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Manitowac downgraded on earns warning, shares slump (3:21 PM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Analyst John McGinty at CS First Boston downgraded Manitowac
American Access gets lift from Q2 sales report (2:12 PM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- American Access Technologies AATK is gaining 4.7 percent to $1.11 after the company said second-quarter sales rose 18 percent to $1.2 million from $1 million in the same period a year earlier. The Keystone Heights, Fla., maker of cabling units is also optimistic about the rest of the year, saying "every indicator leads us to anticipate a great second half of 2003." The company attributed its confidence to business already received from its recent five-year alliance with Chatsworth Products and activity in other lines of business. For the first six months of the year, sales gained 14 percent to $2.7 million from $2.4 million in the same period a year earlier.
Metron Tech sees sequential revenue decline in Q1 (12:40 PM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Metron Technology
Pegasus tightens Q2 cash earnings view (11:58 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Pegasus Solutions PEGS is getting a slight pop, rising almost 1 percent to $16.05, following news that the Dallas provider of hotel reservations technology and services expects second-quarter cash earnings of 6 to 7 cents per share, a tightening of its prior projection for a profit of 6 to 9 cents per share. Revenue will come in between $42 million and $43 million for the period. The company said results in the first half took a hit due the impact of the war in Iraq and SARS fears on travel but it's encouraged by more favorable trends that began in late May and June. Pegasus reaffirmed its outlook for cash earnings of 45 to 55 cents per share for the full year.
Glum Q2 outlook sinks Manitowoc shares (11:42 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Manitowoc
Firstwave plunges on Q2 warning (10:34 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Firstwave Technologies FSTW is down more than 25 percent to $6.90 after the company warned that its second-quarter results would be hurt by the delay of purchasing decisions by several of its customers and its inability to complete a material services project in the period. The company now sees earnings of 1 to 4 cents per share in the quarter on revenue of between $2.9 million to $3 million. A single analyst polled by Thomson First Call was looking for a profit of 22 cents per share in the period, on average.
Quantum leads NYSE losers after Q1 warning (10:17 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Quantum
Lumenis trips on weak revenue forecast for Q2 (9:45 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Lumenis LUME is losing 15 percent to $1.61 after the Israeli laser device firm said it expects second-quarter revenue to miss expectations due to continued weakness in its aesthetic business. The company now sees revenue of $68 million for the period, well below prior projections for revenue in a range of $80 million to $85 million. Lumenis accordingly said its loss view for the quarter would "be significantly higher than previous guidance" due to the lower revenue. The company also said it would record a loss of $3.5 million in the period related to the sale of its industrial laser business.
Group 1 Software sees Q1 net of 9-to-11c per share (9:03 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Group 1 Software GSOF is saying it expects first-quarter earnings of $1.5 million to $1.8 million, or 9 to 11 cents per share. Two analysts polled by Thomson First Call are currently looking for a profit of a dime per share in the period. Revenue, however, is projected at between $23.6 million and $23.9 million for the period, a range the company said is below its full-year outlook for growth of 10 to 12 percent due to an inability to close a number of expected transactions, particularly in its DOC1 division. The Lanham, Md. marketing software firm reaffirmed its outlook for the year though, saying some delayed deals have already closed in July and that its sales pipeline remains satisfactory. The stock finished Thursday at $18.26, up 2 percent.
Wabtec reiterates 2003 guidance (8:29 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Wabtec Corp.
Shaw Group's Q3 meets estimates, but lowers outlook (7:16 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shaw Group
Monaco Coach's Q2 earns to miss, rev. to meet estimates (6:26 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Monaco Coach


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Pulitzer Prize-winning L.A. Times restaurant critic, Jonathan Gold (@thejgold), has died at the age of 57. We will… https://t.co/dU2Wk8Hk3e
Weiland Brewery Underground
505 S Flower St, Ste B410
Los Angeles, CA 90189
American Express: the go-to card for travel, restaurants, and experiences. Now accepted at more places than ever.

domain: news


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Battlefield 4 Dragon’s Teeth DLC Launch Trailer is Explosive
Battlefield 4’s highly anticipated Dragon’s Teeth DLC is going to release today for premium members and to celebrate the launch, developers have released a brand new trailer for the game.
The video shows all four maps included in the DLC and as you would expect, there are a lot vehicles, close combat kills and big explosions.
Battlefield 4 Dragon’s Teeth DLC is going to include four new maps that will be set in Asian locations: Sunken Dragon, Pearl Market, Propaganda and Lumphini Garden.
In addition to that, there will be numerous new weapons added to the game via this new DLC – CS5 Sniper Rifle, Bulldog Assalt Rifle, MPX Submachine Gun and Deagle, with each of them providing their own unique experience to the players.
Moreover, a brand new vehicle called R.A.W.R. has been included, which is an extremely powerful armored pickup that is controllable with the help of a remote.
Finally, a new game mode called Chain Link has been added with Battlefield 4 Dragon’s Teeth DLC, in which you will have to link together the captured points to earn victory in the match.
The premium members will be able to enjoy this new DLC as of today, while the other members will have to wait for a couple of weeks until 29th of July.


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Evesham, Worcestershire (PRWEB UK) 23 March 2013
It’s always good news when people get word about a big sale and this situation is no different. There has already been a dramatic increase in the number of visitors to the BBQBarbecues website and it looks set to continue...
With over 350 products on the site, there’s certainly a lot for shoppers to choose from. Whether customers want fancy 3-burner gas barbecues or some old school charcoal grilling machines, there’s certainly enough variety to satisfy everyone’s needs.
Lee Taylor, General Manager of BBQBarbecues added: “We like to start how we mean to continue and in this case, we’re going for excellent products that represent value for money. Now whilst the sale won’t always be on, we will rotate the barbecues that are discounted so there are always bargains to be had. However, if you’re seeking a specific barbecue, it might just be a case of waiting until the one you want comes on sale or spotting something better in our ever-changing line-up!”
Lee went on to point out some stand out buys which have already received a lot of attention: “One of our cheap and cheerful Kingfisher barbecues is under £7 as of right now and many people are snapping it up left, right and centre. Who can blame them at that price?”
Whilst cheap barbecues are great and everything, there are occasions that call for bigger and better BBQ’s. Thankfully, the team at BBQBarbecues haven’t forgotten about that and they’ve got a great selection for the people who want to spend a little more on some quality equipment which will stand the test of time.
What’s even better is they’ve grouped all of the barbecues on sale into a special group. Click here to have a browse at what’s on offer; don’t forget that Lee stated the deals would rotate, so it’s worth checking back weekly for newly added stuff!
At current, BBQBarbecues.co.uk is hosted by the Online Home Retail network which has in excess of 50 niche websites. Throughout all of these websites, there are a wide variety of products available; ranging from heated towel radiators all the way to gardening equipment which can be found here: http://www.gardentoolbox.co.uk. Online Home Retail Limited first started out as Plumbworld Ltd back in 1999 and since then it has been bought by the Grafton Group PLC in 2006 and received a major rebrand in 2012. The business now employs around 60 people in its purpose built warehouse and offices with a remarkable turnover that’s nearing £25 million per year.


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Virginia Beach — The U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday that tax preparer Liberty Tax knew, or should have known, that some of its franchisees were filing fraudulent returns for several years and the Virginia Beach-based company failed to do anything about it.
Liberty Tax, known for dancing employees dressed as the Statue of Liberty outside its stores during tax season, “failed to take sufficient measures to prevent fraud and errors on tax returns prepared at its stores," according to a case filed Tuesday in Norfolk’s federal court.
As quickly as the government’s case was filed, the tax preparer announced it would pay the IRS $3 million and had agreed to take certain actions demanded by the Justice Department, including maintaining better controls for preventing fraudulent tax returns from being filed.
Liberty Tax stores have prepared 1.3 million to 1.9 million tax returns annually since 2015.
The company also agreed to never re-hire or allow the company’s founder and former CEO, John T. Hewitt, to buy shares in the company. Hewitt was ousted as CEO in 2017 after an internal review into his conduct and preferential treatment of franchisees and employees he was believed to be in relationships with, but he remained chairman of the board until 2018 because of his controlling shares. A wave of resignations ensued, including the company’s independent auditor, executives and board members.
Hewitt was forced to sell his stake in the company by its lenders. Vintage Capital Management LLC, a private equity firm, bought Hewitt’s shares and remains one of the company’s largest shareholders. Liberty Tax, whose new owners changed the parent company’s name to Franchise Group Inc., has since acquired Buddy’s Home Furnishings and Sears Outlet stores and intends to buy The Vitamin Shoppe.
In a statement, executives with Franchise Group Inc. said the settlement would, “address issues of the past and set the company on a course for future success.”
The Justice Department has also required the company to hire an independent monitor, at its own cost, to oversee its tax compliance for three years.
“Today, we arrive at a new beginning for Liberty Tax Service,” said Brent Turner, the CEO since June, in the company’s statement. “We are pleased to resolve this matter, and with the past in our rear-view, we are laser focused on our future, our franchisees and our customers who place their trust in us.”
The company said its tax compliance improvements include requiring new franchisees to be attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents or to have an experienced tax professional in their office. The company also plans to promote the head of compliance to its executive leadership team and offer training developed by attorneys, CPAs or experienced tax professionals.
In its complaint, the Justice Department said the company had “the control and capability to prevent the filing of potentially false or fraudulent federal tax returns with the IRS.”
The government noted that more than 88% of the returns filed at Liberty Tax stores for the tax years 2012 to 2018 included refund claims that amounted to more than $28 billion. Of those tax returns, about 41% claimed the earned income tax credit, reserved for tax payers claiming earnings below a certain threshold, more than double the rate of all federal tax returns filed electronically in that time. The amounts claimed added up to $12 billion in those seven years.
Federal prosecutors filed 10 separate civil cases against 12 Liberty Tax franchisees between 2013 and 2018. Of the 12 franchisees, half were members of the company’s “Elite 18” or “Million Dollar Club” based on financial performance. In those cases, the government said filings made in those stores included fabricating expenses, issues with dependent claims and education credits and faking income for the earned income tax credit. In some cases, the stores employed preparers who didn’t have a required identification number or shared someone else’s.
In the case filed Tuesday, the Justice Department said the corporate office of Liberty Tax was, or should have been, aware of the earned income tax credit fraud occurring at its franchise locations, “but failed to take adequate measures to stop the practice," despite the data it tracked showing anomalies and the opportunity to inspect customer forms.
The complaint says the company, and Hewitt, received complaints as early as 2014 that franchisees could have been preparing fraudulent returns. The government also said Liberty Tax inspected a Florida franchisee in 2016 giving him a failing grade for his store’s earned income tax credit compliance after it found errors in more than 80% of the filings that claimed the credit. The franchisee was terminated in 2018, after the Department of Justice had brought a civil case against him.
The agreement reached between The Franchise Group and the government still requires the court’s approval.


