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LONDON — Sharon Harel, the former owner of Capitol Films, is getting back into the foreign sales business.
Harel, who sold Capitol to David Bergstein in 2006, has launched a new London-based film financing and sales boutique, WestEnd Films.
The company is run by co-managing directors Eve Schoukroun and Maya Amsellem, who previously worked as head of sales and head of business affairs at Capitol and its sister company ThinkFilms Intl.
The movie, which starts shooting in July, is a comedy-drama about a dysfunctional family whose habit of lying to each other gets them all into trouble. It’s co-financed by Lucky Monkey Pictures and Cold Fusion Media.
They intend to handle six to eight films a year, mixing American and British projects with occasional foreign-language titles.
“The plan is to be a boutique company with a human face, and only to work on films that we believe in totally,” said Schoukroun.
“We will focus on good material, talented directors, concept pictures and prestige productions,” added Amsellem.
Harel founded Capitol in 1989 with Jane Barclay, and built it into one of world’s leading sales companies, backing movies such as “Gosford Park.” After selling the company to Bergstein two years ago, she focused on producing, making Avi Nesher’s “The Secrets” in Israel through her own production company Notting Hill Films.
“I sold Capitol with the intention of just being a producer,” Harel explained. “But when I made ‘The Secrets,’ I did not have a company to exploit the rights, which I found very difficult. So when Eve and Maya, who I always thought were fabulous, approached me with their idea for a new sales company, I agreed to back them and become the chairman.”


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LOS ANGELES - Walmart is recalling an essential oil-infused aromatherapy room spray after tests conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that the spray contained a rare and dangerous bacteria.
The company is recalling approximately 3,900 bottles of Better Homes & Gardens Essential Oil room spray in six different scents.
The CDC tested a version of the product and determined that it contained a deadly bacteria known as Burkholderia pseudomallei which can cause melioidosis, a bacterial infection that can affect both people and animals.
The CDC has been investigating a cluster of four cases of melioidosis in the U.S., including two deaths. Cases were reported in Kansas, Minnesota, Texas and Georgia and included a child fatality, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission
The room spray was sold at roughly 55 Walmart locations nationwide and online at walmart.com from February 2021 through October 2021. "Better Homes and Gardens Aromatherapy," is printed on the label.
Melioidosis is typically found in tropical climates, including Southeast Asia, and is frequently reported in other parts of Central Asia.
As there are several types of melioidosis, infections can range from mild to serious. Less severe symptoms can involve fever, abscesses and sores while more severe infections can lead to seizures and infection in the central nervous system or brain.
The disease is difficult to diagnose because it is rare and can infect any organ and may be mistaken for other diseases, including tuberculosis or pneumonia.
The CDC is advising consumers to stop using the room spray immediately and to not open the bottle or attempt to throw them away.
"Double bag the bottle in clean, clear zip-top resealable bags and place in a small cardboard box. Return the bagged and boxed product to a Walmart store," the CDC advised.
Consumers who have used the spray should also wash sheets or linens that may have been sprayed with the product immediately and wipe down counters and surfaces that may have been exposed to the spray, according to the CDC.
Read the list of the following recalled scents and their product numbers here:
- 84140411421 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lemon and Mandarin
- 84140411422 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lavender
- 84140411423 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Peppermint
- 84140411424 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lime & Eucalyptus
- 84140411425 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Sandalwood and Vanilla
Customers who return their products to Walmart will receive a $20 Walmart gift card upon return, according to the retailer.

domain: news


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Streaming service Disney+ announced that the brand new third season of the Star Wars series 'The Mandalorian' will launch on March 1, 2023.
Disney+ will soon launch a brand new Star Wars series worldwide. September 21, 2022, will be the first streaming day of episodes 1-3.
The origin story of Buzz Lightyear is coming to Disney+, where the latest Pixar film will be available from August 3, 2022.
'The King's Man' (2021) starring Ralph Fiennes has been available on Disney+ since February in multiple countries worldwide.
The King's Man (2021), the third film in the trilogy, will be available on Disney+ starting February, 2022, in several counties.
Turning Red, Pixar's newest film of 2022, will skip theaters and appear online on Disney+ worldwide on March 11.
Eternals, the Marvel film that first hit theaters in November 2021, is coming to Disney+ after just 2 months on January 12, 2022.
Starting in April 2022, you can enjoy Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the third film in the Harry Potter series, in cinemas.
Disney+ announced that it will add Marvel's 2021 superhero movie 'Eternals' to its streaming service worldwide on January 12, 2022.
Arcane is officially getting a second season from Netflix. The animated series is incredibly popular, receiving an average of 9.4 on IMDb!
Netflix started the production of Arcane season 2, but when will the new episodes of the animated series launch on the streaming service?


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In Villa Park, Illinois Representative Deb Conroy will be hosting a seminar on the new concealed carry legislation, and its affect on businesses and their customers.
“With concealed and carry coming to Illinois I wanted to ensure that businesses in my district were aware of the ins and outs of the law and how they and their clientele may be affected,” Conroy said. “I’m always looking to help small businesses in my district. This seminar can help clear up any confusion that employers may have about how the law will impact them, their employees, and their customers.”
The concealed carry bill became law in July when the legislature voted to override the Governor’s veto of the bill. The law allows individual in Illinois to apply for a concealed carry permit after 16 hours of training and a $150 application fee.
“I want to help make sure that the roll out of the new concealed carry law runs as smoothly as possible,” Conroy stated. “I encourage any business owner that has any questions or concerns about the new legislation to attend the seminar.”
Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/
Discussion about this post


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A fire that swept through a two-story clothing factory in Bangladesh's capital has killed at least seven female workers and injured another five, police and fire officials said.
The fire at the Smart factory occurred just two months after a blaze killed 112 workers in another factory near the capital city, raising questions about safety standards and treatment of workers in Bangladesh's garment industry that exports clothes to leading Western retailers.
The country has more than 4,000 such factories. The cause of the latest fire was not immediately known, fire official Abdul Halim said.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Monzurul Kabir said the bodies of seven women were recovered from the top floor of the factory in Dhaka's Mohammadpur district. He said the factory was making trousers and shirts, but could not provide further details.
Halim said it took firefighters about two hours to bring the blaze under control.
Volunteers joined firefighters in battling the blaze as a large crowd gathered outside the factory awaiting word on the fate of relatives. Family members were seen crying near the body of a female worker named Josna, who was only 16.
Earlier this month, Wal-Mart Stores alerted its global suppliers that it will immediately drop them if they subcontract their work to factories that have not been authorised.
The stricter contracting rule, along with other changes to Wal-Mart policy, come amid increasing calls for better safety oversight after the deadly late November fire at a factory owned by Tazreen Fashions that supplied clothing to Wal-Mart and other retailers.
Wal-Mart said the factory was not authorised to make its clothes.
Building fires have led to more than 600 garment work deaths in Bangladesh since 2005, according to research by the advocacy group International Labour Rights Forum.


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Apple has released the first Beddit sleep tracker since acquiring the Finnish company in 2017, via CNET. The Beddit 3.5 Sleep Monitor is a thin sensor strip that can be placed under the bedsheet to track
Microsoft has open-sourced its design internally Microsoft has changed the way it approaches design. The new Office icons unveiled this week are the first glimpse at a far bigger design overhaul that’s
Apple today announced its Best of 2018 selections – its annual, editorial list of what it considers the best content across its App Store and iTunes, along with its top charts of the most downloaded apps
Back at I/O 2018, Google announced that Assistant was coming to Google Maps. Specifically, a visually compact and less disruptive version would appear when getting directions. This navigation-optimized
What matters more: how a phone looks or how it performs? “How it performs” might be the obvious answer, but how a phone looks — its design, screen, and ergonomics — vastly affects how it feels to use.
Yes, offline music is coming. That didn't take long -- mere days after it became clear Spotify was testing an Apple Watch app, that client is now available to the masses. The streaming music giant has
Google’s healthcare ambitions are shaping up fast As part of an ongoing reorganization of its health care efforts, Google has announced that it’s absorbing DeepMind Health, a part of its London-based lab


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Read our industry news and watch our latest videos
We work with many companies in multiple industries, and collaborate with other leading industry associations. Read our latest news and you will learn how our standards are being applied throughout the UK and globally. And you can read our case studies and press releases too.
561 news items listed
In this guest blog, Dan Whytock from our partners Down Your High street, looks at the many benefits of selling online, finding the right online mar
Upgrades to LocationManager bring improved usability and greater control for subscribers to the service LocationManager - the online service that e
Online sales account for an increasing chunk of the retail market, but industry will suffer from a lack of consistency. Digital initiatives The retail industry hailed 2017 as the year the consumer went digital.
We’ve been proudly working with the food and drinks sector for over 40 years. From scanning the first barcoded product, right up to the launch of pr
The Healthcare User Group (HUG) is looking to recruit patient wristband or wristband printer suppliers to help understand how we can further the use of GS1 standards to identify hospital inpatients across England.
In a July address, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced a bumper cash injection for digital projects in the NHS. Amounting to £412.5m over the next three years,
Efficient exchange of product data is essential for the smooth running of any retail business. Believe it or not, one of the most important things to get right in that regard is knowing how to measure you
In the second part of Gary Lynch’s interview with Andrew Cairns, he explains how GS1 standards are helping him grow his business, Mammy Jamia’s, and access the international markets.
Founder of SME community, Enterprise Nation, Emma Jones talks about the growing potential of SMEs and the part they have to play in UK plc. In this presentation, Emma talks about:


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The Galaxy A50 is expected to have a successor in the coming days. Backstage information reveals that Samsung is preparing smartphone upgrades with the aim to modernize the design and improvements in the camera suite. A strong indication of the upcoming launch is the leakage of photos of the tests conducted by the FCC, a U.S. body equivalent to Anatel. See, below, all the expectation around the supposed Galaxy A51.
The main feature and perhaps the main change from the Galaxy A50 could be in the photo set. According to the SamMobile, the Galaxy A51 will be the cheapest Samsung phone equipped with a quadruple-camera, that is, one more than the current model. However, the improvement would not only be in the number of cameras, but also the sophistication of each of them.
Sources heard on the site state that the new generation will have the main camera of 48 MP, which would represent a leap of considerable quality compared to the 25 MP camera of the current model. The ultra-wide-angle would leap from 8 MP to 12 MP, while the depth sensor for Portrait Mode would remain at 5 MP. The fourth camera, a new feature of the probable release should have 5 MP and a macro lens to capture nearby objects.
Another improvement would be the front camera, which would go from 25 MP to 32 MP.
Screen and design with a Galaxy Note 10 look
Computer models taken by SamMobile show that Samsung is expected to adopt in the A51 a screen with a centralized hole for the front camera, a design element that debuted in Galaxy Note 10. The change would imply a display with fewer edges, increasing a little the dimensions of the panel: even Super AMOLED with Full HD+ resolution, it would jump from 6.4 to 6.5 inches.
In the back, the main novelty would be in the area of cameras. Instead of the column for the triple camera, the new model would bring a rectangular module to house four cameras and the flash. The design would still be made of plastic, but with a new design in white or black, or in pink and blue colors with pastel shades.
Galaxy A12 vs Galaxy A13 4G: Which ...
Galaxy A12 vs Galaxy A13 4G: Which Should You Buy?
Datasheet with few changes
The mobile phone should not bring major improvements in the technical file, at least in the input version. The Galaxy A51 is expected to come with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage, just like the A50. The change would be due to a more advanced model, with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal space. MicroSD support would remain the same.
The processor would also be upgraded, but with no expectation of significant impact on performance. Instead of the Exynos 9610, the phone would feature the Exynos 9611, also octa-core and a maximum operating frequency of 2.3 GHz.
The Galaxy A50’s successor battery is also expected to keep the 4,000 mAh battery with fast recharging support with a 15W charger.
There are strong indications that the Galaxy A51 will be unveiled on Thursday (12). Samsung’s page for Vietnam has already confirmed the launch of a Galaxy A cell phone on that date, and Indian portals say that the phone will be announced in the country on the same day.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.


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An announcement was recently made by The WWE that their RAW brand has been nominated for The Show Of 2019 Award at the upcoming People’s Choice Award Show. WWE’s RAW will be going up against Game Of Thrones, Grey’s Anatomy, Riverdale, Stranger Things, The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead & This Is Us at the awards show.
Fans can reportedly vote for WWE’s RAW brand by visiting this link. Voting reportedly ends on Friday, October 18th and fans can vote up to 25 times. People’s Choice Awards is set to air on Sunday, November 10th on The E! Network.
You can check out WWE’s tweet below:
— WWE (@WWE) September 4, 2019
Long time writer and life long fan of professional wrestling.


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The year has been marked by shifting priorities as inflation maintains a firm grip on the US economy.
For those in the food industry, it’s a battle over managing prices while dealing with limited supplies and labor. Consumers, however, have had to redefine how they spend their money, as well as how they earn it.
Most American workers have changed their spending habits due to inflation, and it’s impacting how they view their jobs. A recent Bluecrew survey showed that almost 60% have been looking for new or additional roles in the past year. Half of the respondents plan to land seasonal jobs during the holidays.
Meanwhile, a recent Qualtrics study found that about half of Americans are considering a second job due to high inflation. This survey of 1,000 adults found that 38% had looked for a second job, with interest in gig work rising, reports CBS News.
With so many people watching their income and spending, what counts as value versus luxury is changing. Not only is going out to eat considered more luxurious, but consumers are looking to eliminate any kind of unnecessary food expenditure unless they see more value in the product.
So what’s the value, anyway? The answer may change depending on demographics, but if restaurants can avoid certain pitfalls while cultivating continued business, they will emerge from this economic period relatively unscathed.
According to Revenue Management Solutions, Gen Z and millennials represent a key consumer base for restaurants. Overall, younger consumers have spent more on restaurants this year, are increasingly using drive-thru and are driving the most delivery orders. The data suggests they are slightly more concerned about poor service and are less affected by higher prices, but not all consumers agree.
Many companies have raised prices to offset supply chain costs or changed their menus, but this can be risky for restaurants. “Shrinkage,” or being served smaller items for the same price, is one of the main reasons consumers downgrade restaurants. Being shortchanged on portion size is enough to draw many customers to competitors who keep menu items consistent even as their prices go up.
RSQ magazine reports that more than 75% of consumers said they notice restaurants and retailers using this tactic. To avoid raising prices or minimizing menus, some restaurateurs are looking to other areas to cut costs, such as finding alternative suppliers or preparing ingredients in-house. At Austin taqueria Granny’s Tacos, owner Rey Hernandez scours wholesale markets for deals, mixes his own seasoning and has even spent hours carving Costco chuck roast during a carne asada shortage, according to Austin Eater.
Another alternative to drastic menu item and price changes is for restaurants to adopt dynamic pricing models that can leverage data to make regular price adjustments that won’t be so intimidating to consumers. Regional franchise Layne’s Chicken Fingers has begun to manage core costs, food and labor more, with more focus on productivity rather than percentage targets, according to RSQ magazine.
This allows the fried food chain to offset higher production costs by examining other areas for potential savings while maintaining a focus on customer satisfaction.
Carefully cutting operational expenses is one strategy, but there are also ways restaurants can create perceived value that appeals to the frugal customer. Many consumers derive value from convenience. Among fast-food restaurants, leaning into drive-thru and online ordering has been a recipe for success with customers looking for quick and easy meals.
Offering enticing combo deals and a robust value menu are also effective ways to combat price gouging. Now more than ever, customers are looking for fast food promotions that can save them money, as well as inexpensive yet satisfying alternative menu items.
As the economy continues its path, the restaurant industry remains in a precarious but not unmanageable position. Restaurants that can strike that perfect balance between competitive pricing and customer satisfaction will be in the best position when economic fortunes eventually improve.


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With Apple Music preparing to launch its subscription service next week and Taylor Swift criticizing its royalty payment plans, forcing that tech giant to change course, it's a busy time for the music industry. On Tuesday, Google is going in the opposite direction of Apple's $10-a-month service, launching a free, ad-supported version of its $9.99-a-month Google Play Music in the U.S. The company says it's designed to give artists another way to earn revenue and that the goal is ultimately to bring more people into its subscription service.
It's a direct challenge to Pandora, Spotify, smaller start-up Rdio and Apple's iTunes radio, its free streaming service. Google has the advantage of being able to direct people searching for songs to its service; we'll see how much it drives users to its new service as it launches this week on Android and iOS devices, though it is available on the Web as of Monday.


