CPU clocked at 1.2 GHz beneath the hood of the upcoming 7-incher, the on-board OS is Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, whereas the display boasts 1,024 x 600 pixels resolution.
Not groundbreaking specs, but on-par or, in Android 4.2’s case, better than the ones touted by the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0. So how exactly does Samsung intend to cut pricing? Well, think of it this way. The low-cost, low-end tab market is today far more competitive than it was back in April 2013, so, at the risk of shrinking profits, you have to offer more for less.
Now, is there anything else Zauba or the Wi-Fi Alliance reveal? Not particularly, with the Indian import tracking agency once again messing up the value of the listed device by estimating it at $545 (Rs. 33,349). Yeah, maybe if coated in gold.


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Ubuntu Linux may get the majority of attention from Linux watchers but there are many good alternatives available. One of those is Mandriva Linux, a version of Linux formerly known as Mandrake and long considered one of the most user-friendly of Linux versions. And now, just a week after the release of Ubuntu 9.10, Mandriva has released Mandriva Linux 2010, its newest and most feature-packed release to date.
Aside from the obvious latest versions of KDE and Gnome desktop environments, Mandriva 2010 also focuses heavily on netbook users and other alternative desktop users. Boot time is also a priority for Mandriva, as it is for most other operating system makers, and the developers say that Mandriva 2010 shuts down, hibernates, suspends, and resumes faster. The boot up procedure on Mandriva 2010 is managed by Plymouth, which also makes for a more attractive, graphical boot up process.
Rest Here


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Apple Passes Microsoft to Become Second-Largest U.S. Company by Market Capitalization
In the less-than-three months since Apple first passed Wal-Mart to hold the third highest market capitalization among U.S. companies, Apple's stock price has continued to increase while second-place Microsoft has seen its shares drift downward. The combination of events has quickly closed the gap between the two companies, and today Apple finally surpassed Microsoft in market capitalization for the first time in 20 years, although second-by-second fluctuations currently see the two companies frequently swapping positions.
Market capitalization is a popular metric for assessing the size of a company as a representation of the investing public's notion of the company's worth. The figure is derived by simply multiplying the number of outstanding shares of the company's stock by the share price.
In the case of Apple, slightly over 900 million shares outstanding times over $250 per share yields a market capitalization of about $228 billion. Microsoft, meanwhile, has a share price of only slightly over $26.00 but over 8.75 billion shares outstanding, giving it a nearly equal market capitalization to Apple.
With Apple and Microsoft now neck-and-neck, only Exxon Mobil's $282 billion market capitalization remains significantly ahead of Apple's among U.S. companies. Exxon Mobil's shares have dropped significantly over the past month, bringing its market capitalization down from a high of over $325 billion.


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UrFight & Intimidation to sponsor Adam Townsend in RFA main event on AXSTV
UrFight and Intimidation Clothing are proud to announce the sponsorship of RFA headliner Adam “Primetime” Townsend live on AXSTV. Townsend (14-3, @AdamTownsendMMA) will square off with Ernest Chavez (9-2) on Friday night in the main event at RFA 33 in Costa Mesa, California. The RFA MMA event will be televised on AXS TV with the main card beginning at 10 pm ET.
The first fighter ever sponsored by UrFight, Adam “Primetime” Townsend is a member of the D-Evil Fight Team in Johnson City, Tennessee. At 14-3, Townsend has won 8 straight and has finished his opponent 10 times in his 14 wins. This will be his 4th fight of 2015 after a very busy 2014 which saw Townsend step into the cage six times.
This marks the first dual sponsorship of a MMA fighter since the Intimidation & UrFight brands announced their merger a week ago. Both brands were available to the public together for the first time at the Happy Valley Fight Series boxing event in Elizabethton, TN last weekend and will be supporting Local MMA in the region again this weekend
Intimidation Clothing is a lifestyle brand of apparel targeting the Mixed Martial Arts and Combat Sports markets with a history of strong support for Local MMA. With a international reach which has included dealers in the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore and China, the Intimidation brand has been regularly featured on the backs of top-level MMA fighters in the UFC, Bellator MMA, WSOF and a multitude of Local MMA promotions. Anyone interested can apply to sell the Intimidation brand as a dealer and products are available for sale online at IntimidationClothing.com. Fans can also like Intimidation Clothing on Facebook or follow @IntimidationMMA on Twitter and Instagram.


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Seat will reduce will production at its Martorell plant in the first half next year as sales fall and the outlook remains uncertain.
A new temporary Labour Force Adjustment Plan (LFAP) will apply between 2 February and 30 June, additional to the current LFAP, the Volkswagen unit said in a statement.
The temporary LFAP applies seven to 29 non-production days at different production lines.
“The company has been forced to adjust its production forecast for the first half of 2009 to harmonise production volume with expected demand,” the statement said.
Regional newspaper La Vanguardia said the company would suspend 5,300 workers’ contracts. Martorell had a workforce of 9,700 a year ago, Reuters reported.
The earlier programme begun last month and running until July temporarily lays off around 750 workers and cuts annual production by around 5% or 20,000 cars, the news agency said.
Seat sales in Spain have fallen 24.8% to 96,900 in the first 11 months of the year according to automakers association Anfac, compared with a 26% fall across the sector, a trend which has accelerated in recent months, the report added.