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Intel Goes Deeper Inside Docsis 3.0
Officials still aren't revealing too much about what's on the way, but at least we now know that something's coming, and that Intel isn't about to let Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq: BRCM) run away with that part of the market. (See Intel Snares TI's Cable Modem Business .)
Intel has an upcoming D3 chipset called the Puma 6, confirms Keith Wehmeyer, Intel's general manager of set-top boxes. He's not saying much more, but we know it will be Intel's first Atom-based Puma product. Intel uses Atom to power devices ranging from tablets, smartphones, netbooks and other consumer electronics gear.
Also expect the Puma 6 to be more integrated, capable of terminating a service provider's video security and conditional access systems without the need for another chip. That'll become more important as Intel looks to match up Puma with its new media processors for set-tops and video gateways. (See Intel's New Set-Top Chip Packs More Punch.)
Wehmeyer acknowledges that the Puma 6 will also be about "speeds and feeds," so the chip will probably support a higher level of channel bonding. Intel's current D3 chip, the Puma 5, can bond eight downstream channels and four upstream channels -- enough for downstream bursts of 320Mbit/s.
Evidence is mounting that the next generation of D3 chips will be capable of bonding 16 to 24 downstream channels, providing enough headroom for MSOs to launch IP video simulcasts while getting burst speeds in the neighborhood of 1Gbit/s. (See MaxLinear Hints at a 1Gbit/s Future .)
What matters is that the launch will ensure cable has two sources of Docsis 3.0 chips. Intel's next best chance to make a splash about the Puma 6 and its capabilities will be at The Cable Show, set to kick off May 21 in Boston.
A third is even possible. Entropic Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: ENTR) is acquiring Trident Microsystems Inc. (Nasdaq: TRID), which has Docsis 2.0 chips in its portfolio that can be traced back to Conexant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CNXT), but there's no indication yet that Entropic will shoot for D3. Entropic CTO Tom Lookabaugh was noncommittal about those plans when he spoke to Light Reading Cable earlier this year about the Trident purchase. (See Entropic Sweetens Pot to Win Trident .)
— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable


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Slowlove – which has been working with Cortefiel since last summer – will see enhanced growth thanks to its partnership with Tendam, benefiting from the company’s strong operational structure. Creative control of Slowlove will remain in the hands of its founders, Sara Carbonero and Isabel Jiménez. The Cortefiel, Pedro del Hierro and Hoss Intropia management […]
24 de March de 2021
Tendam, one of Europe’s leading omni-channel fashion retailers, has today announced its relationship with the Slowlove brand, which Tendam will promote exclusively through its omni-channel structure. Slowlove was founded by Sara Carbonero and Isabel Jiménez, and its operations will now be managed by the executive team that is responsible for Cortefiel, Pedro Hierro and Hoss Intropia. The founders will retain creative control over the firm as it enters this new phase of development hand-in-hand with Tendam.
The agreement falls on the heels of Tendam’s recent incorporation of Hoss Intropia deal and further demonstrates the group’s commitment to its operational model, which allows the company to incubate or gradually integrate new brands, positioning it as the largest omni-channel, multi-brand distribution platform in Iberia.
Marie Castellvi-Dépée, executive managing director of Cortefiel, Pedro del Hierro and Hoss Intropia, who will oversee the management of Slowlove’s operations said: “Last year we began a very successful collaboration between Slowlove and Cortefiel, and today we are delighted to announce that with this agreement we are taking the relationship even further. In the initial phase, our main goal is to support Slowlove as it evolves and prepares for growth. The brand will benefit from Tendam’s resources, corporate organisation and operational expertise.”
On 8 April, Slowlove launches its new spring/summer 2021 collection, which will be available – like previous collections – on Slowlove’s website, online at Cortefiel and Pedro del Hierro and across the extensive network of Cortefiel and Pedro del Hierro brick-and-mortar shops. Slowlove began as an entirely online label in 2015; now, through its partnership with Tendam, it is present in more than 130 shops across Spain and Portugal.
Founded by Sara Carbonero and Isabel Jiménez, the brand is designed for women who are committed to sustainable fashion with an urban folk feel, a contemporary bohemian style that is understood to be more than a passing trend, but a way of living that is connected to nature. This essence is reflected in the brand’s colours, fabrics and designs. Since its inception, the firm’s mission has been to create clothing that is completely sustainable. To this end, its collections are designed to respect the environment by using organic materials and recycled fabrics that are eco-friendly when washed. The brand embraces a philosophy that extols doing things “slow” and with love: calmly, with care, and to a high standard. Slowlove is committed to simple, elegant, casual and functional designs for women who are deeply committed to society and the environment and who want more from the world and fashion.
The inclusion of Slowlove in Tendam’s portfolio of brands follows the integration of Hoss Intropia and High Spirits. Since September 2020, Tendam has been distributing third-party brands alongside its own labels on its digital platforms, broadening the appeal of its digital shopping experience. This represents an important step forward in the Group’s strategy to strengthen its omni-channel distribution, leveraging its segmentation expertise and customer knowledge. Tendam’s ability to promote its own brands is now complemented by its role as a launch pad for younger firms with the potential to make their mark in the fashion sector.


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The cryptocurrency bull market appears alive and well, with Bitcoin soaring above $30,000.
All thanks to increased interest from institutional and retail investors, and concerns about potential inflationary impact of the latest stimulus package. In fact, according to Reuters, the cryptocurrency is being “buoyed by demand from larger investors attracted to its potential for quick gains, purported resistance to inflation and expectations it will become a mainstream payment method.”
In addition, “While this is a major milestone for this nascent asset class, as retail, institutional, and blue-chip investors alike allocate more capital to this space, it would not be surprising to see other coins follow in BTC’s footsteps and for this upward trajectory to be sustained into 2021.”
Better, analysts are bullish on Bitcoin, as well. Citibank for example says we could see $318,000 BTC in 2021. Guggenheim is calling for a valuation of $400,000. JP Morgan says it could rally on a $600 billion catalyst, which includes just a 1% allocation from global pension funds.


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Company increased online sales by more than 20%
For the full year, Ahold Delhaize said its net income more than doubled as net sales increased 27%, the company said on Wednesday.
Net sales declined 3.6% in 2017’s final quarter. On a constant exchange basis, however, the company said its net sales increased 1.6% from a year earlier.
Ahold Delhaize was created in 2016 from the merger of Ahold and Delhaize Group.
“2017 was the first full year as Ahold Delhaize, one in which we substantially completed the integration,” said Dick Boer, chief executive officer of Ahold Delhaize. “We delivered synergies ahead of schedule and continued to show underlying operating margin expansion with stable or increasing market share in our major markets.”
Ahold Delhaize’s business in the United States, where it derives two-thirds of its sales, was very strong in the fourth quarter, Boer said. Margins were up 4.2% at Ahold USA (which supports four regional divisions in the Northeast — Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle). Fourth quarter margins were up 4% at Delhaize America (comprised of 1,200 Food Lion and Hannaford supermarkets on the East Coast and the Peapod grocery delivery service).
Ahold Delhaize is on track to complete the merger of the U.S. operations by the end of the current quarter.
“In a dynamic environment, our great local brands delivered strong results, tapping into changing consumer behavior,” Boer said. “We grew our online consumer sales by more than 20%.”
Boer said the company intends to enhance its digital capabilities in the United States in 2018 and complete the rollout of its customer loyalty programs. “Most of our competitors in the United States don’t do home delivery — only click-and-collect,” Boer said in an interview with Bloomberg News. “We are well ahead of the market on this.”
Online sales contribute about 2% of the company’s business in the United States, Jeffrey Carr, Ahold Delhaize’s chief financial officer, told analysts on an earnings call. Carr said the company is close to offering the Hannaford To Go click-and-collect program in 50 stores. At Food Lion, the company is experimenting with a click-and-collect program and is working with Instacart on a test program for grocery deliveries.


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It’s that time of year again…when people predict what the new year will have in store and set their sights on 2019.
The past year has seen some significant trends impact the recruitment industry, including; candidate expectations, employer brand and social recruiting. As well as legal and political factors which rocked the boat, such as GDPR and Brexit.
Although it can be near impossible to know what the future holds, experts have predicted many trends which are set to impact the industry, including; artificial intelligence, collaborative hiring and the continued changes in candidate behaviours and attitudes.
In this blog, we give you a rundown of the top recruitment trends to watch out for in 2019…


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London: The United Kingdom will join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), UK Secretary of State for International Trade Kemi Badenoch said on Friday.
“It’s nearly 1am UK time and my counterparts and I have only just officially concluded negotiations to join the CPTPP bloc! Fantastic news for UK business and consumers as we increase trade with the dynamic Indo-Pacific region providing the future of global GDP growth,” Badenoch said on Twitter.
The UK will be the first European country to join the CPTPP.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement was originally signed in 2016 between the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Japan, Mexico, Chile, and Peru. As part of the agreement, it was planned to create a free trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region. However, in January 2017, then US President Donald Trump signed a decree withdrawing the US from the agreement, after which the remaining 11 countries formed the CPTPP.


