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The world’s largest fertilizer company warned supply disruptions could extend into 2023. A bulk of the world’s supply has been taken offline due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This has sparked soaring prices and shortages of crop nutrients in top growing areas worldwide; an early indication of a global food crisis could be in the beginning innings.
Bloomberg reports Canada-based Nutrien Ltd.’s CEO Ken Seitz told investors on Tuesday during a conference call that he expects to increase potash production following supply disruptions in Russia and Ukraine (both major fertilizer suppliers). Seitz expects disruptions “could last well beyond 2022.”
Seitz said the conflict plus Western sanctions on Russia and Belarus has reduced fertilizer supply on global markets and could reshape crop nutrient trade, thus creating even more supply uncertainty.
“Could there be a change in global trade patterns as a result? We think that’s a possibility,” he said.
Fertilizer disruptions could be a multi-year event. Already, farmers worldwide are reducing fertilizers, which may threaten yields come harvest time. The repercussions could be huge: Lower yields may exacerbate the food crisis.
Here are the latest signs commercial farmers worldwide are reducing fertilizer usage because of higher prices or shortages.
Revealed last week, SLC Agricola SA, one of Brazil’s largest farming operations, managing fields of soybeans, corn, and cotton fields in an area larger than the state of Delaware, will reduce the use of fertilizer by 20% and 25%.
Coffee farmers in Brazil, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, some of the largest coffee-producing countries, are expected to spread less fertilizer because of high costs and shortages. A coffee cooperative representing 1,200 farmers in Costa Rica predicts coffee output could slip 15% next year because of soaring fertilizer costs.
…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…


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Tips for career success at AIFST Young Professionals Breakfast
A panel of some of Australia’s most respectable experts and leaders in the food industry will present at a free networking breakfast for Young Professionals in the industry at the 49th Annual AIFST Convention.
Georgie Aley, CEO of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST), said the networking breakfast is a must-attend for any young professional who is interested in progressing their career.
“When I graduated university, figuring out what my next move would be, and how I would do it was a daunting prospect.
“I remember joining two member organisations, the Future Farmers Network and NSW Farm Writers Association, both of which opened my eyes to a vast network of agriculture, agribusiness and food industry professionals.
“Events such as the AIFST Convention and the Young Professionals Networking Breakfast allow young professionals to hear from leaders in the food industry to set goals for their future careers, all while expanding their networks and opportunities,” said Ms Aley.
Dr Andre Teixeira, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at CSIRO, will also join the panel and believes learning from experience and acquiring knowledge – not just information, is crucial when progressing your career in the food industry and being able to set yourself apart.
“These days many people believe that if they have the information they also have the knowledge. This is not the case.
“Knowledge can be acquired in many different ways, both the conventional ones from networking and learning from seniors in the industry. The progression of your knowledge is very critical, as information is very ephemeral.
“Events such as the AIFST Convention are a vessel for connectedness to knowledge – a knowledge which can open doors for global career progression,” said Dr Teixeira.
Ms Aley and Dr Teixeira will join Jana Cameron (Path4Food), Dr Chris Downs (CSIRO) and Josh Hemelaar (Gelita) on the panel discussion, chaired by Vaughan Gough (Flavour Creations) at the Young Professionals in Food Networking Breakfast at the 49th Annual AIFST Convention in Brisbane on Tuesday, 28 June.
The Young Professionals Breakfast will explore the skills needed beyond formal qualifications, how to set yourself apart when progressing your career globally, and how to sell the industry, your product and yourself.
The Networking Breakfast is free and is open for all young members (aged under 30) of AIFST. Register for FREE now: http://bit.ly/1TVajyj
The 49th Annual AIFST Convention will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from Monday 27 June to Tuesday 28 June 2016. The AIFST Convention will be co-located with FoodTech Queensland, a major trade event for Queensland food manufacturers, and with more than 3,500 attendees expected, it will be Australia’s largest food industry gathering of 2016.
To register for the 49th Annual AIFST Convention, visit http://bit.ly/1pbPPJj
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Adobe began testing a “freemium” version of its popular photo-editing suite in Canada. Adobe plans to eventually spread the love worldwide in the near future – minus some features that will only be available to paying subscribers. Adobe promises that the freemium version will provide enough tools and features so that users can take advantage of the software’s main assets.
Adobe’s VP Digital Imaging Maria Yap said, “We want to make Photoshop more accessible and easier for more people to try it out and experience the product.” This is a huge change in the way Adobe distributes the software since it became a subscription-based editing suite.
Last October 2021, Adobe released a web version of Photoshop to make it easier for creators to collaborate. The simplified web-based Photoshop allows users to start some basic operations, but does not have the full toolset of the subscription version. The watered-down web-based Photoshop has seen many updates and improvements since it was first released. It has become a nice editing option for those who work with others, even enabling annotations, enhancing the collaboration tools and features.
“I want Photoshop to meet users where they are today,” Yap said. “You don’t need a sophisticated machine to get into Photoshop,” which is great considering how expensive a subscription can be for young creatives. Having access to the world’s most popular photo editing platform gives you access to a space that many couldn’t afford to explore.
It could also be said that in the future, Adobe will also win its customers over by building users’ loyalty to the software, ultimately turning them into subscribers to the full Photoshop suite. Adobe hasn’t given a timeline for when the “freemium” service will be available to everyone, but it did mention that the company is focusing on updating it to provide many creative tools such as curves, dodge, burn, and refine edges. .
Until Adobe announces the release date for the rest of us, I may have to consider vacationing in Canada just to give the “freemium” Photoshop a try. Does anyone know the words to “O Canada”?
Mark has starred in comedy shows across the country for 20 years, appearing on ABC, MTV, Comedy Central, Howard Stern, Food Network and Sirius XM Radio. He has written on every subject imaginable from dating, family, politics, social issues and technology. He wrote his first tech articles for the now-defunct Dads On Tech 10 years ago, and his passion for blending humor and technology has grown under the tutelage of the Laptop Mag team. His penchant for tearing things down and rebuilding didn’t make Mark popular at home, but when he got his hands on the legendary Commodore 64, his passion for all things technology deepened. Nowadays, when he’s not filming, editing footage, tinkering with cameras and laptops, or on stage, he can be snacking at his desk, writing about anything technology, new jokes, or scripts. what he dreams of filming.


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WARNING: This product contains nicotine, nicotine is an addictive chemical.
Only for audlts, anyone below the age of 21 is prohibited from buying e-cigarette.
On August 23rd, USA vape industry big news. Delaware legalized recreational marijuana, becoming the 23rd state (region) in the United States to legalize recreational marijuana.
Despite Governor Carney’s opposition, he allowed two bills to pass without his signature. These two bills are:
In a written statement on Friday, Carney stated that he would neither veto nor sign these two bills.
According to the new law, individuals can carry up to one ounce of marijuana in their car; The retail license for cannabis sales will not be issued until at least August 2024, during which the applicant will be reviewed. In addition, retail mahjong will levy a 15% consumption tax.
Although Carney has always strongly opposed the legalization of casual marijuana, he has decided to pass the bill without his signature and stated that the debate has been going on for too long, and it is time to move forward. He emphasized that he still supports medical marijuana and Delaware’s decriminalization laws.
According to two top sources, as of April, 23 states in the United States (including the District of Columbia) have legalized recreational marijuana, accounting for nearly half of the total number of states (regions) in the United States.
This is really a good news for vape factory. Hope everything good!


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Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. will equip some of its 500 music stores to produce custom-designed music compact discs by the end of this year, company technology VP Robert L. Carberry said Tuesday.
Consumers would choose favorite songs from a computer library and stamp their own CD within seconds, he told reporters following his keynote address at the New Media Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Blockbuster planned to have the service by Christmas 1993 but withdrew the idea when record labels objected, citing copyright concerns. Those issues have been resolved, allowing the plan to move forward, although expanding the service to include hot-selling albums was not promised.
National rollout of the new service will be “a step at a time,” Carberry said. He added that the cost of technology is falling fast enough to enhance its commercial viability.
Instead of concentrating on brand-new applications in the untested and murky waters of multimedia and interactivity, Carberry urged listeners to “look for an application that exists and apply the new technology to it, and make it cost-effective.” His remarks came during a well-attended keynote address aimed at answering questions about the information superhighway at the expo, which continues through Thursday.
“One of the traps in all of this talk about the interactive age is the ‘Field of Dreams’ fallacy, where people say build it and they will come,” said Carberry , who joined Blockbuster less than a month ago after ankling as president of IBM Personal Systems business unit Fireworks Partners. “We’re finding that’s not really true. You don’t have to go into a new market when you can widen an existing one.”
Carberry went on to cite another “pothole” on the superhighway: The complexity issue, which he referred to as the “flashing VCR problem,” noting that most VCR users can’t set their machine’s clock. “Without a map, the complexity overwhelms,” he said. “We’ve got to keep it simple. When you can bring it down to an easier level, you can get customers.”
In addition, Carberry said, “We have to solve the affordability problem if we are going to make this successful.”
Discussing his move to Blockbuster, Carberry quipped that it was entirely for economic reasons. “I have two sons,” he said, “and they offered me unlimited free videos and no late charges.”


