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WELCOME TO The advertising REPORT
Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
variety | January 21, 2020
Netflix continues to say it has no strategic interest at all in launching a version of its streaming service that includes ads and would rather avoid the privacy pitfalls of collecting consumer data. Chairman and CEO Reed Hastings on Tuesday again shot down the notion of an ad-supported Netflix service, after he was asked on the company’s fourth quarter 2019 earnings interview about advertising by moderator Guggenheim Securities’ Michael Morris. “Google and Facebook and Amazon ...
Finsbury Media | January 27, 2022
Finsbury Media, the UK's leading digital marketing agency announced today that they will be partnering with the WD-40 Company to develop new advertising strategies and campaigns exclusively in the UK. Most commonly known for its water-displacing spray; WD-40 owns a wide range of maintenance products. Unveiling these campaigns is another way to solidify WD-40's position in the UK.
Finsbury Media has been appointed to substantially expand the reach of WD-40 by running variou...
Digital Air Strike | May 22, 2020
Facebook showcases Digital Air Strike's impressive results leveraging Dynamic Click to Marketplace Advertising.
Digital Air Strike, the leading consumer engagement technology company, is helping businesses leverage increased traffic on social media duri...
Harmon Brothers | May 05, 2020
Harmon Brothers, Creators of the wildly successful video ad campaigns for Poo-Pourri, Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Purple, Announces "100K Poop to Gold Giveaway."
Harmon Brothers, the Provo-based social media ad agency behind "the greatest v...
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The company's results were announced post market hours yesterday.
Tata Global Beverages Ltd's stock fell sharply by 8.6 per cent to Rs 141.35 on BSE.
On NSE, it tanked 8.7 per cent to Rs 141.10.
"For Q2 FY14 Tata Global Beverages performance was below estimate on the top-line and bottom-line front," said V Srinivasan, Research Analyst - FMGC, Angel Broking.
Tata Global Beverages had yesterday reported 51.23 per cent increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 180.03 crore for the second quarter ended September 30.
The company had posted a net profit of Rs 119.04 crore for the same period of previous fiscal.
Its net sales during the quarter under review rose to Rs 1,906.23 crore during the second quarter, as compared to Rs 1,842.57 crore during the same period of previous fiscal.
Meanwhile, the company also announced merger of its subsidiary Mount Everest Mineral Water Ltd with Tata Global Beverages.
"The boards of directors of Tata Global Beverages Limited and Mount Everest Mineral Water Limited (MEMW) in their respective meetings today, approved a proposal to merge MEMW with Tata Global Beverages," the company had said.
"Merger of Mount Everest is considered negative, so the stock is facing selling pressure," said Kishor Ostwal, CMD, CNI Research.

domain: news


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If you use the camera to zoom in on Norman Reedus’ groin too many times in Death Stranding, he will punch you in the face.
This was demonstrated by the game’s famed designer, Hideo Kojima, during an onstage presentation of his highly anticipated title during last week’s Tokyo Game Show (TGS).
“Here is where he would give the middle finger, but we won’t show that since we’re at Tokyo Game Show,” says Kojima from the stage as the camera zooms in again on Reedus, who is portraying the game’s main character, Sam Bridges — and is also wearing pants. Another zoom-in draws the punch.
Death Stranding was just one of many titles on display as the gaming industry again descended upon Japan. This year’s event drew more than 260,000 people — including one Keanu Reeves — to the sprawling halls of the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba.
There was a little bit of something for everyone. In one corner was a playable demo of Team Ninja’s Nioh 2, the followup to the dark and challenging 2017 action RPG. Another area held Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, which allows players to re-create moments from the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series. Elsewhere was a game dedicated to raising a hamster.
While Death Stranding wasn’t playable, it was still one of the most talked-about titles at the event. Kojima took to the Sony stage on three different days, once to show off a whopping 48-minute gameplay demo, to reveal more about the game’s vast open world, combat and more. It’s due out Nov. 8 on PlayStation 4.
Final Fantasy VII Remake was another wildly popular title at TGS, with fans eagerly awaiting the PS4 reimagining of the 1997 PlayStation classic. The first installment will be released March 3, 2020. Producer Yoshinori Kitase tossed out a few juicy morsels during the event, taking the stage to show off new gameplay that featured a boss battle, a summon and a minigame.
A previously released demo of the game was playable at TGS, after a long wait in line, of course.
Sega had a very large presence at this year’s event, setting aside a swath of space for JRPG Project Sakura Wars (working title) and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The biggest game in the Sega booth, however, was Ryu Ga Gotoku 7 (Sega’s long-running series known as Yakuza in the West). The game’s new turn-based combat, a first for the series, takes some getting used to initially, but adds a fresh new element to the franchise.
Resident Evil is also getting a new coat of paint in the form of Project Resistance, a co-op multiplayer spinoff of the survival horror series. The game, which pits four survivors against a “mastermind,” was also playable and looked good.
Reeves was on the show floor before TGS opened to check out the massive space set aside for Cyberpunk 2077, in which he has a role. That title is due April 16, 2020, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
There was also a sizable mobile game presence and independent games were given their own area again.
Organizers said there were 655 exhibitors and 2,417 booths at TGS this year. The event returns next year from Sept. 24 to 27.
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.


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Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said that High Street retail still has the competitive edge over digital sales, and he doesn't expect a significant change to the way consumers purchase games in the near term.
Nintendo's WiiWare and DSiWare releases are efforts by the company to appeal to consumers who are keen to buy product online, but Iwata admitted that digital sales for the company have only seen a small increase since the initial launch of the services.
"Already today, a number of people are aware of and appreciate the convenience of online shopping," said Iwata during a recent conference call. "Accordingly, Nintendo must be making efforts to provide them with the new mode of shopping.
"Simultaneously, however, I do not believe the competitive edge that packaged software has today will easily be taken up any time soon."
Iwata acknowledged that sales of videogames via online services are likely to dominate in the long-term, but he does not believe consumer habits will change quickly in the more immediate future.
"If people ask such extreme question as, 'Do you think that 20 years from now, customers will still be visiting retail outlets in order to purchase the majority of software in packaged format?', I will then have to answer, 'well, perhaps, the situation will be different.' However, if I am told, 'within a couple of years from today, there will be no retail outlets which will be selling packaged software,' my reaction must be, 'there's got to be something wrong with that assumption because I do not believe people's behaviours can change in such a short time,'" he said.
With digital sales of WiiWare titles, Nintendo has noticed that early adopters were keen on the service, but the company must do more to to reach consumers in the larger installed base, said Iwata.
"A number of early purchasers of new videogame hardware tend to be those who love something new on the market, so the net connection ratio can be high at the beginning, but if we do nothing about it, it can gradually go down as the hardware increases its installed base.
"In case of Nintendo platforms - because the company has been challenging itself with several measures - net connection ratios have gradually been increasing as time goes by. We are making efforts with the hope that it will someday reach and go beyond the tipping point. The current situation, however, is that we are observing only a gradual increase," he offered.


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Donna Albus visited KTXS on Tuesday, Jan. 15 to talk about the West Texas Rehabilitation Center's annual online auction.
To bid on the items, visit www.RehabAuction.org.
There are hundreds of retail items as well as handmade quilts and afghans. Other items include cars, 4-wheelers, an African safari, art, jewelry, and more.
Bidding ends at midnight on January 19.
All proceeds from the auctions benefit the West Texas Rehab center with facilities in Abilene, San Angelo, and Ozona. The Rehab Center serves about 500 people per day, regardless of their ability to pay.
For more information about West Texas Rehab, visit www.WestTexasRehab.org.


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The cost of living in the United States jumped the most in six months in December as prices at the pump picked up, though annual inflation in 2013 climbed by the smallest amount in three years, data released by the US Labor Department shows.
US inflation accelerated 1.5% in 2013, marking the lowest reading for a calendar year since 2010’s matching 1.5% increase. In between the two years Continue reading US Annual Inflation in 2013 Increases 1.5%
US inflation was unchanged in November from a month earlier as lower gasoline and natural gas prices offset what American’s had to pay for pricier items like food, shelter and transportation, this according to consumer price data published Tuesday by the government.
Annual inflation did bounce higher from the last reading, though that one went down as the smallest 12-month increase in four years. The bottom line, US inflation remains tame from the standpoint of economists and well under the Fed’s target. Continue reading US Inflation Unchanged in November 2013, Annual Inflation Rate Rises
The American cost of living decreased in October for the first time in six months and the annual inflation rate was the lowest in four years, the US government reported Wednesday in Washington.
Annual inflation eased and consumer prices retreated last month as sharply lower gasoline prices offset higher prices in food, transportation, used vehicles and the cost to rent and own homes Continue reading US Inflation in October 2013 Retreats, 12-Month Inflation Rate Eases
Inflation ticked a bit higher in September as American consumers paid more for energy related items, like gasoline and electricity, and they spent more for shelter, medical care and new vehicles.
A break from higher food prices did help to contain costs, according to the latest report on consumer prices from the US Labor Department. Overall, food prices stayed about the same last month after having climbed for three straight months. Continue reading US Inflation Up 0.2% in September 2013, Annual Inflation Rate at 1.2%
Inflation rose modestly in August with Americans paying less at the pump and as the overall cost of energy dropped for the first time since April, inflation figures from the United States government showed today in Washington.
Conversely, prices did rise sharply for medical care and they continued to gain in major items like food, clothing and shelter. Continue reading US Inflation Edges Up in August 2013, Inflation Rate at 1.5%
Inflation in the US rose more modestly in July but ticked higher on a 12-month basis, the Labor Department reported Thursday, August 15, 2013.
American consumers saw some relief as gas, food, new vehicle and clothing costs climbed slower than during the start of summer. Continue reading US Inflation Eases in July 2013, Yet Annual Inflation Rate at 2%
US inflation in June jumped by the biggest amount in four months as American consumers forked over more cash to buy groceries and gas, a government report showed on Tuesday.
It wasn’t just food and prices at the pump causing more pain to the pocket book. Prices for cloths, shelter, medical care and new cars also advanced. Continue reading US Inflation Jumps in June 2013, Annual Inflation Rate Hits 1.8%
US consumers paid more for good and services in May than in the prior month, newly released inflation data from the government shows
Americans were spared some pain though, as the cost of gas flattened and grocery prices retreated overall. On the flip side, the cost to rent and own homes increased. Continue reading US Inflation Climbs 0.1% in May 2013, Annual Inflation Rate at 1.4%
Falling gasoline prices in April drove US inflation lower for a second straight month, the US government reported Thursday in Washington.
Consumer prices settled 0.4% lower in April after declining 0.2% in March. The turnaround has been abrupt given the sharp 0.7% jump in February which went down in the books as the biggest increase since June 2009. Continue reading US Inflation Falls for Second Month in April 2013
US inflation over the past 12 months eased as consumer prices in March retreated for the first time in four months, government data released Tuesday shows.
Cheaper gasoline and clothing brought some relief to American consumers, keeping inflation mostly in check. Prices at the pump dropped 4.4% last month compared to the 9.1% increase in the prior month. Continue reading US Inflation Eases as Consumer Prices Retreat in March 2013


