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Fines on the horizon for business over cyber attacks
Businesses in Shropshire could face millions of pounds in fines if they fail to protect themselves from cyber attacks under new Government proposals.
Digital Minister Matt Hancock revealed plans to penalise firms that don’t do enough to prevent hackers breaching their digital security. He announced the move as the Government launched a consultation on how to implement the Network and Information Systems (NIS) directive that becomes law across the EU next May.
Chris Pallett, Managing Director of Telford based Bespoke Computing, said organisations must urgently review and upgrade their systems or fall foul of the new regime.
“The Government says businesses will have to show they have a system and strategy in place to protect themselves from hacking or a system failure or face a fine under the new proposals.
“For global organisations, that could be as much as four per cent of turnover but this is not just a big business issue. Cyber attacks cost SMEs £5bn a year and they are on the rise.
“Failing to ensure the safety of your computer system is like driving a car without insurance. A loss of data can be devastating financially and operationally, especially when proper backup and restore procedures are not in place but, despite this potential for disaster, only a quarter of those businesses have cyber security accreditations in place.”
A widespread cyber attack crippled NHS services across England and Scotland earlier this year and the Government is keen to protect people from the growing number of online security breaches.
The most common cyber crimes affecting small and medium-sized businesses are phishing emails, spear phishing emails, and malware attacks.
Other threats include ransomware where data is seized and encrypted and held for ransom, hacking into a business’s computer network, and attacks which push a huge amount of data to a company’s website to make it crash.
Chris, who has more than 20 years experience in the IT sector, added: “There are simple measures businesses can take to make sure they are protected such as daily back ups of data, ensuring anti-virus software is up to date, and fixes for hardware and software are applied regularly but the landscape is continuously evolving.
“Expert help is vital for an overview of the latest hacks and threats and to make sure systems are as watertight as they can possibly be. It’s much easier and cheaper to be pro-active than leave it until it’s too late.”
Bespoke Computing provides tailored IT and communications solutions to businesses across Shropshire, the West Midlands and beyond from its base at Stafford Park.
For more information about Bespoke Computing and its range of services, go to www.bespokecomputing.com or contact 01952 303404.


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Y’all know I’m not a fan of the works of E.L. James, but she’s got some confidence.
Earlier this week it was announced that she’d be releasing a new book from the perspective of Christian Grey. You’re probably thinking that we could have expected that. I guess that’s true, but the kicker is that the book will be released later this month!
I’ve seen a number of authors announce new books via Twitter or Facebook or a press release, and each time the date was months into the future. I’m talking like nine or ten. And I see that as pretty normal because books are often announced before there’s a final product. But I can’t say that I’ve ever seen an author do this before. A couple of weeks is no time for publicity, though just about every book news site has already written about her new book. And it’s also probably not a scary thought to do this when you’ve already sold 98625398916635 books, right?
I think this was an interesting move by James and her publisher, but at the end of the day there’s almost no risk involved for her.
Oh, and Beyonce released an album a little while back in a similar manner. Now you understand the reference.
What do you think of James releasing a new book in her series from the perspective of Christian Grey with no time for publicity?
PS: It’s already #1 on Amazon.
Have you watched my first YouTube video yet!? You can do so here.
On this day in 2014 I published How Important is a Creative Writing Degree?.

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Google unveiled its new branding for its mobile payment service earlier this year, showcasing Google Pay as the combination of Android Pay and Google Wallet. Since then, the company has been adding features to make the service even better for Android users.
Tagged #Google Pay
Google has been busy this week announcing new things, and now Google Pay is getting some attention, too.
Google Pay, the all-in-one digital payment option, now supports storing digital tickets, which means you can skip the physical ticket if you prefer. Google Pay now supports storing movie, airline, ... Read More »
Google is trying to unify its payment systems, which is a pretty un-Google thing to do (don’t get Google fans started on its chat apps). But so far, Google Pay has been a good move from the previous iterations of Android Pay and Google Wallet.
Now Google Pay is ... Read More »
Most Tweeted This Week
Being able to quickly send or receive money is a must-have feature these days for a lot of people, and now Google Assistant users can do just that.
Earlier this year, Google brought together Android Pay and Google Wallet to form an all-in-one service, Google Pay. Now the mobile payment option is available on smartwatches in more countries.
Welcome back to our weekly Top 10 Android App Updates column, where we take a look at the most frequently upgraded apps for the week. We’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to find the ones that are actually being updated by the developers rather than selecting the apps with the ... Read More »
Back in January, Google announced that it was shaking things up in the mobile payment space, effectively combining Android Pay and Google Wallet into one service.
That new service is called Google Pay and the app is now rolling out for Android users. With it you’ll get a ... Read More »
When it comes to Google products, there is always the possibility that some day, a product will see a name change. Today marks a day where two different Google products are not only getting a name change, but are also getting consolidated into one new initiative.
Google Read More »


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How far can entrepreneur-focused training take you?
Pretty far, according to Sahand Seifi, co-founder of HeyOrca!, a startup focused on social media collaboration tools for marketing agencies.
Interested in starting his own business one day, Mr. Seifi signed up for Memorial’s Entrepreneurship Training Program in 2011 while working towards a master’s degree in computer science.
Student Fresh, an early version of the company Mr. Sahand started with business undergrad and HeyOrca! co-founder Joe Teo, focused on connecting freelance students with local companies.
Student Fresh was based out of the Launch Pad space at the Genesis Centre, but the duo soon realized that they needed to pivot their business idea if they wanted to build a sustainable company.
The pair describe 2015 as the year they validated the business model for HeyOrca!. It took them almost six months to come up with the name, which reflects the social media industry they’re in. Having secured $650,000 in seed funding at the end of 2015, the company is ramping up their operations and growing the sales of its marketing collaboration platform.
So far, their efforts are paying off. HeyOrca!’s sales are increasing by 50 per cent month over month, which, according to Mr. Seifi, is the growth track they want to maintain.
The company now employs 14 staff, many of whom are graduates of Memorial. They have a multicultural team with seven countries represented. Mr. Seifi says the best part of running his startup is working with young, talented people.
Have an idea?
This fall, Memorial is making it easy for students like Mr. Seifi and Mr. Teo to get the training they need to launch their own businesses and turn their dreams into reality. If you’re a graduate student with a few hours to spare, you may want to look into Memorial’s Entrepreneurship Training Program (ETP).
ETP is open to full-time graduate students who have a business idea they want to pursue. The program brings students face-to-face with entrepreneurs, funding agencies and business experts who give students the advice and training they need to start a company. The program runs over 16 weeks with a certificate of completion awarded at the end.
To increase the number of startups on campus, Mr. Seifi believes it’s imperative to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with key people who can give them the right advice. That was one of the benefits of ETP, which helped guide him. He’d also like to see more opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration on campus.
“Ideas are cheap. Execution is what matters.”
His advice for students is simple: “Don’t be afraid to help someone else with their business idea. Ideas are cheap. Execution is what matters.”
To find out more about Memorial’s Entrepreneurship Training Program, please visit here. The deadline to apply is Monday, Oct. 17.
ETP is delivered by the School of Graduate Studies, the Internationalization Office, the Faculty of Business Administration and Student Life, with financial support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.