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Trucks, Hondas Top List of 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in WA State
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the group that tracks vehicle thefts across the United States, mostly for insurance purposes. They have released their Top 10 most stolen vehicles in WA state.
Data is from 2022, a mix of sedans and trucks
The NICB and other agencies who report data say the biggest theft jumps nationally in the last 2 years have been full-size trucks. The 2022 theft totals for those vehicles are up significantly and makeup at least 25 percent of all vehicles stolen.
The NICB says on average a vehicle is stolen every 32 seconds in the US, over a million each year, and the cost to victims and consumers is nearly $8 billion dollars.
The WA State list includes the ever-popular Honda Civic, Accord, and CRV. Many of these are stolen for their parts, and they often wind up in chop shops with parts sold on the Black Market.
It's also worth noting the majority of these vehicles are considered a bit older. Few "brand-new" models made the list.
All three major truck manufacturers are on the list for 2022.
1. 1999 Ford Pickup (full size) – 4,121 thefts
2. 2000 Honda Civic – 3,267 thefts
3. 1997 Honda Accord – 2,613 thefts
4. 2004 Chevrolet Pickup (full size) – 1,575 thefts
5. 2001/2000 Honda CR-V – 1,338 thefts
6. 1997 Ford Pickup (small size) – 858 thefts
7. 2007 Ford Camry – 791 thefts
8. 1998 Subaru Legacy – 771 thefts
9. 2001 Dodge Pickup (full size) – 744 thefts
10. 2018 Hyundai Elantra – 698 thefts
You can compare WA with the NICB's list of the most stolen vehicles nationally: (top 5)
|Rank||Vehicle Make/Model||2022 Total Thefts||Model Year Most Often Stolen|
|1.||Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)||49,903||2004|
|2.||Ford Pickup (Full Size)||48,175||2006|


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Bicycle thieves are becoming more and more inventive
Lancashire Police have revealed a staggering 3,852 bikes - worth £1,813,511 - were stolen in their county in the last year alone.
Their specialist officers fear owners of expensive bikes are being preyed on by crooks via mobile phone apps and social media.
Sophisticated bike thieves are using the data from exercise apps to target owners of the most expensive, specialist bikes.
Lancashire Police also said thieves are cruising towns and cities for expensive cars with bike racks - and following them back to their homes.
Sgt Kirstie Whyatt, based at Bispham Police station, near Blackpool, said: "We are looking closely at the apps and phoning victims to see if they might have been using them.
"We are also considering whether thieves are looking out for cars with bike carriers."
Sgt Whyatt said their force, along with UK police, were doing all they could to "disrupt" the organised criminal behaviour of bike thief gangs.
She added: "This is a big problem across Lancashire. What has become clear is the way criminals are changing their behaviour.
"They are not taking any old bike. They are after cycles of high value.
"In the town centre we're still seeing people cutting chains and taking any bike but in residential areas they are breaking into sheds."
Former Army captain Colin Johnson, 48, was left devastated when his hand-made bike was stolen in June - just as he was given the go-ahead to get back on the bike after spinal surgery.
They are targeting high value bicycles
He went to get his £2,000 'Moda Intro' road racing bike from his garage in Lostock Hall, Lancs, only to find the building had been broken into and the bike stolen.
Furious Mr Johnson said he fears that bike thieves had him 'under surveillance' due to the expensive nature of his bicycle.
He explained: "I was devastated and close to tears."
Bike theft expert officer Sgt Dave Sherrington, of Lancashire Police, said: "In 2015, 3,852 bicycles were reported stolen across Lancashire with a value of £1,813,511.
The most expensive bike stolen cost £10,000
"This is only the thefts which were reported to police - we actually believe there are more thefts which remain unreported.
"It appears that the recent rise in the purchase of expensive high-tech bikes is fuelling the thefts - the most expensive bike stolen last year was worth over £10,000.
"We think that many of these thefts could have been prevented if owners had locked their bike up securely."


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British Summer Fruits has a new name in time for the summer: the organisation that represents the majority of commercial soft fruit growers is now, fittingly, British Berry Growers.
Along with the new brand, the industry’s berry backer wants to ensure its seasonal offerings comprise 100% of the market and for its exports to surpass by 50% its own British sales by 2035.
“The launch of British Berry Growers marks an exciting moment for the British berry industry,” said British Berry Growers chair Nick Marston. “British Berry Growers will champion the tireless work of our berry growers, both big and small, and support them as they adapt to the future challenges of seasonal berry production. We’re here to secure the long-term success of the British berry industry.”
Marston noted that soft fruits have grown into a £1.6 billion industry each year, an amazing doubling in value over 10 years. He called it a “key contributor to UK food self-sufficiency.”
To sustain future and long-term success it has set out a range of goals:
- “To ensure understanding of the British berry industry’s positive contribution to a sustainable rural economy and the nation’s health, and shape government policy to support British Berry Growers’ mission
- To direct world-leading berry research and development that supports treatment of pest and disease, crop utilisation and drives future efficiencies, including the reduction of the carbon, waste and water footprint of the UK berry industry
- To grow sales for berries by building UK consumer awareness and advocacy, focusing on British berries first and driving overall consumer demand by covering 52 weeks of the year
- To identify and tackle the industry’s key risks to ensure its long-term viability and to provide issues support for UK berry growers.”
The group, which will continue its support of the Love Fresh Berries campaign, also has launched a new research and development advisory board, tasked with advancing British berries on the world stage, both “technically and environmentally.”


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Maple Leaf Foods is expanding its footprint in the alternative proteins market with the $120 million acquisition of Field Roast Grain Meat Co.
Seattle-based Field Roast provides premium grain-based ‘meat’ and vegan cheese products and has reported sales of around $38 million.
“The acquisition of Field Roast complements and expands our portfolio in the fast-growing North American market for alternative proteins,” said Michael McCain, President and CEO.
“It also aligns with our vision to be a leader in sustainable protein and create shared value through making a positive social impact.
“Field Roast has built brand leadership through focusing on quality, craftsmanship and taste, and its acquisition will allow Maple Leaf to fuel growth in the category through investment, brand building and innovation.”
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2017


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Acer has confirmed that it is working on "several" different devices that uses Google's open source Android platform and that includes a smartphone that is set to be launched later this year.
Acer's president and CEO Gianfranco Lanci commented at an investor's conference that the entire industry is looking at Android and that Acer was testing Android on a lot of different solutions including a smartphone.
He ruled out the possibility of an Android-based Acer netbook in the near future. He added that Android is very very good for communication and web access, which means that it made more sense to get smartphone running on Android than a Netbook.
T-Mobile has confirmed that it sold one million Android handsets since launch, six months ago, this is a fraction of what Apple has achieved over the same period and represents the number of Nokia 5800 XM the Finnish company sells monthly.
That said Google Android is getting traction and for the first time, a top-three manufacturer, Samsung, has announced a new Android-based mobile phone, the I7500. Acer has already released a number of smartphones based around Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system.
HTC, Far East One, Samsung and Motorola have so far been the only mobile companies which have announced Android Smartphones. Sony Ericsson has confirmed that it is working on one although no release dates have been given.
You can follow ITProPortal.com on Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/itproportal
Getting a netbook to run Android software is not as difficult as some would tend us to think. The first Android smartphone, the G1, to some extent, is a mini netbook. So it would only be a matter of increasing the size of the keyboard and the screen, keeping everything else constant. Such a netbook can be built quite easily and would certainly cost less than the £299 most netbooks sell for.
Acer working on several Android powered devices
Acer's Lanci: We're Testing Android On Smartphones
Global netbook shipments to reach 50 million units in 2010, says Acer chairman
Acer Working on Several Android Devices
Acer building several Android devices
Acer Working on Android Smartphone
Acer To Launch Android Smartphone Later This Year, and Working On Other Devices
Acer Tests Android, Preps a Smartphone for 2009
Acer ponders Android smartphone


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Asians are cruising for longer periods to destinations further afield, booking farther out, and are more willing to splurge on F&B, discover luxury cruise lines.
Silversea Cruises’ managing director Asia-Pacific, Adam Radwanski, told TTG Asia in an interview during ILTM Asia Pacific: “Expedition cruises to remote locations, like those to Antarctica, Arctic and Galapagos, are setting sales records. Guests from Asia are also booking longer cruises than ever before – around 25 per cent longer than pre-Covid – and those cruises tend to be to faraway destinations to escape Asia. Singaporeans, in particular, like fly-cruise products.”
In response to Asia’s strong business potential, the company has scheduled its newest ship, Silver Nova, to sail to Singapore come October 2024.
In an earlier interview with TTG Asia, Radwanski underlined Asia’s importance to Silversea’s deployment. For the 2024/25 season, the cruise line will have its biggest deployment ever in the region – 21 turnarounds in Singapore, with four of them on Silver Nova, four of them on Silver Dawn, and the rest on various ships including Silver Moon and Silver Muse.
Previously in 2022, Silversea also signed a three-year partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board to grow the luxury cruise industry both in Singapore and regionally, and strengthen the region’s attractiveness as a cruising destination and source market.
Jason Worth, vice president sales & general manager, Asia Pacific of Oceania Cruises, concurred that the Asian cruising market has rebounded strongly, with Singapore leading the way and followed by Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Thailand.
“We’ve seen really strong growth out of all our Asian markets, including Japan, even though they had a bit of a slower start,” Worth said.
He added that these travellers are booking farther out, with far-flung destinations like the Mediterranean doing well – and because the destinations are faraway, it would naturally result in much longer holidays as well.
Worth said: “Just last week, I received a booking from Asia for our Around the World Cruise 2025 (Oceania’s annual world cruise). This is unusual for Asia because most Asian guests don’t sail for that long. It’s great to see that there is opportunity there!”
The 1,200-guest Oceania Vista, the brand’s latest and newest ship, also has “a number of guests from Asia sailing on it this season”.
Aboard the Oceania Vista are a number of new restaurant concepts, which Worth believes will appeal to customers. These include New York bistro-style Ember serving up dishes such as braised short rib on polenta, and the Aquamar Kitchen for healthier smoothies and avocado toasts. A bakery onboard also churns out fresh pastries, quiches, and croissants daily.
F&B is a very important aspect for Silversea too, which has crafted the S.A.L.T. Bar and Kitchen experience to showcase the culinary cultures of destinations the ship calls at. This will tie in with shore excursions, where guests can spend the day with one of Norway’s most famous chefs and learn their techniques, or work on an organic farm in Paros, Greece.
Radwanski told TTG Asia that business looks increasingly promising, especially as Asia-Pacific travel agents that did not traditionally sell cruises are now approaching Silversea for sales training.
“As societies across Asia continue to age and become more and more wealthy and affluent, cruising, especially luxury cruising, is becoming a very attractive way to travel,” opined Radwanski.