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Sprint and T-Mobile Merge in Multi-Billion Dollar DealPress Release
SAN ANGELO, TX – The two cell phone provider giants T-Mobile and Sprint have officially combined both companies.
According to KCBD, on April 1, the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission approved a deal that would combine the two carriers.
The $31.6 billion deal will give T-Mobile full control of Sprint.
T-Mobile officials say that adding Sprint's spectrum, the airwaves that carry phone calls and data signals, will boost its network and make its service available to consumers at lower prices. It had promised regulators not to raise prices for three years.
As of Wednesday, Sprint shares were no longer trading. T-Mobile shares added 2.8% to $86.23 in midday trading.
T-Mobile also said Wednesday that its CEO, John Legere, is stepping down a month earlier than expected, handing the job off to COO Mike Sievert. He will remain a board member.
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Felicity Carter presenting at the Wine Industry Impact Conference
By Meg Riley
Felicity Carter, wine journalist and co-founder of Business of Drinks, gave an impassioned presentation at the 2023 Wine Industry IMPACT Conference held in Adelaide yesterday, imploring wine producers to battle claims put forth by the World Health Organization (WHO) last year that there is ‘no safe limit’ when it comes to alcohol consumption.
“People don’t believe me, but this is the worst thing I have seen in 25 years of reporting about wine,” said Carter. “The World Health Organization came out in 2022 and they declared there is ‘no safe limit’ for drinking alcohol. They are pressuring the EU to change their guidelines about cancer, they have come out and they have said alcohol causes cancer.”
“Every time I say this, people say, ‘well prohibition didn’t work the first time’ and I say there’s a difference: prohibition was imposed by government, this is people choosing not to drink as they hear the health data.”
‘Selling wine in an age of sobriety’
Because of the convoluted nature of the messaging around wine and its health benefits/ downsides, Carter noted that communicating a clear counter argument to the WHO’s declaration was “extremely difficult”.
“It’s a much easier message to simply say ‘don’t drink’ rather than to give a more nuanced position about drinking.”
Carter suggested that wine businesses could encourage drinking in moderation by introducing smaller formats, and reiterated the importance of modelling wine with food to play to wine’s strengths.
Also presenting at the IMPACT Conference, Andrew Shedden, merchandise manager at Endeavour Group, echoed Carter’s sentiments on the potential for smaller formats.
Shedden observed that whilst making “better choices” was a long term trend among consumers, this was not limited to no and low alcohol or sugar offerings.
“We’re seeing moderation take many, many different forms and need to be cognizant of that,” said Shedden.
In order to capture the Gen Z and Millennial markets, Shedden emphasised the need to appeal to the emerging drinkers, rather than waiting for them to develop an interest in wine.
“We really need to completely flip the way we’re talking about this [wine] and start talking less about ourselves and how great products are – they are, but start talking about it in a sense of how is this relevant to the lives of the people that we want to pick it up?”
One way to potentially broach this market could be by changing the consumers perception of what wine is as a category, and make it feel more accessible and approachable to a new audience.
Shedden said that this could be partly responsible for the success of alternative wine styles such as pet nat and piquette with younger consumers.
“It’s expanded what people think wine is and I think that’s healthy whether you like it or not. It will never be massive, but I think it’s important to continue to broaden out the category.”
The theme of the IMPACT Conference, The Only Way Is Up, resonated with many of the presenters, with advice from Stephen Strachan on how to prepare for the sale of assets and Jason Ryan’s insights on how and when to consult lawyers.
Analyst Pia Piggott presented Rabobank’s infamous Swimming in Wine report from earlier in the year, examining how a decrease in Australia’s vineyard acreage could affect the industry’s oversupply.
Meantime, Andre Morgenthal discussed the success of the Old Vine Project protecting South Africa’s heritage vines, and CEO of Hawke’s Bay Tourism, Hamish Saxton, shared his journey rebuilding tourism to Hawke’s Bay in the wake of Hurricane Gabriel, and the importance of not wasting a good crisis.
Future Leaders Caitlin Davies and Stephen Paul discussed the different approaches to navigating change and challenges in the wine industry, with Paul’s firsthand account of successfully diversifying his wine offerings at Oakdene Vineyards.
The conference, held at Adelaide Oval in South Australia, was followed by the Wine Industry IMPACT Awards later in the evening.
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Sony President of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida sat down for the last episode of the Playstation BlogCast, where he gave his own thoughts on E3 and spoke about The Last Guardian and its infamously long development cycle.
The game was given a trailer at E3 2016, which finally gave it a release date of October 25.
The Last Guardian is the latest offering from Team ICO, who developed the classic games Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. In the game, you play a young boy as you befriend a giant beast named Trico. The two of you must make your way through a giant crater filled with ruins and sinister enemies to lead Trico to freedom.
Yoshida said that he was excited to finally give The Last Guardian a release date, and that there had been a great deal of discussion with the game’s developers over whether to show it at E3 or not. The game has been playtested multiple times; now, it’s being polished, debugged, and tweaked.
Apparently Team ICO has been constantly improving the game as they were developing it, and will continue to do so up until the very last minute. Their confidence that the game would be ready by that time led to the game’s announcement date trailer.
Yoshida also spoke of numerous indie games that were at E3, including Brutal, Abzû, Rain World, and Headlander. Yoshida spoke highly of the quality and uniqueness of all of the games, such as Headlander’s central mechanic (you’re a disembodied head with a rocket booster that solves puzzles by defeating enemies and replacing their head with yours).
Considering we still have around four months until The Last Guardian finally releases, maybe during that time some of the indie games will release and be worth a play before it releases, so we’ll have to have confidence that Team ICO will release yet another stellar game.


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ITV assured investors yesterday that it was turning around its flagship ITV1 channel, enjoying ongoing demand from advertisers and continuing to slash costs.
Britain's largest commercial broadcaster, whose share price has been in the doldrums for weeks, shrugged off fears of weakening consumer spending. Advertising revenues improved in the second half of this year, although that was against a weak close to 2006.
Michael Grade, executive chairman, said in a trading update yesterday: "We've seen real growth in the whole television advertising market over the second half of the year. ITV is finishing 2007 strongly.
"ITV1 net advertising revenue in November was 2% up year-on-year and, with late money still entering the market, estimates for December continue to improve. We can see no evidence of advertiser demand weakening."
The group expects net advertising revenue across all its channels to be up 3.5% in the second half of this year, leaving the whole year down just 0.6%. That compares with an 8.4% fall in 2006.
ITV1's performance has also improved on last year but net advertising revenues there are still in decline, with an estimated 4.4% fall this year. But ITV's digital channels including ITV2, home to shows such as Xtra Factor and, from next year, Bionic Woman starring Michelle Ryan, are enjoying fast growth. Their revenues are up a third on last year at £209m.
ITV said viewing figures were also improving, again especially at ITV2. It reassured shareholders, who have seen the stock fall to an all-time low in recent weeks, that it was on track to deliver £40m of planned cost cuts by 2008 while disposals this year had made £103m.
Analysts at Dresdner Kleinwort said investors should be reassured by ITV's 2007 performance. "We remain bullish on the turnaround story at ITV, and highlight improving structural trends in the core business. We acknowledge, however, that the risks of a consumer slowdown are increasing and, despite ITV's comments, are reducing our 2008 TV market forecast from +2% to +1%," they said in a note.
The shares ended down 1.4p, or 1.6%, at 84.6p. The company's latest share price decline has coincided with remarks by Grade on the need for BSkyB to sell its sizeable ITV stake. Sky bought the 17.9% stake last year in a dramatic £940m dawn raid, scuppering attempts by Virgin Media to take over ITV. Sky insists the stake is part of a long-term investment plan.
Grade did not acknowledge that ITV had a potential problem with the stake until March. Then this autumn it emerged that ITV wanted Sky to sell its stake, with Grade saying last month that the satellite company had bought shares in the broadcaster to influence it.
The Competition Commission provisionally ruled in October that Sky could use the stake to adversely influence ITV and the watchdog's final report is due to go to the government today. The commission is widely expected to recommend that Sky should cut its holding to as little as 5%.


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LAOAG CITY, Dec. 9–Dominic Cruz, 25, a salesman of a mall and resident of Brgy. 7, this city, perished when his motorcycle he was driving accidentally rammed the rear of a parked delivery truck along Segundo Avenue (Bacarra Road) at Brgy. 11 here.
City traffic division chief Sean Bugaoisan said the victim was heading northward when the accident occurred Thursday night.
He said the wing-type truck while loading fruit juice drink product was parked on the roadside with no early warning device or hazard light.


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In the US, the top five smartphone manufacturers are Apple, Samsung, HTC, Motorola and LG, in that particular order. Apple topped the list last year as well and they have had a good start this year increasing the lead from […]
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A jury has found Oculus and its executives liable for total damages of $500 million in a lawsuit over misuse of technology created at Id Software parent company ZeniMax Media.
While the jury found that Oculus had not misappropriated any trade secrets from ZeniMax — a key part of the case — it found that Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey had breached a nondisclosure agreement with the company while working on early prototypes of the Rift VR headset, it turns out. from a copy of the Ars Technica verdict. Oculus was also held liable for copyright and trademark infringement for misuse of certain ZeniMax code and logos. The company, Luckey and Iribe were also held liable for misrepresentation related to the misuse of certain ZeniMax trademarks.
Oculus is liable for $300 million in the judgment ($50 million for trademark infringement, $50 million for copyright infringement and $200 million for violating the NDA), while Luckey owes $50 million and former Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe owes $150 million (both for false designation). Oculus CTO John Carmack, who previously worked for ZeniMax and was charged with stealing code and destroying evidence, is not personally liable for any damages. ZeniMax had claimed $6 billion in damages in the case.
The jury acquitted Oculus parent company Facebook of alleged wrongful interference in the ZeniMax NDA during its 2014 $2 billion acquisition, according to reports. Neither Oculus nor Facebook were held liable for unfair competition.
“The crux of this case was whether Oculus stole ZeniMax’s trade secrets, and the jury ruled decisively in our favor,” Oculus said in a statement to Ars. “We are obviously disappointed in some other aspects of today’s verdict, but we are undeterred. Oculus products are built with Oculus technology. Our commitment to the long-term success of VR remains the same, and the entire team will continue the work that they have been doing since day one: developing VR technology that will transform the way people interact and communicate. We look forward to filing our appeal and finally putting this lawsuit behind us.”
The verdict comes after three days of jury deliberation and about three weeks of testimony, including defenses from Carmack, Luckey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Oculus says it plans to appeal the false designation charge.
ZeniMax’s case against Oculus dates back to 2014, when the company first publicly accused Oculus of illegally using code and technology Carmack developed at Id Software before joining Oculus as CTO in 2013. Carmack and Luckey had teamed up under NDA to create a 2012 E3 demo of an early Oculus Rift prototype running Downfall 3.
But ZeniMax claimed that Carmack’s help went way beyond that demo and that, without Carmack’s help, Luckey “missed the training, expertise, resources or know-how to create commercially viable VR technology”. While the companies negotiated ZeniMax to buying a small share of ownership of Oculus after their partnership, those talks eventually broke down and ZeniMax ordered Carmack to halt all work on VR projects.
Carmack testified that he copied thousands of emails to a personal hard drive on his last day at ZeniMax, but claimed that he rewritten every code used on the Rift and Gear VR headsets from scratch.
ZeniMax also argued that Facebook failed to conduct its due diligence and ignored warning signs of obfuscated technology in its eagerness to buy Oculus in 2014.