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Coinbase, the most popular online platform for exchanging and storing cryptocurrency, has warned that many major American banks are blocking the purchase of digital currency with credit cards. Customers of Chase, Bank of America, Citi, and Capital one will have to use alternate ways to purchase cryptocurrency. Coinbase is encouraging their customers to use debit or bank account payment methods instead, as these payment channels are still available.
Concerns About Debt and Criminal Activity
This news won’t come as a surprise to many of you. Bank of America released a statement in early February announcing their intentions to ban bitcoin purchases with credit cards. The bank has already been declining credit card purchases of cryptocurrencies since the beginning of the month.
The banks involved are citing a couple of reasons for this move. First, they’re worried about the possible debts that their customers will run themselves into if cryptocurrency prices drop. This is a heightened concern since bitcoin reached its lowest point in the last three months when it hit $6,000 this morning.
Financial institutions are concerned that people are purchasing more cryptocurrency than they can afford. As money lenders, they’re negatively affected when borrowers cannot afford to repay what they owe. This issue follows the increasing popularity of bitcoin as people jump on the chance to make some easy money. For example, Mastercard Inc. stated that their customer spending has risen 22 percent this year, a number they attributed at least in part to digital currency purchases.
The Bank of America also mentioned money laundering regulations in relation to their decision. Banks are required to monitor transactions for evidence of money laundering. This is much more difficult with digital currency due to the pseudonymous and encrypted nature of the transactions. Additionally, banks are worried about stolen credit cards being used as cryptocurrency stashes.
Other Banks Are Still Being Cautious
Banks that aren’t blocking credit card purchases may still be adding charges to cryptocurrency transactions. A change to the MCC code, the merchant category code that reveals the type of transaction that occurred, is allowing banks to charge cash advance fees for cryptocurrency purchases.
On the other hand, banks in Canada and Australia are being more lenient. Major Canadian banks are still allowing cryptocurrency purchases with credit cards. For example, Toronto-Dominion Bank permits digital currency purchases while the Royal Bank of Canada has stated that they allow such purchases under limited circumstances. These banks, including the Bank of Nova Scotia, report that they are reviewing their policies carefully. Additionally, Australia’s major banks have confirmed that they won’t be banning bitcoin transactions.
As cryptocurrency surges in popularity, authorities and institutions world-wide are intensifying their regulations. Some people in the cryptocurrency community have reacted with skepticism, suggesting that financial systems are fighting the rise of a decentralized system of currency. Whatever the motive, these regulations have the potential to alter the price of cryptocurrencies as it becomes more difficult for people to buy into the market.


text: The bags are an alternative to reusable cloth bags, upon which bacteria have been shown to live longer. SmartPractice has released an expanded line of patient supply bags with over 900 coordinated designs in paper and plastic materials. These recyclable bags are manufactured in the United States and once designed are available within 5 to 7 business days after the order is approved. Both paper and plastic supply bags serve as a safe and eco-friendly alternative to cloth reusable bags. According to the company, recent studies have shown that bacteria can live on reusable bags for a longer amount of time, leading to the potential spread of viruses. “This launch has been years in the making,” stated Kristin Uhles, vice president of marketing at SmartPractice. “Our customers have asked for more flexibility in their bag material while not sacrificing their brand or budget.” Paper and plastic coordinated designs are available in three sizes. Plastic bags include a die-cut handle on all sizes with the larger paper bags also featuring a comfortable, reinforced handle for extra durability. The new products are available to order in May 2020 and sample packs are available upon request.


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Apple chief executive Tim Cook has refused to give total subscription figures for Apple TV+ but said the tech giant’s nascent streaming service was off to a ‘rousing start’.
Apple TV+ launched in 100 countries to much publicity in early November, with a handful of original series including the Jennifer Aniston-starring The Morning Show, but has seemingly not made the same impact as Disney+ in loosening Netflix’s grip on the streaming market.
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STORY CONTINUES BELOW
The $4.99/€4.99 per month platform was available free for a year to customers who bought new iPhones prior to launch and was also bundled in with Eir TV when it was relaunched late last year.
Sales of Apple services, including Apple TV+, the App Store and Apple Music, increased 16.9% to $12.7bn (€11.5bn) year-on-year in the three months to the end of December.
However, services revenue rose just $200m (€181.5m) on a quarterly basis, indicating that a maximum of 3.6m customers signed up for paid Apple TV+ subscriptions — far short of the 30m+ that paid for Disney+ in the same span, although tens of millions were eligible for free access to Apple TV+.
Paid subscriptions to Apple services hit 480m in December, and the company now expects to reach 600m by the end of 2020.
Overall, Apple made net sales of $91.8bn (€83.4bn) during its first quarter, an increase of 8.9% year-on-year, with iPhone sales up 7.6% to $55.9bn (€50.8bn) and sales of wearables like the Apple Watch rising 36.9% to $10bn (€9.1bn).
‘We are thrilled to report Apple’s highest quarterly revenue ever, fueled by strong demand for our iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models, and all-time records for services and wearables,’ Mr Cook said.
Costs at the Cupertino company rose 8% to $52.1bn (€47.4bn), meaning income increased 11.2% year-on-year to $22.2bn (€20.2bn) or $5.04 per share, with the company paying around $3.6bn (€3.3bn) in taxes.
North and South America remain Apple’s most captive markets, representing of $41.4bn (€37.6bn) of sales with Europe making up $23.3bn (€21.2bn) and China and Japan combining for nearly $20bn (€18.2bn).
The company now has total assets of $340.6bn (€309bn), with debts and liabilities totalling $251.1bn (€228.2bn). Apple forecast revenue of $63-67bn for its second quarter, and shares in the company rose 2.8% in after-hours trading last night.


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Visitors during a currency expo at the Riksbank headquarters in Stockholm. File/Agence France-Presse
As Lebanon sinks lower into financial ruin, foreign banks are cutting ties with the Central Bank, making it difficult for the country to purchase goods and transfer payments from abroad.
Sweden’s central bank (CB) ended five years of negative interest rates when it raised benchmark borrowing costs by a quarter point to zero, defying an economic slowdown and global uncertainty.
The Russian Central Bank plans to resume its purchases of foreign currency for state reserves that are pegged to oil prices in 2022, after pausing them this year amid the rouble crash, Governor Elvira Nabiullina said.
Indonesia’s economy expanded more slowly than expected in the first quarter of this year, as investment dropped ahead of elections and campaign spending failed to sustain growth momentum. Southeast Asia’s largest economy grew 5.07 per cent in January-March from a year earlier,
The 21st edition of Airport Show was opened in Dubai, amidst increased confidence and indications that the aviation industry is experiencing a huge surge to return to the pre-pandemic levels and sustained growth outlook.
Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE national railway network, has said that Etihad Rail is committed to foster the vision of country’s leadership,
The UAE is Australia’s largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East. With $6.8 billion in two-way trade in 2020 (over $10 billion pre-COVID), the UAE is Australia’s 19th largest export market globally for goods and services.
Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director General of Dubai Department of Information has officially opened CABSAT 2022 - the region’s leading satellite, broadcast, and content event – at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Tuesday.


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OUR HERITAGE: THE STORY OF STARK COUNTY. This is Part 2 of 3 of the seventh installment of a yearlong series from reporter Tim Botos.
PLAIN TWP. Before the chef at your favorite restaurant slices, dices and spices your meal, many of the ingredients previously landed at a place like Wallace Foods.
The family-owned food distributor began in the basement of a wood-frame house that stands to this day on Ridgeway Place NW in Canton. "I'm told they had a dumb-waiter on the front porch to bring the (supplies) up from the basement," said Mark Wallace, president of the now 82-year-old business, and grandson of founder, Emmett Wallace.
You've probably never heard of Wallace Foods.
The business moved to a brick block building on Whipple Avenue NW in 1953, right behind Emmett Wallace's house. Although it sits across the street from an Acme Fresh Market store, and between two shopping centers on the east side of the road, it's easy to miss.
That's the way it's supposed to be.
They are one of the key behind-the-scenes companies that restaurants rely upon. Wallace supplies everything from Styrofoam food containers to meat and potatoes to many independent restaurant operators in 12 counties.
"A lot has changed, but people still want face-to-face service," said the 53-year-old Wallace.
For the uninitiated, here's how the food service business works, according to the International Foodservice Distributors Association: Distributors deliver about 25 million cases of product daily in the U.S. to enable 1 million restaurants to prepare 225 million meals a day, which generates $279 billion in annual sales.
Not too shabby, considering yearly consumer electronics sales add up to $228 billion and wireless services check in at $192 billion.
Wallace's local competition includes Atlantic Foods and Canton Hotel & Restaurant Supply. And then there's the biggies, corporate food suppliers such as Gordon Food Service and Sysco.
Originally dubbed the "pickle peddlers," Wallace Foods today offers more than 1,900 products in the dry, frozen and refrigerated foods and paper disposable categories.
Situated on 1.5 acres, the Wallace property is owned by Pickle Properties, an ode to the pickle nickname. A 12,000 square-foot building houses three freezers and a pair of coolers, to go along with shelving for dry products. The 10-employee business has six trucks that deliver products to restaurants within a roughly 60-mile radius, five days a week.
The company is a member of Golbon, based in Boise, Id. It's a cooperative of more than 200 independent distributors, who pool their buying power to secure products at reasonable prices.
"This whole area around here was nothing but fields when they built this place," said Mark Wallace's older brother, Dave, 64, who's in the process of retiring soon from the family business.
Founder Emmett Wallace first turned the business over to his sons, Larry and Wilbur. Larry Wallace then brought on his sons, Dave in 1974, followed by Mark in 1986. Older brother Dave used to be president of the business before Mark took over.
Wallace's longtime customers include many local well-known eateries, including Baker's Cafe and Johnnie's Bakery
The business has gradually expanded through the years, usually based on customer wants and needs. That's included the addition of some fresh meats and poultry, as well as fresh produce.
The produce-buying is in the capable hands of Phil Frank, who works part-time at Wallace. He travels to the Cleveland Produce Terminal a couple times a week to select what Wallace will supply to restaurants.
"I've heard he's something of a celebrity up there ... that he'll even open a box of tomatoes and cut one open to inspect it," Mark Wallace said. "I guess he's pretty fussy."
Frank is well-known locally as the owner of family-owned Frank's Produce, which operated on Court Avenue NW in downtown Canton for 99 years until closing its doors in 2012.
Company founder Emmett Wallace died in 1986. Mark and Dave's father, Larry Wallace, died last year, as did their uncle, Wilbur Wallace -- both had been long retired from the family business.
"This business is a lot of work, overwhelming at times," said Mark Wallace.
Every day, the company takes and fills orders for its customers. Trucks bring supplies into the warehouse, and Wallace's smaller box trucks move food out of the place.
He'd like to add on to the building, but is landlocked and would need approval of a zoning appeal for most any expansion. But he acknowledged it will have to happen someday -- whether it's on the Whipple Avenue NW site or somewhere else.
"The product line has to keep growing, because increasingly customers have been looking for one-stop shopping," Mark Wallace said. "That's how it's evolved over the years."
Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
On Twitter: @tbotosREP


