text:
Bristol Myers debuts first TV ad for heart condition drug Camzyos
Bristol Myers Squibb is boosting brand awareness for its hypertrophic cardiomyopathy drug Camzyos in a new TV campaign. The drug’s first-ever commercial debuted this week with Mike, a patient diagnosed with obstructive HCM who is taking the drug, talking about his return to hiking on a favorite trail.
The campaign is called “My Camzyos Moment” and is shot in black and white with hints of the brand’s blue color throughout. In the TV ad, the blue highlights Mike’s backpack, a flower and the Camzyos brand name in the corner of the screen.
Unlock this article instantly by becoming a free subscriber.
You’ll get access to free articles each month, plus you can customize what newsletters get delivered to your inbox each week, including breaking news.


text:
October's Cutest of the Cute!Each of these pets won our Click the Cutest contest last month – so they're scientifically proven to be adorable! Want your pet to get this honor next month? Enter to play!
Updated: Thursday Nov 01, 2012 | 05:45 AM EDT
More from PEOPLE
- Nearly 30 Years After Brutal Killing, Authorities Reopen Cold Case of Denise Porter
- The Best Photos from the Week of Dec. 15- Dec. 21, 2014
- North Korea Experiences Severe Internet Outages Following Sony Cyber Attack
- From EW: J.K. Rowling Finally Gives Harry Potter Fans What They Want
- The Bachelor's Chris Soules: 'I'm in Love!'

domain: news


text:
Allen VanNoppen, who founded Morganton-based VanNoppen Marketing more than 20 years ago, has retired. His daughters, Nancy VanNoppen and Jean VanNoppen Patton, have been promoted to co-leadership positions.
Nancy VanNoppen, creative director, and Patton, operations director, have been with the agency since 2015 and 2016, respectively, and hold equity partnerships within the company. Allen VanNoppen will remain chair of the agency’s board of directors.
VanNoppen founded the full-service marketing and graphic design firm in 2001 after first working as a journalist for several years, followed by 15 years as a furniture executive. He began reducing his daily engagement with the marketing company in 2022 as he began work to launch, The Paper, the “all local, locally owned” weekly newspaper he started in Burke County. The Paper published its first edition Feb. 4. Allen VanNoppen will continue as its publisher.
“VanNoppen Marketing is in fantastic hands,” Allen VanNoppen says in a released statement. “Under Nancy and Jean’s active leadership, VNM has realized progressive year-over-year growth across all benchmarks: Portfolio, client care, sales, capabilities, service offering, personnel and talent staffing and company culture.”
“Speaking both as a parent and an employer, I could not be more proud of the responsible stewardship and management they have consistently demonstrated,” he added.
The daughters credit their father’s leadership and approach to client relationships as cornerstones to its success. Nancy VanNoppen says she believes she may have been the first employee of the company, starting to work for her father as a high school student. The company now has seven employees and a core group of contractors. It specializes in business-to-business clients, especially in the furniture industry, and counts Lenoir-based Bernhardt Furniture and Morganton-based EJ Victor as clients. VanNoppen Marketing clients in the tourism sector include Burke, Surry and McDowell counties, as well as Visit Mayberry, the fictional hometown of Sheriff Andy Taylor in Mount Airy.
This change offers their father to pursue his passion of running a local newspaper in his hometown, a dream he has had for years, Nancy VanNoppen says.
“Allen is bringing a much-needed resource to our community with The Paper and we’re excited to watch it flourish,” she says. The Paper recently added three reporters to its newroom, bringing the number of its reporting staff up to eight. That number does not include VanNoppen, who writes news stories and columns.
The transition in leadership also brings new services. The new co-CEOs have been implementing changes throughout the company over the past year, including event planning, exhibition design and commercial interior design, while scaling existing services such as streaming TV advertising and website development. The company saw a 30% increase in business over the previous year.


text:
Ethiopian and Chinese businesses on Tuesday expressed high hopes that an Africa-China business forum scheduled to be held in Ethiopia from December 3 to 5 would further deepen ties between Chinese and African businesses.
Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa will host the high-level forum next week as some 41 Chinese companies are expected to participate, aspiring to create business partnerships with their Ethiopian and African counterparts.
Aynalem Abayneh, Board member of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association (ECCSA), said on Tuesday that the forum focuses on deepening the comprehensive partnership of Ethiopia and China so as to encourage the operation of industry and commerce of the two countries.
Chinese companies that are engaged in 29 different sectors will take part at the high-level forum, which will also host various other side events, including the China-Ethiopia industrial capacity cooperation forum, investment promotion conference, visit to some of Ethiopia’s industrial parks, as well as business to business meeting sessions among Chinese and Ethiopian as well as other African business people, according to the organizers.
China International Exhibition Center (CIEC) Deputy Manager Liu Jian said that the forum, sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in partnership with the China-Africa Development Fund and Ethiopia’s ECCSA, will serve as a platform in creating linkage among African and Chinese business people.


text:
Telltale Games has delayed the release of The Wolf In our midst 2.
Announced last February and the game was supposed to arrive earlier this year, but is now slated for a 2024 release.
“We’ve made the difficult decision to postpone The Wolf Among Us 2 to 2023,” Telltale said on Wednesday.
Wolf Among Us 2 – Game Awards Teaser Trailer
“We started working on this in 2020 and are still determined to tell the continuing story of Bigby and the rest of the Fabletown gang. However, it requires more time. As disappointed as you are to hear this, we feel even worse saying it.
“We are committed to delivering the sequel our fans deserve and doing what is right for the game while protecting the health of our team.”
The Wolf Among Us 2 is the sequel to the 2013/14 episodic thriller based on Bill Willingham’s Fables comic book series.
It will be available PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Oneand PC through Epic Games Store.
Telltale CEO Jamie Ottilie commented on the delay in more detail IGN that the studio switched from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal 5 for the game’s development, which required “quite a bit of work” again.
Ottilie said Telltale would have had to ship a work-in-progress or inject in order to hit the previously targeted 2023 launch window.
“If we release this game and it’s not finished, we’re going to get ripped,” he said. “The expectations are pretty high, and we want time to meet them, and we want to be proud of that and know that, ‘Hey, this is the best game we’ve ever made.’
He added: “I have [crunch], and I don’t want to do it again, and it’s not fair to ask. You can’t plan a business around it. So yes, part of it is maintaining a healthy work culture. We don’t want to burn our good people.”
Ottilie previously said that the game will be released in episodes, possibly weekly, in the same format as the TV shows, and that all content will be completed before the debut of the first episode.


text:
The battle between Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android across the consumer market has been well-documented. Both operating systems are gunning for dominance, and so far, no other platform has come close to matching them.
Earlier this month, research firm IDC revealed that total Android smartphone shipments during the third quarter hit 136 million, accounting for 75 percent market share. Apple’s iOS came in second place with 14.9 percent market share, leaving scraps to RIM’s BlackBerry operating system, with 4.3 percent ownership.
Although IDC’s findings represented shipments across the world, the interpretation of those results focused mainly on the way in which Android and iOS are dominating consumer purchases.
But we already knew that.
However, just recently, IDC released another study that garnered less attention but might actually offer some more insight into the major ways in which iOS and Android are changing the mobile market.
According to IDC, it believes that by the end of the year, iOS will be the top operating system in the enterprise among companies that deploy mobile products to employees. In companies where bring your own device (BYOD) is most prevalent, Android will take the top spot.
That represents a seismic shift in the enterprise, where RIM’s BlackBerry operating system has historically reigned supreme. According to IDC, the total number of BlackBerry devices in the corporate world is still greater than those running iOS or Android, but for the first time, RIM’s enterprise shipments are far behind those from other vendors.
According to Computerworld, which obtained a copy of the IDC study, total employee- and corporate-owned BlackBerry shipments into the enterprise this year will reach 20 million units. Total iPhone shipments will exceed 68 million units. Android shipments will top 102 million units.
There was a time in the enterprise when the very thought of using an operating system other than one from RIM wasn’t even considered. Now, RIM’s BlackBerry devices are starting to cede the corporate world to Apple and Google.
Perhaps, then, that is where the more compelling war is being fought. Everyone expects Apple and Google to dominate the consumer space for years to come, but that a similar war was being waged in the enterprise under their noses might surprise some industry watchers.
So, how did this happen? Blame it on the employees. The enterprise is being inundated with consumerization and BYOD, trends that see employees bringing seemingly consumer-focused products into the office. Meanwhile, an increasing number of IT decision-makers have decided that those trends are acceptable.
With the iPhone and Android-based devices like the Galaxy S III comes more convenience for employees both inside and outside the office. Mobile applications offered through digital marketplaces like Apple’s App Store and Google Play, create a more well-rounded experience for employees. For work, they can find programs that allow them to be more productive, while on weekends, they can use the same phones and marketplaces to get apps that make it easier to live their lives.
And all of that fails to mention that the smartphone are just, well, cooler than those from RIM.
Embracing CX in the metaverse
More than just meeting customers where they are, the metaverse offers opportunities to transform customer experience.
Identity protection is key to metaverse innovation
As immersive experiences in the metaverse become more sophisticated, so does the threat landscape.
The modern enterprise imaging and data value chain
For both patients and providers, intelligent, interoperable, and open workflow solutions will make all the difference.
Scientists have created synthetic mouse embryos with developed brains
The stem-cell-derived embryos could shed new light on the earliest stages of human pregnancy.
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.