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By Ramishah Maruf, CNN
America’s leading specialty baby products retailer will shutter its 120 stores, a consequence of parent company Bed Bath & Beyond’s bankruptcy filing on Sunday.
buybuy BABY and its website will remain open for now, along with 360 Bed Bath & Beyond stores, as the company secured a $240 million loan to help fund its operations during bankruptcy.
Store closing sales will start Wednesday, as the company is using Chapter 11 proceedings to put itself up for sale. It said if it succeeds in finding a buyer, the company will “pivot away” from store closings.
If a buyer does not appear for all or parts of its business, Bed Bath & Beyond will most likely be liquidated entirely and go out of business.
Neil Saunders, a retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData Retail, said Bed Bath & Beyond will be a “shadow of its former self” if it emerges from bankruptcy.
“The buybuy BABY business is the one part of the operation that will probably attract interest from buyers,” Saunders said.
Saunders said the former retail giant could move online only, but it could “mean reduced visibility and a much more difficult trading model from a profit perspective.”
Bed Bath & Beyond acquired buybuy BABY for $67 million in 2007. At the time, the chain operated eight stores in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. The baby and toddler stores were founded in 1996 by Richard and Jeffrey Feinstein, the sons of Bed Bath & Beyond’s co-founder. It was among the stores the firm acquired in the 2000s: Harmon Stores, Christmas Tree Shops, buybuy BABY and Cost Plus World Market.
Bed Bath & Beyond placed some hope in buybuy BABY while it struggled to survive. Ryan Cohen, former activist investor in the company, said in a March 2022 letter that buybuy BABY was worth more than Bed Bath & Beyond’s entire market capitalization and should be considered to spun off or look to find a buyer to take the whole company private.
Last year, Bed Bath & Beyond’s former CEO Mark Tritton said a bright spot in the company was its wedding and baby categories, noting an uptick in those sales in the beginning of 2022.
Tritton was fired last June after only three years leading the sinking company. He joined Bed Bath & Beyond in 2019 from Target, where he was in charge of expanding its private label brands.
Yet the company already closed five buybuy Baby locations earlier this year.
In its bankruptcy filing, Bed Bath & Beyond said it had $5.2 billion in debt and assets of just $4.4 billion. The rise of online shopping and the popularity of Walmart, Target and Costco, which drew away customers with lower prices and a wider array of merchandise, helped lead to the chain’s demise.
“Thank you to all of our loyal customers. We have made the difficult decision to begin winding down our operations,” a statement at the top of the company’s website said Sunday morning.
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn and Parija Kavilanz contributed to this report.


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Investors are uncorking a new area of speculation these days: fine wine. Thanks to the Internet, which has turned an elite hobby into a worldwide auction, prices are overflowing. Buyers can even throw money at vino investment funds and an electronic trading exchange based in London, which is up 39% this year, and behind oil by only seven points, the Washington Post reports.
But wine investors are subject to the whims of key wine critics like Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer. "This (price) volatility is completely out of your control," one investor blogged. And emerging wine-drinkers in Russia and China are pulling even second-tier wine prices out of the cellar and through the roof. "The demand is just flat-out crazy," said one Californian, who bought $3,500 in wines last month, only to sell them two weeks later—for $10,000.


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There were several important reports on the U.S. economy released this morning. First, data from the Census Bureau showed that advance estimates of retail and food services sales for August totaled $456.3 billion, down 0.3 percent from July. This was the first month-over-month decline since March and much worse than economists had expected. Over the past year, headline retail sales have risen by just 1.9 percent, one of the slowest rates of annual growth seen during the recovery, although relatively cheaper energy prices remain a big factor behind this. Core retail sales, which exclude the volatile autos and gasoline components, fell by 0.1 percent in August, the second monthly decline in a row. Apart from food-related sales, retail spending was weak across the board last month, even at non-store retailers like Amazon which experienced their first monthly decline since January 2015. Overall this was a disappointing report which will create doubts that American consumers are providing an adequate boost to economic growth. Downward revisions to third quarter gross domestic product (GDP) should therefore be expected and this weak data will also make it easier for officials at the Federal Reserve to hold steady on interest rates at next week’s monetary policy meeting.
Next, data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed that manufacturing activity in the Northeast region of the country improved this month, albeit only slightly. Specifically, the general business conditions index rose from -4.21 to -1.99 in September, a smaller rebound than anticipated and the second negative (contractionary) reading in a row. The modest gain was due largely to improvements in the forward-looking components of the headline index because current measures of new orders, shipments, inventories, total employment, and the average employee workweek all deteriorated markedly this month. Much more encouraging was a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, also released this morning, which showed that manufacturing activity in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country surged in September, as the general business conditions index jumped from +2.0 to +12.8. This was significantly better than economists’ expectations and the highest reading since February 2015. Measures of new orders and total employment improved this month but shipments, inventories, and the average employee workweek deteriorated. Outlooks for general business conditions six months from now softened and capital expenditure plans decreased. Managers in the September survey were also asked a series of special questions about their company's spending plans related to achieving future growth, and most respondents cited modernization of manufacturing processes (64 percent) and expansion of facilities (30 percent). Overall, though, incoming regional data on manufacturing activity for the month of September remain mixed, suggesting that there is still no clear end in sight for the “industrial recession” that started roughly a year ago.
Elsewhere, a report from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors showed that overall industrial activity in America softened in August, with total production falling by 0.4 percent. This was a larger decline than expected and the first monthly decrease since May. Apart from a solid gain in mining, industrial weakness was seen across the board in August, including a notable pullback in utilities as temperatures returned to normal levels (reduced A/C usage). Industrial production on a year-over-year basis fell 1.1 percent last month, the 12th month in a row of annual declines and a pattern rarely seen outside of a recession. Elsewhere in the report, manufacturing, which makes up roughly 75 percent of all industrial production, also fell by 0.4 percent last month, and capacity utilization, sometimes used as a leading indicator of inflation and potential output, slid to 75.5 percent, well below the long-term (1972–2015) average. Historically, the Federal Reserve generally does not like to raise rates when capacity utilization is under 80 percent and declining.
Sources: Econoday, Twitter, Bloomberg, ZH, U.S. Census Bureau, FRBP, FRBNY, FRBG, FRBSLPost author: Charles Couch


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February 9, 2016, 2:01 pm
February 9, 2016, 1:19 pm
Playa Provisions is the third endeavor for Top Chef runner-up Brooke Williamson and husband Nick Roberts. The unique model has four different restaurant concepts nestled within one 7,000-square foot, beach side location, including a bright and fun ice cream shop (with all ice creams made in-house) called Small Batch; a casual market counter serving breakfast and lunch, called King Beach; a back-room whisky bar called Grain; and a more high-end dining space dedicated to seasonal seafood fare, called Dockside. Here’s a look inside.
February 9, 2016, 11:50 am
As part of its Dream Bigger campaign, British travel agency Virgin Holidays created a 35-foot high luxury tree house on London’s South Bank, towering above the river’s edge. Inspired by South Africa’s Lion Sands Game Reserve tree house, the dwelling is stilted on giant trunks, supported by a greenery-clad plinth and hosts two elevated huts designed by Hubert Zandberg.
February 5, 2016, 12:21 pm
By Kathy McDonald
Resurgent real estate development is transforming the city’s core
Downtown los angeles is getting a makeover to the tune of $16.5 billion in new development. Changes includes the addition of a slew of mixed-used projects combining ground floor retail and upper level living, a new Whole Foods supermarket, sprouting indie restaurants, three just-launched breweries, art galleries, boutiques and the revitalized Grand Central Market.
Apartments are clocking in at a furious pace as more than 10,000 units are slated to be built and fill pent-up demand. New construction includes Greenland USA’s three mega-towers at Metropolis in South Park, representing a $1 billion investment. And on downtown’s northern edge, the Arts District offers hip lifestyle options from the blocks-long One Santa Fe to the Garey Building’s upcoming 320 apartments.
To read full article click “Keep Reading” or visit their website here.
February 5, 2016, 12:00 am


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States are dishing out billions in subsidies to attract big companies, but the deals are stiffing small-biz owners, says a watchdog group. » Read More
Texas- based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,410 rigs were exploring for oil and 427 were searching for gas. A year ago, Baker Hughes listed 2,013 rigs. Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Alaska gained five rigs while Arkansas, Colorado and North Dakota rose by two each.
MINNEAPOLIS-- Officials have told school lunch programs across the country to check to see whether they have any Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches that might contain peanut butter made by a New Mexico company that is being recalled because of potential salmonella contamination.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-- The eastern New Mexico town of Portales is preparing for its 39th annual peanut festival this weekend. But the festivities may be overshadowed by anxiety over the shuttering of a local plant at the heart of a national peanut butter recall.
DENVER-- It's not all hippies backing November's marijuana legalization votes in Colorado, Oregon and Washington.
MONTPELIER, Vt.-- Don't let the bright eyes and bushy tails fool you. In southern Vermont, Clarence Boston said he hasn't seen such an infestation of pests in the 33 years he has been an orchardist on 60 farms in five states. This year's squirrel boom in parts of Vermont followed two seasons of bountiful acorn and beechnut crops and last year's mild winter.
Concerned that Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson could hurt the Romney campaign, Republicans across the country have been working to keep him off the ballot, The New York Times reports.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas-- When the federal government began seizing private land along the U.S.- Mexico border to build a towering fence, Teofilo Flores was offered $1,650 for a slice of his backyard. And another nearby farmer pocketed $1 million in exchange for his cooperation.
WASHINGTON-- A New Mexico food company that produced the peanut butter linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning has expanded an ongoing recall of its products to include raw and roasted peanuts.
SANTA FE, N.M., Oct 12- New Mexico's policy of granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants will violate a federal law taking effect in January, meaning residents won't be able to use their licenses as ID to board airplanes, the state's governor says.
Texas- based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,411 rigs were exploring for oil and 422 were searching for gas. Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained four rigs while Alaska, New Mexico and Oklahoma gained one apiece. Arkansas, Colorado, North Dakota and Wyoming lost one rig apiece.
SANTA FE, N.M.-- The state's top securities regulator says a fake audit at the New Mexico Finance Authority went undetected for months and was distributed to investors because of a complete breakdown of the agency's management and oversight.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas-- Convenience store chain Susser Holdings Corp. anticipates that a key revenue trend rose more slowly in its recently ended third quarter. Susser, which runs about 550 Stripes shops in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, has opened 15 stores this year, expect to open 11 in the last three months of the year and has plans for 28 to 35 next year.
Velvet Ice Cream said Thursday that some of the peanut products bought from Sunland Inc. for use in the ice cream flavors could be contaminated. The recalled Velvet products are sold mainly at convenience stores, ice cream parlors and small, independent retailers in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
BOSTON, Oct 10- New Mexico's public pension fund, a big investor with hedge funds, asked Eton Park Capital Management and Marathon Asset Management to return its money as the fund overhauled its portfolio, the fund's chief investment officer said on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON-- A Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday found that the economy grew modestly in the late summer, bolstered by solid gains in housing. The report is based on anecdotal information from the regional districts and covers the period from mid-August to Sept. 28. The region's economy expanded modestly.
Oct 9- An Austrian adventurer will have to wait at least until Sunday to skydive from a balloon flying 23 miles above New Mexico in an attempt to break a long-standing freefall record and the sound barrier. Felix Baumgartner, 43, had hoped to make the jump on Thursday following two delays this week because of high winds in Roswell, New Mexico.
The pints involved have the UPC symbol 8 94509 00231 9 and expiration dates ranging from February 2013 to August 2014. The peanut butter in the ice cream came from Sunland, Inc., a New Mexico peanut butter manufacturing plant. Clemmy's is located in Rancho Mirage, southeast of Palm Springs, and makes sugar, lactose and gluten-free ice cream.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.-- Belfonte Ice Cream is recalling two types of ice cream that contain peanut butter because of the potential of salmonella contamination. The ice cream was sold between April 2010 and October 2012 in retail and convenience stores in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
COLUMBUS, Ind.-- Indiana- based engine maker Cummins Inc. plans to cut as many as 1,500 jobs by the end of the year. The Columbus- based company has factories in Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico and North Carolina, and several overseas.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.-- A New Mexico man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges in a 2010 fire that destroyed a landmark Wyoming hotel. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal in Cheyenne. The establishment had been a favorite lodge and watering hole for Wyoming lawmakers for decades.