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Coral Coast Clothing is to accept payments in cryptocurrency.
The Front Street outfit has partnered with GoCoin to allow customers to pay online and in-store, using bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Coral Coast sells a range of luxury tailored menswear, including the new “Bitcoin” dress shirt that has been released to coincide with the acceptance of cryptocurrency.
Adam Petty, co-founder of the business with Sam Outerbridge, said: “Our experience in the finance world means we are continually developing our offering and we felt that the acceptance of cryptocurrencies was the next natural stage for us.”
The twosome launched the business after quitting their jobs in the island’s financial sector. They decided to tackle a design niche that they felt was lacking locally, the dress shirt, which led to the creation of a full product range including their take on Bermuda shorts.
Embedded in the business, the owners say, is a deep understanding of the changing consumer as their financial backgrounds led them to look for ways to better serve modern consumers. The pair also successfully graduated from the initial Ignite Bermuda cohort.
This dedication to keeping up with the ever-changing world of consumer fashion, the owners say, meant the company also reassessed their brand and as a result, relaunched a new identity — a refreshed, simplified creation to match a global audience appeal.
Mr Petty said: “Reassessing our brand and digital platforms has also helped us to position ourselves better for the future, by creating a more simplified customer experience and in turn helping to expand our reach not only in Bermuda, but further afield.”
The acceptance of cryptocurrency isn’t the first time the company has launched an island first, the owners say. In June, Coral Coast was the first men’s retailer in Bermuda to launch a sustainable swim trunk, made from recycled plastic bottles.
Mr Outerbridge said: “Being true to our local heritage and to the island is really important to us. Whilst we continue to target global expansion, we’re heavily connected to the island and it will always weave through our product designs and offering.”
He added: “Our swim trunks were a massive success and just one small way for us to give back to Bermuda, by increasing awareness while helping to clean up the reefs and natural surroundings at the same time.”
Coral Coast recently launched a digital campaign to encourage customers to “shop local” this Christmas, encouraging local residents to support local retailers.
Coral Coast is based at 15 Front Street, Hamilton. See www.coralcoastclothing.com</i>


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Sadly, cancer is the leading cause of death among dogs, with a staggering six to 10 million new diagnoses each year. While one in three dogs will develop cancer in their lifetime, diagnosis doesn’t have to mean death, however.
The key to fighting cancer and extending the lives of our pets lies in early detection.
Oncotect, a biotech startup from North Carolina, this week launched a pioneering early cancer screening kit for dogs, for use by veterinary care teams and pet parents alike.
This is the first product of its kind to be available online for pet parents at home for an affordable price and without the need for any invasive procedures.
The new testing kit helps work around a number of hurdles in traditional cancer screenings for pets, according to the company. Current testing methods, such as biopsies, ultrasounds, and X-rays, while effective at diagnosis, are often prohibitively expensive or impractical for early screening. Additionally, blood tests require a hospital visit, creating a barrier to timely testing.
Oncotect’s testing kit lowers the barrier of who can test pets, being specially made for veterinarians and everyday pet parents alike. It’s also set at a relatively affordable price of under $250.
For pet parents with pets that can’t sit still during vet visits, or panic or get aggressive during medical procedures, Ocotect’s test bills itself as non-invasive, requiring only a small urine sample from the furry friend, eliminating the stress and discomfort associated with more invasive screening methods.
What’s more, pet parents can access the test results in just seven days, which includes an easily understandable risk assessment, categorizing their furry companions as low, moderate, or high risk of the four most common types of canine cancers, including melanoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumor and hemangiosarcoma.
Additionally, Oncotect offers guidance to veterinarians and pet parents regarding the appropriate next steps based on the results.
“We are extremely excited to launch a game-changing solution that’s both simple and practical for at-home use,” said Oncotect founder and CEO Chan Namgong. “We are not only making a difference in the lives of dogs, but in the lives of their pet parents who depend on them so much emotionally and mentally.”
How does it work?
Oncotect’s patent-pending technology relies on the hyper-sensitive olfactory neuron of the Caenorhabditis elegans species of nematodes. These are microscopic worms capable of detecting cancer metabolites when exposed to urine containing them.
This methodology has been backed by scientific clinical research and published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers In Veterinary Science.
Since its founding in 2020, Oncotect has secured over $360,000 in funding, with investments from esteemed organizations such as Leap Venture Studio, the North Carolina Biology Center, and NCIDEA.
Disclosure: This article mentions a client of an Espacio portfolio company.


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Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is inviting New Yorkers who aren’t pleased by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new gun regulations to move to his home state to keep their Second Amendment rights.
A series of Web ads were launched Wednesday, popping up across screens on various media websites accessed in Manhattan and Albany, including that of The New York Times, reported the Austin American-Statesman. The ads are paid for with Abbott’s campaign operation Texans for Greg Abbott and promise the uninfringed right to bear arms as well as lower taxes and more money for ammo.
One particular Facebook ad reads:
“We have right to work laws and a reasonable regulatory environment. Texas has created more than 275,000 jobs in the last year alone! And we’ll fight like hell to protect your rights.
“You’ll also get to keep more of what you earn and use some of that extra money to buy more ammo.
“I hope to see you soon in Texas. In the meantime, sign up to show your support for our second amendment rights.”
More @ Politico


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Danger Close is getting closer to making a more personal and dramatic first person shooter for the totally revamped Medal of Honor franchise, when Medal of Honor: Warfighter launches on October 23.Game players will meet Preacher, who leads a squad of elite soldiers to battle terrorists on a world wide scale.
TomSnider reporting for USA Today has more of the inner workings and comment reported earlier with reference to game-play and exclusive interview content with Greg Goodrich the executive producer.
Medal of Honor: Warfighter also uses DICE's Frostbite 2 game engine, the same engine that was used for Battlefield 3.No doubt that the Somalian "Pirate Town" environment shown at E3 was intricately rendered, and Goodrich continues, “Warfighter promises to be a truly unique and compelling experience.”
Executive producer Greg Goodrich had mentioned in a taped interview “We have integrated this connection into the game so that you can choose a fire team buddy and be able to track him through any situation from any distance." For example, even between walls, foliage, buildings etc, should your buddy be taken out stay out of sight and he will be able to respawn directly on your (location)," Goodrich says. "If you are the more aggressive type, hunt down and slay the enemy who killed him and your buddy will instantly respawn without any additional waiting time."
Electronic Arts has released a new video to reveal Preacher's story in Medal of Honor Warfighter's Single Player campaign as Preacher and his fellow teammates are sent in to solve the problem in the video below.
More information, screenshots, and pre-order of Medal of Honor Warfighter to access the exclusive Battlefield 4 Beta! At http://uk.medalofhonor.com due Oct. 23 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.


