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Apple gets temporary reprieve from external antitrust monitor; should it be a permanent one?
Apple has been temporarily spared the presence of an external antitrust monitor, initially placed at the company as part of the judgment in the U.S. government's case against Apple regarding ebooks. Apple has been fighting to remove the monitor, Michael Bromwich, since he was placed at the company last summer. The company believes that Bromwich is a disruptive and unnecessary imposition, according to Reuters:
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£20m is heaven scent to boost worldwide appeal of beauty website Feelunique
Fast-growing beauty website Feelunique has secured new investment of £20million to fund its ambitious expansion plans.
The deal follows a 23 per cent increase in sales in the year to March, boosting turnover to £65million.
The extra money – which has come from main shareholder Palamon Capital Partners and two new private investors – will be used to support international growth.
Glitz: Gisele Bundchen advertises Chanel, one of Feelunique’s top sellers
Feelunique has been expanding in France and it recently launched a website in China, which is performing ‘beyond expectations’.
The firm ships almost 12,000 items a day to more than 100 countries. It stocks 22,000 products, including YSL, Chanel, Dior, Tom Ford and Laura Mercier.
Sales in the UK – the home of the business, which was launched by Aaron Chatterley and Richard Schiessl in 2005 – soared by 38 per cent.
Feelunique chief executive Joel Palix said: ‘There is strong demand for our brand coming from all corners of the world.’
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2019 Ford Ranger Raptor 210-HP Diesel Review & Changes – Ford’s F-150 Raptor presently has a little brother in the type of the Ranger Raptor revealed on Wednesday at a special showing in Bangkok, Thailand. Why Thailand? Nicely, the country is one of the key manufacturing hubs for the Ranger mid-size pickup truck, and it’s exactly where the Ranger Raptor will likely be built. Rangers for the United States will be built in Wayne, Michigan. Ford is, however, to affirm a Ranger Raptor for sale in this article in the U.S., and we’re improbable the punchy pickup will end up in neighborhood showrooms, at least in the design shown right here.
Explained as the merging of an ATV, a motocross bicycle and a pickup truck all in one, the Ranger Raptor introduced in Thailand is powered by a 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-4 diesel engine rated at 210 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic and 4-wheel-drive system, with the latter benefiting from the F-150 Raptor’s 6-mode driving methods selector filled with the Baja sand racing mode. Ford’s design team also has borrowed the mean appearance of the F-150 Raptor, described by the blacked-out grille, increased fenders, and chunky BF Goodrich All-Terrain car tires. The vehicle also will get a Watts Weblink rear suspension and expanded-journey Fox Racing shocks, plus uprated brakes, in this case, ventilated metal discs gauging 13 inches throughout.
The journey size is also up. Ford says floor clearance is increased to 11 inches, whilst the strategy direction arrives in at 32.5 qualifications, the ramp over angle at 24 qualifications, and the leaving perspective at 24 degrees as effectively. You’ll also recognize the exclusive underbody security to deflect off-road obstructions. The growth of the vehicle mostly had taken place in Australia where the neighborhood Ford department is in charge of the T6 platform that underpins the Ranger family. The identical body-on-frame design will also underpin a new Bronco showing up next year, which may or may not be twinned with a new Everest SUV.
We’re nonetheless positioning out for a U.S.-spec Ranger Raptor with a gasoline mill, though Ford remains calm on the make a difference. All the automaker will say is that the Ranger Raptor will probably be sold in Australia and other Asia Pacific nations starting in 2018. Come on, Ford. Fall in the Mustang EcoBoost’s 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-4 and think of it a daytime.


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Sony Xperia Z to be launched by T-Mobile USA?
According to TmoNews, the fourth largest US carrier is testing the Xperia Z as we speak, so it could announce it in the near future. Of course, at the same time it may give up on introducing it. It all depends on how testing goes. In any case, TmoNews has two not-so-great photos of what looks to be a T-Mobile-branded Xperia Z, front and back:
If it will be released by T-Mobile, the Xperia Z is probably going to cost $99 upfront, with monthly payments of around $20 for two years – this seems to be the new pricing scheme for T-Mo’s high-end smartphones (including the iPhone 5).
The Sony Xperia Z comes in a waterproof and dustproof case, featuring Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, LTE connectivity, a 5 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display, 13MP rear camera with LED flash, 2.2MP front-facing camera, quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage space, and a 2,330 mAh battery.
For those who are wondering, T-Mobile USA’s last Sony handset was a non-smartphone: the Sony Ericsson Equinox clamshell, launched way back in 2009.


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The Biden administration announced it will increase requirements for federally procured goods to be sourced domestically, a step officials said will boost U.S. manufacturing and supply chains.
The administration will unveil an update saying that 60 percent of federally procured content must be made in the United States, up from 55 percent under the Buy American Act.
The North Carolina Military Business Center encourages all textile and tactical equipment-related businesses in North Carolina to attend the free Joint Advanced Planning Brief for Industry.
The North Carolina Military Business Center will have several representatives in attendance at JAPBI – connect with the NCMBC and other textile-related representatives.
Article: Federal Energy Management Program: Camp Lejeune Leverages NREL Tiger Team Partnership to Evaluate Electrical Infrastructure Capacity for EV Charging Stations.
The Camp Lejeune sustainability and fleet operations teams partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Tiger Team to plan for the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and the installation of EV charging stations. This partnership included completing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) site assessments for fleet vehicles stationed at 14 different parking lots at Camp Lejeune in March 2022, including eight operated by the Marine Corps Base (MCB) Lejeune, four by the U.S.
Media Advisory: Department of Defense Releases Report on Defense Spending by State in Fiscal Year 2021
|Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation released its “Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Spending by State” report to help states and local communities better understand the components of defense spending for procurement and personnel in their states.|
The Navy has ditched its iconic and beloved coveralls for sailors aboard ships for a new, two-piece uniform that was finally approved on Monday after years of trials and a decade after a previous version of the uniform was found to be dangerously flammable.
Do you or someone you know have what it takes to become America’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for 2023? If so, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) wants to hear from you!
The SBA is pleased to announce it is accepting nominations for the 2023 SBA Small Business Person of the Year and other National Small Business Week Awards.


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Article | 17 March 2022 | Investments
The Covid-19 pandemic brought an unprecedented collapse in demand for goods and services, as economies were left paralysed. As normal life resumed, demand snapped back quickly, in particular for consumer goods such as electronics and cars. Prices can only remain stable when demand and supply are roughly in balance. Post pandemic this was very far from the case. Fractured global supply chains meant that cash rich consumers were chasing a restricted number of goods. The result was price inflation.
The hope and expectation of central banks the world over was that this was a temporary or transitory state of affairs. And one that would pass as supply chains were fixed. There were forecasts that demand would also ease. But fiscal stimulus and overflowing savings accounts meant that demand remained strong. And it’s not just for consumer goods. Commodity prices have been hit by one off factors, such as extreme weather in Brazil. And now geopolitical events have thrown the international energy market into turmoil.
The resulting price spikes have been dramatic. But inflation only becomes truly embedded once the expectation that prices will continue to rise becomes set in stone. This is usually cemented by wage demands. Workers might demand higher pay to match the rising cost of living, it’s known as wage inflation. The result can be that, with more money washing around the system, demand is fuelled further and prices pushed ever higher. At worst, wages rises can spiral out of control.
It’s a vicious circle and one the central banks are keen to avoid. Hence the ‘hawkish pivot’ on interest rates late last year, predicting a steady pace of increases in 2022. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has certainly reset the dial. Central banks now face two opposing risks. The first is that inflation forecasts become ‘unanchored’, rising sharply and driving wage inflation. The forecast for US inflation one year from now has jumped from 3.5% to 5.24% since the invasion. The second is going in too hard on rate hikes, which risks choking off the recovery.
Economic growth and corporate earnings are very important to financial markets, but the direction of interest rates is critical for all asset classes. This is the sort of uncertainty over future central bank policy that financial markets dread, hence the volatile start to the year.
Add in geopolitical events and trade sanctions driving commodity prices higher, and it becomes clear why safe-haven assets, such as US Treasuries, gold, the US dollar and the Swiss franc, have returned to favour.
At Architas we believe that in times of heightened volatility, a diversified portfolio can help to weather the market ups and downs.