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Security researchers have revealed details about a set of 16 vulnerabilities that impact the Bluetooth software stack that ships with System-on-Chip (SoC) boards from several popular vendors. The same group of researchers disclosed the SweynTooth vulnerabilities in February 2020. They decided to dub this set of vulnerabilities BrakTooth.
BrakTooth affects major SoC providers such as Intel, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Infineon (Cypress), Silicon Labs and others. Vulnerable chips are used by Microsoft Surface laptops, Dell desktops, and several Qualcomm-based smartphone models.
However, the researchers say they only examined the Bluetooth software libraries for 13 SoC boards from 11 vendors. However, looking further, they found that the same Bluetooth firmware was most likely used inside more than 1,400 chipsets, used as the base for a wide range of devices, such as laptops, smartphones, industrial equipment, and many types of smart “Internet of Things” devices.
It needs to be said that the impact is not the same for every type of device. Some can be crashed by sending specially crafted LMP packets, which can be cured with a simple restart. Others can allow a remote attacker to run malicious code on vulnerable devices via Bluetooth Link Manager Protocol (LMP) packets—the protocol Bluetooth uses to set up and configure links to other devices.
Researchers believe the number of affected devices could be in the billions.
All the vulnerabilities
Full technical details and explanations for all 16 vulnerabilities can be found on the dedicated BrakTooth website where they are numbered V1 – V16 along with the associated CVEs. The researchers claim that all 11 vendors were notified about these security issues months ago (more than 90 days), well before they published their findings.
Expressif (pdf), Infineon, and Bluetrum have released patches. Despite having received the necessary information, the other vendors acknowledged the researchers’ findings but could not confirm a definite release date for a security patch, citing internal investigations into how each of the BrakTooth bugs impacted their software stacks and product portfolios. Texas Instruments said they would not be addressing the flaws impacting their chipsets.
Publicly disclosed computer security flaws are listed in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database. Its goal is to make it easier to share data across separate vulnerability capabilities (tools, databases, and services). The most serious vulnerability in BrakTooth has been listed under CVE-2021-28139, which allows attackers in radio range to trigger arbitrary code execution with a specially crafted payload.
While CVE-2021-28139 was tested and found to affect smart devices and industrial equipment built on Espressif Systems’ ESP32 SoC boards, the issue may impact many of the other 1,400 commercial products that are likely to have reused the same Bluetooth software stack.
The researchers emphasize the lack of basic tests in Bluetooth certification to validate the security of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices. The BrakTooth family of vulnerabilities revisits and reasserts this issue in the case of the older, but yet heavily used Bluetooth classic (BR/EDR) protocol implementations.
The advice to install patches and query your vendor about patches that are not (yet) available will not come as a surprise. We would also advise users to disable Bluetooth on devices that do not need it. This way you can prevent attackers from sending you malformed LMP packets. Since BrakTooth is based on the Bluetooth Classic protocol, an adversary would have to be in the radio range of the target to execute the attacks. So, in a safe environment Bluetooth can be enabled.
Stay safe, everyone!


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According to recent Update on Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook, some few mins ago he said:
We just announced our quarterly results and gave an update on our progress building a global community.
Our community now has almost 1.9 billion people, including 1.2 billion people active every day. More than 65 million small businesses use Facebook to connect with their customers.
Our biggest focus continues to be putting video first across our family of apps. More than 150 million people now use Instagram Stories every day. We’ve launched our new camera in Messenger and have started rolling it out in Facebook as well.
We have a lot more work ahead as we continue building the community we all want — one that is informed, supportive, safe, and a force for good in the world. Thank you for being a part of this journey to connect the world.
See embeded Facebook screenshot of his recent update here..


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Reply.com closes on a CMO
SAN RAMON, CA: Reply.com, the leading marketplace for local advertisers, today announced that Chris Mancini has joined the company as its chief marketing officer. Reply.com also announced that it has reached 1 million auctions per day and 26 million local consumer visits per month across all of its properties. These increases point to the success of Reply.com’s marketplace for local advertisers, which is recognized as the most effective way for local advertisers to reach their target consumers.
Mancini brings over 12 years’ experience in performance-based online marketing operations and management. Prior to joining Reply.com, Mancini spent two years as EVP and General Manager at QualityHealth, where he was responsible for consumer experience, client marketing, operations, media, client services and analytics. Before that, Mancini spent more than 10 years at QuinStreet, where he was instrumental in helping the company grow to over $300M in revenue and complete an IPO. As SVP and GM at QuinStreet, Mancini launched the company into new verticals and spearheaded efforts to form partnerships with Fortune 1000 companies and leading industry partners.
“We’re thrilled to have Chris join the Reply.com team. We have seen significant increase in budgets from advertisers using our marketplace, and we anticipate this trend to continue in 2013 and beyond. Reaching 1 million auctions per day is just another proof point that local advertising offered in proper format is essential in bringing local advertisers to the internet in a meaningful way,” said Payam Zamani, founder and CEO of Reply.com. “I am confident that Chris’ expertise in online advertising and strategic partnerships will be instrumental as we accelerate the growth of our traffic and meet the needs of our advertisers.”
Reply.com also announced today that it is now supporting more than 1 million advertising auctions per day in the company’s real-time auction marketplace and hosts 26 million local consumer visits per month across all of its properties including MerchantCircle.com, Contractors.com, iMotors.com among others. An auction represents the process through which a consumer is matched with a local service provider for their given inquiry. For example, when a request to be matched with a roofing contractor in a specific zip code on Contractors.com is made, the consumer’s request on a realtime basis is auctioned to determine its value if distributed as a “lead” or an Enhanced Click(TM) (a consumer generated click including consumers service need and zip code where service needs to be rendered). This is a format that is supported by the Reply.com marketplace and is necessary for local advertisers. Within milliseconds the marketplace matches the consumer with their requested service provider and the auction is completed.
“Reply.com is at a very exciting and interesting point in time, especially as the market is shifting dollars to local online advertising as a more cost-effective way to reach the right audiences,” said Mancini. “Advertisers and publishers in the Reply.com marketplace are realizing profits and reaching audiences in ways only dreamed of 10 years ago. I’m truly thrilled to be joining such a talented team and am hopeful I can add tremendous value from day one.”
About Reply.com, Inc. Reply.com, Inc. operates the leading marketplace for locally-targeted advertisers. Reply.com’s platform provides advertisers of all sizes with a simple and scalable solution for locally-targeted marketing. Reply.com owns and operates many destination sites including iMotors.com, Contractors.com and MerchantCircle.com, which is the largest online network of local business owners in the nation with over 1.4 million member merchants and 17 million monthly local consumer visits. To learn more about Reply.com, please visit www.reply.com .


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TiVo said back in January that it would be launching an app for Android tablet users to give them control over their DVRs and recordings. The company has had an app for iOS devices for a long time, and I bet a lot of Android tablet users have been waiting for their own version. That wait is over.
TiVo has officially launched its Android app, and it is available on Google Play right now to download. The app offers remote control functionality, a show guide, search, and programming/actor information. Users can also use the app to their storage and organize Season Pass recordings. Those recordings can be organized with drag-and-drop functionality.
The features of the app include the ability to call up information about a show and see all the relevant details for the program at a glance. You can explore the show cast, crew, and see what online partners have the show. Actor information is also available via the app, and you can view your My Shows list. The app is compatible with TiVo Series 3, HD, and HD XL DVRs.