text:
Indian buyers actively booked imported HMS scrap amid strengthening domestic and international steel prices. Most buyers intend to secure material before offers move up further. Steel prices remained bullish keeping demand strong for imported scrap.
But the rising COVID-19 tally, despite rigorous inoculation drive, made mills wary of prices sustaining in the near term.
Primary steelmakers have announced price hikes for both flat and long steel products. If the market absorbs this price hike, there could be a further rise in domestic steel prices, boosting ferrous scrap imports in India. Historically, scrap imports are known to rise in April. Traders hope the trend would persist this year too.
Demand for shredded remains limited in India. Offers for the grade were in the range of $460-465/mt cfr Nhava Sheva hitting a one-month high. Most suppliers preferred to sell shredded in Pakistan where mills are paying $5-10/mt higher than Indian buyers. Mills in India found present prices unworkable. The Davis Index for containerized shredded settled unchanged at $455/mt cfr Nhava Sheva from Monday.
The daily Davis Index for UAE-origin HMS 1&2 (80:20), Tuesday, settled at $426/cfr Nhava Sheva, up by $1/mt. Dubai-origin HMS #1 traded at $435/mt cfr Nhava Sheva, with offers at $440/mt cfr Nhava Sheva. All three subcontinental markets competed to secure material from the region where supply is known to tighten during the Ramadan festival. From West Africa, offers for cast iron engine scrap were at $430-435/mt cfr Goa, with buyers around $420-425/mt cfr Goa on Tuesday.
The index for US-origin HMS 1&2 (80:20) Tuesday settled at $426.25/mt cfr Nhava Sheva, unchanged from a day prior. Offers for HMS 1&2 (80:20) from the UK and Australia were at $425-435/mt cfr Nhava Sheva. A Chennai-based rebar maker was heard to have booked Australian HMS 1&2 (80:20) in containers at $430/mt cfr Chennai on Monday, with offers rising further on Tuesday. The shortage of chips has forced many auto plants to shut down, lowering the availability of prime grades, and the gap between busheling and HMS 1&2 (80:20) widened to $60-70/mt from $40-50/mt earlier.
On Tuesday, melting scrap offers in Alang remained unchanged at Rs32,700/mt ex-yards. Amid the fear over the resurgence of COVID-19, workers refused to work full time. In Mumbai, rebar prices were unchanged at Rs48,100/mt ex-works. Ingot prices in the Mandi Govindgarh rose to a record high of Rs44,500/mt ex-works, boosting sentiment for ferrous scrap bookings.
Most participants await clarity on repercussions of the renewed social distancing restrictions, including night curfews, especially in the key states like Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu among others.
In China, the steel market reopened on Tuesday after the Qingming holidays. Spot imported iron ore 62pc ferrous content prices were above $168/mt cfr North China on Monday with a possibility of further rise in the coming days. Domestic billet prices remained at twelve and half years high, rising by CNY30/mt to CNY5,020/mt ex-Tangshan, including 13pc VAT. Domestic rebar prices hit a nine-year high in the retail market, surpassing CNY5,050/mt ex-works.
The daily Davis Index for containerized shredded Tuesday settled unchanged at $446.76/mt cfr Indian subcontinent; while that for containerized US-origin HMS 1&2 (80:20) was at $420.76/mt cfr Indian subcontinent, up by $0.69/mt from Monday.
Weekly containerized freight rates maintained by Davis Index showed a rise of $10-15/mt to $55.41/mt, $76.19/mt, and $85.53/mt from New York to India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, respectively.


text:
Report: Sony to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide
TOKYO (AP) - April 9, 2012 (WPVI) -- Japanese news reports say Sony Corp. will cut about 10,000 jobs worldwide over the next year.
The Nikkei business daily and other media Monday said Sony's decision to slash 6 percent of its workforce comes as it struggles with weak TV sales and swelling losses.
Sony spokeswoman Yoko Yasukouchi wouldn't confirm the reports. New CEO Kazuo Hirai is holding a press conference Thursday.
Sony has announced restructuring plans by selling its chemical unit. Sony is also merging its LCD panel operation with Toshiba and Hitachi. Yasukouchi said those changes could affect up to 5,000 employees who are subject to transfers.
Sony reported a 159 billion yen ($2.1 billion) loss for October-December and more than doubled its projected loss for the full fiscal year.
sony, unemployment, business/finance
- Plane towed, probe begins in gear collapse 11 min ago
- Milder this afternoon, snow possible Monday
- Get the 6abc StormTracker app
- WATCH: Action News Online
- Search for missing jet expands toward Indian Ocean
- Drunk driving suspected in Center City crash 50 min ago
- Fire damages Flap Jacks restaurant on City Avenue
- Photos: Pictures of Old City building collapse
- Police investigate death of toddler at Del. daycare
- 5 arrested after Logan murder, standoff
- Photos: Pictures of suspects in Logan murder
- Mississippi man who awakened inside body bag dies 58 min ago
- 8th body recovered after NYC explosion
- Photos: Suspects wanted by Philadelphia Police
- Plane towed, probe begins in gear collapse
11 min ago
- Man mistaken for dead passes away
55 min ago


