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Who to trust is becoming an increasingly sensitive public issue. As consumers face content overload from more sources than ever before, it is quickly becoming near impossible to verify the authenticity of digital content. Brands must be on guard to ensure their own authenticity, avoid untrustworthy channels and protect trust earned.
Continue reading this story on the Spot On blog
by Carrington Malin
Carrington Malin is a UAE-based marketing and communications professional, consultant, entrepreneur and writer with many years experience of building brands, driving growth and leading high-performance teams. He has worked with a wide range of high-growth, technology and tech-driven ventures across ecommerce, consumer products, digital services, B2B, media, software, hardware and other sectors. These days he focuses mainly on emerging technology ventures related to artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR), blockchain, drones, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and smart cities.


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With the amount of data that companies now collect, security has become a bigger concern for consumers, especially when considering their vulnerability to identity theft. For the most part, companies have seemed to listen to these concerns. According to a 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers survey, businesses – particularly small organizations – are spending more than 25 percent of their IT budgets on security.
However, with major data breaches striking some big name corporations, it’s clear that companies of all sizes are struggling with security. The PWC survey reported that 55 percent of large businesses were attacked by an outsider, while 73 percent were infected with a virus or malicious software in the past year (a 59 percent increase from the year before).
According to the Wall Street Journal, corporate data security doesn’t necessarily need to be “spy-grade technology.” In fact, the steps needed to fight against these types of attacks can be as simple and routine as updating software, enforcing security standards and conducting system audits. If it’s that easy, though, why have there been so many missteps?
Where corporations are going wrong
A feature on CIO.com pointed out that many corporations still assess their security risks based on the past, not considering how much the circumstances have changed. Using the example of the 2014 Sony Pictures hack, CIO.com explained how so much of hacking has changed, especially in tactics and motives.
James Lewis, a security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., told the site that hackers after these big targets “will just keep trying and won’t give up.”
“The Sony hackers were vindictive,” he said. “This was not done for money – it was politically motivated, and there was no effort to sell the data they stole.”
With more hackers working to expose a big corporation’s vulnerabilities to tarnish its reputation and hurt its business, instead of to just make a financial gain, the chances of a breach are even higher than before. This means companies that don’t necessarily have “sellable” data still have information of value to hackers.
While these kinds of attacks are mostly targeting corporate data (especially in the case of Sony Pictures), it certainly changes how consumers think of the companies handling their data. In cases like the 2013 Target hack that stole millions of credit card numbers, the attack served to expose a large corporation’s vulnerabilities as well as misuse its customer data.
How companies can better prepare
Along with understanding the changing landscape of risk, Forrester Research security and risk analyst Heidi Shey told ZDNet that one of the foremost strategies in data protection is for companies to treat consumer data as if it were corporate.
“In today’s age of the customer, data protection really needs to be thought of as a corporate social responsibility,” she said. “One, because it’s true. And two, because it’s something that the rest of the company can really rally behind and feel good doing it – because it’s the right thing to do.”
Shey went onto explain that customers are much more aware of security risks and make calculated decisions based their awareness. For that reason, it serves both the corporation and the consumer to protect data as well as possible.
Another strategy companies can employ is partnering with a company that provides data breach services. Breach service companies can provide a business with identity theft protection for their customers, instilling brand confidence that may falter during a cyberattack and helping to protect consumers who may be dealing with the effects of the data exposure for years to come.
Breach services aren’t the only measure companies are embracing—reports show that 35 percent of employers already offer identity theft protection as a voluntary benefit for their employees, and this is expected to double in 2018.
Data protection is not just a corporate responsibility,there are many ways for consumers to take security into their own hands. Think carefully about the credibility of companies and institutions you share your information with, protect your accounts with strong passwords, avoid oversharing on social media, and always ask how your information is used, shared and stored when you give it to a company. These efforts are especially important as data breaches can result in identity theft.

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Google's Eric Chu has contacted Android Developers that new countries can now be targeted in Android Market. Though not all of these countries actually have Android-capable phones quite yet, when they finally do, they'll have a slew of apps to choose from.
What's currently unclear is what their exact plans for releasing Android in those markets are. We'll be on the lookout for more news on the European Front as it comes by.
Here's the full E-Mail, as delivered:
I'm writing to let you know that Android Market will become available to users in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Netherlands, and Poland in the
coming weeks. You can now target these countries for your application(s)
via the publisher website at market.android.com/publish. As we add support
for additional countries, we will send out subsequent notifications to
you. Note that your apps will not become available in these new countries
unless you specifically select them in the publisher website.
Thanks for your support, and we look forward to continue working with you
on Android Market.
According to AndroidGuys, CellHut.com, a fairly popular online website that is known to sell unlocked phones, has begun to sell a contract-free T-Mobile G1 for $499. After digging through the CellHut website it looks like it isn't a fully unlocked version since it specifically states that it's only compatible with T-Mobile.
The news that it isn't unlcoked is a bit strange but if you're looking for a place to buy your T-Mobile G1 you can now add CellHut.com and Amazon.com to your list of options.
There had been rumors that the T-Mobile G1 wasn't going to be receiving the much anticipated Cupcake Update to Android. Thankfully, those reports proved to be false. In even better news, we're getting news that the Cupcake Update might actually show up at the end of January. As in the end of this month.
Supposedly, the update will be delivered through a series of OTA updates and determined through your region, not the date of purchase. Whichever way we have it, we want it. Hopefully T-Mobile and Google can stick to their target date and get it out by the end of this month because we're SO looking forward to an on-screen keyboard.
We're not exactly sure when this happened--whether it was a month ago, a week ago, or a day ago--but the T-Mobile G1 is now available for purchase on Amazon.com! Unlike other phones sold on Amazon.com there isn't any amazing deal, in fact, it's priced at the usual $179.99 price point (albeit with free two day shipping). Typical for Amazon.com phone purchases however is that there's a $250 fee for canceling the service plan before 181 days. Eek.
Either way, even though it isn't a lovely Amazon Gold Box deal, we see that T-Mobile is expanding its footprint with the G1 and starting to offer it to the mass market. We're excited to see how big the T-Mobile G1 can get.
Ah, the worst is to be expected when it comes to Motorola and our current economic climate. Motorola announced that 4,000 workers will be laid off and most of it will come in their struggling mobile division. Definitely sad news for a company that was so dominant just a few years ago.
However, the Android Team is supposed to be safe so maybe they can pump out an Android Device and be successful so they won't have to lay off all those hard working employees. We at Android Central have been desperately wishing for a Motorola Android Device--hopefully it really can save the company from going under.
We won't really get into the stylistic elements of this Android-powered camera "hat", I mean that model speaks for itself, no? But what is kind of, semi-cool is that someone actually made a Camera Hat based on Android to help those who have no idea how to solve common tech problems.
Dan O'Sullivan created this Android Camera-hat to help his mom with basic tech support--I mean it's a heck of a lot easier helping those with technology when you can see what they're doing wrong right? What's a little bit bothering is that Android seems to be being ported to EVERYTHING other than smartphones. What's the deal with that guys?
Please say no. Please say this isn't true. The supposed Second Android Device, the Kogan Agora, is going to be delayed indefinitely. We were really excited that the Kogan Agora, made by boutique electronics maker Kogan, would buck the trend of delayed Android Devices and release at the end of this month. Supposedly the reasoning is due to potential compatibility issues with future Android Apps and the screen resolution. Huh, color us confused since the Kogan Agora's specs seemed to be a fairly standard set.
But I guess the writing was on the walls since it just recently went under a slight hardware re-design and oddly didn't show up at CES (where it probably would have been the 2nd biggest news story after the Palm Pre). Hopefully, Kogan can get things in order with this device because the smartphone world is itching, nearly dying for a Second Android Device.
Please welcome the newest member to the Smartphone Experts Family, PreCentral.net! For those of you who don't know, Palm revamped and announced a whole new smartphone platform at CES and there's a HUGE amount of buzz and hype surrounding it. The next few months will surely be exciting for any smartphone fan so make sure you keep up with all the news regarding the Palm Pre and webOS at PreCentral.net.
Although this device in the video seems real enough, there are some downright interesting (and even strange) features in this alleged Chinese Android Dream G2 phone. The green 'droid charger seems a bit too cartoon-ish (albeit cute) for those of us in the States, but could be very popular in the Asian markets. It's also a bit hard to accept the addition of a stylus when T-Mobile's G1 has taught us to use our fingertips. Then again, if this device is without a slideout keyboard and a user wishes for another option besides a software keyboard for input, the stylus could make sense. The video also shows the user implementing the stylus with handwriting recognition - Graffiti?
The multimedia capabilities of the phone in this video are on display with a movie sample and some music. The stylus is used throughout for navigation - again, a bit puzzling in my mind and seems a little like a step backward. The stylus could be dispensed with altogether if the software keyboard is on par with the likes of the iPhone, but having a keyboard of that quality may be difficult with the choice of a resistive-touchscreen, which may very well be the type of screen used in this new device. Thanks very much to Tallbruva for the heads-up on this video!
Even though we've seen OpenMoko's FreeRunner run Android already, it's not everyday you see a device run the Cupcake Update to Android which includes the much needed, you guessed it, on-screen soft keyboard. In this shot, we can see the numbers and symbols page and well, they look really small.
But we'll reserve our judgment until we get Cupcake onto our G1s and test out the virtual keyboard. We don't think it'll be a problem because the soft keyboard included with chompSMS works fine for us. Take a look after the break to see the full, soft QWERTY keyboard in all its glory.
The rumors have been around for some time now: Asus, makers of cheap notebooks, is going to make a cheap Android phone. This time, it's a wee bit more official since the CEO of Asus, Jonney Shih stated that a forthcoming Eee Phone will be integral to making people carry more Asus devices.
He wasn't exactly clear on what Operating System the Eee Phone would run but the rumors say Android and if you're trying to create a more affordable model, Android's no-cost licensing fee is a good place to start.
[the above photo is just a mock-up, so don't go overly excited]
The Dell smartphone rumor has been around a long time and its coming back stronger than ever. According to Engadget, Dell might unveil a Dell smartphone (dPhone?) as early as next month at 3GSM or Mobile World Congress. Engadget also independently reports that a noteworthy amount of Dell execs carry G1's with them so it may be a hint at what's to come. Also in the rumor is that S60 (Nokia) might be in the mix for the honor to run on the dPhone.
Personally, we think these rumors are fun yet a little bit useless. It's kind of like the Zune Phone rumor that keeps popping up, yeah, maybe Dell and Microsoft are looking at making smartphone hardware but the smartphone market is becoming so competitive that they'd have to pour a ton of money to be even successful. We'd love to see more Android hardware but in the mean time, we'll wait a month to see if this really happens.
Fresh off of our report that Motorola was ditching Windows Mobile to focus on Android, we have caught word that that's not entirely true (yet, at least). According to Brian Viscount, Motorola's VP of Marketing for Mobile Enterprise Computing, the reports that Motorola is ditching Windows Mobile is completely false. He goes on to state that Motorola remains "100% committed to Windows Mobile".
Yeah. So though the news that Motorola isn't going to be strictly Android is a little sad, we at Android Central still fully expect a big year from Motorola on the Android front. We all know they need it.
Are you a huge Google Fan who just so happens to only use Mac or Linux computer and thus are locked out of Google's semi-spanking new browser Chrome? Yeah, we can relate. Luckily, the reports are coming in that if we wait just a few more months, we'll finally get to test drive the nifty full featured Chrome desktop browser that's kind of like the big, older brother of 'chrome lite' on Android.
First half of 2009 is the target date. Let's hope they hit it sooner.
Okay. The folks at Compulab have made a new handheld device designed for the enterprise market called the exeda (pictured above). It's notable because it's going to be able to dual boot in both Android and Windows Mobile. What's even crazier is the device itself--just take a look at that thing. There's countless buttons and controls, even a dedicated right click button!
Taking a look at the specs: 3.5" VGA touchscreen, a capacitive trackpad, 520 MHz Marvell CPU, 128 MB RAM, GSM/GPRS/CDMA/UMTS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and get this: 10/100Base-T Ethernet Port. Yeah, we told you it was crazy.
Aside from its craziness, does the Compulab exeda mark a new trend? Will we soon see more devices that dual boot Android and Windows Mobile? What do you guys think?