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According to a new report, the higher-end iPhone 14 models, namely the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, will be getting a significant RAM upgrade. The DigiTimes writes that Apple will equip the higher-end iPhone 14 models with 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which is a significant upgrade over the LPDDR4X RAM found in the current iPhone models. The non-Pro iPhone 14 models (iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max) are expected to still feature LPDDR4X RAM.
• Looking for the best iPhones for photographers?
While the iPhone 13 series starts at 4GB of memory, the new iPhone 14 series will all feature 6GB of RAM, albeit different types. The LPDDR5 RAM upgrade in the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max will essentially mean better and more energy-efficient performance for these models, compared to the standard models.
iPhone 14 model differentiation
Recent reports have said Apple will only equip the Pro models with the latest A16 Bionic chip and now the RAM upgrade looks to follow suit, which will certainly help the Cupertino-based company differentiating between the iPhone 14 models. Respected Apple analyst, Ming- Chi Kuo, also reported on both the newer memory standard and chip news back in March this year.
Only two Pro models would upgrade to the A16 processor, while the 14 & 14 Max will remain the A15. All four new models will likely come with 6GB RAM, with the difference being LPDDR 5 (14 Pro & 14 Pro Max) vs. LPDDR 4X (14 & 14 Max). https://t.co/tHcszIz6gXMarch 13, 2022
iPhone 14: Rumors so far
As per its usual announcement model, we’re expecting to see Apple announce the iPhone 14 family in September, and we'd expect it to be one the best camera phones. Until then we have a steady stream of rumors to look at for an insight as to what to expect. As well as the memory and chip news above, we have had the recent hopeful news that Apple are finally going to equip the iPhone with a great front-facing camera. Not so good is the news that despite looming legislation, there’ll be no USB-C on the new flagship.
The biggest design change compared to the iPhone 13 is that there’s no notch, as per a long string of rumors from numerous sources. A recent design leak, courtesy of Apple leaker Jon Prosser, comes in the form of some fantastic authentic-looking renders (above), which act as a handy consolidation of the most-likely-to-be-true rumors that have been circulating and show what the phone is likely to look like.


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Victor Sheppard, the truck's sole owner, logged 117 dealership service visits in his quest to keep his Tundra running like new. The truck has been regularly featured on LeBlanc Toyota's Facebook page in the run-up to the million-mark milestone.
"Most people can't believe how much on his truck is original," said Ron Weimer, general manager of Greg LeBlanc Toyota, in a statement. "Victor has been loyal to his maintenance and kept it up."
Toyota engineers will tear down Sheppard's original Tundra to evaluate how it's held up during more than a million miles of real-world driving.
"With the knowledge gained, the engineers will apply their findings to future trucks," Toyota said.
Edmunds says: Something for truck shoppers to consider as they look under the hood of the Tundra and its rivals.


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ALBANY, N.Y. (FNS) -- Food retailers have formed a coalition with others in the New York state wine industry in a renewed effort to permit sales of wine in supermarkets, telling state lawmakers, "It's time for wine."
The proposal could provide the state with $130 million in additional revenue in the first year, coming from sales taxes, excise taxes, license fees and a one-time franchise fee, according to Jim Rogers, president and chief executive officer of the New York State Food Industry Alliance.
"This is not a novel idea," Rogers said. "Thirty-five other states allow for it."
Neil Golub, president and CEO of Price Chopper, Schenectady, N.Y., said the proposal would increase competition among stores, and give the customer choice and better pricing.
"New York state has made it so inconvenient for consumers [to buy wine] that it is really hurting our struggling wine industry," Golub said. "It makes no sense. The law is out of date, and needs to be revisited and modernized."
Price Chopper, which has 68 stores in New York, currently sells wine in stores in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
"Making wine available in food stores will not jeopardize society's effort to moderate the consumption of spirits," Golub said. "Family wine and liquor stores will continue to serve their neighborhood niche with variety, service and assortment. Today's time-stressed consumer is clearly expressing a desire for one-stop shopping where they can fulfill all of their food needs in one place."
Golub estimated Price Chopper would be able to sell hundreds of wine brands, given the opportunity.
Rich Savner, director of public affairs and government relations, Pathmark Stores, Carteret, N.J., said he would like the opportunity to offer customers wine in his stores.
"Hopefully, customers are coming into your store, doing the immense shopping, and then supplementing it with the wine, or vice versa," he said.
Savner agreed that allowing wine to be sold in supermarkets would create competition and help consumers."We're not afraid of competition. It makes us better operators, and it forces us to always examine our operation. We don't think that would harm the liquor industry to do the same."
If Pathmark were allowed to sell wine, Savner said it would probably sell about 20 to 30 different varieties, ranging in price from $7 to $25.
Bob Ryan, owner of Ryan's Big M, Brockport, N.Y., said there is no question it will be good for business, and "there's no question that it's unfair for the liquor stores to have a monopoly on wine sales."
New York state's wine and grape industry is No. 3 in the nation, and provides more than $85 million in state and local revenues.