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Sentinel staff report–
With small businesses in Citrus Heights around the country struggling during COVID-19, many are hoping for a financial boost this Saturday from the 11th annual “Small Business Saturday” — a day designed to encourage consumers to support small, local businesses in their communities.
Small Business Saturday began in 2010 as an initiative heavily promoted by American Express, and is now sponsored by a wide coalition of organizations and businesses, falling on the day after Black Friday each year. The City of Citrus Heights has joined the effort this year, promoting Small Business Saturday with ads on social media asking residents to take a “Love Local” pledge for their holiday shopping.
Louise Hansen-Cordray, owner of Java Cherry Coffee Shop on Van Maren Lane, said she’s seen some ups and downs over the past nine months with COVID-19, but her core customer base has helped her survive.
“I hope to see that people support small businesses this Saturday — or any day,” she told The Sentinel. “Look around and find a small business: you might find out that you like it a lot.”
A 2018 Small Business Economic Impact Study commissioned by American Express found that for every dollar spent at a small business, 67 cents stays in the local community.
With many small businesses this year struggling with COVID-19 shutdowns and decreases in foot traffic, American Express has ramped up its efforts. An article published on the company’s website highlights “the community impact of shopping small,” and includes interviews with small business owners across the country, discussing the impact of COVID-19 on their business.
“It was never this black and white,” says one business owner, describing economic hardships this year. “If you don’t patronize that shop on the corner, or that restaurant downstairs, or the florist around the corner, they won’t be there.”
With small businesses in Citrus Heights around the country struggling during COVID-19, many are hoping for a financial boost this Saturday from the 11th annual “Small Business Saturday” -- a day designed to encourage consumers to support small, local businesses in their communities.
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A New Path Forward with the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder
Many car manufacturers try to introduce an off-road-capable vehicle, but few succeed. However, Nissan has made its Pathfinder SUV a staple of its model lineup since its introduction over 35 years ago. There is no destination too wild for the Pathfinder; yet it tackles city streets and long highways with ease. Over the past several years, the Pathfinder has seen dramatic changes in terms of modern styling and technology, but a complete redesign for the 2022 model year is bringing the Pathfinder into its own.
What's New for 2022The Pathfinder is completely new for the 2022 model year, offering a rugged yet modern look inside and out. The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is expected to be for sale in Kanata and across Canada in late summer 2021.
Models and PricingThe 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is offered in five model configurations in Kanata and across Canada: S, SV, SL, SL Premium, and Platinum. Starting at $43,798, the entry-level S model features a NissanConnect multimedia and infotainment system operated by an 8.0-inch touchscreen and including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, intelligent 4x4 system, and ProPILOT Assist suite of safety technologies also come standard on all models.
DesignThe Pathfinder's exterior is reminiscent of the old styling, but it is more streamlined now and features a bolder front end thanks to new headlights and taillights that make the car more imposing. The Pathfinder's exterior styling is both rugged yet modern, highlighting its off-road capability as well as the luxurious interior that awaits drivers.
The interior of the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder underwent a drastic change, taking it from dated to daring. This true luxury SUV now features semi-aniline leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The Pathfinder seats up to eight passengers in its three rows and offers plenty of room for cargo as well.
PerformanceEvery model of the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is built with a 3.5-litre V6 engine that is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission to deliver to deliver 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. All of the Canadian models come standard with an Intelligent 4x4 system that offers seven driving and terrain modes to match all weather and road conditions. The Pathfinder also offers towing capability up to 2,721kg.
SafetyNissan includes many standard safety features on its vehicles, whether it is the subcompact Versa or the super-sized Armada. The 2022 Pathfinder is the same, featuring Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite of driver-assist technologies. For an all-around safer driving experience, the Pathfinder includes intelligent emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear intelligent emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, and high beam assist.
In addition, Nissan's ProPILOT Assist makes driving safer than ever before. Standard on all Pathfinder models, it is a revolutionary autonomous driving technology which uses mapping technology to predict curves, interchanges, junctions, and more, adapting itself to the drive and keeping pace with the flow of traffic.
The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is incredibly modern, stylish, and capable--a great choice for drivers in Kanata that want a well-rounded, well-equipped vehicle.


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The auto industry bailout may spread to suppliers
Bailing out the car companies doesn't work well if a number of their suppliers shut down. Getting out the new 2010 models will be tough if the cars can't be assembled due to missing parts.
All of the money that taxpayers have put into Chrysler and General Motors may be jeopardized by the potential bankruptcies of a number of the firms that build brakes, transmissions, and seats.In an exclusive report,Bloomberg writes, "U.S. car-parts suppliers plan to ask President Barack Obama's auto task force this week for $8 billion to $10 billion in loan guarantees, after negotiating federal loans earlier this year." The news may cause taxpayers to ask: "where does it end?"
The bailout of the car companies has already stretched into the tens of billions of dollars. If the domestic auto market does not recover, even the huge cuts made by Chrysler and GM may not be enough. The Treasury may throw good money after bad to protect the investment it has made in Detroit. Now parts suppliers claim to need more money to keep supply chains open.
The car parts companies do need money. Vehicles sales in the U.S. have dropped from over 16 million four years ago to a run rate of ten million this year. That has killed revenue at many of Detroit's suppliers. Claims that some of the firms may have to close is not a bluff.
The bailout of Detroit will grow as the months pass. Higher gas prices may be the next element that prolongs the industry's recovery. The federal government may end up staying in Detroit much longer than it expected.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.


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The Vitara Brezza comes with a discount of up to Rs. 45,000 and it is available across the country
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is the best selling compact SUV in its segment but the competition is going to heat up in coming months as Mahindra has already launched the XUV 300 earlier this week. The company is offering good discounts for the Vitara Brezza this month to continue the positive sales momentum moving forward.
The Vitara Brezza comes with a total discount of up to Rs. 45,000 which includes Rs. 15,000 cash discount, Rs. 25,000 exchange bonus and corporate discount of Rs. 5,000. This offer is available across the country and the Vitara Brezza now starts at Rs. 7.86 lakh for the entry-level model. Maruti Suzuki is offering the compact SUV in four variants – LDi, VDi, ZDi and ZDi+.
Maruti Suzuki sold 13,172 units of Vitara Brezza last month and registered 12 per cent Year-On-Year growth as the company sold 11,785 units same month last year. The Month-On-Month growth in January is 36 per cent. One of the reasons for the huge popularity of Vitara Brezza is its traditional SUV styling theme.
The top end model of Vitara Brezza comes with lots of features like touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control, electronically controlled exterior mirrors, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, 16-inch black finished alloy wheels, rear camera with parking sensors, cooled glove box and more.
The company is also focusing on safety as the compact SUV gets dual airbags, ABS with EBD, driver seat belt, parking sensors, ISOFIX child mounts and high-speed alert system as standard across variants. Maruti is offering the Vitara Brezza only with a diesel engine and it is the 1.3 L engine sourced from FCA.
The diesel engine produces 89 bhp of power at 4,000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. The power is sent to front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox and AMT gearbox. According to ARAI, the Vitara Brezza returns 24.3 Kmpl and the company is offering the compact SUV in optional dual tone colour options also.


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After reaching a fresh all-time high on Sunday at $11,831, Bitcoin price has continued to trade near $11,500 even after the reports suggesting that national governments are working to regulate the cryptocurrency.
The United Kingdom and Indonesia are preparing to implement regulatory crackdowns of varying degrees on cryptocurrency usage within their respective jurisdictions. The U.K. Treasury plans to expand its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations to explicitly bring Bitcoin under their purview.
Indonesia, on the other hand, is planning to issue a ban on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies sometime next year. This step is being orchestrated by the central bank, which fears that allowing cryptocurrency usage to continue unfettered will threaten the sovereignty of the rupiah, Indonesia’s national currency.
As it turns out, neither the U.K. nor Indonesia represents a major cryptocurrency market. Even though, this news caused temporary market turbulence, Bitcoin continues to show its resilience. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is trading at $11,532, posting a market cap of $192 billion.
While the bull market is still intact, Bitcoin’s failure to close above the previous record high indicates bull market exhaustion. There is a chance Bitcoin could re-test the psychological support level of $10,000. Aaand it goes without saying, in larger scheme of things, the chart remains in favor of the bulls. HODL!
Top Stories from the Crypto World
1. Venezuelan President announces oil-backed cryptocurrency
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro recently announced a new cryptocurrency during a Christmas television special, amid the country’s economic crisis and the plunge of the Venezuelan Bolivar’s value.
A statement on the government’s website reads, “Venezuela will create a…cryptocurrency to advance monetary sovereignty, as it will help to overcome the financial blockade and thus move towards new forms of international financing for the economic and social development of the country.”
A good thing to know: Cryptocurrencies in Venezuela are helping people circumvent the government’s restrictions. Today, with Bitcoin and DASH, people can buy gift cards and use them on online marketplaces like Amazon to buy goods from abroad.
2. Winklevoss twins invest in Blockstack’s $50 million ICO
Blockstack’s initial coin offering (ICO), which was launched in November, saw the participation from investors like Union Square Ventures (USV), Winklevoss Capital and more. The company closed the ICO raising $50 million through the sale of 440 million tokens.
Founded in 2013, Blockstack has been building a decentralized architecture for publishing on the internet, one designed around user control. To realize that goal, the “stacks” token will run on Blockstack’s virtualchain technology.
Co-founder Muneeb Ali said, “I think it’s more like a funding round, with high-quality sophisticated investors, rather than random people just throwing money at something,”
3. Japanese Financial regulator legalizes four new cryptocurrency exchanges
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has authorized the operation of four new virtual currency exchanges in the country. The approved exchanges are already the second batch of companies authorized by the FSA.
FSA claimed that only the authorized 15 exchanges should be allowed to trade digital currencies as only the cryptocurrencies that they will handle are confirmed to “meet the definition under the fund settlement law.” The four companies that were approved are Tokyo Bitcoin Exchange Co. Ltd., FTT Corp., Bit Arg Exchange Tokyo Co. Ltd., and Xtheta Corp.