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Lush Cosmetics smell a rat, and this is a stench that not even their avobath or butterball bath bombs can detract from. Mark Constantine, co-founder of the ethical cosmetics company, has said that the UK leaving the European Union is to blame for its dramatic fall in European sales.
The company’s latest accounts revealed a 28% drop in sales across the continent in the year to June 2022 on pre-pandemic levels compared with a 10% fall recorded in the UK.
Though the company acknowledges that inflationary pressures and a social media boycott have also impacted their numbers, Constantine said in the Telegraph: “Is Brexit to blame? Our popularity in Europe has certainly waned since Brexit and we need to rebuild the love for our UK-owned brand across Europe.”
This is not the first time Lush has publicly criticised the government’s handling of Brexit. In 2017, the Dorset-based retailer threatened to take its business elsewhere and focus its expansion in Germany due to Theresa May’s lack of clarity over her Brexit plan.
In particular, the company noted that 20% of its staff did not hold British citizenship and, since the referendum, suddenly felt unwelcome and deeply upset.
Six years later, Constantine also told the Telegraph that this factory in Germany, which as promised Lush invested in after the EU referendum, has been losing money due to decreasing demand, meaning it was producing fewer products on site.
There is, however, another angle and offering it is the ever-helpful Richard Tice. On Twitter, the Reform Party leader, one half of the right’s gruesome twosome along with his partner Isabel Oakeshott, wrote: “Failing Lush buck passing on Brexit for its woes, when customers actually just sick of your woke stance on many issues like climate change and migrants.”
So according to Tice, severing ties with the trading bloc had nothing to do with Lush’s depleting European sales figures. Instead, the company has suffered the consequences of “going woke”.
First the banks and now bath bombs. Someone ought to call Nigel Farage.


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information, Yikangnisi US Iconix Brand Group, Inc., and the Hong Kong Yongxin Fashion Group set up joint investment holding company brand. Iconix Iconix China, will introduce Chinese brands through brand licensing way to find a partner for its various brands were joint venture, the joint venture company that owns the brand of permanent ownership in Greater China. Beijing Chinese Commercial News reporters Zai Qiguan and Wang Kandao, Yikangnisi its more than 30 brands, has partnerships with more than 10 Chinese companies. However, in addition RAMPAGE, Ed Hardy endures, and rare in the rest of the retail market. (Chinese shoes Network - the most authoritative and most professional Footwear News, Media Partner: Apparel IT & nbsp;)
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Banana-infused Howler Head is serving as primary sponsor on the No. 1 Chevrolet driven by Ross Chastain for the Busch Light ClashTRACKHOUSE RACING
UFC President Dana White is unveiling a unique new marketing partnership with NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing, which will carry the Howler Head whiskey brand that White co-owns of as a primary sponsor this weekend at the L.A. Coliseum. Terms are not being disclosed, but the sides said that White and Trackhouse Entertainment Group Founder Justin Marks are teaming up to “create growth for both entities and align on common initiatives in sports, entertainment and sponsorships.” The deal starts with banana-infused Howler Head, the official flavored whiskey of the UFC, serving as primary on Trackhouse’s No. 1 Chevrolet driven by Ross Chastain for the Busch Light Clash. Marks -- a former NASCAR driver himself -- founded Trackhouse in ’20, and the team started racing in ’21. It quickly brought on rapper Pitbull as a co-Owner, and the team also recently announced that it would sponsor PGA Tour golfer James Hahn, who is now wearing a Trackhouse logo on his apparel the rest of the year. Marks said of the deal with White, “We want to transcend our sport, work with innovative minds and powerful brands, and Dana White, along with Howler Head and UFC exemplify that.” This deal is the first of two expected NASCAR/combat sports crossover announcements today, as Floyd Mayweather’s new NASCAR team is expected to make its Daytona 500 entry official.


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Box Volumes at Busan Port Surpass 20 Mn TEU Mark in 2017
South Korean Busan Port recorded a container throughput of 20 million TEUs this year, the highest cargo volume in the port’s history.
The achievement was celebrated at a ceremony held at Hanjin Busan New Port on December 26.
“20 million TEU is the largest cargo volume handled in Busan Port in 141 years since its opening in 1876. Furthermore, Busan Port’s first container pier, Jasungdae Pier, became the world’s 2nd largest container T/S hub only in 40 years since its opening,” Busan Port Authority (BPA) said in a statement.
Despite the turmoil in the shipping and port sector triggered by Hanjin Shipping bankruptcy, BPA set its goal to achieve a growth in 2018 as well, marking the 20 million TEU era.
The port authority introduced its mid-long term vision to transform the organization into a global port corporation. The plan encompasses three major hub projects – global logistics hub, marine tourism and business hub, and port-related service hub projects.
Earlier this month, the port commission decided to increase its budget in 2018 by 10 percent to KRW* 848.1 billion from KRW 770.7 billion in 2017.
A total of KRW 103.6 billion will be injected into constructing western container pier at Busan New Port and KRW 33.3 billion will be used for establishing a distripark.
In addition, BPA will inject KRW 51.6 billion into the port redevelopment project, aiming at becoming a marine tourism business hub attracting cruise tourists.
BPA also decided to inject KRW 7.6 billion into job creation and KRW 12.1 billion for establishing the environment for the 4th industrial era.
Furthermore, BPA intends to introduce a new renewable energy strategy and improve air pollution environment in accordance with the government policy.
“We already achieved our goal to process 20 million TEUs for the first time since its opening. We will not satisfy with the result but we will continue our effort to become a global hub through qualitative growth,” Woo Ye-jong, BPA President, stressed.
*KRW 1 equals USD 0.00093


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BeansTalk News: Daily news on fashion, beauty, film, television, books -- all media -- and anything else of relevant interest. (View the current month in its news entirety by clicking the date under Archives.)
Friday, March 19, 2010
Natalie Portman attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party and wore Tiffany Jewelry a platinum and diamond bezel-set necklace, and a platinum and diamond “fan” bangle with black onyx to accent her Lanvin dress. On her feet, she opted for affordable and wore black satin open-toe Segura platforms from Aldo, which retail for $90.