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What’s up? (Jan 23-29)
The end of near-zero interest rates
After nearly two years of near-zero interest rates, the Federal Reserve has signaled that it will likely raise them in March. Fed Chairman Jerome H. Powell said officials no longer believe the healing U.S. economy needed as much support, given that inflation is well above policymakers’ target and the tight labor market. By making it more expensive to borrow money to buy a house or a car, the Fed hopes that rising interest rates will dampen demand and eventually help curb inflation. The Fed’s favorite measure of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditure Index, was 5.8% in December, the fastest pace since 1982 and one that could be disastrous for the policy outlook of President Biden and his colleagues. fellow Democrats in November’s midterm elections.
Whether you hold traditional stocks, cryptocurrencies, or a combination of the two, it’s been a stressful week to be an investor. Stocks swung sharply as uncertainty about future interest rate hikes – how much and how fast – came alongside positive signs about the growth of the US economy last year. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, continued its dramatic fall before rising slightly, although its value remained just above what it was last summer. Bitcoin’s value is now about halfway from its November peak.
Slowdown in economies
The International Monetary Fund has released new forecasts for 2022, showing slower-than-expected economic growth, mainly due to issues with the world’s two largest economies, China and the United States. Compared to the 5.9% growth recorded in 2021, the IMF predicted that global growth this year would be 4.4%, down from its previous forecast of 4.9%. The demise of President Biden’s Build Back Better legislation, coupled with reduced economic support from the Fed and ongoing supply chain issues, has contributed to lower expectations for the United States, while the Chinese economy continues to struggle with its disruptive “zero Covid” approach and a real troubled real estate sector.
And after? (30 Jan-5 Feb)
To boycott or not to boycott?
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics begin this week as China comes under increasing scrutiny for human rights abuses, including allegations of forced labor in Uyghur communities in Xinjiang. The United States, Britain, Canada and Australia have announced they will not send government officials to Beijing as part of a diplomatic boycott of the Games. However, many of the world’s most famous brands will still be there, including Visa and Coca-Cola. Corporate reluctance to boycott the Games could soften the political blow of diplomatic boycotts.
The state of the labor market
The Labor Department will release its report on January employment numbers on Friday, showing the state of the labor market at the start of the year and the extent to which the Omicron variant has affected it. Last month’s report showed that 199,000 jobs were added to the economy in December, the smallest gain of 2021. But with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, people looking for work have hard to find. Employers, however, continue to struggle to attract workers, with demand for them far outstripping supply. The Labor Department will also release data on the number of Americans who voluntarily quit their jobs in December. A record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November.
Another vote on an Amazon union
Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Birmingham, Alabama will begin voting in a mail-in election to decide whether or not to form a union. Last spring, workers voted against unionizing before the National Labor Relations Board rejected the vote, citing improper interference by Amazon. If the unionization vote is successful this time, it would be the first union at the online retailer, which employs about one million people in the United States. Amazon workers at a Staten Island warehouse are also pushing for a union vote. And Starbucks workers recently voted to unionize in two locations.
What is Inflation? Inflation is a loss of purchasing power over time, which means your dollar won’t go as far tomorrow as it did today. It is usually expressed as the annual change in the prices of common goods and services such as food, furniture, clothing, transport and toys.
Apple’s holiday quarter revenue and profit beat expectations. CNN is launching a wave of hiring for its new streaming news channel. Neil Young leaves Spotify on the streaming platform of Joe Rogan, a podcaster dismissive of Covid vaccines. The Biden administration’s plan to force companies to mandate vaccines or testing is over.


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Workers and their supporters from across the Twin Cities staged a demonstration outside the Verizon Store in Roseville Thursday afternoon as part of the Communications Workers of America’s “Verizon National Day of Action.” The demonstration drew more than 30 people, who held signs and banners warning consumers about Verizon’s corporate greed.
About 45,000 union members at Verizon, based on the East Coast, have been working without a contract since the previous agreement with the company expired in August 2011, resulting in a two-week strike.
Workers called off the strike when Verizon agreed to abide by the terms of the previous agreement while negotiating a new one. But so far, those negotiations have gone nowhere, with the company insisting on steep concessions from its workers, including cuts to their health care insurance and pension plans – even benefits for job-related injuries.
Although Verizon claims it cannot afford the benefits provided in the current union contract, the truth is the company is turning record profits.
The company is so profitable, in fact, that CEO Lowell McAdam recently tripled his annual compensation, from $7.2 million to $23.1 million. And while the company claims it needs to strip its union workers of their pensions and health benefits, Verizon’s top executives have taken home $258 million over the last four years.
“We’re concerned about Verizon’s corporate greed,” said Lawrence Sandoval, a CWA district representative. “They’ve made a tremendous amount of money. Their CEO is making tremendous amt of salary. The bottom line is they’re trying to pass on the cost of operating the company onto workers, while they continue to reap the benefits.”
Sandoval said workers inside the Roseville Verizon Store are not union members, and demonstrators did not attempt to prevent customers from entering the store. Rather, the point of the demonstration is customer education.
“We’re trying to persuade the public not to utilize Verizon,” Sandoval said. “They should switch to a unionized carrier like AT&T. And we’re trying to show that there is nationwide support for these workers out east.”
For more information on the Verizon National Day of Action event, contact Steve Lewsander of CWA Local 7201 at 651-774-7201 or Cwa7210@qwestoffice.net.


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iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The Reserve Bank of India rolled out its digital currency — the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) on November 1. The CBDC, a legal tender issued in digital form, is the same as a fiat currency but the form is different and is exchangeable one-to-one with government-issued money.
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is a digital form of currency notes issued by a central bank. While most central banks across the globe are exploring the issuance of CBDC, the key motivations for its issuance are specific to each country’s unique requirements. CBDC is a legal currency in a digital form.
The RBI is launching CBDC in two phases. The first pilot launch in the digital Rupee – Wholesale segment (e₹-W) commenced on November 1, 2022. “The first pilot in Digital Rupee – Retail segment (e₹-R) is scheduled to be launched within a month in select locations in closed user groups comprising customers and merchants,” the RBI informed.
“Recent innovations in technology-based payment solutions have led central banks around the globe to explore the potential benefits and risks of issuing a CBDC so as to maintain the continuum with the current trend in innovations,” the RBI has stated in its concept note for CBDC.
RBI has also been exploring the pros and cons of the introduction of CBDCs for some time and is currently engaged in working towards a phased implementation strategy, going step by step through various stages of pilots followed by the final launch, and simultaneously examining use cases for the issuance of its own CBDC (Digital Rupee (e₹)), with minimal or no disruption to the financial system. “Currently, we are at the forefront of a watershed movement in the evolution of currency that will decisively change the very nature of money and its functions,” RBI’s concept note states.
CBDC, being a sovereign currency, holds unique advantages of central bank money viz. trust, safety, liquidity, settlement finality, and integrity. “The key motivations for exploring the issuance of CBDC in India among others include reduction in operational costs involved in physical cash management, fostering financial inclusion, bringing resilience, efficiency, and innovation in the payments system, adding efficiency to the settlement system, boosting innovation in cross-border payments space and providing public with uses that any private virtual currencies can provide, without the associated risks. The use of the offline feature in CBDC would also be beneficial in remote locations and offer availability and resilience benefits when electrical power or a mobile network is not available,” the RBI has informed.
On October 7, 2022, RBI had announced the pilot launch of the Digital Rupee (e₹) for specific use cases.
This digital Rupee will be used for the settlement of secondary market transactions in government securities. The use of e₹-W is expected to make the interbank market more efficient. Settlement in central bank money would reduce transaction costs by preempting the need for settlement guarantee infrastructure or for collateral to mitigate settlement risk.
“Going forward, other wholesale transactions, and cross-border payments will be the focus of future pilots, based on the learnings from this pilot (launch),” the RBI said in a press release.
Nine banks, viz., State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, IDFC First Bank, and HSBC have been identified for participation in the pilot project.