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Get up-to-date with our latest news and discover how other founders have flourished by reading our case studies.
Head to Head with Monika Dabrowska, Innovation Director at Fareham Innovation Centre and Ocean Village Innovation Centre
We spoke to Monika Dabrowska, Innovation Director at Fareham Innovation Centre and Ocean Village Innovation Centre
We interviewed Director Peter Eales from MRO Insyte. MRO Insyte is an industrial data and materials management consultancy whose key players have over thirty years of experience working within the maintenance, repair and operations sector.
Fareham Innovation Centre has dedicated a meeting room to a Second World War aircraft salvaged from the Solent after 76 years under water.
We interviewed Technical Director Adrian Bowles from 3 Sci. 3Sci is the creator of a range of wireless NDT asset monitoring products specifically designed for operation in challenging environments such as explosive atmospheres. Watch the video below where you can learn more about his company, their future plans and also why they love being based at Fareham Innovation Centre.
Founding Director and CEO Becky Lodge (BA Hons) CIM, offers strategic consulting advice to boards, corporates and SMEs on the subjects of innovation and digital transformation; including business growth. Little Kanga Ltd has over 1,000 global associates to call upon. We spoke to Becky Lodge, Founding Director and CEO of […]
FINTECH CLUSTER: More than 60 businessmen and women attended a special fintech conference at Fareham Innovation Centre, near Fareham in south Hampshire.
Young people from across Hampshire are receiving professional insights into crime scene investigations and forensics.
LR Animation Studios makes Animated Explainer Videos and all types of video content that any business needs to attract, convert and close more deals. From Explainer Videos and Commercial ads to Music and Live event video content. We spoke to Lewis Rogers, Director of LR Animation Studios, about what LR […]


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Opinion | The importance of forging a united front amid a full-blown trade war3 min read 13 Sep 2018, 11:38 PM IST
Both EU and Canada remain silent about the lawlessness caused by US in global trade
New alliances emerge when things seem to fall apart. This is more so in the current international trading system built on the principles for maximizing dollar-and-cents gains. The European Union (EU), the world’s largest trading entity, is a classic player for making alliances. Just when the Trump administration is launching an all-out trade war with China by subjecting all Chinese products to crowbar tariffs, the EU stuck a partial trade deal with the US on Monday.


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Winter weather welcome for some businesses
ALTON — The recent onslaught of severe weather in the area has local weather-related businesses happy after the conditions had been relatively mild much of the winter.
During a winter in which residents considered themselves lucky to not have snowstorms hit the area, the last week and a half has provided financial relief to some businesses. While many residents took shelter from the poor driving conditions and bitter cold, members of Dex’s Tree Service and other snow-removal companies were out in full force.
Though Dex Wehrle, owner of Dex’s Tree Service, cuts wood and sells firewood to “scrape by,” the weather was welcomed. He recently purchased eight new snow blowers to help with snow removal, a purchase that appeared to be unwarranted before last week’s snowfall.
“There’s a lot of expense, it costs a lot of money to do this. It’s sort of risky if we don’t get snow,” Wehrle said.
Wehrle hires extra help for large snowstorms, employing 17 different friends and acquaintances to help remove snow. Wehrle said he and his employees sleep for approximately four hours during a large storm.
“I think we worked for about 22 hours (Monday), and we did eight hours of pretreat,” Wehrle said.
Although the income is welcomed, the task of remaining awake for 22 consecutive hours is a struggle. Wehrle has his own ways to counter some of the exhaust he faces on a long night.
“Sometimes you get out and shovel by hand to try to stay awake,” Wehrle said. “Other than that it’s a lot of Red Bull and cappuccino.”
Snow removers are not the only profession to welcome in the wintry weather. Area hardware stores found themselves selling their winter storm supplies in bulk. True Value St. Peters Hardware, located at 2502 State Street in Alton, saw an uptick in business during the storm.
“This kind of weather is very good for our business. We sell a lot of salt and ice-melting products,” Doug St. Peters, owner of the store, said.
Last year, the store did great sales due to the high amount of snowfall. St. Peters admits this year is not as lucrative as last year but said the past week has been helpful for business. St. Peters Hardware not only provides necessities to area residents but also provides snow-removal products commercially. It was predicted that this was going to be a harsh winter, exactly what St. Peters wanted to hear.
“We had at least 18 truckloads sold before a flake even hit the ground. That prediction that it was going to be a harsh winter, that was good,” St. Peters said.
While the past week has been helpful for area businesses, both Dex’s Tree Service and St. Peters Hardware actively admit they are ready to roll out their spring gear.
Dex’s Tree Service handles accounts throughout the area including Edwardsville, Maryville and the Alton area. Wehrle can be reached at 618-977-5037.


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In a groundbreaking move, Enfuce, a leading fintech company, has recently announced a strategic partnership with Kvika Bank at the prestigious Money20/20 event.
This exciting collaboration aims to revolutionize the financial services landscape in Iceland.
With a shared vision of innovation and customer-centric solutions, Enfuce and Kvika Bank are set to bring about significant advancements in the Icelandic financial industry.
Let’s delve into the details of this transformative partnership and its potential impact.
Joining Forces for Innovation
Enfuce and Kvika Bank have joined forces, leveraging their respective expertise and technologies to drive innovation in financial services.
This strategic collaboration reflects a commitment to enhancing customer experiences, increasing operational efficiency, and expanding the range of available services in Iceland’s financial sector.
Expanding Digital Payment Solutions
One of the key objectives of the partnership is to expand digital payment solutions and provide a seamless experience for customers.
By combining Enfuce’s cutting-edge technology with Kvika Bank’s extensive banking infrastructure, this collaboration aims to introduce new and improved digital payment solutions that simplify transactions, enhance security, and meet evolving customer needs.
Fostering Financial Inclusion
Enfuce and Kvika Bank share a common goal of fostering financial inclusion in Iceland. Through this partnership, they aim to develop accessible financial services that cater to all segments of society, including underrepresented groups.
By leveraging innovative technologies and digital channels, the collaboration seeks to create more inclusive financial solutions that empower individuals and businesses across the country.
Transforming Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory compliance is a critical aspect of the financial industry, and this partnership recognizes its importance. Enfuce and Kvika Bank will work together to streamline regulatory processes and ensure adherence to the highest standards of compliance.
By leveraging advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and automation, the collaboration intends to transform regulatory compliance, making it more efficient, accurate, and transparent.
Driving Sustainable Finance
Sustainability is at the forefront of Enfuce and Kvika Bank’s agenda. Together, they aim to drive sustainable finance practices and contribute to a greener future.
By incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into their solutions, the partnership seeks to promote responsible financial practices and support the transition to a more sustainable economy.
The partnership between Enfuce and Kvika Bank marks a significant milestone in the Icelandic financial services industry. By combining their expertise, innovative technologies, and a shared commitment to customer-centricity, this collaboration is poised to transform the way financial services are delivered and experienced in Iceland.
With a focus on digital payment solutions, financial inclusion, regulatory compliance, and sustainable finance, Enfuce and Kvika Bank are set to make a lasting impact and pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable financial future in Iceland and beyond.