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Dell has added a new channel programme around imaging and printing to its rapidly-expanding PartnerDirect ecosystem, offering renewed support for partners selling its mono, colour and multifunction printers.
Dell said it was seeing increased growth in its print business – on both traditional and managed print services – across key EMEA territories, and wanted to help partners take advantage of this.
The Dell Imaging & Print Strategic Partner Programme builds on our commitment to our channel partners who continue to focus their print businesses on selling our industry-leading printers,” said Dave McNally, Dell Imaging director of EMEA product marketing.
“The programme provides tools which will be integral in enabling our partners to further grow and strengthen customer relationships, benefitting both Dell and partners alike.”
Benefits contained within the new programme, which is open to Registered, Preferred and Premier PartnerDirect members alike, include supplies rebates on consumable orders from Dell and participating disties; access to MDF providing reimbursement of up to 50% to a maximum of $25,000 (£16,090) per quarter; training and tech support, both online and face-to-face; and dedicated account managers.
Image credit: Creatas


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New Savanna variant – with rum!
Savanna, SA’s madly popular cider, has introduced a new variant, Savanna Blackbeard, to its existing portfolio of premium variants.
A FIRST of its kind in South Africa, this premium cider is made with a splash of rum flavour, resulting in a “bold new taste for an adventurous drinking experience”, says Distell.
Blackbeard is a special release and has been available at leading liquor outlets nationwide from the beginning of October 2017.
“This is another proud moment for the brand as we continue to push boundaries with innovative flavour profiles,” says Leanne Jones, Savanna SA marketing manager.
“We’re excited to have our consumers experience a bold new taste sensation. Consumers know with Savanna they can expect an unexpected twist, but we always keep our original base to stay true to this iconic South African brand.”
Blackbeard, she adds, is infused with the sweet flavours of rum but also surprises the palate with hints of raisins, spices and fermented honey.
With a 5% ABV, it has a smooth, refreshing finish.
The recommended price for the premium cider is R79.95 for a (6x330ml) pack and R289.95 for a case (4x 6x330ml).
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April 15, 2011
lovers rejoice, a new brewery is open! Icicle Brewing Company on
Front St in Leavenworth decided to quietly open its doors one day earlier than scheduled. The local brews are not
quite ready to serve, but northwest craft beers are flowing and customers are already starting to arrive. And if
you’re wondering what’s on tap from Icice Brewing at Saturday’s Ale Fest in the Leavenworth
Festhalle… brewmaster Dean Priebe is serving an exclusive Glen Hay IPA he collaborated on with a number of
other brewers. Proceeds from the brew go to memorial Glen Hay Falconer scholarships, which allowed Priebe himself
to attend the Siebel Institute World Brewing Academy.


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Volkswagen has a tidbit in store for classic car enthusiasts this spring after the German automaker announced it would be launching a production-ready version of its electric VW Microbus restart – also known as ID Buzz – this spring.
Company boss Herbert Diess tweeted the news, five years after the idea was born as a concept car at the Detroit Auto Show. Now it is preparing to finally hit the factory line before being fully released in 2023.
The ID Buzz is a clear homage to the famous VW Microbus, which was officially in production between 1950 and 1980. The peak of its popularity, however, was in the ’60s and’ 70s when it became an iconic part of the hippie counterculture – so much so that it is arguably best known as the “hippie van” to this day.
The ID Buzz will not only undoubtedly help transport future generations of festival heads to Burning Man and Glastonbury, but will also be used by VW as an autonomous test vehicle in the company’s German home market.
The idea there is for a possible rollout as a commercial ride-hailing solution by 2025 – which gives a whole new meaning to the idea of taking a trip with Uber, or maybe that’s just our twisted opinion.
Details of the ID Buzz’s specs, pricing, and other key details are still few and far between, but we expect to hear a lot more on March 9th.
What we do know is that the ID Buzz is one of several exciting new electric vehicles the manufacturer plans in the coming years, with the ID 3 hatchback, ID 4 crossover SUV, and ID 5 luxury SUV also in the works.


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ATLANTA -- Business executives in the Southeast expect the prices of goods and services to rise 1.8 percent this year, according to a survey released Friday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
The anticipated rate is down slightly from a 1.9 percent average compiled in the previous month and is in line with what most economists predict. When it comes to inflation already being experienced, costs to the businesses surveyed are up an average of 1.5 percent over the previous January.
The survey of 170 firms was conducted Jan. 16-20.
Wages exert slight pressure while the cost of materials and energy were moderately more significant factors on the inflation expectations reported, according to the survey.
Perhaps the good news is that most of the businesses questioned said they were not inclined to make large boosts in their own prices in reaction to their inflation expectations, according to Michael Bryan, senior vice president and economist at the bank. More than one-third said they don't make price increases of less than 1 percent, waiting for the need for a larger jump.
Instead, they report that their own margins are shrinking. Sales are also down in January from the same month a year ago for 56 percent of the firms. Just 17 percent are enjoying higher revenues.
The report is the first public results of a new, monthly survey the bank began conducting in November. Officials there didn't want to begin releasing the results until it had worked the bugs out, such as figuring out how to phrase its questions without suggesting an answer.
For example, the executives were asked about the unit price they expect to set rather than asking about inflation in general, Bryan said.
"We're a little concerned that the concept of inflation is a little too far removed from the way businesses are setting prices," he said.
Bryan said of the new survey is unique. Several organizations produce periodic reports on various economic measures or survey economists, but he didn't know of any looking how much inflation is expected by the people who actually set prices.
"It's unique," he said. "That's one of the reasons we wanted to do this. Surprisingly, there is very, very little information on the actual price setters."


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“It’s perfect tea weather,” said Cordes Bakhsh, 26, who poured samples of Dragon Well and Yunnan Black teas from the shop he oversees, Mad Monk Tea Co. in Ocean Beach. “You’d think more people would be here.”
Still, the tea event fit with other multicultural happenings at the Ideal Hotel. The historic, two-story building is overseen by the Red Lotus Society, a nonprofit that provides yoga classes and an urban retreat in the heart of the Gaslamp. The group’s signature event is the May 22 Sit-a-Thon, featuring meditations led by American Indian, Taoist and Sufi practitioners among others.
“Tea, it cultivates mindfulness,” said Dave Macek, the Red Lotus Society’s executive director. “Just to have tea in our center and to see the atmosphere it creates … coffee really (makes) a different environment.”
About the poor turnout? During the Tea Appreciation, it was discovered that email reminders went out with the wrong time for the event — 1 p.m. was listed, instead of 11 a.m.
“We’ll all just have a cup of tea and chill and let it go,” Fahl said about the mistake.
firstname.lastname@example.org (619) 293-1541; Twitter @kelidailey


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Major online trading platforms Amazon and eBay have announced the launch of a joint project – the Looting.com marketplace. The new service is designed to sell products that have changed owners during protests in American cities.
“In the last week, a record number of almost 90,000 new sellers have registered on our website, offering luxury brands at extremely low prices,” said Harold Kumar, a member of the eBay board of directors. – “We usually block such users to prevent counterfeiting from spreading. But this time, security checks have shown that all lots are original and of good quality. And their low cost can only be explained by the fact that the sellers got them by looting in brand stores and warehouses”.
Marketplace representatives emphasized their solidarity with the BlackLivesMatter movement and protests taking place in the United States.
“We strongly condemn all expressions of racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and transphobia, as well as all forms of police violence and abuse of authority against our black brothers,” said Ramon Mercader, Amazon Law Director. – “We are also convinced that looting during a just popular uprising cannot be considered theft or robbery, but only a procedure for the public redistribution of surplus property.
The creation of the new service is intended to finally eliminate social phobias with regard to the looting and strengthen its positive reputation among consumers.
“We looters do a lot for people,” says Sif Black, one of the first residents of the new service. – “Millions of ordinary Americans, whether they’re white or Asian, have worked hard all their lives, but because of exorbitant taxes, they can’t afford the latest Prada, Gucci, or at least Louis Vuitton handbags. Looters make branded items two to three times cheaper for everyone.
In the near future, Amazon and eBay intend to conduct a full-scale advertising campaign for the new marketplace. The slogan for it is “When the looting starts, the shopping starts!”.