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The supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic allowed many industries see with their own eyes the huge risks caused by problems in any one link of the supply chain. The solar industry is also faced a problem of polysilicon shortages and skyrocketing prices during the pandemic. Now the industry is beginning to pay attention to risk diversification planning and one of the methods that has received attention is recycling. In the past, solar modules could only be thrown into landfills at the end of their lifespan but in the coming years, as demand soars, technology advances, and material usage changes, recyclers are expected to extract billions of dollars in value from discarded solar modules.
No matter how the economy changes, decarbonization is already a future goal. Solar energy may account for more than 40% of the global electricity supply. The demand for solar cell modules drives a huge demand for materials but the mining and processing of these materials are currently concentrated in a few countries, making solar energy supply chains vulnerable to disruption and abuse.
One way to obtain materials is to recycle, but not only is high-tech equipment is difficult to recycle but also clean energy products such as solar cell modules, wind turbines, and electric car batteries. According to The Verge, most solar cell modules now consist of silicon cells coated with a layer of polymer encapsulant that binds the cells to a weatherproof glass and plastic cover. Although this electronic interlayer are designed to allow the panels to last on the roof for decades, the adhesives and sealants used throughout the panels make it difficult to separate out the usable material when these panels reach the end of their lifespan.
Norwegian energy research firm Rystad Energy reports that recycled silver, polysilicon, copper, and aluminum are among the top performers in the recycling market, but today silver and solar-grade silicon cannot be separated out using current recycling methods and are often cut up with the rest of the panel and sold as broken glass. However, the growing demand for solar energy in the future and the supply tightness of the materials needed to make panels, coupled with technological advancements that make it easier to extract valuable materials from old panels, lead to estimates that the value of recyclable materials for solar panels will experience exponential growth over the next few years, from $170 million this year to $2.7 billion in 2030.
Solar power, which started taking off in the 2000s, has a lifespan of about 25 years and the first wave of discarded solar panels is now approaching. While less than 500,000 tonnes of solar waste existed globally in 2016, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects that solar waste could rise to 8 million tonnes by 2030 and 6 million tonnes of abandoned solar cell modules could be thrown away annually by 2050. If disposed of properly, this rubbish can be turn into treasure.


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A global increase in focus on supply chain issues and uptake of innovative technologies that facilitate transparency and trust are driving large changes at Source Certain. Our Managing Director, Cameron Scadding sat down with The Australian's technology editor, David Swan to discuss the intention to IPO by late 2021. The company started in 2016 and has since seen the addition of a sales and marketing team, alongside an expanded research and development department. The existing whole of industry programs with Australian Farmed Barramundi, Australian Prawns, and Tasmanian cherries are being joined by multi-year deals made with international companies. Collectively the exponential interest in our technology is driving a need to expand.
"Perth-based provenance verification provider Source Certain International (SCI) is gearing up for an ASX debut later this year, with managing director Cameron Scadding bullish that a renewed focus on supply chain issues, combined with a jump in interest around sustainability and blockchain technologies, are combining to create the perfect conditions for an IPO.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Scadding said that SCI‘s TSW Trace technology – which analyses physical product samples to verify product origin and authenticity – has already been widely deployed across the Australian food industry, including for Australian prawns, farmed barramundi and Tasmanian cherries, and the time was right for an international expansion, including across the US."
Read the full article below.
Read on Apple News: https://apple.news/AkYE4EyvaSHKOTNv98GIPeQ
Read on The Australian (note paywall): https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Ftechnology%2Fsource-certain-readying-ipo-for-later-this-year%2Fnews-story%2F75980cdc4d661a83becbb3a331eb5901&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21suffix=414-b


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KUALA LUMPUR: Companies that recently made announcements include Dataprep, TT Vision, Poh Kong, Astro, AMMB and AIM, said Apex Securities Research.
Dataprep Holdings Bhd has proposed to acquire a 70% stake in DACS Network Solutions Sdn Bhd (DNS) for RM10.5 million from Cloudaron Group Bhd.
TT Vision Holdings Bhd said its wholly-owned subsidiary, TT Vision Technologies Sdn Bhd, has secured several purchase orders for its solar cell inspection equipment totaling RM7.51 million from an undisclosed buyer.
Poh Kong Holdings Bhd’s net profit for the first quarter ended Oct 31, 2023 (1QFY2024) rose 21.29% to RM19 million from RM15.67 million in the previous year’s corresponding quarter despite lower revenue, largely driven by an uptrend in gold prices.
Shafiq Abdul Jabbar is set to leave as group chief financial officer (CFO) of Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd to assume the same post at AMMB Holdings Bhd, effective Feb 15.
Advance Information Marketing Bhd‘s three-for-one rights issue with free warrants has been oversubscribed by 32.9%.
Source: The Star


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Supermarket leaders from across the UK have warned of supply chain issues over the Christmas period due to the ongoing shortage of HGV drivers.
He added: “We’ve got a lot of goods to transport between now and Christmas and a strong supply chain is vital for everyone.
“The driver shortage is impacting the food supply chain on a daily basis and leading to shortages on the shelves. We’ve had deliveries cancelled for the first time since the pandemic began, about 30 to 40 deliveries a day.”
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has named the pandemic as a driving force behind the shortages, as backlogs in HGV driver tests meant 25,000 fewer candidates passed their test in June 2020 than the previous year.
Moreover, the industry organisation claimed Brexit to have limited the number of available drivers.
Richard Burnett, chief executive at the RHA, said in a letter to Kevin Foster MP, the under secretary of state for future borders and immigration: “We are not going to solve this now by training new drivers, and as such need access to EU, EEA and global labour.
“We ask for the introduction of a temporary worker visa for HGV drivers, and for this occupation to be added to the Shortage Occupation List.”
However, while John Allan, chairman at Tesco, recognised that “there may be some shortages at Christmas”, he told the BBC that he “wouldn’t want to overdramatise the extent” of the issue.
Tesco has been one of many companies seen to offer additional incentives for lorry drivers, including a £1,000 joining bonus.
Responding to the warnings, a government spokesperson said that a “package of measures” have been put in place “to tackle the HGV driver shortage”.
They added: “Additionally, our plan for jobs is helping people across the country retrain, build new skills and get back into work. As part of this, we are streamlining the process for people to get their HGV licence.”


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As reported earlier, Motorola has created an ad for its Xoom tablet which parodies Apple’s famous 1984 ad. The ad, which was premiered during last night’s Super Bowl XLV, has many striking similarities to Apple’s classic commercial, such as the use of the mindless drones and the notion of fighting conformity.
Motorola’s Xoom—a $799 3G 32GB tablet which will be running the Android 3.0 OS—is attempting to rival Apple’s iPad, if that’s not clear enough from the ad itself.
If you missed the ad from the Super Bowl, you can watch it in its entirety below. The Xoom is set to be released on February 24th of this year at your local Best Buy.


