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Instagram's changes are numerous and seem fairly atrocious to those who care about and follow such matters. The message is also pretty user un-friendly: take it or leave it. Literally. Many did not know what to make of Facebook's acquisition of Instagram earlier this year. I guess now we do.
With fall just around the corner and longings for layers and scarves starting to creep in, I like to start my shopping by first gathering ideas on the Internet. Here are some of my favorite online destinations for inspiration.
Klout, a San Francisco-based Internet start-up with Joe Fernandez, CEO and co-founder, has recently integrated five new services for social media users and brands to measure influence and reach across their networks.
So you think you control your smartphone? Think again. Late last week reports uncovered a plan by Apple, manufacturer of the iPhone, to patent technology that can detect when people are using their phone cameras and shut them down.


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All Reserved, Premium and Standing-Room-Only Seating Sold Out for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600
One of the most anticipated events on the NASCAR schedule – the 63rd running of the Coca-Cola 600 – will be on display in front of a packed house on Sunday, as Charlotte Motor Speedway officials have announced that all reserved, premium and standing-room-only seating has sold out.
“From thrilling racing action and raucous pre-race concerts, to an unforgettable salute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Coca-Cola 600 has always been about the fans,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “It’s going to be a spectacular sight watching the field come to green in front of a sold-out crowd at America’s Home for Racing.”
Fans from all 50 states and 12 foreign countries – as far away as Australia – have purchased tickets to the iconic Memorial Day Weekend showcase of speed. Ticketholders still have the opportunity to upgrade their race ticket with a track pass to get up-close access to driver introductions and a rocking pre-race concert with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
All fans interested in renewing their seats for 2023 are encouraged to do so online. Fans who lock in their eligible 2023 tickets this weekend will be able to choose from one of three special gifts, while supplies last.

domain: news


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Anthem Blue Cross of California will refund $8.3 million to 50,000 Californians because of mid-year changes it made to individual customers' annual policies in 2011, according to a class-action lawsuit settlement announced Tuesday.
Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica-based advocacy group, said the giant insurer also has agreed it will no longer make such changes to annual deductibles, co-pays or other out-of-pocket costs.
"Words like 'annual' and 'yearly' should mean something in a health policy,'' Jerry Flanagan, an attorney with Consumer Watchdog, said during a Tuesday morning news conference.
He said the average reimbursement, expected to be mailed in December, is $167; one customer will be reimbursed $19,000.
Flanagan lauded two Anthem customers who, he said, "stood up and took on Blue Cross" and its "bait-and-switch'' tactic that increased their deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs after both individuals had already met those payment thresholds in 2011.
An Anthem Blue Cross of California spokesman said the company "is pleased that all parties were able to come to an agreement.''
Separately, Anthem had to pay Consumer Watchdog and another law firm that worked on the cases $1.76 million in attorney fees.
Contact Tracy Seipel at 408-920-5343. Follow her at Twitter.com/taseipel.


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VIENNA, April 3 (Reuters) - Struggling Austrian home-improvements store chain BauMax will close its seven outlets in Turkey and may exit other markets in southeast Europe, its owner said.
BauMax, which employs about 10,000 staff in nine countries, made a loss of 126 million euros ($173 million) in 2012 after overextending itself with a push into eastern Europe, and most recently into Turkey in 2010. It has not published 2013 results.
“We will close Turkey,” owner Karlheinz Essl told ORF television after his offer to sell his contemporary art collection worth an estimated 250 million euros to the Austrian government - which he argued could help save thousands of jobs in the company - was rejected on Wednesday.
“We are in the process of considering whether there will be other countries. That will be decided by the end of April,” Essl said.
BauMax’s creditor banks - including Raiffeisen, Erste Group and Bank Austria - are due to meet on April 28 to decide whether to approve a restructuring plan for BauMax, which like other DIY chains operating in Europe has suffered from weak demand due to sagging housing markets and depressed economies.
German rival Praktiker said in February it would close its stores in Turkey and withdraw from the country after failing to sell its nine stores there.
BauMax has 158 stores, almost half of them in Austria and the rest in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, as well as Turkey. ($1 = 0.7263 Euros) (Editing by David Holmes)


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Truth: The Next Big Data Opportunity
As the reality of data harvesting settles in among consumers, music tech companies are forced to choose where they in the coming privacy war, a where in which honesty and transparency could provide the greatest competitive advantage.
In this recent post to MusicThinkTank, Annabel Youens explores how honesty could be the next major opportunity for big data companies looking to gain a market advantage.
"Businesses we trust and depend on have found a shady path to making big money — tracking users and brokering their data. And for some, it’s going to be a tough habit to break.
For consumers, agreeing to give up some data is an expected part of digital life. Most of the time, if we want (or need) to use an app, buy a product, or subscribe to a service, we can’t avoid a certain amount of data in trade."


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Next Year’s iPhone 14 to Feature “Complete Redesign” Says Gurman
In his weekly “Power On” newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has claimed that Apple’s iPhone 14 releasing next year will feature a “complete redesign.”
Gurman also noted that Apple’s 2022 iPhone lineup will include “new entry-level and Pro” iPhone models. “Until then, enjoy the iPhone 13—or just stick with the iPhone 12,” he wrote.
Beyond this, Gurman did not dive into specifics about the all-new iPhone 14 design. He did, however, note that the iPhone 14 will still include a Lightning cable, despite the EU’s ongoing efforts to eliminate proprietary charging ports on smartphones.
“Changing from the 30-pin connector to Lightning a decade ago was complicated, and the iPhone user base was only a sliver of what it is today. There are also thousands of Lightning accessories in use that Apple doesn’t want to upset customers by jettisoning.
I think if Apple does go through another connector change, it won’t be to USB-C. They’ll go all the way to wireless. That’s clearly the future and may look more attractive than trying to switch from Lightning to USB-C.”
Previously, veteran Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted two sizes for next year’s flagship iPhones i.e. 6.1 inches for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max.


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Last week’s Remember When mystery photo showed two 10th Street merchants getting ready for the Downtown Tracy Wine Stroll in October 1989. They were jeweler Robert Hill and gift store owner Annette Pombo, representing the Tracy Downtown Improvement District. The wine stroll continues to be a popular annual Tracy event.
This year’s Downtown Tracy Wine Stroll, sponsored by the Tracy City Center Association, will be Saturday, Sept. 21.
Below, today’s mystery photo shows a Tracy couple, at right, receiving a trophy in front of a Tracy exhibit in August 1975. Who were they, and what was the trophy for?


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Whether Twitter’s Periscope is a Meerkat killer is irrelevant now. Live-streaming mobile apps are making waves, and we are just moving into high tide. These apps allow you to watch and comment on live-broadcastings and have everyone from celebrities to politicians diving in.
Let’s take a look at who may be using these apps and where marketers are seeing opportunities. Not long has passed since South by Southwest (when Meerkat was launched), but many see live streaming as a content experience too shiny to pass up on.
HBO and Red Bull are some of the first brands jumping in, as many of their younger followers are trend seekers, but publishers did not want to be left behind. Huffington Post and USA Today are a couple of the early birds. The main reason why big name brands may still be hesitant is the lack of ways to moderate comments and weed out spam. But pop stars like Katy Perry, the most-followed Twitter user, are not afraid and advise to “embrace the future or be left behind.” Meerkat co-founders Ben Rubin and Itai Danino explain why these apps have become so popular so quickly in an essay for Medium: “Live video over social graphs generate new emotions and feelings that are different from those on existing social networks. Feelings like drama, anticipation, uncertainty, unpredictability, presence and empowerment to change are new.”
Fans, especially millennials and younger, are naturally social and big sharers. Picture them on concert day and you’ll see just how much they want their friends and families to be a part of their experiences by instantly sharing them via every social platform imaginable. Thankfully for KatyCats, some artists don’t mind that their big performances are being broadcasted to outsiders via Periscope and Meerkat. When asked by Mashable about the app usage, Perry replied, “I think that when you see a phone, that is like the new applause.” Now, fans are sharing their concert experience from their perspective, seeing viewer comments instantly and even saving footage. Perry used Periscope at a screening in Los Angeles, promoting a live stream on Twitter during the red carpet using the #Perryscope hashtag. Teen idol and Dallas native, Nick Jonas, and Hilton hotels teamed up to stream his intimate set for the brand’s Hilton@PLAY campaign from the Hilton Anatole here in Dallas using Periscope. Start getting used to seeing brands and artists promoting live-streamed performances for mobile.
Don’t worry—retailers are also making the right moves. JCPenney recently used Periscope to host a Q&A with Eva Longoria during a new bedding collection launch. #EvaHomeJCP was the hashtag used and fans tuned in live. This is all in an effort to reach the modern Latina who Penney’s has identified as a key target, especially for sales in the home department. Aside from product launches and Q&As, many other retailers like Puma, Marc Jacobs and DKNY found that giving viewers a sneak peek of their closets could be a safe way to test the waters. “Doing anything ‘live’ always comes with its risks… but that also forces your brand to be a bit more scrappy – which I believe the customers appreciate – and makes for more authentic content,” shared Sean Ryan director of social and mobile marketing at JCPenney.
If cars are more your thing, did you see the four new cars unveiled on Meerkat and Periscope at New York’s auto show? Jaguar, Toyota, Mercedes and Nissan are all in the live-streaming race. For smart car USA, Meerkat made more sense since according to Eric Angeloro, smart’s brand management supervisor, “it was a disruptive pioneer for social live-streaming, just like we have been for smart cars.” Jaguar and Nissan sided with Twitter-owned Periscope, while Toyota toyed with both apps.
Straight from Meerkat: “We are all about reinventing shared experiences – as honest and direct as it gets.” Are you ready to ride the new waves?