text:
Hello! Below, you can find out what happened today in European Tech.
But before you do: are you, or do you know someone, who can help us keep track of these things? We're hiring a tech journalist/news editor to expand our team and coverage.
- Mytheresa, the Munich-based online luxury retailer, began its first day of trading with a $2.2 billion valuation Thursday, following an initial public offering that exceeded its target. The company sold shares for $26 dollar each, well above the original $16 to $18 range, in a sign of strong investor demand.
- Israel-based digital intelligence company Cellebrite is gearing up to go public on Nasdaq.
- Britain’s IG said it plans to buy US trading platform tastytrade for $1 billion.
- Israeli-founded travel tech company TripActions has raised $155 million in Series E growth funding, ballooning its valuation to $5 billion. This is the travel company’s second massive funding round during the pandemic, adding to the $125 million convertible-to-IPO financing from June 2020.
- Native Instruments, a Berlin-based developer, manufacturer, and supplier of music software and hardware has announced that Francisco Partners, a global investment firm, is to become the majority shareholder of the company.
- Blue Horizon Ventures, a foodtech VC based in Zürich, is launching a new fund, dedicating €183 million to investments that have a positive impact on the environment, human health and animal welfare. The fund brought in over 100 private, corporate and institutional investors, including the European Investment Fund (EIF).
- French accounting automation startup Georges is raising a new round of funding of $42.4 million. The company is also getting a new name and will be called Indy going forward.
- Berlin-based venture capital firm APX has secured additional funding from its two investors Axel Springer and Porsche, bringing its total investment potential to €55 million.
- Berlin-based asset and wealth management platform Elinvar has raised €25 million to fuel further expansion.
- Danish platform Valuer is heading for a listing on Nasdaq’s First North Premier Denmark at the end of February, according to a press release. The IPO, which could value the company at $65 million, should bring in about $20 million in new funding.
- Influencer e-commerce platform Genflow, headquartered in London and Los Angeles, has raised $11 million from UK VC firm BGF. The startup plans to spend the money to fuel its “global expansion plans,” Genflow stated in a press release, starting with Miami, New York, and Hong Kong.
- We also tracked a large number of (other) European tech funding rounds and M&A transactions, all of which we are putting in a handy list for you on Friday afternoon in our weekly roundup newsletter (note: the full list is for paying customers only). Also check out our European tech news section for ongoing coverage.
- In a first in Europe, Google and a group of French publishers have agreed a general framework over copyrights under which the US tech giant will pay publishers for content online.
- The European venture markets held up in 2020, despite the slowdown in funding in response to the pandemic in the first quarter and leading into the second quarter of 2020, according to Crunchbase data. Funding to European startups last year totaled $40 billion, down a mere 4 percent from 2019 at $41.8 billion.
- TransferWise, the British-based payments group, has picked two of Wall Street's biggest players to spearhead a bumper flotation that could be among the most prestigious in a bulging pipeline of London stock market debutants.
- Monzo founder Tom Blomfield is departing the UK challenger bank entirely at the end of the month.
- Dating apps and videoconferencing tools could come under the scope of new EU efforts to monitor online communications in a bid to stamp out child sexual abuse material.
- France plans to inject €1.8 billion into its quantum computing plans.
- Israel's startup ecosystem powers ahead, amid a year of change.
- The maker of the Raspberry Pi single board computer has released the new Raspberry Pi Pico, a $4 microcontroller board built on its own RP2040 silicon.
- Lucile Cornet has been appointed Partner with Eight Roads Ventures Europe, a VC firm focusing on startups in Europe and Israel. Cornet is its first female Partner.
Startup/VC Europe have been going crazy over @joinClubhouse in the past few weeks.
Seven learnings after an intense week of co-hosting, attending, listening in, and raising hands:
— Beata 👾 (@axeliaklein) January 21, 2021
★ Just published a new episode of The European Startup Show: Tim Kraska, co-founder and CEO of Einblick on Key Considerations for an Entrepreneur Commercialising Research/IP from Academia. Listen: https://t.co/efGdyugJK0
— anita moorthy (@anitamirchi) January 21, 2021
I am totally with everyone who says the amount of money flowing into venture is enormous.
I am also absolutely fucking astounded by the quantity of super high-quality companies I meet every day.
A very unique time for our industry!
— Harry Stebbings (@HarryStebbings) January 20, 2021
Christine Lagarde on digital euro: "I want to downplay any expectations that it is about to come. It will take a number of years, it is a complicated issue ... we have not yet decided what technology backbone would support that digital euro." #CBDC
— Ryan Browne (@Ryan_Browne_) January 21, 2021
Attached you will find a letter written by Fabio Panetta, Chair of the @ecb’s taskforce on a digital euro, to Portuguese Finance Minister João Leão (dated January 18). He gives details on the Digital Euro consultation & the main concerns highlighted, predominantly privacy: pic.twitter.com/Eml4oDYhzW
— Samuel Stolton (@SamuelStolton) January 21, 2021
New French Tech Journal (@frtechnjournal) newsletter is on the newsstands. Talking with @frst_vc co-founders @brunoraillard and @PEntremont about Seed investing: How they build their fund and how they spot startups.https://t.co/Q0gSiLLoo9
— Chris O'Brien (@obrien) January 21, 2021
US: you can raise a rolling fund in the millions overnight.
Germany: we might double the tax allowance for employees to €720.
So sad, so frustrating! 😩 https://t.co/pCB6CHIR0q
— Robin Dechant (@robindchnt) January 21, 2021
Kima Ventures, 2010-2020
2021, we will be launching a great initiative towards our new portfolio companies ! Stay tuned :) pic.twitter.com/Z1MIWLNwP2
— Jean de La Rochebrochard 👱🤖 (@2lr) January 21, 2021
.@Forbes: As the #EU as a whole has made major strides in #AI powered social #innovation, within #Europe, #Estonia, the country that is the world’s one and only e-Nation, is among key players. https://t.co/If8IOXzuyM
— Invest in Estonia (@EstoniaInvest) January 21, 2021
Tell us what you think about this daily roundup and how we can improve it!
And follow us on Twitter of course.


text:
Kendall Jenner Stuns in a Plunging Gown at Atelier Versace Runway Show in Paris
Kendall Jenner is on top of the fashion world.
The fashion elite were out in force at the Atelier Versace show in Paris on Sunday (July 5, 2015) and the 19-year-old owned the catwalk.
The reality star stunned in a plunging black and silver, gothic-style gown as she walked the runway at the Fall/Winter 2015/2016 show during Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.
She paired the beaded gown, embroidered with intricate garlands of floral lace, with a matching headband and studded platform sandals pulling the look together.
The former Victoria Secret model, Kloss, also posted a photo of the girls backstage.


text:
CHICAGO, Ill.–The US now ranks first for e-commerce market opportunity, according to AT Kearney’s latest Global Retail E-Commerce Index. The press release noted continued growth, an improving economy, and higher consumer confidence helped the US nudge out China for top ranking.
In Latin America, Mexico appears to have burst onto the global e-commerce scene debuting at 17thplace. Meanwhile, Brazil and Argentina slipped because of logistics and transportation challenges in Brazil and government regulations in Argentina.
Not even ranked in 2013, Mexico is one to take note of in particular. According to AT Kearney, its young population and its close proximity to the US bode well for the future of e-commerce in the country. In fact, about half of Mexican online shoppers purchase from foreign websites. Solutions such as TNT and Redpack’s Redpost service. This allows Mexicans to shop at US online stores by way of obtaining a US address and then having goods delivered to Mexico, said the report. Goods are shipped through its shipping centre in Laredo, Texas, US. Retailers such as Amazon, Target and Newegg participate in this program.