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Ride hailing giant Uber’s move to buy its Middle Eastern rival Careem, announced in March, was a step hailed by many. The deal has now received approval from the UAE Ministry of Economy, clearing the regulatory procedures for merger in the country.
The $3.1 billion deal was the largest technology transaction in the Middle East, which is a fast-growing region for both Careem and Uber. As per the transaction, Careem would be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uber but will continue to retain its brand name and independence in operations.
While the companies are yet to receive approvals from other markets across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan in which they operate, both Uber and Careem welcomed the UAE regulator’s go ahead, saying that it will help them in pursuing opportunities in the region.
Careem’s acquisition has helped both companies in ending an expensive rivalry in the Middle East that has thinned margins in what is a highly profitable market. The deal will also give Uber a leeway into markets in the Middle East and Africa that it previously did not tap into.
A profitable operation in the Middle East market could also help Uber shore up its overall losses. The company, which went public this year, posted a $1.01 billion loss in the first quarter of 2019 and has been under the spotlight for its less than stellar IPO.
Compounding the San Francisco-based firm’s troubles, a number of senior executives including Uber’s COO Barney Hartford and its Chief Marketing Officer Rebecca Messina announced their departure recently. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said that he will be more involved in Uber’s day-to-day operations, especially in its Rides and Eats businesses.


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Plan for marijuana manufacturing site OK'd
WEBSTER – A medical marijuana company's planned manufacturing and distribution operation is "a done deal" and has been cleared for construction, local officials said.
The Planning Board on Monday unanimously approved a site plan and special permit for Mass Organic Therapy’s medical marijuana business, in a warehouse at 30 Worcester Road. It was the final significant local action prior to building.
The company will only grow the product here and dispense of it to patients elsewhere.
CEO Patrick Johnson said the company hoped to be in operation by the end of the first quarter of 2017.
Joseph Lusardi, president of PalliaTech, an operations consultant, addressed the board with Mr. Johnson concerning the site plan, which calls for no changes to the building. It will only stripe 19 parking spots and do minimal grading.
The company's address will be posted outside, but because the site won't be the face of the company, there will be no reason for non-employees to visit, and there will not be any company signage.
Mr. Johnson told the board the company would have a maximum of 20 employees, but there shouldn’t be more than 15 at one time.
Mr. Lusardi said the business, which calls for bar-coded, seed-to-seal tracking, would operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.
Although the building has ventilation, Mr. Lusardi said the company won’t need it for the operation because it will use refrigerated panels to create clean rooms. All plants will be grown under special lighting and conditions that won’t need outside air and cooling.
The state allows one cultivation site and up to three dispensaries for approved companies. Mass Organic Therapy’s dispensaries are in Oxford and Hanover. It's still looking for a third dispensary site.
The “immense” security requirements call for a redundant security system that will be monitored by a third party, Mr. Lusardi said. Every inch of the operation will be under surveillance, and each room will be accessed with identification control cards.
Mr. Lusardi said his company operates six similar businesses around the country, including the first in Maine, which opened in 2010, and one in Salem that opened 2015.
He said the businesses rely on protocols that call for shifts to start at the same time, with open and shutdown procedures, rather than a reliance on gates.
Mr. Johnson said the company had to submit an architectural narrative to Massachusetts, and it's been approved, allowing for construction after local approvals were earned.
He said the company's executive director will move from Chicago to take the specialized job. Otherwise, it hopes to hire locally for a range of jobs in cultivation, manufacturing and administration. Backgrounds will be checked by a third party in an extensive process.
Located in a warehouse with five other tenants, the company's building is 50,000 square feet, but it will only build out 23,000 square feet initially.
Town Administrator Pamela A. Leduc said selectmen heard from two other organizations but chose not to enter into host agreements with them. But they were impressed by Mass Organic Therapy’s presentation and selectmen wrote a letter of support for the proposal.
Webster entered an agreement similar to the first-in-the-state cultivation agreement between Amesbury and Alternative Therapies Group Inc., which is growing medical marijuana for a dispensary in Salem for $50,000 per year, with ATG contributing no less than $5,000 to Amesbury public charities annually. Ms. Leduc said she also looked to Plymouth's cultivation agreement for guidance.


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Rage Against The Machine currently winning the Christmas number one race - but don't rule out Joe McElderry just yet
Bookmakers have slashed the odds of Rage Against the Machine becoming this year's Christmas number one as the race between the band and Joe McElderry increased its pace.
William Hill have cut the 6/1 odds of the American rock band claiming the festive crown to 10/3, as the Facebook campaign, which now has just over 40,000 members, to get them there kicks in.
They have sold 83,276 downloads of their song Killing In The Name, while Joe has sold 77,401 of his version of The Climb, a cover of the Miley Cyrus hit.
All smiles: Joe McElderry beams as he is snapped out shopping in London today as the Christmas number one battle rages on
The news would have no doubt caused a bit of a stir in Simon Cowell's camp this morning after figures today showed that X Factor winner McElderry is trailing on download sales.
Although Joe is currently number at the top of the iTunes singles chart, Rage Against the Machine are ahead on download sales on Amazon and HMV.com.
Amazon said its sales showed the expletive-rich 1992 track was nudging ahead while HMV said it was outselling McElderry by 10 to one yesterday.
But it's not all bad news for 18-year-old McElderry after bookmakers announced they had stopped taking bets who would win the Christmas number one race because it is usually a foregone conclusion.
And although the battle has been waged on just downloads alone, it is thought that he will overturn the lead when the CD version of his song hits the shops tomorrow.
Campaign: The Facebook page that threw down the gauntlet to Joe McElderry now has over 40,000 members
Rupert Adams, spokesman for William Hill, said: 'The support for Rage Against The Machine has been nothing short of spectacular, this is the first time that we have seen a challenge to the X Factor dominance and there will be millions riding on the outcome.'
Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said today that it was 'the fiercest battle for years' and added: 'This is shaping up to be a very exciting battle between two different records which have captured the nation's imagination.
'But, although Rage Against The Machine have started off in front, according to our initial sales estimates, there is no doubt that this tussle is far from over.'
Gennaro Castaldo of HMV added: 'Whilst it's true that, since Sunday night, quite a few more fans have been downloading the Rage track from HMV's digital music store off the back of the internet campaign, we believe this trend will be reversed in a big way once the physical CD single of Joe's The Climb officially goes on sale in stores from tomorrow.'
Festive contenders: Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine live
on stage in 1993, the year after Killing In The Name was released
The battle for the Christmas number one started last week when two music fans started a campaign on Facebook calling for a mass purchase of the Rage Against The Machine's single.
They asked members: 'Fed up of Simon Cowell's latest karaoke act being Christmas No 1? Me too... So who's up for a mass-purchase of the track Killing In The Name as a protest to the X Factor monotony?'
They also added that another reason for it was because they would 'love to see a Christmas No.1 containing the word "f***".'
It asked members to start buying the song as a download from last Sunday, the day the X Factor winner is announced, but Cowell called the campaign 'stupid' and 'cynical'
But if Joe, who beat second-place Olly Murs to take the X Factor crown on Sunday, had any worries about his Christmas chart position, he hasn't let on, as he beamed his way through all of yesterday.
Before a bit of shopping in central London, he appeared on GMTV, where he stopped to sign autographs for a throng of waiting fans.
Meanwhile, Cowell wants to get Joe in the recording studio as soon as possible and will jet him off to Los Angeles in the New Year, where he will spend nine months working on an album.
Cowell has reportedly signed up Ryan Tedder - the creator of Leona Lewis's global hit, Bleeding Love - to pen tracks for the teenager's new album.
And he is keen to do everything possible to ensure he turns Joe into a big star, after previous male winners Steve Brookstein, Shayne Ward and Leon Jackson all flopped in the charts.
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The economic forecast is looking sprightly according to Americans, as consumer confidence in July hit its highest level since October 2007. On Tuesday, the Conference Board announced that the U.S. consumer confidence index jumped to 90.9 in July, up from a revised 86.4 in June, landing at the highest level in seven years.
So why are Americans feeling so optimistic? According to the report, an improved economic growth and an upturn in hiring have consumers feeling confident with their current financial state.
“Strong job growth helped boost consumers’ assessment of current conditions, while brighter short-term outlooks for the economy and jobs, and to a lesser extent personal income, drove the gain in expectations,” says Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at board.
Experts predict that this growth in confidence will continue through the second half of the year, with most economists predicting a growth of more than 3 percent in both the third and fourth quarters.