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Sprint Nextel interim CEO Paul Saleh admitted that the company has lost focus but isn't about to scale back its WiMAX plans--at least as it relates to rolling out Baltimore/Washington D.C. and Chicago by year-end. Saleh told The Washington Post that the company will be working on simplifying the business as well as improving customer service. Earlier this month Gary Forsee stepped down as chairman and CEO of the company amid investor dissatisfaction over the company's high churn rate, its poor integration with Nextel and its $5-billion WiMAX plans.
Said Saleh: "There are a lot of questions about WiMAX obviously fueled by our competitors who would love to see us distracted. But I would say it is a cornerstone to our future. I think there's a renewed sense that if we get some of the basics right, focus on the customer, we really can get back to our rightful position as a leader in the industry."
For more about Saleh's views of Sprint Nextel:
- read this article from The Washington Post


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The change is apparent when visiting Nest.com. Once you go there, the page redirects you to the Google Store with the words “Nest.com has moved to the Google Store. Nest and Google Home have joined together as Google Nest. Moving forward, you can learn about and buy all Nest products in one place: the Google Store.”
This means that Nest customers can still manage their subscriptions at Nest.com, but current and future Nest products and product support pages are all being transferred to the Google Store. For those who will become new customers in the future, Nest sells a number of smart home products such as carbon monoxide detectors, smart thermostats, motion sensors, and smart doorbells, among other things.
Google once sold its smart home products such as smart speakers and displays under the “Google Home” label, but that all changed when Google decided to merge Google Home and Nest under the “Google Nest” label recently at Google’s annual I/O developer conference this year. Google renamed its Home Hub “Nest Hub,” and this change prior to I/O 2019 set the stage for Google’s big rebranding announcement.
The new Google Nest rebranding is designed to do two things. First, Google Nest solidifies Google’s control over Nest once and for all. After the acquisition, there was a time when Nest didn’t hit its financial goals and Google considered selling the company off. And yet, in the middle of it all, it appears as though Google found a purpose for the company, so much so that creating the “Google Nest” label shows Google’s full confidence in its purchase for the smart home industry.
Next, Google Nest also shows Google’s attempt to win the trust of consumers. It’s no secret that Google, owner of the beloved Google Search as well as the owner of popular mobile OS Android, has access to lots of user information — so much so that few consumers actually trust Google.
Renaming its Google Home Hub the “Nest Hub,” and introducing the “Nest Hub Max,” without Google labeling (though there is still a “G” on the back of the product), may go a long way to helping consumers see Nest as a separate entity from Google.
At the same time, Google wants to assert is autonomy and sovereignty over the company, and, with Nest being a “spoil of acquisition,” it makes sense. Google doesn’t want to scare consumers into privacy fears concerning Nest (with Google’s name attached), but at the same time, it wants everyone to know who owns Nest: that is, tech giant Google.
And, to be sure, it makes sense to centralize products and product locations when two companies are now under the same umbrella. It is easier to have one store at which to sell products than to maintain two different stores for essentially the same product category (that is, smart home and home security). Nest entered the home security market with its “Nest Secure” label, but these products are now under the “Google Nest” label at the Google Store.
Google purchased Nest back in 2014 for $3.2 billion with SEC approval and with the approval of former Nest head Tony Fadell, who is also known as the “Father of the iPod” and whose work on the iPhone led to significant changes for the mobile industry.
Fadell, in discussing the Google acquisition, emphasized that Google wouldn’t have access to user data but that the Nest thermostat would, to improve Nest products and services. He departed from Google’s Nest back in 2016.
Google has brought Nest products into the fold as a result of its acquisition, but in recent days, the search engine giant has been integrating Google Assistant into Nest devices so that they work as their formerly-named “Google Home” counterparts do.


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What you need to know
- Valve is pushing out a new update from their preview Steam Labs program to the public.
- The new update focuses on Search, with new tools such as tags and filtering.
- The update should be rolling out right now to the general public.
Steam is the largest gaming platform and storefront on PC's by a long ways, so regular updates are important to keep everything ticking along smoothly. Today, Valve has announced that they're pushing out a new update that features a ton of quality-of-life improvements to Steam's Search tools. Valve hopes this will make it even easier to find the exact game players are looking for, and make looking for new games and content more accessible.
The update started out as part of a Steam Labs experiment, where Valve can safely test the new features and collect feedback. While the update is overall on the smaller side, there are a ton of smaller changes, including:
- Narrow games down by price or sales offers.
- Filter out by genre or type of game using tags.
- Filter out games in a players wishlist or library.
- Search for VR-only games or exclude them entirely.
- Filter games by language support.
- Infinite scroll for search results.
The update looks to be a much-welcomed improvement to Steam's aging Search, and Valve promises they're open to future development to further improve Steam. If you're interested in participating in the Steam Labs program, or reading Valve's full blog post, we have all the details here.
Do you feel these changes are enough of an update for Steam's Search tools, or was there more you wanted to see? Let us know in the comments below.
Should Halo Infinite get its rumored battle royale mode?
Recently, a rumor that Halo Infinite will have a battle royale mode surfaced. Would this be a good move for Microsoft and 343 Industries to make? Here's what we think.
The Cyber Monday keyboard deals you need to know about
Getting your hands on a new keyboard is exciting for PC users, and thanks to Black Friday, it's more affordable than ever before. Here's a look at the best Black Friday keyboard deals available now.
Review: Immortals Fenyx Rising a late Game of the Year contender
Immortals Fenyx Rising skyrocketed to the top of my Game of the Year list, and I think it's something a lot of people will really like.
We pit the HP ENVY x360 15 against the Lenovo Yoga C740 15
Both the Lenovo Yoga C740 and the HP ENVY x360 15 are great convertible devices, but which one should you actually buy? Here are our thoughts.


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Orange is rolling out the San Diego, an Android smartphone built around an Intel Atom processor and HD voice, on June 6. The San Diego is the first Intel “powered” smartphone to launch in Europe.
The handset uses the Z2640 Intel Atom processor in combination with the Intel XMM 6260 HSPA Platform. It features 1080p video capture, image stabilization, an 8MP camera with a 1 second/10 shot “burst” mode. It supports HD voice (AMR-WB), along with A-BPS and Bluetooth 2.1.
Currently running Android 2.3, an upgrade to Android’s “Ice Cream Sandwich” update is expected in September. Cost of the phone is around 200 pounds on Orange’s pre-pay plan or free to customers who sign up for a 24 month plan starting at around 15.50 pounds.


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Aston Martin has never had a problem making its cars look and sound glorious. A contributing hand from Zagato has only made the pointy end of its capabilities that much sharper. The V12 Zagato, built with a slew of extra man-hours on top of a V12 Vantage, will deliver 510 horsepower of twelve-cylinder, limited-edition happiness to 150 buyers.
Aston Martin V12 Zagato production road car
- Volvo shoots for self-drivers by 2021
- Jeep spends $1 billion on factories
- Find Parts & Accessories for your vehicle!
- Obama rolls out new EV plan
- Infiniti dealers ranked best, Tesla worst
- Compare Volvo XC90 and Lincoln MKX


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The factory has finished its last production day, ending six decades serving its community in Queensland.
While much of the innovation in plant-based foods has been spearheaded by small, more nimble players and start-ups, majo...
However, he said the company would grow ahead of the broader market and he does not expect any hits to margins in the ne...
The patented technology can block or prevent bacteria and mould on everyday surfaces, including washing machines and dis...
Palm oil, soy bean and paper suppliers put on notice.
New Zealand has been chosen for a year-long trial of a four-day working week by Unilever.
Unilever’s Dutch shares traded in Amsterdam for the last time on Friday.
Unilever expects to quintuple sales of plant-based meats and dairy alternatives.
Unilever, which has enjoyed a significant uptick in demand for its products during the coronavirus pandemic, has committ...
Unilever has partnered with biotech firm Algenuity to produce new plant-based foods from microalgae.
References to 'fair', 'light' and 'white' will be removed from marketing communications.
The consumer goods giant is targeting net zero emissions from all its products by 2039.
The alcohol-based hand sanitiser will be produced in NSW and will hit supermarket shelves by the end of May.
Online marketplace to help food distributors left with excess stock due to the sudden closure of hospitality outlets as ...
Unilever's office-based employees globally told to work from home.


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Epic design boss Cliff Bleszisnki has confirmed that Shadow Complex 2 is “largely designed,” with the company looking for a partner to bring it to the masses.
“Shadow Complex 2 is sitting there, it’s actually largely designed, we just need to find a partner that will help us to finish it so we can bring it to market,” Bleszinski told Gamasutra.
It comes as Epic boss Mike Capps said at GDC Europe last month that work on SC2 at Chair Entertainment was pulled from that particular project to Infinity Blade for iOS.
Bleszinski said that it was considering a straight conversion of Complex for iOS, but decided instead to develop something new in the form of Infinity Blade.
“We needed a flagship product for iOS, plain and simple,” he said. “And we could have ported Shadow Complex, but it would have been a lot of work and it might not have been the right fit.
“And then Donald Mustard suggested Punch Out!! with swords with RPG layers and we were like, ‘Yes!'”
The original Shadow Complex launched in 2009 from Epic and Chair on Xbox Live Arcade to critical acclaim.
Epic announced at gamescom that it was working on five projects within the company, with Bleszinski telling VG247 in a recent interview that they were being “spearheaded by multiple people” within the company.