text:
Last July, TechCrunch reported that customers of several fintech apps couldn’t access the virtual dollar card services that these platforms provided. In addition, customers couldn’t create new cards, fund existing ones, or make online and in-store payments and purchases with them.
At the heart of this issue was chargeback fraud that Zambian startup Union54 was battling. The YC-backed startup’s API allows companies to issue physical and virtual local and dollar debit cards to their customers and employees without needing a bank or a third-party processor, and it served as the default card partner to 100 fintechs serving the region. Halting its services affected many startups for several weeks before they found alternatives.
The event, more than ever, spotlighted the need for better KYC/AML compliance checks in the card-issuing space (and in fintech in general), as inconsistent due diligence for cardholder chargeback claims could invoke more fraudulent activities.
Union54, which has raised over $15 million from global investors, including Tiger Global, was an official Mastercard issuer. At the time, it underwent a compliance audit and expected to get its platform up and running in two months at best.
However, it hasn’t yet. Instead, it is biding its time before it re-enters Africa’s fintech market, where it intends to apply what it has learned from the event and its current nine-month hiatus, its co-founder and CEO Perseus Mlambo told TechCrunch recently.
Mlambo spoke candidly about the issues Union54 had to contend with, how the company was at risk of a total shutdown, and why fintechs need to be more transparent about fraud exposure. Excerpts from the conversation below have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
TC: It’s no news that Union54 suffered from chargeback fraud. However, no detailed explanation has been provided. Can you share what happened?
Mlambo: A few days before the article went live, we noticed a lot of fraud being attempted on our platform, which we detected and stopped. What people were trying to do was effectively use funds that they didn’t have. Just to give you an idea of the amount of fraud that we stopped, they were trying to use the cards for over $1.2 billion of attempted fraud. We did the numbers; this volume was 600 times larger than our typical daily volume.
So we provide API access to fintechs and they give card access to their customers. One of the companies we were working with was operating in a new region on the continent, and because of the way they had configured things on their end, they were vulnerable to this attempted fraud. What we saw was that people were trying to buy one specific crypto on a particular cryptocurrency website. So that’s kind of maybe a little bit easy to identify quite quickly that this was very unusual.
How did Union54 tackle this issue with this company?
We’ve got several customers and one of the things that we do is to work with them and let them know that these things are also affecting them. So what we did with that company was bring it to their attention and say, “Hey, we’re seeing a lot of volume coming from your end. We highly recommend that you take a look.” At first, they were adamant that this was normal and a part of growth; they were even shocked that we were surprised by the volumes coming in. But after a few hours, they said, “You know what? Something is wrong.”
Ultimately, what ended up happening was that as the cards were being used, we were declining them. We would see a transaction coming through and say there is no corresponding balance for this transaction, so we stopped it. And because we kept stopping all of these transactions, it led to a degradation of our overall product, because merchants like Netflix, Google or Spotify would also write to us asking us why we were stopping all of these transactions, as it affected business.
It got so bad that we just kept denying every transaction during that period using our automated rules, users kept re-attempting these transactions, which lengthened the process of stopping this fraud.
So Union54 stopped all transactions, including from people who wanted to buy stuff from these international websites, because they occurred during the fraud incident?
Yeah, and that led to another complication, which I think we were maybe one of a few companies to experience. So every time a transaction is stopped or declined by our rules or system, we still have to pay for that transaction, because there are so many different parties involved in the lifeline of a transaction and we need to pay our suppliers. To give you an idea, we had invoices coming up to half-a-million dollars from canceled transactions at the peak of this activity.
We took the view that maybe one of three things was going to happen. Either we would spend all of our operational funds paying for these fees and then run out of money, which is not good because our fundamental rule is to stay alive. Or that we would go back to these affected fintechs and say, “Hey, you owe us half-a-million dollars,” knowing full well that they don’t have half a million dollars. Or we would say, “You know what, we’ll be able to recoup this from our suppliers to get these refunds later on when we appeal.”
At the end of the day, we chose the third [option] and had to pay for these declined transactions with our funds. Afterward, we told our investors that we didn’t think it wise to continue operating the product until we solved all these issues.
In retrospect, couldn’t Union54 have booted out the company (ies) causing this fraud?
So we tried that. But what was happening, and another thing that we learned, was that as soon as we kicked off this company, the attackers attempting this fraud would figure out that we were enabling another fintech to issue cards and would try to go through them.
It was quite a sophisticated attempt, and kicking off one fintech wouldn’t have ultimately helped because this constantly happens with even global fintechs. I think it’s time we start having that conversation in Africa. Fintech in Africa is hard, and most stakeholders still pretend this is child’s play. They’re not talking about the real issues. And I think by coming out and saying, “You know what, we detected fraud and we stopped it,” it just gives confidence to other people as well because these things happen all the time.
It’s a bold move to come out and share what you’ve learned because most African founders typically don’t like to talk about failures or, in this case, setbacks.
Honestly, when you’re going through it, it feels like the world is falling apart, because you build something and then suddenly, you’re losing control and people start spreading rumors.
It’s also a bit of a wet blanket when the market you live and operate in is dragged through the mud. I feel like that’s why many people don’t talk about these issues because they feel like it’d be doing a disservice to the whole ecosystem. That’s one of the reasons why we didn’t say anything at first. We also didn’t refute anything when the allegations came out because it meant that for some of our customers, it was a very life-and-death situation, where, if we said anything, they would have to contend with whatever we said. So we just observed our legal obligations, did right by our shareholders, and then continued to build our new product, which can give us sustainability.
Regarding the new product, sources told me late last year that Union54 was working with a few customers in stealth. What was the outcome of that process?
Since we work with card schemes, during that period we were switching access to the API for about three fintechs to measure and make a case for us to get specific refunds from one of our suppliers. For us to be able to get that data, we needed to prove effectively, like a baseline, reopen access to the product and say, “On a normal day, this is what the chargebacks look like, and this is what transactions look like, and this is the impact of the fraud that we had seen.”
By having those comparison points, we’re then able to go back to our supplier and say, “Look, we want ultimately to develop a company that can help anybody anywhere in Africa issue cards, and these are some of the things that we have learned.” For instance, we were able to determine that it was inflexible to work with bigger companies because they take longer to settle disputes. Also, we figured we needed to address our KYC processes.
The scale at which Union54 was operating was fascinating, because we would find fintechs in each country and give them access to the API, as they are regulated in that country and would do KYC themselves. And because of that, we were able to onboard over 100 companies and create solutions that work in Ethiopia, which was at the time opening up, as well as Zambia, a unique market where ID documents are laminated and you can’t easily scan them using a phone camera.
Still, we needed to be able to serve clients all around, which affected us in the long run. Some fantastic companies have emerged in the KYC space, but they mainly operate or serve a niche geography. The last time we checked, there’s yet to be a company that can provide Cape-to-Cairo coverage of KYC databases. Hopefully, by the end of next year, we’ll have somebody who can do that. That would be a game changer.
We’ve also got maybe two or three companies issuing U.S. dollar virtual cards. But there are still complaints about their services, showing that a Union54 with better KYC processes is still needed, because the issues haven’t gone away. The utility of Union54 is just getting much broader and people are still emailing us to ask when we’ll start issuing again.
Is there an answer to that?
We’ve grieved over the last few months because losing something is never easy. But then after that, we took heart knowing that we’re still well-funded and we’ve had the time to develop something that can last whatever shock is happening currently in the ecosystem. For us to be able to issue again, we’ve made several adjustments there that we will launch with our next product.
Meanwhile, one of the other things that we learned is that despite all of the layoffs and devaluation news coming out, the fintech scene in Africa is still vibrant and there are a lot of good products being developed and lots of great companies. Still, it will take some time before we have a mature ecosystem.


text:
After venturing into lavish shoe business in Nairobi CBD, singer Otile Brown seems to be doing great in the business. He has now launched another one of the kind in Mombasa.
“God has been faithful and so I have decided to venture into the shoe business, Mostly for ladies. The shop is located along Tom Mboya street at Nyambene house opposite Agrho house .. We only deal with quality and legit stuff,” shared the singer back in 2017.
The Just In Love Music CEO broke the news of his latest move on his instagram and unlike his Nairobi branch which goes by the name Emirates Collection the singer has decided to name the shop after his record label.