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a body-positive barbie scores the cover of 'time' magazine
At the age of 56, the iconic doll finally has a realistic range of body types, and she's making big news.
She may not be the Time's Person of the Year, but the newly released Curvy Barbie (shown below) is a hugely refreshing move for toymaker Mattel, and she is the newsmagazine's next cover girl. This week's issue of Time — on newsstands February 5 — shows a silhouette of the doll with a bold headline that reads "Now Can We Stop Talking About My Body?" It's encouraging to see that Barbie (a toy that has long been dubbed by Mattel as a "fashion doll") in the spotlight for all the right reasons.
Barbies have long been under fire from feminists and body-inclusive parents who didn't want their girls growing up with a wildly distorted view of the ideal female form. Indeed, if Barbie's original shape was scaled up to human proportions, she would have an 18-inch waist (not to mention pointed feet that could only ever don high heels).
Mattel's new line of dolls comes in a range of styles that have been branded "Fashionistas": In addition to the Curvy model, Tall and Petite Barbies will be joining the original design on toy-store shelves. Barbies will also be offered in seven different skin tones and in a huge range of hair and eye colors.
Although the move to show the female body in a more realistic way is undeniably good, represents a huge risk for Mattel. Barbies are the best-selling dolls worldwide, and the source of $1 billion in sales annually. A whopping 92 percent of American girls ages 3 to 12 have owned a Barbie, and to many she represents the "ideal" American beauty. M.G. Lord, a writer who has followed the Barbie saga for years, has said that the toy was created "to teach women what — for better or worse — is expected of them in society."
Thankfully, many more girls can now own a Barbie that looks like them and the women they know and love.
Text Laura Vogel
Images Mattel, Kenji Aoki


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Discovery platform, Taboola, has enhanced its Taboola Newsroom product, which uses AI to help publishers offer paid subscriptions and engage with and convert registered users to paid subscribers. According to the company, data shows that news subscriptions have grown by more than 110% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and 58% of people will maintain their subscriptions post-pandemic.
To date, select publishers from Taboola’s customer base (which includes Associated Press, Die Welt, The Independent and RP Online ) have seen, on average a 30% increase in subscribers by testing Taboola Newsroom’s subscription offerings.
The upgrade to Taboola Newsroom ‘Propensity to Subscribe’, a feature that uses machine learning to identify which users are more likely to subscribe and allows publishers to target engaged registered users with articles that promote the most subscriptions.
In addition, Taboola Newsroom gives publishers actionable data and insights into readership trends and the content that drives subscriptions, such as:
- Engagement Score: Publishers can receive customised metrics about article readership tied to bounce rate, time on page, subscription conversion rate, and video watches, to better understand what keeps readers engaged.
- Repeat user topics: Publishers can identify the verticals and topics their loyal readers are interested in, both on their site and across Taboola’s network of thousands of other news sites.
- Real-time conversion tracking: Publishers can determine which articles are driving high-value user behavior such as site registrations, newsletter signups and paid subscriptions sales.
- User segmentation: Publishers can understand the readership and engagement behaviour of high-value subsets of their readers such as those registered or those with paid subscriptions. This knowledge can help to increase registrations and subscriptions, as well as reduce churn for paying customers.
News publishers have continued to prove their resilience this year, especially during the pandemic, because they are a critical source of truth. We are seeing that readers are more inclined now to support their favourite publications by becoming subscribers. With our new Newsroom subscription offerings to editors working with Taboola, publishers can capitalise on this trend and ultimately develop deeper and more longstanding relationships with readers.
Adam Singolda, CEO and Founder, Taboola


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MUNICH, Germany Wacker Chemie AG (Munich) backs out of the joint venture with Schott Solar AG. The move highlights the competitive dynamics in the solar industry.
Wacker, the world's second largest manufacturer of polysilicon materials for semiconductors and photovoltaic applications, says it have sold its shares in Wacker Schott Solar GmbH (WSS) to its former partner Schott Solar AG. Wacker said it will continue to focus on polysilicon production while Schott will devote itself to all downstream steps in the value chain.
The joint venture has been launched only two years ago when the industry was budding hopes on this market. Against the background of the financial crisis, the company however never made it out of the red figures. Tellingly, Wacker does not cash in on the sale of its shares. Quite the contrary, Wacker had to support the once co-owned company with about 50 million (about $72 million).
The move reflects the increasing competition in the photovoltaics business in general and in the wafer production in particular. In the context of the withdrawal, Wacker talked of increasing price pressure in this market. As a consequence, WSS never achieved the expected margins. "The financial crisis worked as a catalyzer for the wafer production relocation from Europe to Asia," a spokesperson said.
Also in the European PV equipment industry which despite its fragmentation is a dominant factor globally the signs indicate stormy weather. German industry association VDMA recently reported a 79 percent decline in orders for PV manufacturing equipment in a year-over-year comparison. Other sources see production surpassing the demand and predict that Asian manufacturers will soon claim the market leadership.
Wacker's plans to expand its production in the USA are not affected by the increasingly competitive market situation, a company spokesperson highlighted.
Related articles and links:
Study sees paradigm shift in the PV industry
Wacker shifts silicon production, cuts jobs


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While marketers may currently spend the majority of their social media marketing budgets on efforts focused on Facebook and Twitter, according to research cited by a report published on utalkmarketing.com, spending on other digital platforms such as YouTube and LinkedIn is set to increase over the next year.
At least one in five participants in a study, conducted at the US Pivot Conference earlier this year, said that they would be increasing the amount they spend on YouTube, LinkedIn and Foursquare.
Overall two-thirds stated they were already involved in social media advertising – with Facebook and Twitter continuing to be extremely popular.
A massive 93 per cent of marketers said that their brand already had a presence on the former, and 78 per cent on the latter.
More surprisingly, however, just 54 per cent said they were satisfied with the end result of their strategy.
Other social networks such as Myspace and Gowalla proved to be less popular, as over half of those surveyed admitted to not allocating any of their budgets to advertising via these sites.
News brought to you by ClickThrough – experts in Search Engine Marketing & Internet Marketing.


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The city-region's authorities will ask the Government to delay the next phase of the financial support scheme which was due to open at the end of this month.
It comes amid evidence of supply chain issues in the light goods vehicles market, increasing the price of second hand vans by up to 60 per cent since 2020.
There has also been a major public backlash against the Clean Air Zone - which will cover the whole of Wigan borough - in recent weeks, but councillors say the scheme itself will not be scrapped.
Speaking to councillors at Manchester Town Hall, Transport for Greater Manchester boss Simon Warburton explained why the Clean Air Funds scheme must be paused to allow for a fundamental review.
He said: “We face a dual challenge of the volume of vehicles that are in the market and also the prices at which they are in the market.
“Our advice now is that we are no longer confident that the funding arrangement as it stands will provide for the quantum and the sequencing of funding that is needed.”
Warburton said that light goods vehicles will be the most affected by the Clean Air Zone because Greater Manchester has a ‘particularly old’ fleet of vans.
But during the pandemic, the number of light goods vehicles entering the market fell, with a 20 pc reduction in new vans compared to the year before.
And although the number of new light goods vehicles registered in 2021 has rise back to 2019 levels, there are now fewer vans in the second hand market.
For this reason, the cost of upgrading light goods vehicles has risen and the financial support scheme agreed last summer will no longer be sufficient.
Trafford Council leader Andrew Western, who is the Clean Air lead in Greater Manchester, has already written to the Government to give them a "heads up".
He said: “We are still legally directed to achieve compliance in the shortest time possible and not later than 2024 and we have a moral obligation to do so too.
“But there is undoubtedly a real concern coming through from the evidence that we’ve seen and also anecdotally from smaller businesses in the conurbation that they do want to upgrade, but they’re struggling to, in some cases, replace.
“With those changes to second hand prices and the potential ramifications of that being several thousand pounds potentially increasing the costs of second hand complaint vehicles, there’s much for us to do and obviously not all of that is within our jurisdiction as Greater Manchester.
“These are national and global supply chain issues and they require a national solution.”
Funding to upgrade heavy goods vehicles opened at the end of November last year, ahead of the introduction of the Clean Air Zone on May 30 of this year.
But the next phase of the Clean Air Funds scheme for private hire vehicles, hackney carriages, coaches and minibuses and light goods vehicles – some of which will be exempt from the charges until 2023 – was due to open in January.
If the government agrees to Greater Manchester’s request to pause the funding, owners of these types of vehicles will not be able to funding yet.
However, vehicle owners who have already placed orders for new vehicles could still be offered support and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
TfGM will also review the impact on other vehicles, including lorries and taxis.
Councillors agreed to the recommendations at a Greater Manchester air Quality Administration Committee meeting.
But Bolton councillor Nadim Muslim voted against the proposal and suggested instead that whole Clean Air Zone scheme should be paused and reviewed.
Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here and viewing our offers.


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Ad-Supported Live Video Favored by 52% Finds an IAB Report
Yes, viewers are shifting their TV-watching habits to streaming sources, but there's good news for video marketers: Viewers streaming live TV can still be reached with ads. According to a report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), 67 percent of consumers around the world have live streamed video. Of those viewers, 52 percent would rather watch free, ad-supported video that pay for an ad-free account.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) led the way on live video viewing at 90 percent. In North America, 67 percent said they had watched live video.
The IAB got its results by asking a 29 question survey in 21 markets to 4,200 adults (200 in each market).
As an activity, live video streaming is getting more popular: 47 percent say they stream more live video now than they did one year ago, and 44 percent say they watch less traditional TV as a result of the live video they stream.
While some marketers worried that streaming devotees were unreachable with video advertising, it turns out ads and live online video can happily coexist. Globally, 52 percent would rather watch ad-supported free live video than pay for ad-free content. Of those who had seen an ad while streaming live video, 64 percent report taking action afterwards.
In North America, 54 percent would rather watch ad-supported live video. South America was most receptive to the idea, at 59 percent.
The IAB also found that 70 percent of adults 18-and-over watch online video daily through a connected device, which includes computers, phones, tablets, and connected TVs. The areas with the highest averages are MENA at 77 percent and South Africa at 80 percent.
Phones are frequently used to stream live video, but they're used for shorter viewing sessions. While 62 percent of those surveyed have streamed live video to their phone (and often stream live video multiple times per day), connected TVs get the most live video use: 67 percent of those who typically stream long-form video (30 minutes or more) do so on a connected TV. Phones are more popular for content under 30 minutes in length.
The most common way for people to discover live video streams is through social platforms, where 51 percent get their information. TV shows are the most popular things to stream live.
For more, view the full IAB survey (no registration required).
Troy Dreier's article first appeared on OnlineVideo.net