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Gold falls to one-week low as Fed ambiguity clouds rate-cut bets
Spot gold shed 0.2 percent to $1,274.50 per ounce as of 0403 GMT, having fallen to $1,272.14, its lowest since April 24, earlier in the session.
Asia’s economies can fight off trade war: Report
The biggest risks remain an escalation of trade tensions, a sharper global slowdown and financial market volatility.
Americans are more optimistic about economy
The Conference Board said on Tuesday its index of consumer confidence rose to 129.2.
Buzzing stocks: YES Bank, RPower, Jet Airways, RCom, Maruti Suzuki
The NSE Nifty index was trading 20.10 points down at 11,728.05.
DCM Shriram, Cochin Minerals among top gainers on BSE
Among the 50 components in the Nifty index, 25 shares were trading in the green, while 25 were in the red.
Google Will Now Auto-Delete Some User Data — If You Ask
Google has struggled to convince customers, regulators that it respects their privacy and keeps data it collects on people safe.
GST Collection For March Hits A New Record At Rs 1.13 Lakh Crore
GST collection for March jumps 10.05 over the previous year to Rs 1.13 lakh crore.
Reliance, SBI Mutual Fund write down NAVs of some plans
The net asset values (NAVs) of some schemes in the debt and hybrid categories of Reliance Mutual Fund and SBI Mutual Fund dipped by 0.88% to 3% on May 28.
Share market update: Nifty Pharma index down; Biocon slips 3%
The Nifty Pharma index was trading 0.26 per cent down at 9377.65 around 10:43 am.
SEBI working on stricter directives post recent MF defaults & share pledge issues.
Britannia Consolidated March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 2,798.96 crore, up 10.3% Y-o-Y
JBF Industries declines nearly 5% on CEO, CFO resignation
Arun B Shah resigned as CEO and CFO of the company w.e.f. May 01, 2019
InfoBeans Tech Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 24.98 crore, up 16.95% Y-o-Y
Vegan Burger Company Beyond Meat Prices IPO At $25 A Share
At this price, Beyond Meat raised around $240 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, including underwriters’ options.
Bandhan Bank Q4 profit jumps 67.81% YoY to Rs 651 crore
Net interest income (Nll) for the quarter increased 45.60 per cent to Rs 1,258 crore from Rs 864 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.
Dabur’s profit falls 6.4% YoY to Rs 371.49 crore in March quarter
Dabur’s total expense was Rs 1,729.59 crore as against Rs 1,603.56 crore a year ago, up 7.85 per cent.
Radico Khaitan Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 509.98 crore, up 6.08% Y-o-Y
Tanla Solutions Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 265.70 crore, up 48.22% Y-o-Y
Kansai Nerolac Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 1,153.16 crore, up 4.49% Y-o-Y
Tribunal Allows Banks To Declare IL&FS Loan As Non-Performing Asset
The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 21.
Bandhan Bank waiting for NCLT nod for Gruh merger: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
Growth in advance, controlling NPAs and 99.30% on-time repayment rate of customers led to growth.
Ajay Shah, relative, ‘fraudulently misused’ confidential NSE data: SEBI
SEBI’s initial investigation report found that NSE had overlooked its subsidiary IISL, which did similar work.
Tata Motors Domestic Sales Decline 20% In April, Exports Plunge 53%
Tata Motors sales of commercial and passenger vehicles declined 20 per cent in April to 42,577 units compared with 53,511 units sold in the same month last year as weak consumer sentiment
Mahindra & Mahindra Sales Fall 9% In April
Mahindra & Mahindra said the ongoing elections in the country impacted its sales, however described it as “a temporary phenomenon”.
R Systems Intl Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 93.11 crore, up 34.57% Y-o-Y
Indigo Joins Likely Bidders For Thomas Cook Airline: Report
Thomas Cook’s airlines business consists of Germany’s Condor, as well as British, Scandinavian and Spanish operations.
ED files charge sheet against Zakir Naik in Mumbai
The agency filed the prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special court in Mumbai and said it has identified proceeds of crime worth Rs 193.06 crore.
Laurus Labs Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 617.64 crore, up 13.01% Y-o-Y
IRB InvIT Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 146.34 crore, down 6.06% Y-o-Y
JM Financial Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 34.59 crore, down 56.62% Y-o-Y
JM Financial Consolidated March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 944.53 crore, up 1.28% Y-o-Y
Intl Paper APPM Standalone March 2019 Net Sales at Rs 375.39 crore, up 10.5% Y-o-Y
Container Corporation Jan-Mar net profit up 21% to Rs 352 crore
Its total expenses during the quarter were at Rs 1,479.46 crore.
SEBI ordered OPG to pay more than Rs 15.57 crore.
Economy Appears To Have Slowed Down, Says Finance Ministry
India’s economy appears to have slowed down slightly in 2018-19, department of economic affairs under the Ministry of Finance said in a monthly economic report for March 2019.
LT Infotech Q4 profit grows 31% YoY to Rs 378.5 crore
Air traffic growth hits 5-yr low in FY19 at 11.6%; cargo at 6%
Tata Power Q4 net drops 92% to Rs 107.32 cr; declares dividend of Rs 1.30/share
Four senior NSE officials stare at 2-year suspension in colocation case
Bombay Dyeing posts net profit of Rs 1,253.33 cr in March quarter
Laurus Labs net profit down 4 % at Rs 43.2 Cr in Q4
Foreign Investors In NSE Urge Bourse Not To Challenge Fine
NSE said it was reviewing the order and taking legal advice before deciding whether to appeal to the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
ED attaches over Rs 70L assets in Delhi linked to Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan-based group Falah-e-Insaniyat


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Zomato shares are up 12% after the company reported its first-ever quarterly profit, with a net profit of 2 crore and revenue of 2,416 crore.
The share price of Zomato climbed 12% in early trading Wednesday, a day after the meal delivery firm reported its first-ever quarterly profit. The Zomato stock began at 89, compared to yesterday’s close of 86.22. In the morning trade, the Zomato share price rose further to 98.39, a 12% increase. Zomato shares were trading at 96.23 at the time of writing, up $10, or 11.61%.
Zomato, a meal delivery company, released its Q1 profits for FY24 on Thursday. The firm recorded a net profit of 2 crore, compared to a loss of 186 crore (year on year). The company’s revenue increased by 24% year on year to 2,416 crore.
Zomato shares will be launched on the bourses in July 2021 at 115.00, up from the issue price of 76.
After an initial public offering, Zomato shares will be listed on the NSE and BSE in July 2021. Zomato shares were listed at 115, compared to an issue price of 76. The stock, however, was unable to maintain its listing gains and has been trading below the offering price since then.
Since several of them filed initial public offerings and issued shares on the NSE and BSE, new-age online businesses have been in the spotlight. Other firms in the same area include Policybazaar, Nykaa, Makemytrip, and more.
“Zomato expects adjusted revenue to grow at least 40% over the next couple of years while remaining profitable.” Given the Q1 beat and the positive forecast, we upgraded FY24-26E sales by 13-22%, with a stronger margin trajectory. “We maintain BUY with a target price of Rs110 (previously Rs90),” according to the most recent Emkay report.


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Frontier Airlines will expand its low fares to 21 cities, making the low-fare carrier available to 90 percent of the country by next spring.
Frontier is also rolling out fares as low as $39 for a limited time.
A flight from Cleveland to Miami will go on sale beginning October 5, 2017 through March 8, 2018 for $44.
Here are some highlights of the announcement:
- Twenty-one new cities, eight of which are on sale today
- Eighty-five new routes
- Nonstop routes almost double by summer 2018 to 314
- Total routes increase to almost 1,000 by summer 2018, more than double the current total
- Expansion of winter service to warm weather destinations
Frontier has also extended its schedule with all flights on sale through April 7, 2018.


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Positive sales point to a bright future for Dishonored
Bethesda has been pleasantly surprised by just how well Dishonored has been performing.
The game has been almost universally received and sales have been buoyed by some pre-Christmas price reductions in stores.
Bethesda PR boss Pete Hines elaborated on Dishonored's excellent performance, "I can tell you that Dishonored is far exceeding our sales expectations, which is especially cool considering it's new IP facing a host of well-established franchises this quarter."
"We did terrific numbers again this past weekend," Hines continued, "both in stores and on Steam, where Dishonored was listed as the number one selling title over the holiday weekend. And Dishonored has really sold well overseas. So, we're very pleased and appreciate all the fans that have supported Dishonored and Arkane. We clearly have a new franchise."
- Microsoft doubles down for April's Games With Gold
- Every wondered what it would be like in James Bond and Joanna Dark met? Cara Ellison and Irene Koh have answered that question
- Dirty Bomb beta is back online
- Obsidian's saviour Pillars Of Eternity launches today, Watch it streamed live here later today
- Infinite Crisis launches fully today on Steam
- Here's what the new Hunters and the Behemoth for Evolve look like in action
- Blood and Burning and Celts Culture DLC Packs arrive for Total War: Attila
- F1 2015 coming to PC, PS4 and Xbox One this summer, first screenshots released
- Ubisoft introduces Alex Parizeau, the new head of Ubisoft Toronto