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Strengthening its footprint in NorthernIndia,Philips Lighting (Euronext Amsterdam ticker: LIGHT), a global leader in lighting recently inaugurated a new Light Lounge in Agra. Located in Belanganj and spread across an area of 630 square feet, it is the company’s secondexclusive outlet in Agra and 50th branded store in North India. This exclusive outlet showcases an elaborative range of Philips Lighting products and solutions for consumers.
Commenting on the launch, Harsh Chitale, Vice-Chairman and MD, Philips Lighting India Limited said “We have witnessed a steady growth and demand for our lighting products in northern India and with the inauguration of our second Light Lounge in Agra, we are confident to further strengthen our leading position in the region. The exclusive store will offer a wide range of home lighting products, including our most recent launch – Philips Hue. We are committed to offering our customers high quality and innovative products along with expert advice on lighting solutions through our stores.”
This latest Philips Light Lounge has an impressive display of the complete product offerings from Philips Lighting, enabling customers to make an educated and informed purchase decision. The store has a wide range of over 600 world-class home decorative lighting designs and concepts that have been designed keeping in mind the lighting needs of Indian consumers, home décor trends in the country and also the emerging concept of connected ambient lighting. The store also features the recently launched Philips Hue – the world’s smartest web-enabled LED home lighting system which allows users to create and control the light using their smartphone or tablet.
Lighting plays a vital role in interior designing and Philips Home Decorative Lighting range is a unique offering in the market catering to the evolving lifestyle needs of Indian consumers. Philips Lighting differentiates its offerings through innovation in design, energy efficiency and its global lighting application expertise. Customers can choose from the wide product range that starts from a price of INR 575 and extends up to INR 65,000.
With the launch of the newest Philips Light Lounge in Agra, the company now has more than 170 Light Lounges in India, in addition to Light Studios in the country. The Philips Light Lounge is located at 6/209,Bhairo Bazzar, Gopal Market,Belanganj, Agra.
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COVID-19 continues to cause suffering worldwide and the pandemic is expected to continue causing economic disruption on an international scale.
The technology industry, ranging from the deployment of cloud to personal device purchases, has keenly felt the impact of the public health emergency in everything from the supply chain to delayed investment for business transformation.
It was not understood at the beginning of 2020 just how far the spread of the respiratory disease would change the face of modern business, forcing companies to close down offices and prompting a scramble to establish remote working practices.
Earlier this month, research firm Gartner revised its worldwide IT spending -- including devices purchases, data center investment, cloud solutions, and enterprise software -- predictions from $3.9 trillion over 2020 to $3.4 trillion.
Device shipments have received a further amendment, with expenditure relating to PCs, tablets, and mobile devices set to decline by 13.6% in 2020, totaling 1.9 billion units in comparison to approximately 2.2 billion units in 2019.
PC shipments are expected to slide by 10.5%. Due to ongoing transitions to remote working practices, it is predicted that the sale of notebooks, tablets, and Chromebooks will decline more slowly.
However, the research agency says that the forecast could have been "much worse," and the work from home trend has "saved the PC market from collapse."
Employees now asked to work from home need the right equipment to be able to do so, and this may include company purchases of PCs and mobile devices, or remote working could be seen as an expansion of standard Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) schemes, passing on the purchase decisions to members of staff.
It is unlikely that things will be 'business as usual' in the near future, with some companies already mulling over permanent work from home options. Gartner expects that close to half of enterprise employees will end up working from home at least some of the time after the pandemic is over, in comparison to an average of 30% pre-pandemic that already had this option.
"Government lockdowns due to COVID-19 forced businesses and schools to enable millions of people to work from home and increase spending on new notebooks, Chromebooks and tablets for those workers," says Ranjit Atwal, senior research director at Gartner. "Education and government establishments also increased spending on those devices to facilitate e-learning."
The smartphone industry, too, has been rocked by COVID-19. Shipments of mobile phones worldwide are predicted to decline by 14.6% over 2020, in which smartphones -- rather than basic feature phones -- will decline by 13.7% year-over-year to total 1.3 billion units.
Reductions in disposable income and caution over spending factor into the sales slump, and while 5G devices were expected to encourage smartphone upgrades, these types of devices are now predicted to only account for 11% of total shipments over 2020.
Innovative projects now online to combat coronavirus outbreak


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The brand is known for supporting sustainable practices and its philosophy of “radical transparency”
Everlane, the American fashion brand, looks to China and, for the occasion, opened a store on Tmall Global, Alibaba’s cross-border e-commerce market. The online store will offer Chinese consumers access to new Everlane products, including women’s clothing, men’s clothing, shoes and accessories.
The brand is known for supporting sustainable practices and its philosophy of “radical transparency”, revealing the costs underlying each product – from materials, to labor, to transport and to duties – and offering consumers a lower price than the market.
Everlane ships to 113 countries and operates three physical stores in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York
The clothing brand has created a growing following among consumers, including celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Emma Watson. Launched in 2011, Everlane ships to 113 countries and operates three physical stores in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York and is now targeting Asia. “China is one of the most considered and sophisticated consumer markets in the world,” said Michael Preysman, founder and CEO of Everlane.
“The Chinese consumer is concerned about beautiful quality at an exceptional price. We want to help support their visionand offer beautiful foundations that are also ethically valid. We are excited to work with Tmall to make this happen and to create an experience that connects to millions of customers, “said Preysman.
“With increasing consumer demand for ethical clothing and sustainable products, we believe Everlane will welcome a new era of platform shopping,” said Yi Qian, Tmall Global deputy general manager. “Everlane pioneered the idea of radical transparency in their supply chain, showing their costs and their factories, and we look forward to working closely with them to bring their products to Chinese consumers.”
Chinese consumers looking for high-quality products from international brands are leading the trend
According to a report by Analysys, the Chinese e-commerce import market will reach RMB 40.75 billion this year, up 7.2% from the previous year and that number will increase to 494.37 billion. RMB 2021.
Chinese consumers looking for high-quality products from international brands are driving the trend, encouraging companies of all sizes to expand their operations in China to capture the demand for imported goods.


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The front and back pages of the FT made grim reading this morning.
All of the following are direct quotes from the front or back pages of the main section:
- Sales of home hair-dye kits and frozen food are surging as a Depression-era mentaility sets in across Britain, the head of Asda said yesterday
- He warned that, as in the 1930s, the severity of the downturn would change consumer behaviour for a generation
- Sales of ‘gimmicky throw away gifts’ for adults have collapsed
- The most popular Christmas gift at Asda this year will be a jumper [watch out chaps…]
- Sales of ready meals at Asda have dropped 40% as people choose instead to buy ingredients and cook from scratch
- At Tesco, sales of coffee makers and thermos flasks are up 75% as people opt for home-made drinks instead of shop-bought lattes
- A survey of 2,500 Asda customers showed more than half were going out less and almost 40% had reduced their visits to the hairdresser, a service usually seen as recession proof [I think it is very dangerous to view any business as recession proof]
- October this year was the 1929 Crash equivalent for the debt markets
- Fear of financial ‘Armageddon’ is staring private equity of funds, one investor warned yesterday
- Woolworths holds its last sale [I used to love that shop as a kid :(]
- Some 30,000 Woolworths staff face a bleak mid-winter
- Begbies Traynor, the insolvency specialist, has 323 retailers on a ‘critical watch list’ defined as 70%+ chance of failing
- It has been a hellish week for the newspaper industry. Tribune, owner of the LA Times and the Chicago Tribune, filed for bankruptcy, while the New York Times Company hocked its new Renzo Piano-designed skyscraper
- Worse still was the collapse of confidence in the sector’s ability to reinvent itself for the digital age
The consumer is on her knees, the retail sector is in deep trouble and for newspapers it is even worse than that.
And I didn’t include excerpts from articles on the US car industry and Boeing.
At the end of the day this is just a cycle, a bad one, but just a cycle. Things will get better. All we can do at the moment is plan for the worst and hope for better. Reading all of this has lowered my expectations of how bad the worst might be.


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PESHAWAR: As many as 309 factories stand shut in the face of heavy taxes and hike in electricity and gas tariffs in Peshawar.
More factories are facing crisis and they are on the brink of closure. Thousands of laborers have been rendered jobless due to closure of these factories.
The industries are dying due to inattention of the government. Terrorism had also affected adversely the industries and in the prevailing situation 309 out of 1263 factories have been closed.
The industrialists are worried over it and machinery costing billion of rupees has become redundant.
The industrialists have taken the stance that business with central Asian states be eased.