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State Council has approved the restructuring of China Railway Corporation and renamed it the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. in an effort to make the company more market-oriented.
Frozen fish imports from Kazakhstan through the port of Horgos in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region saw a dramatic increase in the first five months of the year.
Last year, the output value of the bamboo industry totaled 14.9 billion yuan (2.15 billion U.S. dollars) in Sichuan's Yibin City, which accounted for 32.4 percent of the province's total, according to figures released at China (Yibin) International Bamboo Industry Development Summit &Trade Fair which closed on the weekend.
China's high-end manufacturing investment has enjoyed a sound development momentum this year, with investment in high-tech manufacturing and technological transformation becoming the primary drivers of growth in manufacturing investment, said the country's top economic regulator.
A Kodiak 100 airplane of SkyView Aircraft is displayed at the Asian Business Aviation Conference &Exhibition at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on April 16.This is in stark contrast with China where the general aviation industry offers about 8,000 jobs and accounts for less than 0.001 percent of the nation's GDP.
The Shanghai-London Stock Connect program opened for trading Monday, a new step for China's financial market to further open up to the world.
He said there are just under 500,000 electric buses in China, as compared with only several hundreds of buses in the United States.Atkinson said while the phenomenon may partly be due to short-term economic issues, it is largely due to a long-term shift in the structure of Chinese energy economy.
By 1966, more than 3,000 Chinese rose varieties had been planted in the Temple of Heaven park. Chinese roses in full bloom at the China Daily compound in Beijing.
China will remove all access restrictions on foreign investment in areas outside the negative list by the end of this year, as part of the country's overall effort to further open up the economy and pursue high-quality development, the nation's top economic regulator said on Monday.
Foxconn Technology Group, a major contractor of the world's digital devices, denied rumors it was going to leave the Chinese mainland and move to other markets.
China continues to dominate a list of the world's fastest supercomputers by the number of systems, according to a semi-annual ranking of the Top500 published Monday.
Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said Monday that there are "absolutely no backdoors" in Huawei's equipment and the company is willing to sign no-backdoor agreements with other countries.
The attacks from the United States cannot stop Huawei from moving forward, Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said here Monday.
SHENZHEN, June 17 (Xinhua) -- China's tech giant Huawei will invest 100 billion U.S.dollars in the next five years to make network infrastructure more efficient and reliable, Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said Monday.
China will receive the first batch of whole frozen durian from Malaysia after the country's authorities cleared the fruit for export, Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Salahuddin Ayub said on Monday.
CATL, the world's largest power battery producer, has started to diversify its sources of revenue as rivals are quickly catching up and the new energy vehicle market has shown signs of slowing down.
As the Greater Bay Area development gathers momentum, Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co Ltd, or GAMECO, is building itself up with major investments in a third hangar, a component repair center and a composite center.
Chinese technology giant Huawei won the most number of 5G network equipment contracts in a recent procurement from the telecom operator China Mobile, The Beijing News reported.
The manganese ore deposit in Tongren, Southwest China's Guizhou province, has reached 708 million tons, topping all of Asia, according to a report from Guizhou Radio TV station's WeChat account Dongjing Guizhou on June 15.
It has become clear that openness and collaboration will be an irreversible trend in the 5G era, and countries advocating fair and healthy competition will eventually succeed in the 5G race.
China's use of overseas capital has surged by about 150 times during the past 37 years, while outbound non-financial foreign direct investment (FDI) rose about 45 times during the period.
During his trip to China last month, Michael Parr, a California vintner, had intended to sit down with importers and celebrate the end of tariffs. But soon he found out that the trade negotiations between the United States and China didn't work out and they were facing additional tariffs.
The Wisconsin-based company said China is its largest overseas market while the US remains the largest of all markets.
A China-bred variety of high starch potatoes has gained popularity in Kazakhstan, where poor resistance to diseases and pests has undermined yield of the local staple food.
Money raised will be transferred to Portugal in euro currency and used for repaying government debt issued domestically and for supporting the Belt and Road Initiative in the future.
Home to the world's third-largest bond market worth more than 86 trillion yuan ($12.45 trillion), China has already attracted more than 1,200 overseas institutions to its onshore market so far.
The Chinese currency renminbi (RMB) has experienced sharp fluctuations in both onshore and offshore markets recently. However, economists believe that the Chinese yuan will remain stable in the long run supported by its sound economic fundamentals.
The U.S.-China tariffs dispute has impacted other parts of California's wine industry -- glass bottles, as the wineries are sourcing glass from new manufacturers to control costs.
Chinese researchers have developed a high-energy lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology, which could enable a running distance of 300 km per 10 minutes of charging.
By launching an investigation into FedEx in accordance with legal procedures, China has demonstrated its adherence to the principle of the rule of law.


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We are pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Grind Scene Records, to work with their street team for promotional purposes. Our web-store will be stocking ALL of their new releases and they have agreed to stock/trade UKEM Records releases. We will continue to promote each others labels and releases on a regular basis, ensuring that two small UK based labels can ‘spread their message’ to a wider audience.
We have been trading releases with Grind Scene since the label was started back in November 2011, but this agreement ‘concretes the deal’, which we’re really pleased with. It’s great to work with another label so closely, and we’re sure both labels will see the benefit of working together in such a way.
Next release up from Grind Scene is the new Zombified, which promises to be a killer release and needless to say, will be available through the web-store.


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In the following video, Jeremy Phillips and Austin Smith discuss the future of Pandora.
Jeremy calls the company a "dumb pipe" that doesn't own its content, all while it goes up against Apple and Amazon.com, which have billions of dollars to play with as they seek to build on their market shares.
Austin notes that those two companies are willing to sustain losses in this business -- Apple for the sake of further developing its products' ecosystems -- and says there may be no winner in this market at all, as there are no economies of scale and costs keep rising. Even worse for Pandora is that it has no intellectual property, leaving its business ripe for disruption.
For more details, check out the video.


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Brazilian retailer Magazine Luiza has announced that it will be selling books online, which could be picked up in one of its almost 1,000 stores.
The company is aiming to compete directly with Amazon, which launched its online Brazilian operations in 2012. After two of the country’s biggest booksellers — Saraiva Livreiros SA and Livraria Cultura — filed for bankruptcy protection last year, Magazine Luiza saw room in the market.
“The goal is to turn Magalu into a reference in this segment,” said Eduardo Galanternick, Magazine Luiza’s executive director of eCommerce, according to Reuters. He added that 300 of the retailer’s 954 stores are in cities without any bookshops.
Magazine Luiza shares were up 1.9 percent at R$170.31 ($43.45 USD) on Tuesday (April 23) after the announcement.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Amazon was getting ready to launch the fulfillment and delivery network it has been working on in Brazil, which was delayed because of logistics and a complex tax system. However, it now plans to directly sell merchandise in 11 categories from more than 800 suppliers, including L’Oréal and Black & Decker.
“We are launching [our direct sales platform] with 320,000 different products in stock, including 200,000 books,” said Amazon’s Brazil Country Manager Alex Szapiro in January. “Our obsession is always to increase this catalog, and to have everything Brazilian consumers seek and want to buy on the internet.”
While the eCommerce giant has been in Brazil since 2012 (selling eReaders and books, and streaming movies), in October of 2017, the company opened up its website to third-party merchants selling electronics. As a result, the company partnered with startup CargoX on a pilot program to use bulletproof trucks for the delivery of expensive goods in the country.
Amazon also leased a 505,904-square-foot warehouse in a town outside of Sao Paulo, and employs — both directly or indirectly — more than 1,400 people in the country.


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Reuters reports that former Renault-Nissan Alliance director Arnaud Deboeuf will become PSA’s industrial strategy director under chief executive Carlos Tavares. He blames Renault boss Thierry Bollore for his unexpected exit.
"Thierry Bollore told me no one wanted to work with me … and that I could not go to work at Nissan either," Deboeuf said in an email sent to colleagues.
It is reported that tensions within the Renault-Nissan Alliance have deepened following the arrest of former chairman Carlos Ghosn in November 2018 and the failed merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in June.
Also Read: Renault Could Cut Its Nissan Stake To Revive FCA Merger Talks
Sources claim that Deboeuf’s relationship with Bollore soured following Ghosn’s arrest. It is believed that Deboeuf was offered a senior executive role at Nissan but Bollore blocked the move.
Renault and Nissan have been at loggerheads since the proposed merger with FCA fell through. The Japanese car manufacturer wants Renault to cut its 43.4 per cent stake in the company in order to get Nissan’s support for a tie-up with FCA. Renault is said to be resistant to do so and doesn’t want to cut its holding below a 33 per cent block minority.
One option said to be in the works is for Renault to immediately cut its stake in Nissan by a smaller amount but promising to reduce its stake further if the Japanese company meets key milestones.
Deboeuf’s move to PSA Group comes six years after current chief executive Carlos Tavares was snatched from Renault and hired to rescue the carmaker from the verge of bankruptcy.


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It’s been 8 years since the first iPhone was announced. We don’t mean to body-shame but it was short and a bit pudgy, if you may. Fast forward to 2015, iPhones are only getting taller and much slimmer. Here are 8 everyday things that will remind you just how small the first smartphones were back in the day.
Lusting over new iPhones but unwilling to fork over the cash? The best way to get your phone feeling like new is by upgrading its operating system (OS). It’s akin to giving your house a fresh coat of paint, except this one doesn’t cost you a thing.
After weeks of waiting, Apple finally announced its new set of iPhones. But the smartphones are not the only thing that were unveiled at the company’s event. Here’s a rundown of what went down at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.


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August 10, 2018
WELLESLEY, Mass., Aug 10, 2018–The growth of vinyl acetate monomers in the food and beverage industry and increasing demand for polyvinyl acetates are two factors helping to grow the global acetic acid market, according to a report by BCC Research.
The industry expects to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% through 2023, when it is forecast to be worth more than $7.6 billion, according to the report Acetic Acid: Derivatives and Global Markets.
Major players in the market include Ashok Alco-Chem, BP, Celanese Corp., Chang Chun Petrochemical Co., Daicel, DowDuPont, Eastman Chemical, EuroChem, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals, Haohua Junhua Group, Jiangsu Sopo, Jubilant Life Sciences, Kanoria Chemicals & Industries, Kingboard Chemical Holdings, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings, Mitsubishi Chemical, Pentokey Organy, Ridhdhi Sidhdhi Chemicals, Shandong Hualu-Hengsheng Chemical Co., Saudi International Petrochemical Co., SEKAB BioFuels & Chemicals, Thana Acid and Chemical Co. and Yancheng City Chunzua Aroma Co.
“Acetic acid, at present, is used widely in various industries, the major ones being the production of polymers, pharmaceuticals, as solvents, food additives, lubricants, soaps and detergents, agrochemicals, animal feed, textiles, plastics, lubricant, varnishes, resins, transparent adhesives, cosmetics, personal care products, coatings, rubber, and paint,” the report notes. “The global acetic acid market has grown significantly during the past few years and is expected to grow at a more rapid pace in the next five years, mainly driven by the growth of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) in the food and beverage industry (food packaging, food preservatives).”
Market Challenge Includes Fluctuating Price of Methanol
Methanol is one of the raw materials used in the production of acetic acid, and its fluctuating price has led to an unstable acetic acid market price trend, the report adds. Methanol prices have seen drastic shifts both up and down. On average, since 2001, prices have increased 13% annually, although individual years have occasionally seen much higher increases.
Editors/reporters requesting analyst interviews should contact Eric Surber at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Acetic Acid: Derivatives and Global Markets( CHM104A )
Publish Date: Jul 2018
Data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher. For media inquiries, email email@example.com or visit www.bccresearch.com/media to request access to our library of market research.