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Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary claimed on Wednesday that people needed to back off President Joe Biden and “stop complaining” about high gas prices and inflation because “Americans are not suffering as much as they think they are.”
Singletary made an appearance on MSNBC to discuss inflation and gas prices ahead of Biden’s call for a three-month gas tax holiday — and his continued calls to gas companies to absorb the costs of increasing production in order to ease consumer costs at the pump.
WaPo’s Michelle Singletary: “There’s a great deal of Americans where it is uncomfortable that they’re spending more, but they are not going to go under. You know, you got to stop complaining … Overall, many Americans are not suffering as much as they think they are.” pic.twitter.com/epCwq6NeG2
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) June 22, 2022
“I’m just going to say this and if I get dinged for it I don’t care,” Singletary began. “There is a great deal of Americans where it is uncomfortable that they’re spending more, but they are not gonna go under. You’ve got to stop complaining when there’s so many people who literally the inflation rate means they may only have two meals instead of three.”
“There are Americans who did extremely well in the last two years in the market. You still have your job. And yeah, it’s costing you more for gas, but guess what? You’re still going to take that holiday, that Fourth of July vacation, you can still eat out, so I’m gonna need you to calm down and back off.”
She went on to argue that people complaining about their portfolios should stop complaining and use their extra money to help the people who really were in dire straits.
“Overall, many Americans are not suffering as much as they think they are,” she said, claiming that unrealistic fears would “think” a recession into existence.
But critics weren’t buying what Singletary was selling — and a number argued sarcastically that Democrats should definitely run on comments like that, which many viewed as tone deaf.
“Remember when WaPo wasn’t filled with deliberately blind activist clowns?” Rita Panahi asked.
“Faith in Americans dies in darkness,” Tim Graham added.
“This is just insane rambling by an elitist journalist that is so out of touch with everyday Americans. Just eat 2 meals a day instead of 3! Don’t eat out ever or go on vacation. Also give money to other people and the government should give money to other people, not you. Wow,” @Shem_infinite tweeted.
“These people are delusional,” @TexasAustyn added. “But hey … this is a GREAT campaign ad.”
These people are delusional. But hey…this is a GREAT campaign ad https://t.co/8hakf5ou3A
— Austyn_Texas (@TexasAustyn) June 22, 2022
“I suggest @TheDemocrats run with this message all the way to Election Day, especially the ‘calm down and back off’ part. That’ll convince people,” @irishspy concluded.
— Phineas "Extreme Dark Ultra" Fahrquar (@irishspy) June 22, 2022


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The network outage is due to a fire in Airtel's data centre in Malad (Mumbai).
The tracking device comes with Loop Mobile SIMs which stays with the auto driver throughout the day.
After Vodafone, Airtel has also decided to deactivate the accounts of customers who have not used the service for more than 60 days.
The government has asked Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular to discontinue their 3G roaming pacts.
Rates as low as 25 paisa/minute for all Airtel-to-Airtel calls within Rajasthan.
It allows job hunter to create resumes and apply for jobs through their mobile handsets.
This year-end offer can be availed by both GSM and CDMA prepaid customers of RCom in Delhi.
Those prepaid numbers who are not being used for 60 days will be discontinued.
Tata Docomo has also promised 100% cash back offer with Photon Plus.
The TRAI has collected Rs 6.05 lakh for violation of regulations on unwanted commercial calls and messages.
Now to join the Greenpeace pledge all you have to do is give a missed call!
Existing and new customers can walk in to experience a host of MTS products and services.
However, Tata Docomo and Aircel have put on hold a similar agreement after DoT expressed its reservation.
Customers can now subscribe or unsubscribe to most VAS products of Vodafone by messaging to 321.
The plan, called Airtel Super 950, is available for Airtel's 3G USB dongle customers only.


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Thursday, July 12, 2012
This is the interior of the Topshop store in Chicago, one of only three in the United States. Nordstrom will add Topshop to 14 stores in September, including its Southcenter location.
Photography home |
Most viewed photos |
Purchase photos |
© 2012 The Seattle Times Company


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TIE Kinetix, The Netherlands-based company that delivers SaaS solutions for electronic document exchange and supply chain automation, announced that it raised €2.9 million (SEK 30M) in a fresh round of funding.
The investment came from Stockholm-based investment company Partinc Capital, which focuses on investments in SaaS companies that deliver software services for business-to-business (B2B) relationships.
Company: TIE Kinetix
Funding Month: December 2021
Lead Investors: Partinc Capital
Company Website: https://tiekinetix.com/
Software Category: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions
About the Company: TIE Kinetix offers Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to companies, governmental institutions, and their suppliers to help them exchange all business documents electronically, and simplify the supply chain processes. Through their cloud-based system, businesses can transfer different types of documents such as invoices, orders, and order confirmations to authorities, customers, and suppliers. The company’s software platform FLOW Partner Automation, empowers its users to engage in smart business exchanges and streamline communication through integration with any existing system. The company has customers such as the Municipality of Amsterdam, Bunzl, Revlon, and an additional 2,500 accounts. TIE Kinetix, which is listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (Euronext: TIE), has offices in The Netherlands, France, Germany, Australia, and the US.


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New Delhi:- The Center has Proposed a Two percentage point discount in the GST for Consumers who make the digital Payments. The proposal is likely to be picked up at the next council meeting in January 2018 if approved then it will boost the government to the attendant in a cashless economy.
The incentive will be available to B2C transactions for GST that face a GST rate of 3 % or more. Whereas the incentive will include a 1% concession on the CGST and another 1% on the SGST.
Key Points of promoting Digital payments
The incentive could be 2% on bills till Rs 2,000.
The main idea is focused on minimizing cash payments.
The need to power up digital payments has been promoted by PM Modi himself.
“The idea is to encourage digital transactions, and what better way than to incentivize them. The move will help increase the size of the formal economy as consumers will demand digital payment options from retailers,” an official said. It would reduce tax evasion as well, he added. The proposal was on the agenda of the previous GST Council meeting in Guwahati on November 10 but could not be pick Up
The effective GST rate for items, the 18% slab will come down to 16% for those who are paying through digital mode. However, the concession will be limited to ~100 per transaction. This implies that goods and services bought up to ~5,000 per transaction will enjoy the full 2 percentage point concession of ~100. “Customers will seek digital transactions from merchants, thereby increasing the level of competition in the market,” said another official.
Written By:- Kiram M. Content Writer


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India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has set up “a network of access points” in 1.3 lakh post offices, out of which 1.13 lakh are in rural India, Telecom and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed the Parliament on November 20. He said this has increased the rural banking infrastructure “by almost 2.5 times”. 1.8 lakh postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks have smartphones and biometric devices to provide doorstep banking service. Prasad was replying to the questions raised by MPs Janardan Mishra and Rodmal Nagar.
IPPB delivers financial services to rural areas by leveraging its network of post office branches that were linked with the IPPB system, but now will be converted into a small finance bank. In another reply to MP Pinaki Misra on November 20, Prasad had said that the government has set up a task force to study the logistics and feasibility of the conversion of IPPB into small finance banks. The government had decided to convert IPPB into small finance bank in July 2019, and had said that IPPB will partner with common service centers to provide services like banking, remittance, insurance, Direct Benefit Transfer, bill and tax payments at the post offices.
[embeddoc url=”https://www.medianama.com/wp-content/uploads/IPPB-1.pdf” download=”all”]
[embeddoc url=”https://www.medianama.com/wp-content/uploads/IPPB-2.pdf” download=”all”]


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Austria’s inflation rate remains high despite the downward trend
VIENNA, April 20 (IANS) Growth in consumer prices slowed in Austria between January and March amid lower energy prices, but overall, inflation was still high, according to official data.
Data released by the Austrian Statistics Office showed that the inflation rate in Central Europe in March was 9.2 percent, down from 10.9 percent in February and 11.2 percent in January, as “fuel and heating oil prices fell sharply” compared to March 2022., reports Xinhua News Agency.
However, food product prices continued to grow sharply in March, marking an increase of 14.7 percent over the previous year.
Prices in the catering sector, including restaurants and hotels, rose 13.2 percent in March year on year.
In 2022, consumer prices in Austria will increase by an average of 8.6 percent, driven by higher energy prices.
This represents the highest annual inflation rate recorded in the country since 1975, according to Statistics Austria.


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DALLAS (CBS.MW) - Ashland Inc. reported a 30 percent increase in fiscal fourth-quarter earnings Monday, as improving economic conditions boosted the company's chemical business.
Covington, Ky.-based Ashland
The chemical and petroleum company said business improved due to lower costs and improved sales volumes. The chemical business consists of the Ashland Distribution, Valvoline and Ashland Specialty Chemical divisions.
Income from continuing operations climbed to $203 million, or $2.81 a share, compared with $61 million, or 89 cents a share, in the fourth quarter of a year ago.
According to Thomson First Call, analysts expected Ashland to earn $1.62 a share, on average.
The chemicals segment reported operating income of $77 million compared with $46 million a year ago as sales volumes increased.
Operating income from refining and marketing was $151 million for the September quarter, increasing 28 percent over the 2003 period.
Shares of Ashland closed down $1.40 at $54.96.


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- ThreatMetrix Announces $30 Million in Growth Capital with Silicon Valley Bank to Accelerate Global Market Eminence
- ThreatMetrix Highlights Influential Moments at 2016 Digital Identity Summit, Business Without Borders
- ThreatMetrix Prevents Over $15 Billion in Annual Fraud Loss
- ThreatMetrix Fall ‘16 Release Secures the Future of Global Digital Business
- ThreatMetrix Announces Accelerate Partner Program to Advance Channel Sales and Service Opportunities
As a result of the infamous breach where 40 million credit and debit card accounts were compromised and 70 million customers had their names, phone numbers, email and mailing addresses stolen, Target’s profit dropped 46 percent and revenue 5.3 percent.
According to an AP piece by Anne D’Innocenzio, Target says profits will be affected well into 2014. The Minneapolis-based retailer reported it earned $520 million, or 81 cents per share, for the three months ending Feb. 1. That compares with a profit of $961 million, or $1.47 per share, a year earlier. Revenue fell from $22.7 billion to $21.5 billion.
Target’s $44 million insurance policy helped somewhat ease the $61 million it’s had to shell out in breach expenses so far. Additional expenses could include payments to card networks to cover losses and expenses for reissuing cards, lawsuits, government investigations and enforcement proceedings. Oh, and Target is offering free credit monitoring services for a year to those who had their data compromised. Presumably that’s been paid for already, or will be, depending on how many customers take advantage of the offer.
The breach has caused Target to accelerate its $100 million plan to implement the use of chip-enabled technology by early 2015 in all 1,800 stores.
D’Innocenzio writes, “It isn’t clear when Target will fully recover from the breach, but Avivah Litan, a security analyst at Gartner Inc., puts the costs of the breach at between $400 million and $450 million.”