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As fast-food chain McDonald’s India and its estranged partner Vikram Bakshi look to settle their six-year-old dispute, suitors are lining up to run the former's operations in north and east India
The RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group and Moon Beverages, which is Coca-Cola’s largest bottling partner, have initiated talks with McDonald’s for Bakshi’s Connaught Plaza Restaurants (CPRL) that runs 165 McDonald’s restaurants in the north and east, the Economic Times reported, quoting three officials aware of the developments.
Speculation is rife that Amit Jatia-led Hardcastle Restaurants, which runs McDonald’s outlets in south and west India, may want to run the burgers-and-fries business nationally.
Earlier this week, McDonald’s India and Bakshi opted to go for an out-of-court settlement. Bakshi had in 1995 inked a deal with McDonald’s to open its outlets in India. The partnership was a 50:50 venture between McDonald’s India and Bakshi’s Connaught Plaza Restaurant, wherein the latter would be responsible for opening and managing outlets of McDonald’s in northern and eastern India.
In 2017, McDonald’s India terminated the franchise deal of 169 outlets managed by CPRL citing non-payment of royalties, and asked suppliers to stop dealing with the latter. The suppliers of CPRL included Vista Processed Foods, Schreiber Dynamix Dairies, Cremica Foods Industries and Amrit Foods.
Earlier in 2013, McDonald’s India had ousted Bakshi from the post of managing director of CPRL. However, he was restored to his position in July 2017. Subsequently, McDonald’s India also challenged the use of the McDonald’s trademark by Bakshi’s CPRL. However, Bakshi continued using the brand and operating the outlets as usual, while battling it out with McDonald's in various legal forums including NCLT, NCLAT and the Delhi High Court.


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P.C. POLICE CAN’T KEEP THE DELICIOUSNESS DOWN …
Chick-fil-A has fewer stores than its fast food rivals. Its owners are staunch social conservatives in a world of increasing tolerance for diverse sexual orientations. Oh … and every single Chick-fil-A store is closed one day of the week (Sundays, for religious reasons).
In other words, there’s no way in hell (sorry, “heck”) that Chick-fil-A should have overtaken Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in terms of market share.
But that’s exactly what happened … two years ago.
According to a new industry report (.pdf HERE), Chick-fil-A has expanded its system-wide sales from $1.5 billion to more than $5 billion over the past decade – an annual growth rate of 12.7 percent. In 2012, it achieved 25.1 percent of the “American limited-service chicken segment,” besting KFC’s 24.4 percent.
That gap grew in 2013, with Chick-fil-A enjoying a 26.3 percent to 21.9 percent market edge over KFC (despite there being more than twice as many KFC locations).
So … what’s next for the company?
Chick-fil-A has roughly 1,700 locations – well behind fast food giant McDonald’s 14,278 locations. But according to the report, the chain has become a “serious and growing competitive threat” to McDonald’s.
“If Chick-fil-A can add $6.3-$9.0 billion to its systemwide sales over the next 10 years, it is entirely possible that this will be similar to – or worst-case, from McDonald’s perspective – greater than the systemwide sales that McDonald’s can add to its domestic business over that same time,” the report concludes.
Ruh-roh, Ronald …
While Chick-fil-A’s founders may hold out-of-the-mainstream views on social issues, the company benefited from a public rebuke of overwrought political correctness two years ago.
We offered this Solomon-esque wisdom at the time …
If you want to be gay, be gay … if you don’t, don’t. Same goes for eating chicken sandwiches. The government should have nothing to do with condoning or assailing either choice.
Exactly … and it looks like the marketplace agrees.


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The fallout from the Facebook porn scandal of the past few weeks continues, with software company SplashData listing the top 25 most commonly used “bad” passwords. You can probably list the top 10 with your eyes closed.
As expected, “password” tops the list, with “123456” coming in at number two. Other worthless attempts at security include “monkey”, “iloveyou” and “abc123”.
While it’s unlikely that any of Lifehacker’s intelligent, tech-savvy (not to mention good-looking) readers would use any of the passwords on the list, it’s still a timely reminder to ensure that you’re doing the best to make password hacking a touch more difficult for nefarious types online. There are plenty of ways to create secure passwords for your online sites, many of which have been covered right here.
And while it’s always an uncomfortable conversation, it’s worth talking to your family members and friends – especially the less tech savvy ones – to discreetly discuss the importance of using strong passwords. If you’ve got any tips on how to have those conversations, feel free to share them below.
25 ‘worst’ web passwords – [The Telegraph]


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First Bank of Nigeria has struck a partnership with World Remit to provide digital money transfer service to its customers.
The Deputy Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Shobo, described the initiative as a collaboration of industry leaders.
“The World Remit/First Bank partnership signifies another landmark in First Bank’s virtual payment and money transfer services in the Nigerian and global financial space,” he said on Tuesday at the launch in Lagos.
He said the bank had, over the years, taken the lead in providing relevant e-payment options for its customers.
Shobo said, “We pioneered with Western Union Money Transfer in 1996, then Transfast Money Transfer, MoneyGram, Ria, PayPal, Pay Attitude and now, World Remit.
“First Bank has extended its frontiers to World Remit in order to leverage the wide e-platform capabilities it offers to further ease the money transfer process for our numerous customers across the globe who seek new and easier payment transaction options regularly.”
According to him, World Remit’s mobile-first, digital model complements First Bank’s digital strategy to drive convenient banking transactions from the comfort of homes and offices using the FirstMobile and FirstOnline banking platforms.
Shobo said, “People from some of the 50 countries across the world where World Remit operates can now send money directly from their mobile phones into First Bank accounts in Nigeria without visiting brick-and-mortar agent locations, and this is the first of its kind in money transfer business in our country.”
“It is worthy of note that this service is available to senders in 50 countries and over 145 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. At First Bank, we are excited at this partnership. Our brand promise is to always deliver the ultimate ‘gold standard’ of value and excellence, and this collaboration with World Remit is one of the many ways we provide value to our customers as we continue to devise innovative ways to provide convenience and ease of banking for them.”
The Regional Head, Middle East and Africa at World Remit, Andrew Stewart, said the new partnership would considerably expand the company’s footprint in the country, allowing its customers in over 50 countries to send money to First Bank accounts directly from their phones.
He said the deal would support World Remit’s plan to serve 10 million customers connected to emerging markets by 2020.
Stewart said, “We are delighted to be partnering First Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading banks, to give its 14 million customers access to our best-in-class money transfer experience. Nigeria remains our largest and fastest growing market in Africa, and World Remit’s second biggest market globally.
“This is a key partnership in the country that will further support Nigeria’s transition from offline remittances to online, safer, faster and lower-cost money transfer methods.”