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Businesses across the food supply chain have joined forces to warn the government against the risks of a ‘hard Brexit’ for the UK’s food and farming competitiveness.
In a letter to The Times, the group that includes Sainsbury’s, Apetito, Dairy Crest and Cargill among 75 organisations called on Prime Minister Theresa May to prioritise tariff-free access to the single market and continued access to migrant labour in any post-Brexit settlement.
The group also called for assurances that EU citizens already working in the UK would be allowed to remain following Brexit, noting that access to seasonal and permanent employees from overseas was essential to the effective functioning of the food supply chain.
They pledged support for a bold and ambitious vision for the sector post-Brexit, but added that food security, food safety and hygiene, stewardship of the countryside and affordable food would be put at risk if ministers failed to deliver continued access to labour and the best possible single market access.
The letter argued that a Brexit settlement which recognised the critical role of the UK food chain would demonstrate how Brexit could be beneficial for the UK economy as well as UK food production.
“Agriculture is a litmus-test for the government’s Brexit negotiations,” said Meurig Raymond, president of the NFU, which coordinated the letter. “As the sector most heavily impacted by the referendum outcome, if the government can make British farming a success post-Brexit then it will be the clearest indication that the country can succeed outside Europe.”


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Bulgari has collaborated with Mary Katrantzou for a new Bulgari Serpenti Through the Eyes of Mary Katrantzou collection that will debut with a digital and editorial campaign. Natalia Vodianova will star in the campaign that was shot by fashion photographer Hugo Comte.
For the campaign, Katrantzou created jumpsuits to pair with the bags, which were inspired by the metamorphosis of the snake. Katrantzou was inspired by Bulgari’s Serpenti high-jewelry bracelets and watches from the ‘60s. Bulgari’s ongoing “Through the Eyes of” series has seen designers like Yoon Ahn of Ambush and Nicholas Kirkwood reimagine the famed jewelry brand’s accessories.


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UK users of BlackBerry’s BBM messaging service can now initiate mobile payment transfers to each other using Barclays’ Pingit P2P payment service. “Once a user has added their BBM ID as a linked ID within Pingit, they can initiate a money transfer directly from within a BBM conversation as easily as sending a photo or sticker to a BBM contact,” Barclays says. Pingit currently has more than 2.9m users and more than 68,000 businesses signed up to the service.
- Australian banks set to abandon Apple Pay boycott
- Tappy Christmas! Save the Children raises money with contactless jumpers
- Bayern Munich adds NFC ticketing for Apple users at Allianz Arena
- Barclays lets customers use their mobile banking app to restrict the type of stores their card can be used in
- Guess unveils fashion watches with contactless payment bands


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Amazon Takes In-Game Purchasing To PC, Mac, Browser Games
You’ll soon be able to buy in-game content with your Amazon account, thanks to a new Amazon service. Amazon is wooing game developers with a service for making in-app purchases on games for Mac, PC, and browser-based games. Game developers get the benefit of Amazon’s stable purchasing infrastructure, while gamers (who already have Amazon accounts) can buy content without setting up a new account or re-entering credit card info.
Who says Amazon doesn't have a sense of humor? Image credit: Amazon
In-App Purchasing joins a stable of Amazon services meant to help game developers while directing gamers and purchases to Amazon. Services like Game Connect and Game Circle provide support for displaying achievements, leaderboards, and friend lists, as well as syncing games across platforms via Whispersync. Interestingly, the In-App Purchasing service will make in-app items available on Amazon.com. As a result, in-app items can appear in wish lists and best seller lists. As if the line between physical and digital isn’t already blurring.


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PARIS — Galeries Lafayette’s lingerie space is upping its fashion quotient.
The French department store revamped its fourth floor, which opened May 6, into a 37,675-square-foot lingerie temple, a new step in its plan to reorganize its flagship.
Extending the area dedicated to innerwear by 10 percent, the store now displays about 50 brands, including 10 new to the retailer, such as Maidenform, an exclusive for the French market, as well as Esprit and Agent Provocateur.
The floor is split up by universes — luxury and designer, trendy fashion with high-street labels such as Etam and Princesse Tam Tam, and tights and socks. The format mirrors the master plan to reorganize women’s fashion by style across all categories.
“The secondary entry is by brand so that they can display their full universes,” said Geraldine Mazin, the retailer’s head of lingerie buying. “For instance, Calvin Klein now has lingerie, nightwear and swimwear.”
A colorful palette distinguishes each area: dusty rose and gold for luxury labels, blue and purple for trendy fashion brands and fuchsia for tights and socks. There’s also molding and soft lighting, and the number of fitting rooms has doubled to 50, some of which also feature special lighting for a “tanned” effect.”
Mazin noted that the previous layout segmenting the floor by foundations and daywear, sleepwear and swimwear is no longer relevant to today’s lingerie consumer, who buys lingerie based on trends, not classification.
Other notable changes include swimwear, which will now be displayed year-round in a wider range of cup sizes, from 28A to 44G. “Swimwear is no longer a seasonal product,” she explained.
“We have reinforced both the very high-end segment with brands like Agent Provocateur, a wider range from Maison Lejaby Couture and the more affordable end,” said Mazin.
Prices range from below 10 euros, or $13 at current exchange, for a pair of panties by Avant Première, to 1,450 euros, or $1,835, for a La Perla dress from the Jean Paul Gaultier capsule collection, and an Agent Provocateur dress for around 2,000 euros, or $2,620.
The luxurious new space was designed under the artistic direction of French designer Stella Cadente, who topped off the department’s entrance with a ceiling composed of 24,000 feet of tulle that was hand-sewn in her atelier.
“The concept is the Haussmann-style apartment, to give lingerie a more intimate feel, so that women who come here feel comfortable, at home,” commented Cadente.
Nearby is a 645-square-foot beauty area that stocks brands like Essie, OPI and Bourjois, which were moved up from the main floor. Adding a touch of indulgence is an area dedicated to fine teas like Løv Organic and Kusmi, which were moved from the Lafayette Gourmet space.
Other features include mannequin displays that highlight the trends of the season, a vending machine by Cosabella that features the brand’s Never Say Never “Cutie” thong and a sewing machine at Empreinte that customizes lingerie sets with ribbons, lace and an array of embellishments.
To promote the new lingerie floor, the Boulevard Haussmann windows at the flagship are dedicated to lingerie this month. The Lycra spandex brand by Invista Inc. is also hosting an installation of lingerie sets and swimsuits made with Lycra on the main floor.
Mazin said the retailer is “hoping to get back to growth” with the new lingerie initiative.
“The lingerie sector is flat and the market is difficult,” Mazin said.
The redo at the Galeries Lafayette flagship is taking place against a backdrop of department stores in the French capital that are competing for the trendy fashion customer. Last year, luxury department store Le Bon Marché on Paris’ Left Bank also gave its lingerie department a prime location and a refurbishment. Printemps has put a greater focus on premium lingerie brands and recently added the newly launched Maison Lejaby Couture label.
@kering_official is spinning off its stake in puma in an effort to focus on its luxury brands, the brand operator announced yesterday. “We are proud to have supported the turnaround of Puma, which now has unrivaled capabilities to take full advantage of the specific dynamics of its global markets and is poised to achieve substantial growth,” said François-Henri Pinault, Kering’s chief executive officer and chairman. Artémis will become a “long-term strategic shareholder” of Puma with a 29 percent stake. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
The fashion world mourns for celebrated street style photographer, Nabile Quenum, who died at age 32 in Paris.
Quenum, creator of the fashion blog “J’ai Perdu Ma Veste,” was a fashion week fixture, and regularly shot for New York magazine’s The Cut, among other outlets, and brands such as Louis Vuitton, Moncler and Adidas. He was also actively involved in the #NoFreePhotos initiative, which kicked off in the fall. Read more about Quenum in @kbsmoke's story on WWD.com. #wwdnews
@verwanggang and @maisonladuree have teamed up on a dessert collab called Vera Wang Pour Ladurée. The collection, which launched this week, features a specialty macaroon, as well as a wedding cake inspired by one of the designer’s gowns. “I could not imagine a more delicate or sophisticated creation to grace any couple’s celebration,” said Wang. #wwdfashion
“I’m Russian and I love to use all these little tricks that I got from my grandma or my mom. We didn’t have a lot of money for creams or anything like that so we would use a garden as a beauty treatment regime. We’d put cucumber in the fridge and do a cucumber mask,” says model @irinashayk on one of her beauty hacks. WWD asked celebs what their go-to self-care rituals are. See what Naomie Harris, Freida Pinto and more said on WWD.com. #wwdeye #wwdbeauty (📷: @zefashioninsider)
Exclusive: @viktorandrolf are teaming up with @Zalando on a collection made from leftover clothing. The lineup, which lands at the retailer February 1, includes 17 pieces adorned with sliced up and repurposed overstock from the retailer’s private label collection. Pictured here is a look from the collection –– see more on WWD.com. #wwdfashion #wwdnews
@duewestnyc is the newest bar joining the collection of intimate neighborhood-focused spaces in the West Village. The cocktail menu, which includes bitters and syrups made in-house, offers a “Build Your Own Old-Fashioned” – like the one pictured here – where guests can choose from a list of spirits and unexpected sugars and bitters. #wwdeye
Spotted at last night’s National Board of Review gala in NYC: Angelina Jolie. Jolie – along with Meryl Streep, @lupitanyongo and more – continued the all-black dress code from Sunday’s Golden Globes. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)


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ATCC Announces Rebranding of Its Organization
Rebranding Underscores Expanded Capabilities and New Business Divisions
May 14, 2010 07:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time
MANASSAS, Va.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--ATCC, the premier biomaterials resource and standards
organization, today proudly unveiled its new brand initiative. The fresh identity is a bold and confident logotype
featuring the brand promise—THE ESSENTIALS OF LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH. GLOBALLY
DELIVERED.™ The new brand promise is an accurate reflection of ATCC’s multiple offerings and global
distribution network. Launch of the rebrand will bring focus to ATCC’s extended capabilities as a reagents and tools
company in support of life science research.
“ATCC has evolved from a tissue culture repository to a tools and reagents company supporting global health
research,” said Dr. Raymond Cypess, CEO and President of ATCC. “This transformation was made possible
through the enhancement and realignment of our core assets into three focused, yet mutually supportive divisions of
BioServices, BioProducts, and BioStandards. This realignment will enable us to provide integrated innovative
products and services to our biopharma, academic, and government customers.”
“The new logo and brand promise is just one outward aspect of our new image. It envelopes so much more…how
our customers perceive ATCC, their experiences with us, our web environment and delivery capabilities, as well as
the tone and voice of how we communicate who we are,” said Dionne Dyches, Manager of Corporate
Communications and Scientific Writing at ATCC. The new brand identity replaces a historical brand that had been
used since the 1980s.
ATCC partnered with 3PC Media, a global advertising and communications agency in Pittsburgh, PA, to develop a
brand identity that is more representative of the company’s future. “With ATCC’s sustained growth, rebranding with
a new voice and identity is a logical progression for the organization,” said Radoj Glisik, partner at 3PC Media.