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Black Friday sales have long been a staple in the US, but the idea of slashing prices on the last Friday in November is a relatively new concept in the UK.
The idea of Black Friday first appeared in the 1960s, and has been attributed to the chaotic shopping scenes the day after Thanksgiving. As an opportunity for Americans to get great bargains in time for Christmas, it later became an opportunity for UK stores to lower their prices in time for the festive period.
Amazon began establishing Black Friday deals as early as 2010, but the Black Friday craze didn’t fully begin in the UK until around 2014 when Argos, Asda, John Lewis, Tesco, Very and more all offered huge sales in late November. Since then, UK retailers have embraced the American tradition of Black Friday over recent years.
But before online sales and the sheer number of businesses we know today, sales looked a lot different, with midnight queues and crowds clamoring around the shopping aisles for the latest deals. On November 28, 2014, a sudden increase in deals led to widespread chaos across Britain and in true American fashion, shoppers lined up on Black Friday until midnight so they could get the hottest deals right away.
Like other areas, Greater Manchester has seen a shift in sales and police have been called to a few supermarkets after a number of reported incidents. At the time, MEN reported how fights broke out when desperate gamblers stormed the supermarket chain’s outlets in the middle of the night to get deals.
Officers have been deployed at Tesco in Irlam, Stretford, Wigan, Felsworth, Middleton, Hattersley, Burnage and Walkden due to concerns about people’s safety. Shoppers at the time described scenes of “chaos,” leaving one person saying “it was something they would never want to experience again.”
They claimed: “People were crowding around the plates where the selling items were. It was hotter one minute, and the next thing, about ten to midnight, the voices got louder. The screams ran through the roof, and then everything loosened up.”
“They were ripping the plastic off the plates and people started fighting. One girl, who couldn’t have been more than 16, picked up some advent calendars and threw them across the store.”
At the time, a GMP spokesperson said: ‘Tesco Extra in Stretford was closed after fights broke out between shoppers trying to get their hands on stock being sold. A woman suffered minor injuries after being hit by a falling TV and an ambulance was called. The store closed at 12.36am half an hour after the start of the sales event.
Crowds of 500 gathered at Tescos in Walkden and Failsworth, prompting employees to call police to the scene. a A GMP spokesperson added: “Shortly after 1.05am on Friday 28 November, police were called to a Tesco on Woodrow Way, Salford (Irlam). A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after staff challenged his conduct in the shop. He was threatened with “Smashing” an employee’s face.
Do you remember Black Friday in 2014? Let us know in the comments section below.
“At 12.40am on Thursday, officers were called to a Tesco Extra on Barton Road, Middleton, after reports that around 200 people were not going to leave, despite being told the stock had all gone. The doors were locked but they refused to leave. They did not. No one is arrested. Made.
“Shortly after 12.05am on Friday, police called a Tesco Extra on Stockport Road, Hattersley, after reports of a fight in the store. There were approximately 300 people in the store and staff were advised to close it. A man has been arrested for the offence. pertaining to public order.”
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A Tesco spokesperson said: “For customer safety, some of our Greater Manchester stores called the police last night to help control crowds safely. We are extremely grateful to Greater Manchester Police for their support and stores are now trading normally.
“We always receive guidance from police authorities on security measures in stores and will work closely with Greater Manchester Police to make improvements for this type of event.” The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, Sir Peter Fahey, later criticized the “appalling” behavior of customers and criticized the shop chiefs for not having enough security to deal with the “entirely expected” problem.
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After these incidents, two men were convicted. One admitted to using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behavior with intent to cause fear of violence, and another pleaded guilty to one count of assault and one count of using threatening and abusive words or behavior.
After the chaos of Black Friday 2014, some retailers began to discontinue their promotions or significantly modify their promotions. Black Friday sales in the UK have changed a lot since then – with more online retailers getting involved and offering deals in the days leading up to the last Friday in November.
It was arguably fully adopted by our American cousins, with most consumers treating it like no other annual tradition.
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Power companies plan to commission 7 large-scale biomass generation facilities by 2014, explains Verdantix in its report, Smart Vendors: Biomass Supply Chain (UK). The anticipated 2.1 GW of new capacity will be sufficient to power 600,000 homes.
The government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment incentivises public sector organisations to invest in additional small-scale biomass boilers, but investments in biomass equipment risk failing to meet operational targets as the country’s biomass supply will meet only 5-10% of projected demand by 2014 and large volume imports face significant supply chain risks, the report adds.
Among the supply chain solutions are:
- Trading networks to deliver large volume imports. Many companies operate businesses that manage the cultivation, processing and/or distribution of biomass fuels, and these firms will play a key role in securing reliable supplies of imported biomass for the UK market;
- Maximising yield of UK biomass sources. Given the low volume of UK supplies, maximising biomass yields with better harvesting techniques has a positive role to play, and vendors must provide services to help land owners to exploit opportunities like non-harvested wood fibre;
- Enhancing biomass processing. Many vendors buy raw materials and convert them into premium biomass pellets, and the ensuing benefits include lower transport and storage costs as well as more regular power generation per cubic metre;
- Improving local biomass logistics services. The cost of delivering biomass to facilities and load loss during transport curtails biomass business cases, and dedicated biomass logistics from vendors improve supply chain efficiency enabling end users to source supplies economically from wider areas.
“The UK government, power generators and city councils have ambitious plans to scale-up the use of biomass for renewable power generation,” says Verdantix analyst James Pinney. “Our research with industry insiders shows that UK biomass supplies will only meet small-scale demand, typically within a 60-mile radius of the biomass facility. The low volume of UK supply means that, every year, power generators will import millions of tonnes of wood chips, elephant grass, palm kernels and olive pellets to feed their huge biomass facilities.”
Uncertainties also surround the reliability and cost of importing biomass from countries such as Canada, Malaysia, Russia and Sweden, and pose risks to organisations planning to rely on biomass for power generation, he explains.
In April of this year, the UK government’s change of tack on subsidies for co-firing biomass “pulled the plug on many planned investments and hit UK biomass suppliers,” so power generation from biomass competes with other industries for scarce land-use resources.
“Fixing the supply chain will not eliminate security of supply or price volatility risks,” adds Pinney.
The report examines 14 vendors that are working to solve critical problems in the UK supply chain for biomass. Government activity is shaping UK demand through regulations such as the Renewables Obligation and the Carbon Reduction Commitment, the development of feed-in tariffs and public sector pressure for renewable energy.
Verdantix is an independent business research firm focussed on climate change, sustainable business and energy management. It selected the biomass supply chain in Britain for a report as resurgent oil prices and national renewable energy targets will see biomass become an increasingly important resource.


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Boston-headquartered TA Associates stands to make three times its investment on internet travel agency eDreams, having agreed to sell the European company to Permira for between €250 million and €300 million, two sources close to the deal have confirmed. It is unclear how much debt would be used to finance the transaction.
Permira and TA both declined to comment on financial details.
TA originally acquired the Barcelona-based company in 2006 for €153 million. eDreams operates in Spain, Italy and Portugal and is increasing its presence in 15 other countries, the company said in a statement. It connects consumers and travel agents with hotels, airlines and car rental companies.
Carlos Mallo, head of Permira Spain, noted in a statement that eDreams is rapidly growing in an attractive sector. “It has performed well through the downturn and has great potential for continued expansion as well as representing an excellent platform for the expected market consolidation in Europe.”
The deal is Permira's first brand new investment since September 2009, when it took specialist financial service group Just Retirement private for £228 million (€273 million; $356 million). Earlier this month, however, the firm backed existing portfolio company Birds Eye Iglo in its €850 million bolt-on acquisition of Unilever’s Findus Italy frozen food business.
The eDreams acquisition is at the smaller end of the size spectrum from Permira, but will be used as a platform for consolidation in the market, a spokesperson for the firm said.
The deal – Permira’s first in Spain since it bought fast food group Telepizza in 2006 – was led by Mallo along with Benoit Vauchy, the firm’s France head.
TA was advised by JP Morgan. Permira was advised by Linklaters and KPMG. eDreams was advised by UBS, Ashurst and Garrigues.


text: We spotted a number of notes on competitors over the past few weeks that we thought might be interesting. Tim Horton’s launched a new Healthy Options Initiative involving nutritional value of various menu items posted on two distinct websites, one for their US stores and another for their Canadian stores. On the sites, customers can see what allergens are present along with the dietary considerations of each of their products. Starbucks reported their Q4 results met Wall Street expectations in an earnings call yesterday. Their total Americas comparable sales were up +5%, with transactions +2% and ticket up +3%. Average Americas company store EBITDA margin was 22.1% and they continue to work a wide range of initiative including a mobile order and pay module, as well as a high end “roastery”. Lunch sales were reported to be up 15% and 46% of their sales were reported as occurring before 12 Noon. Notwithstanding these results, they announced last week that they will be laying off an unspecified number of employees at their company headquarters in Seattle. The company described the positions being eliminated as “redundant or not in line with [their] growth strategy.” Similarly, McDonalds also announced that they too would be laying off workers next month, with 63 individuals being cut from the payroll, part of a “restructuring” at headquarters.


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When many of us were young, our parents warned us against the world’s dangers. Don’t talk to strangers, they said. Come straight home without taking a detour through the woods. Tell a parent or other authority figure if you see or experience anything creepy or scary.
Today, kids (and adults) who may feel “safe” in their homes, schools, or libraries, can encounter endless perils on the internet, ranging from online bullying, exposure to misleading or inappropriate content, cyberstalking, and identity theft. Children’s natural curiosity and the proliferation of mobile devices combine to create the perfect storm of risk. Parents and educators can try to set boundaries, but those boundaries are no match for tech-savvy kids.
One effort to address these dangers is International Safer Internet Day, this year held on Tuesday, February 8. In the USA, ConnectSafely.Org is the sponsor of Safer Internet Day US which aims “to create both a safer and a better internet, where everyone is empowered to use technology responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively” by involving “children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, educators and social workers, as well as industry, decision-makers and politicians, to encourage everyone to play their part in creating a better internet.”
Connect Safely offers online resources and lesson plans for teachers and parents. Topics include maintaining self-esteem and well-being on apps such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok; stopping cyberbullying, handling discord and negativity, reducing bias and hate speech, and using the internet to effect positive social change.
In a perfect world, we could protect children with basic internet safety skills. Unfortunately, we’re getting a late start and fighting powerful and entrenched foes. Ironically, Safer Internet Day US is financially supported by Google, Comcast, Meta, Amazon Kids, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, Snapchat, TikTok, Trend Micro and Twitter.