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A cottage industry has sprung up facilitating the sale and donation of human breast milk on the Internet, but a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics confirms the concerns of health professionals over this unregulated marketplace.
The report found that breast milk bought from two popular websites was often contaminated with high levels of bacteria, including, in a few instances, salmonella. The amounts detected in some samples were sufficient to sicken a child.
“The study makes you worry,” said Dr. Richard Polin, the director of neonatology and perinatology at Columbia University, who was not involved in the research. “This is a potential cause of disease. Even with a relative, it’s probably not a good idea to share.”
After a spate of research showing that breast milk protects infants from infections and other ailments, health care providers in recent years have strongly encouraged new mothers to abandon formula and to breast-feed. But this can be a difficult challenge. Parents who have adopted, for instance, or have had mastectomies – or who simply do not produce enough milk – often rely on donated or purchased breast milk.
Buy, sell, share
“Milk-sharing” websites host classified advertisements from women wishing to buy, sell or donate breast milk.
“My daughter is two months old and has gained five pounds and grown three inches since birth!” reads one ad. “I have a serious oversupply and I am looking to free up room in my freezer.”
Some sites discourage paying for breast milk, while others actively endorse the practice. Advertisements from some sellers play up the convenience and price, which can be as low as $1.50 an ounce. But many women wish to donate milk simply to help out fellow mothers in need.
Rachel Holtzman, 31, a writer who lives in New York, had breast-reduction surgery that unexpectedly left her unable to lactate. After giving birth to Levi, now 41/2 months old, she turned to a network of women in Park Slope who were willing to donate their breast milk. It has been a largely positive experience.
“We worried at first,” she said. “We wanted to be mindful that the donors were healthy, but there was never a moment when we were afraid. We’ve had the milk of about 30 women and have never had a problem.”
Women who do not wish to rely on an informal network may turn to breast milk banks, which store and sell breast milk from donors. Thirteen banks in the United States and Canada follow voluntary guidelines set up by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, which require that donors and donations be screened, and that milk be pasteurized.
But milk banks give priority to premature infants with significant medical complications, and the milk is available only by prescription. A bank will supply milk by prescription to healthy infants, but only if sufficient supplies are available – and they rarely are. The association’s banks distributed 2.15 million ounces in 2011, but the current annual need is 9 million ounces.
Even when it is available, milk from banks is expensive, as much as $6 an ounce, and the average intake of a 1-month-old is about 25 ounces a day.
All of this encourages new parents, often scrambling to find breast milk on short notice, to shop for cheaper or more convenient sources, and websites including www.onlythebreast.com and www.eatsonfeets.org have sprung up to fill the demand. In 2011, there were more than 13,000 postings on the four leading milk-sharing websites, according to Sarah Keim, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Ohio State who was involved in the study.
High contamination rates
In using any of these services, the buyer relies on the representations of the seller. The new study suggests that may prove hazardous.
Keim and her colleagues collected 101 samples from milk-sharing websites, recording the sellers’ assertions about their own health and their methods of handling and storage. Then the researchers analyzed the bacterial content in the samples, comparing them with unpasteurized breast milk from screened donors at banks.
The researchers found that 64 percent of the samples from milk-sharing sites were contaminated with staph, 36percent with strep, and almost three-quarters with other bacterial species. Three of the samples contained salmonella. Seventy-four percent of the samples would have failed milk bank criteria.
The unpasteurized milk bank samples were not entirely free of contamination either, but they were considerably cleaner than those from the online milk-sharers – 25 percent were contaminated with staph, 20 percent with strep, and 35 percent with other types of bacteria. Twenty-five percent of the milk bank samples contained no detectable bacteria at all, compared with 9 percent of the samples from milk-sharing sites.
Children at risk?
Keim gave high marks to the milk banks. “When you donate to one of the HMBANA banks, you know it’s been processed and made safe for a baby who really needs it,” she said.
All milk shipped from milk banks is pasteurized, which kills skin and gastrointestinal bacteria, as well as many viruses, including those that cause colds. But pasteurization also destroys some of the beneficial substances in breast milk.
Kim Updegrove, president of the milk bank association, believes that however well intended, informal sharing of breast milk can be hazardous.
“If you get milk from an unscreened sharer, you put your child at risk,” she said.
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In light of increased investment in pre-booked appointments at today’s meetings industry shows such as IMEX and EIBTM, Exhibition News asks three organisers: Why do we need hosted buyers at exhibitions?
In just its fourth show, Upper Street Events’ Gadget Show Live has morphed into one of the UK’s biggest consumer tech events. EN tracks how the brand is plugged into market trends.
Look back at predictions for the must-have gadget items of 2009 and you’ll find many that have been embraced by the mainstream today. Making their debuts about 36 months ago were the Wii Motion Plus, Windows 7, the iPhone 3GS, the Android phone and the wireless Apple mouse.


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Kotak Mahindra Bank on August 31 said it will sell 20 crore shares held in Airtel Payments Bank (APBL) for a cash consideration of Rs 294 crore or more to Bharti Enterprises Ltd.
A share purchase agreement has been executed by the bank for divestment of 20,00,00,000 equity shares (8.57 percent stake) held by Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd in APBL.
These shares were acquired for Rs 200 crore invested in tranches during calendar years 2016 and 2017, the bank said in a regulatory filing.
The sale is expected to be completed by September 15 or before, for "cash consideration equal to or higher than Rs 294.8 crore; to be determined in accordance with the terms of the share purchase agreement," it added.
APBL was incorporated on April 1, 2010, under the RBI license for payments banks.
It commenced its operations as a payments bank, with effect from November 23, 2016. The company's turnover was Rs 627.19 crore in FY 20.
The bank said it does not require any governmental or regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction.
Bharti Enterprises has received no objection from the RBI to enable execution of the proposed transaction, it said.


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Instagram recently revealed the trends of the users in India on Instagram, according to the data most of the users on Instagram are young having high spending power. This is the first time that one of the fastest growing social media network Instagram released such data for India showing what keeps the Indian users engaged on the platform.
Instagram mentions that the monthly active users from India have more than doubled in the past year considering the fact that Instagram continues to build the momentum to reach 400 million users in the present year. Of the last 100 Millions users to join Instagram more than half are from Asia and Europe. More than 80 percent of the users in India use their smartphones to post the pictures on Instagram and that is the testimony to the fact that the Indian users are Mobile first users.
Below are some highlights of the study conducted by Nielson:
- Indians are using Instagram to express themselves among like minded set of people
- The most active users on Instagram are of the age group 18-24
- Indians use Instagram to follow celebrities and latest trends in fashion and technology, they are also using it for discovering and sharing food and travel options.
- Out of all the key interests among the users on Instagram are music, travel, food, photography, technology, fashion and sports
- The data shows that Indian Instagramers are avid travellers and almost half of them have taken 4 vacations in the past year.
- Just over half of the Indian Instagramers have purchased services and products frequently from the brands they follow.
Recently Instagram opened advertising to businesses of all sizes around the world which has a suite of advertising options catering to each group. The advanced ad formats with targeting and buying options help the advertisers to reach out to specified consumers they care about thereby helping them raise awareness to drive action. Out of the major brands who have utilized this potential are Paperboat, Grofers, TrulyMadly Matchmakers, Sportskeeda and many more.
Feel free to use the comment section if you have anything to add to this story.


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While COVID-19 increased our reliance on mobile delivery apps and eCommerce services, Canadians saw an increase in pandemic substance use, especially for weed and alcohol.
In a recent study released on November 4, 2021, by the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research (PBCAR), researchers discovered that since March 2020, monthly sales for alcohol rose by an average of 5.5% while weed sales saw an even steeper increase of 25%!
These findings make it clear that, above all else, Canadians loved rolling one up and burning one down to cope with the massive changes that COVID19 brought to the world.
Using information from Statistics Canada, the researchers compared 16 months of alcohol and weed sales both before and after the began – the 16 months before March 2020 through June 2021 – to be precise.
During this period, they discovered that Canadians bought $1.86 billion more in alcohol than before the pandemic. At the same time, cannabis sales saw an $811 million higher increase than forecasts originally predicted.
RELATED: 5 Things We’re Looking Forward to in a Post-Covid Sesh
When lockdown and quarantine measures were originally introduced in March 2020, alcohol and weed sales increased by a 15% margin.
James MacKillop, director of the PBCAR and co-author of the research, said that “these results offer one of the first national perspectives on changes in alcohol and cannabis use during the pandemic,”
“These sales data give us an opportunity to quantify the pandemic’s impacts on two of the most commonly used substances for the country as a whole,” he said. “These sales figures [also] give us clues into potential changes in behavioural patterns and can inform planning to address mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
While Canadians were stockpiling toilet paper, canned food, and other household essentials, they were also stocking up on their favourite strains and spirits, too.
And while alcohol sales returned to more usual levels after March 2020, they remained higher than usual compared to pre-pandemic amounts. Weed sales, on the other hand, continued to increase dramatically over the following 16 months!
In addition to outlining pandemic substance use, these results show the strong support that Canadians have towards Mary Jane as well as the changing, positive attitude towards weed that seems to be persisting.
What are your thoughts? Have you been smoking more of your favourite strains during the lockdown period or have you been cracking open more cold ones? Let us know in the comments!


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Large retailers in Scotland are now banned from displaying cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Self-service tobacco vending machines are also banned.
The new legislation is aimed at cutting the number of deaths caused by smoking.
Smaller retailers have until 6th April, 2015, to fully comply with the new legislation.
More top news
Carlisle's annual giant puppet parade took place in the city centre this afternoon.
Hundreds of young muslims were in Keswick today as part of a bid to raise more than half a million pounds for UK charities.
One of the biggest events in the calendar for the Scottish rural community has been taking place at Drumlanrig Country Estate.


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Two 2021 Federated 400 ‘Seat in the Suite’ grand prizes to be awarded
Staunton, Va.—Federated Auto Parts is kicking off a special “Be a Federated Fan” promotion for its Car Care Center members in conjunction with the NASCAR Federated Auto Parts 400 on Sept. 12, at Richmond Raceway.
“Although there won’t be fans in the seats at this year’s Federated 400, two lucky Federated Car Care Center members will win a ‘seat in the suite’ for the 2021 NASCAR race including travel, accommodations and suite tickets to the race,” said Phil Moore, senior vice president, Federated Auto Parts. “This fun contest is a way to thank our Federated Car Care members and recognize our valued suppliers who support the Federated 400 and work hard to help our members be successful.”
To participate in the “Be a Federated Fan” promotion, Federated Car Care Centers must enroll at www.FederatedFan.com to be officially entered into the program. The contest is open to any Federated Car Care Center member in good standing. Car Care Centers will receive one entry for every $100 of purchases from now until Nov. 15, 2020. Winners will be randomly selected and two trips for two to the 2021 Federated 400 and 10 $200 gift cards will be awarded.
The Federated Auto Parts 400 will air live on NBCSN on Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Federated supplier brand sponsors of the race include: MPA, Wix, East Penn, Standard Motor Products, BCA, Dayco, KYB, Trakmotive, Warren Distribution, TRW, MAHLE, Peak, Dorman, CRC, Delphi, Gates, Bendix, Denso, DRiV, Hastings, Lumileds, Raybestos, Remy, Stant and Trico.