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Microsoft has rolled out OneNote for Mac, a free version of its cross-platform notetaking app for OS X, accompanying not only OneNote for iOS on iPhone and iPad, but the apps for Windows, Android, Windows Phone, and the browser. Meanwhile, there are also new tools for avid OneNote users, including a new OneNote Clipper for snapshotting webpages into a note, and an Office Lens app for turning a Windows Phone into a mobile scanner.
OneNote has been around on Windows for years, offering text, image, and handwritten note support among other things. Microsoft added an iOS version for phones and tablets in recent years, but a Mac-specific app has taken a little longer to arrive.
Just as in the Windows version, OneNote for Mac supports multiple notebooks with color-coding, annotation, styling, lists, bullet-points, and more. There’s also tagging for easier rediscovery, and search.
Sharing is built-in, using Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage, with support for group edits on the same notebook. Meanwhile, those notebooks also synchronize across all of the different OneNote apps, regardless of platform.
As for the OneNote Clipper, that adds a new “Clip to OneNote” favorite that snaps an image of the current page to a OneNote folder. Microsoft suggests it’ll be useful for those researching holidays or new purchases.
Finally, Office Lens for Windows Phone, a free app which uses a smartphone’s camera to import receipts, documents, or other physical items into a OneNote notebook.
Office Lens has three different modes, for whiteboards (with automatic glare and shadow reduction), for documents (with text enhancement), and for photos. There’s also support for importing existing photos on the phone. It’s a free download from the Windows Phone Store.


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By Norman Isaac Mwambazi
Witty rapper Mungi Matovu popularly known by his stage name Mun*G has landed big cash after being named the official Brand Ambassador of recently named Guinness variant, the Guinness Smooth.
This is not the first time Mun*G is representing the dark stout beer brand, as he was also one of the main acts to headline the Guinness-sponsored Tubaale campaign back in 2016 with late Mowzey Radio and Weasel.
At the time of this writing, many of his fans were wondering how much exactly Mun*G is going to bag from the deal, although it is definitely bound to be a generous amount, since Guinness is an internationally recognised brand with an enormous marketing budget, and Mun*G doesn’t come cheap too.
“Always a pleasure to work with a top, top brand that is close to me. It is with deep pride to announce that I am the official #GuinnessSmooth Brand Ambassador in Uganda. It is time to kick off a #ASmoothLife and #SmoothVibes,” The ‘Bintwala’ singer excitedly shared the news on his Twitter page.


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As the coronavirus pandemic zaps brick-and-mortar revenues, J.C. Penney Company Inc. and Macy’s, Inc. have both reportedly turned to financial advisers to manage debt and maintain cash flow.
Beleaguered department store chain JCPenney has hired the consultancy AlixPartners LLP to manage its hefty debt load of about $4 billion, according to a report from Bloomberg. The retailer has been in talks with its banks over the past few weeks regarding liquidity needs, according to the report, and is engaged in negotiations with lenders about a potential debt deal. According to Bloomberg, the retailer is also working with advisers from law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP and investment banking firm Lazard Ltd. In an email to FN, a representative from JCPenney declined to comment on the matter.
While JCPenney’s digital business remains open, the coronavirus has killed brick-and-mortar sales, and its fleet of about 850 stores have been shut since March 18. The company, which employees about 90,000 people, furloughed the majority of its hourly store associates on April 2. On April 5, it furloughed a “significant” portion of its corporate workforce at offices in Plano, Texas; Salt Lake City; and New York, in addition to salaried store associates. Additionally, JCPenney has drawn down $1.25 billion from its $2.35 billion revolving credit line to create cash flow while stores remain shut. The chain said it was also “evaluating other financial options.”
The coronavirus outbreak is the most recent in a series of hurdles for JCPenney, which has been struggling amid an evolving retail picture. Problems such as sliding sales, numerous leadership changes and increased digital competition have scared off investors. These challenges have sent the company’s stock below $1 — and put it at risk of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Ahead of market open on Tuesday, JCPenney shares were trading at just 33 cents.
As JCPenney looks to financial advisers to manage its debt and retain liquidity, Macy’s has reportedly made a similar move. Reuters reported Monday that Macy’s has tapped Lazard to help weigh its financial options as it manages liabilities. The retailer is reportedly mulling options including new financing.
A spokesperson for Macy’s confirmed to FN that the company is “exploring” options to improve its capital structure but did not elaborate on its partnerships.
“As we have previously communicated, the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a toll on Macy’s Inc.’s business,” the representative said. “Macy’s Inc. has taken multiple actions to improve our position and improve financial flexibility. … The company is also exploring numerous options to strengthen our capital structure. We have relationships with a range of advisers.”
Like JCPenney, Macy’s has furloughed the “majority” of its more than 120,000 employees. Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette is forgoing his salary for the time being. Further, the company has suspended its quarterly dividend, deferred capital spend and tapped its $1.5 billion revolving credit facility.
Similar to JCPenney, Macy’s has faced challenges in recent years amid the so-called retail apocalypse. In early February, the department store chain unveiled an ambitious three-year turnaround plan that included trimming 125 stores from its total footprint, cutting 2,000 jobs — or about 9% of its corporate workforce — and ramping up investments in higher-margin private labels and off-price through Macy’s Backstage. But so far in 2020, Macy’s has shed more than 70% of its market capitalization, which is now about $1.5 billion, roughly a quarter of what it was last year.


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Several New Jersey natural gas distribution companies announced proposed lower supply costs.
PSE&G said that it would reduce its basic gas supply rate this winter to 40 cents from 45 cents -- the lowest rate in 15 years.
Also included in PSE&G's filing is a small reduction to the Balancing Charge to 9.4 cents from 9.6 cents.
New Jersey Natural Gas said that it is seeking to maintain the existing rate for Basic Gas Supply Service for residential and small commercial customers
However, New Jersey Natural Gas also announced that it will provide a bill credit to residential and small commercial customers for the 2015-2016 winter heating season. The full amount of the bill credit will be determined in the fall of 2015, but NJNG currently estimates a reduction of $63.7 million for these customers during the months of November 2015 through February 2016. Although the credit will vary, based upon individual usage and weather patterns over the four months, the typical residential heating customers using 1,000 therms per year could realize a savings of approximately $141, or 14.3 percent, on their total bill on an annual basis.
In a news release, New Jersey Natural Gas was not specific that the credit is related to the supply portion of the bill, and would only be received by default service customers, but we suspect that it is supply-related
South Jersey Gas' Basic Gas Supply Service petition proposes a decrease in the supply rate which translates to a reduction of $12.11 on an average 100-therm monthly residential bill.


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During the month of September 2021, MTC Powder Solutions (MTC PS), Surahammar, Sweden, recorded its largest ever order intake in a single month for Powder Metallurgy Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) components. The record followed on the back of a series of new investments designed to increase production capacity in the Surahammar facility, part of the company’s expansion strategy designed to meet customer demands.
“This level of order volume in a single month, which is almost the same level as we would have seen in a whole year a few years ago, is a significant milestone for us,” stated Magnus Nyström, Managing Director. “However, more importantly, it provides confirmation that we have taken the right investment choices and will continue to do so in the future.”
The increased order volumes have been reported across all markets of interest. MTC PS believes that this signals a key sign for a positive future for the company continuing the growth of near-net shape HIP components (NNS HIP), as well as acting as a broader sign of industry’s return to form after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jimmy Bovin, Global Product Manager, added, “We see a clear tendency that more and more critical metallic components are converted from conventional manufacturing technologies such as forging and casting to PM HIP which have created a stronger demand and a positive order book which is already expanding rapidly into 2022.“