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Truevo targets fintech market with help from Temenos
Payment service provider Truevo has chosen software from Temenos to launch a payments line targeting the global fintech community for the first time, reports Jane Connolly.
A licensed financial institution serving the corporate wholesale market, Malta-based Truevo selected a number of Temenos’ cloud-native, cloud-agnostic banking solutions to provide an end-to-end digital platform.
The company chose digital front office product Temenos Infinity and core banking solution Temenos T24 Transact, as well as Temenos Payments Hub and Financial Crime Mitigation.
“We believe that Temenos T24 Transact and Temenos Infinity offer the most complete set of core banking and digital front office capabilities, designed with a customer-first approach,” says David Liu, CEO and director at Truevo.
“These products will provide us with the speed and flexibility to future-proof our business as we launch the next phase in our global expansion – partnering with fintechs to achieve our goal of reaching one million business clients.”
Truevo is the latest company to choose Temenos software to drive growth and advance digital transformation. Today the firm announced that Danish financial services disruptor PASPX has picked the same solutions aiming to lower the cost of deployment and increase the speed of innovation.
This follows the news that Temenos will partner with three Finnish banks – Savings Banks Group, Oma Savings Bank Plc and POP Bank Group – to power a new shared digital core banking platform, implemented and managed by Cognizant.
Earlier this week, Dutch banking giant ABN Amro revealed it would be using Temenos’ Continuous Deployment Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product to reduce software release cycles.


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Campaign to reverse business rate decision
One of the West’s biggest high street retailers has backed calls for the Government to scrap the planned postponement of the business rates revaluation.
Discount retailer Poundland – with 27 branches in the region – has thrown its weight behind Colliers International’s campaign to reverse the decision by signing an online Government petition.
Poundland, which operates around 300 stores across the UK, and employs around 10,000 people, said the decision to postpone the 2015 revaluation until 2017 was “reckless” given the decline of the retail market and would only serve to continue the injustice of businesses paying inflated business rates in a depressed climate.
Ben Wall, national portfolio manager at Poundland comments: “Postponing the revaluation only serves to delay the structured recalibration of the high street, which is needed for it to survive. I strongly believe that the Government is making a reckless decision given the fragile state of the retail sector.”
“Our business relies upon the estimates of business rates during the period of the rating list, which are key to the financial models on which we base our decisions on opening new stores, relocating and extending existing properties.
“The postponement of the revaluation until 2017 will surely have unintended consequences and will mean that, in some situations, new store viability will be affected. Not only that, but with each new store employing around 30 people, our ability to create jobs will be significantly reduced.”
The retailer warned it would also lead to more casualties on the high street, following the collapse of household names such as Clintons, Peacocks, JJB Sports and Comet.
Ratings specialist, Ben Batchelor-Wylam from Colliers International’s Bristol office said there was no logic behind the decision to delay the rating revaluation.
He comments: “Politics leading economics is fundamentally wrong. The government’s proposal to postpone the revaluation seems to be going under the radar not only of the ratings industry but also much of the retail sector.
“Poundland has obviously realised the postponement will impact on many retailers in High Streets across the West who are already struggling and facing financial hardship.
“The revaluation would give relief to a great many places where rents have fallen. To prohibit that liquidity is wrong.”
The proposal to delay the 2015 rating revaluation until 2017 is one of a number of measures being put forward by the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill.
If implemented, businesses will continue to pay business rates based on property values in 2008, instead of current values, which are considerably less.
Ben Batchelor-Wylam concludes: “The Government seems determined to go ahead with the proposed plan but with enough pressure from business it will hopefully see sense and reverse what is frankly a ludicrous idea.
“This is not a fait accompli. With enough support and backing from business we can get the Government to scrap its plans to postpone the 2015 rating revaluation.”
To sign the e-petition, go to http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/41598


text: A new study from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzes outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and found that contaminated green salads make the most people sick, but contaminated poultry resulted in the most deaths. Norovirus accounted for 46 percent of illnesses in the study. In light of the research, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and ConAgra Foods have established the Home Food Safety program. The program encourages Americans to practice safe food handling at home rather than avoid certain foods due to a higher contamination risk. Visit www.homefoodsafety.org for more information.