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UltraRes, the new automated reservations system launched by The Hotel Industry Switch Company (THISCO), received a major boost recently when the International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (IACVB) endorsed the product as a standard for the electronic transmission of convention housing reservation information.
THISCO, which provides the switch for translating and downloading travel agent reservations directly into the reservations systems of major hotels companies, has applied that technology to group reservations.
Using the new system, housing providers will send rooming lists to UltraRes via a file that fits THISCO specifications, and UltraRes will then transfer the data to multiple hotels. The system will reduce errors, and save time and labor costs, say THISCO advocates, because housing providers will no longer have to format and submit separate lists to each hotel company, and hotel personnel will not have to manually re-enter data. (See "Is UltraRes the Answer?" in the February issue of this magazine.)
"UltraRes makes the [reservations] process much more efficient," says Karen Jordan, IACVB's CEO. "It will make the housing experience a much better one for the customer."
IACVB members will receive reduced rates, paying twenty-five cents per net reservation, with an annual pre-paid minimum of $2,000 per year. (The exact cost for non-IACVB members has not yet been determined, but will be less than fifty cents per net reservation, say THISCO representatives.)
IACVB plans to conduct an extensive awareness campaign among its member bureaus worldwide. There is some confusion about UltraRes, acknowledges Jordan. "People say they were burned once with CHRS [Central Convention Housing Reservation Service]. They don't want to be burned again."
"There's not even a comparison [to CHRS]," responds Paul Astleford, president and CEO of the Chicago Convention & Visitors Bureau. Astleford has already used the new system-his bureau's housing vendor, ITS, participated in a year-long beta test of UltraRes.
"CHRS was an actual reservations service vendor. This is merely a technological link to any vendor that provides a reservations service. People in the industry have been talking about this kind of technology for 15 years. This is the culmination," says Astleford. (Pegasus, Inc., THISCO's parent company, is also the parent company of Anasazi, Inc., the hotel reservations company that operated CHRS.)
CVBs' support of UltraRes is critical to its success, says Susan Hodapp, brand director, Marriott Hotels, Resorts & Suites. "The bureaus have to lead the way," she says. Marriott, like other chains, has its own automated reservations system. But UltraRes has the potential to do what those individual systems cannot do-provide a standardized industry solution, Hodapp stresses. "We want to think beyond ourselves," she says, "and make a solution for planners. [UltraRes] offers an outstanding return for planners."
Even if bureaus sign on, the system won't become a standard without the major chains. In addition to Marriott, ITT Sheraton is interested in UltraRes, and Hyatt, which tested the product, will be using it. But not everyone is jumping on the UltraRes bandwagon. Dave Scypinski, director of meeting and convention marketing with Hilton Hotels Corporation, says UltraRes would not replace hotels' internal reservations processing systems. Participating hotels would still have their own internal costs, and, in addition, would have to pay for UltraRes. UltraRes may be a viable method for standardizing transmission of housing reservations, but Hilton is taking a "wait and see" attitude, Scypinski says. "There may be cheaper ways."
PGI Files with SEC Production Group International (PGI), an events, entertainment, exhibitions, and business communications company, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to consider a public offering. At press time, the Arlington, VA-based company was conducting the necessary internal review, and evaluating the potential market reaction. PGI representatives are bound by SEC rules not to comment on the specifics.
"We are evaluating the options available to PGI as a public company," says C.B. Wismar, senior vice president of corporate marketing and communications. PGI's board of directors could make its decision by the end of April.


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Infobip has implemented a WhatsApp-based chat banking solution for fintech start-up Afridig Wallets.
Based in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, Afridig is set to start operating in January 2022, bringing to market a suite of digital payment solutions for under-banked individuals and businesses.
Afridig founder and head of product development Zwelabantu Ntsubane said: “Afridig offers digital payment solutions specifically tailored for small and informal businesses within the township and rural economy. Our core focus is on enabling financial inclusion that is affordable. We understand that data is a significant expense for our target market and so we chose to deliver our solutions via popular social media channels that are typically already present on an end user’s mobile phone.”
The company has partnered with various retailers, financial institutions and micro enterprises to create multiple deposit and withdrawal channels for its customers.
Ntsubane says that the key to providing these services is the chat banking solution implemented by Infobip, which can be accessed via WhatsApp and enables users to send and receive money, purchase prepaid products, transfer funds from mobile wallets to bank accounts and to make purchases at local businesses. The chat banking solution enables payments to be made using QR codes and uses a payment gateway developed by Infobip partner Ukheshe to process transactions.
“Infobip’s end-to-end chat banking solution has saved us a huge amount of money. Considering the complexity of our solution, we were looking at various third-party integration options, but app development costs are incredibly high,” said Ntsubane. “Infobip was able to provide us with a solution at a fraction of the cost, which is very important in our case. Cost structure has a massive impact on our business model, as we are a fintech that is seeking to drive financial inclusion for customers.”


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Decision pending on Credit Agreement Act
Bank of Namibia Governor, Ipumbu Shiimi has said Government is still deciding on whether to put the Credit Agreement Act, which will regulate credit extentions to individuals, under the Ministry of Trade or Ministry of Finance.
Currently the Private Sector Credit Extended (PSCE), which is the level of credit extended to businesses and private individuals stands at N$78.4 billion. PSCE as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 48.9%. Shiimi said the Central Bank was first in discussion with the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development regarding the regulation but then it was decided that it be handed to the Ministry of Finance.
“The regulation has been drafted and it is has been finalised but it was decided that the Credit Agreement Act should be handed over to the MOF for that Ministry to be the one to present it to Parliament,” Shiimi said.
He added that the Credit Agreement’s Act emanates from the South African law when at the time the Namibia did not have Ministries but instead it had departments. This regulation may also assist with the Bank’s efforts to curb the widening trade deficit whereby the increase is also due to locals purchasing unnecessary. A high appetite for luxurious and nonproductive imported commodities by Namibians across the country is pulling the economy down.
Shiimi said Namibians are still importing a lot compared to the number of exports. Currently the trade deficit stands at about N$30 billion. “We need to work on increasing the number of items we export and slowdown the on import to help the 2015 situation recover. The situation in 2015 was not comforting as the import bill was higher and people buying more cars is none of the factors that affects imports,” he said. The Credit Agreements Act 45 of 1980 needed revision as its been out dated for almost 30 years, the governing laws are old and are not relevant to the evolved markets.
The current Act does protect consumers and the regulations do not stipulate to what extent a client can be charged for an item bought using a long-period payment method. This includes how much a client can pay for a vehicle that has to be paid over a period of 60 months with monthly instalments.
The regulations do not represent the interests of the consumers for repayment methods. Certain banking institutions failed to also adhere to the requirements and, in the same process, changed the stance from restrictive credit to accommodative credit terms because of the clear loopholes in the current credit agreements acts. Meanwhile, Shiimi said the stock of international reserves remains sufficient to one-to-one link of the Namibia Dollar to the South African Rand which is 5.8 times the currency in circulation.
The level of international reserves stood at N$27.4 billion early this year, compared to the N$23 billion reported last year at the MPC meeting. “The level is now at 3.5 months of import cover, higher than the international benchmark of three months. This increase in the level of reserves was primarily due to Southern African Customs Union (SACU) inflows and the depreciation of the domestic currency,” Shiimi said.
Shiimi noted that the Bank is working towards increasing the level of international reserves to 4.5 months of import cover. “Of course to decide how much of international reserves we want is not up to us, it is up to those who are spending to ensure that the reserves are intact. We want to work on improving the levels of months covered but we will see how that works out,” Shiimi noted. business@thevillager. com.na


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FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – A new report by the U.S. Commerce Department shows that steady growth in consumer spending has helped spur the Texas economy over the last 15 years.
The government for the first time has issued consumer spending data broken down by state, revealing the nation’s uneven recovery from the Great Recession. The report analyzes data from the calendar years 1997 through 2012.
North Dakota led the nation in 2012 with a 9.2 percent increase in per capita personal expenditures, compared to a 3.3 percent advance nationally. Per capita spending in Texas rose 4.1 percent on the strength of autos and auto part sales and transportation services.
Meanwhile, Texas had the second-lowest per capita spending on housing and utilities in the U.S., after Mississippi.
(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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in brief Far from being a killer of in-flight movies, Apple's iPad could soon become a central part of an airline's in-flight entertainment system.
When news of the iPad first hit the world in January, Jetstar chief information officer Stephen Tame had speculated with ZDNet Australia that the iPad "may lead in the future the end of airline in-flight entertainment systems" as everyone started to take their own devices onto the plane for entertainment.
Yet, even those who don't possess their own iPads could get an in-flight taste of the swanky devices if Bluebox Avionics, which provides technology and content to enable in-flight entertainment, has its way.
Bluebox Avionics has announced it will soon provide iPads to airline passengers in the United States as part of its in-flight entertainment service. According to a press release, the Bluebox Ai, as the company calls it, will be "the industry's only in-flight entertainment system to utilise the Apple iPad".
The customised iPads will include a select number of games, magazines and ebooks from the iTunes store, as well as Bluebox Avionics's own movie player application designed specifically for airlines.
The company announced that the iPads will be launched in July on one yet-to-be-named "international carrier" and will be available to other airlines shortly after.


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By Monica Garske – NBCSanDiego.com – Photo Not Credited.
Photo: The taps at Attitude Brewing Company.
A brewpub featuring 22 taps, a full menu and plenty of “attitude” will celebrate its grand opening this weekend in Barrio Logan, San Diego, California. Attitude Brewing Company, which has been fine-tuning its concept since its soft opening in October 2018, will host its official grand opening Saturday. The bicultural, bilingual brewpub is located at 1985 National Ave. in Mercado del Barrio, a hot spot for food and craft beer near the colorful Chicano Park landmark.