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MCI Communications Corp. yesterday reported second-quarter profits of $4.06 million (5 cents a share), nearly triple the telecommunications company's profit level for the same quarter last year.
This was the second successive quarter that MCI's profit topped $4 million. Profits were $1.39 million (1 cent) for the same period last year. Revenues also shot up dramatically, to $52.7 million from $33.4 million.
Much of the revenue and profits jumps is attributable to MCI's launching of residential long-distance telephone service this year. In fact, the number of MCI residential customers was more than 100,000, passing the number of business customers (about 7,000) for the first time during the quarter.
But MCI's profits rose by only $34,000 from their first-quarter level because of the cost of advertising the newly introduced residential service.
In another report, Communications Satellite Corp. said yesterday that the startup costs of its Satellite Business Bureau Systems venture resulted in a slight drop in third-quarter profits.
Comsat reported profits of $9.55 million ($1.19 a share) compared with $10.13 million ($1.27) for the same quarter last year and revenues of $75.52 million compared with $69.47 million.
Nine-month profits were $28.57 million ($3.57) compared with $32.64 million ($4.08) a year earlier, and revenues rose to $217.76 million from $193.17 million.


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Nest presents cheaper smart thermostat
Nest, a sister company of Google, has a cheaper version of its smart thermostat presented.
The new Nest Thermostat E will cost 169 dollars, 80 dollars less than the current model, reports Nest Thursday.
A Dutch price is not yet known, although the cost of the current Litter in the Netherlands 249 euro, equal to the Us price of 249 dollars. In the US, the thermostat is from 1 september to order.
The new model is cheaper because the control ring around the screen is no longer of metal but of plastic. Also is the round color display exchanged for a simpler matte screen, less colors shows. If the screen is off is the gray, according to Nest, the thermostat, more on his environment.
The Thermostat E still can with an app to be controlled, both at home and from a distance. Also keep the thermostat just like its predecessors, the circumstances in the house in the holes and adjusts the temperature.
Nest was in 2014 Google acquired for 3.2 billion dollars. With a cheaper model would Nest better want to compete with the increasing number of ‘smart home’gadgets.
The Thermostat E is the second new product that Litter this year on the market after the smart camera Nest Cam IQ, which in may came out. Earlier this year, Bloomberg noted that Litter is also a smart security system and a doorbell with a built-in camera works.
Parent company, Alphabet, is also the parent company of Google, draws the last time the belt at several subsidiaries. Sold Alphabet are satelliettak, stopped Google with its drone powered by solar energy and would bezorgdrones due to budget cuts delayed.
In 2016, left the Nest-founder Tony Fadell, the company, after it in 2015 to the disappointing sales of only $ 340 million turned.


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Marvel Heroes, an online multiplayer action role-playing game that lets players control famous characters like Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Iron Man, was previously only available on PC and Mac, but that’s about to change with the launch of Marvel Heroes Omega on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Marvel Heroes Omega sees players working to take down Dr. Doom after he obtains the dangerous Cosmic Cube, and he has teamed up with villains like perennial thorn-in-the-side Loki to “reshape the world in his own image.” Over the course of the game’s nine chapters, players will be able to play with Black Widow, Captain America, Dr. Strange, Invisible Woman, and even Rocket Raccoon. As a free-to-play game, characters can be acquired early via real money, but they’re also available by earning “eternity splinters” through normal play. The game makes use of an isometric camera angle reminiscent of Marvel Ultimate Alliance, though its power-based combat is more similar to massively multiplayer online games.
“But finishing the main story is just the beginning!” said Gazillion community manager David Lee in a post on the PlayStation Blog. “Like many great online games, we think Marvel Heroes Omega is best played with others — and players can look forward to joining forces with fellow superheroes in the game’s many Headquarter areas to tackle the game’s most challenging end-game content.”
No release date has been provided yet, but Gazillion promises that more information will be provided regarding a closed beta in the near future. The original PC version received remarkably high review scores for a free-to-play game, with critics praising the number of characters, sheer amount of content, and the improvements made since it first launched.
Marvel Heroes Omega isn’t the only game that Marvel has in the works. The company recently partnered with Square Enix to create several games, including an Avengers title that could also feature an online component. Insomniac Games is also currently developing a Spider-man game for PlayStation 4.
- Insomniac’s ‘Spider-Man’ is out this September exclusively for PS4
- ‘Avengers: Infinity War’: Everything we know so far
- ‘Drawn to Death’ studio was prototyping an Iron Man game for PlayStation VR
- ‘Star Wars Battlefront II’ patch introduces explosive new game mode
- Hi-Rez president compares new ‘Overwatch’ hero to a ‘Paladins’ protagonist


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Samsung was not just going to sit down quietly when Apple got the court to order a ban on it’s Galaxy Phone. It has now filed a motion to seek a stay of order to prevent the Galaxy Nexus from getting banned in the U.S.
The motions has been filed with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and seeks to get a stay on the Apple’s injunction until the final verdict is not announced.
Apple had originally filed the motion back in February against Samsung charging it for having infringed several of Apple’s patents. The preliminary injunction order was granted by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh last week, according to which Apple had to post a bond for nearly $96 million order after which Samsung would be banned from selling it’s Galaxy Nexus device in the U.S.
Samsung’s argument is that Apple and Samsung are not competitors and hence the ruling which was based on the the argument that Apple would suffer irreparable losses if the Galaxy Nexus would go on sale, should be withdrawn.
“The Court’s finding that Apple will suffer irreparable harm was based on legally insufficient evidence that Samsung and Apple are competitors,”, said Samsung. “The Court’s order is inconsistent with the Federal Circuit’s directive that market share losses must be substantial.”
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the company’s flagship smartphone since it will be the first and initially, only phone that will be available with Android version 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. The Nexus device, which originally debuted last year with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, will be available from April onwards, upgraded with Jelly Bean, for a price of $349.
Earlier lat week, Apple had won another preliminary injunction against the sale Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the U.S. for which to take action, Apple posted a bond of $2.6 million.


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The number of electric cars sold in the world doesn’t stop increasing. Indeed, in 2017, this number has reached the 3 million and it won’t stop. It is still a niche market but it is starting playing a major role in this market !
Public aids, fall of the batteries production costs and cars makers offering more and more designs are all reasons why consumers go electric.
EV-Volume, a Sweden group that keeps up with the worldwide electric cars market, predict that the sells will reach approximatively 5 million the number of electric cars from now until the end of 2018.
Tesla Model X charging
China, the first worldwide cars market, with around 28,03 million brand new personal cars sold in 2016, has decreed that all car manufacturers whose production exceed 30 000 cars on its territory will have to produce a minimum quota of “green vehicle” starting from 2019.
The Japonese brand Toyota had made the process that they won’t ever launch thermal cars without its hybrid or total electric version.
Renault-Nissan, that became the first car maker with its Mitsubishi acquisition, is getting ready to launch 12 brand new electric cars from now to 2022. The Volkswagen group and its 8 brands have extended the number to 50 for 2025, while the other German giant, Daimler, owner of Mercedes and Smart, has announced the launch of 10 “zero emission” vehicles from now to 2022 under its new brand EQ.


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USPS Warns New Yorkers Against Sending Checks In the Mail
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is warning New Yorkers against sending checks in the mail due to an increase in mail theft and fraud.
The USPS has reported a rise in mail thefts across the United States with people targeting mailboxes and stealing envelopes that contain checks, credit card information, and other personal documents.
In a statement, the USPS urged people to use alternative payment methods, such as online bill pay or direct deposit to avoid the risk of mail theft and fraud. The USPS also recommended that customers use blue USPS collection boxes or drop off their mail directly at their local post office rather than the mailbox at their residence to reduce the risk of theft.
This warning comes as many New Yorkers continue to use traditional mail services to pay their bills and conduct other financial transactions even though there are many digital payment options available.
The USPS says that the risk of mail theft and fraud is very real and that all customers should take extra measures to protect their personal information and financial assets. In addition to dropping off mail directly at the post office or in a blue mailbox, the USPS urges customers to monitor their bank accounts and credit reports for signs of fraud and or suspicious activities.
All mail theft or fraud should be reported to local law enforcement as well as the Postal Inspection Service.


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A new BMW has ben pictures and it seems like there are a lot around at the moment. This one is the BMW X4 which was seen as a concept car around twelve months ago. There is disguise at the back of the prototype so they still have something to hide despite the fact that it must be near to launch now.
The production version does look very much like the concept car. The headlights are the same shape, but fog lights have been added. The rear roofline is similar as well but the back is covered and dirty and so cannot be seen. It seems like it will be very similar to the concept based on this and previous spy pictures that have been taken. It also looks rather like the 3 series Gran Turismo with regards to the size and form of it.
It may not be long until an undisguised version of the car might be seen. There are rumours that the car will be debuting at the New York Auto Show which is on the 16th April and it could be revealed a month before that on the 14th March.