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A mom's yummy recipe for success
Baby Gourmet brand lands Walmart deal
Bill Mah, Edmonton JournalPublished: Wednesday, April 06, 2011
You've come a long way, baby food.
It was five years ago that Jennifer Broe was feeding her six-month-old daughter a jar of store-bought green beans.
"The colour, the texture, the smell -everything about it was so bad that I just couldn't believe that moms were forced to feed their babies this," Broe said. "If you wouldn't eat it yourself, why would you feed it to babies?"
Jennifer Broe is the president and founder of Baby Gourmet.
Broe found the purée so unappetizing that she started researching how to make her own -and Baby Gourmet was born.
The former geophysical and technology support worker, with a business background, has a passion for cooking. She prepared her own baby food recipes, such as apple crisp and roasted squash and fruit medley.
She began selling her baby food in 2006 at the Calgary farmers market. Soon, through word of mouth, she was selling $30,000 a month and couldn't keep up with demand.
Now, the Alberta company -founder and president Broe is a Calgarian, but her head office is in Edmonton -is an up-and-coming national force in the baby-food business, with contracts to sell its products in Walmart, Safeway and independent retailers.
Broe stopped selling at the farmers market after two years, reformulated the recipes and packages, and came up with a business plan.
That's when the Edmonton connection comes in.
"I was raising capital and was presenting in Edmonton to a group of angel investors with Venture Alberta and that's where I met Bruce Johnson."
Johnson, founder and former chief executive of Edmonton-based Intuit Canada, hired executives and helped Broe craft an operational plan.
"Our management team has all been built out of Edmonton, so it made sense to have our head office in Edmonton," she said.
Baby Gourmet landed the lucrative Walmart account on Broe's first sales pitch to a retailer.
The product is available in 150 stores in Canada and is expected to launch in the United States in July. Broe attended the gifting suite at the Academy Awards in February and handed out Baby Gourmet to celebrities, but she isn't dropping names.
How does Baby Gourmet differ from better-known brands?
"It actually tastes good," Broe said. "That's our biggest advantage."
Broe sources her ingredients herself and checks in on the Ontario production plant. She also packages the baby food in resealable pouches, rather than jars, to allow for quicker pasteurization.
Depending on the retailer, packets cost about $1.47 to $2.29 -more than jarred baby food.
"I found moms are willing to spend a little bit extra if it's something they can feel good about feeding."
Consumers appear to agree, because sales are 18 months ahead of where Broe thought they would be.


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Pc case manufacturer and builder NZXT has formally recalled its H1 Mini-ITX case and is now facilitating full refunds if uses prefer. It will also begin to ship updated PCIe 3.0 riser cables to those that fill out a form. If you haven’t kept up with the news surrounding the H1 case from NZXT of…… Continue reading NZXT recalls its H1 case, offers refunds, and removes it from sale
New SFF case maker Ssupd wants community feedback to know where it should sell its upcoming Meshlicious PC case. The Google form is live right now, and it’s exciting to see it wants to listen to the community rather than just doing whatever it pleases. The form is short and gets to the point. It…… Continue reading Ssupd: where should it sell its Meshlicious PC case?
GEEEK has taken to Twitter once again to show off its upcoming G1 SE PC case, a low-budget take on the standard G1 currently available. This new image of the case confirms things we noticed yesterday and shows us a few new things. Taking a look at this new image, we now know for sure…… Continue reading GEEEK shows off its budget G1 SE case again on Twitter
Major news outlets have reported that Intel has begun shipping its new DG1 graphics card (GPU) to OEMs and system builders, prompting the big question, will it be the perfect GPU for small form factor (SFF) PCs? The first major hit for those wanting to get their hands on the upcoming GPUs is that they…… Continue reading Could Intel’s DG1 graphics card be perfect for SFF PCs?
Taiwanese SFF case maker GEEEK has shared its plans to produce a budget-friendly variant of its G1 case series, the G1 SE. While GEEEK has promised it won’t cost as much, it appears to an improved version of the current GEEEK G1. Taking a look at the image posted to Twitter by GEEEK, we can…… Continue reading GEEEK teases its unreleased G1 SE budget SFF PC case
New to the market, case maker Ssupd has added a PCIe Gen 4.0 buying option to its upcoming Meshlicious SFF Mini-ITX PC case for an additional $70. It seems that the company has listened to community feedback and is readying for the now common PCIe Gen 4.0 standard. The Meshlicious is a 14.6-liter case with support…… Continue reading Ssupd adds PCIe Gen 4.0 option to its Meshlicious PC case
Late last year, we got a first look at the Ssupd Meshlicious small form factor (SFF) case. Since then, the case has seemed to gain a lot of attention within the community, so let’s take a look at why it could be such a great option for many people. The company behind it Ssupd is…… Continue reading Why the Ssupd Meshlicious looks like a promising SFF case
Small form factor (SFF) or Mini-ITX PCs often require specific power supplies designed to fit in the smaller space. So let’s take a look at some of the best options on the market in early 2021. Background info SFX standard All of the power supplies mentioned below follow the SFX or SFX-L standard, meaning they…… Continue reading The best power supplies for SFF Mini-ITX PCs – early 2021
NVIDIA graphics card and mini PC maker ZOTAC has just released its latest small form factor (SFF) PC, the Magnus One, featuring an RTX 3070 and a 10th gen Intel i7 processor. ZOTAC has been creating small PCs for some time now, and this new Magnus One looks to be of the same quality we…… Continue reading ZOTAC unveils its Magnus One RTX 3070 mini PC
Dmitry from Hardware Canucks has managed to get Phanteks’ unreleased P200A Mini-ITX PC case in for an exclusive first look. The case appears to be on the larger side from a first look, fitting in around the CoolerMaster MasterBox NR200. As the case comes in at just smaller than 30 L, it supports a full…… Continue reading Sneak peek of the Phanteks P200A Mini-ITX PC case
If you’ve been in or watching the small form factor (SFF) PC world for any amount of time, you would have seen the lack of stock many of the companies in the market face. Rather than focusing on these cases that are extremely hard to get. We are looking at some of the best mainstream…… Continue reading Mainstream SFF PC cases that aren’t always out of stock
Computer builder iBUYPOWER has just unveiled its new Revolt 3 Mk3 Mini-ITX PC at CES 2021 earlier this week. The 18.34 L small form factor case is a welcomed addition to the SFF community. Taking a look at the promotional video released alongside the new case, we know that it features two USB-A 3.2 connectors…… Continue reading iBUYPOWER releases its Revolt 3 Mk3 Mini-ITX PC at CES
The GEEEK A50 Plus is a great budget option for small form factor cases with two USB ports on the front and a power button. It is made out of acrylic and a limited amount of metal to keep the price down, but overall is still a great case. While looking into cases over a…… Continue reading GEEEK A50 Plus review – a great budget SFF PC case
A new company in the Mini-ITX space is Ssupd (Sunny Side Up Design) has launched its Meshlicious Mini-ITX case. The new small form factor (SFF) case uses fine mesh panels on each face and allows you to sit your PC vertically on your desk. The Meshlicious is a 14.6-liter case with support for up to…… Continue reading First look at the Ssupd Meshlicious Mini-ITX PC case