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With Google’s new mobile ranking signal coming into effect on April 21st, many people questioned whether Google News rankings would be affected with this new ranking signal, or if it would continue serving up the best news source, regardless of whether it is mobile friendly or not.
If you are in Google News but are concerned you won’t beat the deadline to get your site mobile comparable by April 21st, you can breath easy… for a while. Google does not plan on using the mobile ranking signal for ranking in Google News, at least not at this time.
In a Google News Webmaster Hangout yesterday, Stacie Chan from Google News revealed they don’t have plans to use it, but it is clearly on their minds.
I knew I was going to get that question. As of now, Google News is not committed to making that change just yet. We’re always exploring because we think its awesome that sites are trying to be more mobile friendly. Myself personally as a user, I love that. And Google News is very well aware that Search is doing that and kudos to you guys, that’s great. So we’re definitely exploring that option as well but we don’t have a set timeline or anything like that, or whether or not we will even implement that into our product as well.
Currently, Google News doesn’t use the “Mobile Friendly” tag in front of news sources that are mobile friendly, when someone searches in Google News or when the Google News homepage is viewed.
Here is the video from the Hangout:
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Google loses case against EU antitrust decision.
Alphabet unit fined 4.125 billion euros.
On July 18, 2018, the European Commission fined Google €4.34 billion for illegal practices regarding Android mobile devices. The fine is the largest antitrust penalty ever imposed by the EU. Google was found to have breached EU antitrust rules by requiring manufacturers to pre-install the Google Search and Chrome apps on their devices, and by preventing them from using rival versions of Android.
Court says Google imposed unlawful restrictions.
The General Court of the European Union has confirmed the Commission's decision that these practices constituted an abuse of Google's dominant market position in general internet search services. The Court rejected Google's arguments that the practices were necessary to ensure competition on mobile devices and that they benefited consumers by providing them with a wider choice of apps and services.
Google fined for second time in less than a year.
Previous fine was 2.42 billion euros.
In June 2017, the European Commission fined Google €2.42 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules. Google had abused its market dominance as a search engine by giving an illegal advantage to another Google product, its comparison shopping service.
New fine is 5% less than previous one.
The new fine is €4.125 billion, or about $5 billion. That's 5% less than the previous fine, because the Commission took into account that Google stopped the illegal practices in 2014 after the Commission started investigating them.
Google criticizes EU decision.
Google says it acted like countless other businesses.
In a blog post, Google said that the EU's decision was "out of step with reality" and that it had merely acted like countless other businesses. Google said that the EU's decision would harm consumers and stifle innovation.
Google says EU decision is out of step with reality.
Google also said that the EU's decision was "out of step with reality" and that it would harm consumers and stifle innovation.


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January 20, 2009 17:46 ET
Workers vs. Wal-Mart at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 21st
Former workers at a Wal-Mart in Jonquière, Quebec finally get their day in court four years after Wal-Mart shut their store after it unionized
Attention: Assignment Editor, Business/Financial Editor, City Editor, News Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor
OTTAWA - MEDIA ADVISORY FOR JAN 21 / OTTAWA--(Marketwire - Jan. 20, 2009) -
ATTENTION: OTTAWA/NCR NEWS AND ASSIGNMENT EDITORS FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
On January 21, former UFCW Canada Local 503 members at a Wal-Mart in Jonquière, Quebec will finally get their day in court four years after Wal-Mart shut their store.
In April 2005, Wal-Mart terminated all the workers and shut the Jonquière store after arbitration for a first contract between Wal-Mart and UFCW Canada Local 503 had been mandated by the province. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear arguments that the workers' Freedom of Association rights to form a union, guaranteed under the Charter, were violated when Wal-Mart closed the store.
At an earlier Quebec Labour Commission hearing, Wal-Mart denied it shut the Jonquière store because of union activity - saying it shut the store because it was losing money. The Supreme Court will hear the same defense from Wal-Mart: that a business has the right to close a store because of "good and sufficient" reasons.
"This isn't whether Wal-Mart has the right to close a store," said UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. "It's about Wal-Mart shutting down the Charter rights of 200 Canadian workers."
"As Canadians, what's more important to us? The business rights of some multinational corporation or the human rights of Canadian workers and their families here at home?"
The case was brought forward by five appellants who had all worked at the Jonquiere store. The decision by the Supreme Court is expected before September.
UFCW Canada is Canada's largest private-sector union with over 250,000 members coast to coast.
Supreme Court of Canada - Case Information
/For further information:
Supreme Court of Canada — Case Information
IN: ECONOMY, JUSTICE, LABOUR, RETAIL


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What if becoming an expert pilot were as simple as putting on a cap?
The video is based on the Feb. 9, 2016 study, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Modulates Neuronal Activity and Learning in Pilot Training
The researchers featured in the video, post-docs Jaehoon Choe and Matthew Phillips work for HRL Laboratories. Did they know the PR dept. was going to take their interviews and inject them with awesome graphics and all sorts of hyperbole? Is it marketing capitalizing on research, or research capitalizing on marketing?
I plan to dig deeper into this story and update as more info emerges and I get a better understanding of the study.


text: A little under half of supplements and vitamins brand Blackmores revenue comes from Asian markets. Like in Australia, consumers in Asia are increasingly concerned about the provenance of the products they buy, especially ones they swallow.\nSo it\u2019s no surprise that Blackmores is taking unprecedented steps to ensure the quality and authenticity of its products.\n\u201cWe have been exploring ways to leverage technology and data to provide consumers with even greater assurance their trust in our products is well-placed,\u201d explains Blackmores\u2019 chief information officer Brett Winn.\nTo that end, last year, the company joined a consortium with PWC, AusPost and Alibaba, on a thought-leadership blockchain initiative dubbed iTrust.\nBlackmores\u2019 worked with the other firms to establish a framework for the use of blockchain technology to improve supply chain traceability and safeguard authenticity in the Chinese market.\n\u201cThere is a firm belief this project will eventually inform a global standard for using technology to validate food provenance and product authenticity,\u201d Winn said.\nIt is not the only provenance proof-of-concept project underway at Blackmores. From next year a unique identifier will be placed on products which buyers can scan to find out if their purchase is authentic, where it was produced and when it expires as well as the products benefits and suitability.\nThese customer and partner facing innovations have happened alongside a major migration of business applications to Office365 \u2013 which was rolled out to Blackmores\u2019 700+ Asia based staff over a 9-week period. \nIn addition, almost 80 per cent of Blackmores IT workloads have been moved to Microsoft Azure, Dynamics365 has been implemented across Australia and New Zealand, as has PowerBI.\n\u201cOur cloud strategy has delivered to expectations and made it easier for our staff to complete their roles by providing better access to systems and data,\u201d Winn says.\nThe Microsoft cloud move has happened alongside an ongoing deployment of Oracle ERP cloud, which brings together 11 Asia based business each with their own local, and Excel reliant platforms.\n\u201cOutcomes will provide business efficiency, transparency of data and stronger controls across our supply chain, including distributors, that will allow Blackmores to scale aggressively into the future,\u201d Winn explains.\nRising status and remaining grounded\nThe status of group technology at Blackmores has been in ascendency since Winn\u2019s arrival at the company in 2016. Over that time the team has grown from 20 staff to more than 45, and staff engagement has rocketed. \nWinn\u2019s role has been elevated to the executive team and he says he has gone about changing his team\u2019s \u201crhythm, behaviours and brand\u201d.\n\u201cMy objective is to influence the cadence of the team and role model positive behaviours so we are seen across the business as aligned, innovative, consistent and clear in our purpose,\u201d Winn.\nTo achieve this, Winn is co-sponsor of a company-wide new ways of working initiative called \u2018Game Changers\u2019, which encompasses agile delivery, cross functional teams, innovative thinking and a \u2018show don\u2019t tell\u2019 approach to standing up minimal viable products.\nEvidence of success of the Game Changers approach is the company\u2019s Buzz employee app, which was designed and delivered in less than six months.\n\u201cWith over 700 downloads in six weeks, uptake is exceeding expectations and we now have regular content moving into the business daily,\u201d Winn says.\nWithin IT, a structured PMO, architecture standards and governance, and clear team and individual objectives have been established, while staff members have benefitted from focused training to uplift skills.\n\u201cThe pace of change over only 18 months is something I have not seen in 25 years of executive IT roles. We have gone from a back of house function to a highly capable group of passionate professionals enabling a globally expanding business. This has involved enormous change, commitment, alignment and passion,\u201d Winn says.\nWinn says staying humble and approachable are the keys to success in the job.\n\u201cI do not sit in an office and regularly work from our staff caf? so people feel comfortable to engage with me and ask questions,\u201d he explains.\nFor Winn it is an honour to hold the role of CIO, and to have the opportunity to \u201chelp people navigate complex challenges and watch them grow from the experience\u201d.


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Hart Stores Inc. Announces New Board of Director Member
Montreal, Hart Stores Inc. announced that J. Pierre Brunet, Ph.D., has joined its board of directors.
Brunet is currently a member of a number of advisory boards and chairman of the board’s PEAK Financial Group Inc., in charge of managing strategic growth and organization issues. The company also announced that as part of its focused expansion plan it would open two new stores in Ontario by the end of March 2006.