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The Government of Ethiopia and Alibaba Group Sign Agreements to Establish eWTP Ethiopia Hub
Today H. E. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, and Alibaba Group Director and Ant Financial Services Group Chairman and CEO Eric Jing witnessed the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the Ethiopian Government and Alibaba establishing an eWTP Hub in Ethiopia. The eWTP (electronic world trade platform) Hub is intended to enable cross-border trade, provide smart logistics and fulfillment services, assist Ethiopian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reach China and other markets, and provide talent training.
Ethiopia aims to build a dynamic and growing digital economy that contributes significantly to overall economic growth in the country. eWTP is an Alibaba-led multi-stakeholder global initiative promoting public-private dialogue in order to support more inclusive global trade which uses technology and policy innovation to provide greater opportunities for SMEs, women and youth. Ethiopia is the second country in Africa to establish an eWTP hub, and this new partnership builds upon the success of other eWTP partnerships in Asia (China and Malaysia), Europe (Belgium) and Africa (Rwanda) over the past two years. As the number of eWTP Hubs increases, it is hoped that trade will increase between the Hubs, providing new opportunities for their merchants in the global economy.
H. E. Minister for Innovation and Technology Getahun Mekuria said: “Today’s signing of the Ethiopia eWTP Hub is an important step in the development of a digital economy in Ethiopia. This engagement will greatly contribute to trade facilitation and open markets to SMEs not only in Ethiopia but in the wider region. We look forward to continue working with Alibaba Group and CCCI to realize the objectives of the platform which has the potential to transform the lives of many.”
“It is an honor to partner with the government of Ethiopia to establish the eWTP Ethiopia Hub,” said Eric Jing, Alibaba Group Director and Ant Financial Services Group Chairman and CEO. “We will continue to support the creation of a more inclusive, digitally-enabled global economy, where small businesses can participate in global trade. We look forward to working together with entrepreneurs and SMEs from Ethiopia and other African nations to seize the opportunities provided by the digital era.”
The first major initiative for the eWTP partnership in Ethiopia will be the development of a multifunction digital trade hub to serve as a gateway for Ethiopian products to China, a center for cross-border e-commerce and trade within Africa, and a training center. China Commodities City International (CCCI) will partner with Alibaba in the development of the eWTP Hub. The Alibaba Business School will implement the capacity building and training portion of the partnership which consists of a number of programs, including specialized programs for Ethiopian entrepreneurs, business leaders and university lecturers.
The vision of eWTP is to develop new partnerships, technology and policies to enable more inclusive global trade. The eWTP initiative was accepted as a major policy recommendation of the Business 20 (B20) and officially included in the 2016 G20 Summit Leaders’ Communique.
About Alibaba Group
Alibaba Group’s mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company aims to build the future infrastructure of commerce. It envisions that its customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that it will be a company that lasts at least 102 years.
About the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ethiopia
The Ministry of Innovation, led by H. E. Minister Getahun Mekuria, aims to foster innovation and a technology enabled ecosystem that will lead Ethiopia to prosperity.
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Conquest Invests in 5 Greenfield Onshore Wind Parks Totalizing 43MW in the Flanders Region24.1.2020 15:37:00 EET | Press release
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Fluence Expands EMEA Footprint with Horticulture Partners in Papenburg, Germany24.1.2020 14:00:00 EET | Press release
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In 1886 there were only 38 states in the United States.
Electric power was still cutting edge technology that few people had ever seen.
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The Statue of Liberty hadn’t even been dedicated yet.
In December, a strong performance helped Carlson Capital's Double Black Diamond fund achieve a double-digit return in 2021. Q4 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more Double-Digit Return According to a copy of the latest investor update, which ValueWalk has been able to review, Clint Carlson's Double Black Diamond fund returned 2.9% in December and Read More
But it was that year that a man named Richard Sears founded a small retail company in Minneapolis, Minnesota that would grow into a retail juggernaut.
Sears was truly the Amazon of its day.
Even in the late 1800s the company was able to deliver just about any product you wanted right to your doorstep.
This was no small feat considering the first delivery truck wouldn’t be invented until 1895. There was no transportation infrastructure. And two-thirds of the population lived in remote rural areas.
Yet despite those challenges, Sears was still able to put any product you wanted in your hands.
Over time as consumer trends changed, the company started opening physical retail stores.
And once the concept of the ‘shopping mall’ became popular, Sears department stores became a mainstay at malls across America.
To give you an idea of the size and dominance of Sears back at its peak– the company owned stock broker Dean Witter Reynolds (now part of Morgan Stanley), Coldwell Banker (real estate brokerage), Allstate Insurance (currently a $33 billion company) and it started the Discover card (a $22 billion company).
Sears seemed unstoppable… a company so large and powerful that it would rule retail forever.
Then Wal-Mart entered the scene.
And after years of focusing on efficient logistics and cost savings, Wal Mart eventually outmaneuvered Sears to become the world’s largest retailer.
By 2001, Wal-Mart’s revenues were about five times that of Sears.
Then Amazon was founded… and consumers began changing their tastes to shop online.
Sears totally missed the trend. And today the company is a tiny shell of its former self.
Over the past three years alone, Sears has lost more than $5 billion. And its stock price is down nearly 75% since 2014.
Plus the company has had to lay off more than half of its peak workforce, around 200,000 employees.
To add insult to injury, the company spent about $6 billion over the past decade buying back its shares at prices as high as $174 a share.
Shares now trade below $9. That’s a 95% loss to shareholders.
Sears recently announced it will close an additional 43 stores (on top of the 265 closures it already announced this fiscal year).
This will leave the company with 1,140 stores – just above half its 2012 size.
This is a death spiral. And it could mean the sudden loss of 140,000 American jobs.
And that’s just Sears. We could see several, large retailers shutter causing hundreds of thousands of lost jobs.
Retailers have announced more than 3,200 store closures this year. And investment bank Credit Suisse expects that number will increase to more than 8,600 before the end of the year.
For the sake of context, the WORST year on record for retail store closures was in 2008 when the global financial crisis kicked off.
But even in 2008, only 6,163 retailers closed.
Bear in mind that about one in 10 Americans works in retail.
And given the rise of e-commerce, most of those retail jobs are going away. Quickly.
E-commerce currently accounts for 9% of the approximately $22 trillion in annual retail sales, up from 0.6% in 1999.
And that number is only growing.
Most retail stores operate very LOW margin businesses. They rely on having LOTS of customers in order to stay profitable.
If even a small percentage of their prospective customers stay home and shop online, they’re finished– from Sears all the way down to the small mom and pop stores.
We could see hundreds of thousands of retail workers lose their jobs as companies like Sears fail.
Sure, e-commerce will pick up some of the jobs.
Large e-commerce companies like Amazon have had to quickly build infrastructure and warehouses to serve customers around the country. That requires lots of hiring.
But it’s temporary work.
Think of it this way: it took a lot of men to lay railroad tracks across the US. It takes far fewer workers to maintain the rail system.
And as shipments increase, you simply run more cars across those tracks.
Plus, e-commerce warehouses are becoming more automated and efficient, requiring less human labor than ever before.
This sort of creative destruction and disruption isn’t anything to be afraid of; there aren’t exactly too many blacksmiths and buggy repairmen anymore either.
Progress occasionally requires the decimation of entire industries, and that’s what’s happening now.
In the long-run it’s better for everyone. But shorter-term, there’s going to be a lot of pain.
Some of the largest and most vulnerable retailers include Sears, Macy’s and JC Penney, and in total those companies employ close to 400,000 people.
All three of these companies could – and probably will – go bankrupt. But it would only take one of these stores going under (a near certainty) to roil the US economy.
You may remember during the US Presidential campaign that candidates Trump and Clinton made a big deal about the declining number of coal jobs in the US.
To put things in perspective, the US coal industry employs just over 76,000 workers.
Sears alone employs almost double that amount.
And the pace of job losses across the entire retail sector is gaining steam.
The US economy has been in ‘recovery’ now for more than eight years, i.e. it’s been nearly 100 months since the end of the last recession.
Yet the average time between recessions in modern US history is 57 months, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.
In other words, the economy is overdue for a recession.
And the rapid loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs could certainly end up triggering it.