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You Don't Know Jack coming to iOS and Android in the 'very near future'
You Don't Know Jack will land on iOS in the "very near future," Jellyvision announced on their Facebook page. The announcement was coupled with the appropriately demeaning video seen above.
Jellyvision began testing the Android version of the game recently, so no solid release date was announced for it. Not that "the very near future" was helpful for iPhone and iPad users looking to get their trivia on. The mobile versions of You Don't Know Jack were first announced in April 2011.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.


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China fired back at the Trump administration on Saturday with new rules that would punish global companies for complying with Washington's tighter restrictions on doing business with Chinese companies.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said that the rules, which came into force immediately, were intended to counteract foreign laws that "unlawfully prohibit or restrict" people or companies in China from conducting normal business. They said the measures were necessary to protect China's national sovereignty and security and to protect the rights of Chinese citizens and entities.
As President Trump's trade war with the Chinese intensified, the Trump administration banned the sale of American technology to Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, and other companies. It also provided rules punishing companies for their ties to the Chinese military and for their involvement in Beijing's surveillance and repression of mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang.
The new rules released on Saturday allow Chinese officials and companies to crack down on those who adhere to these US borders. The Chinese measures make it possible for government officials to issue orders stating that companies do not have to comply with certain foreign restrictions.
Chinese companies that incur losses due to another party's compliance with these laws may, according to the commercial case, claim compensation from Chinese courts. The Ministry's notice. Such a case is likely to result in a victory for a Chinese plaintiff, since China's courts are ultimately accountable to the Communist Party.
"This basically puts many large companies between a rock and a hard place, because they either have to decide whether to comply with US sanctions or with Chinese rules," said Henry Gao, a law professor from Singapore Management University who specializes in on international trade. "And anyway, they're going to lose one of their biggest markets."
Business & Economy
It is unclear whether global companies will end up being punished in China for complying with US sanctions. Under the rules given on Saturday, companies could apply for a waiver from the Department of Commerce to comply with U.S. restrictions. They also demand that Chinese officials set up an intergovernmental body to determine which foreign laws fall within its remit.
In addition, much of the language in the order issued on Saturday was vague, giving the Chinese government and companies wiggle room for compliance. . Nevertheless, the threat could cause large US companies operating in China to pressure Mr. Biden to ease restrictions on Chinese companies. Mr. Biden has not said whether he intends to proceed with Trump's sanctions, which have contributed to the most toxic relationship between China and the United States for decades.
"China will deter the new administration from behaving like Trump," said Professor Gao.
Under Mr. Trump, Chinese companies found access to the US market increasingly restricted. The administration has banned companies throughout the world to use US software or machines to make chips designed by Huawei, which has imposed sanctions and blacklisted Chinese companies on systematic human rights violations against Uighurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
from the Trump administration and members of Congress, formerly China's three major state-owned telecommunications companies from the stock exchange to comply with an executive order aimed at stopping US investment in companies linked to the Chinese military.
The new rules come just days after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened further sanctions against men happens. or entities involved in the recent gathering of dozens of more democracy figures. It is not clear to what extent the new rules may apply to restrictions related to Hong Kong, the Chinese city governed by its own set of laws, but where Beijing has taken an increasingly stronger hand.
China has responded to US tariffs and sanctions with its own measures, but its actions have not been one-on-one. The United States buys much more from China than it sells to China, so Beijing has fewer opportunities to tax American goods.
It is also heavily dependent on US products, including chips and software, and its economy depends in part on factories that make goods on behalf of large US companies such as Apple and General Motors.
Beijing has said little about the 2019 promise to create an "unreliable unit list" of foreign companies and people that could lead to further business restrictions.


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A new report out cited by SamMobile claims to shed light on the design tweaks that Samsung has made in order for its first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, to not suffer the same problems pegged by reviewers.
The report mentions how the top layer of the screen will now be secured underneath the bezel surrounding the foldable display so as not to confuse consumers and convince them it might be a removable screen protector. Samsung will also shrink the gap at the top and bottom of the device to, hopefully, block dirt and debris from entering the phone and making its way under the screen.
If you recall, before the Galaxy Fold could go on sale, Samsung halted its launch date due to issues involving broken review units. Multiple media outlets reported issues with their devices, and since Samsung couldn’t come up with a fix in time, it had to delay the release of the phone. Since that time, not much information has come to light, but it now looks like the company has finally drummed up a fix for its problems.
A recent report indicated that Samsung will announce a new launch date for the Galaxy Fold in the near future. Therefore, it’s best to stay tuned to Matridox so you know when you’ll be able to buy one.


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StellarX has a new home! Read more:https://t.co/Ag1kLbLnWX
— StellarX (@stellarxhq) February 14, 2019
According to a StellarX blog post, the move secures regulatory guidance from Coinsquare who not only list the Bank of Montreal as a business partner but also “have very close relationships with regulators in the U.S.,Europe, and Canada.”
Zero-Fee Peer-to-Peer Trading
Designed by InterStellar and launched in September last year, StellarX provides zero-fee trading on a peer-to-peer basis thanks to Stellar’s unique consensus mechanism that does not require gas fees to operate.
InterStellar themselves were formed through an amalgamation of San Francisco-based Chain Inc and the Lightyear Corporation who are the commercial arm of the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF).
With most of the original StellarX team still onboard, the move is not expected to alter the DEX’s published roadmap but rather enhance it with new features such as “…new fiat tethers and securities tokens.”
Coinsquare appear to be supporters of the Stellar blockchain as they recently acquired BlockEQ, producers of mobile and desktop Stellar wallets available through the Google and Apple stores, and it is BlockEQ’s co-founder Megha Bambra who will now be in charge of growing StellarX.
It is envisaged that the new structure will cement StellarX as “a cornerstone utility for the network” that will aid in the development of the Stellar blockchain and ecosystem as whole.