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Well, it looks like the opening date for Terralina Crafted Italian which will be located in The Landing section of Disney Springs has been pushed back. Originally slated to open in the fall of this year, the Italian restaurant will now open in early 2018.
The backstory behind the newly refurbished restaurant (Terralina is replacing Portobello) is that a first-generation Italian family, from the Lake District, who built a home in Disney Springs, has been expanding their home over the years to welcome more friends and neighbors to enjoy their hospitality, and food.
Terralina Crafted Italian will feature an open rotunda that will welcome guests with a rustic stone fireplace. There will also be a new outdoor patio with a veranda bar that spills out into the Disney Springs promenade, and a two-story glass conservatory that showcases stunning views of Lake Buena Vista. Out front, there will be a herb garden just outside the doors.
Terralina Crafted Italian is being brought to life courtesy of James Beard Award-winning Chef Tony Mantuano and will be open for lunch and dinner. Dishes will include artisanal pizzas and fresh vegetable items fired up in a wood-burning oven. Two new signatures items will be added, mussels and a grilled pork chop, along with favorites from Portobello included too, such as the antipasti platter and signature pastas.
Stay tuned for more details about this upcoming dining experience.


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With Mark Zuckerberg’s recent announcement surrounding Facebook’s name change to Meta, many business owners are rightfully wondering what exactly this means for the future of their operations. The new name signifies the parent company which acts as an umbrella over Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus, as well as a larger move toward building the “metaverse.”
But what exactly is this metaverse, when will it arrive, and how will it impact small business owners? While many of these details have yet to be worked out, there are some inferences that we can make based on the information that is available that can help early adopters thrive in the ever-changing digital landscape.
What Exactly is a Metaverse?
While Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement came on October 28, 2021, conversations surrounding the “metaverse” started as early as 1992 in Neal Stephenson’s science fiction novel, “Snow Crash.” In this book, the author told of lifelike digital avatars that connected in realistic yet completely virtual environments. Thirty years later, this science fiction novel is slowly but surely taking shape before our eyes as Meta’s group of companies work together to transform the digital world.
As Matthew Ball, managing partner of venture capital firm Epyllion Industries, puts it, “… we are on the cusp of the next internet.” Meta is what many supporters envision will be the very place where users work, play, and even experience the world. By combining virtual and augmented reality technologies with the power of social media and communications, users could experience everything from virtual concerts to trips around the world.
A metaverse is a digital world where users can interact as avatars or digital representations of themselves. In a metaverse, a user’s avatar can buy clothes, property, artwork, and even create online businesses.
When Will the Metaverse Arrive?
There are actually a few decentralized metaverses already, the two most popular being Sandbox and Decentraland. These metaverses are growing in popularity as more and more users are joining everyday.
Details surrounding the Facebook metaverse’s official arrival remain vague, but Zuckerberg predicts that it could take up to 10 years before the key components of the metaverse are widely adopted. However, many aspects of the metaverse are already alive and well today. And, with so many users of Facebook’s platform already, it’s easy to envision rapid, widespread adoption of any technologies within the group of companies that are seamlessly integrated through easily accessible devices.
While these other two metaverses have a a decent user base, Facebook’s massive user base is definitely going to be helpful in gaining widespread adoption. With over 2.6 billion active monthly users on Facebook worldwide, being able to tap into this user base is a big advantage in making Facebook’s metaverse THE metaverse.
By comparison, decentralized metaverses like Decentraland and Sandbox only boast a combined monthly user base of 330,000. If Facebook users are any indication of Meta’s ultimate success, we could very well be looking at something like the “next internet.”
How Will Facebook’s Metaverse Impact Businesses?
Not much is known about the metaverse yet, but what we do know from previous iterations of technologies and platform releases like this can allow businesses to better prepare for the potential impact.
Early Adopters will profit
As we mentioned, Facebook already has a strong user base. If your business isn’t on the platform already, it could run the risk of becoming obsolete as this audience grows stronger. Early adopters benefit regardless of what the new platform may be, and being able to learn the platform and use it to your company’s advantage will be critical to achieving success — whatever the change may entail. Create a profile for your business early to learn the systems and algorithms so you can remain competitive in the digital space.
New ways to Reach Audiences
Perhaps the most significant impact that businesses will experience is the ability to reach new audiences in new ways. The metaverse aims to be an all-encompassing, completely open platform that people can use to interact with one another virtually, as though they were in real life. Through Facebook’s acquisition of Oculus in 2014, Meta hopes to one day create the virtual world in which digital avatars connect to work, travel, and be entertained using VR headsets — not unlike Stephenson’s 1992 novel. Developments such as these create new and exciting opportunities for businesses to reach their target audience.
Digital Assets will rule the metaverse
Along with the metaverse, we’re likely to see major shifts in the digital marketplace. Chief among these changes are non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In the digital world, NFTs prove certification of original ownership of a virtual asset. Aside from common NFTs like images, pdfs, and videos, non-fungible assets can also take the form of contracts, business assets, and digital assets. Identifying opportunities to leverage NFTs in your business transactions will certainly give you a leg up in the impending metaverse.
In terms of financial assets, companies need to think about how their customers will transact in the metaverse. As more experiences and services work to include virtual accommodations, businesses will need to think about ways in which they can accept digital wallets and cryptocurrency.
Identify ways to “Digitize” Business
Again, the goal of the metaverse is essentially to create opportunities for people to experience their world through the digital sphere. Businesses that work harder to sell their goods and services online will experience the highest degree of success. Think about how you can interact with your clients digitally. For instance, it’s possible that a commercial painter might hire a digital artist to create renderings for digital properties created in the metaverse. The possibilities are endless, which means the most creative minds ultimately be the ones to win over their clients and customers.
Where Will Facebook Meta Take Business?
Right now, a lot remains to be seen about the impact that Meta will have on business operations. However, one thing is for sure: The metaverse signifies a larger movement into a more robust, comprehensive, and exciting internet experience, regardless of whether it’s powered by Facebook or not. By preparing for the change now, you’ll be able to remain competitive and connected in the new digital world.


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Microsoft has finally revealed the Xbox that the world had been waiting for at E3 ,it was previously known as project Scorpio and according to the leaks it is a monster of a console .. Let’s take a look at its specs in comparison to Sony’s current Best console ,The PS4 pro: 6 teraflops of […]Read more "Xbox one X revealed!!!!!! "
iPad Pro: 10.5inch display Best Display in an IPad ever Better Camera A10X fusion chip IOS 11 Revamped Control Center Updated design elements Drag and Drop iPad Dock Siri improvements Peer-to-peer Apple Pay Do Not Disturb driving mode I Mac 21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display Equipped with 7th gen intel i5 and i7 processors […]Read more "Apple WWDC in a nutshell!!!"
2 billion!Sundar Pichai first took the stage to share some numbers. There are now 800 million monthly active users on Google Drive, 500 million Google Photos users who upload 1.2 billion photos every day. Even more impressive, there are 2 billion people using an Android device today. AI everywhere Artificial intelligence was the big theme […]Read more "Google I/O 2017 Everything you need to know"
TAKEN FROM:THE VERGE The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the nicest phone I’ve ever held. It’s a beautiful combination of glass, metal, and an absolutely massive screen in a body that’s much smaller than you might expect. And that might not be enough to make it stand out anymore. There are two versions of the S8: […]Read more "Samsung Galaxy S8: Gorgeous Phone!!!!!"
First of all , Sorry for posting after such a long time …….. This tutorial will show you how to get Google Assistant on any android device running Android Marshmallow or Nougat …… Google has recently announced that it will start rolling out Google assistant to other android devices ,Which was earlier the exclusive part […]Read more "How to get Google assistant on Any Marshmallow or Nougat running android device!!!"
Ubisoft is giving PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners a chance to try out Watch Dogs 2 for free as part of a limited-time trial. Players can explore the game’s single-player and multiplayer for up to three hours, according to a post on the Ubisoft blog. Watch Dogs 2’s three-hour trial includes “full access to […]Read more "Watch Dogs 2 Gets a limited time Free demo!!! "
Super Mario Run plays as a side-scrolling, auto-runner platformer game. The player controls Mario as he automatically runs from left to right, jumping on his own to clear small gaps or obstacles. The player must tap the touch screen to make Mario jump larger obstacles.The longer the screen is touched, the higher Mario jumps.Like other […]Read more "Super Mario Run is Out for IOS!!!!!!!"


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With the coming decades promising unmatched growth throughout Africa, an increasing number of global economies are building ties to enhance trade and investment in the continent’s promising future. Boris Johnson, the British Foreign Secretary, recently visited Ghana and The Gambia to discuss bilateral ties and enhance trade and economic cooperation between the countries. The United Kingdom is one of the largest trading partners of both nations, and this visit marks the start of a revolutionary new chapter for West Africa.
One of the most prominent African nations politically and economically is Ghana. Also referred to as “The Gold Coast”, Ghana was one of the first African nations to declare independence. The country has rich resources of oil, gold, and cocoa which make it a leading economic power in West Africa. Ghana has served as a model for African growth. The UK and Ghana have a long and rich history, which is further boosted up by economic cooperation.
Despite being one of the smaller nations in West Africa, The Gambia has enjoyed significant periods of stability and solid governance. This has made the country a hot spot for tourists, who especially enjoy the resorts located along the western coast. There are also limited agricultural activities and closely related industrial setups that operate in the country. The United Kingdom is one of The Gambia’s largest trading partners, accounting for 90 percent of all exports.
The Importance of This Visit:
Boris Johnson’s visit will start in Gambia, where he will meet the President to discuss key opportunities and methods to address the challenges being faced by the country. Special attention will be paid to the operations and setup of the Medical Research Council which is funded by the United Kingdom. Other activities of the British Foreign Secretary in Gambia will include meetings with tourism sector companies, employers, and Chevening scholars. Mr. Johnson will also discuss Gambia’s proposal to rejoin the Commonwealth.
In Ghana, Mr. Boris Johnson will start off his visit with a meeting with the President. This will be followed by a visit to Blue Skies company and the Department for International Development (DFID) sponsored ENGINE project. This project helps young entrepreneurs to connect with established business leaders in order to market their products and services. The British Foreign Secretary will also hold meetings with key business figures to discuss the prospects of the United Kingdom investing in Ghana.
The visit is a key demonstration of the interest global powers have in capitalising on West Africa’s expansion and development. It also highlights the importance of developing trade and promoting economic activities whilst supporting entrepreneurs, local industries, and employers to help bring about a positive socioeconomic impact on the nations and all of their people.