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The IU School of Public Health-Bloomington strives to help people stay safe and make informed decisions by sharing critical public health information. Tourism professor Dr. Evan Jordan is doing just that with The Trip Doctor, a full-featured website dedicated to sharing expert travel advice, including the latest information about the safety of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Jordan’s travel website, which features podcasts, videos, and other resources, has taken on new interest and importance during the COVID-19 pandemic as more people are looking for guidance on the safety of travel.
In addition to providing interviews about travel safety for print, online, and radio outlets around the U.S., Dr. Jordan has now been conducting television interviews and recently appeared on the ABC affiliate in Syracuse, New York, with other television interviews in the works.
The Trip Doctor site includes a traveler personality quiz, trip planning advice, discussions on the impact of traveling, and the latest travel research, including important travel safety information.
The full interview with ABC affiliate WSYR in Syracuse can be viewed here:


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Snapchat has been letting you try out new lipstick shades, hats, and outfits from major retailers for years now. But starting today, you can apply these Snapchat-powered capabilities in other apps.
Snap just announced a new business unit, AR Enterprise Services (ARES), that will equip retailers with tools so you can try on clothes, jewelry, and more from a variety of brands — all from the comfort of your home.
The new ARES company aims to help retailers increase conversions and reduce returns with augmented reality shopping tools. To this end, ARES will provide professional services to its customers, from product marketing to customer support. That’s in addition to the tools included in the first solution – the “Shopping Suite” – which is aimed at retailers in industries such as fashion, apparel, accessories and home furnishings.
The Shopping Suite includes virtual fitting functions that allow customers to try on products such as clothing, sunglasses and shoes. They can upload a photo of themselves to see what they look like or interact with AR experiences to see what the product would look like on their body in real time.
There are also a few other tools, such as one that provides shoppers with fit and size recommendations based on their body size and shape. Meanwhile, the 3D Viewer tool allows customers to explore different angles and details of products.
The Shopping Suite also includes the Enterprise Manager Backend system. Snap says it should be easier for businesses to use Snap’s software development kits so they can build AR experiences and even see real-time performance analytics.
More than 300 customers have used various Shopping Suite features to date, including retailers such as Goodr, Princess Polly and Gobi Cashmere, according to Snap.
The move comes a few months after Snap suggested monetizing AR features was critical to its success. In December, the company announced it was partnering with creators to help them monetize in-app lenses. For example, these lenses contain digital in-game items that users can purchase with Snap Tokens.
“At the end of the day when platforms succeed and fail, what matters is whether the developers and those building on the platform can make money,” Sophia Dominguez, Snap’s director of AR platform partnerships, explained at the time.


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FIFA President Infantino was in Abu Dhabi for the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference chaired by WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at transforming lives and livelihoods in West Africa, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has underscored the significance of FIFA's alliance with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Pulse Sports Nigeria reports that the partnership, aimed at utilizing football as a catalyst for economic inclusion, was championed by Infantino during his address at a special event held in Abu Dhabi, convened around the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference and chaired by the former Nigerian minister of finance and WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
FIFA meets Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
At the heart of this initiative lies the Cotton-4 plus (C4+) program, designed to harness the power of football to drive economic growth and empowerment in developing nations.
Infantino emphasized the transformative potential of football beyond the pitch, stressing the need to create tangible impacts on the lives of people, according to a report by FIFA media.
Through the C4+ initiative, FIFA aims to spotlight the economic significance of cotton production in West Africa, particularly in countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali.
Speaking passionately about the initiative, Infantino highlighted the immense economic value of football, which currently generates nearly USD 270 billion globally, with a substantial portion concentrated in Europe.
By expanding the football economy beyond Europe, Infantino believes that the potential for economic growth and poverty alleviation is immense, with Africa poised to play a pivotal role in this transformation.
Echoing Infantino's sentiments, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasised the untapped economic potential of the sports apparel market in Africa, stressing the need to create value-added products on the continent.
The partnership between FIFA and WTO seeks to leverage football's global appeal to promote sustainable development and economic empowerment, with a specific focus on the C4+ cotton-producing countries in Africa.
As part of its commitment to this cause, FIFA has pledged to incorporate C4+ cotton products into its programs, thereby driving investment and development in African value chains.
Infantino reiterated FIFA's dedication to supporting countries worldwide, particularly those with limited resources, through initiatives such as Football for Schools, which aims to utilize sportswear produced in C4+ countries.
In essence, FIFA's partnership with WTO represents a significant step towards harnessing the power of football to drive economic empowerment and sustainable development in West Africa and beyond. As Infantino aptly puts it, "Football is not just a game—it's a vehicle for change, progress, and empowerment."
The event also featured contributions from key stakeholders, including government ministers from the UAE, Chad, Benin, and Mali, underlining the collaborative effort to promote sustainable development through trade and football.
20:00 - 19.02.2024
FIFA and CAF have reportedly settled on dates for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations set to be held in Morocco, ending a standoff that threatened to delay the tournament.
22:25 - 17.02.2024
See what Awoniyi means about Grace after his strike for Nottingham Forest against West Ham.
13:47 - 23.02.2024
In a significant boost for Nigerian football, Arsenal's young shot-stopper Arthur Okonkwo has been given the green light by FIFA to switch his international allegiance from England to Nigeria.
12:19 - 16.02.2024
FKF clashes with Sports Registrar over election interference as legality of Nick Mwendwa's re-election bid and term limits are debated.
17:33 - 15.02.2024
Hiyo imetokana na ushiriki wao katika michuano ya AFCON 2023 ambapo ilivuna alama 2 katika mechi tatu za hatua ya makundi
14:30 - 15.02.2024
Kenya have dropped in the latest FIFA ranking thanks to Harambee Stars’ failure to participate at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
11:00 - 15.02.2024
Nigeria has moved 14 places in the latest FIFA Ranking, sitting well ahead of AFCON champions Cote d'Ivoire, and Erling Haaland's Norway.
07:46 - 11.02.2024
Confederation of Africa Football is in dilemma on when the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be held given a number of competing competitions on the proposed dates.
19:36 - 09.02.2024
Nigeria's U17 women's team Flamingos were just too good and powerful for the Central African Republic in the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup qualifier.


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As the internet has become more and more a part of our life, in China, so too have our furry friends.
According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, China has become the world’s third largest pet market. The country’s pet owners spent RMB 130 billion on animals last year, up 21.4% year on year (in Chinese).
Riding the internet wave, pet firms are flexing their muscle in eight sub-segments, including pet-related e-commerce, social networking, foster care, veterinary medicine, pet travel, and pet trading. In the pet e-commerce arena, Boqii (波奇) and E-pet (E宠) remain the top two players, while Mr.Bear (宠宠熊) has been striving to catch up.
The increase in the aging population coupled with continued economic development contributed to the rise of the pet market. China’s pet population reached 85.50 million in 2016, raised by over 30 million households, or only 7% of the country’s total. This signals that the Chinese pet industry still has huge growth potential. It is estimated that China’s pet market may top RMB 200 billion in 2020 (in Chinese). Upbeat about the growth potential, investors has been flocking to the sector (in Chinese).


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Diddy Is Now Officially a Billionaire, According to a New Report After dressing as Heath Ledger's Joker for Halloween, Diddy is laughing all the way to the bank.
Diddy is now a billionaire, according to a new report.
The Bad Boy Entertainment founder and CEO snagged the No. 2 spot among the wealthiest hip-hop artists in North America.
The placement was formerly held by Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, but his net worth plummeted following his recent behavior and anti-Semitic comments that lead to the termination of several of his brand partnerships, including Adidas.
Jay-Z tops the list with an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion.
The change in rank follows Diddy and Ye's Instagram confrontation over Ye's "White Lives Matter" T-shirts.
Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, spent the weekend partying with celebrities while dressed as Heath Ledger's Joker for his Halloween party.
Give Diddy his Oscar already for this! https://t.co/3MyPTwY6lD— Anelisa Ndungane (@EyFresh) October 31, 2022
Kim Kardashian applauded the costume.
What Is Diddy's Net Worth?
After decades in the music industry and later pivoting to entrepreneurship, Diddy has acquired an impressive fortune.
The artist has an estimated net worth of $1 billion.
According to ZogBlog by longtime business journalist Zack O'Malley Greenburg, Combs owes the bulk of his fortune to his vodka brand Ciroc, which Jay-Z also has a stake in. The brand's partnership with beverage maker Diageo generates $60 million annually for the entrepreneur.
Diddy also owns half of DeLeón tequila and is a majority shareholder of his Revolt television network, apart from continuing to earn royalties from his music catalog.
His music royalties include his six albums and 72 singles.
How Did Diddy Get His Start?
Diddy founded Bad Boy Entertainment in 1993.
There, he produced several top artists of the '90s and 2000s including Biggie Smalls and Mary J Blige. In 1994, Diddy negotiated a $15 million deal to be acquired by Artista Records, according to Britannica.
He also released six albums and won two Grammys in 1997 for his No Way Out debut, which sold over seven million copies in the U.S.
In 1998, he founded his Sean John clothing line, which he sold to Global Brands Group in 2016. However, he bought the brand back in 2021 for $7.5 million.


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CFTC chair says the regulator is falling behind in blockchain research
The head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Wednesday that he felt the regulator was four years behind in its knowledge of blockchain technology because of the research restrictions placed upon it.
CFTC chairman Christopher Giancarlo said that agency lacked the legal authority to partner and collaborate with outside entities engaging directly with financial technology (fintech) and innovation.
Restrictions on collaboration
Giancarlo said the CFTC was effectively barred from taking part in trials and research of blockchain and other fintech innovations because free exchange of information between the agency and outside businesses or research facilities could be legally considered a gift – which the regulator is forbidden from accepting.
“The Commission would like the ability to partner, collaborate, or engage in a co-operative agreement regarding emerging financial and compliance technologies,” Giancarlo told representatives of the House Committee on Agriculture.
While it may be barred from collaboration, the CFTC launched its own research facility in May 2017, called LabCFTC, to “promote responsible fintech innovation and fair competition for the benefit of the American public”.
When asked by Congressman Austin Scott about the unit’s goals, Giancarlo said: “LabCFTC is our front door into these new regulatory fintech developments in the marketplace, and it’s so important to us to be able to understand these innovations that are coming down the pike so fast.”
Four years behind
He emphasised, however, that collaboration remained important if the CFTC was to stay ahead of the curve on blockchain and cryptocurrencies – a regulatory grey area in US that falls somewhere in between the oversight of the CFTC and the Securities Exchange Commission.
“We’re falling behind,” the CFTC chairman said, citing the example of research carried out by the Bank of England that has led to the upcoming launch of a blockchain-compliant, bank-to-bank payment system.
He added: “They’ve had the last four years to participate in all these blockchain beta tests that we’ve not been able to participate in. So I feel like we’re four years behind.”