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NEW YORK (MainStreet) -- Keith Metz-Porozni, a 31-year-old media relations professional based in Portland, Ore, had an 800 FICO credit score, which puts him in a rare, high-credit score category among Millennials.
"I really only have a middling income," Metz-Porozni says. "But I have a plan." Specifically, he measures how much cash leaves his bank account every month, "even if it's just a rough estimate," Metz-Porozni says. "If you don't know how your cash flow is affected month-to-month, you have no hope to save money or understand if you really can afford that new car or that bigger apartment," he adds.
Metz-Porozni is an anomaly among younger Americans when it comes to having good credit. The fact is, most of his contemporaries don't.
According to fresh data from Experian, U.S. Millennials have the lowest average credit scores among any nationwide demographic, at a 625 VantageScore. Generation X averages a 650 VantageScore, while Baby Boomers average a 709 VantageScore. (VantageScore, like FICO, is a firm that uses its own formula to calculate a consumer's credit score based on data from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, the three American credit bureaus.)
That flagging of Gen Y credit is significant, as Millennials recently passed the venerable Baby Boomers (at 77 million strong) as the largest segment of the U.S. population. As Experian puts it in a statement, "this digitally independent generation is still much less savvy than older generations when it comes to their finances and credit management."
For Millennials, the recipe for success is a heavy dose of financial learning, experts say. "Given the significance Millennials play in financial services and the credit marketplace, it is crucial to understand this influential consumer segment and how they use credit as a tool," notes Michele Raneri, vice president of analytics and business development at Experian. "While this generation may not look like they are on the right track financially, it's important to keep in mind that credit scores are built on credit experiences, and while this generation has been slower to use credit, they have plenty of opportunities to build a positive credit history. The best way to do that is to understand credit before using it."
That also means starting early on a path to a healthy credit score. "You need to build a good credit score when you're young - even if you don't see yourself taking out big loans -- for a house, car, etc. -- for years," says Lee Gimpel, the co-developer of The Good Credit Game, a curriculum kit for financial educators who teach classes about credit reports, credit scores and credit cards. "That's because a good credit score is largely based on having a track record of using credit responsibly. If you have five years of good credit, it's better than five months."


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Table of Contents
Nobody foresaw the global COVID pandemic that has ravaged the whole world. Many businesses suffered as a result as schools, restaurants, stores, etc. shut their doors nationwide due to the Covid-19 restrictions. The businesses allowed to operate have been few and the most confusing liquor stores were included in the list. There has been increased activity in liquor stores throughout the pandemic and this has led to many pondering and wondering why liquor stores are categorized as “essential” businesses. The reasons will become clearer once we dive deeply into the issue.
Why Are Liquor Stores Essential Businesses?
Alcohol withdrawal concerns may have slightly influenced the decision with other economic factors also playing a major role in the decision making. There were concerns of individuals experiencing serious withdrawal symptoms to the point of turning to unsafe alternatives to quench the craving. Some people drink mouthwash with some resulting in fatal ways of alcohol extraction.
Here are some reasons why it is beneficial that liquor stores stay open during his pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic meant that hospitals were crowded and ran at full capacity. Given that some people depend on alcohol for relaxation and often consider alcohol a depressant it makes no sense to deny them.
Closure of liquor stores would lead to a limited supply of alcohol; this would, in turn, lead to withdrawal from the people that depend on it. The symptoms could include a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, agitation, and hallucinations. This would result in more trips to the already crowded hospitals.
Some severe cases would require that patients use intubation and ventilators when placed into a medically induced coma. Most hospitals would be full and the ventilators limited in stock. It was wise to keep the stores open as having patients with withdrawal symptoms is the last thing the health fraternity wants to deal with.
Liquor stores are tax generators
The government makes a lot of money from taxing alcohol, to ensure that money keeps flowing into the government’s coffers; stores had to be left open. There has to be a careful balance between protecting the local and state economies while also protecting public health.
Liquor stores sell food
With many other businesses closing liquor stores that offer food would ideally serve some areas well. Some areas only have these stores and closing them would mean the residents are required to travel further in search of food, this will mean the travel restrictions due to the pandemic are broken and social distancing will become even harder.
Other stores do not have the selection of liquor stores
Although other stores like grocery stores also sell liquor, they lack certain brands. You probably want to purchase a brand of wine distilled in Italy and you won’t find this in a grocery store. These brands are expensive and to keep the tax money rolling in the government preferred that the liquor stores remain open. Not all grocery stores sell alcohol, those that sell focus on selling specific strong brands of wine and beer. These are more costly and less potent than liquor.
- Psychological well-being
COVID-19 has impacted all aspects of life, quarantine and social distancing is the new norm. Having people isolated could result in a whole new issue psychologically as some people are not used to staying indoors. Some people take alcohol to cope with stress and in such times it may not be wise to restrict people from alcohol or visiting the liquor stores.
Casual drinkers have turned to drink as a form of comfort. To some, drinking helps cope with the anxiety that the pandemic has brought. Many people may not deem liquor stores as an essential business but in such times of social distancing, they are essential in the survival of the millions of people living with AUD.
Very few people living with AUD have access to proper treatment and the potential risk caused by the closure of liquor stores could inadvertently lead to crowding of the hospitals. It is therefore essential that alcohol is made available throughout all parts of the country. This will help keep people with AUD from having withdrawal symptoms; it will in turn lead to flattening the demand curve for hospital beds.
It is, however, important that any small business allowed to operate follow the necessary guidelines set by the health officials to ensure that the virus is contained. Social distancing in liquor stores should be observed and proper measures by the business owners set. Here are some ways liquor store owners ensure that they comply with the COVID-19 regulations while their stores are open.
- Shrink the store hours
- Allowing one customer at a time and cannot bring kids or pets
- Constant sanitization of door handles and the POS touchpad
- Offering delivery service to customers to ensure social distancing is maintained
- Credit card only payment is being implemented in most stores


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As the coronavirus pandemic has quickly become the new normal, NDA wants to celebrate the positives of our current situation.
We spoke to Seun Odeneye to discover the positive possible outcomes for his business, Mediabrands’ specialist programmatic buying unit, Cadreon.
What positive impacts have you seen on how your business operates?
For me personally it has dragged me into the 21st century with the adoption of technologies like Microsoft Teams, Skype and Zoom, proving that isolation does not mean that you need to be isolated.
It’s strange because I feel like I have become closer to my leadership team during this period with daily video calls and I have genuinely seen us come up with some awesome ideas and produce great work for our clients. I feel the greatest learning we can take from this post COVID-19, will be how we can implement true flexible and agile working at Cadreon.
I believe we can continue to do great work for our clients when staff are able to work in the way that suits them; be it at home, in the office or in a coffee shop, and COVID-19 has allowed us to lay the groundwork for this.
What have you been most heartened about in how your staff, partners, customers or clients have reacted to the new normal?
I have been overwhelmed how my team at Cadreon, and the other agencies within IPG Mediabrands and Kinesso, have seamlessly continued to produce incredible work for our clients, despite life being turned upside down for everyone.
Personally I have been encouraged that staff, clients and vendors have not wanted to defer everything. We are still going ahead with what we had originally planned and I have been in monthly team meetings with 50+ people on Microsoft Teams, had a half day 2020 planning session with one of our clients and also been in a few ‘breakfast & learn’ sessions with some of our strategic vendors, all from the comfort of my living room!
It goes to show this ‘new normal’ won’t stop our industry progressing because consumers will still continue to buy and brands will still need to stay relevant.
Specialists such as Cadreon will continue to find the right users for those brands to deliver greater business outcomes, whether that be now or post COVID-19.
What positive impacts on long term consumer behaviour shifts will it have?
I mentioned earlier about being dragged into the 21st century; how many people do you think this has happened to when it comes to the consumption of premium news content from print to digital?
Looking at the latest online numbers for the top news sites, you can see unique users are growing and I cannot see all those users going back to print post COVID-19.
It is going to provide a great opportunity for more addressable media and will allow us at Cadreon to utilise data to find the right audience for our brands.


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08/07/21 - "Insider Preview" Updated
Today a new updated preview version was released, this fixes multiple issues including some I had reported along with adding several new features such as a new search box on the start menu - images on "What's New in Windows 11" page update to reflect changes.
28/06/21 - First "Insider Preview" Release
Today the first "Insider Preview" version of Windows 11 was released to developers and IT professionals so they could start to test and evaluate the future of Windows.
I will be updating this and the "What's New in Windows 11" pages regularly over the coming weeks / months to give you an overview of all that is new with Windows 11.
And then as we get closer to release I will add more detailed guides for each aspect of Windows 11.
24/06/21 - Windows 11 Launch Event
Today Microsoft announced that a brand new version of Windows will be arriving later this year.
Yes, you read that correctly, despite years of Microsoft telling consumers and partners like myself that they would not release a new version of Windows, and that Windows 10 would continue to evolve and be updated twice a year they have now changed their minds....
Windows 11 will be coming later this year......
It will be a free upgrade for existing Windows 10 users BUT it has different hardware requirements than Windows 10 so will not run on some older machines, I will provide more details of these requirements at a later date.
Below is the introduction video from the launch event.