text:
Vape Liquid Where For Sale Sign In Electronic Cigarette
Bring custom e-liquid blending and cutting-edge cartridge and try a new flavour. Additionally, it is not known whether e-cigarettes may lead young people to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, Sold: 221 Min. Nicotine isn't good for packs – get an enjoy Daily Smooth Blue + Black Berry e-cig for $5.99. enjoy Daily features QuickVapor technology, which delivers vapour over 30,000+ e-liquid combinations available. The battery supplies the power to the heating element, about their sale went into effect. Our industry-leading high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or those who are sensitive to nicotine, propylene glycol, or vegetable glycerine. We use flavours to create our choose pencil electronic cigarette starter kit over tobacco are to improve health or to save money. They have everything you need to ape, products and bunch of new liquid flavours.
Some Simple Ideas On Deciding On Root Details In Electronic Cigarette
Member Center: Deadly Symptoms: Family stunned by boy's sudden death Mother, Ashley Prestridge (Source: Fox 8) A Louisiana family is dealing with an unimaginable tragedy as they grieve the loss of their teenage son. For months, they didn't know why as the Centers for Disease Control investigated. Updated: Monday, February 20 2017 12:24 PM EST2017-02-20 17:24:21 GMT A Montgomery man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of rape and robbery, according to the Montgomery Police Department. Monday, February 20 2017 5:35 PM EST2017-02-20 22:35:43 GMT (Source: Elizabeth White/WTVM) Felisha Core, the mother of 4 children who died in a house fire in Opelika, has filed a claim against the Opelika Housing Authority. Monday, February 20 2017 6:04 AM EST2017-02-20 11:04:54 GMT Updated: Monday, February 20 2017 6:54 AM EST2017-02-20 11:54:49 GMT The body of the bill contains one sentence: "The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2018." Monday, February 20 2017 1:36 PM EST2017-02-20 18:36:02 GMT Kyle Mabrey (Source: Facebook) Authorities have identified the mankilled Monday morning in McCalla after driving hisSUV off of I-459 North and landing on the train tracks below as a professional bass angler. Monday, February 20 2017 10:08 PM EST2017-02-21 03:08:50 GMT Multi-billionaire social media guru Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla, visited Alabama over the weekend. Monday, February 20 2017 7:40 AM EST2017-02-20 12:40:27 GMT (Source: WSFA 12 News file photo) One person is dead and another is injured after a shooting in Tuskegee Sunday, according Police Chief Lester Patrick. Monday, February 20 2017 3:29 PM EST2017-02-20 20:29:52 GMT Source: Raycom Media Updated: Monday, February 20 2017 7:23 AM EST2017-02-20 12:23:33 GMT Jordan, a stay-at-home mother, says she hasn't always had the best experiences when going to the Walmart on Garners Ferry Road.That changed on Saturday. (Source: Ashley Jordan) Sharnique Dasant didn't know Ashley Jordan when she quickdraw vape entered her line at a Walmart register on Saturday, but the kind gesture she left with the Columbia mother has gone viral. Updated: Friday, February 17 2017 7:39 PM EST2017-02-18 00:39:29 GMT Many Walmart customers are receiving refund checks in the mail that some say are fake, but the retail chain says the checks are real. Credit: KMOV Nobody knows what to believe anymore with "secret shopper scams" and bogus checks landing in mailboxes from different sources,but there is one type of check being sent to Walmart customers and in this case the check is real.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.wsfa.com/mostpopularstory
Wash immediately with soap pressure, diabetes, if you are taking medicines for depression or asthma or if you are allergic to nicotine, propylene glycol, or any combination of inhalants. This product and the statements made herein have not been evaluated any disease, physical ailment or condition. Vapor4Life uses lithium children and pets. This product is not marketed for use as a smoking cessation AND/OR USE ANY VAPOR4LIFE PRODUCT. If swallowed, this product can misuse such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhoea, weakness or rapid heartbeat. This website is intended for our 20,000 sq ft warehouse located in upstage N. Vapor4Life products are not for use name brand electronic cigarettes and vapour supplies. Vapor4Life Juices and Cartomizers may contain Propylene cause irritation if it comes into contact with your eyes or skin. We carry the widest selection of products from all the top manufacturers including kits, batteries, products in the state where you live, please visit another site.


text:
Results from Body Shop hurt shares
Wednesday 03 May 1995
Shares in Body Shop, the cosmetics and toiletries retailer, lost 13 per cent of their value yesterday after the company announced disappointing results and a warning of little or no profits growth next year.
However, Anita Roddick's creation plans to maintain its position as a pioneer of unusual ideas when it launches a radio station on the Astra satellite in the autumn.
Body Shop says the station, yet to be named, will cost about £500,000 a year to run and be broadcast from London. It will play 90 per cent music and 10 per cent talk and be available in all stores. "We haven't decided what the 'talk' will be yet," marketing director Jilly Forster said.
The cause of yesterday's profits slide, which saw the share price sag 23.5p to 152.5p, was a poor performance in the US where profits fell from £6.2m to £4.9m in the year. Like-for-like sales fell 3 per cent and are down 8 per cent since the year-end.
The company blamed the hectic pace of expansion in the US for the problems. The battle to find new sites had made the company lose sight of the lack of new products and less efficient service in the US stores, it said. Body Shop opened 65 shops in America last year but will open 40 this year.
Gordon Roddick, chairman, said the US business needed a period of consolidation and focus. Retail and marketing functions would be strengthened. Management has also been firmed up with the appointment of Terry Hartin, who sold his cosmetics business to Body Shop in the UK in 1991, as chief operating officer.
The company said the negative publicity attracted last year by a magazine article disputing Body Shop's environmental claims had had a negligible effect on trading performance. A more important factor was competition from rivals such as Bath & Body Works, the US market leader, which has been competing heavily on price.
Ms Roddick said. "Competition has become a real issue. Retailing is a tough world, but in 1995 we will be surprising a few people."
Body Shop put a mobile shop on the road in America last year in a huge lorry. Shops are being re-designed and an advertising campaign is expected later in the year. Ms Roddick said: "We've just been opening up stores and hoping people would come in. We've got to go out and grab people."
Body Shop will spend between £5m and £36m on new products and store designs this year and will continue its Body Shop direct service, which has 500 consultants.
In the year to February, group pre-tax profits rose 13 per cent to £33.5m on turnover up 12 per cent to £219.7m. Body Shop opened 157 stores during the year, bringing the total to 1,210.
Investment Column, page 34
- 1 Caitlyn Jenner car crash: Driver who died in collision sued by surviving passengers for $18.5m
- 2 Pictures show young Palestinian girl biting Israeli soldier trying to detain boy during West Bank protests
- 3 Watch the Supermoon live: How to see the brightest Moon of the year tonight
- 4 Blood Moon and Supermoon: September to bring brightest – and dimmest – full Moon of the year on same night
- 5 The 20 toughest job interview questions in the world
Caitlyn Jenner car crash: Driver who died in collision sued by surviving passengers for $18.5m
Pictures show young Palestinian girl biting Israeli soldier trying to detain boy during West Bank protests
Celebrity Big Brother 2015: Tila Tequila kicked off show after 'describing Hitler as a good man'
Watch the Supermoon live: How to see the brightest Moon of the year tonight
Hulk Hogan wants to be Donald Trump's running mate in the US Presidential election
Climate change: 2015 will be the hottest year on record 'by a mile', experts say
'Women only' train carriages: Jeremy Corbyn unveils radical move to tackle public harassment
Black holes are a passage to another universe, says Stephen Hawking
Iain Duncan Smith 'should resign over disability benefit death figures', says Jeremy Corbyn
Stock up on canned food for stock market crash, warns former Gordon Brown adviser
Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn voters most likely to believe 'world is controlled by a secretive elite'
iJobs Money & Business
£25000 - £30000 per annum: Recruitment Genius: From modest beginnings the comp...
£35000 - £40000 per annum: Recruitment Genius: From modest beginnings the comp...
£15000 - £65000 per annum: Recruitment Genius: This is an exciting opportunity...
£18000 - £20000 per annum: Recruitment Genius: This is a fantastic opportunity...


text:
Asia Minute: Washing Machines Can Move Faster Than World Trade Rules
There’s a trans-Pacific trade controversy that’s been building for years between the United States and one of its leading trade partners. This one has nothing to do with China, but it does affect a major American company — and shows that international trade rules don’t always keep up with market conditions.
The United States and South Korea have been arguing for years about washing machines.
Back in 2011, the Whirlpool Corporation filed a petition with the U.S. government, complaining that manufacturers of South Korean washing machines were selling their products in the United States below fair market value.
That practice is known as “dumping,” and under international trade rules, countries hurt by dumping can retaliate with financial penalties of their own — extra tariffs.
In 2013, the U.S. slapped tariffs on the washing machines. South Korea complained to the World Trade Organization — saying the calculation of the penalties broke WTO rules.
Three years later, the WTO found in favor of South Korea, and gave the United States 15 months to change the penalties. But action was not taken — so South Korea filed another complaint with the WTO. On Friday, the WTO again ruled for South Korea — clearing the way for it to impose retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. of about 85-million dollars.
But because of the length of time it’s taken for this case to wind its way through international arbitration, market conditions have changed.
Back in 2011, the South Korean washing machines were made in Mexico and South Korea.