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Digital TV News: Toshiba
Global semiconductor revenue hits record $120.8 billion in Q2
Aug 22, 2018 – Global semiconductor industry revenue grew 4.4 percent, quarter over quarter, in the second quarter of 2018, reaching a record $120.8 billion. Semiconductor growth occurred in all application markets and world regions, according to IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO).
News categories: IHS Markit, Ron Ellwanger, Market Research, Semiconductor, Worldwide
Global connected TV device installed base passes one billion unit mark
Aug 13, 2018 – According to Strategy Analytics, more than one billion Connected TV devices are now in use worldwide. Smart TVs have been consistently gaining share in the market and now stand at nearly 60% of the total installed base of devices.
News categories: Strategy Analytics, David Watkins, David Mercer, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Games Console, Market Research, OTT, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Worldwide
Global semiconductor revenues at $115.8 billion in Q1 2018
Jun 26, 2018 – Global semiconductor industry revenue declined 3.4% in the first quarter of 2018 falling to $115.8 billion. Industry performance was negatively affected by the declining sales and first-quarter seasonality in the wireless communications market, according to IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO).
News categories: IHS Markit, Market Research, Semiconductor, Worldwide
UK's Freeview Play platform to receive £125 million investment
Jun 11, 2018 – The UK’s top broadcast companies have signed an agreement to accelerate Freeview’s transition to a fully hybrid platform. The collaboration will see an investment of £125 million to build on the success of Freeview Play, the UK market leader in free-to-view connected TV.
News categories: Digital UK, Jonathan Thompson, Digital TV, Middleware, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Terrestrial, UK
Samsung took over no. 1 slot in semiconductor revenue in 2017
Apr 23, 2018 – Driven by strong growth in the memory market, worldwide semiconductor revenue totaled $420.4 billion in 2017, a 21.6 percent increase from 2016 revenue of $345.9 billion, according to final results from Gartner.
News categories: Gartner, George Brocklehurst, Market Research, Semiconductor, Worldwide
Amazon to sell Fire TV Edition Smart TVs through Best Buy
Apr 18, 2018 – Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) have announced a collaboration to bring the next generation of Fire TV Edition smart TVs to customers in the United States and Canada.
News categories: Amazon, Best Buy, Jeff Bezos, Hubert Joly, Digital TV, OTT, Smart Home, Smart TV, USA
Vestel and Vewd add newest HbbTV standard to smart TV partnership
Mar 13, 2018 – Vewd and Vestel have announced a contract renewal that will see even more Vewd products delivered across the full range of Vestel TVs. The agreement will result in one of the largest deployments of smart TVs with the newest HbbTV standard.
News categories: Vewd, Vestel, Aneesh Rajaram, Hakan Kutlu, Digital TV, Europe, HbbTV, OTT, Smart TV
Market for 4K UHD technologies exploding
Feb 19, 2018 – The huge growth forecast for 4K UHD global markets stems from the technology’s growing adoption, rising disposable incomes, technological advancements, expanding 4K content and increasing TV unit sales.
News categories: BCC Research, Anand Bhandari, Digital TV, Market Research, Smart TV, Worldwide
Record number of OLED TVs shipped before the holidays
Jan 5, 2018 – According to IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO), with consumer television prices falling, global shipments of OLED TVs grew 133% year-on-year, reaching a new monthly record of 270,000 units during the lead-up to the holiday shopping season.
News categories: IHS Markit, Ken Park, CES, Digital TV, Market Research, Smart TV, Worldwide
- Synamedia and Triveni Digital partner for ATSC 3.0 video delivery
- Rohde & Schwarz supports 5G Broadcast trial in Brazil
- EU imposes interim measures on Broadcom in TV chipset market
- Globecast provides media operations for Orby TV
- Switch Media unveils fast-to-market OTT platform
- Allegro DVT acquires Amphion Semiconductor
- Australian SVOD poised to break billion-dollar AU$ barrier
- HEVC Advance adds JVCKenwood, NEC, Intellectual Discovery, and Korean Patent Investment as licensors
- TV Time acquires Mediamorph
- Apple TV App and Apple TV+ coming to the Roku platform
- Amobee launches fraud-free guarantee for Connected TV inventory
- GTPL Hathway digital pay TV subscribers up 150,000 in 3Q 2019
- ARK Multicasting and Microsoft partner for rural broadband and cloud services
- Phoenix Model Market adding 2nd NEXTGEN TV transmission site and SFN
- Orange France Livebox 5 powered by SoftAtHome
- Viewers in Australia feel overwhelmed in streaming battleground
- IPTV subscriptions and ARPU to drive pay TV growth in Japan
- Quality of UI more important than recommendations in video service satisfaction
- Alticast and Triveni Digital to demo ATSC 3.0 app synced to a TV show at NAB NYC
- New Zealand Rugby to become 5% shareholder in Sky NZ


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Google may have been the top web brand in 2011, but things could wind up different if Facebook continues to steamroll the Internet. The two websites are embroiled in an ongoing war for web dominance, with Facebook posing serious problems for the search giant due to the social network walling off its content from Google’s search engine.
Analysts at Baird noted that, from a business standpoint, when Facebook walls off its site, it blocks a large and expanding web portion – something Google greatly depends on when indexing the web. “Google’s index has been faced with an ever-increasing blind spot for search.”
Despite the blip, Google still remains the top visited site in the U.S. The Mountain View-based company amassed a whopping 153.4 million views a month through October of last year, while Facebook garnered 137.6 million, according to Nielsen.
But with traffic continuing to flow through the Facebook channel, the social media giant is beginning to pull out ahead of Google in one key area: average time a user spends on the site. Facebook users spend 24 minutes and 45 seconds on the site, while Google’s visitors hang around for only 11 minutes and 52 seconds.
In addition, Facebook has more than 750 million users worldwide, with over half logging on daily. This equates to 700 billion minutes of usage per month. With so much usage, Baird sees a potential opportunity for Facebook to develop more in depth search capabilities, further threatening Google’s web dominance.
“Theoretically [Facebook could] enter the market by first creating a vertical search engine focused on social, and then broadening the scope to encompass more generic search capabilities,” Baird said.
Facebook has continued to grow through the web and mobile channels in the past few years. Can it continue to do so in 2012 and dethrone Google as the top web destination?


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WFEN Welcomes Wild Kaapi™ as First Certified Coffee Company in the World
Wild Kaapi™ empowers coffee drinkers to do good with every cup of Certified Wildlife Friendly™ coffee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WESTERN GHATS, INDIA: JUNE 1 2017—The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN), a global community dedicated to the development of products and tourism that contribute to the conservation of threatened wildlife and to the economic vitality of rural landscapes, is pleased to announce the awarding of Wildlife Friendly™ Certification to Wild Kaapi™ coffee company.
Wild Kaapi™ emerged out of a scientific effort to measure on-farm biodiversity, market dynamics and the management actions of more than 1100 farmers in India’s Western Ghats. The Western Ghats of India are a global biodiversity hotspot home to the largest population of wild tigers, elephants and endemic amphibians and birds not found anywhere on the planet. The coffee landscapes of Karnataka present ideal conditions for promoting wildlife-friendly practices in coffee production.
Wild Kaapi’s coffee is sourced from coffee farms that are now certified Wildlife Friendly™ through rigorous scientific audits for birds, butterflies, mammals, amphibians and trees. The vision for the company is to build sustainable livelihoods and create a network of coffee growers who foster thriving populations of wildlife on their lands while delivering the highest quality of freshly roasted coffee to consumers.
Avinash Sosale co-founder of Wild Kaapi™ explains “Our company has established new standards for supporting wildlife on coffee farms in the Ghats through a certification program which incorporates local expertise and knowledge optimizing the ecological, social and economic value of coffee production landscapes. We believe innovation and partnerships based on rigorous science will forge new paths for conservation.”
At launch Wild Kaapi™offers single origin coffees from Wildlife Friendly™ farms in the Chikmagalur District in Karnataka, the birthplace of coffee in India. The freshly roasted coffee is sold online at www.wildkaapi.com and can be custom ground to the coffee connoisseur brewing preferences be it an Aeropress, Chemex or Moka Pot.
“Agricultural lands are increasingly important as critical refuges and corridors for wildlife globally who are facing multiple threats from climate change to habitat conversion” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and co-founder of WFEN. “We are thrilled to welcome Wild Kaapi™ as the first Wildlife Friendly™ coffee company in the world. Wild Kaapi™ sets a high standard for ensuring biodiversity on coffee farms in India’s Western Ghats truly ensuring that we as consumers are empowered to support wildlife conservation and sustainable agricultural with every cup of coffee – a true triple bottom line win.”
About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network
WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, a Time Hero for the Planet, and a National Geographic Big Cats Initiative grantee. Certified Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Tiger, Elephant, Cheetah, Red Panda, and Wolf; and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org
Wild Kaapi, Avinash Sosale: email@example.com
Wildlife Friendly, Julie Stein: firstname.lastname@example.org
For Immediate Release
FIRST FARM IN U.S. GAINS DUAL TOP ANIMAL WELFARE & WILDLIFE FRIENDLY CERTIFICATIONS
Living Earth Farm in Eugene, Ore. Uses
Sustainable Agriculture Practices to Coexist with Wildlife
EUGENE, ORE. (August 5, 2013) – Sharon Blick of Living Earth Farm is the first farmer in the U.S. to achieve dual certification from both Animal Welfare Approved and Certified Wildlife Friendly™ for her flock of laying hens, meat birds, and herd of dairy goats.
The Certified Wildlife Friendly™ program is designed to assess and reward farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and Canada who coexist with native predator and wildlife species. Blick participated in a third-party audit, carried out by an Animal Welfare Approved auditor, to demonstrate compliance with the specific standards. As a result, Living Earth Farm products can now be marketed using the Certified Wildlife Friendly™ logo.
As well as gaining Certified Wildlife Friendly™ accreditation, Blick also achieved Animal Welfare Approved certification, an accolade only granted to family farmers with the keenest attention to animal welfare and environmental management on their farms. Called a “badge of honor for farmers” and the “gold standard,” this certification and food label lets consumers know that the animals were raised in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S., using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent family farm. Read more »