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Creativity and entrepreneurship are alive and well in beauty, as evidenced by the influx of new color cosmetics brands this year.
The surge of activity rivals the march of makeup artists and founder-led indie brands to retail in the Nineties, and it’s a sign that brighter days are ahead.
“The economy is back. Anyone who had an idea can now get funding,” said Marla Malcolm Beck, cofounder and chief executive officer of the beauty apothecary Bluemercury Inc. Beck, along with several other beauty merchants, praised the latest crop of color lines for its ingenuity.
“Everything has a really strong point of view,” said Beck. “The way that you’re going to get trial is by producing a product that people haven’t seen before.”
For instance, makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury organizes her collection into a “wardrobe” of 10 beauty looks, ranging from The Ingénue to The Rock Chick; nail lacquer brand Butter London builds on its vibrant color heritage; Troy Surratt looks to Japan for product inspiration; Marc Jacobs Beauty employs gel-based formulas; Ardency Inn mines the music scene; Em by Michelle Phan cocreates with Phan’s YouTube followers; Ciaté aims to push beyond nail polish and challenge traditional beauty boundaries with new product categories; Jane Cosmetics trumpets a philanthropic purpose, and hairstylist Ted Gibson expands his brand by offering a color collection at his salons.
All of these makeup lines launched in 2013.
The pile-on of entrants is a notable trend considering that just a few years ago the prospects of securing distribution at a department store or specialty chain were dim for beauty newcomers. In the wake of the recession, risk-adverse retailers were wary of any brand that was untested and, even worse, underfunded.
Retail sentiment has done an about face, as a number of stores — including Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Barneys New York — have revamped their beauty departments, adding a number of new brands in the process. For instance, Macy’s newly renovated Herald Square flagship in Manhattan added niche, luxury brands such as Tom Ford Beauty and Dolce & Gabbana, and Barneys’ new floor houses newcomers Make and Troy Surratt. Sephora has also shown its interest in color, serving as the launchpad for Marc Jacobs Beauty, Ardency Inn and the upcoming color line from Ciaté, which is slated to roll out in April. Butter London, meanwhile, launched its Bespoke Colour collection at Ulta last summer, before expanding to Henri Bendel and Harvey Nichols. The relaunched Jane Cosmetics, now owned by investor Lynn Tilton’s Patriarch Partners, also entered Ulta first before expanding to Kohl’s in November.
Consumers interest in emerging and designer brands will likely further embolden retailers’ efforts.
Karen Grant, vice president and global beauty industry analyst at The NPD Group, noted that momentum for niche color brands began to build in 2012.
“In 2012, we began to see designer brands and alternative brands among the faster growing brands in prestige,” said Grant. She recalled that in 2012, makeup sales gained 7 percent to $3.8 billion. Designer makeup brand outpaced that growth, gaining 11 percent in the year, and alternative brands rose 33 percent, led by Urban Decay and Benefit Cosmetics.
That pace has continued this year. In the first half of 2013, makeup sales gained 8 percent to $2 billion, according to NPD. Designer makeup brands, for their part, gained 12 percent and alternative brands grew 28 percent. Grant pointed out that many of these brands have taken an alternative route to build distribution.
“For a newcomer, a brand can exist with an online presence and drive traffic [to the site] through tweets and social media,” said Grant. “You can showcase the breadth of the line and tell your story.” From there, many aim to graduate to an open-sell specialty store environment. “That is still the most captivating [experience] to consumers,” added Grant.
Several of these brands, most notably Charlotte Tilbury and Em by Michelle Phan, used the Web to build awareness and a great deal of fanfare months before their introduction.
Prior to the launch of her namesake makeup range at Selfridges in September, Tilbury dropped hints about the line’s creation on her blog. She continues to engage readers with almost daily blogs posts and tweets, which cover everything from fashion week looks, product developments and exotic vacations. The line will hit the U.S. in September 2014.
“It’s been pretty exceptional,” said Jayne Demuro, head of beauty at Selfridges, of Tilbury’s makeup range. “It’s all about the different looks you can achieve with one face,” she said, adding that Tilbury’s wardrobe approach has prompted shoppers to purchase four or five products at a time. For a newcomer to catch her eye, Demuro said, “There has to be a real standout point of difference.”
Ardency Inn, which has entered 35 Sephora doors across North America since September,is attracting attention with its punk rock aesthetic and the tag line “How to look badder.”
“Our goal with this brand was to combine our passion of makeup artistry and music,” said Gilles Kortzagadarian, who cofounded the line with Stephane Siboni. “In a sense we are more of a fashion brand in terms of how we communicate,” he added, noting there are very few products and very few steps. Its link to music isn’t simply a marketing ploy for Ardency Inn, which taps musical artists as brand ambassadors. “Every season, we produce music videos. Our goal is to offer artists a recording studio,” said Siboni. “We see ourselves as a publisher of content.”
The music scene is integral to the line’s positioning, but the products are designed to stand on their own. They include Americana Custom Coverage Concentrate, $38, which allows users to custom blend their own tinted moisturizer (the more drops of Concentrate added to the moisturizer the higher the coverage), and Punker Crystal Studs,a $39 set of 25 reusable glass crystal “skin jewels” that can be applied to the skin or to nails. Ciaté, known for textural nail polish finishes such as caviar, sequins and foil, is in the midst of developing a color cosmetics range, which will bow at Sephora this spring. Ciaté founder Charlotte Knight hinted that innovations will include an a product to create an ombré lip, glosses and a new twist on mascara. Knight also promised an “unbelievable eye product that has never been done before. We’ve taken one of the most successful nail trends and we are bringing it to eye.” Adhesive strips perhaps?
Knight wants to encourage women to broaden their approach to color. “Just like nail, there’s an opportunity for people to become much more experimental in makeup,” said Knight. “We don’t want to just bring out stuff that already exists. We want to fix a problem. People expect product innovation from us. We’ve got some incredible stuff that’s never been done before,” she said. “Ciaté is becoming an entire cosmetics company,” Knight said.
In March 2012, fellow nail polish brand Butter London began testing Lippy Liquid Lipstick in five highly pigmented shades based on its best-selling nail lacquers at Ulta. The five shades accounted for 8 percent of Butter London’s sales that year, said Leslie Freytag, Butter London’s president and ceo.
By this fall, Butter London had expanded the range to include eye and cheek products, and more lip formulas, all tailored for a young, hip consumer.
“Our core business is nail, but we see color cosmetics becoming a big piece of the business,” said Freytag.
Jane Cosmetics also looked to Ulta for its return to the market. The brand had lost footing in the mass market — and all of its distribution — after filing for Chapter 11 in early 2009. Later that year, it was purchased by Patriarch Partners.
“It had lost all of its shelf space. People had lost confidence in the company, but not necessarily the brand,” said Tilton, founder and ceo of Patriarch. She sought to take the line higher end but maintain value pricing. Jane Cosmetics also is eschewing drugstore distribution (its heritage), but remains focused on a younger customer base.
“When a brand dies, it all starts with the absence of innovation. You must reignite it with innovation,” said Tilton, who runs Jane out of the offices of Stila, which she also owns. Tilton built the brand’s new positioning around philanthropy. Product packaging features the faces of “The Friends of Jane,” a real group of culturally diverse women who are giving back to their communities. The brand’s “The Friends of Jane” program donates a portion of Jane sales nationwide to nonprofit organizations led by women. “We want Jane to build a community of women who are kind to each other,” said Tilton.
Retailers are enthused about the choices in front of them. Just last May, Beck of Bluemercury put out a clarion call for niche cosmetics brands at the WWD Beauty Summit, telling the crowd, “No more skin care, please!”
Now she is trying to determine which lines to add to Bluemercury’s 50 stores. But Beck said time will provide the ultimate test for newcomers. “It’s not just about the launch. You’ll see who will be successful based on the brands’ next wave of products. It’s about building a long-term business.”
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews
“Stranger Things” is getting a new cast member for season 2. Meet @sadiesink_, the 15-year-old who will be joining the Netflix series for its new season. You may recognize her from “The Glass Castle” with Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson, but the Texas native’s next role goes in an entirely different direction. She describes her character, Max, as “a rough and tumble skater girl [who] becomes friends with the boys at school.” The second season debuts on October 27. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdeye
Amid the Harvey Weinstein controversy, there’s another sector that’s being put under the spotlight for sexual abuse: the modeling industry. While rumors about abuse and sexual harassment of female and male models — and the photographers, agents and others who perpetrated it — have circulated within the fashion world for years, model @cameronrussell started posting stories from models on Instagram last week about abusive situations they’ve encountered — from sexual harassment and molestation to attempted rape. Over 75 have weighed in so far. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdnews
To celebrate its 16th anniversary, @dylanscandybar tapped designers and celebrities to create mosaics out of candy. The mosaics will be auctioned off to support the philanthropic cause of each participant’s choice. Pictured here is the mural created by @aliceandolivia's Stacey Bendet. For a first look at some of the other artwork being unveiled tonight, go to WWD.com. #wwdeye
The annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Pacific Palisades this weekend drew Kate Hudson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laura Dern and more. See pictures of the star-studded event on WWD.com. (📷: @chelsealaurenla) #wwdeye
In his new book “Hollywood Royale,” Andy Warhol’s Protégé Matthew Rolston celebrates the Eighties revival of Hollywood glamour. Featuring more than 100 portraits taken by Rolston from 1977 to 1993, the book contains photos of icons like Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and @drewbarrymore, pictured here in 1991. “Hollywood Royale,” out today, will be accompanied by an exhibition opening at Los Angeles’ Fahey/Klein Gallery on March 1. #wwdeye