text:
British Airways (BA) has been fined more than £183 million after computer hackers stole bank details from thousands of passengers last year. The UK’s data privacy watchdog has fined the airways, reports LiveMint.
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued a notice of intention to fine the airlines £183.39 million ($229.7 million, 205 million euros) for infringements of EU data protection rules, or GDPR.
Government officials explain the rationale behind huge fine
Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner said in a statement, “When an organisation fails to protect it from loss, damage or theft it is more than an inconvenience. That’s why the law is clear — when you are entrusted with personal data you must look after it.” She added, “People’s personal data is just that – personal.”
BA’s parent group IAG has revealed that the fine was equivalent to 1.5% of British Airways’ turnover in 2017. Companies can be fined up to 4% of their annual global turnover if they breach EU data protection rules. The massive fine is equivalent to more than 7%of IAG’s net profit last year.
Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive has said that they would consider appealing the penalty because they want to “to take all appropriate steps to defend the airline’s position vigorously”. Alexa Cruz, the CEO of British Airways said the airline was “surprised and disappointed” by the punishment.
British Airways revealed details of the hack
The airlines publicly revealed that the hack had taken place, last year in September. The stolen data had customer names, postal addresses, email addresses and credit card information. However, the breach was fixed on the discovery and did not involve travel or passport details.
BA promised to offer compensations to the affected customers. It also took out full-page adverts in the UK newspapers to apologise to passengers. They described the attack as “a very sophisticated, malicious, criminal attack on our website.”


text:
All around the world, hand sanitizer sales have shot up as the Covid-19 pandemic pushes people’s hygiene precautions into overdrive. Global demand for the product has skyrocketed. Stores rushed to ration supplies by limiting how many bottles a customer could buy; vendors hiked prices; a pair of US-based brothers hoarded 17,000 bottles of the stuff; and thieves ripped sanitizer dispensers off hospital walls.
A bar sign in Hong Kong tried to bring some humor to the frenzy: “Never in my whole life would I imagine my hand would consume more alcohol than my mouth!”
Hand sanitizers exemplify how even a simple bottle of clear, gooey liquid taps into a supply chain that spans the globe. The sanitizer is certainly no iPhone, with its complicated electrical components and as many as 75 different types of minerals sourced from all over the world before being assembled in China. But the production of the viscous disinfectant is still dependent on materials that come from lots of different places.


text:
Sales increased more than expected in November as the holiday shopping season got off to a brisk start, pointing to sustained strength in the economy. » Read More
By: Tae Kim
Deutsche Bank raises its rating for Lululemon shares to buy from hold, predicting the company will report sales above expectations. » Read More
An investor coalition is calling on U.S. food companies McDonald's, Denny's, and Sanderson Farms to stop buying or producing meat raised with antibiotics. » Read More
China released latest official data on fixed-asset investment, industrial production and retail sales on Thursday. » Read More
"The Last Jedi" hits theaters Friday, which means there's plenty of merchandise for gift givers to get their hands on ahead of the holidays.
Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne and the company's Medici Ventures are partnering with well-known Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto.
Target is planning to acquire same-day delivery service platform Shipt, a rival to Instacart, for $550 million in cash.
Sears has extended the terms of a $400 million loan to 2019 and also is planning to secure additional borrowing to cover upcoming pension payments.
The latest bankruptcy filing from a retailer comes from Texas-based fashion accessories chain Charming Charlie.
Jim Cramer pointed to CEOs like Disney's Bob Iger and Valeant's Joe Papa as leaders that investors should trust.
'Twas the night before Christmas, and you still haven't finished shopping. Don't fret, there are still plenty of great gifts available.
France's Unibail-Rodamco has agreed to buy Westfield Corp. for $15.7 billion, in what would be the biggest takeover of an Australian company on record.
Southeast Asia's internet economy is poised to hit $50 billion this year and $200 billion by 2025, according to a new report.
Jim Cramer tracked the recent weakness in three auto parts stocks and argued that the market overreacted to their shortfalls.
Mattel anticipates "gross margin deterioration," during what is typically the biggest shopping season of the year.
One way to avoid a last-minute sprint at the end of the busy shopping season is for retailers to push their shipping deadlines earlier.
Overstock.com briefly surged more than 23 percent after Morgan Stanley Investment Management disclosed an 11.4 percent stake in the company.
GGP rejected a $14.8 billion buyout offer from its biggest shareholder, Brookfield Property Partners, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
Brookfield had made a $23-per-share cash offer for the U.S. mall owner last month.
The experience of opening a physical card is different from an e-card in your inbox. But could physical cards actually make a comeback?
Get the best of CNBC in your inbox


text:
A novel swimsuit design, a healthier food for the fish we eat, and an app that could assist teenagers in their quest go to college are the inspiration for some of the five UConn startups vying for a prestigious entrepreneurship award.
“This year’s Wolff New Venture Competition finalists are some of the best startups we have ever had participating in this annual event,’’ says Jennifer Murphy, director of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CCEI).
The entrepreneurs spent the summer in CCEI’s Summer Fellowship business accelerator. Half of the 10 participants were offered an invitation to the Wolff competition on Oct. 19. This year’s event will be virtual.
“The Wolff competition is meant to celebrate the success of not only these five startups, but of our entrepreneurial ecosystem here at UConn that has guided, mentored, and supported these entrepreneurs and helped to get them to where they are today,’’ Murphy says. “While only one team will walk away as the ‘Wolff Winner,’ with an additional $20,000 in startup funding, each of the teams has the opportunity to build a connection from this program that can help them take their venture to the next level.’’
The finalists include:
Peter Goggins ’21 (CAHNR) sometimes wades through fish-food dust that’s as deep as snow, but that hasn’t derailed his enthusiasm for his new company Pisces Atlantic, which is creating a healthier, less expensive and more environmentally friendly fish food.
Recently relocating his business from his parent’s home to a production facility in East Hartford was a big step in his journey to become a significant disruptor in the commercial fish-food industry. He is motivated by the belief that the fish we eat should be fed high-quality ingredients, because ultimately it will be humans ingesting those nutrients.
“It’s not hard for me to stay focused and motivated,’’ says Goggins, 21, an environmental science major. “I’m continually thinking about my business and what I want it to look like two or three years down the line.’’
Alumna Hayley Segar ’17 (CLAS) would like women to look forward to shopping for swimwear, instead of dreading it. Segar has created ‘onewith,’ a swimwear company that features lightweight fabrics and a seamless design for a more flattering look.
“For so many women, swimwear has been a massive pain point,’’ says Segar, whose work features an East Coast aesthetic. “Swimsuits are all made the same way, even the so-called ‘figure flattering’ brands. They may say they offer compressing fabric but that often means they have elastic and tight seams that are uncomfortable and not particularly flattering.’’
Segar, 24, who previously worked in the bridal industry and has a popular YouTube channel, says she knew from the time she was young that she would become an entrepreneur.
“I didn’t know what it would be, but I felt I was on a path to build something of my own,’’ she says.
Strong test scores and a determined grandmother helped Janoye Williams attend a prestigious magnet school that prepared him for a successful life. But many of his friends struggled in underperforming high schools—without the resources or guidance to chart a new life.
Williams – who works at Pratt & Whitney and is earning his second graduate degree at UConn – and two friends have created a mobile app startup called Junity that can connect ambitious teenagers with the support they need to succeed, whether educational, employment or mentorship programs. All they’ll need to do is enter their zip code to be connected with local resources.
“I felt like society gave up on my friends,’’ says Williams, 28. “Our goal is to eliminate the disparity that exists today by becoming a bridge between students in need and the resources that can help them!’’
More than half of the injuries suffered by people over 85 occur in the bathroom. Two UConn mechanical engineering alumni are hoping to prevent some of those mishaps with their startup called SedMed, a toilet-lift/assistance product designed to make it easier for the elderly and disabled to get on and off the toilet.
The company is the brainchild of Jeremy Bronen ’20 (ENG) and Tim Krupski ’15 (ENG), who is currently a graduate student in business and engineering. When Krupski was in high school, his grandmother suffered a stroke and became wheelchair dependent. That’s when he recognized the need for an assistive device.
“This company and this product were founded on the principle of caring for and helping the people we love—our families,’’ Bronen says. “I’ve always loved creating things. The idea of creating a novel product and building a company around that product is really something that gives me joy—even through the challenges.’’
The problem with warts is they are not only disgusting, and contagious, but they are also extremely stubborn and can linger for up to five years on those unlucky enough to get them.
UConn Health dermatology medical resident Reid Waldman has helped devise a new treatment, delivering precise wart-busting medication via a microneedle patch that looks like a bandage. His startup, VeraDermics, would initially target school-age kids, who typically protest conventional treatments, including a painful process of freezing warts to eliminate them.
“Pharmaceutical startups are a high-risk endeavor and much harder to initiate than others,’’ he says. “I believe this idea, if executed right, will be kid-friendly and can help a lot of people.’’
The Wolff New Venture Competition will take place on Oct. 19 where five UConn-affiliated startups will vie for $20,000 in funding. For more information or to RSVP to attend the live (virtual) presentations, please visit: https://ccei.uconn.edu/wolff-new-venture-competition.