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(BW) University Plans $50 Million Heat & Power Project in New York, an Industrial Info News Alert
SUGAR LAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas). Cornell University has begun the design for a proposed $50 million heat & power renewal and upgrade project at its central heating plant.
For details, view the entire article by subscribing to Industrialinfo.comâ€™s Premium Industry News at http://www.industrialinfo.com/showNews.jsp?newsitemID=107475, or browse other breaking industrial news stories at www.industrialinfo.com.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) provides marketing communication services ranging from industrial database solutions to market forecasting, custom analytics, and specialty promotions that support high-level image campaigns. For more information send inquiries to firstname.lastname@example.org or visit us online at www.industrialinfo.com.


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As the inflation scare continues to haunt us (despite the appearance that we avoided an immediate crisis), people and companies everywhere are still feeling the pressure.
The IMF predicts that economic expansion will be steady but slow (at 3.1 percent, up from 0.2 from October 2023’s projections), but there are still signs of risk and turbulence ahead. In other words, businesses should tread carefully.
Many companies made the hard decision to lay people off throughout 2023. And, despite a more positive economic outlook for 2024—the aversion of a recession, low unemployment, and declining inflation—many businesses continue to make cuts. On


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If reports are believed to be true, then the French government will be suing technology giants, Google and Apple for exercising “abusive” practices. As per their lawsuit filed in court, the firms have been carrying out unethical app developer practices, which could result in millions of euros in impending penalties.
Reportedly, France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has made a statement, suggesting that the government has an issue with the onerous conditions that both, Google and Apple impose on the startups in France. “When developers want to sell apps with Google or Apple, they must pay a fee. But Google and Apple also gather data, and can unilaterally alter the contract terms. All of that is unacceptable,” he was reported as saying.
Le Maire further went on to add that France wants to shut down all the possible loopholes that might help companies like Google, Apple and Facebook among a bunch of other tech giants, to potentially avoid paying taxes on the billions of dollars of revenues they collect in the country. “We want to be able to tax the giant tech companies in Europe starting in 2019,” Le Maire further added.
This is not the first time that France has sued Google. Prior to this, back in 2016, France slapped a lawsuit across Google’s face, demanding for over $1.7 billion back in taxes. Furthermore, they declined to settle for anything lesser than the amount that UK had asked for. However, a French court ruled in the favour in Google’s case.
They carried out this action under the condition that the the companies would obey European laws. However, the French government has vowed to appeal against this and the fight is going on till date. The EU’s largest economic forces are undoubtedly France and Germany. They are currently on a crusade to change European laws that enable companies to shelter earnings in nations with the lowest taxes such as Ireland.


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-Knorr, one of Pakistan’s most loved culinary brands, in collaboration with Karachi Chefs at Home, organized the first ever KCH Chef Fest that was held at Karachi’s Majestic Marquee today, The cooking extravaganza gave food enthusiasts and renowned chefs of the city an opportunity to connect, mingle, and learn cooking tips and tricks in a highly entertaining setting
Speaking about the event, Butool Rizvi, the Senior Brand Manager for Knorr Pakistan said, “Knorr believes in bringing out the expert in every amateur cooking enthusiast, giving them an opportunity to shine every time they indulge in their passion. The first ever Knorr KCH Chef Fest is a step in providing that to all these confident, and talented women. We also feel there is a dearth of positive and safe recreational avenues for women in Pakistan as well, and festivals like these can provide a much-required relief and entertainment.”
The event was anchored by popular celebrity host Kiran Khan and featured cooking classes by social media influencer home chefs, a highly riveting live cooking competition, Q & A sessions with popular chefs, and a grand masterclass by Chef Zarnak Sidhwa, the official brand ambassador for Knorr Pakistan. Other popular guests included veteran TV star Rubina Ashraf and Chef Samina Jalil, while Chef Shireen Anwer joined in via a video message.
Saba Mohsin Sheikh, the founder of Karachi Chefs at Home, said, “Karachi Chefs at Home was an idea conceived with unassuming intentions and today it has grown to become a 100,000+ member community of like minded people who love to cook. Knorr has always supported us from the very beginning, and the Knorr KCH Chef Fest is another memorable chapter in this very rewarding journey.”
Knorr is a 180 year old international culinary brand, that has been in Pakistan for the last 25 years. The brand is a household name today with a wide product range, that includes noodles, cubes, sauces, crispy fried chicken mix and nuggets mix.


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Banking News Base Rate Down To 2 Per Cent But Its More Bad News For Savers While Cost Of Borrowing Remains High 2603
Base rate down to 2% but its more bad news for savers while cost of borrowing remains high
04 December 2008 / by None
“Today’s interest rate cut from 3% down to 2% is a further attempt by the Bank of England to kick-start our economy out of a full blown recession, but unless it is passed onto borrowers the attempts could be futile.
“Banks are all too quick to pass the cut onto savers – last month it took just days for the 1.5% cut to be shaved off saving account rates and it is expected to happen this time too – but they have been far less willing to reflect the cut in mortgage rates.
“So far it seems that the base rate cuts have been in vain; the cost of living has continued to increase, savings rates have continued to fall while mortgage rates have failed to reflect the full cut. So, the big question remains – will lenders pass this rate cut onto consumers and businesses?
“The cost of mortgage borrowing needs to fall to take pressure off people’s household budgets. Repossessions and arrears are on the rise and until interest rates fall significantly this and the fall in retail spending will not be stopped.
“VAT has been cut to 15 per cent in an attempt to get consumers to buy, but if the base rate cut is not passed on to people with mortgages and loans, it is unlikely that consumers will be willing to splash their cash.
“Lenders need to act fast this time, because there is only so much the Bank of England can do – this latest cut must be passed on.”


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Organisers of the Durham Miners’ Gala are offering affordable, high-quality camping for this year’s Big Meeting.
Marras – The Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala are offering official camping over three nights, just a short walk from the celebrations. The 134th Durham Miners’ Gala takes place on Saturday, July 14 2018.
More than 200,000 people attended the 2017 Gala, and organisers are expecting an even bigger crowd this year. Camping is limited and people are advised to book early.
The campsite at East Durham College’s Houghall Campus will include free luxury showers and toilets. Accommodation can be booked now for Thursday 12, Friday 13, and Saturday 14 of July. Camping is priced at just £20 per person per night for adults, and £10 for children. There is also a 25 percent discount for Marras.
Grahame Morris MP, chair of the Friends, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer camping as an affordable and high-quality option, so more people can stay in Durham and make the most of this wonderful event. We’re expecting even bigger crowds than last year, and are working to ensure that the 134th Big Meeting is the best yet. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Durham in July, and I urge everyone to become a Marra and support this unique celebration of our working-class heritage.”
The Big Meeting, as it is known, is one of the world’s largest working-class festivals, and celebrations of community spirit, trade union collectivism, and international solidarity.
Proceeds from the camping will go to the Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala, established to fund the Big Meeting. The success and growth of the Gala in recent years means the costs of staging this year's event have risen significantly. Historically, the Gala was paid for by the working miners of the Durham Coalfield. Now its paid for by Marras.
Camping can be booked now online at durham-gala-camping.wescantickets.com
To support the Gala – and receive a 25 percent discount on camping – become a Marra online now:


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BMW Financial Group Canada alliance with Dealertrack means more streamlined funding
Through a new strategic alliance between Cox Automotive Canada and BMW Group Financial Services Canada, the premium automotive brand will join the Dealertrack portal as a new client.
Cox Automotive says BMW Group Canada Retailers can now take advantage of Dealertrack’s network, integrations and functionality to provide what it describes as a streamlined buying experience for the customer and the dealer facilitating the transaction.
Also through the new partnership, Cox Automotive says BMW Group retailers will be the first to experience the new and enhanced digital contracting workflow.
BMW Group Canada retailers, with access to the Dealertrack Lender Portal and the Digital Contracting capabilities, will experience a more streamlined end-to-end funding process, according to Cox Automotive. All documents will be available prior to funding as data is pulled from a single source. Dealertrack offerings include OEM aftermarket products, residualized accessories handling, rebates and incentives support, and reports such as credit validation before credit and contracting validation before funding.
Through the partnership, the following capabilities will be available to BMW Group Canada retailers:
— An integrated partner network
— A mobile application for retailers and lender field sales staff to track applications
— Existing dealer management system integrations
— VIN-level vehicle validation to ensure consistency and accuracy
— The ability for the system to automatically track required documents; and
— Ensure dealers are always in sync with the application, delivering 100% full transparency in the validation process
“BMW Group Canada can rest assured that they are partnering with an organization that is committed to our industry and to supporting the growth of their business,” Cox Automotive Canada president Maria Soklis said in a news release. “Cox Automotive, a subsidiary of 120-year-old Cox Enterprises Inc., has through its brands, been serving the automotive industry since 1926. We continue to thrive because of the breadth of our product, depth of our experience, and because we measure our success through the success of our clients. Our technology is set to reinvent the way dealers operate in ways we’ve not seen before, that will help to keep them relevant and sustainable into the future, in particular as we move through a period of transformation.”
BMW Group Financial Services Canada president and chief executive officer Carola Erlewein said the company’s top ambition is to make it easier for its retailers to work with BMW Group Financial Services Canada.
“Harnessing Dealertrack helps us in that endeavor,” Erlewein said. “With a more streamlined structure that houses our policies and guidelines under one roof, Dealertrack promises a smoother, more straightforward process. This in turn ensures greater security and compliance at every step of the way, making both the retailer and customer’s experience more positive.”


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Microsoft has rolled out a new Windows 10 preview to its beta testers, and it finally adds support for extensions in Edge. There are three available for testing right now, but Microsoft promises that many more will be arriving later this year.
If you’re a Windows Insider, you’ll find extensions support in the new Windows 10 build 14291 that was seeded on Thursday. You’ll have to download and install the extensions manually for now, but they will be available from the Windows Store later on.
Those available right now are Microsoft Translator, a Reddit extension, and Mouse Gestures — and you’ll find them all on Microsoft’s Edge webpage via the source link below. Microsoft has made its extensions compatible with Chrome, so they’ll work in there, too.
What’s more, because of that compatibility, Chrome extension developers can port theirs over to Edge incredibly easily — which means that its catalog should grow pretty quickly as Microsoft opens extensions up to all Edge users.
“We’re participating in the W3C Browser Extension Community Group’s efforts to define standardized extension APIs based on familiar web technologies,” reads Microsoft’s announcement. “Today, we’re previewing our first step towards that goal.”
Some of the extensions available later will be AdBlock, Adblock Plus, Amazon, LastPass, and Evernote, Microsoft says.


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Sage today announced that it is to launch SageFinance to help SMEs break the
financial barriers to acquiring IT hardware and software. The new offering
will help the cashflow of SMEs who want to invest in IT but cannot afford a
large one-off payment. Sage Finance will be available through Sage resellers
from end November and will be officially launched at Sage Expo on November
Sage has teamed up with Syscap, the UK's leading independent IT finance,
leasing and rental service provider to offer SageFinance, enabling Sage
resellers to take advantage of their unique online end-to-end finance and
leasing service. The system, accessed via Sage's reseller community website
allows registered users to log their customers' leasing proposals and track their progress from online credit decisions through to automated document
SageFinance can be used to fund Sage business software solutions, as well as
any necessary hardware and related support services, allowing the customer
to spread the cost over an agreed period rather than a large one-off payment. This means that customers can pay for their IT system as they use
it and take advantage of the benefits immediately.
This method of acquisition also offers a host of benefits to resellers, particularly the ability to sell upgrades to the customer during the period
of the finance agreement. It also helps resellers to overcome objections on
cost and research shows that customers are less likely to ask for discounts
when using a finance scheme.
Resellers will also benefit from the ability to sell a broader range of
business software solutions and more sophisticated hardware to customers
who, by taking advantage of the scheme, will not be as constrained by budget
as they might be with a cash purchase.
Nigel Hudson, managing director of Sage's new business division commented;
"SageFinance will enable SMEs to reap the benefits that come from automating
their business processes without the initial cash outlay. In addition,
businesses can gain tax benefits, making the financing deal a cheaper option
than a lump sum cash payment. Offering SageFinance in connection with Syscap
gives resellers the ability to process customer lease applications quickly
and easily online."
Philip White, Sales Director of Syscap's finance and leasing arm said "We
specialise in supplying straightforward and highly cost effective financial
solutions that form the link between users and providers of IT Systems,
enhancing business opportunities for both parties. We are delighted to be
partnering Sage with SageFinance and supporting the company's 'integrated
business solutions' offering."
Nigel Hudson adds, "We are committed to providing a value-added service to
our customers via our reseller channel. SageFinance will enable our
resellers to be more responsive to a client's needs and help increase their


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Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which was initially released for the Wii U, is selling exceptionally well in its home country in Japan. Although the Wii U version of the game did okay, it sold worse than both versions of its predecessors, which was released on the 3DS and Wii.
According to numbers provided by Dengeki Online, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze sold around 90,000 copies of the game during its first week in Japan. This number is thrice of what the Wii U version managed to sell four years ago, which means that the game was able to sell 65% of its initial shipment, which is tremendously better than its Wii U counterpart that only hit 35%
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was initially announced during the last Nintendo Direct Mini and released last February 21 for the Nintendo Switch. The game retains the side-scrolling platform gameplay of previous installments in the Donkey Kong Country series, and this game takes Donkey Kong traveling through six islands with his friends to defeat the Snowmads.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is now available on the Nintendo Switch for $59.99 or 300 Nintendo points.


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In this photo taken Friday, Feb. 14, 2018, Buddy’s Cabinets in Washington, DC, is seen on display.
The new furniture section, which includes a collection of furniture from local artists and craftsmen, is in the basement of the house and has been open for business since December.
The section’s first floor is the most popular.
The home is also the only home in the neighborhood to be listed on RealClear.com, the largest real estate search engine in the world.
It’s not just the home’s furniture that is being brought into the real estate game.
Buddy’s Cabinet owner Ashley Dunn, an avid photographer, told Vice News that she was thrilled to open the section in December and is happy to see her house get a little more attention.
“I’m a photographer, I love the outdoors, and I love photography,” Dunn said.
“This is something I want to showcase, and it’s really cool to see that the home is coming back to life.
It’s definitely a positive step forward.”
Buddys Cabinet is a unique collection of artisans who specialize in making furniture and accessories from recycled materials.
The eclectic collection includes handmade baskets, vintage-inspired china and glassware, vintage tumblers, art pieces, and more.
Its not just furniture that’s being showcased, either.
Buddy’s has a “laboratory of sorts,” where the artist and her team work on various projects, including creating new and vintage furniture pieces.
There’s also a video room in the home where Dunn can show off her new art.
Dunn said she was inspired to start the home after her mother died of ovarian cancer.
She said that her mother would wake up at 5 a.m. every morning and take care of the home, which she shared with her two young daughters.
She said she and her husband, a chef and home decorator, started Buddy’s to keep her busy.
She also hopes that Buddy’s will become a destination for people looking to explore artisanship in the United States.
For more of the best photos from around the world, check out VICE News’ slideshow of the year.


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Germany plans nationwide e-ticket for all city transport
One ticket to rule them all? The German Transport Minister wants to create an electronic ticket to connect public bus and train services across all cities, bringing Germany into the digital age.
Electronic chip cards or mobile phone tickets could make paper tickets of yore unnecessary by 2019, according to a plan set out by Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
According to a plan seen by publishing group Funke Mediengruppe and reported on Friday, the Transport Ministry wants to introduce a uniform e-ticket that would connect public transit systems across nearly all of the country under one card.
The aim is to make public transit easier and more attractive, benefiting customers of around 370 transit companies and roughly 75 percent of the population. Passengers would be able to use the same card or cell phone app without having to buy a new ticket in each city to which they travel - and without having to dig out loose change to feed into a ticket machine.
“We need a Germany-wide, mobile platform that links passengers’ information across regions and makes it possible to book e-tickets,” Dobrindt told Funke Mediengruppe.
Another goal would be to allow e-card holders to use the system for renting cars and paying for parking.
“We must advance digitalization and interconnection in this area.”
Ten million people in Germany already use similar e-cards for their individual cities, with companies offering yearly or monthly tickets. Some companies also offer the chance for passengers to buy tickets online and then have digital tickets available on their mobile phones.
But most tickets are still in the old-school form of paper, writes Funke Mediengruppe.
To realize his vision, Dobrindt said his ministry is working with the various transport companies. The idea is part of a larger series of 12 projects aimed at digitalization that is expected to cost €16 million for this year and the next.
The technology to make it possible has already been available for years - all existing e-tickets and smartphone tickets work the same way. But the ministry still needs a central database of all prices for the different transit companies, as well as a way to transfer revenues when, for example, a customer from Berlin travels in Hamburg.
The ministry plans to start developing the project next week and have it ready by summer 2018. But Nils Zeino-Mahmalat from the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) warned that travellers should not set their expectations too high: it will be hard for small and medium-sized companies to join the digital revolution.
Instead, the project will develop region by region.
“We will not wake up one morning, and a connected public transport system is there,” Zeino-Mahmalat said.