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CEM REPORT, FINANCE | Loans to private sector of the Nigerian economy recorded a significant increase of 24.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2022 (Q2’23).
The service, industry and agriculture received a combined total of ₦37,479.37 billion, from ₦30,346.13 billion in the preceding quarter.
According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, 2023 second quarter economic report, the services sector remained the dominant recipient of credit, accounting for the largest share at 51.6 per cent. The industry sector was next at 43.5 per cent, while agriculture accounted for 4.9 per cent.
A further breakdown reveals that the service sector secured a combined total of ₦19.3 billion from 16.1 billion in Q1’23, representing a 19.9 per cent increase, of which Finance, Insurance and Capital Market received 3.4 billion in credit from 2.6 billion in Q1’23.
The industry sector received an increase of 24.4 per cent in credit, amounting to ₦3.4 billion in loans in the review quarter compared to ₦2.6 billion in the preceding quarter. 9f the total sum construction companies secured ₦1.5 billion.
While loans to the agricultural sector declined by 2.6 per cent from ₦1.9 billion to ₦1.8 billion. This is quite disheartening as the federal government has been hammering on increasing FX Inflow through agriculture.
The CBN attributed the growth in sectorial loans to the continued implementation of the Loan-to-Deposit Ratio (LDR) policy and the revaluation effect of foreign currency denominated.
As a result of strengthened enforcement of the Loan-to-Deposit Ratio (LDR) policy, according to the report loans to customers (personal loans) “increased significantly by 12.2 per cent, to ₦2,637.31 billion in the second quarter of 2023, compared with ₦2,349.88 billion at the end of the preceding quarter,” the report stated.
The report further details that other depository corporations (ODCs) to customers declined to 7.0 per cent, which is below the 7.7 and 7.8 per cent recorded in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2022, respectively.
[READ ALSO] Nigerians Income Increase in 2023
“The components of consumer credit revealed that personal loans accounted for the larger share, totaling ₦1,922.20 billion, representing 72.9 per cent of the total, while retail loans accounted for 27.1 per cent, equivalent to ₦715.10 billion.”
The increase in loans is no surprise as businesses are struggling to stay afloat owing to the declining purchasing power of Nigeria, this is not far from the increase in inflation and exchange rate fluctuations.


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HTC looking to NVIDIA's Tegra platform for high-performance phones?
byChris Ziegler||January 16th 2009 at 8:04amJanuary 16th 2009 8:04 am
We've been waiting patiently since Tegra's announcement half a year ago for some seriously awesome Tegra-powered hardware (well, any hardware) to get unveiled, but so far, you could hear a pin drop -- we've gotten nothing. That should hopefully change in a big way in 2009, and at least one analyst is predicting that HTC will play a role in getting that mobile NVIDIA silicon into pockets around the world. There's no question that HTC's supposed leaked lineup contains devices that would fit well into Tegra's high-function, multimedia-heavy aspirations, but on the flipside, we've also got rumors that the company moving toward Ericsson chipsets. Tegra's definitely flashier than anything in Ericsson's stable, and HTC's big enough to pursue multiple chipset strategies at the same time -- they have with software platforms, after all -- so let's hope this high drama all resolves itself by MWC next month, eh?


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State Attorneys General Reaffirm Opposition to T-Mobile / Sprint Merger
New York State Attorney General Letitia James today confirmed that she continues to lead a coalition of 14 states in suing to stop the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint on anti-trust grounds, in spite of today's approval of the merger by the US Department of Justice. The states' concerns include specific issues with the deal announced today by the DoJ and Dish, for Dish to take certain assets from Sprint to build a new, fourth national carrier. The new concerns include: "Dish has never shown any inclination or ability to build a nationwide mobile network on its own and has repeatedly broken assurances to the Federal Communications Commission about deployment of its spectrum." and "T-Mobile and Sprint are asking Americans to trust that this new mega corporation will act directly against its own economic interests by helping transform Dish into an independent competitor that rivals this new company" In addition to New York, the plaintiffs currently include California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Jul 26, 2019
The US Department of Justice has given its blessing to the proposed merger of T-Mobile and Sprint. Several conditions — including a comprehensive deal with Dish intended to create a small fourth national carrier — have satisfied the federal government's anti-trust concerns.
Jul 26, 2019
Dish Network will pay $5 billion to buy significant Sprint assets in an attempt to create a new national 5G wireless network, in a deal brokered by the US Department of Justice to win approval for T-Mobile merging with Sprint. The deal includes $3.6 billion for licenses to 14 MHz of nationwide 800 MHz spectrum.
Aug 7, 2019
Samsung today announced the Galaxy Note10 and Note10+. The company's super-flagship Note series for 2019 comes in two sizes: The Note10 packs a screen similar to the Note9 into a smaller body, while the Note10+ sports a larger display in a body similar in size to the Note9.
May 7, 2019
Google today expanded its Pixel lineup with two mid-range models: the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. The new models look much like the higher-end Pixel 3 models and have many of the same features, but use software to bring enhanced quality to more affordable hardware components such as a camera module without Google's Visual Core chip.
Send in the Clowns
Congrats to these useless morons for delaying the inevitable by making themselves appear useful when they really aren’t.


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Herzliya, Israel-based cannabis producer InterCure is buying rival medical marijuana company Cann Pharmaceutical, also known as Better, for $35 million (44.4 million Canadian dollars) in stock.
InterCure described Better as a pioneering Israeli medical cannabis multinational operator.
The deal includes Better’s:
- Unique cultivars.
- Cultivation site.
- Intellectual property.
- Commercial operations inside and outside Israel.
The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2022.
InterCure said the acquisition will create “revenue synergies” worth an estimated 50 million Israeli new shekels ($15.7 million) in the upcoming year.
“InterCure and Better’s combined business operations are expected to create a new force in the international cannabis industry that will further accelerate our global expansion plans and opportunities and the consolidation process,” InterCure CEO Alex Rabinovitch said in a statement.
Stay informed with MJBiz Newsletters
MJBiz’s family of newsletters gives cannabis professionals an edge in this rapidly changing industry.
- MJBizDaily: Business news for cannabis leaders in your inbox each morning
- MJBiz Cultivator: Insights for wholesale cannabis growers & vertically integrated businesses
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- And more!
The company did not state which international markets Better operates in.


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OmniMount and Ergotron, Nortek Subsidiaries, Unveil New Interactive Mounts for Consumers at CEDIA 2011
OmniMount introduces new mounts with Constant Force Technology from Ergotron for greater viewer interaction and experience
Phoenix, AZ - September 6, 2011 - OmniMount is introducing the CE industry's first interactive TV wall mount with Ergotron Constant Force Technology at CEDIA EXPO 11 in Indianapolis, booth 4025. The OmniMount ActionMount™ PLAY40 expands on the interactive capabilities of the TV viewer, creating an all -new experience for the whole family that's healthier and interactive. OmniMount and Ergotron's integration within Nortek is providing customers with the broadest market -leading portfolios across the business -to -business, Retail and Consumer, Professional Audio, Digital Signage OEM Branded and Global Services markets and industries. OmniMount will continue to focus on the Consumer / Retail and Professional Audio markets but will leverage the expertise of both brands to introduce consumers to products like the interactive TV mount (PLAY40), and the world's first constant force sit -stand workstation (WFA) for home office and computing environments, also available for preview at CEDIA.
"Ergotron's CF Technology has been incorporated into our new interactive mount offerings," said Geoff Miller, OmniMount president and CEO. "Many consumers want to do more than just stare at their TVs. They play games with them and work out with them. Now it's possible for the display to be positioned exactly where the consumer wants it, with infinite variety and ease of use."
Ergotron's patented Constant Force Technology brings a new element of weight adjustability to the OmniMount line, in products that swiftly adjust multiple size and weight displays. This gives consumers effortless lift, pivot and tilt functionality at price points that will provide retailers the highest accessory attachment rates to their TV sales.
"We focus our energy on designing and launching products that consumers want," said Joel Hazzard, CEO and president of Ergotron. "Today people are interacting with their displays and TV's and we are bringing tremendous products to market that exceed what the consumers want. They will now be able to move their display to suit multiple applications -from gaming to optimal viewing for 3DTV's with effortless repositioning for whatever the application."
As screen options evolve, consumers are growing savvier about where their content should be displayed and how they want to interact with it. With OmniMount's new interactive mounts for TV viewing and computing, the choice is placed back in the consumers' hands, encouraging healthy movement that is not only good for the body by helping tone muscles, increase blood flow, even promote greater caloric burn, but also by increasing the real and perceived enjoyment of the focused activity. Whether sitting or standing at a computer workstation, or raising or lowering a screen for kids or adult playing a Wii game, the results are clear.
Both the PLAY40 and the WFA will be on display at CEDIA in addition to OmniMount's new A/V mounting and furniture solutions. For more information about OmniMount's entire product line visit www.omnimount.com. OmniMount will be hosting a press event at CEDIA highlighting all their new products in addition to in -booth promotions. Follow and connect with OmniMount during the show on popular social networking sites Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook or watch the latest videos on YouTube.
Nortek is a leading diversified global manufacturer of innovative, branded residential and commercial ventilation, HVAC and technology products. Nortek offers a broad array of products, including: range hoods, bath fans, indoor air quality systems, heating and air conditioning systems, and technology offerings, including audio, video, access control, security and digital display mounting and mobility products. For more information about Nortek visit www.nortek -inc.com.
OmniMount is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of A/V mounting and furniture solutions for residential home entertainment and commercial applications. A perennial innovator, OmniMount has set industry standards for over three decades with groundbreaking in -house design and engineering, premium quality and unsurpassed reliability. Whether it's a small speaker, a large flat panel display, or anything in between, OmniMount has the right mounting solution for every job. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, OmniMount currently is represented in more than 67 countries.
Founded in 1982 by VESA FDMI standard author and visionary Harry Sweere, Ergotron is a global manufacturer of digital display mounting and mobility products, headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with sales efforts in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, and Singapore. Ergotron's products have been improving the human interface with digital displays for over 25 years with a history of innovation and passion for differentiation evidenced in over 37 patents and our growing portfolio of award winning products for computer monitors, notebooks, and large flat panel displays and TVs. Ergotron products enhance computing wellness, improve workplace productivity and create business process efficiencies. Incorporating Ergotron's Constant Force lift and pivot motion technology, wall and desk mount arms, stands, mobile carts, pivots and vertical lifts require less effort to achieve more ergonomic motion, improving the user's experience when viewing any digital display for work or entertainment. For more information on Ergotron's complete line of products visit www.ergotron.com or call 800 -888 -8458.
OmniMount Press contact: Betsey Banker, firstname.lastname@example.org
Ergotron Press contact: Michelle Judd, email@example.com