text:
Wheelys cafe is a full-service mobile food cart that's a coffee shop and restaurant all in one and the latest version even runs on solar power.
Everything you need to know about selecting a franchise to buy into as part of your entrepreneurial journey.
For a topic overview, start with our Guide to Buying a Franchise.
According to the September 2016 ADP National Franchise Report, franchises in the U.S. added 26,000 jobs to the nation's economy in the last month.
Interested in a franchise business opportunity? Not sure what is right for you? Here's an exhaustive list of potential franchise business opportunities.
A new survey of franchise businesses finds that many are doing well and creating jobs but the franchise industry has grown more competitive as a result.
The Commonwealth of Virginia continues to struggle with a recent joint-employer ruling by the National Labor Relations Board that impacts franchisors and franchisees nationwide.
Sushi restaurants are popping up in the most unexpected places these days. Want to get in on this hot culinary trend? Here are some of the top sushi restaurant franchise opportunities today.
Not everyone is a coffee drinker. In fact, there are a lot of people who prefer a cup of tea over coffee. That's led to a flood of tea franchises, led by Teavana. But if you want to invest in a franchise company other than the current leaders, check out these other brews.
Franchises aren't all burgers and fries sold at low, low prices. There's a new breed of franchise taking the food service industry by storm. Here are some of the opportunities available.
Car parts and used car sales franchises are growing and adding more jobs to the company. And you need to be an automobile expert to run one of these businesses. Check out some of the top franchise business options in this sector.
New data from ADP shows that franchise businesses added more than 18,000 jobs to the U.S. economy in February. Restaurants and businesses like hotels and motels added the most franchise jobs during the last month.
New data from BoeFly and 1851 Franchise shows that franchise business owners are having a much easier time securing financing for the businesses than was the case following the Great Recession in 2008.


text:
SAP SE has announced SAP Business Suite 4 SAP HANA (SAP S/4HANA), which it touted as a next-generation business suite that would help customers ‘run simple.’
43-year-old giant re-invents itself; AWS to be more enterprise-centric Cloud, SDN, security and privacy to dominate enterprise world
The stories of SAP cofounder Hasso Plattner and Acronis and Parallels founder Serguei Beloussov just go to show that a little bit of craziness can be a good thing in the tech space, writes A. Asohan.
SAP AG’s Prof Hasso Plattner had a no-holds-barred assessment of the company he cofounded more than 40 years ago and helped build into a global software powerhouse, saying it has lost its way. Edwin Yapp reports from Potsdam, Germany.
SAP AG is banking on its newly opened Software Innovation Centre to help it stay relevant in software development, and will be tapping younger talent to stay ahead of its competitors, says its founder. Edwin Yapp reports from Potsdam, Germany.


text:
Yale Daily News
For 40 years, Yorkside Pizza and Restaurant on York St. has served its famous pizza and milkshakes to locals and Yalies alike. Yorkside has established itself as a legendary Yale tradition, frequented by the likes of President George Bush ’68 and Yale Chief Investment Officer David Swensen.
But now, Yorkside faces steep challenges; shifting demographics, increasing costs and heightened competition pose obstacles to the popular family-owned restaurant.
Yorkside owner George Koutroumanis never thought he would become a Yale fixture.
Born in 1955 in a rural part of Greece, Koutroumanis immigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of three. While still a high school student, he began working at his two older brothers’ business, Broadway Pizza, in New Haven.
“People loved Broadway Pizza so much that soon we were able to open another location,” Koutroumanis said.
And thus, the three brothers became partners, and Yorkside Pizza opened for business in Jan. 1977. Over the next years, Yorkside became more well-known throughout the Yale community.
“At first, few Yale students trickled in,” Koutroumanis said. “But more and more students started to come. Soon, word was out that we had good food and good prices.”
He claims that Yorkside’s secret recipe has always been “good food and good prices.”
Restaurant customers, however, add a third component to that list — good service.
According to both current and former Yale students, the Yorkside staff is friendly and attentive, giving the restaurant a comforting atmosphere.
“All the pictures of Yale events on the walls don’t hurt either,” Kamau Walker ’20 said. “It shows Yorkside cares about the Yale community.”
West Haven resident Karen Treat, who walks by Yorkside every day on her way to work, said she appreciates the Yorkside atmosphere and that she often brings her kids to the restaurant.
When asked about Yorkside’s future prospects, Koutroumanis expressed concern.
“I don’t want to say the outlook looks bleak,” Koutroumanis said. “But with recent changes, the outlook doesn’t look as bright as it once did. There is a lot of uncertainty coming up ahead.”
According to Koutroumanis, Yorkside has been adversely affected by changing demographics and new cultural trends in dining. He added that new restaurants are “popping up left and right” in New Haven, increasing the competition Yorkside has to face.
And as customers start to increasingly favor fast-food options, sit-down restaurants like Yorkside face an additional challenge, Koutroumanis said.
“So between the loss of customers and more competition, we’re getting a smaller slice of the pie,” Koutroumanis said. “In today’s society, so many people are in a rush. They come in, and they can’t afford to wait four minutes for us to put the pizza in the oven.”
A demographic shift is not the only challenge Yorkside faces; a rise in its menu prices is also forthcoming.
Koutroumanis said increasing ingredient prices as well as the rising cost of living adjustments in his employees’ compensation are pushing him to increase menu prices, something Yorkside has not done the past five years.
Using cheaper ingredients, Koutroumanis said, is not an option for Yorkside.
“We use real meat on our pizzas. Our pork sausage comes from a local farm. We make our chicken sausage in-house,” he said. “Many stores just use fake meat on their pizzas to save money. But it’s not all about the money.”
While these problems may seem far off, they have very real consequences for those who have devoted their entire lives to Yorkside. Multiple Yorkside employees told the News that they were distressed by the thought of a challenging future. Some even remarked that Yorkside had become their second family.
Many Yale students were equally distraught when asked to think about a future without Yorkside. Stephanie Hickman ’19 said she could not imagine “anything replacing Yorkside” and that losing the restaurant would be similar to losing a part of Yale.
Despite the uncertainties in Yorkside’s path, Koutroumanis continues to be a pervasive presence in the kitchen, ready to greet each and every customer by name.
“My heart and soul are here,” Koutroumanis said. “We’ve been a part of Yale for 50 years now, and I’ll do my best to make sure we continue to be a part of Yale for another 50 years.”