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BEND, Ore. (AP) — For the first in more than a decade, there will be a change at the top of Les Schwab Tire Centers.
CEO Dick Borgman announced his retirement Thursday, effective at the end of June. Chief financial officer Jack Cuniff takes over July 1.
The Bulletin reports the private, Bend-based company expanded aggressively during Borgman’s 11-year run, going from 179 tire center locations to nearly 500.
The company employs about 7,000 people in Oregon and other Western states.
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Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com


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According to sales totals compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Great Wall Motors sold almost 50,000 vehicles in its home market in July, a YoY rise of 67.9%.
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German Industrial Production Falls as Recovery SlowsStefan Riecher
German industrial production dropped in September, signaling that growth in Europe’s largest economy may have cooled in the third quarter.
Output, adjusted for seasonal swings, fell 0.9 percent from August, when it rose a revised 1.6 percent, the Economy Ministry in Berlin said today. Economists forecast no change, according to the median of 36 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. Production advanced 1 percent from a year earlier when adjusted for working days.
The Bundesbank said last month that German economic growth probably slowed last quarter, and business confidence unexpectedly dropped in October for the first time in six months. The 17-nation euro area, Germany’s largest trading partner, is in an economic recovery that has been described as “fragile” by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. ECB officials are gathering in Frankfurt today for their monthly policy meeting.
“It is a slow recovery but we’ve seen a turnaround in the euro area,” said Lothar Hessler, an economist at HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG in Dusseldorf. “German GDP growth may have slowed a bit after the strong second quarter but the economy is stable and growing solidly.”
German manufacturing output slid 1.1 percent in September, with production of investment goods dropping 2.1 percent, today’s report showed. Construction fell 1.8 percent, while energy output rose 2.1 percent.
Industrial production for the two months through September climbed 0.6 percent, adding to data yesterday that showed German factory orders increased more than estimated.
“Despite the current slight decline, the trend for industrial production remains upward,” the Economy Ministry said in the statement. “The rising trend in manufacturing and construction orders points to a continued economic recovery.”
Germany’s gross domestic product probably expanded 0.4 percent in the three months through September after growth of 0.7 percent in the second quarter, according to Bloomberg’s monthly economic survey published Oct. 10. The Federal Statistics Office is scheduled to release preliminary GDP data on Nov. 14.
Brenntag AG, the largest distributor of chemicals, trimmed its full-year profit forecast this month, saying it saw no “tangible” upturn in markets and continued to face “challenging” economic conditions, while Beiersdorf AG, the Hamburg-based maker of Nivea hand cream, raised its full-year sales forecast.


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Temporary staffing company TeamLease Services Ltd on Monday said it will buy a 30% stake in online job portal Freshersworld.com, valued at around Rs18 crore, to scale up its hiring business.
The transaction, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close before the end of July 2017, TeamLease said in a statement. The deal is structured as an all-cash tender financed with existing cash reserves of TeamLease, it added. Benguluru-based Freshersworld, dedicated to entry-level hiring, will continue to operate as an independent entity.
Under the agreement, TeamLease will infuse another Rs2 crore to enhance product features and back-end technology at Freshersworld. Also, it would look at increasing its stake in further Fresherworld or a 100% acquisition in the next three years, depending on the portal’s performance.
“We have a large recruitment team and physical presence across locations but we are looking at multiple variables which can effectively increase scale and bring in economies and improve the reach. One of the variables is having a strong technology platform at the back-end,” said Ashok Reddy, managing director, TeamLease Services.
Reddy said Teamlease, which has around 1,900 clients across 6,000 locations in India, had hired more than 16 lakh people over the last 15 years.
Joby Joseph, founder and chief executive of Freshersworld said: “The partnership with Teamlease will allow us to create a formidable force with enhanced product offerings in building databases, online job matching, assessments and background verification.”
Shares of TeamLease closed at Rs1,140.00, down 1.02% on the BSE while the Sensex rose 0.26% at 31,109.28.


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The energy crisis, high inflation and the cooling global economy are fierce headwinds for the German economy.
Tag Archives: business climate
German economy does not get out of crisis mode
More than two years of pandemics and the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine are causing permanent stress in the German society and the economy.
German economy: Economic engine continues to sputter
After a weak first half, the German economy is likely to stagnate at best in the third quarter of this year.
Germany: Inflation and War Interrupt Recovery of German Economy
The German economy continues to be hit hard by the war in Ukraine and the Chinese corona crisis.
Ukraine war and pandemic situation in China continue to slow down German economy
The war in Ukraine and the Chinese corona crisis are having a noticeable impact on the German economy and fuel inflation.
German economy slowed by war, inflation and Chinese lockdowns
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the outlook for the German economy has deteriorated.


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After numerous investigations, the Nissan Versa and Versa Note are being recalled along the Armada for a separate issue. Continue Reading...
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Honda is pulling all the stops with its hi-po Civic. Continue Reading...
The new Honda Civic Coupe is on the way. Continue Reading...
Honda is voluntarily recalling approximately 17,800 model year 2015 Fit compacts for faulty plug top ignition coils. Continue Reading...
Toyota has recently filed a patent that alludes to a flying car being in development. Continue Reading...
Pricing and production numbers for the limited edition Series.HyperBlue Subaru BRZ and WRX STI models have been announced. Continue Reading...
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American Superconductor Corp., the money-losing developer of wind-power technology, plans to make systems for solar energy to tap a new market, Chief Executive Officer Greg Yurek said.
“We know how to do it for wind, we sure know how to do it for solar,” Yurek, 61, said yesterday in a telephone interview. American Superconductor gets 70 percent of sales from wind-turbine components.
American Superconductor will sell products that connect solar farms to power grids as the industry expands, he said. The company, which has never reported an annual profit, has sought new markets as sales of its superconductors slowed, with a 27 percent decline last year.
“To the extent that we continue to invest in our superconductor business, that holds us back a bit,” Yurek said. Power systems will account for as much as 90 percent of revenue this year, he said. Superconductors are designed to transmit larger amounts of energy more efficiently than typical copper-based systems.
American Superconductor dropped 47 cents to $35.38 at 4 p.m. New York time on the Nasdaq Stock Market yesterday. The company, whose stock has gained 83 percent in the past 12 months, first sold shares to the public in 1991.
Yurek declined to say when he expects to report a profit. Revenue in the year ending in March will rise to as much as $175 million, American Superconductor said in May. That compares with $112.4 million last year. Analysts on average project sales of $185 million, according to a Bloomberg survey.
In 2007, China’s Sinovel Wind Corp. accounted for more than half of sales. Last month, American Superconductor won a two-year $450 million contract from the turbine maker. The company is pursuing other customers to rely less on Sinovel. The company has eight clients, three of them in China, that buy turbine systems, he said.
“The Chinese government is backing all this,” Yurek said. “China is going to be a dominant player in the wind market.”


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Join gaming leaders, alongside GamesBeat and Facebook Gaming, for their 2nd Annual GamesBeat & Facebook Gaming Summit | GamesBeat: Into the Metaverse 2 this upcoming January 25-27, 2022. Learn more about the event.
After several false starts and delays, Samsung has officially begun rolling out an Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” upgrade today for its popular Galaxy S II smartphones. But those in North America will still have to wait a bit longer.
The Android 4.0 update will begin in European countries, including Hungary, Sweden, and Poland, as well as South Korea. Samsung says that it will “gradually roll out to other markets,” in a blog post today.
The update will breathe some new life into the Galaxy S II lineup, which is currently running Android 2.3 “Gingerbread.” Samsung is also expected to announce the phone’s successor, the Galaxy S III, in the next few months, which is expected to launch with Android 4.0.
Samsung also mentioned that it plans to upgrade other recent devices to Android 4.0 soon, including the Galaxy Note, the LTE version of the Galaxy S II, as well as the Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1. Older devices, like the Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab 7, and Galaxy W will also finally receive an upgrade to Android 2.3 in the next few months.
VentureBeat is holding its second annual MobileSummit this April 2-3 in Sausalito, Calif. The invitation-only event will debate the five key business and technology challenges facing the mobile industry today, and participants — 180 mobile executives, investors, and policymakers — will develop concrete, actionable solutions that will shape the future of themobile industry. You can find out more at our Mobile Summit site.
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Its success was not in doubt, but the IPO from eToys (ETYS:Nasdaq) is still posting numbers that are causing jaws to drop like a Rock'em Sock'em Robot.
eToys was recently trading up 57 9/16, or 287%, at 77 9/16 after reaching a high of 85.
Thomas Weisel Partners
analyst Christopher Vroom already is out with a note on the company with a strong buy recommendation. Thomas Weisel Partners did not underwrite for eToys and thus is allowed to issue research today.
Vroom said he expects eToys "to become a very large and very profitable company." How large? He said that, longer term, he anticipates sales of $10 billion in the U.S., with potential to double that with sales outside the U.S. Vroom said he would be an aggressive buyer of the stock up to 60, but would continue to recommend it at around 80, saying he thinks it's "one of the great growth stories of the next decade."
Vroom said the company undoubtedly will face stiff competition from companies like
Toys R Us
, but "we still think that eToys has established a relationship that is a particularly strong one" and one that will benefit from its recent purchase of
But eToys has a way to go if it is going to be the most successful Internet IPO of the year.
has that honor thus far, rising 751% in its first day of trading in March.
Overshadowed by eToys' incredible start was the IPO of Web access provider
(CAIS:Nasdaq). Its stock was up 3 7/8, or 20%, at 22 7/8.