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The last year has been a whirl of inconsistent Apple ads. While the company’s longtime agency is still adjusting to life post-Jobs, the ad Apple showed at WWDC shows Apple’s messaging getting back to what it does best.
Samsung released S4, which is like S3, except beefier; Google has killed the Reader and we are all upset; Andy Rubin is done with Android and Sundar Pichai is in-charge along with ChromeOS; Apple and Samsung fight is getting feistier + more cool reads.
On Tuesday in San Jose Apple executives announced the arrival of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, joining the 15-inch edition announced in June that comes with the Retina display, technology that makes images and applications appear much sharper on the popular laptop computer.
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web that you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: More company secrets leak out at the Samsung trial, why an iPod nano smartwatch is “a dumb idea,” CBS’s apathy toward Apple TV, and Mountain Lion battery concerns.
WWDC begins at 10 a.m. Monday. While a few potential announcements have leaked — Apple’s plans for new maps, new Macs and iCloud upgrades — as with any Apple event, there’s still plenty of mystery. Here’s the latest that people are talking about heading into the developer confab.
On Thursday Apple’s SVP of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, took the stage to talk about education and announced Apple’s ambitious plan to reinvent the textbook. That plan includes iBooks 2, which Schiller called a “new textbook experience for the iPad.”
It’s a day pretty much everyone knew was coming, and a day that everyone at Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) was dreading: the company’s iconic CEO, Steve…
In what BusinessWeek is describing as “his first extensive interview on the subject,” Phil Schiller, everyone’s favorite Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing for Apple (s aapl), has defended Apple’s application approval process.
I’ve read through it a few times, and I’d hardly call it “extensive.” I think it’s more accurately described as “PR spin” more than anything else. Schiller’s opening salvo is actually an advertisement.
We’ve built a store for the most part that people can trust. You and your family and friends can download applications from the store, and for the most part they do what you’d expect, and they get onto your phone, and you get billed appropriately, and it all just works.
It’s obviously going to transmit good vibes to the majority of BusinessWeek readers (who likely weren’t even aware of an application approval process in the first place, never mind a problem with it) but it’s unlikely to smooth the feathers of frustrated, angry developers. See, Mr. Schiller not only defended the approval process, but said that developers actually like it. Read More about Apple Speaks: Schiller Defends App Store Approval Process
With the release of Windows 7 (s msft) next week, senior Apple VP Phil Schiller (s aapl) is boldly asserting that it “presents a very good opportunity for us.”
That opportunity will possibly come in a series of ads contrasting Windows with OS X, at least according to Peter Burrows of BusinessWeek. The expected campaign is expected to take Windows 7 on directly, and will likely “poke fun” at the upgrade process, from backing up data and reformatting drives to reinstalling software.
“Any user that reads all those steps is probably going to freak out. If you have to go through all that, why not just buy a Mac?” says Schiller.
Apple (s aapl) rejected Google Voice for the iPhone. That’s not what Google (s goog) says, exactly, except by posting the unredacted response to the FCC on the issue there remains little room for interpretation.
According to Google, none other than Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller told Google Senior VP Alan Eustace “that Apple was rejecting the Google Voice application.” The main reason for rejection was “because Apple believed the application duplicated the core dialing functionality of the iPhone.”
Google claims that the letter (PDF) is being released because of requests through the Freedom of Information Act, and because Apple released the full contents of its own response to the FCC.
Apple representative Steve Dowling immediately fired back, stating that Apple “did not agree with all of the statements made by Google in its letter. Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application. We continue to discuss it with Google.” Read More about Google and Apple Debate the Meaning of “Rejected”


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The warning letters were announced this morning and resulted from FDA reviews of the claims being made on the companies’ websites.
Among the recipients was Jim Bakker. Bakker and his then-wife Tammy Faye become media personalities for their brand of showy televangelism with a long running TV show called The PTL Club. Bakker resigned after a scandal involved hush money paid to former assistant Jessica Hahn to cover up an alleged rape. The Bakkers had also developed a Christian theme park called Heritage USA in South Carolina. Both the TV ministry and the park went bankrupt in the wake of the affair and Bakker ended up serving five years in prison on a number of fraud and conspiracy counts.
Bakker now runs a new enterprise called The Jim Bakker Show. According to the FDA warning letter, Bakker has been hawking a colloidal silver dietary supplement as a cure all for COVID-19 on the show.
Colloidal silver cure all
According to the warning letter sent to Bakker, on the air he asked a guest about the Silver Solution sold on the TV show’s website: “But this influenza [sic] that is now circling the globe, you’re saying that Silver Solution would be effective?” To which she replied: “Well let’s say it hasn’t been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it’s been tested on other strains of the coronavirus, and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours, totally eliminate it, kills it, deactivates it.”
In addition to the warning letter, Bakker had also received a cease and desist order from New York Attorney General Letitia James. James noted in her order that the World Health Organization has stressed that there is at the moment no specific medicine to prevent or treat this disease.
"The FDA considers the sale and promotion of fraudulent COVID-19 products to be a threat to the public health. We have an aggressive surveillance program that routinely monitors online sources for health fraud products, especially during a significant public health issue such as this one," said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, MD. "We understand consumers are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and urge them to talk to their health care providers, as well as follow advice from other federal agencies about how to prevent the spread of this illness. We will continue to aggressively pursue those that place the public health at risk and hold bad actors accountable.”
Among the warning letters recipients were other companies selling colloidal silver as well as marketers of essential oils and herbal dietary supplements.
“CRN is pleased to see FDA and FTC taking enforcement action against companies preying on consumers during this vulnerable time. We recommend consumers avoid any product that claims to treat, cure or prevent coronavirus, and we urge both marketers and retailers to be extra vigilant in preventing these products from ending up on shelves or e-commerce sites," said Jim Griffiths, PhD, senior vice president of international and scientific affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition.


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Storent goes contactless
By Thomas Allen07 April 2020
Latvia-based rental company Storent has launched a contactless online equipment rental platform.
Customers can complete the full cycle of the rental process through the platform at any time, from anywhere. This means they can remotely register and sign agreements, order and return equipment, and make payments and sign documents with Smart-ID or Mobile-ID.
Arnis Skrastins, Chief Information Officer of Storent, said, “Customers will be able to quickly check the online rental price for a specific piece of equipment for a selected period of time with delivery to a selected location.
“This means that they will no longer need to call a Storent employee to find out what the rental terms and the final price would be; everyone will now be able to select the equipment they need online and see what the delivery price for it would be.”
He added that the price estimate given to a customer will not change.
Andris Bisnieks, one of the co-founders of Storent, said, “The cooperation process will become more transparent and convenient, customers will be able to keep track of their orders and invoice flows, as well as the equipment balance on their objects, and, most importantly, rent construction equipment.”
Andris Pavlovs, the other co-founder, said, “It will only take a few minutes for new customers to register on the Storent website and calculate the rental equipment and transportation costs. Everything related to paper documents and their physical signing is already in the past.
“We are changing with the aim to automate the routine work processes by introducing a much more modern approach – doing business remotely.”
In addition, Storent customers can now earn and collect reward that can be used for future rentals.
Founded in 2008, Storent now has 29 depots spread across Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.


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Did you know that this week is Sun Awareness Week (3-9 May). The awareness raising initiative highlights the dangers of sunburn and excessive tanning and discourages people from using sunbeds, in light of the associated risks of skin cancer. It also encourages people to regularly self-examine for signs of skin cancer.
Sun Awareness is the British Association of Dermatologists' (BAD) annual campaign to raise awareness of skin cancer. This campaign is overseen by the BAD’s Skin Cancer Prevention Committee, comprised of leading medical professionals with expertise in skin cancer, vitamin D and public health messaging. No Time to Lose runs the sun awareness week campaign on behalf of BAD.
Worldwide, non-melanoma skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer, with an estimated 2-3 million cases registered every year. In Britain, there are at least 1,500 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 240 new cases of malignant melanoma linked to solar radiation exposure at work diagnosed each year.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a risk that particularly affects outdoor workers, who receive 5-10 times the yearly sun exposure of indoor workers. The engagement resources can help you communicate important messages on preventing occupational cancer caused by solar radiation exposure within your organisation.
As many of us have stayed at home during the Covid-19 lockdown, it’s important to look at what you eat and consider vitamin D rich foods such as mushrooms, oily fish, and fortified cereals and dairy products. To get your body to create vitamin D, you need to be out safely in the sun daily, and how long for will depend on a few factors, such as your skin colour. Taking vitamin D dietary supplement can be another source of intake.
We’re supporting Sun Awareness Week and encourage everyone to get involved and help raise awareness of solar radiation risks at work in the following ways:
Download free resources for use in your organisation
Share on social media
Read NTTL news release
Read research on skin cancer caused by solar radiation
Sign up as an NTTL supporter


text: Digestadd California Exports Fall California exports dropped sharply in the third quarter, as Mexico for the first time surpassed Japan to become the state’s top export destination. Merchandise exports from California totaled $21.1 billion during the quarter, a 9.4 percent decrease from third-quarter 1997. For the year, California exports are down 3.3 percent. Although exports to Mexico rose by 3.4 percent, even that market is showing signs of trouble. Exports to Mexico were up 30 percent in the first quarter and 15 percent in the second, but as the peso continues to lose ground against the dollar, southbound exports have begun to slow.


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The existence of a Pilatus jet project has been discussed in the European press since at least 2011 and Pilatus has confirmed its plans to show a mockup of its twinjet design, the PC-24, at EBACE, Geneva, this May. Earlier reports had forecast that deliveries of the new jet would reach customers by 2015 for an asking price near twice that of the company’s best-selling model, the PC-12 turboprop. The forecasts also foresaw the design’s public rollout in the fall of 2012; later dates should now be expected. There are multiple rumors surrounding the PC-24 design that the May unveil should put to rest.
Rumors about the jet’s design include possible similarities with Embraer’s Phenom-series jets carrying up to eight seats but sporting a cargo door. Turboprop sales like those of the PC-12 have been relatively strong since the economic downturn of 2008. Pilatus saw very strong sales that year and also in 2010 and 2011. The company has also recently landed multiple military contracts, leaving it with an order backlog that could stretch well more than three years. Meanwhile, the company has been in expansion mode, increasing hires and supporting its facilities as it prepares for growth.


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Property Tour Australia
Tickets On Sale Now
Today, genre-bending pop/rock trio Waterparks have announced their debut Australian headline tour for October in support of their brand new studio album ‘INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY’, out now on Fueled By Ramen.
Joining the band on all dates will be special guests Lights.
After an insane response to Waterparks show at 170 Russell, we are super excited to upgrade the show to Forum Melbourne.All tickets remain valid with no action required for existing ticketholders.
For support submissions, email email@example.com
RSVP for your event (Click on the city)


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TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Read our ethics statement.
It appears the U.S. console gaming industry has fallen into an autumn slump, generating $250 million less revenue in September than the same time last year. All in all, NPD Group analysts report that revenue was down about 24 percent. This figure includes only consoles, physical games and accessories. What the report does not include are used sales, rentals and digitally distributed games.
Once again, Microsoft's venerable Xbox 360 weighed in as the top console in terms of sales. This marks the system's 21st consecutive month as number one, holding about 49percent of video game system market share.
However, the 360's run is expected to be abruptly cut short next month by the Wii U, Nintendo's upcoming console offering. The Wii U is expected to debut for $299, a price point the company can manage because of its modest hardware. Perhaps the system's most defining feature is its controller though, which will tout a versatile 6.2-inch LCD display.
The reason for the decline is not discussed in-depth, but a substantial drop in hardware sales indicates part of the problem may simply be stale equipment. The report suggests aging consoles have already reached their saturation points as American consumers look forward to next-generation hardware.
In terms of console game sales, Borderlands 2 came in at second place, just behind Madden NFL 13 which occupies the top slot. Considering Borderlands 2 had only been around for about two weeks during September, the folks over at Gearbox will probably sleep soundly tonight.