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Cryptocurrency is revolutionizing the global financial landscape, introducing unprecedented changes. This article delves into the pivotal role of cryptocurrency in shaping the future of global finance, decrypting the transformative impact it holds.
1. Financial Inclusion Revolution
Empowering the Unbanked
Cryptocurrency has emerged as a catalyst for financial inclusion, providing access to financial services for the unbanked population. By eliminating traditional barriers, cryptocurrencies pave the way for broader participation in the global economy.
2. Decentralization and Trustless Transactions
Redefined Financial Paradigms
The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies challenges traditional notions of centralized authority. Blockchain technology, the backbone of cryptocurrencies, enables trustless transactions, reducing the reliance on intermediaries and fostering a more transparent financial ecosystem.
3. Borderless Transactions and Global Trade
Facilitating Seamless Transactions
Cryptocurrencies transcend geographical boundaries, facilitating frictionless cross-border transactions. This feature is reshaping global trade by eliminating currency conversion complexities and reducing transactional delays associated with traditional banking systems.
4. Security and Fraud Mitigation
Enhancing Transactional Security
Cryptocurrencies leverage cryptographic techniques to secure transactions, mitigating the risks of fraud and unauthorized access. Blockchain’s immutable ledger ensures a tamper-resistant record of transactions, bolstering the security of financial interactions.
5. Smart Contracts and Automated Agreements
Efficiency through Automation
The advent of smart contracts on blockchain platforms streamlines and automates complex financial agreements. This not only enhances efficiency but also reduces the need for intermediaries, minimizing transaction costs and delays.
6. Investment Opportunities and Financial Innovation
Expanding the Financial Landscape
Cryptocurrencies offer a plethora of investment opportunities, from traditional assets like Bitcoin to the burgeoning world of decentralized finance (DeFi). This fosters financial innovation, allowing individuals to explore alternative investment avenues beyond conventional markets.
7. Regulatory Challenges and Evolving Frameworks
Navigating Regulatory Frontiers
The integration of cryptocurrencies into global finance comes with regulatory challenges. Governments are navigating the complexities of crafting suitable frameworks to ensure consumer protection, prevent illicit activities, and foster a conducive environment for innovation.
8. Public Awareness and Education
Key to Adoption
Public awareness and education play a crucial role in the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies. Understanding the fundamentals, benefits, and risks empowers individuals to make informed decisions, contributing to the overall maturation of the cryptocurrency space.
Cryptocurrency’s role in shaping global finance is multifaceted, encompassing financial inclusion, decentralization, borderless transactions, security, automation, investment opportunities, regulatory dynamics, and public awareness. Decrypting the future of global finance involves navigating these facets, recognizing the transformative potential that cryptocurrencies hold in redefining the way we perceive and engage with financial systems worldwide.


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After a review, Bose has selected WPP as its global agency partner across creative, media, localization, production and digital marketing. The business will be handled by a “custom-built team” of WPP shops, which were not identified by the company or agency.
Bose declined further comment and WPP deferred back to the client.
However, a person close to the matter said the WPP team consists of creative shop Grey Group, digital agency Wunderman, marketing implementation unit Hogarth Worldwide and media agency MediaCom.
The review spanned several months and the partnership will go into effect in spring 2018, according to a statement from the maker of headphones and speakers.
The person said WPP competed with holding companies Omnicom Group and Publicis Worldwide.
“Our business has grown in every market we serve and every category we’re in,” said Nicola Emsley, Bose head of global marketing, in a written statement. “We think that’s because we put our customers first in every part of the company. And an integrated model is the best way to focus on them, and the right fit for our plans.”
Emsley added: “We’ve learned so much from every agency we’ve worked with over the last several years, and every team we met with during this process had impressive capabilities. But WPP had the best understanding of our brand, with the best network, talent and vision to help us.”
The review was launched to “elevate and centralize external marketing services” in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, according to the Bose statement.
Bose previously had split its media and creative business between a combination of WPP and Interpublic agencies. Interpublic’s MullenLowe Mediahub and Initiative had handled Bose’s domestic media planning and buying, while WPP’s MediaCom and Grey led international media duties and creative, respectively. Grey was specifically named Bose’s lead creative agency in 2015.
Interpublic did not respond to a request for comment but the person with knowledge of the situation said all of its agencies declined to pitch.
According to a Kantar Media report, Bose spent nearly $35.7 million on marketing in 2016 and $6.4 million during the first six months of 2017.
The person said those spending figures are closer to $80 million in the U.S. and $150 million globally, on average.
WPP has created other dedicated teams for clients including GroupM for Target and GTB for Ford, of which, as AgencySpy reported in November, the automaker was reexamining its partnership with.
Update: This story has been updated from an earlier version to include the specific WPP agencies involved, the holding companies it competed with in the review and to correct Bose’s average advertising spend.


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Federal regulators in 2007 asked Toyota Motor Corp. to consider installing software to prevent sudden acceleration after receiving complaints that vehicles could race out of control, company documents show.
Yet the automaker began installing the feature, known as brake override, only in January after a widely publicized accident involving a runaway Lexus ES that killed four people near San Diego.
Safety regulators have acknowledged that they pressured Toyota anew last fall to consider override in the wake of that crash, which set off a chain of events leading the company to issue nearly 10 million recall notices worldwide.
Brake override — software that drops a vehicle's throttle to idle when the brake and accelerator pedals are depressed at the same time — is designed to stop a car even if its engine is accelerating.
E-mails and a company memo obtained by Congress show that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigators discussed brake override with Toyota officials in August 2007, and that in 2008, a year before the San Diego crash, the automaker ordered an internal feasibility study of the technology.
"These documents raise some questions about whether Toyota was doing enough to deal with" sudden acceleration, said Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's investigations panel. "It's obvious that other manufacturers were doing something. Maybe more than Toyota is doing even now."
Toyota spokeswoman Martha Voss declined to comment. "We do not discuss confidential and proprietary documents regarding internal deliberations," she said in a statement.
But the automaker began installing brake override in four recalled models in January. It has since said it would extend the feature to three other recalled models and make it standard on all new cars by the end of the year.
In the e-mails, officials in Toyota's Washington office describe being asked by federal regulators about the brake override, as well as modifications to the push-button ignition on some vehicles, as part of an ongoing sudden-acceleration investigation involving two Toyota models.
An Aug. 23, 2007, e-mail from Chris Santucci, manager of technical and regulatory affairs in the Washington office, to a superior and seven other Toyota employees noted that at least two other manufacturers were using brake override at the time.
Santucci, a former NHTSA investigator who joined Toyota in 2003, wrote that he didn't "believe that these functionalities are things (regulators) want Toyota to implement," adding that "there are no requirements to do so."
The investigation was closed seven weeks later without a defect finding by NHTSA. Toyota officials later trumpeted that they "negotiated" a favorable outcome, saving the company more than $100 million.
A year later, a Toyota memo called for an internal study of brake override technology in response to increasing NHTSA pressure about sudden acceleration, but the company did not act.
The issue resurfaced after the Aug. 28, 2009, Lexus crash near San Diego.
Toyota has said it believes that floor mat entrapment of accelerator pedals and sticking gas pedals are causing sudden acceleration in its vehicles, a problem that has bedeviled the company for a decade. In response to skepticism, it and NHTSA and now NASA are reviewing the possibility that the electronic throttle system in its vehicles could cause the problem.
Some lawmakers believe a brake override feature could be the silver bullet.
Asked about the newly disclosed documents, NHTSA said in a statement that it discussed brake override with Toyota in 2007 as part of an investigation of unintended acceleration in the Camry and Lexus ES but did not insist on the feature.
"Toyota informed the agency that it had long-term plans to phase in brake override systems on their vehicles," NHTSA said. Because not all autos have it, NHTSA said it cannot identify its absence as a safety defect.


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Mobile Minutes: Android to subsume Chrome; LinkedIn’s mobile boost; T-Mobile is streaming friendly; Twitch expands
LinkedIn gets boost from mobile, overseas users
LinkedIn Corp. said investments in its mobile app and overseas markets are starting to pay off, as it posted a smaller-than-expected third-quarter loss and raised its financial forecast for the year.
Read more on The Wall Street Journal
T-Mobile may let you stream video without gobbling up your data
T-Mobile may be about to make its boldest move yet as part of its “Uncarrier” campaign. The Bellevue, Washington, wireless operator is expected to let subscribers use unlimited data when streaming select video services, such as Netflix and HBO, according to leaker Evan Blass in a tweet sent Thursday.
Read more on CNET
Twitch moves beyond game-only streams, launches Twitch Creative
Twitch, the Amazon-owned videogame-streaming site, has been known to crack the whip in the past when it came to only having gaming content on the site. That may all be changing with Thursday’s announcement of Twitch Creative.
Read more on Variety


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QMS to produce report on Scottish beef sector
Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has commissioned Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to produce a report into the challenges and opportunities facing Scotland’s beef sector.
The report comes in response to representation from the industry, which is facing increasing pressures that the Scottish government says is a result of the economic downturn. It will consider how the challenges can be tackled, and includes looking at the lack of prime stock and the current trends in red meat consumption, as well as considering ways to exploit the growing export market for quality produce.
Richard Lochhead said: “Our beef sector is a pivotal part of Scotland’s agriculture industry, generating significant economic output and with an enviable international reputation as a premium product. But it faces a number of challenges.
“That’s why I have asked Quality Meat Scotland to consider how we address the issues currently facing the meat industry and what action can be taken – by government, industry and producers. The report will also look at how to maximise the potential of our growing export market and capitalise on the fact that Scotch beef is in demand on dining tables around the world.”