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$1.8 million is spent each year to maintain GM's fleet of 600 production and concept cars.
Due to a lack of funding, Chrysler closed the doors to its Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, MI back in December, but it sounds like the facility will be open next month for one last hurrah. According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, the Chrysler Museum will be open to the public one last time on June 8 for the annual Chrysler Employee Motorsport Association car show.
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- Ride along with us in the new AutoblogVR app!


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Loblaw Companies Ltd. expects sales will benefit from the ongoing pandemic and higher industry-wide inflation in the first half of 2022, but cautions its grocery and drugstore revenue growth could taper towards the end of the year.
The parent company of Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart said Thursday its revenue gains could be dampened as restrictions ease and its earnings are compared against higher prices last year and its COVID-19 vaccination program.
“As economies reopen and the company starts to lap elevated 2021 inflationary prices and COVID-related pharmacy services, year-on-year revenue growth will be more challenged,” Loblaw said in an outlook as it reported its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings.
“However, the company cannot predict the precise impacts of COVID-19 and the current industry volatility on its 2022 financial results.”
Rising inflation, especially on food prices, is expected to be a critical issue in the coming months across Canada’s food industry.
Galen G. Weston, Loblaw chairman and president, said in a statement the company is “effectively managing through a challenging environment of supply chain constraints and higher costs.”
Yet efforts to rein in cost increases appear to have strained Loblaw’s relationship with at least one supplier.
Frito-Lay Canada, one of Canada’s biggest food manufacturers, has halted shipments to Loblaw stores after the grocer refused to accept a price hike. The situation has left the chip and snack food aisle of many Loblaw stores less full than usual or stocked with the retailer’s house brands, President’s Choice and No Name.
Meanwhile, Loblaw said its fourth-quarter earnings benefited from strong demand as consumers continued to eat-at-home, particularly over the holiday period.
Its discount stores, which include No Frills and Maxi, benefited from the return of “price-sensitive customers”, while its conventional supermarkets like Zehrs and Provigo benefited from promotions, Loblaw said.
Loblaw vs. Frito-Lay: Food fight erupts between companies over pricing
The company said its fourth-quarter profit more than doubled compared with a year ago, boosted by a one-time gain related to a Supreme Court decision on a tax case.
The grocery and drugstore giant said its net earnings available to common shareholders totalled $744 million or $2.20 per diluted share for the 12-week period ended Jan. 1. The result compared with a profit of $345 million or 98 cents per diluted share for the 13-week period ended Jan. 2, 2021.
Revenue totalled nearly $12.8 billion, down from nearly $13.3 billion a year earlier when the quarter included an extra week.
The most recent quarter included a recovery of $301 million related to the Supreme Court’s decision on the Glenhuron Bank Ltd. tax case involving Loblaw Financial Holdings.
On an adjusted basis, Loblaw said it earned $1.52 per diluted share for the quarter, up from an adjusted profit of $1.22 per diluted share a year earlier.
© 2022 The Canadian Press


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We’ve all been guilty of it–answering “Yes, of course” when asked if your household recycles when in reality, the recycling bin in the garage hasn’t been emptied in months because it isn’t even close to being full. Earth day, April 22, is a day when shoppers are reminded that everything we do impacts the environment and that we should all try to be a little better. So why is it that the average American household recycles just 34% of its waste every year? Well, first, it has to be clear. A third of consumers are unclear on what is actually recyclable and another 20% admit to placing an item in a recycling bin without knowing for sure it’s recyclable. Next, it has to be easy. 62% of Americans say that if a product is not easy or convenient to recycle, they probably won’t recycle it. Behaviorally, this is not shocking. The more hurdles that exist for consumers to do anything, consumers are less and less likely to actually do it.
So how can brands and retailers help consumers kick their non-recycling habits?
Brands can clearly mark recycling codes on packaging so shoppers know definitively what they should do with the product. 68% of consumers say that manufacturers or retailers should pay for recycling programs. Clearly communicating programs and making them accessible goes a long way with shoppers. Best Buy and Target have both rolled out in-store recycling bins to help shoppers get rid of things they don’t know what to with–like all those plastic grocery bags. In fact, 50% of shoppers say they feel better about shopping at retailers with sustainability initiatives. It’s a win-win when brands, retailers, and shoppers work together.
Image Credit: Photographer Caio Resende,Stocksnap.io


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AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) reported fourth quarter 2022 earnings results today.
Net sales increased 8.9% year-over-year to $5.3 billion. Domestic same-store sales rose 6.2%.
Net income increased 3.1% to $810 million, while EPS rose 13.4% to $40.51 compared to the year-ago quarter.
Cash and cash equivalents at quarter-end amounted to $264.3 million.
Looking for more insights on the earnings results? Click here to access the full transcripts of the latest earnings conference calls!
The semiconductor industry is a rapidly growing business segment that currently thrives on the digital transformation wave. The demand for memory chips and other semiconductor products increased over the years,
Shares of Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) were up on Friday, a day after the company delivered disappointing results for the second quarter of 2022. The company reported a
Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NKE) has reported a decrease in net profit for the first quarter of 2023, despite a modest increase in revenues. The company's stock suffered a big loss


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The kiosk is beside the cafe. Picture courtesy of RTE News
A group of Ukrainian teenagers have landed summer jobs — running an ice cream kiosk by the sea — thanks to the help of a local Kildare business.
The teens, aged between 14 and 17, are selling ice cream from a small cabin next to the Rise at the Cove cafe, overlooking the South Beach in Greystones, Wicklow.
The enterprise is being supported by Tiglin, the charity which is accommodating 97 Ukrainian refugees in the Coolnagreina centre in Greystones, RTE News reported.
Andrew and Barbara Cross, who operate the Centra foodstore at Hazelmere, Naas, provided the ice cream making machine and are supplying it with ice cream on an ongoing basis.
“The young people came to me looking for a job for the summer,” Tiglin's chairman and Naas man Aubrey McCarthy explained.
“They are very active and they wanted to keep busy. So they asked me to put up a post on a local forum, asking if anybody had any summer jobs — whether it was walking dogs, washing cars, or whatever.
“Unfortunately, not many people came back, so I didn't have a solution. That's when they came up with the idea of running a retail unit, beside the cafe, selling ice cream. It allows the young people to keep busy, focused and earning a few quid. But it also gives them a purpose and a chance to be involved in the community. The guys engage with the customers. They get to chat. It is social integration at its very best,” said Aubrey, who runs AMC Removals and Storage Ltd at Naas Industrial Estate.
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BENTONVILLE, Ark. Sam's Club and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced at America's Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. details of joint member benefits program that will broaden both organizations ability to be advocates for small business, lower their costs and help them succeed.
"The face of small business is evolving as is the role of large corporations and government to bring about health care reform, tax, energy and other policy solutions," said Brian Cornell, Sam's Club president and CEO in his remarks during the U.S. Chamber Blue Ribbon Small Business Awards Luncheon honoring the nation's top small business owners. "We understand the challenges small business owners face in today's environment. We want to remove the barriers to their success by investing in and working with organizations like the U.S. Chamber, which have a proven track record of demonstrating thought leadership as well as change."
As part of the two year agreement, Sam's Club will help to sponsor more than a dozen small business events with local chamber offices to make resources and best practices available to small business owners and operators to ensure their success and growth. Sam's Club will launch a cost savings toolkit on the Chamber website to help small businesses better manage and boost their bottom-line and sponsor the U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year Award. More than half of this year's winners are Sam's Club Business Members. In addition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has appointed Catherine Corley, VP small business insights and marketing at Sam's Club to the U.S. Chamber Council of Small Business.