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BMW is close to signing a 10-year supply contract for lithium and cobalt, the company’s procurement chief told Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, amid an industry-wide scramble for raw materials needed for electric car batteries.
“The aim is to secure the supply all the way down to the level of the mine, for 10 years. The contracts are ready to be signed,” Markus Duesmann told the paper, according to an excerpt of an article made available to Reuters on Friday.
Demand for minerals for batteries such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite and lithium is forecast to soar in the coming years as governments crack down on vehicle pollution and carmakers step up their investments in electric models.
Rival Volkswagen has said it is pushing to secure long-term supply contracts to avoid material shortages as it aims to invest 34 billion euros ($42 billion) in battery-powered cars by 2022 to challenge Tesla.
Separately, BMW said it had put a procurement partnership with Daimler on ice, given a probe into potential antitrust behaviour by German carmakers, FAZ said.
In a sign of the growing importance of high-grade Nickel for long-range batteries, German chemicals giant BASF has entered talks over a supply partnership with Russian miner Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) to produce battery chemicals in Europe.
Belgium’s Umicore, which competes with BASF and Johnson Matthey in cathode materials for automotive batteries, this week raised 892 million euros to expand that business.


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Is the tobacco industry another one that’s going up in smoke?
It’s more complicated than that. An update from one of the ‘big four’ tobacco companies Imperial Brands showed the mixed picture that they are dealing with.
Why is that happening?
Imperial said in a statement: “We have experienced some Covid-related changes in consumer behaviour with increased overall demand against our expectations, as consumers appear to have allocated more of their spend to tobacco, as well as some demand shifts between different markets and channels. This has resulted in better than expected volumes, driven by improved volume trends in several key European markets and in the US.”
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There are many possible explanations for the shift in behaviour, including boredom. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the increase was “presumably the result of people being stuck at home during lockdowns and worrying about their jobs or the pandemic”.
What are the numbers?
In the case of Imperial, net revenue for its NGP division is expected to be around 30 per cent lower than last year. Tobacco revenue will be up about 1 per cent.
Because the latter makes up a bigger part of the business, group net revenue is expected to be broadly flat for the year. But Imperial also said that its earnings per share would decline around 6 per cent overall due to other Covid-related costs.
Why is it important?
Tobacco companes have poured money into NGPs in the last few years, as they all race to have a share in whatever post-smoking option consumers turn to.
This could all be in vain if the recent upsurge in traditional tobacco consumption proves resilient, though analysts suspect that it is only a temporary side-effect of the pandemic.


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Since they launched the first Nexus 7 tablet, Google has been obsessed about offering their flagships devices for the lowest price possible. For its Nexus 4 smartphone they were able to get to the incredible $299 level last year. And they wanted to repeat the feat this year too. But what with the cost of bigger 5” display, better 8 megapixel camera with OIS, and Qualcomm 800 CPU – it’s not that easy to get there. Some compromises had to be made, and Google decided that smaller, cheaper battery is the way to go.
However, things might not be as bad as they appear.
If the device price is really important to you, so yes, the battery power on your $299 16GB Galaxy Nexus will probably suck.
But, if you are ready to spend $100 more, PhoneArena just got tipped that a more expensive $399 32GB Nexus will come with bigger capacity, 3000 mAh battery. Which should easily last you through a day of serious use, and more.
This is just an unconfirmed rumor, that sounds a bit too good to be true, for now. But it’s such a compelling proposition that I really really want it to happen.


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- Published: 12 October 2007 12 October 2007
Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica and Bergé Negocios Marítimos have joined forces to set up Compass Transworld Logistics, S.A. (CTL) with 51% and 49% stakes respectively.
Gamesa and CTL have entered into a service provision agreement for the next five years. Services amounting to € 150 to € 175 million per year will be managed through this agreement. The joint venture will ship Gamesa's finished products manufactured at its Spanish plants to ports in the United States and China, as well as to their final destination in the rest of the world. Gamesa has handled the shipping of its finished products up to now. The performance of this agreement is a further step forward in the strategic alliance program with suppliers set out in the 2006-2008 Business Plan.


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Up until a few weeks ago, comparing Facebook and Google was like comparing apples to oranges.
Even though both their revenues depend almost entirely on advertisement, both giants did it in a different way, said John Wirtz, assistant professor of public relations at Texas Tech University.
Google entered the world of social networking for the third time about a month ago with a site called Google + (Google Plus).
Since its birth on June 28, Google + has 20 million users, which makes it the fastest growing social network ever, said Brian Solis, a principal analyst at Altimeter group, a business research and consulting group based in San Mateo, Calif., and author of "Engage," a guide for businesses to use the Internet.
It took Facebook a little more than three years to reach the 20-million mark. So with such a great start some have already called Google + the "Facebook Killer," while others think it is too early to know, those who watch social media have said.
Social media is a new concept in communications; nonetheless it has changed the way people communicate, experts say.
Sites like Facebook and Twitter have been so successful simply because "we are drawn to share with people," said Shel Holtz, principal of Shel Holtz Communication + Technology, based in Novato, Calif.
Just recently, universities have started to study how individuals approach social media, Solis said.
Still Facebook is known across the world as the social network.
It has about 750 million users and it is the first network to really be that big, said Solis.
Since its creation on 2004, Facebook has had a steady group of loyal users, and that is a clear advantage against upcoming rival, Google +.
But Google + has learned from its two previous attempts at providing a social network.
Buzz was one of those attempts and not only was it a failure but it also got Google in friction with its users, said Holtz.
The privacy settings Buzz provided were not what the users wanted.
Then again, Facebook has had its fair share of mishaps when it comes to the privacy it provides to its users.
In a study by the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, the biggest social network was rated as the lowest social media site with a score of 66.
"Facebook has struggled with it (privacy) since its onset," Holtz said.
This time Google + seems to have it right, he added.
Google + is still in its beta phase, and users can join through an invitation only, although currently, the frontpage says Google is temporarily testing with a small group of people, and even with an invitation, a person will have to wait to join.
It is not clear when Google + will be completely open, although there are rumors that by the end of the month people will be able to join.
This is not the first time a social media giant faces a threat, said Wirtz.
Before there was a Facebook, there used to be a MySpace and even before that there used to be a Friendster.
The last two sites still exist but they are only a sliver of what they used to be.
Whether Google + takes Facebook off its throne or not, there is still some time and a 730 million-user advantage before there is a clear winner.
"I haven't heard of anyone abandoning Facebook in favor of Google +," Solis said.
But Google has been busy working on many other things, one of them is being the best search engine.
There is no doubt that Google will use all it has to be the best social network as well.
Integration will be a key as well.
While Facebook is looking at partnering with different companies like it has with Skype and Bing, both from Microsoft, Google has already covered that road.
Its mobile operation system Android has a lead over the iPhone on sales, and they have recently developed a computer system that works entirely through the World Wide Web called Chrome.
"It makes sense that the power of Google put together could overtake Facebook," said Wirtz. "If history is a guide then yes, Google can take over Facebook."
But the real question is not who is going to win, but how many of these social networks can people handle, Solis said.
Just like TV channels, people are not loyal to one channel.
Instead, they go to the channel with the information they find valuable, Solis said.
"We knew there would be a lot of early adapters (to Google +)," said Wirtz, "but people only have so much energy for these things."
People will have to make decisions with the number of social networks they use, Holtz said.
And that number may not be the same for everyone, but "something's gotta give," he said.
People will go where their friends are and where they find real value in information, Solis said.
"You will use many (social networks) and which one you use at any given time will change overtime," he said.
The future of social media is still uncertain, and it could face many changes as it integrates more and more features.
Both Google and Facebook have a clear goal, though: To become a one-stop site on the Internet.
Both companies have very smart people working for them, said Wirtz.
A few things are clear though, social media is becoming mobile.
Mobiles are selling more than computers, Holtz said.
"Any social media who is not working on its mobile features is setting itself up for failure," said Holtz.
An example of how people want to have quick on-the-spot access to their social networks is the HTC Status, a phone by the Taiwanese telecommunications company that allows people to check-in, share photos and update status on Facebook with just one button.
According to Solis, people will use more than one social network site, which already happens as people use Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, among others. But to keep people from having to put their information in each site, there could be something close to what he calls a "Personal OS."
"That would be a home base for who you are and for your digital persona," he said.
Whatever happens, social media has already changed the way people interact with each other, Wirtz said.
"I don't know what will change," Wirtz said, "but whatever it is, social media is going to be there."
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Luxury automobile manufacturer Bentley has unveiled new Continental GT3-R, the rarest and most dynamic member of the esteemed Continental family of Grand Tourers.
It is inspired by the new Continental GT3 race car that stormed to
Japanese automaker Nissan achieved record sales in bahrain last year mainly driven by the demand for its affordable sports car 370Z which boasts of a 328-horsepower 3.7-litre V6 engine.
YK Almoayyed and Sons, the exclusive Nissan
McLaren Automotive, a high-performance sports car company based in the UK, made both an operating and pre-tax profit for the first time in 2013, during only its third year of car production.
The company, whose main sharehol
Ebrahim K Kanoo, the sole distributor of Toyota and Lexus in Bahrain, has launched a new offer on the sports car Toyota 86.
This offer entitles customers to own the fully accessorized Toyota 86 at a special price of BD 10,999 ($28
Porsche has stopped deliveries of the most expensive version of its overhauled 911 sports car after two of them caught fire, the German automaker said.
Engineers at Porsche's Stuttgart-based headquarters are examining the rema
Nissan has posted a 32 per cent surge in sales of its sports car GT-R for the period January to August across the region as compared the same period in 2012.
“No vehicle could convey Nissan’s core philosophy of innovat
Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari delivered 264 cars in the Middle East during the first half of the year, marking an increase of 39 per cent over the corresponding period in 2012, a report said.
Growth was in double figures
Middle East travellers in Europe looking for that dream-drive getaway experience can now rent from Hertz the award winning Jaguar F-Type two-seater convertible in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands.
Jaguar’s Project 7 concept, an all-new, two-seater, convertible sports car, is set to enter the Jordanian market following its debut at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.
Project 7, based on Jaguar’s accl
Bentley debuted its new Continental GT3 race car at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, unveiling a racing machine able to develop 600 bhp in race configuration via a motorsport engine management system.