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(Bloomberg)—Every season now seems like peak season for Leonard Wright, who’s constantly recruiting drivers to staff his company, INPAX Shipping Solutions. The relentless growth of Amazon.com Inc.’s Prime memberships has led the e-commerce giant to tap courier services like INPAX to make same-day and two-day deliveries in what’s called “the final mile” to customer homes.
“In the final-mile world, there’s more work than you can handle,” said Wright, who employs 300 drivers running U.S. routes for Amazon and 200 independent contractors for non-Amazon accounts. Atlanta-based INPAX and other regional services supplement the major haulers—United Parcel Service Inc., FedEx Corp. and the U.S. Postal Service.
The rush to bring everything from groceries to gourmet meals to customers’ doorsteps has sparked such a demand that job postings for delivery drivers have tripled nationwide on Indeed.com in the past three years. The dearth of truck drivers needed to carry products from city to city is well documented, but the growth of e-commerce depends as much or more on a steady supply of qualified last-mile car and van drivers.
“The delivery jobs, and we work with a lot of delivery platforms, are probably one of the more difficult jobs to fill,” said Yong Kim, CEO of Wonolo Inc., a San Francisco-based startup backed by Coca-Cola Co. that matches employers with short-term workers. “Not because the jobs are difficult, but because there’s a fierce competition for drivers, and drivers have many options available to them.”
Along with the intensifying hunt for more drivers is a growing concern about customers getting poorly served or even sick. The restaurant industry is talking with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about ways to prevent food-borne illnesses or other problems arising from third-party delivery.
“It is a quality issue and a food safety issue, but it’s also a brand issue for the restaurants,” said William Weichelt, a food safety official with the National Restaurant Association. When there’s an issue, “The customer is going to call the restaurant.”
Despite concerns, the forces propelling the demand for more delivery drivers show no sign of slowing. Amazon, No. 1 in the Internet Retailer 2018 Top 1000, said in April that its Prime memberships had topped 100 million. Grubhub, meanwhile, works with more than 80,000 restaurants in 110 U.S. markets, up 38% in the first quarter of this year from the end of 2017, company filings show.
“There are going to be challenges in hiring,” said John Haber of the logistics consultancy Spend Management Experts. “If you follow what’s happening in the truckload market, people cannot find drivers. There are trucking assets that are sitting unused, because they can’t find people to drive the trucks—and those are for high-paid employee positions.”
The lack of truck drivers already is crimping corporate profits.
Since people are more likely to want gig-style work on weekends, Amazon could have trouble finding enough drivers to make weekday deliveries for its on-demand Flex delivery service, which uses “crowdsourced” independent operators, said David Vernon, an analyst with Bernstein Research. That’s among the challenges that could keep Amazon’s Flex unit from threatening the business models of UPS and FedEx, Vernon wrote in a May 24 research note. Amazon declined to comment.
With supermarkets set to move more heavily into food delivery, competition for drivers will ramp up further, said Antony Karabus of HRC Retail Advisory. Keeping raw chicken and milk from spoiling means they’ll need more training than most delivery people.
“You’re not going to have enough drivers who are capable,” Karabus said. “Just getting a warm body to drive is not enough.”
Too many food delivery companies are chasing too little business, and several will be forced to consolidate to survive, Karabus said. In the package business, venture-capital backed shipping company Shyp shut down in March after realizing too late that it needed to focus on business shipments rather than consumer ones.
Uneven driver quality is already bedeviling some businesses.
Cielo Blue, a Mexican grill in suburban Atlanta, dropped Grubhub a few weeks ago after fielding too many customer complaints. “They’d call us and say the food is cold,” manager Wilson Vera said.
Vera is seeing better results with Uber Eats, which he attributes to Uber’s bevy of ride-share drivers circling the area at all times who can quickly switch from passenger to food delivery.
A Grubhub spokeswoman said the company’s drivers are required to use hot or cold delivery bags, and that the company strives to make things right with the customer when there’s a problem with the food.
In addition to restaurant complaints, consumers are venting about woeful package delivery on Twitter, YouTube and occasionally the local news. A February segment on San Francisco’s CBS affiliate showed a driver for Amazon chucking a package out the passenger window of his compact car onto a woman’s driveway. A New York man’s Change.org petition seeks to have Virginia-based LaserShip Inc. removed as one of Amazon’s delivery partners due to service problems. It had 70 signatures through Tuesday.
A LaserShip spokeswoman referred questions to a company executive, who was unavailable for comment.
A coalition of state restaurant associations has gathered to discuss potential regulation or legislation concerning the rise of third-party delivery companies. The restaurant industry hopes to get buy-in from delivery companies before going to legislators, said Anna Tauzin, vice president of marketing and innovation for the Texas Restaurant Association.
“If there is an incident out there, who’s liable?” said the National Restaurant Association’s Weichelt.
Mike Dickey, a 30-year veteran of the restaurant business, paused to collect his thoughts when asked about the growth of Grubhub Inc., DoorDash, Uber Eats and other third-party delivery companies. He’s conflicted about the tech companies that now deliver 20 meals a day for his Uncle Maddio’s Pizza franchise in suburban Atlanta and also take a 30-percent slice of every sale.
Those fees hurt in a low-margin business, said Dickey, who has also fielded customer complaints when pizza arrives late or cold. But with food couriers so pervasive that many restaurants have four or five stickers on their doors advertising different delivery services, Dickey risks losing sales to competitors if he doesn’t offer the same convenience.
“The problem with our business,” he said, “is you can’t afford not to use them.”Favorite


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The fledgling PeoplePC, in which Softbank Technology Ventures has a major interest, markets branded PCs -- Compaq or Toshiba -- for $24.95 a month over three years, with consumers also getting free Internet service via MCI WorldCom's UUNet, tech support and even in-home service.
After three years, the company will swap the old PC for a new one.
The units come with preloaded software and content coming from Yahoo!
While PCs are at the heart of the offer, the company's real pitch comes in the form of a platinum eCard -- in conjunction with First USA -- that dangles discounts before PeoplePC members on a variety of products and services they can buy online. They include online marketers such as CDnow, Amazon.com, iBeauty, E*Trade and Outpost.com.
PeoplePC hopes to leverage its membership-based business model and collective consumer buying power to offer what buying clubs such as Cosco and Sam's Club do.
In contrast to Free-PC, PeoplePC doesn't employ an ad-supported business model, instead partnering with online brands for discounts and other promotions.
The multimedia marketing effort by WPP Group's Conquest, New York, breaks with the first of four TV spots airing on Game 3 of the World Series on NBC and wild postings in seven metropolitan areas.
That will be followed by additional TV executions, newspaper ads and online ads. The ads use the tag: "It's for people."
TV spots hype what a great deal PeoplePC is and depict four kinds of people who could benefit from the offer.
In one spot, a guy comes to the end of his workout and can't hoist the heavy dumbbell. Voice-over says: "New computer, unlimited Internet access, deals on weight-lifting equipment and, oh, in-home service. Someone spot me."
One wild posting shows a young guy standing in a hospital emergency room with a broken arm and leg and the headline: "[email protected]
com (psyched for 6 to 8 weeks of life online)." Peter's cast is signed: "[email protected]" Another features Earl, a burly auto mechanic and the headline: "[email protected] (knows good hardware)."
The "everyman approach" is at the core of PeoplePC's effort. "We want to build a people-centric brand," said Mark Barden, director of brand development for PeoplePC.
Ads direct consumers to sign up for PeoplePC via 1-800-PeoplePC or the company's Web site, www.peoplepc.com.
"Buying a computer and getting online and getting the most out of the experience of getting online is characterized by difficulty," said Mr. Barden. "We're going to make it as easy as possible for consumers at every single stage to buy a computer."
Mr. Barden said the goal is to rank among the brands considered stars in the customer-service arena, such as Southwest Airlines and Nordstrom.


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Request ESG Software Demo
18 Jan UK to Ban Single-Use Plastic Cutlery and Plates from October
The UK will ban a wide range of single-use plastic cutlery and plates starting in October to reduce plastic pollution and protect the marine environment, as reported by Bloomberg on January 14. The new rules will cover plastic plates, bowls, and trays used for food and drink eaten at a restaurant, cafe, or takeaway. However, the ban will not include plastics found in pre-packaged meals in shops and supermarkets, as they are classified as “primary packaging” according to the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme. Before the latest ban, the UK had imposed similar restrictions on microbeads, single-use plastic straws, and cotton buds in 2020, following a charge on single-use plastic bags in 2015 that slashed plastic carrier sales by over 97% in major supermarkets.
The new ban on plastics will have a huge impact on stopping the pollution of billions of pieces of plastics and help protect the natural environment for future generations, citing Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey. Coffey’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair found that England uses 2.7bn items of single-use cutlery and 721m single-use plates a year, while only 10% of these items are recycled. The UK government is considering further measures to deal with other items that are regularly littered, such as wet wipes, tobacco filters, and sachets. Aside from that, the government is preparing a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, which would refund consumers a small deposit after they return empty containers.


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"Coimbatore district focuses infrastructure for MSMEs"
The District Industries Centre (DIC) conducted meetings with industry associations of different products, such as wet-grinders, pumps, and grill gate manufacturers, to know their infrastructure requirements. The State government has announced a micro cluster for aluminum die-cast units here and there are plans to develop one more micro cluster for coir units in Pollachi. The government wants to encourage the value addition of products made by MSMEs. With the availability of common infrastructure, the micro-units will be able to make value-added products.


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RIP, Cisco Flip
"We’re making key, targeted moves as we align operations in support of our network-centric platform strategy," said Cisco CEO John Chambers, in a recent statement about the demise of the Company’s popular video camcorder, the Flip.
Although the Flip was an odd fit to Cisco’s “network-centric” products, e.g. routers and switches, in the first place, the Flip shouldn’t be blamed for its own death sentence. It was Cisco’s top honcho’s rather weak judgement on corporate brand positioning (Where are we now? What do we do next?) and discontinued efforts to innovate the Flip that would have contributed to the situation.
The Flip was a victim of circumstance.
"Cisco was swayed by the sexiness of selling to the consumer," said Mo Koyfman, a principal at Spark Capital, a Boston venture capital firm. "They're not wired to do it themselves, so they do it by acquisition. Flip was one of the most visible targets out there. But it's really hard to turn an elephant into a horse. Cisco's an elephant." – The New York Times
The Flip could have also competed head-to-head with camera smartphones and even with iPad 2 if only Cisco took some time to innovate the Flip -- a Wi-Fi ready video camcorder that’s capable of uploading photos and videos to various social media in real time, for instance.
For Cisco, the $590 Million acquisition of the video camcorder brand from Pure Digital Technologies, only two years ago, was a lapse in judgement.
Although “the company is far from loss-making: in its last financial year, to the end of August 2010, it saw revenues rise 11 percent to $40 Billion and profits up 26 percent to $7.8 Billion” – The Guardian, Cisco still bid the Flip goodbye.