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By Erica Stirpe
Somewhere in the trenches of your basement, you probably have a piece-of-junk computer.
It was super cool and super fast when you bought it, but now it’s just too slow, too virus-infested, too incompatible with your new software and only marginally more useful than a paperweight.
When it came time to finally rid yourself of the sucker, you probably plunked it at the end of your driveway and waved goodbye as the garbage truck pulled away.
But as it turns out, ditching your computer at the curb isn’t just bad for the environment, it’s bad for your health too.
A recent Greenpeace report showed that computers contain dozens of heavy metals and other hazardous chemicals.
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors alone contain mercury, lead, cadmium, bromine and other extremely toxic materials that can be released into the air and water if not properly disposed of.
Some computer manufacturers, like Dell, have pledged to phase out the use of two key groups of chemicals, brominated flame retardants and plastic polyvinyl chlorine (PVC), by 2009.
Greenpeace claims that a majority of the “e-waste” produced in North America (4.6 million tonnes each year in the United States alone) actually gets sent to other countries, like China and India, that don’t have the same infrastructure to properly dispose of technological waste.
Luckily, if you don’t want your computer poisoning the earth, you do have some options. “When my clients ask me to throw away their computers, I never do,” said Dell computer technician Eshmail Pasha.
“Instead, I take the parts I can use and donate them to schools.” However, Pasha said old computers aren’t really worth the trouble as-is.
“Right now, [it] isn’t feasible. The old parts and old computers take up two to three times more energy than a new computer,” he said.
But non-profit organizations like the Toronto-based Little Geeks will accept your chunky old PC (or Mac) and any other peripherals, refurbish them and then give them to needy kids.
They’ll even hook the computer up to the Internet. The organization (Littlegeeks.org) only offers computers in the GTA at the moment, and charges a $10 recycling fee for CRT monitors.


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In their official Facebook fan page, Victoria’s Secret published photos of Alessandra Ambrosio as she presented the Floral Fantasy Bra Gift Set and Bombshell Fantasy Fragrance, designed exclusively for the lingerie giant by London Jewelers, at the ultimate Victoria’s Secret Herald Square store, NY in a Press Day designed to showcase the new products.
This is the first time Alessandra has been awarded the prestigious honor of wearing a Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra, following in the footsteps of the most legendary supermodels like¬† Tyra Banks, Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Marisa Miller, Miranda Kerr that have received the honor in previous years.
Alessandra will wear the bra on the runway in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, airing December 4th on the CBS television network. (Check the gallery above for the photos of Victoria’s Secret angel Alessandra Ambrosio and this year’s fantasy bra.)
In behind-the-scenes video¬†for the Victoria‚Äôs Secret‚Äôs bra catalog shoot, the 31-year-old supermodel said: ‚ÄúI‚Äôve been waiting to wear this bra for like, 11 years,‚ÄĚ before bursting into song of ‚ÄúDiamonds are a Girl‚Äôs Best Friends.‚ÄĚ
The new mother, who gave birth to her son Noah earlier this year, added: ‚ÄúIt‚Äôs such an honor, I‚Äôve been working with Victoria‚Äôs Secret for years, and this is the first time they chose, me!‚ÄĚ
She continued: ‚ÄúIt‚Äôs such a big deal, I shot the bra for the catalog, and will wear it on the runway for the 2012 Victoria‚Äôs Secret show. The moment I saw this beautiful mansion, I was like, ‚ÄėOk, now I get it, why we came here to shoot this amazing piece of‚Ä¶art.‚Äô‚ÄĚ
Valued at $2.5 million, the Floral Fantasy Bra Gift Set is handset with over 5200 precious gems, including amethysts, sapphires, tsavorite, rubies, white, pink and yellow diamonds, all set in 18 karat rose and yellow gold.
The gift set includes a custom Very Sexy Push-up Bra and matching belt. The bra has two removable diamond flower pins and the drop centerpiece features an astonishing 12.5 carat and 20 carat white diamond.
Along with the Floral Fantasy Bra Gift Set, Victoria’s Secret debuts the $500K Bombshell Fantasy Fragrance this holiday season. It’s the brand’s award-winning Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Eau de Parfum perfect for the holidays.
The fragrance has notes of purple passion fruit, Shangri-la peony and vanilla orchid. The bottle is comprised of white, pink and yellow diamonds, sapphires, tsavorite, rubies plus a 10 carat white diamond and an exquisite one of a kind, hand carved tourmaline butterfly.
Over 15,000 stones from around the world were inspected to find the perfect colored, size and shaped gems to create the one of a kind bra, belt and fragrance bottle. These fantasy gifts were inspired by the idea of dreamy fantasy garden filled with vibrant colored flowers and heavenly Angels.
Alessandra Ambrosio has admitted she was nervous when she heard she had been chosen to model the grand finale bra in Victoria‚Äôs Secret catwalk show this year. She said the news, which she received in late May, put her under immense pressure to get back into shape after the birth of Noah.
In a recent interview, she told People Magazine that she had been breastfeeding when she took the call. ‚ÄúI just wanted to scream,‚ÄĚ she said. ‚ÄúBut I won‚Äôt lie, I was really worried. I was in total mother mode.‚ÄĚ
As soon as Ambrosio‚Äôs doctor gave her permission to set to work, the brunette also mother to daughter Anja, 4, started shedding the baby weight. The model-mom, who welcomed her 2nd child with fiance Jamie Mazur back in May, began with yoga and walking, turning up her routine after 60 days and added daily sessions of pilates and spin for cardio.
The lifestyle in LA, where she and her family spent the summer, also helped her tone up. ‚ÄúI was playing a lot of volleyball on the beach, swimming and running after my kids. And breastfeeding always helps me.‚ÄĚ
She went on, adding that keeping healthy during her latest pregnancy was key; she stuck to fresh green juices, salads and fish, a diet she‚Äôs continued with the occasional splurge of pizza or ice cream. ‚ÄúMy daughter loves cupcakes so we‚Äôll share ‚Ä¶ but only sometimes!‚ÄĚ
The model assures that she feels so ready for the big day, nerves aren‚Äôt even an issue. ‚ÄúI‚Äôm pretty calm,‚ÄĚ she says. ‚ÄúI‚Äôve been waiting for this moment for a long time.‚ÄĚ Don‚Äôt miss Ambrosio on the runway at the 2012 Victoria‚Äôs Secret Fashion Show, which is scheduled on December 4th on CBS.
Victoria’s Secret will also launch a free holiday app that allows one to experience the magic of the Christmas Dreams & Fantasies Catalogue on their iPad. The Victoria’s Secret Holiday App¬†brings interactive features and exclusive content to every page including Angel interviews, fun facts from the shoots, behind-the-scenes videos and beauty how-to’s.


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Nokia announced back in May that they will be renaming their Ovi services such as the Ovi Store to Nokia Store. The process was supposed to happen later in 2012 and it finally has. The Ovi Store is now officially known as the Nokia Store.
But the name is not the only thing that’s changed. There is a whole new app for it as well. The new app uses a redesigned interface and is built using Qt Quick. The app was originally designed for the Nokia N9 but has now been ported over to Symbian as well.
The new store app brings faster UI transitions and smoother animations. Also, if you’re already logged into your Nokia account, it no longer asks you for your password every time you download an app.
The new Nokia Store app will soon be pushed to Symbian phones as an OTA update. You can also head over to Nokia Labs and download the beta version right now.


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A regulator with the Federal Communications Commission is crying foul over Dish Network Corp.’s pursuit of small business discounts in a wireless spectrum auction last week.
Dish pulled in more than $13 billion worth of wireless licenses in the auction. But it might not end up paying that much. Dish is seeking to tap discounts the FCC sets aside for small businesses. It secured bids through a couple small companies it’s invested in. Those partner firms qualify for the discounts.
“It is an outrage that a Fortune 500 corporation, using some shell corporations that are very creatively structured, can try to claim over $3 billion worth bidding credits that are meant for small businesses,” says FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai.
Pai is calling for an FCC investigation into the matter. In a statement, Dish Network said it is confident that it complied with auction rules, and cited the fact that the commission unanimously approved the sale.
The company is not a wireless service provider—it’s in the business of satellite TV and internet. And yet, over the past few years, Dish has amassed a surprising amount of wireless spectrum.
Blair Levin, a former FCC chief of staff, says it’s unclear if Dish will partner with another wireless company or start an independent wireless service—or something else altogether.
But Levin says the final result might be worth the $3 billion in discounts Dish is seeking.
“If they provide ways so that Americans can have faster, better, cheaper mobile services, I think we’ll look back and say it was a bargain,” Levin says.
Still, the FCC’s Commissioner Pai says the rules of the bidding process must be followed, and he want to make sure Dish hasn’t flouted the rules.
“The mandate we got was to give small businesses a chance to break into the wireless marketplace,” he says. “It wasn’t to give large corporations with sophisticated lawyers an opportunity to game the system in order to get the taxpayer-funded discount on bidding at spectrum auctions.”
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The debate on whether eggs are good or bad for health continues, and a new study is putting eggs on the more negative side of the debate. Evidently, consuming eggs several times a week can significantly increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and death.
While eggs are a good source of important nutrients, they are also rich sources of dietary cholesterol, with one large egg having about 186 milligrams of dietary cholesterol in the yolk. Before 2015, the daily limit for dietary cholesterol consumption was 300 milligrams, but that limit in the guideline has since been omitted, and the new ones even added eggs as a part of a healthy diet.
Typically, the American adult consumes about 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day, and eats three to four eggs per week. So how does this kind of diet possibly affect the average person?
High Cardiovascular Disease And All-Cause Death Risk
To really look at the effect of eggs of a person’s diet, researchers looked at the data from 29,615 adults from six cohort studies and found that those who ate three to four eggs per week had a 6 percent higher risk for cardiovascular disease and 8 percent higher risk for any cause of death. Further, those who consumed 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol per day had 17 percent higher risk for cardiovascular disease and 18 percent higher risk for all-cause death.
“Our study showed if two people had exact same diet and the only difference in diet was eggs, then you could directly measure the effect of the egg consumption on heart disease. We found cholesterol, regardless of the source, was associated with an increased risk of heart disease,” said Norrina Allen, PhD, co-corresponding author of the study.
Even with the results of the study, the researchers still do not recommend omitting eggs or other cholesterol-rich foods from their diets altogether. In fact, they do point out that foods such as eggs and red meat are a good source of nutrients. However, a better compromise to reap the benefits while reducing the risks would be to eat them in moderation.
For instance, one could only choose to eat egg whites instead of whole eggs or to eat the whole eggs in moderation.
The study is published in JAMA.