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Avoiding a recession while navigating stagflation: Discover how the global economy is at a pivotal crossroads with new challenges and key issues ahead.
Four months after the start of hostilities in Ukraine, first lessons can be drawn: the conflict, which is set to last, has already upset the global geo-economic balance. In the short term, the war is exacerbating tensions in a production system that has already been damaged by two years of pandemic and is heightening the risk of a hard landing for the world economy: while the latter seemed to be facing the threat of stagflation a few weeks ago, the change in tone of the central banks, faced with the acceleration of inflation, has resurrected the prospect of a recession, particularly in the advanced economies.
In this complex environment, Coface revised downwards the evaluation of 19 countries, including 16 in Europe - Germany, Spain, France and the United Kingdom in particular - and made only 2 revisions upwards (Brazil and Angola). At the sectoral level, the number of downward revisions (76 in total, as opposed to 9 upward revisions) highlights the spread of these successive shocks across all sectors, both energy-intensive ones (petrochemicals, metallurgy, paper, etc.) and those that are more directly linked to the credit cycle (construction).
As the horizon continues to darken, the risks are naturally bearish and no scenario can be ruled out.
The slowdown in activity and the risk of stagflation are becoming clearer
Q1 growth figures were below expectations in most developed economies. In addition, GDP in the eurozone grew only very weakly for the 2nd consecutive quarter, with even a decline of -0.2% in France. This was due to a drop in household consumption against a backdrop of declining purchasing power. Activity also declined in the United States, hampered by foreign trade and the difficulties experienced by the manufacturing sector in replenishing its inventories. These figures are all the more worrying as the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine were just starting to bite.
Considering the acceleration in inflation, the deterioration in agents' expectations, and the tightening of global financial conditions, activity in Q2 does not look much better in the advanced economies, and considerably less favourable in the emerging economies. While it is probably too early to say that the global economy has entered a stagflationary regime, the signals are consistent with this view.
Commodity price pressures are settling in
Although commodity prices have stabilised recently, they remain at very high levels. For example, oil prices have not fallen below USD 98 since the beginning of the war, as fears of a potential supply shortage have remained significant.
This context is favourable to commodity exporters, and more particularly of oil. Coface's only two upward revaluations concern Brazil and Angola, and the sectoral reclassifications mainly concern the energy sector of producing countries, whereas the sectoral downgrades target the energy sector in countries where companies are located downstream in the production chain (mainly in Europe).
Similarly, industries whose value chain are energy-intensive in their production processes, such as paper, chemicals and metals, have their risks reassessed upwards. Agri-food is one of the sector with the highest number of downgrades this quarter, with almost all regions affected.
Finally, it is likely that companies that had not fully passed on the increase in their production costs to their sales prices will continue to do so. Thus, price increases will continue in sectors with significant pricing power. This is the case for the pharmaceutical sector, where a small number of companies dominate the global market. Already identified as one of the most resilient, it is the only sector with 'low risk' ratings in our barometer.
Central banks with both feet on the brake
The ECB has gradually tightened its stance, following the example of the Fed and the Bank of England, to the point of pre-announcing its future rate hikes. Like the other major central banks (except the Bank of Japan), the ECB has no other choice, within the strict framework of its mandate, but to tighten its guard significantly, despite the fact that this could trigger a brutal slowdown in activity and rekindle fears of a fresh European sovereign debts crisis.
In this environment of tightening credit conditions, the construction sector appears to be as one of the most vulnerable. Rising borrowing costs are expected to affect the housing market and, ultimately, construction activity. This is has started in the US where housing sales are declining rapidly.
The clouds are gathering for 2023
With the economic and financial environment deteriorating rapidly, Coface has downgraded the rating of 16 countries on the European continent, including all the major economies – with the exception of Italy, already rated A4.
Our central scenario suggests a significant slowdown in activity over the next 18 months, allowing inflation to decelerate gradually. Our growth forecasts are particularly poor in the advanced countries. There are many downside risks to the global economy, while the upside risk to inflation remains. To curb inflation, central banks seem tempted to push the economy into a recession, which they hope will be milder than if prices continue to slide, forcing them to implement a more violent monetary shock later. The risk, which cannot be ruled out, would be that demand would fall and inflation would remain high, due to commodity prices that would struggle to ease due to a chronic supply shortage.


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Subscribe To Crytek UK Staff Haven't Been Fully Paid Since April, Says Report Updates
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A new report has come to light indicating that things aren't quite rose gardens and vanilla ice cream sandwiches in the land of Crytek. Sources supposedly close to the matter have stated that proper wages haven't been paid to the staff since April.
Develop, an industry-related gaming site, issued a report noting that those close in the matter have stated that full wages haven't been paid to the staff since April 21st of this year.
According to the report, the staff at Crytek's U.K., offices were only paid £700 in the previous month. They were told that they would be paid in full after a deal would be secured from the Deutsche Bank, however that never came to fruition.
Another small bit of payment was issued on June 16th following this year's E3 event. However, the report notes that the source claims that payments since then seem unlikely.
One of the most damning things made clear in the article relates to the turnover rate at the studio, with the article stating...
“Develop understands that since work on the game began, 40 staff have left, and the issues with salaries “has added to that number”. While there has been high turnover with new recruits coming in, it was said that the team cannot hire as fast as people are leaving.
That seems unreasonably cruel.
Nevertheless, this further falls in line with talks of Ryse 2 being cancelled, as reported by Total Xbox.
Supposedly, staff is being reorganized to finish work on the upcoming Homefront: The Revolution, the sequel to the Red Dawn-esque first-person shooter from Kaos Studios and THQ that released way back in 2011.
This report also comes close on the heels from another, completely separate report from German site GameStar who first brought similar claims to the table in a detailed article about the situation.
When reached for comment about the dire financial state of the company by Eurogamer, a spokesperson denied the reports from GameStar and called them “rumors”. However, most times when something fallacious like that is printed there are calls for retractions, which didn't happen in this case.
It appears that the opposite is actually transpiring, with more news and information coming out that indicates that Crytek could be in serious financial trouble.
A lot of these issues are cited as being attached to a lack of an attachment rate to CryEngine licenses, as well as the under-performance of games like Ryse. Recently, Crytek started a new subscription model for the CryEngine in an attempt to bolster sales but apparently it still hasn't been enough to correct the ship at Crytek UK.