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Motorway is offering car retailers 50% off broker fees on the first two purchases made through the Motorway Pro platform during October.
The online vehicle stocking source, which links car dealers with private sellers across the UK, said the new promotion is in response to “bumper private stock levels” seen in September.
Motorway reported a 23% increase in used car valued between £10-30k, on the previous month.
Brands such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, Ford and Nissan, were particularly strong, said Motorway.
James Bush, sales director at Motorway, said: “The used car industry has flourished since lockdown.
“With consumers looking for more value with their purchases and shying away from more expensive new car finance deals, second-hand car dealers have been enjoying a renaissance over the summer."
Premium used cars have been hailed as "pandemic proof" by Motorway, after the value of Land Rovers, Lexus and Maseratis rose by over 8% year-on-year.
"Our latest promotion, coupled with our contact-free transport service, makes it easier than ever for new dealers to sign up and purchase the stock they need from the comfort of their home or office."
The offer is open to all new dealers who sign up in October and is valid for any vehicle purchased through Motorway Pro, until the end of the month.


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Major manufacturers long ago gave up producing equipment for small dairies, which seemed to be a thing of the past.
But with small dairies opening to meet the demand for locally produced food, the market for equipment for five-cow, 10-sheep and 20-goat operations is seeing a resurgence.
A Maryland entrepreneur has developed a small-scale milk pasteurizer that has been sold in about 30 states and a number of other countries. A Vermont farmer has created another small-scale pasteurizer that his company hopes to get approved for sale this summer.
Photo by liz west
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Air pollution from ports and freight transportation threatens the health, environment, and quality of life of millions of people, particularly those who live in overburdened communities near freight facilities and transportation networks. Yet, loopholes in regulatory processes allow ports and goods movement activities to continue without adequate protections for communities and port regions across the country. The impact of lax regulations is captured in the short video below.
EPA should prioritize reducing air pollution from freight facilities across the nation.
EPA should develop and implement a comprehensive plan for tackling emissions from the freight transportation system.


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AP Technology NewsBrief at 9:20 p.m. EDT
(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Apple posts video of Jobs memorialSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Apple is allowing the general public to get a look at a memorial service it held for employees to celebrate the life of co-founder Steve Jobs at its Cupertino headquarters last week. The company posted a link on its website late Sunday to a video of the service, which was held on Wednesday in the center of Apple Inc.'s campus. It runs 81 minutes and is kicked off by CEO Tim Cook, who addresses an overflowing crowd of Apple employees. Apple Inc. has not held any public services for Jobs, who died at age 56 on Oct. 5 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Scientist: Satellite must have crashed into AsiaBERLIN (AP) _ A defunct German research satellite crashed into the Earth somewhere in Southeast Asia on Sunday, a U.S. scientist said _ but no one is still quite sure where. Most parts of the minivan-sized ROSAT research satellite were expected to burn up as they hit the atmosphere at speeds up to 280 mph (450 kph), but up to 30 fragments weighing a total of 1.87 tons (1.7 metric tons) could have crashed, the German Aerospace Center said.
Science fiction-style sabotage a fear in new hacksSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) _ When a computer attack hobbled Iran's unfinished nuclear power plant last year, it was assumed to be a military-grade strike, the handiwork of elite hacking professionals with nation-state backing. Yet for all its science fiction sophistication, key elements have now been replicated in laboratory settings by security experts with little time, money or specialized skill. It is an alarming development that shows how technical advances are eroding the barrier that has long prevented computer assaults from leaping from the digital to the physical world.
Con artist who helped Google probe to be sentencedPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ A massive federal investigation that resulted in Google Inc. forfeiting $500 million this year to settle criminal claims over its advertising began with the 2008 arrest of a jet-setting career con artist, who took federal agents in Rhode Island into the underground world of peddling pills online. David Whitaker, 36, finalized the decision to help federal agents investigate Google within six weeks of being arrested in California after being expelled from Mexico, where he told authorities he spent his time selling drugs online, according to his plea agreement. He had already served three prison sentences and was staring down a maximum sentence of 65 years in Rhode Island for bilking $8.7 to $22.6 million from small businesses and a credit card company during the mid-2000s, court records show.
Jobs questioned authority all his life, book saysSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ A new biography portrays Steve Jobs as a skeptic all his life _ giving up religion because he was troubled by starving children, calling executives who took over Apple "corrupt" and delaying cancer surgery in favor of cleansings and herbal medicine. "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson, to be published Monday, also says Jobs came up with the company's name while he was on a diet of fruits and vegetables, and as a teenager perfected staring at people without blinking.
EU launches its first satellite navigation systemBRUSSELS (AP) _ A Russian rocket launched the first two satellites of the European Union's Galileo navigation system Friday after years of delay in an ambitious bid to rival the ubiquitous American GPS network. The launch of the Soyuz from French Guiana, on the northern coast of South America, marks the maiden voyage of the Russian rocket outside the former Soviet Union, with European and Russian authorities cheering at liftoff in relief after the launch was pushed back by a day.
Verizon 3Q earnings double on pension effectsNEW YORK (AP) _ Earnings doubled at Verizon Communications Inc. in the latest quarter due to pension accounting effects, but the bottom-line result masked a weak quarter in the local-phone division, which was hammered by a strike and a hurricane. In wireless, Verizon, the largest carrier, kept adding more high-paying subscribers than rival AT&T Inc. But like AT&T, it was hurt by the delayed launch of the new iPhone model, and missed analyst expectations for the number of new subscribers on contract-based plans.
Microsoft's fiscal 1Q earnings hit analyst targetSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Microsoft's Windows franchise regained some of its vigor during the company's latest quarter, but that might not be enough to overcome the perception that the world's largest software maker is being outmaneuvered by nimble rivals whose fortunes aren't tied to the personal computer. The results released Thursday were highlighted by a 7 percent increase in revenue that exceeded analyst estimates. The gains for the July-September period occurred throughout Microsoft's product lineup, which includes the ubiquitous Windows operating system, widely used programs such as Office, the Xbox 360 video game console and the Bing search engine.
AT&T sees slowing growth in wireless in 3QNEW YORK (AP) _ Running one of the nation's biggest wireless networks has been a reliable way for AT&T to boost revenues, quarter after quarter, as people loaded up on phones, and then traded up to smartphones. But the easy money may already have been made, AT&T's latest results show.
Eyeing Asian market, LinkedIn launches in JapaneseTOKYO (AP) _ LinkedIn Corp. on Thursday launched its online professional networking service in Japanese, the first Asian language platform for the rapidly growing company as it pushes to expand in the region. Mountain View, California-based LinkedIn also established a small Tokyo office, following the opening of its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore in May.
(c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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“A massive competitive advantage”: EU member states formally agree to new PPWR despite concerns
18 Mar 2024 — EU member states agreed to the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) last Friday, ending speculation that the preliminary agreement could be blocked or stalled by the European Commission (EC). Rumors surfaced late last week that the EC’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) was attempting to reopen negotiations.
The attempts were reportedly a result of the PPWR’s new rules on importing recycled plastics, which often come from countries that lack the EU’s stringent environmental standards. An agreement was reached, however, allowing imports meeting these standards.
The agreement, which was given preliminary approval two weeks ago, was formally adopted by the EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on Friday afternoon.
The new PPWR stipulates a number of changes and mandatory targets for all member states. By 2029, all countries must collect at least 90% of single-use plastic bottles and metal beverage containers annually.
Deposit return systems (DRS) must be built to reach this goal unless already in place.
Member states will also be exempt if they reach a collection rate above 80% in 2026 and introduce an implementation plan to reach the 90% collection goal.
For plastics, restrictions will be placed on fresh fruit and vegetable packaging, as well as carrier bags and cosmetic products. Recycled content from outside the EU will also be allowed under certain restrictions.
UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, which campaigned for priority access to recyclate supplies (due to the industry’s leadership in DRS establishment), has not yet issued a statement.
Reuse and singe-use
One point of major contention in the lead-up to the PPWR has been the debate over reuse and single-use packaging, especially within the paper and cardboard industries.
LCAs commissioned by NGOs like Zero Waste Europe and by organizations like the European Paper Packaging Association (EPPA) contradict one another on what would have a heavier environmental impact.
Following Friday’s agreement, EPPA’s president Antonio D’Amato remarks: “Today marks a significant milestone in the development of the EU’s future economy. Government representatives have embraced a robust agreement that, while not perfect, is broadly aligned with the latest scientific evidence.”
“This is a PPWR that will make Europe more competitive and more sustainable and which does not jeopardize the single market or the EU’s world-leading recycling sector. In short, the new PPWR has seen the future of the circular economy prevail.”
“Thanks to constant investments totaling billions of euros, we have achieved very ambitious waste collection and recycling results that make it possible to combine economic growth and environmental sustainability. It’s no coincidence that the EU is the only continent to see its GHG emissions fall. Indeed, our CO2 emissions in the third quarter of 2023 were down 7.1% on the previous year.”
“This system is a massive competitive advantage of the EU, built on the positive collaboration of member states, institutions and European industries.”
This story will be updated with further industry reactions as they unfold.
By Louis Gore-Langton
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