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African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) Vis-À-Vis ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS): Rights And Obligations
On Friday 26th January 2021, ACIOE Associates held a webinar on African continental free trade agreement (AFCFTA) vis-à-vis ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme (ETLS): rights and obligations. The webinar had two main sessions; the first session was a dialogue session with the panelists and a question-and-answer session.
- PRINCIPAL CHIEF TRADE NEGOTIATOR, NIGERIAN OFFICE OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS: MRS WINIFRED OFILI
The Nigerian principal chief negotiator’s focus area during the webinar was on exporters’ rights and obligations under both agreements and the agreements’ impact.
She noted that the AfCFTA is the African Continental Free Trade Area, a free trade area founded in 2018. She stated that the agreement was created among 54 of the 55 African Union nations.
According to Mrs. Ofili, The AfCFTA is a breakthrough in Africa’s regional integration history and is expected to generate significant gains. But it is the rules of origin that will determine whether preferential trade liberalization under the AfCFTA can be a game-changer for Africa’s industrialization.
She emphasized the importance of information dissemination to all and sundry on the basics of AfCFTA because a majority of exporters and other stakeholders have little knowledge of the agreement.
She also mentioned that trade liberalisation is critical in the AfCFTA. According to her, Trade liberalization promotes free trade, which allows countries to trade goods without regulatory barriers or their associated costs.
She concluded that AfCFTA doesn’t invalidate ETLS. She stated the African Continental Free Trade Agreement would open countries to potentials of economic development.
- DIRECTOR-GENERAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA MAN): MR SEGUN AJAYI-KADIR
The Director-General Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), who was represented by the Director of Research and Advocacy, Dr. Oluwasegun Osidipe, spoke extensively on the state of play for exporters: concerns, understanding, and reservations on both agreements.
He started his remarks by commending the organizers’ effort of the webinar, which came at a critical time when the concept of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement is not well understood.
He encouraged exporters to take advantage of this agreement which has enormous positive potentials. However, he expressed his dissatisfaction that the readiness requirement is not fully addressed. He noted that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’s readiness and impact assessments are essential for a seamless implementation. He stated that the private sector should be carried along at every process of implementation.
He emphasized that adequate structures and information should accompany the rule of origin for trade to kick-start under AfCFTA,
He highlighted some challenges, which include;
- Barriers to the movement of goods;
- Bribery and corruption;
- Rejection of admitted goods;
- Political Instability;
- Inadequate information dissemination;
- Poor implementation of previous trade agreements;
- Trade malpractice;
- Trust deficit.
He concluded by highlighting some expectations of the private companies and exporters in the AfCFTA. He mentioned that modalities should be clearly spelt out to prevent trade malpractices, customs must be well trained to facilitate the proper implementation of the rules of origin. The African government should allocate more resources for the trade agreement.
- DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMS UNION AND TAXATION ECOWAS SECRETARIATE: SALIFOU TIEMTORE
Mr. Salifou Tiemfore presentation focused on the supporting role of ECOWAS in implementing the AfCFTA and the correlation of the existence of the ETLS and AfCFTA. According to him, the ECOWAS is working closely to make the AfCFTA possible. He noted that AfCFTA is a fantastic initiative with potential challenges that could be experienced during implementation. He expressed dissatisfaction with countries implementation of the agreement. He mentioned that at the date of the launch, 27 states had ratified the agreement; South Africa, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Lesotho and Burundi have since signed the AfCFTA during the 31st African Union Summit in Nouakchott. As of July 2019, 54 states have signed the agreement.
He noted that ETLS would remain regardless of the new trade agreement. He also highlighted the gains recorded on the ETLS agreements, which have over 2000 companies and over 7800 products.
He mentioned that ECOWAS has the in-depth experience to aid the implementation process of AfCFTA. He stated that the ECOWAS could assist chief negotiators across all African countries.
He concluded his presentation by stating the poor state of infrastructure and inadequate dissemination of information which are fundamental challenges of the agreement.
- DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIST AND FORMER CBN GOVERNOR: DR OBADIAH MAILAFIA
Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, shared his insights on trade’s socio-political impact under the AfCFTA and ETLS.
He sighted the expected benefits and challenges of the AfCFTA. He aligned his views with Dr. Oluwasegun Osidipe, that the private sector should be carried along in the implementation.
He noted that according to a World Bank report, The AfCFTA could increase employment opportunities and incomes, expanding intra-African trade. The AfCFTA is expected to lift around 68 million people out of moderate poverty and make African countries more competitive.
He lighted three expected challenges around the AfCFTA, which include;
- Technical Challenge;
- Economic Challenge;
- Political Challenge.
Dr Obadiah Mailafia listed out some recommendation which includes:
- Policy coherence across various sister trade agreements;
- Political transparency;
- Enactment of national security policies;
- Adequate technical standards;
- Efficient customs unions.
He concluded that the AfCFTA is a fantastic opportunity for African nations to harness effective economic growth and development.
After the panel discussion and Q&A sessions, the Managing Partner of ACIOE Associates, Mr. Ekenem Isichei, gave a vote of thanks to panelists, participants, and the ACIOE Team as part of the closing remarks to end the webinar.


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Virtual pets 'to boom at Christmas'
Virtual pets ranging from a robotic puppy to Robo Fish are predicted to top this year's Christmas wish lists, according to toy giant Hamleys.
The retailer has released a list of its predicted best-sellers, topped by the lifelike puppy Teksta that responds to voices, physical gestures, lights and sounds with the help of "state-of-the-art artificial intelligence".
The £75 toy can even "share its feelings" through barking, crying, whimpering and expressive eye patterns, while its owners can teach it to stop, sit and perform a back flip.
The £14 Robo Fish has already become one of the fastest-selling toys of all time and features an intelligent sensor that sees it performing "the swimming patterns of a real fish" when dropped in to water.
And a £14 box of assorted VIP Pets including a nature-loving bohemian, a romantic novelist, a famous party planner and a top sports star require help from their owners to appear in front of the paparazzi cameras.
Should any of the pets fall ill, the £26 Doc McStuffins Doctor's Bag includes a sparkly thermometer, syringe, blood pressure cuff with working gauge, otoscope and a light-up stethoscope.
Also making the list is the Lion Chi Temple, the scene of tribal warfare and the battle to reach the sacred Chi orb rising high above the temple. The £125 toy comes with seven mini figures wielding weapons, an agile eagle drone fighter and a rotating tower canon than can be deployed to repel an airborne assault.
The Monster High 13 Wishes dolls are due for release later this year but are already expected to be a top seller on the back of a DVD of the same name that follows the tale of Howleen Wolf who stumbles upon a lantern that grants her 13 wishes. The "freakishly fabulous" range of dolls are for those aged three and over and cost £23 each, and come with a pet, diary, brush, doll stand and character-specific accessories.
Hamleys buying and planning director Laura Olver said: "Every year there is such pressure to come up with the latest toy, but I think we've got a combination of newness and the traditional.
"The robotic puppy first came out in the late Nineties and sold eight million pieces, and now it's back with new gestures. There is a sentimentality there, but there's also newness and reinvention."


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Zagg Inc (NASDAQ:ZAGG) Q1 2020 Earnings Call May 28, 2020, 5:00 p.m. ET. Contents: Prepared Remarks; Questions and Answers;.
There’s going to be some (expletive) talking when I get home.” Busch was upset over a splitter problem that caused problems for his No. 51 Toyota all night long. Later, on a Zoom call, he was informed.
8 May 2020.
A rally in bitcoin led the cryptocurrency market higher ahead of a major technical.
at the start of the year to a record high of over $19,700 in December that year.
“This market is not moving purely on the back of retail speculation—and it is.
Corrections · About CNBC · Internships · Site Map · Podcasts.
Q2 2020 Earnings Call May 27, 2020, 4:30 p.m. ET. Contents: Prepared Remarks; Questions and Answers; Call Participants;.
How To Buy Bitcoin With Credit Card 13 Feb 2019. Buy Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies with credit card or debit card on this digital cryptocurrency exchange. US residents: Restricted in. Buying used, however, requires you to do much more legwork to make sure you’re getting a
Learn more Show vendors Welcome to our pick of the best business accessories of 2020. These are the latest gadgets and tools.
Get the most accurate BTC price using an average from the world's top cryptocurrency.
Bitcoins are moved in blocks every 10 minutes on a decentralized ledger that connects blocks into a coherent chain dating back to the first genesis block.
Open contracts on bitcoin options rose to record highs on Thursday as the.
Bitcoin Price (BTC USD): Get all information on the Bitcoin to US-Dollar Exchange Rate including Charts, News and.
Day High. 9,726.21. 3,956.58. 52 Week Low. 13,829.07. 52 Week High.
Cointelegraph 7 hrs ago.
Price change over selected period: 0% 0.
Several hundred of these back-and-forths make up a block.
The US house also passed a bill, earlier this week authorising sanctions against senior Chinese officials for human rights.