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Most consumers would agree that they are taxed enough. Those who happen to live in a state that has a state income tax are taxed even higher than some consumers in America are. One of the few respites from sales tax has long been online purchases through companies who don’t have a physical presence in the state the consumer lives in.
Massive online retailers like Amazon.com and Apple, owner of iTunes, have spent a considerable amount of time and money fighting attempts by various states to tax digital sales. New York State passed a law that forced Amazon to add sales tax to orders for consumers in the state. Amazon filed suit against the state on the grounds that it had no physical presence in New York State, a concept called "nexus" which previously had protected online firms against such taxation. However, Amazon ultimately lost the suit because New York State was able to prove that by soliciting affiliates in the state it was effectively doing business there. In losing, a legal precedent was set which promised to potentially undo nexus protections for online retailers across the country.
Apple's iTunes store has also drawn the eyes of lawmakers in various states looking to add tax revenue to their state coffers, inspired by recent successes. New York State was again at the forefront of the case when it tried in December of 2008 to force Apple to collect sales tax on digital sales from iTunes.
Other states are looking at the success New York State has had with getting money from digital sales and want a piece of the action. A legislative commission in North Carolina is looking at methods that could be used to tax digital downloads from sources like Amazon and iTunes.
The committee is attempting to "modernize" the North Carolina tax code, which was written long before the advent of digital sales.
Rep. Paul Luebke describes, "We used to think of everything in terms of being tangible. Nobody thought of how you could possibly download anything."
At this point, taxing digital downloads is still nothing more than a proposal and is far from becoming law. However, changes proposed by the general assembly could affect how tax laws in North Carolina are written in the future.
Luebke continues, "So if you buy a book in a bookstore, you're going to have to pay sales tax on it," Luebke said. "If you're downloading a book from a book seller, you should have to pay sales tax on that as well."
According to research taxing digital sales of music, books, movies, and software could add about $12 million to state tax revenues over the next fiscal year. That is a temptation that the state isn’t likely to pass up, considering that North Carolina is faced with a $2 billion shortfall in its budget.
CEO of the North Carolina Technology Association Brooks Railford disagrees with the proposed digital sales tax. Mr. Railford states, "We would be concerned about any kind of new taxes in this economy. The consumer is already very highly taxed, the economy is stretched. All we're asking is that those considerations be taken carefully and that the industry be asked for their input as the legislation is finalized."
One of Railford's major concerns is the impact on sales of digital good to the companies who sell them. The lack of sales tax online is often one of the key reasons consumers buy online rather than in a retail store. Adding sales tax could have a major detrimental effect on online retailers.


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If you’re serious about drafting or finally learning to draw, Adobe Ink and Slide may be your best hope.
5 Recent Stories
Apple has sold iPad and iPhone styluses in its stores for years, but it wasn’t until recently that I noticed one of the company's promo videos showing someone using a stylus on an iPad. For me, that was a watershed moment, since I’ve been drawing on iPads with a stylus since almost the day it launched in 2010. These styluses are typically not powered, and work via capacitive touch, just like your finger on an iPad screen.
Wacom Europe took to the UK’s Gadget Show this week to launch a new multi-purpose tablet stylus and to show off its updated Bamboo Paper notebook tablet app. Wacom revealed that the new Bamboo Stylus duo stylus works on both iPad and Android tablets, and has a capacitive pen tip for on-screen input at one end, with a ball-point ink pen at the other for taking more traditional paper-based notes.
This week, I had a chance to review the Nomad Brush, a beautiful, handcrafted stylus designed for painting and sketching on the iPad. The stylus feels and looks like an actual paintbrush, complete with a 5.5-inch wooden handle and a mix of natural and synthetic fibers selected for their conductive properties.
Finger painting on the iPhone and iPod has become something of a phenomenon, thanks to apps like Brushes [iTunes link] and SketchBook Pro [iTunes link], and the work of high-profile artists like David Kassan, the New Yorker's Jorge Colombo and David Hockney. In fact, Paris's Pierre Berge-Yves St. Laurent Foundation is currently running an exhibition featuring Hockney's iPad paintings until January 30. But not everyone loves finger painting on the iPad.


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The Canadian Federal Government prohibits and restricts the use of certain ingredients in cosmetics and body care products. Many of these ingredients are found in products sold in the U.S. Canada Health has put together the Cosmetics Ingredient Hotlist that is based on the latest scientific studies. Ingredients on the Hotlist are prohibited or may used in regulated concentrations with mandatory warning labels.
These are some of the ingredients on the Hotlist and in U.S. consumer products:
Triclosan: regulated concentration, Warning label for oral care products: “not intended for children under 12.”
Salicylic acid: regulated concentration, Warning label: “Do not use on broken or abraded skin, not to be used by children under three years of age.”
Lead: prohibited (allowed in U.S. products and candy at low levels)
Mecury: prohibited (allowed in U.S. products at low levels)
To view the “Hotlist” of prohibited and restricted chemicals click here: Hotlist
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Canada has banned the sale of baby bottles containing BPA and has dedicated $1.7 million to research the health effects of BPA. The Health Minister Tony Clement stated that, “We have concluded that early development is sensitive to the effects of bisphenol A,” Canada has decided to use precautionary principle when it comes to the use of chemicals in consumer products.
To read the whole story at the Canadian Broadcasting Company click here:


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Melbourne, 27 May 2021: Magic Valley today announced the launch of the world’s first cultured lamb company, in Melbourne, Australia. Quickly gaining attention globally, cultured meat offers a safe, healthy and delicious slaughter-free alternative to traditionally farmed meat.
Founded by passionate vegan Paul Bevan, Magic Valley brings together a team of Australia’s leading scientists with extensive experience in both stem cell biology and livestock production.
Cultured meat is produced from a small sample of animal cells which are grown in a nutrient-rich culture medium where they can easily multiply and expand in order to create real meat products.
When compared to traditionally farmed meat, it is estimated that cultured meat will also result in a 96% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 99% reduction in land use and a 96% reduction in water use.
Magic Valley is currently raising a seed round from investors to complete prototype development with the first products expected to be available on shelves in the next 12 to 24 months.
Mr Bevan said that Magic Valley’s initial focus will be on developing the world’s first cultured lamb products including mince, strips, steaks and chops.
“Given Australia’s excellent reputation for food safety, security and producing quality sheep, lamb was the obvious choice for the company’s first product range," Mr Bevan said. "Not to mention the fact that lambs are also currently slaughtered at an incredibly young age using traditional farming methods. Magic Valley’s cultured meat products will provide Australians with a slaughter-free alternative to factory-farmed lamb.”
Consumers worldwide are also set to benefit from this amazing development in food technology with the company planning to expand throughout China, greater Asia, the US and the Middle East.
Driven by intensive animal farming practices, the global sheep and lamb meat industry is currently valued at AUD $125 billion (USD $96.5 billion).
For further information contact:
Paul Bevan (Founder & CEO)
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +61 433 994 693
Magic Valley is a cultured meat business based in Melbourne, Australia. Magic Valley is producing a range of lamb products using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) without any Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) or animal products whatsoever.
Magic Valley was established by animal loving, health-conscious, food lovers, with the simple vision of creating real meat products that are healthy, delicious and slaughter-free.


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Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued a ruling that makes the state even more appealing to trial lawyers by removing the need to prove a business was fraudulent or negligent under the state’s consumer protection law. The Court […]
Graham v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
(11th Cir., filed April 22, 2016). Arguing that reliance on general, non-specific verdicts to foreclose litigation of highly specific issues that may never have been resolved in a plaintiff’s favor constitutes a fundamental violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Trial lawyers’ spending on covid ads last year surpassed $400,000
Legislature moving on bills to address covid liability concerns
Trial lawyers’ spending on covid ads last year surpassed $650,000
ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about a worrisome trend involving California “lemon law” suits.


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Asbury Park Beerfest brings brews back to the boards
You can, to paraphrase Dickens, think of Asbury Park as a city of two breweries.
The landmark Jersey Shore municipality is currently home to a pair of shining stars in the state's current craft beer boom. Dark City Brewing opened at the corner of Second Avenue and Main Street in January 2015; just a few blocks away, the beer began flowing at Asbury Park Brewery on Sewall Avenue in August.
"The reality is that there is still so much room in this market here in New Jersey, particularly the Jersey Shore, for different breweries to express their own unique voice and what they want to brew," said Asbury Park Brewery founder Jeff Plate. "I think that’s really the key to it. You don’t really run into each other.
“I mean, Mike Kane is making world-class IPAs (at Kane Brewing Company) in Ocean Township, Dark City is doing their kind of funky, weird beers as well as Carton (Brewing in Atlantic Highlands), and we’re doing some more traditional lagers and more German-themed stuff over here at the brewery. But really, there’s plenty of room for everybody and everybody seems to get along pretty well.”
Asbury Park Brewery and Dark City Brewing are but two of the Jersey fresh options on tap for the Asbury Park Beerfest, returning to Convention Hall on the Asbury Park Boardwalk Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29.
They'll be joined by Forgotten Boardwalk (Cherry Hill), Cricket Hill (Fairfield), Two Ton Brewing (Linden), Belford Brewing Company (Belford) and Flying Fish Brewing Company (Somerdale).
GET OUT: Escape room scene booming in New Jersey
“Every year there’s new breweries added to the area so we try to see who’s popular, who’s got some new, fresh product out there," said one of the event's organizers, James Douglas. "We try to highlight the locals above everything else.”
Douglas — also general manager at the Beach Bar, the Anchor's Bend and the Asbury Oyster Bar in the Grand Arcade on the Asbury Park Boardwalk — said that Dark City and Asbury Park Brewery have, over their relatively short lifespans, forged bonds with the local scene.
“They seem to be very tied into the community," said Douglas. "You see they’ve got a sense of what the local community is looking for as far as styles, and there’s also a great support system going on there. There (are) a lot of tie-ins with some of the local businesses, and it’s just a very nice, small business, symbiotic relationship going on with these businesses and the community.”
That's abundantly clear when trying Populous, the smoked porter made in collaboration with the nearby Asbury Park Roastery. Populous will be available at Beerfest, as will the dry-hopped sour Summerfield and Circuit, a brand-new year-round cream ale.
SQUARED CIRCLE: WWE bringing NXT back to Convention Hall
For their part, the folks from Asbury Park Brewery will be bringing their light-bodied and dry Roasted Stout, their 4/4 session IPA and their flagship beer, a blonde lager.
Douglas tells us there will be more than 60 breweries taking part in this year's Beerfest, with each company offering up to three varieties of beer. International offerings like the Belgian favorite Duvel, the Scottish craft creation Innis & Gunn, and Denmark's Carlsberg will be among some of the world-renowned products also taking part in the festivities.
“It’s an honor, as a beer nerd, to have stuff that I created, ideas that came from my brain, at a table even next to some of these guys," said Kevin Sharpe, owner of last year's Best in Show winner at Beerfest, Dark City Brewing Company. "And then, to hear people come up to your booth who have been to all of those bigger-name booths and say that they liked your stuff better, that’s the greatest feeling in the world.”
Both the noon and 6 p.m. sessions of Beerfest for Jan. 28 have sold out, and as of press time tickets remained for the noon session on Jan. 29.
TAKING FLIGHT: Icarus Brewing opens in Lakewood
Douglas had some advice for guests attending this year's Beerfest: study the map you're given with your tasting glass that lets you know which breweries are stationed where, and if you see a particularly long line maybe try something else and come back to your original choice later in the session.
This year's festival — which also benefits Officer Down, the Best Day Foundation and Clean Ocean Action — also will offer plenty of boardwalk cuisine options, including eats from Mogo, The Windmill and others.
"I would encourage people to take their time as they go around," Douglas said. "There’s plenty of time to try all the beers.”
Raise a glass
There are plenty of other beer-related events also coming up in New Jersey. Here are a few we can't wait for:
- River Horse Cask Festival, 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the River Horse Brewing Co., 2 Graphics Dr., Ewing, www.riverhorse.com.
- Craft Beer and Spirit Festival, 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Heldrich, 10 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, www.theheldrich.com/festival.
- The seventh annual Great Beer Expo, 12:30 to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 4, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center at Harmon Meadow, 355 Plaza Dr., Secaucus, www.greatbeerexpo.com/meadowlands.
- Big Brew Beer Festival, noon to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 4 at the Morristown Armory, 430 Western Ave., Morristown, www,bigbrewnj.com/morristown.
- Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival, 8 p.m. to midnight March 31, noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. April 1 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, One Convention Blvd., Atlantic City, www.acbeerfest.com.
- Hop Sauce Festival, noon June 3 at the Taylor Avenue Waterfront, Beach Haven, www.hopsaucefest.com.
ASBURY PARK BEERFEST
WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29
WHERE: Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park
TICKETS: Sold out for Saturday, $37.50 in advance and $45 at the door for Sunday