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MILAN — Angelo Mariani has been appointed new chief executive officer of BVM SpA, which produces and distributes the Les Copains brand. He succeeds Gaetano Sallorenzo, who had joined the Italian brand two years ago.
Mariani held the role of brand manager of Les Copains for more than 20 years. “We have started a very precise strategic and industrial path that reaches out to all of the company’s business areas,” said Mariani. “The company is restructuring and focusing on the heritage of the brand, also thanks to a new and more flexible managerial structure and to the enhancement of the in-house know-how.”
Les Copains was launched more than 60 years ago by Mario Bandiera, founder and chairman of the Bologna, Italy-based parent company BVM. Over the years, Les Copains has worked with designers such as Antonio Marras, Antonio Berardi, Albino d’Amato, Alessandro Dell’Acqua and Graeme Black. The brand has a history in fine knitwear and is currently designed by creative director Stefania Bandiera.
Les Copains is available in more than 1,000 boutiques in the world, as well as at department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Takashimaya and Isetan, and it counts flagships in Rome, Milan, Florence and Moscow.


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Advance payments for farmers under the Organic Farming Scheme started on Friday, it has been confirmed.
It is understood that over €5 million will be issued to over 1,100 farmers this month.
The payments were expected to be issued in December and the government believes that this scheme is one of the key drivers in increasing Irish organic output which will help exploit the vast market opportunities internationally.
Responding to the announcement, Minister Cannon said he was pleased to read a news article that highlighted the success of a farmer in Dunmore working towards converting his farm into an organic operation.
“The Organic Farming Scheme is a major scheme under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020,” said the Minister.
“Under this scheme farmers receive a payment to establish or support their organic enterprise. Latest figures indicate that, as a result of the Organic Farming Scheme, there are now some 72,000 hectares under organic production in Ireland, an increase of nearly 50% on the position at the start of the Programme in 2014,” he added.


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Updated from 10 a.m. EST
ended an anxious silence Thursday, naming an outsider to oversee management. But the nagging financial questions that pushed its shares into the abyss remain unanswered.
The Troy, Mich., company, whose shares have collapsed as bankruptcy worries mounted over the last week, named James Adamson chairman, stripping Charles Conaway of that title. Kmart said Conaway would remain as CEO and that President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Schwartz had departed.
Kmart shares staged a mild rally before slipping back into the red; they were off a dime at $1.50 around noon. Some 35 million shares had traded, making Kmart the NYSE's most active issue for a second straight day.
The announcement won't do much to discourage the vultures circling around Kmart lately. As much as Wall Street might welcome a management shakeup at the cash-strapped discount retailer, it's far more interested to learn of the outcome of talks Kmart is having with its lenders over a much-needed credit line extension.
But Kmart's only comment on the credit question Thursday was that the talks were continuing. Otherwise, Kmart reiterated what it had previously said: that it is reviewing its liquidity and business plans for 2002 and 2003. Kmart has said it has some $300 million in cash on hand, but a poor holiday season has clearly reduced investor confidence in the company's finances.
Adamson, 53, has been on Kmart's board since 1996. He is the former chairman and CEO of Advantica Restaurant Group, which operates the Denny's chain.
Shake and Bake
The executive takes the chairman spot at Kmart at a time when few people on Wall Street expect the company to survive in its current form. Only a month ago it was widely assumed that while Kmart would need to close some underperforming stores to cut costs, its basic problems weren't unfixable. But now it's clear Kmart won't emerge from this turmoil as the same company.
Indeed, Conaway spoke in Kmart's Thursday morning press release of Adamson's "extensive experience in retail and in managing change at companies undergoing massive transformation" as "a resource that we believe will be invaluable to our senior management team."
A bankruptcy filing now could give Kmart time to renegotiate leases, close stores and get out from under its crushing debt load, analysts say. At least 250 of the company's 2,100 stores need to be shuttered as the first step of any restructuring plan, these people say.
Still, others have wondered whether Kmart is sufficiently profitable at its core to justify a Chapter 11 reorganization. With more profitable rivals like Wal-Mart and
taking market share, bears are wondering how long Kmart can stay in business even if it does reduce its crippling debt load and shed unprofitable stores.
As the New Year drew near Kmart stock was already more than 50% below its 52-week high of $13.55, set in August. That downdraft suggests many investors were already taking a skeptical view of the turnaround being engineered by new CEO Conaway. Still, Wall Street remained mostly supportive; as recently as October, according to Yahoo! Finance, half of the 14 analysts covering the stock rated it either buy or strong buy.
Wall Street's quiet support for Kmart began weakening during the holiday season, which was expected to be bleak across the retail sector as a result of the recession and September's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. But as numbers rolled in it became apparent that many discount retailers were actually seeing solid gains and that Kmart, in posting a sales decline and forecasting a holiday-quarter loss, was the laggard.
As evidence of Kmart's deterioration emerged, the debt-rating agencies were the first to take action. With $4.7 billion in debt to service, Kmart is vulnerable to any reduction in cash flow that might result from weaker-than-expected sales.
So when the company said Jan. 10 that holiday sales had indeed fallen behind plan, investors and the rating agencies began taking the possibility of a bankruptcy filing more seriously. Moody's has been the most aggressive, cutting Kmart's ratings three times in the last month alone, but rivals S&P and Fitch have followed suit. Meanwhile, suppliers and trade creditors have begun withdrawing their support, observers say, worrying that they won't be repaid if Kmart's cash crunch worsens.
The stock has now plunged seven days in a row, giving up 70% of its value over that span. Kmart, long the nation's largest retailer but now supplanted by
, has seen its market capitalization shrink below $1 billion -- meaning that unless the stock enjoys an unlikely recovery, Kmart's days as a big-cap retail name are history.


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Singapore, you could be drinking fake wine
SINGAPORE — Wine-maker Laurent Ponsot knows quite a bit about fake wines.
The 63-year-old, who has worked at his family’s Domaine Ponsot vineyards in Burgundy since 1981, was instrumental in investigating and testifying against Rudy Kuriawan.
Kurniawan was the wine forger of Indonesian origin who, in a landmark 2013 case in the United States, was convicted for defrauding wine buyers of an estimated US$30 million (S$41.9 million).
“I am sure that every day, here in Singapore, almost 10 bottles of fake wines from Rudy are opened," said Ponsot.
“When I was investigating, I was incognito and I found a lot (of Kurniawan’s fakes). I know they exist. I found more in Hong Kong than in Singapore,” he added. He refers to the fact that he spent five years or so tracking down the truth about Kurniawan, who attempted to sell bottles of fake Domaine Ponsot at a New York auction.
Ponsot himself flew to New York to stop the sale of 107 bottles of Domaine Ponsot wines with an estimated value of between US$700,000 and US$1.3 million. He then embarked on a hunt for where the bottles came from and the truth about Kurniawan. That search earned him the title of the Sherlock Holmes of the wine world. His findings were documented in Netflix film Sour Grapes (2016), which went into the world of Kurniawan.
Ponsot — who last month left his family business to strike out on his own and who was in Singapore to hold a press conference — puts Kurniawan’s earnings at some US$36 million per year, over a period of 10 years.
“You cannot think he has sold only one or two expensive bottles, he was working on a big scale. A lot of wines have been sold through auction houses, and some are very active in Asia. Many people here in Singapore who are connoisseurs buy from these auction houses and bring them back here. A lot of (fake) wines have been spread globally, including here in Singapore,” Ponsot added.
“Today, many people are faking wine in Europe — mainly Bordeaux,” he added. “They fake everything that has a value.”
REAL VS FAKE
Wine consumers do have ways of checking if bottles are faked, Ponsot said. First, check the bottle engraving or etching and ensure it matches the label.
“From this, you can be 90 per cent sure that the bottle is real or fake,” said Ponsot, who spoke to TODAY at Wine Clique’s offices.
Many wineries, including Domaine Ponsot’s, use bubble tags, embedded in the seal of the wine bottle. This unique, random code correlates to a database with information on each bottle, and code. Today, Ponsot says that NFC chips are used as well. Embedded in the cork, the chip can provide digital authentication and traceability for wines.
Domaine Ponsot’s labels, too, contain a laser strip — like a bank note — which can help with authenticity.
Ponsot will take these measures, implemented at his family’s winery in Morey St. Denis, with him as he prepares to open his own Laurent Ponsot winery in Gilly Les Cîteaux in Burgundy. He intends to run the new business with his son, Clement.
News of his leaving Domaine Ponsot, established in 1872, made waves in the wine world and Ponsot embarked on a tour to clarify his reasons.
“I want to be free to move into the future,” he said, adding that his is a “geek” who wants to experiment with technology.
INTO THE FUTURE
Ponsot is currently researching different ways of aging wine. Traditionally done in barrels, he revealed that perhaps in his new outfit, he may move into stainless steel vats.
“My winery will be very futuristic,” he enthused. “I am investing in vats, pumps, presses, these alone cost at least 1 million euro (S$1.48 million),” he said, although he did not reveal how much he is sinking into the new winery in total.
“The idea to do something on my own has been with me for four to five years,” he said. “I like new challenges; this is a great new adventure and I am excited to start again.”
Ponsot, who still holds a 25 per cent stake in Domaine Ponsot, to be run by his three sisters, is striking out on his own, in part to “launch my son”.
Clement, 37, does not have a background in wine but Ponsot has faith — “He will know everything in one or two years,” he asserted. In the future, he intends that the business be passed down to his grandchildren.
“It does not take much — good sense, a love of wine, and a respect for nature can lead you to be a good wine-maker,” said Ponsot, whose new winery will also be co-owned by his two daughters.
One of his grandchildren, now aged 17, has an amazing nose, Ponsot reveals.
“He was maybe 7 at the time, and he was being taught to sip, to smell and taste. One evening, we opened a bottle and he said ‘we drank this last week’. I myself did not even realise it until he said it.”
Asked if he intends to stay in Burgundy or move into other regions, he said he has had offers.
“But Burgundy is what I know,” he said. “Why would I move? For money? For glory? My roots are there.”
He also intends to keep future Laurent Ponsot wines, which may hit the market as early as 2019, at reasonable prices. Domaine Ponsot wines here can start at below S$200 per bottle.
But prices for Burgundy wines have, in some cases, tripled in the past year.
It is not a move that Ponsot approves of.
“I think the prices will go back down,” he said. “We should reach a certain level, and stay there.”
“I don’t want wealthy people showing off (by drinking my wines). Maybe, they will put an ice cube in the wine,” he said with disgust.
He added that he likes that in Asia, people actually open bottles to drink them, rather than keep them for investment purposes.
“As a wine-maker, this is what you want,” he said. “People drinking the wine — with pleasure.”
For now, Ponsot will concentrate on building the Laurent Ponsot business. But he is also in the midst of writing a book on the Kurniawan case.
“I am retreating into my home in the mountains to write,” he said. “Hopefully, I will have enough for a publisher by the autumn this year.”