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India would clash with New Zealand in the men’s triples lawn bowls event at the Commonwealth Games 2022 on Friday, July 29. The event is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm IST (Indian Standard Time). Sony Sports network, which is the official broadcast partner of the competition in India, will provide live telecast on Sony Ten 1,2,3,4 and Six. Fans can also watch live streaming of the event on the Sony Liv app and website.
Aaye #Birmingham Tiranga lehraate, le jaayenge medals Tiranga lehraate ???
Watch India’s finest athletes go for glory as all the GAMES from #CommonwealthGames2022 start today, with some exciting match-ups for #TeamIndia ??#BirminghamMeinJitegaHindustanHamara #B2022 pic.twitter.com/SMQlPyyK5y
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 29, 2022
(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and Reportr Door Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of Reportr Door, also Reportr Door does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)


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Altria, the owner of Phillip Morris and the Marlboro cigarette brand, acquired 45 from the Canadian cannabis company Kronos, which has an agreement to grow cannabis at Kibbutz Gan Shmuel in Israel.
For 45% of the company and 4 of 7 seats on the Board of Directors, 1.8 transferred $ 1 billion to Kronos.
In addition, Altria received an option to acquire full control of the Company (55), further to 1.4 billion. The value of Kronos shares rose after the announcement by 25%.
The rumors about the entry of the world's most famous cigarette manufacturer into the cannabis market Were dispersed Already three months ago and are now official.
Altria Group also owns the shares of the alcohol giant Anheuser-Busch, a manufacturer of beer brands such as Stella, Lef, Budweiser and Hogarden.
Kronos also holds full and partial ownership of Canadian companies in the field of cannabis, such as Peace Naturals, In The Zone, WMMC, ABcann, Hydropothecary, Evergreen and more.
"Altria brings weight, experience and special capabilities," said after the signing of the agreement the founder and CEO of Kronos, the Jew Mike Gorenstein.
Last year, with The message For his partnership with Kibbutz Gan Shmuel, Gorenstein said he intends to "produce quality cannabis in Israel at the best price in the world."
According to the memorandum of understanding signed between Kronos and Gan Shmuel, a greenhouse will be built on the site of the kibbutz, which will cover an area of 4 dunams and will produce up to 5 tons of cannabis annually, alongside a research laboratory.
"Not only will we produce quality cannabis at the best price in the world, setting up the system in Israel will enable us to stand on the international front of research and entrepreneurship in the field," said Gorenstein.
Kronos, like many other companies, is waiting for the Israeli government to approve the export of medical cannabis from Israel abroad, as well as the entry into force of the reform, apparently in April.
This deal joins a significant deal earlier in the field, when the world's largest cannabis company, Knuffy, also won Last November For an investment of 200 million for 9.9% of its shares in Constellation Brands. 8 months later Acquired Constellation 30% more than Knofi, for about 4 billion.
Canada has approved full legalization of cannabis for recreational use and in October this year opened legal factories and cannabis shops.


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It's possible to get healthy in a down economy / Some drugmakers, medical device firms buck the trend and grow
Published 4:00 am, Monday, May 5, 2003
Winners and losers?
Not in this economy. Thumbing through the list of industries, nearly every major sector looks like a loser in terms of market value.
"It's an amazing confluence of events that has stalled the economy and corporate investment," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist for Jefferies and Co. in Boston. "It has affected just about everyone."
But as in any downturn, some sectors have skidded less than others.
Take health care. In the S&P 500, health services and health technology stocks lost only slightly more than 10 percent of their market value during the past four years, compared with 24 percent for the index as a whole.
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"These are companies that are not sensitive to the economic cycle," said Jim McCamant of Moors & Cabot Technology Research. "People go to hospitals and get sick, whether in good times or bad."
Indeed, some local drugmakers and medical devices companies actually gained ground.
Gilead Sciences, a Foster City biotech firm that managed to get two drugs approved in less than a year, jumped 19 percent.
"Every year, we have a few more companies that step up to that (level)," Dietz said.
Other Bay Area health firms that did well:
• Varian Medical Systems, which makes X-ray systems and various devices to treat cancer, saw its market value jump by a third from the past year.
• Cooper Cos., which makes a variety of health care products, including contact lenses and surgical instruments, rose 28 percent.
• Thoratec Corp., which won approval last year for a heart-assisting pump for patients not eligible for transplants, climbed 14 percent in value.
Still, stocks for biotech and small medical devices have historically been more volatile than traditional industrial firms, McCamant said. So companies that look like gold one year could seem more like scrap metal the next.
Most tech companies -- which account for the heart of The Chronicle 200 -- continued to suffer. Among the S&P 500, electronics firms lost 39 percent of their value. And technology services firms tumbled 36 percent.
Some local electronics- and computer-makers did even worse. Handheld computer-makers Palm and Handspring both lost nearly 90 percent of their market value, as the recession, cutthroat competition and weariness of tech stocks all combined to clobber the firms.
Among services firms, Openwave Systems and Wind River Systems lost more than three-fourths of their value. Redwood City's Openwave makes software for browsing the Web with mobile phones. Wind River, based in Alameda, makes software embedded in electronics.
But no matter which sector you invested in last year, odds are you are staring at some ugly returns.


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Want to join the conversation?
At an annual investor meeting, semiconductor chip maker $INTC said it expects FY16 revenue growth in the mid-single digits with gross margin of 62%, plus or minus a couple of points. R&D plus MG&A spending as a percent of revenue is expected to be down half a point and capital spending to be about $10Bil, plus or minus $500MM.
$BABA seems to be on a roll! But increasing its yearly sales outlook from 48% to 54% seems over-expectation from the company's part, doesn't it?
$JNJ down 2% in pre-market trading. Earnings beat expectations, but sales disappointed. Johnson is cautious on its outlook. How it will perform in the future?
$YHOO is reporting today after market close. Nobody cares about this stock.