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Blue Apron, which delivers ingredients to cook meals in your home and was among the companies whispered to go public this year, has now filed to go public.
Amidst an array of enterprise companies that have jumped on the IPO bandwagon following Snap’s successful IPO (aside from its more recent whiff of an earnings report ), Blue Apron appears to be the next major consumer IPO. That’s important because it continues the tone that both enterprise and consumer companies see an opportunity to go public, which may signal additional activity as we go further into the year.
There’s one unique twist to this consumer IPO, however: it was actually profitable in the first quarter last year. Blue Apron said it brought in $3 million in a profit in the first quarter last year, though it swung to a wildly larger loss in the first quarter this year. While younger companies are expected to burn a ton of money (especially Snap, the largest consumer IPO in many years), Blue Apron appears to have been able to control its costs for at least a hot second before going into growth mode.
The company is showing a rather incredible amount of growth. Blue Apron said it generated nearly $800 million in revenue in 2016, up from $341 million in 2015. For the first quarter this year, Blue Apron said it generated $245 million in revenue, up from $172 million in the first quarter last year. Despite all this, Blue Apron said it lost $55 million in 2016, though it said it lost $52 million in the first quarter this year.
As a food-driven business, however, Blue Apron faces some interesting challenges that it’s laid out in its risk factors. Here’s one of the ones that stands out: food safety and food-borne illnesses.
“Unexpected side effects, illness, injury or death related to allergens, food-borne illnesses or other food safety incidents (including food tampering or contamination) caused by products we sell, or involving suppliers that supply us with ingredients and other products, could result in the discontinuance of sales of these products or our relationships with such suppliers, or otherwise result in increased operating costs or harm to our reputation,” The company said in its filing. “Shipment of adulterated products, even if inadvertent, can result in criminal or civil liability.”
Blue Apron also says that variability in food costs — and generally changes in the macroeconomic environment and consumer spending — can also have a big impact on its business. That’s not too surprising as Blue Apron, which is often seen as a tech company, has to deal with a complex chain of logistics and moving parts that sources supplies from many different locations and businesses.
Really, this whole section on risk factors for the IPO — laid out for potential investors and often quite boilerplate — has a lot of details that you won’t often find in the typical consumer IPO. Here are a few of the other interesting risk factors:
- “Any failure to adequately store, maintain and deliver quality perishable foods could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.”
- Our business depends on a strong and trusted brand, and any failure to maintain, protect or enhance our brand, including as a result of events outside our control, could materially adversely affect our business.
- “The reliable and cost-effective storage, transport and delivery of ingredients and other products and our product offerings is critical to our business, and any interruptions, delays or failures could materially adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition and operating results.”
Unsurprisingly, Blue Apron looks to target a younger audience. Users between the ages of 25 and 44 years old make up more than half of the company’s business, which might not seem too surprising for observers of the meal kit market (and, in general, on-demand food industry). The company says it’s delivered 159 millions nationwide.
The IPO also looks like another big win for Bessemer Venture Partners, which owns nearly 24% of the company. First Round capital also owns around 10% of the company. Blue Apron has raised nearly $200 million in financing, with its most recent cash influx coming in 2015.
We are updating this post with additional information as it comes in.
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Ubisoft released the new Patch Y6S2.1 to Rainbow Six Siege yesterday, which addressed some of the important bugs present in the game. The update also silently added crossplay support between PC, Stadia, and Luna.
Back in E3 2021, Ubisoft announced Rainbow Six Siege’s much-anticipated crossplay and cross-progression features. And now the first step of their roadmap has been completed, as crossplay support between PC and cloud-gaming platforms have been successfully added to the game.
Rainbow Six Siege just got added to Google Stadia today as planned, and it will finally enable players to play this tactical FPS shooter from any device. While Amazon Luna, still in early access, already allowed users to enjoy this Ubisoft title.
Players have to turn on the ‘Crossplay Matchmaking’ settings under the General tab, and as the name suggests it will then enable matchmaking with PC, Stadia, and Luna users. As mouse and keyboard support is available on all three platforms, players won’t face any unfair advantage.
(Note: Crossplay communication has to be turned on to receive invites from other platforms)
While some players will still want crossplay between PC and Console, Ubisoft thinks this won’t be a good idea, as ‘MnK’ players will have a massive advantage in this FPS shooter. While these cloud-gaming platforms might not have a huge player-base, it is still a positive step taken by Ubisoft, which will slightly improve the quality and time of matchmaking.
The highly anticipated cross-progression is coming in the future, and this will be available between all platforms. Cross-progression will allow players to transfer all their contents when shifting to a different platform. So, you’ll be able to bring all your special in-game skins and progress when moving from console to PC or vice versa. This feature is set to be released in early 2022.


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The five-passenger Honda Insight Prototype will make its debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on January 15, 2018, as the precursor to the all-new 2019 Honda Insight. The Insight utilizes Honda's two-motor hybrid system and will launch next summer as the newest electrified vehicle in the Honda lineup.
"You won't have to be an electrification advocate to appreciate the new Insight – it's a great car in its own right, independent of what's happening under the hood," said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of Automobile Sales and general manager of the Honda Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc
Introduced in 1999, the first-generation Insight was America's first hybrid vehicle. It was the first Honda vehicle to utilize Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system.
Honda terms the all-new 2019 Insight “a hybrid vehicle without any inherent compromise.”
The all-new model will be powered by Honda's two-motor hybrid system offering fuel economy that is competitive with other compact hybrid models.
"At the 2017 North American International Auto Show we announced our Honda Electrification Initiative with the intention to make two-thirds of Honda's global vehicle sales electrified vehicles by 2030," said Arcangeli, "With the Insight launching later in 2018 as the fifth electrified vehicle brought to market over the past year, we're demonstrating our commitment to that goal."
The Insight – to be manufactured at Honda's Greensburg, Indiana plant, alongside Civic and CR-V using domestic and globally sourced parts – will join the Clarity series and the all-new 2018 Accord Hybrid, arriving at dealerships nationwide early next year.