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There were 386 homes sold in the Regina area in September,
up 22 per cent from 316 reported in September 2013, according to the Association of Regina Realtors.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser , Regina Leader-Post files
REGINA — There were 386 homes sold in the Regina area in September, up 22 per cent from 316 reported in September 2013, according to the Association of Regina Realtors.
“This is the highest number of sales ever in September and was well above the five-year average of 320 and the 10-year average of 288,’’ the association said in a press release Friday.
In the city proper, the number of sales was up 12 per cent, with 286 being reported compared to 255 last year. Last month, the average sales price in the Regina area, including bedroom communities, was $314,756, a one per cent decrease from $316,996 in September 2013, while the average sales price inside the city was $330,661 in September, up two per cent from $324,476 last year.
However, the composite housing price index (HPI) price of $298,700 — based on four benchmark home types — was down 3.0 per cent from last year’s average of $308,000. “This indicates that residential property values have actually declined in Regina over the past year,” the release said.
Total dollar volume of sales of $121.5 million was reported in the Regina area, up 21 per cent from $100.2 million in 2013. Dollar volume inside the city was also up year-over-year — $94.6 million in sales in September 2014, an increase of 14 per cent from $82.7 million last year.
For the year to date, 2,945 sales were reported to the end of September in the Regina area, on par with 2,955 in 2013. Year-to-date sales volume in the Regina area stood at $924.7 million, up slightly over $922.1 million for same period last year.
The relatively high number of listings continues to have a significant impact on the market inside the city, the association said, noting that listings have been in the 1,350 to 1,450 range for the past four months — the highest in over 20 years.
At the end of September, 1,349 properties were listed for sale, compared to 1,048 in 2013 and 700 in 2012. However, the number of listings in September was down six per cent from 1,433 at the end of August 2014.
“September unexpectedly proved to be an outstanding month for sales after a slow August,” said Gord Archibald, executive officer of the association. “As we enter the fall months, demand levels appear to be very steady. The question is: how long will it take for the elevated level of supply to be absorbed?”


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British vehicle tuning brand Overfinch at its 40th anniversary has announced that it will release the “Land Rover Defender”. While the Defender is known as a tough workhorse, the Overfinch decided to clean its hand over it.
The custom Land Rover has got new grille and headlight bezels, bumper, a set of wheels, black and silver two-tone door handles and polished aluminum fuel cap. And inside there is whole new world with significant changes in the interior. The seats are Recaro while the whole living room is covered with high quality leather. The Defender now has GPS, rear view camera, new instrument panel and more. Furthermore its decorated with bespoke carpets and carbon-backed bucket seats for the front row with logos embroidered on the headrests.
Clearly it is difficult to make the Defender more upmarket. Only five units will be built and even one of them will cost around €100,000.
Available at overfinch.com for €100k


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Yesterday, the 1st of October, the US Commodity and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) charged the owners of BitMEX for illegally operating a cryptocurrency derivatives trading platform and violating anti-money laundering policies. Among those charged included BitMEX owners Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo, and Samuel Reed.
The Chairman of the Commission, Heath P. Garnett emphasized that the CFTC “has made clear, registration requirements are a cornerstone of the regulatory framework that protects Americans and U.S. financial markets.”
The US Attorney for the District of New York also indicted the owners of BitMEX with Gregory Dwyer. The indictment was on federal charges of violating the Bank Secrecy Act and conspiracy to violate the Bank Secrecy Act.
The complaint alleges that BitMEX has illegally offered leveraged retail commodity transactions, futures, options, and crypto swaps since November 2014. According to the complaint, BitMEX has facilitated cryptocurrency derivatives transactions to trillions of dollars with fee revenue of more than $1 billion since 2014. The complaint also charges BitMEX with operating a facility that trades and processes swaps without approval from the CFTC. In addition, they charged BitMEX with failing to comply with know-your-customer (KYC) procedures and anti-money laundering (AML) policies.
BitMEX Counters CFTC Allegations
In response to the charges, BitMEX released an official statement disagreeing with the government’s decision. The exchange said that the decision was severe and thru will defend themselves. According to the statement, they added that they “have always sought to comply with the applicable U.S. laws, as those laws were understood at the time and based on available guidance.”
For worried customers, the derivative exchange assured that they continue to operate as normal. In addition, they guaranteed the safety of user funds.
BitMEX is one of the world’s largest Bitcoin derivatives exchange founded in 2014 by Arthur Hayes. The crypto exchange is owned and operated by HDR Global Trading Limited. In addition, HDR Global is registered in Seychelles and has offices worldwide.


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Ageing population and increase in chronic disease support industry growth.
Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) April 13, 2013
Specialist medicine is in demand, and demand for most specialities will continue to respond to new services, procedures, rising household incomes and an ageing population. According to IBISWorld industry analyst Nigel Fitzpatrick, “demand will continue to rise because of the poor lifestyle choices of many Australians leading to an increase in the prevalence of chronic disease.”
The Specialist Medical Services industry is expected to generate revenue of $11.5 billion in 2012-13, up 3.1% on 2011-12, representing about 5.3% of total spending on health goods and services in Australia. Specialist medical practitioners will provide approximately 50 million Medicare-based services in 2012-13. The Specialist Medical Services industry employs approximately 40,500 people in 16,200 locations. Employment has grown by an annualised 2.0% over the five years to 2012-13.
The revenue of private specialist medical practices is expected to grow at an annualised 4.0% in the five years through 2012-13. “Industry growth will principally come from an increase in the volume of services provided, a real increase in unit prices for similar services and a change in the mix of services towards more expensive services,” says Fitzpatrick. Specialist Medical Services industry profit is expected to have remained stable, aided by a real increase in revenue per service. In many cases, technological developments have simplified medical diagnosis and treatments, and decreased the time taken to perform them.
Both the range of services available and the rate of service provision per practitioner are forecast to increase over the next five years. Medicare benefits per equivalent service are forecast to decrease. However, there will be a trend towards more costly services. However, in some cases, Medicare benefits per service will be eroded by greater use of less-invasive, less-costly treatments. Growth in the incidence of chronic health conditions, mainly arising from an ageing population (older adults use medical services more than younger adults) and lifestyle choices (resulting, for example, in high obesity rates) will ensure growing demand for many specialities. In addition, growing household incomes should promote demand for some services.
For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Specialist Medical Services report in Australia industry page.
Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ibisworldau
IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
This industry comprises registered medical practitioners (including medical clinics or group practices) that provide specialist medical services (other than pathology and diagnostic imaging specialities) on their own account or for government agencies or non-profit organisations.
Key External Drivers
Industry Life Cycle
Products & Markets
Products & Services
Market Share Concentration
Key Success Factors
Cost Structure Benchmarks
Basis of Competition
Barriers to Entry
Technology & Systems
Regulation & Policy
About IBISWorld Inc.
Recognised as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every Australian industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Melbourne, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organisations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com.au or call (03) 9655 3886.


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Earlier this week, we learned that Microsoft had quietly included a new Windows 10 SKU named “Windows 10 Lean” in the latest Redstone 5 build released to Skip Ahead Insiders. Even though Microsoft has yet to discuss this new SKU, we already knew that this new edition of Windows 10 will need slightly less storage compared to a standard Windows 10 Home or Pro installation.
Welcome to Windows 10 Lean/CloudE/S (once again?)
This new edition started shipping with this week's Skip Ahead build (17650)
It seems to be heavily cut down, an x64 clean install is roughly 2 GB smaller than Pro
Its edition ID is 0xB7 which was missing from SDK headers pic.twitter.com/2Sn3SVXeZB
— Albacore (@thebookisclosed) April 20, 2018
According to a new report from Windows Central, it seems that Windows 10 Lean has been designed for devices with just 16GB of storage. This edition of Windows 10 won’t include some legacy components such as Internet Explorer or Registry Editor, but other than that, it will work just like standard Windows 10 and include support legacy Win32 apps.
With Microsoft releasing Windows patches every month plus major OS updates every six months, it’s true Windows 10 PCs with limited storage can struggle to keep up with the pace of Windows updates. Windows 10 Lean could be an interesting proposition for manufacturers of low-cost PCs, though many details are still unknown at the time of this writing. We hope to learn more about the new SKU over the coming weeks, and Microsoft may well formally announce it during its Build developer conference in May.
Do you think Microsoft is right to optimize Windows 10 for low storage devices, or do you think PCs with just 16GB of storage should no longer exist in 2018? Sound off in the comments below.


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Gphone Debut Complicated by Its Nonexistence
When the first phones based on Google’s Android mobile operating system arrive at market in the second half of 2008, the so-called “Gphone” won’t be among them, says TheStreet.com. Which makes perfect sense really, because Google (GOOG) has never said it was building a Gphone. If anything, it’s said the exact opposite.
During an Android demo this past April, Google’s Steve Horowitz said specifically “I’m here to tell you there is actually no GPhone,” echoing a similar point that Google CEO Eric Schmidt had been forced to make over and over and over again during a conference call held to discuss the OS.
Q: So if this is not the Gphone, when will we see the Gphone, and what will it be?
Eric Schmidt: We’re not announcing anything, but this is the platform for building a Gphone. It starts a whole wave of innovation …
Q: Does that mean there will be NO Google phone you can buy?
ES: Imagine not just one Gphone, but a thousand Gphones as a result of the partnerships … the many other people who will be joining the open initiative. We forgot to tell you that it’s available next week, and the terms are the broadest in the industry.
ES: We are not announcing a Google phone.
Q: Eric, I want to go back to the Gphone–what’s the deal?
ES: The deal is we don’t pre-announce products… if there were to be a Gphone, it would run Android…”