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Like other public officials, Dallas City Council member Veletta Lill got the pitch in the Victory Marketing Center, a former machine shop made over to sell the prime, quite empty real estate around American Airlines Center. The show was impressive. Flickering down the granite-topped table were slides of new hotels and chic stores on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, a massive 53-story corporate headquarters and theater on New York's Central Park, fountains dancing in a bougainvillea-filled plaza in West Palm Beach, Florida, whole new city centers in the high-tech hubs of San Jose, California, and... More >>>
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Palladium's Ken Wong says his company's approach works because "it has a big impact...We create the whole district at once. We make sure there's a there there."


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Samsung will release the foldable smartphone that can turn into a tablet.
Samsung Electronics will likely release a foldable smartphone in the third quarter of 2017.
The device will have a flexible display with the ability to develop, Ferra reports with reference to sources in South Korea.
When folded, the display will be located on the outer surface and the device can operate as a smartphone, and unfolded — to be used as a 7-inch tablet.
Samsung plans to distribute more than 100 thousand of these folding devices in the third quarter.
The company has already completed development of smartphones with displays inside in the folded state, and in August of 2016 has begun to develop foldable smartphones with external displays that don’t require to deploy the device for use.
In addition, Chinese sources reported that Samsung is currently testing in China foldable smartphone Samsung Galaxy and Galaxy X1 X1 Plus with flexible displays being developed under the project codenamed Project Valley.
© 2017, z-news.link. All rights reserved.


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The Marshall University Athletic Ticket Office announced today that full season ticket package sales for the 2007 Football campaign will end on Wednesday, August 22.
On Thursday, August 23, remaining seats will be broken down into a three game package that will go on sale to current Big Green Members only.
The three-game package consists of home contests with West Virginia, Southern Miss, and UAB and will cost $80 for end zone and $100 for sideline seats. If available, any remaining packages will be available to the general public starting on August 27.
Marshall has already set a school record for season tickets with more than 19,500 sold. Only a few thousand tickets remain for Marshall’s six-game home slate.
Fans may purchase tickets by calling 1-800-THE-HERD, going online at www.herdzone.com, or by visiting the ticket office in the Henderson Center.


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Apple is developing a voice assistant and a new generation of iOS operating system 11 and future iPhone models. It is reported by DigiTimes, citing informed sources.
It is noted that leading manufacturers including Apple, Samsung, Huawei, LG Electronics and Xiaomi, seeking to strengthen its position in the world market communicators, presenting in 2017 smartphones with elements of artificial intelligence (AI), reports
The beginning of the trend already put Huawei, demonstrating the flagship model Huawei Mate 9 with support for voice-activated personal assistant Alexa from Amazon. Currently, the Chinese vendor ranked third after Samsung and Apple in the ranking of the largest smartphone brands. Huawei hopes that the implementation of advanced AI features will help in the struggle for leadership in the industry.
Apple in August 2016, has acquired Australian startup Turi dealing with developments in the field of artificial intelligence. It is assumed that technology Turi will improve functionality and help expand the intellectual capabilities of the voice assistant Siri. According to market sources, improved version of Siri will be used in the next generation iPhone and iOS operating system 11.
Google last year released flagship smartphones Pixel with voice assistant Google Assistant, intends to encourage its implementation in devices of other vendors. In particular, it applies Xiaomi. There are also rumors that LG is negotiating with Amazon and Google over the use of their devices in their signature AI platforms.
As for Samsung, it also plans to introduce a new voice assistant called Bixby. It is expected that this AI will be one of the features of the next flagship smartphone Galaxy 8S, which is expected in the current year.
TrendForce analysts are predicting a 43% growth in market solutions using voice control systems. It is expected that revenue will increase from $ 2.6 billion in 2016-m to almost 16 billion in 2021.
The rise of the market will contribute to a wide adoption of virtual voice assistants in a variety of devices. A candidate for the title of leader experts call Amazon and its personal voice assistant, Alexa. Among the key players experts call Siri and Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana.


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The company reported a net profit of $1.66bn (£993m) compared with profits of $686m for the same period last year.
'Third-quarter revenue grew 15% over the second quarter. That's the highest third-quarter growth rate we've seen in over 25 years,' said Andy Bryant, Intel's chief financial officer. 'It's well above normal seasonal ranges.'
The company reported record shipments of processors, chipsets and motherboards, much of the demand coming from China, India and Russia. It is the company's biggest sales increase in more than three years.
'Our resolve to invest aggressively during the downturn is paying off with double-digit revenue growth and a doubling of profit compared with a year ago,' said chief executive Craig Barrett.
'We've always said IT spending in mature geographies would lag a recovery. We're seeing the effect of the strong economies and the quicker return to purchases. In the mature economies, it's a bit slower.'
But he said there had not been an 'overwhelming rush' to increase corporate IT spending.Reuse content


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Suppliers will be asked to account for the origin of as many 0.3 ct. and larger stones as possible. As promised last week, I am taking a more in-depth look at Signet’s Responsible Sourcing Program for Diamonds.
The diamond industry has a notoriously convoluted supply chain, with parcels frequently sold from various sources. The new program was designed with that in mind and will allow companies to break down the origin of their diamonds into several different categories, says Signet consultant John Hall, the Rio Tinto veteran who helped design the protocol.
“We recognized that we needed to have a fairly good amount of flexibility,” he says. “You couldn’t have a one size fits all.”
Perhaps the biggest change is that Signet will want suppliers to account for the provenance of as many 0.3 ct. (30 pointers) and larger stones as possible. Hall believes this isn’t as big a challenge as it may first appear.
“When we started doing this work we asked our suppliers: Do you know where the goods derive from?” Hall says. “And mostly they said we never asked the question because no one has ever asked us. But the answers were fairly interesting. From a fairly high percentage, they know where the goods are from.”
Of course, information about a diamond’s ultimate origin isn’t always available: De Beers, for instance, doesn’t sort its goods by mine, so in those cases, it will be okay just to identify that company. In other instances, vendors may say they source from the four major mining companies—De Beers, Alrosa, Rio Tinto, and Dominion—without getting into more granular detail. (Companies can also specify that their goods came from artisanal, or informal, sources.)


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To prevent email spoofing, Apple has added support for Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) stands in the Mail app on iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. The availability of BIMI will enable users to identify brand logos to authenticate the sender.
Spoofing or phishing is a fraudulent practice by malicious actors to present themselves from a reputable company or organization to gain access to their personal credentials like PINs, passwords, credit/debit card numbers, and other information. However, spoof emails with a fake sender address can not authenticate the original source of the email.
iOS 16 Mail app combats spoof emails with a new “Digitally Certified Email” message to verify the sender
Developer @Charlie Fish wrote on Twitter that in iOS 16, Apple has added the support for BIMI standard in the native Mail app which includes the brand’s logo along with the email’s header to authenticate the sender. The addition is implemented on macOS Ventura.
As per the shared screenshots from Chase bank, an email sent by a brand or company with a BIMI support will display its logo and a “Digitally Certified” label, and a “Learn More” link in the header. The “Learn More” link will lead to the “Digitally Certified Email” message.
This email was verified as coming from the owner of the logo shown and the domain “alertsp.chase.com”.
Apple users the Brand Indicators for Message Indentification (BIMI) standard. Learn more.”
iOS 16 and macOS Ventura updates will be available in the Fall of this year and are currently in the beta testing phase, along with other software updates.
The tech giant has updated the Mail app with a new ability to unsend an email within 10 seconds of sending it, a notification to alert the sender that an attachment was not added, schedule emails, improved search, support for rich links and more in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura.
- iOS 16 beta 2 includes support for back up over LTE
- iOS 16 beta 2 brings new menu to manage “HomePod Beta Updates” in the Home app
- Apple seeds iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 beta 2 to developers
- Apple seeds macOS Ventura beta 2 to developers
- The Talk Show WWDC 22 – Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak discuss iOS, macOS Ventura, CarPlay and more