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ANTHROPOLOGIE has partnered with eco-ethical company Rags2Riches on a capsule collection. The line - which is available to buy online now - features three brightly coloured woven bags.
The collection marks the first major fashion partnership for emerging label Rags2Riches, which has steadily been building a strong following for the past five years. Helmed by designer and entrepreneur Reese Fernandez, the company started out as "a specific solution to a specific problem". Inspired by a visit to Payatas, one of the poorest urban communities in the Philippines, Fernandez discovered talented artisans weaving beautiful items, but who were having to rely on a series of middlemen who were taking most of their trade profit - leaving them with only 20 cents (USD) in earnings a day.
"We decided to put our minds together and do something about it," Fernandez told us. "We formed Rags2Riches as an eco-ethical fashion and lifestyle company that provides sustainable livelihood to artisans, through providing them with access to the top designers in the country, access to training and quality of life programmes, as well as access to the market."
Since its launch in 2007, the initiative has trained 900 urban artisans - helping them to get out, and stay out, of poverty. The company produces everything from woven bags and accessories to pillows and rugs, made out of natural, locally sourced materials and "forgotten fabrics".
"Ever since we started, Anthropologie has been on the top of our list as a place to be - it's a whole experience of discovery and every nook of every store is like a peek into another space and time," added Fernandez. "We knew that products as intricate and unique as ours, with our own stories to tell, would do well in Anthropologie. And the awesome thing is, it was not just us who thought so. Partners and customers from the Philippines and abroad would always recommend that we approach them."
The Rags2Riches for Anthropologie collection is available to buy online now, priced from £58 to £98.


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Leading Australian music companies–Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music, along with the trade body, APRA AMCOS have approached the Australian Government to block Kickass Torrents from Australian users. They are seeking stern action against piracy under the newly passed anti-piracy laws.
The industry players have already moved an application in this connection, reports Gizmodo. Recently, Australia added more claws to the anti-piracy legislation and allowed content rights owners to block websites that encourage piracy.
“These sites do nothing but exploit the creativity of others and give nothing back to the artists, songwriters, record labels and music publishers whose music is stolen and made available on them, as they make millions of dollars from the advertising which appears on them,” APRA AMCOS said in a statement.
Jenny Morris, Chair of the APRA Board, said blocking access to errant sites like Kickass Torrents will be a gesture at supporting those writers whose songs are stuck in piracy sites. It can also be a way of making these songs pay for the writers’ hard work.
“Australian fans already have access — for free if they choose — to the world’s repertoire of music via more than 20 legitimate licensed online songs services,” she said.
In March, the law was applied for blocking Pirate Bay, SolarMovie, Torrentz, TorrentHound and IsoHunt websites following a request from Foxtel and Village Roadshow. The case will come before the court on May 6.
Meanwhile, reports said Australian music industry is on a revival path and is tasting growth for the first time since 2012. Digital revenues are more than two-thirds of sales and streaming services such as Spotify have doubled their contribution.
Hailing the positive signals, Australian Recording Industry Association chief executive Dan Rosen said: “It will be small growth, but it is moving in the right direction. Overall revenues are trending up.”
Phenomenal sales of albums have also been reported. They include Australian punk-pop band’s 5 Seconds of Summer that made to the No. 1 the United States, British and Australian charts, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
Singer-songwriter Vance Joy was amazed by the 4 million global sales for his single Riptide and 300 million streams on Spotify. Among the Australian acts that topped the ARIA album charts included Perth’s Tame Impala.


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If there’s a blizzard and no one can post about it on Facebook, did it really happen?
PHOENIX — As Facebook's latest step into sports, the social media giant is launching Trending Su
SEOUL, South Korea — Facebook suffers widespread outage affecting users in United States, A
A former employee of a Fox-owned station shot and killed himself outside the News Corp.
NEW YORK — Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman's pay climbed 19 percent to $44.3 million last year while
The Harvard professor accused by the Boston Globe’s Boston.com of sending a racist email to
Call it "Vimeo everywhere": The Internet-video company has opened up its paid video-on-demand cat
MIAMI -- Oscar de la Hoya is planning to launch a TV channel designed to take viewers behind the
Can the Super Bowl spur digital fans to get super-excited about paying for cable TV?
NEW YORK — Twitter said Tuesday that it plans to buy Indian mobile marketing company ZipDial as
Amazon Studios is the latest digital player that aims to upend the film distribution business by


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Logistics M&A set to continue say PwC
07 / 08 / 2015
Strong 2015 second quarter merger and acquisition (M&A) activity within the transport and logistics industry looks set to continue, says the latest survey by business consultants PwC.
The latest quarterly Intersections analysis by PwC found that transport and logistics sector deal activity saw improvements in both volume and value, driven by “substantial megadeal growth” which grew by more than 36% compared to the first quarter, while the average deal value also increased, to $564m.
There were nine megadeals – valued at $1bn or more – totalling $23.6bn or almost 69% of M&A value for the quarter.
Said PwC: “Megadeals were primarily driven by the need to fill a specific need or gap, gain scale, and drive profitability. In April, FedEx agreed to launch a tender offer to acquire the entire share capital of Netherlands-based TNT Express. This all-cash acquisition, valued at almost $4.8bn, is expected to improve FedEx’s European capabilities and accelerate global growth.
“At the completion of the transaction, FedEx will become the largest package delivery provider in Europe.”
Cross-border expansion and service line expansion were key drivers for many of the second quarter deals, particularly in advanced economies.
PwC said that the increase in cross-border deals was primarily driven by strategic investors, who often seek inorganic opportunities to improve geographic reach and long-term growth, citing the FedEx-TNT acquisition.
At the same time, cross-border activity is less significant in emerging economies given that these companies tend to be smaller and look to acquisitions of local competitors to improve scale and market share.
Added PwC: “Growth also remains a key driver of cross-border activity, as transport and logistics companies look to increase geographic reach, add capacity, and enter new markets. For example, in the airline industry, there have been a number of announcements as airlines look to buy stakes in rival carriers.”
Activity by financial investors increased to 44.3% in the second quarter 2015, compared to 38.9% in the first quarter, as strategic investors divested non-core and underperforming assets, while the funds raised by these sellers should strengthen their financial position.
In their outlook, report authors Jonathan Kletzel Julian Smith remain optimistic regarding 2015 as deal activity continues to increase.
“As a key driver, the US economy remains strong and the US dollar continues to advance against the euro, the yen, the pound, and many other currencies. This makes cross-border acquisitions by US companies cheaper, on a relative basis. Concurrently, emerging economies see continued GDP growth driven by a growing middle class and rapidly urbanising populations.
“Companies in these markets see the need for increased efficiencies and scope, which can be achieved through inorganic means. Finally, fuel prices remain low. “
They added: “Jet fuel prices have also declined more than 40 percent since July 2014, based on PwC’s analysis. These lower fuel costs make acquisitions more attractive because of lower expenses, which make available additional funds for activities such as M&A.”


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Zhoushan, Zhejiang province witnessed an e-commerce boom amid the COVID-19 epidemic.
Statistics from the city's commerce department show that the city generated 460 million yuan ($64.83 million) from online retail sales in the first two months of the year. It has around 1,000 online retail stores operating on major e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, JD and Tmall, creating around 3,000 jobs.
Co&Lee is a well-known local supermarket which has seven chain stores in Zhoushan and cooperates with more than 2,000 importers in China. It launched an online store in 2017.
Sales surged on the supermarket's online store amid the epidemic. In February, the online store received 4,293 orders, 33 times as many as the same period last year, and generated 1 million yuan in sales.
"Most of our customers haven't visited our online store before. During the epidemic, we provided not only reliable services as usual, but also big discounts," said Ye Yanbo, a manager of the supermarket.
According to Ye, customers can consult staff online before placing an order, book a delivery time, and inform the staff of any changes to the address.
Currently, the supermarket's online store has around 50,000 members and has a customer satisfaction rating of 99.9 percent.
Ye said the combination of brick-and-mortar business and e-commerce is a great way to boost sales, and that the supermarket will continue to take advantage of the internet, such as by holding live-streaming sales events.