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By Graeme Kemlo
Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) held a leaders’ lunch in Melbourne in July to talk about the future of event accommodation bookings in the era of global online travel agents (OTAs). Graeme Kemlo went along for micenet.
Seen as digital disruptors in the events industry – at least as far as PCOs and event managers are concerned – the threat of online travel agents (OTSs) to the traditional business models of the meetings industry was the elephant in the room.
MEA CEO Robyn Johnson facilitated a panel of experts on both sides of the debate: hoteliers, who gain significant bookings for events from OTAs and members from the meetings industry. In the first camp were Anne Gill, chair of the Accor MICE Advisory Board, Alexander Gorman, IHG’s Australasian director of national sales and Greg Moore, general manager Crown Promenade and past Victorian chair of Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA). From the meetings industry were Tamara Kavales, CEO of Arinex and Kate Smith, MD of WALDRONSMITH Management. Around 100 MEA members attended the event, one of the first to be held in the newly expanded Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Ms Johnson said MEA had spent time discussing with its hotel members what those in the organising sector of the industry should be doing differently and what challenges hotels faced from the rise of OTAs. Ultimately she said there was a shared responsibility and both sides needed to “Bring about the best outcomes for our shared customers, while continuing to grow and strengthen our business events sector.”
She said rapid and strategic growth in the hotel sector would see hotel chains bring new inventory on board across the country in the coming years, “So the competition is growing with a further 8300 rooms in the pipeline for completion by 2024 in Melbourne alone.”
Commenting on this, Greg Moore said he believed the room supply coming in Melbourne over the next five years would be completely absorbed, however analysis by Deloitte suggested that by 2030, Melbourne could again face a hotel shortage.
“As long as you keep holding big beautiful business events, we will keep building,” Greg Moore told members.
Asked how organisers worked with hotels, Tamara Kavales said Arinex predominantly worked with room blocks and had done so for decades.
“It is an important part of our business… the competition that’s coming in from OTAs has meant that we have to shift the way that we’re thinking slightly, and we have also found that because the buyers are so much more informed and they’ve got so many more options now, we are having to look at different ways.”
Tamara said Arinex made decisions based on the conference and the destination, but did use an OTA for regional events and also used direct booking links to hotels on certain conferences.
“It depends on the demographic of the buyer as well as our relationship with the hotel,” she said.
“For us it is about using the data we have collected over many years to analyse each event and determine what’s going to work for that delegate… and that’s really important…it is important for the hotels as well.”
Responding, Anne Gill said, “Accor has a responsibility to be a good partner with our clients and part of that is understanding the customer and [that] the customer is actually driving a lot of these changes about how they want to buy.
“It is not just happening in this segment, it is happening across all our different market segments.”
She said that where rooming lists and blocks may have worked in the past, a lot of customers were not ready to make attendance decisions far in advance.
Kate Smith said her organisation had worked on room blocks for a number of years.
“For us, it brings surety of rooms and clients will sell registrations knowing that the infrastructure is there.
“But it is not ‘one size fits all’ and we as organisers have an obligation to educate the hotel partners we are going out to about our client.
“We have their history and know their room take-up over previous years,” she said, and this information was shared with hotels from the outset.
The change affecting hotels was staff retention and many faced skills shortages of staff experienced in meetings and events. Alexander Gorman said IHG would add 80 hotels by 2020 in Australasia and was now focusing on brands when attracting talent because each brand differs.
“It is not just about the suit and tie and 20 years’ experience…it is now someone who knows the customer who is attached to that brand,” he said, adding that a job description for one of IHG’s new brands requires the hotel GM to lead customers in a yoga session every morning.
Meanwhile, Greg Moore said he had never been in an industry where tattoos were not only permitted, “but having them on display is actively encouraged.”


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By : Nav Kullar
January 15, 2019 01:00 PM
With the biggest financial institutions handling thousands of transactions a second, it's no longer good enough to aim for high availability. Services must be 100 percent continuous and reliable.
High availability has become a key goal for businesses operating in the payments industry. But with major financial institutions responsible for handling thousands of transactions a second, even the slightest lapses in service have an impact on a considerable number of customers.
As a result, providers are increasingly looking beyond just high levels of reliability and targeting 100 percent, continuous availability.
The journey to continuous availability
In the not-so-distant past, the key target for payments systems was ‘five 9s’, meaning the payment systems were expected to be available 99.999 percent of the time. But that still meant the service was down for over 5 minutes a year. That was also in the world where the core banking system could be moved to ‘batch mode’ once branches shut for the day.
Of course systems and processes have improved such that ‘six 9s’ is normal which brings the service unavailability down to about 30 seconds. As good as this might sound, the prevailing opinion in the industry is that even a few seconds of unavailability a year is too much.
The need for continuous availability is particularly clear in light of some of the key current trends in the payments sector, such as the ongoing growth of card and digital transactions.
In the EU, total non-cash payments increased by nearly eight percent to 134 billion in 2017, according to the European Central Bank. Cards accounted for more than half (52 percent) of all transactions.
Personal credit cards were the most popular payment method in the United States last year, preferred by 29.5 percent of Americans. PayPal (14.8 percent) and debit cards (9.2 percent) followed, with cash or check (eight percent) in fourth place.
In Australia, meanwhile, the governor of the country's central bank recently said the growth of electronic transactions could mean physical cash becomes a "niche payment instrument reserved only for emergencies."
However, Philip Lowe also stressed this emphasizes the need for maximum reliability in electronic payments. With consumers becoming more and more reliant on cards and digital transactions, financial institutions need to ensure the right systems and processes are in place to deliver continuous availability.
Some of the biggest names in the payments industry are shifting their focus where availability is concerned. They are moving away from percentages and the 'five 9s' philosophy, and focusing on the number of transactions affected by lapses in availability, however short or infrequent they may be.
To achieve true continuous availability, systems must be designed, prepared and maintained with this goal in mind.
Some organizations are still of the mindset that it's acceptable for transaction processing platforms to be taken out of service temporarily, for instance, for upgrades to be carried out, but this will soon become untenable.
So one of the key questions facing payments businesses is: how can we make software updates and carry out maintenance without impacting availability?
The answer could lie in the DevOps methodology. Essentially based on the combination of software development and information technology operations, DevOps enables shorter systems development life cycles and facilitates regular delivery of new features, patches and upgrades.
In the payments environment, this strategy opens up the possibility of new services being deployed and key improvements being made on a regular basis, without adverse effects on availability.
NCR has witnessed first-hand how some of the biggest organizations in the global financial services industry, handling billions of transactions a year, have succeeded with this approach and achieved continuous availability with Authentic.
It's clear businesses looking to combine the highest levels of availability with maximum control over systems and functionality need a platform expressly designed for the modern payments industry. Those legacy technologies built with the ‘five 9s’ philosophy are no longer fit for purpose.
Businesses equipped with flexible and customizable transaction processing solutions will be the ones leading the race towards continuous availability.


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Author: Paul Ploumis22 Apr 2014 Last updated at 02:11:01 GMT
JAKARTA (Scrap Monster): Global tin market is facing a shortfall since 2010. According to the Hindu Business line, the condition will prevail for the coming years. The regulations imposed by the Indonesian government on tin trade are the main reason behind the deficit of the metal. This is due to the minimum bid price set by a committee for Indonesian tin each week which is above LME price. Experts say that the traders cannot cope up with that price as long as there is limited availability of tin in other exchanges.
Global Tin demand is expected to remain strong in the forthcoming years. However, many experts analyze that the prices of the metal will lose its momentum. Business Line noted that the demand will again increase due to the growing global GDP. The electronics field also has a key role in the increasing demand of the metal. Since tin is used in lithium in batteries and also in other emerging technology, obviously tin demand will increase to a peak level.
Before the setting strict prices rules, Bangka Island in Indonesia was the primary source of Tin for major consumers including Smartphone makers, Samsung for the metal. China, the major consumer of tin is now looking for an alternative method in order to meet up the demand for Tin. As an alternative, they used to import raw material from Myanmar instead of buying from Indonesia.
In order to face this highest demand of tin globally Minsur-world’s third largest producer of tin has decided to increase its production from San Rafael and Pittinga mines. Despite all these issues, the prices of Tin are likely to lose its value, report says. The price condition will continue as such unless there is any significant measure taken.