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On Independence Day, we invited a few friends over for a cookout. Just into the second mojito, a noticeable commotion permeated the scene.
The best way to describe it is “cell phone athletics.” (They called it “mobile personal media.”)
It seemed to be all about snapping a cell phone photo of someone, then picking the perfect cell phone song for that someone. When he or she calls, the picture appears and the song plays. (One guy even recorded short video clips, on his phone, which is why everyone will remain nameless.)
Like so many times, I wondered if I was observing a fad, or if the multimedia trimmings to the common cell phone would prosper.
(In either event, it looks suspiciously like yet another charger cradle for yet another device, to later join the boxful of cradles without devices, all in a big rainy-day tangle in the basement.)
The cookout consensus, among the unequipped of us, was that cell phones seem to shrink in size, and multiply in features, every six months.
Other technologies seem to flourish more slowly. Fireworks come to mind.
The shapes that glimmered onto the night sky later that evening — hearts, stars, even a Saturn-looking thing — combined with the kaleidoscope of color, took me by surprise. Maybe it was a mind trick, but it sure seemed like fireworks have matured beautifully over the past 20 years.
From cell phones to fireworks, a fluctuating pace for technological change is a given. What's hard is picking which technologies to follow, amid the wide range of motion — usually as a side dish to your regular job, which is probably busy enough.
Such is often the case for the industry's marketing forces, who meet in Boston next week for the annual Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing Summit. Part of their work is to shape how consumers discover and choose new cable services, in an increasingly competitive environment.
That made it seem fitting to devote this week's column to the near-term technologies aimed at cable customers.
WHAT CABLE GETS
These days, looking ahead necessitates the lumping of new technologies into two types: Those that wind up in your systems, and those that you put there.
So far, the set-top/video connection remains immune to anything other than what you put there.
It's that cable modem/broadband Internet duct that's becoming the load-bearing vessel for “outside” stuff that winds up in cable systems.
Near-term, that means more merchandise that looks, to consumers, like phone service.
It comes from companies like AT&T Corp. and Vonage Holdings Inc., among many others. They use a method of communicating known as “SIP,” for “session initiation protocol,” which is largely undetectable by the cable modems underneath.
More such competitive services are coming.
And there's another biggie in the near-term sites: Home media centers.
They're big because of what's behind them, which is at least two big industries: Consumer electronics and personal computing.
Because it's new turf, with lots of sparkle, the home media center is the epicenter of an unrestrained bit of nomenclature sparring.
The attempts at a name for the technology — residential gateways, media centers, media center PCs — elbow into the attempts at a name for what they provide — networked home, digital home, multimedia home.
Their purpose, in most cases, is to be the central repository and traffic cop linking up all of the digital stuff in a person's house. That means photos, videos, DVDs, music, and digital video recordings of TV — available to multiple devices, in multiple rooms. Everything gets connected.
WHAT CABLE'S DOING
In both cases — communications services that ride through cable modems, and home media centers — there's considerable activity on the home turf. That means competing products that can be put into circulation, to vie with the stuff that winds up there.
At least one ranking MSO is quietly testing SIP-based services, for example, while monitoring how AT&T, Vonage, and the others do with theirs.
On the media center front, the traditional set-top suppliers are designing many, if not all, of the features that come with CE- and PC-styled home media centers (think multi-room DVR and HD- VOD here.)
Simultaneously, the technologists working on home networks, wired and wireless, are tackling the issue from the IP (Internet protocol) side of the network.
On all fronts, the main barrier to media centers is known as “digital rights management,” or “DRM.” It's always within two feet of any conversation about home media centers, sticking up at a pointy angle, demanding resolution.
The problem is how to make a device that copyright holders will deem a “trusted domain,” to hold and share content with other “trusted” devices.
The friends who showed up for the cookout, by example, are gadgetry buffs. It's fun for them. It's their job, in a way.
Most of us probably know people who can barely turn their cell phones on, let alone retrieve messages.
Still, this blitz of handheld things to make our digital stuff more portable seems unavoidable. Digital PDAs, cameras, phones, DVD players, MP3 players, and portable DVRs (and their charging apparatus) are way more amongst us than they used to be, even five years ago.
If it works better with broadband, it will show up in cable systems. Ready?
Stumped by gibberish? Visit www.translation-please.com.


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An independent survery of 200 UK-based CIOs has revealed that they are only using about half of the cloud capacity they've bought and paid for, and that 90 percent of them see over-provisioning as a necessary evil.
Cloud provider ElasticHosts, which commissioned the survey, says: "Essentially, bad habits like over-provisioning and sacrificing peak performance are being carried from the on-premise world into the cloud, partly because people are willing to accept these limitations."
In other words, CIOs who have used over-provisioning to handle peak demand in their server rooms are doing the same thing in the cloud, where it shouldn't be necessary — assuming, that is, the cloud provider can handle the peak demand from multiple customers, even if these peaks coincide at lunchtime.
Further, 88 percent of these CIOs admitted they sacrificed some performance at peak times in order to control costs.
The survey was conducted online by Vanson Bourne. It surveyed 100 CIOs from organisations with 1,000-3,000 employees and 100 from organisations with more than 3,000 employees. Of the respondents, 50 were from financial services, 50 from manufacturing, 50 from retail, distribution and transport, and 50 from other commercial sectors.
A major part of the problem is that most companies are managing their cloud services manually, which adds to the cost. According to the survey, only 14 percent have automated the process. Automation could reduce the amount of overprovisioning required and thus cut costs.
Richard Davies, ElasticHosts' CEO, says: "This research really highlights the short-comings of the pay-by-capacity billing model."
ElasticHosts is selling Linux IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) where customers can be billed separately for on-demand memory, processor and disk use as the bandwidth they use. It can scale these very quickly because it is providing Linux containers rather than virtual machines (VMs). Several customers may be sharing a VM, though each company can only see its own partition.
This could be dismissed as ElasticHosts marketing. However, as I pointed out in an earlier story, the increasing support for LXC containers in Linux distros and the growing popularity of Docker suggests that containerization will become widespread. (See: Next-gen cloud services could save users almost $2 billion a year)
Davies says: "as the research shows, and as half of respondents recognised, cloud as we have it today really isn’t truly elastic — it does not expand and retract automatically to meet demands, and it is not paid for like a utility, based on consumption. However, with next-generation cloud and containerisation technology, change is afoot.
"Our question to organisations is: why would you ever choose to pay for capacity you aren’t using, sacrifice performance, and eat up your systems administrator’s time, when you don’t need to? Soon companies will be asking themselves the same thing, which will mark the end of capacity-based billing."


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>> Under unknown circumstances, Ford model Randy Johnston passed away October 11. The 20 year-old from Connecticut is currently being memorialized on Ford's web site, and his resume was highlighted by a turn as Dior Homme campaign model under Hedi Slimane for Fall 2007. He also appears in the November 2008 issue of i-D with Lara Stone. May he rest in peace.
Former Dior Homme Model Randy Johnston Passes Away
From Our Partners


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US Bancorp-owned Elavon has signed a major deal with Irish e-payments player Realex that will see the Irish firm provide Elavon with a fully branded, managed gateway solution for transactions.
The deal with Elavon will result in Realex deploying a localised, online, multi-channel payment gateway for businesses across the UK and Europe.
“The combination of Elavon’s acquiring experience, processing reach, and financial stability, with Realex Payments gateway expertise, fraud controls and connectivity results in a win-win for our customers,” said Guy Harris, MD and EVP Europe at Elavon.
The deal follows hot on the heels of a similar managed gateway deal last year that Realex signed with Global Payments, formerly HSBC Merchant Services.
Realex is on Fire
Realex is currently experiencing a period of exponential growth. In the last year revenue in the UK market grew by 95pc and their client base doubled to 12,500.
This growth was across all markets – direct corporate and business clients as well as managed gateway solutions.
The company also recently launched Realex Fire, a new personal payment account enabling users to lodge and withdraw funds, create a circle of people to pay, send and receive payments, operate multiple accounts and get notifications on Facebook.
Realex Payments also offers solutions for small, medium and large corporate clients – including many household names such as Virgin Atlantic, AA insurance, Aviva, Paddy Power and notonthehighstreet.com.
Commenting on the Elavon deal, Realex founder and CEO Colm Lyon said: “This is a major partnership for us; we are strategically positioned to offer our partners a holistic and compelling offering that truly enables them to grow their e-commerce business.
“We are extremely excited about the future and working with Elavon to grow our relationship, extend our reach and strengthen our strategic partnership. This announcement is further reinforcement of our commitment to providing the best managed gateway solution, not just a white label but a deep partnership that truly facilitates growth,” Lyon added.


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Beijing Vows to Immediately Implement Trade Truce Over Energy, Cars and Agriculture Products
The Ministry of Commerce said Thursday China will immediately start implementing agreements on agricultural products, energy and cars that were reached at the weekend summit between Chinese and U.S. leaders over their ongoing trade dispute.
Calling the talks with the U.S. “smooth,” Ministry Spokesman Gao Feng said at Thursday’s news conference that China is “fully confident” it will reach an agreement with the U.S. in 90 days, though he didn’t offer details. He added that the talks will also address areas such as intellectual property rights, technology cooperation, market access, and the trade imbalance.
On its surface, the ministry’s statement addresses one of the sources of confusion from the 90-day trade cease-fire that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to over the weekend at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. In the hours after the summit, the two sides each put out statements emphasizing different concessions, some of which the other side did not acknowledge, rattling the U.S. markets due to confusion over the deal.
The White House said Sunday after the summit that “China will agree to purchase a not yet agreed upon, but very substantial, amount of agricultural, energy, industrial and other products from the U.S. to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries” and “China has agreed to start purchasing agricultural products from U.S. farmers immediately.”
However, China’s official post-summit statement on Sunday did not mention these details.
In another example, the White House said the two sides will also negotiate “structural changes” regarding forced technology transfers, intellectual property protection, cyber intrusions and cyber theft, services and agriculture. However, China’s statement only mentioned that China will speed up “consultations and reach a concrete agreement that is mutually beneficial.”
Over the next 90 days, China and the U.S. will move toward the ultimate goal of canceling all additional tariffs, Gao said. In the meantime, China will continue to negotiate with the U.S. in areas including agricultural products, energy and industrial products.
On the issue of auto tariffs, Gao mentioned that the State Council’s tariff department will release a statement about the issue, but he didn’t say when.
Contact reporter Leng Cheng (firstname.lastname@example.org)
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