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Stamford-based MediaCrossing earns marketing award
STAMFORD — Digital-media firm MediaCrossing has been recognized as the medium-size marketing agency of the year in Business Intelligence Group’s 2019 Public Relations and Marketing Excellence Awards.
The honor marks the latest of several awards that have recognized the growth of MediaCrossing, which was founded in 2012.
“This is a great honor,” MediaCrossing founder and CEO Michael Kalman said in a statement. “It says a lot about our incredible team, and their dedication to delivering against client key performance indicators. As I’ve said before, I’ve never viewed MediaCrossing as selling media. I believe our business is about engineering the best possible outcomes for our clients.”
Business Intelligence Group’s other award winners this year include 10Fold Communications, Ainnovation, Amendola Communications, BLASTmedia, AXION Energy Loyalty Program, Grey Matter Marketing, Hawthorne Direct, Haymaker, Imprenta Communications Group, Johnson & Johnson, LOCALiQ, Marlabs Inc, Maxim, OpenX, Raytheon Intelligence, Saatchi Art, TBI Marketing, The Born Group, UPRAISE Marketing + Public Relations and Vectra.
“We are so proud to recognize the work of MediaCrossing,” Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer of the Business Intelligence Group, said in a statement. “All of our winners clearly demonstrated that in order to be successful, you must have expertise in the PR and marketing crafts, but also in business. Congratulations to them all.”
Among other accolades, MediaCrossing placed at No. 1,125 overall on this year’s Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies. It produced revenues of $17.3 million last year and three-year growth of 371 percent.
Its growth also earned the company a place on this year’s Marcum Tech Top 40 list.
The firm is based at 9 W. Broad St., on edge of the city’s downtown.
“The passion, talent, and intelligence of our team — as well as our amazing technology partners — makes up the secret sauce that’s led us to this victory, as well as our multi-year appearances on both the Inc. 5000 and the Marcum Tech Top 40 lists,” Kalman said.
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For five years, the non-profit Kearsarge Food Hub has existed with the purpose of helping strengthen connection to local foods in Bradford and the greater Kearsarge region. That takes place through a variety of means — Sweet Beet Market supplies the community with year-round locally-sourced foods; Sweet Beet Kitchen produces baked goods and preserves; while Sweet Beet Farm grows local foods using regenerative practices.
When COVID-19 started, the food hub saw an immediate increase in demand.
“People started paying more attention to local foods,” said Hanna Flanders, director of community engagement and co-founder of the Kearsarge Food Hub. “More people are trusting local food, and want to make sure they know where their food is coming from.
The number of customers shopping at Sweet Beet Market increased, and people said that they wanted to be able to do all their shopping at the market, rather than just picking up local meat and produce. In response, the Kearsarge Food Hub strengthened its regional connections and began selling more pantry items like dried beans.
Some offerings at Sweet Beet Market — including in-person educational opportunities for learners in kindergarten through college — were cancelled because of the pandemic. But overall, business was up. Because of that, the co-founders of the Kearsarge Food Hub felt strongly that they needed to support people who did not have equitable access to local foods.
“When the pandemic hit, it was an obvious next step to really dig into creating and strengthening channels that bring foods from the farms to those outlets,” that support food-insecure individuals and families, said Flanders.
To that end, the Kearsarge Food Hub increased the amount of food it donates to local food pantry programs by 550% compared to previous years. The food hub works with four area food pantries in Bradford and Warner, and distributes food through programs at Kearsarge Regional Middle School and Bradford Elementary School.
To cover the massively-increased costs of food donation, the food hub sought restricted grant funds specifically meant to support programs that address food insecurity. Additional fundraising and increased revenue from shoppers at the market also helped cover the cost.
Despite the increased workload, Flanders said that the co-founders are proud to have pulled-off a five-fold increase in food donations. She points out that more donations not only help local families who have trouble affording their groceries. It also supports local farmers who are compensated for their produce and meats.
“It’s working for the farmers, and working for the food-insecure families as well,” Flanders said.
The Kearsarge Food Hub still has steps to take to make sure that everyone can access fresh local foods. The food hub is working to be able to take EBT and SNAP benefits in the store, which would allow people on federal and state food-support programs to shop there.
“We’re going to continue to focus on food security programs,” Flanders said. “There’s a lot of market research to do in that area, to see how we can access more people who are food insecure.”
Although most people think about local eating during the summer months, the Kearsarge Food Hub is focused on year-round local eating. That can be done by following seasonal eating, switching summer’s tomatoes and zucchini for potatoes, winter squash and beets, all of which store well. To support that, the Kearsarge Food Hub is increasing it’s food storage capacity in order to buy more from local farmers and sell year-round.
“Then, we can encourage them to grow more by securing the marketing with them,” Flanders said.
Overall, she hopes that as more widespread dedication to local food production takes root, the Kearsarge Food Hub will be able to nurture a stronger ecosystem of local food security.
“The fact that people are thinking more about the importance of local food has been kind of a silver lining,” Flanders said. “It’s just the beginning of a deeper collaboration.”
This story is part of the 50 Businesses, 50 Solutions series, shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative, that aims to highlight how business leaders across the state, from mom and pop shops, to large corporations have adapted to meet the challenges and disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus in the hopes others may be able to replicate these ideas and innovations. Tell us your story here. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.


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Ford Focus ST wagon ruled out for Australia, but auto hatch will boost sales
The Ford Focus ST wagon offered in Europe is not planned for Australia.
However, Ford Australia expects the new Focus ST hatch due in showrooms this week will broaden its appeal with the option of an automatic transmission for the first time.
Figures supplied by Ford show demand for manual versus automatic transmissions for all hot hatches sold in Australia is fairly even, at 53 per cent versus 47 per cent respectively.
Those figures include hot hatches for which a manual or an automatic is the only transmission available.
When buyers have a choice between a manual and an automatic – on the same make and model hot hatch – demand shifts strongly to 25 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.
With that in mind, Ford Australia says it is hopeful of dramatically increasing sales of the new model compared to the previous Focus ST.
To give the seven-speed automatic version the best chance of success, Ford Australia has priced it the same as the six-speed manual, from $44,690 plus on-road costs.
Regardless of how popular the automatic becomes, however, Ford Australia said it would continue to offer the manual transmission on the Focus ST as long as it was available – because it was “part of the DNA” of a hot hatch.
As for the wagon, a representative for Ford Australia told media this week: “The Focus ST is a niche performance model, and we don’t see the customer demand to justify other variants, such as the wagon or diesel powertrain.”


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Almost exactly a year since the launch of Bud Light Seltzer by Anheuser-Busch, the brand is adding Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade, in four varieties. It’s due to be available starting Jan. 18.
The new Bud Light Seltzer line seems to be taking direct aim at Truly Hard Seltzer’s lemonade offspring. Those also debuted in early January 2020 and took off, establishing Truly, from Boston Beer Co., as the solid runner-up to the seltzer category’s big thumper, White Claw.
The new Bud Light Lemonade, with 4.2% alcohol content, will be available in black cherry, strawberry and peach blends, as well as just lemonade. It claims to be packed with "bold, bubbly” flavor and contains real cane sugar.
To push the full flavor angle, it’s releasing two ads, in which unthinking grandchildren say Bud Light Lemonade tastes better then their granny’s. The matriarchs overhear those comments and take offense. One punctures a tire on her grandson’s car. In the other ad, a granny who has heard her lemonade being dissed displays an heirloom necklace to her granddaughter, and then drops it into a whirring garbage disposal.
The ads begin appearing within NFL playoff telecasts this weekend.
In just its first month on the market in 2020, Bud Light Seltzer had 67% name recognition. Ads that appeared for the first time during NFL playoff games probably helped that. But its name recognition was up to 81% by the end of November, according to a Morning Consult survey. Only Zoom, Peacock, InstCart and TikTok did better.
It’s also the only hard seltzer on the list of top 20 brands on millennials' brand consideration list; it ranked 19th, between Dodge and Boost Mobile.
The sparkling cold truth is that hard seltzer sales went wild during the pandemic, up 160% to $4.1 billion by the end of December, according to Nielsen -- twice as much as an earlier UBS revenue estimate for the year.
As many beer sales have flattened or declined, consumers are still joining the seltzer bandwagon. Molson Coors, makers of Vizzy (which added antioxidants to its seltzer), told Marketing Daily last month that there are now 156 hard seltzers on the market, though White Claw claims more than half of the market.
Molson Coors just upped its production capacity for Vizzy and Coors Seltzer by 400%, anticipating significant growth.
Bud Light claims a 10.5% share of market, which is awesome for just being around a year, but appears to put it just slightly ahead of a gang of others, including Anheuser Busch’s Bon & Viv and Natural Light Hard Seltzer.
Though the appeal is certainly generational -- younger people drink it -- there is a sizable segment of drinkers in other demos. It was also initially thought it would appeal mainly to women, but that split for some brands is a lot closer to 50/50. In any event, it seems headed away from being a fad and toward being a here-to-stay part of breweries that once just made beer.


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The US subsidiary of Telekom is investigating evidence that data sets offered in the Darknet are said to come from T-Mobile customers. Unknowns are currently offering around 100 million customer records for sale that contain names, addresses, social security numbers, telephone numbers and driver’s license information as well as the IMEI numbers of smartphones. According to a report by Vice, the unknowns claim the data came from T-Mobile US.
T-Mobile is aware of the claims said a company spokesman to the Reuters news agency, but neither wanted to confirm nor deny it. T-Mobile is investigating, but currently has no new information to share.
6 bitcoin for 30 million social security numbers
A stranger claims that he has the data from T-Mobile servers opposite Vice. In the meantime, access has been blocked again, but the data has been saved. According to the report, he also showed extracts of the data to the online medium. On the Darknet, he is said to have asked for 6 Bitcoin (currently around 240,000 euros) for 30 million social security numbers and information about driver’s licenses. The rest of the data will be sold elsewhere.
In the past, larger collections of customer data have repeatedly appeared on the Darknet. It is not always new data; often it is just a compilation of previous leaks. If you want to find out whether your data is already in the hands of third parties, you can visit the website haveibeenpwned.com enter their email address or phone number.
If customer data actually falls into the wrong hands, companies must inform those affected and the authorities. The transportation service provider Uber hushed up a hack with 50 million passenger data in 2016 and had to pay a fine of almost 150 million US dollars for it.