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UK: Asda Group Limited publishes annual statutory accounts
Supermarket Asda has published its annual Statutory Accounts for the financial year to 31st December 2018 through Companies House. The accounts for Asda Group Limited, which includes the financial activities of all Asda stores, distribution centres and online operations including food, clothing, general merchandise and fuel, show that in the financial year from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 the supermarket’s like for like sales excluding fuel and VAT increased by 1.6%, (compared to a 0.5% increase in 2017).
Kenya: Tuskys develops its business model
Kenya-based Tuskys has undertaken a number of initiatives as it prepares for an IPO in the short term. Tuskys is rumoured to be preparing to list on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, two years after initial proposals to do so were raised. As part of the listing plans, Tuskys is looking for a strategic investor to help it implement a new expansion strategy, develop an employee-ownership structure and invest in the business to enable these plans.
China: Lianhua Supermarkets highlights ‘togetherness’ in branding revamp
Chinese state-owned retailer Lianhua Supermarkets has undergone a complete brand refresh, after 28 years of trading. The new look, including a refreshed logo and instore signage and design, is being rolled out across the retailer’s 42 stores in China including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Anhui, Guangxi and Henan. Like many traditional Chinese retail brands, Lianhua’s efforts to attract and retain customers until now were focused on in-store promotion and pricing. However, Chinese consumers have become more sophisticated and the market is more competitive now, meaning brands have to stand out from the crowd and develop a connection with their customers.
Vietnam: Co.op Food opens four new stores, reaching over 400 points of sale
The Co.op Food store chain under Saigon Co.op opened four new stores in Cần Thơ, Bình Dương, Long An and Hà Nội, raising the total number of its stores to over 400 after more than 10 years in the Vietnamese consumer goods market. Co.op Food was one of the first Vietnamese mini supermarket models specializing in trading convenience foods, with proper investment and a clear long-term development strategy. After the success of Co.opmart's supermarket model, the Co.op Food store chain was warmly supported by consumers in HCM City and gradually expanded to other provinces and cities across the country.
Denmark: Netto sees fresh produce sales benefit from newly-designed stores
Danish retailer Netto has said that the sale of fruit and vegetables is up by more than 10% across its newly-reformatted stores, while sales of soft drinks and confectionery are down. The group measured sales in 50 of the stores that have been converted to the new Netto 3.0 format, which features 'more inviting' fruit and vegetable departments, as well as increased focus on food to go, such as ready-made salads, sliced vegetables and various juices.
Amazon India expands delivery network
Amazon has doubled its delivery network in India ahead of its flagship sales event, Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale. Amazon has significantly expanded its supply chain network throughout India to more than 1,400 delivery stations across 750 cities. The expansion aims to strengthen Amazon’s capacity ahead of the festive season. Amazon said over 100 delivery stations exclusively manage deliveries from its large appliances and furniture categories alone.
UK: Grocery supply chain leadership roles 'now more commercial'
Some 86% of food and consumer goods supply chain leaders believe their roles have increased in complexity over the last five years, particularly in terms of range and routes to market. The research from grocery research and training body IGD also found that 71% of supply chain leaders said their responsibilities are broader than they were five years ago - yet one-third of respondents had seen their people resource decrease. In addition, 62% of supply chain leaders claim the role of a supply chain leader is now more commercial, with more links to the overall business growth strategy.
Spain: DIA posts 7% fall in first-half sales
Spanish retailer DIA posted a 7% fall in first-half sales, but said a key indicator of its performance was starting to recover and promised to present an updated long-term business plan at the end of the year. Years of lagging behind peers who lured customers by investing more heavily in their stores had brought the retailer to the brink of insolvency just days after Russian tycoon Mikhail Fridman’s LetterOne (L1 fund) raised its stake to 70% in May. The company said same-store sales, one of the sector’s most vital statistics, gradually started to pick up in July and August after posting a record fall of 15.5% in June. It posted a net loss for the first half of 418mln euros ($462.85mln).
UK: Slow growth takes shine off Tesco budget chain Jack's a year on
When Tesco unveiled its discount chain Jack’s a year ago, hopes were high that it could pose a serious threat to Aldi and Lidl. A year on, fewer stores than expected have opened and recent job losses have raised questions about its success. At the media circus that greeted the first store in the small Cambridgeshire town of Chatteris in September 2018, the Tesco boss, Dave Lewis, said 10-15 Jack’s stores would open within six months. But ahead of its first anniversary, the figure is 10 and last month there were staff cuts at the store in Immingham, Lincolnshire, one of the first to open. At an investor event in June, Tesco revealed Jack’s had generated sales of £24mln - which experts think is disappointing.
UK: Asda workers stage protests against 'punitive' new contract
Asda workers have staged protests at stores across the country against a new “flexible” contract they say will leave about 3,000 shop-floor staff worse off. The GMB union said members would face the sack on 2 November if they did not sign the “punitive” contract, which it said removed pay for breaks and forced employees to work bank holidays. The supermarket chain, which is owned by the American retailer Walmart, said the overwhelming majority of its staff had signed the contract but appreciated some employees found the changes “unsettling”. Protests took place outside 12 Asda stores from Brighton to Glasgow on Monday as the GMB called on the supermarket chain to offer staff a better deal.
Ahold Delhaize remains ranked among sector leaders in Dow Jones Sustainability World Index
The 2019 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) ranked Ahold Delhaize among the industry leaders in the Food and Staples Retailing sector for the fourth consecutive year. The DJSI World tracks the performance of the world’s leading companies against economic, environmental and social criteria. It is an important barometer to measure our performance and progress in these areas, not only in our own operations but also with customers and in our supply chain.
US: Walmart opens 1st Health center & pet clinic
Walmart has opened the first-ever Walmart Health center in Dallas, Georgia, and remodeled the adjacent supercenter with new features aimed at improving the customer experience. The Walmart Health center plans were announced last month, and it offers primary care, labs, X-ray and EKG, counseling, dental, optical, hearing, community health (nutritional services, fitness) and health insurance education and enrollment. It will be staffed with physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, behavioral health providers and optometrists. The center has an entrance separate from the store for patients. Customers can also bring their pets to Walmart for the new in-store Essentials PetCare clinic. Services are available for dogs and cats and include vaccinations, routine care, microchipping, lab work and treating minor illnesses.
US: FutureProof Retail and Halla provide personalized recommendations for mobile self-scanning and checkout
During the premier event for grocery innovation, Groceryshop, FutureProof Retail (FPR), the leading provider of line-free mobile checkout and service counter solutions, and Halla, the only software company that dynamically profiles human taste to help people make better food choices, announced a partnership. Together, the two companies will enable retailers to deploy FPR's mobile self-scanning checkout and service counter solutions fully integrated with Halla's Intelligent Ordering (I/O) engine to offer personalized recommendations.
US: Whole Foods beats Trader Joe's in ranking of most popular grocery stores
While retailers continue to invest in grocery delivery partnerships and program expansions, the in-store experience will always reign supreme. From big-name companies like Whole Foods to regional niche favorites like Hong Kong Supermarket, all retailers are subject to the often finicky opinions of Yelp reviewers. 24/7 Tempo has taken to the review site to determine the top 30 grocery stores in the nation, and Whole Foods Market rocketed to the top spot.
US: Liviri introduces reusable, insulated last-mile solution for grocers
The fastest-growing ecommerce segment is grocery, with some of the largest national grocers leading the charge. Brick-and-mortar stores weren't built to support this quick-turn, online grocery shopping trend, creating challenges to support in-store grocery pickup and "last-mile" delivery. Liviri announced Liviri Shuttle, a family of durable, reusable insulated boxes designed to solve the inefficiencies of today's ecommerce grocers. Liviri is currently using Shuttle products in active pilot programs with some of the largest national grocers.
US: Associated Wholesale Grocers announces partnership with Retail Software Solutions Group
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) announced it has established a preferred partnership with Retail Software Solutions Group (RSSG), a solutions provider to independent retailers. RSSG's DealW!se and PriceW!se products identify opportunities to improve sales, pricing, and profitability. The solutions are integrated with AWG and deliver highly-focused, actionable intelligence on critical aspects of store operations. "We strive to build long-term relationships with partners such as RSSG to assist our members in improving sales and profitability", said Stacy Bowen, vice president, sales and solutions, AWG. "Providing profitable business solutions for our members is at the core of AWG's mission, which is to provide our member-retailers all the tools, products, and services they need to compete favorably in all markets served. This includes top quality supermarket merchandise and support services, all at the lowest possible cost."


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The best-performing parts suppliers are more likely to have high prices than other parts suppliers, according to research by Technomic.
The firm looked at more than 7,000 parts suppliers and found that only 8 percent of those who reported having low or no price increases were found to have a high percentage of parts suppliers reporting price increases.
For parts suppliers who reported high price increases, the research found that they had an average percentage increase of about 12 percent.
The findings are similar to a study by the consulting firm Accenture that found that part suppliers who posted the most price increases in 2016 had a median percentage increase between 10 percent and 17 percent.
The research by Accenture was released Monday and is based on data from a study conducted in May and June that found an average of 6 percent of U.S. manufacturing companies reported price increases each month, and the average percentage of those companies reporting price hikes was about 15 percent.
“This means that manufacturers have been reporting higher prices over the past year, while they have been cutting costs,” said Dan Siegel, Technomic’s head of research.
“We think this is an area that is ripe for more innovation in the industry.”
For more information on Technomic, please visit its website.


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2014 – Microsoft and Google agree to the Kill switch technology. In a California bill SB-967, Smartphones built after July 1, 2015 will consist of a hardware or software option to “kill” the phone. Further, a $500 to $2,500 fine will be issued to anyone selling a stolen phone.
Once switched, the device will not be able to turn on, even during a hard reset.
Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 20
- 1926 – First wireless phone is demonstrated
- 1989 – Lotus 1-2-3 version 3.0 is released
- 2000 – IBM 1GB Microdrive
- 2003 – Wikimedia Foundation is founded
- 2009 – Nokia purchases Nortel