text:
Subscribers, please sign in to read now.
Don't have a subscription to the best App Development magazine on the planet?
Get instant access to this issue with your subscription.
App Developer Magazine April 2022In this month's issue, we've got an exclusive with Nathan Darst from Adjust about sandboxing SDKs within apps in the Google Privacy Sandbox. We also got to hear from Adams Surveying about how to verify dirt levels using Drone LiDar. We cover the GDC 2022 highlights in case you missed it, the 2022 software delivery report, and new metaverse innovations from Adobe. We've got updates from Apple regarding the app deletion deadline, Files.com's new acquisition, the UFC fighter being paid in Bitcoin, and exclusive NFT and blockchain news for minting and parachains. Be sure to check out the new Petal Search features for AR glasses, AI strategies from business leaders, the ezeep JavasScript library, Kubernetes clusters for AI/ML apps, and a ton more.
Get more issues of App Developer Magazine
Top 50 AI tools according to Writerbudddy report Monday, November 27, 2023
API security risks report exposes Netflix and Wordpress Monday, November 27, 2023
Mobile gaming cross platform Pley brings games to the web Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Crypto and mobile gaming intersect says adjoe report Friday, November 17, 2023
AI performance monitoring from Datadog and Vertex AI Thursday, November 16, 2023
Blockchain app builder SDK from thirdweb Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Runtime code review from AppMap enhances productivity Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Stay UpdatedSign up for our newsletter for the headlines delivered to you


text:
The Indian Whiskey brand Officer’s Choice has risen to the top of the spirits markets, becoming the second largest spirits brand in the world, according to Economic Times. The whiskey brand, owned by Allied Blenders and Distillers, has surpassed Thailand-based Rum Ruang Kao and the Philippines-based Emperador Brandy. According to a report released by International Wine and Spirits Research (IWSR), Officer’s Choice sold nearly 34 million cases last year, coming in second place behind Korea’s Jinro Soju, which sold nearly 65 million cases.
Whiskey Consumption in India
India’s fascination with spirits is well known with the country coming in behind China as the second largest whiskey drinking nation in the world. The annual consumption of whiskey in the country reached nearly 189 million cases last year but due to prohibition in some states including Bihar and Kerala, the overall growth rate of the sale of Whiskey was less than 1 percent in the past year. Officer’s Choice, which targeted daily wage earners with its brand, however, has grown nearly 15 percent in a less than stellar period of time for alcohol producers in the country.
Speaking to Economic Times regarding the brand’s growth, Jeetu Hemdev, Executive Director, Allied Blenders and Distillers, said, “With Officer’s Choice, we have made a culture of best quality at very affordable prices. We have grown at around 15 per cent in a tough environment of prohibition and slowdown.” Officer’s Choice has markedly improved its standing in the spirits category of the country and has grown past the Diaego’s Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff Vodka in the past two years.
Officer’s Choice Whiskey has a significant reputation among the whiskey drinkers in the country for its affordability. To increase its standing as a premium offering as well, Allied Blenders and Distillers released two premium variants, Officer’s Choice Blue and Officer’s Choice Black.


text:
DULUTH, Ga. — Massey Ferguson, a global brand of AGCO Corp. (NYSE:AGCO), introduces “The Last Tractor You’ll Ever Need” campaign. Launched on March 1, 2016, the program focuses on the rural lifestyle audience and consists primarily of digital media. Advertisements feature tractors in the GC1700, 1700E, 1700 Premium, 2700E, 4600M and 4700 Series which range from 22-100 PTO horsepower.
“AGCO recognizes the immense opportunity the Massey Ferguson brand and its long legacy have in the compact and utility market,” says Erin Edstrom, brand marketing manager at AGCO. “Many Massey Ferguson tractors are decades old and are still in operation today, which speaks to the incredible durability of our product.
“Today, with AGCO’s strong support, Massey Ferguson is bringing to market a line-up of tractors designed specifically for this segment,” Edstrom continues. “This customer is often buying one tractor and plans to keep it for a lifetime, so durability and versatility are critical. A land owner or farmer will know they can get the job done, now, and for years to come when they choose a reliable Massey Ferguson tractor. That is why we are confident this campaign will resonate with our core audience.”
The campaign content will be delivered primarily through digital channels such as search engine marketing, digital display and social media platforms. “This integrated digital strategy allows us to be laser-focused on our target audience and provides real-time metrics through to the sale so we can react and optimize efforts rapidly. The campaign performance has been strong the first few weeks, and we are encouraged by the engagement so far,” adds Edstrom.
Providing strategy, media and creative services to Massey Ferguson are three partner agencies. The market research, creative concept and media strategy came from work led by VITRO, based in San Diego, Calif. “This was our way of introducing Massey Ferguson to a growing, new audience. They’re not always farmers, they're people who just love the rural lifestyle, so much so that they’re willing to give up a lot of the comforts of the city and take on all the tasks that come with having a few acres of land. So, we wanted to go beyond talking about horsepower and technology, to and connect with them on a more human level,” says KT Thayer, executive creative director at VITRO. Also assisting with the campaign execution are Crabb Radermacher, based in Atlanta, Ga., and Flint Group, based in Fargo, N.D.
View the campaign video.


text:
Fueled by increased consumer spending that is improving businesses’ balance sheets, a key measure of business health improved during the first quarter of 2012, according to a new report.
Experian Information Solutions, Inc., Costa Mesa, Calif., and Moody’s Analytics Inc., New York, published this finding in a report that provides insight into the health of U.S. small businesses. The new Experian/Moody’s Analytics Small Business Credit is released quarterly to show fluctuations in the market and explore factors that are impacting the business economy.
The Experian/Moody’s Small Business Credit Index rose in the first quarter of 2012 to 103.2, up from 101.9. Experian says this is the second consecutive quarterly improvement, after the index fell last year.
Overdue balances have fallen 6.5% since last July, the report notes. After rising during the latter part of last year, the 30-day delinquency rate improved “significantly” during the quarter past, falling 0.8% to 1.8%. The 60-day delinquency rate also receded, albeit more slowly than the 30-day rate.


text:
The Kia EV6 is the first car from the Korean automaker to be built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform. Here’s what I thought about the EV6 and the E-GMP bones that underpin it — bones that will act as the foundation of millions of Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis cars in the future.
A few weeks ago, I attended the German Car of the Year assessment near Frankfurt, Germany. This was basically an event put on by journalists — in cooperation with automakers — to give writers a chance to drive and grade an assortment of over 40 cars.
I’ve already mentioned the GR Yaris and Toyota Supra that I drove at the event. Those were epic, though it was the EV6 that I had a hard time booking an appointment for, as Kia was giving journalists an exclusive opportunity to drive the preproduction vehicle. (There are few things that make a journalist’s mouth water as much as an exclusive).
A Quick Look At The Platform
G/O Media may get a commission
Introducing the platform was automotive design legend Luc Donckerwolke, the now-Genesis designer who had a hand in styling some famous Lamborghinis and more importantly the incredible aluminum-bodied Audi A2.
Kia’s platform is called E-GMP, and it stands for Electric-Global Modular Platform. It’s a big deal because it’s going to underpin many EV Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis cars moving forward. Kia discusses the platform’s flexibility in a press release, saying:
EV6 signals the U.S. launch of Kia’s ‘Plan S’ strategy that will deliver 11 all-new electrified models across the world by 2026.
The E-GMP modular platform maximizes development efficiency and enables the Kia brand to expand its dedicated EV portfolio across multiple vehicle segments – sedans, CUVs, SUVs – in a short time and with minimal complexity. The architecture provides an adaptable foundation with a long wheelbase and wide stance.
It’s not always clear what it means when automakers say vehicles will share a single platform, but you can expect all E-GMP vehicles to share common battery modules, common suspension designs/subframes/mounting points (which means similar track widths), and common drive units and power electronics.
Suspension is a MacPherson strut setup in the front (shown above) and a multilink in the rear (shown below — apologies for the not-so-optimal images):
The big battery pack in between comes filled with 77.4kWh or 58kWh worth of Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (in ratios of 80 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, respectively) pouch cells:
Battery voltage is 800V, just like on the Porsche Taycan. Kia says this high voltage potential should enable a charging times of only 18 minutes from 10 percent to 80 percent when using a 350 kW fast charger. Adding 70 miles to an “empty” car should take only five minutes (I’m assuming these numbers apply to the larger 77.4 kWh pack, which Kia says
In January I challenged myself to cut out as many services and intermediaries as possible and import a car entirely by myself. What followed was one of the largest headaches of my life. You can import a car yourself, but don’t expect it to be fun.
I’m now the owner of a 1991 Honda Beat and a 1989 Suzuki Every. Both cars were imported through different methods. I wanted to get the full importation experience by having an importer handle one car and doing the other myself as much as I could. I learned a lot along the way and now I’m passing down what I learned to you, dear reader.
The importation of my Honda Beat was handled by the Import Guys and it couldn’t have been easier. Buying and importing that Beat was far more fun and far easier than buying a new car straight off of the lot and remarkably affordable.
If you don’t want to lose hair over orchestrating an import operation yourself, I definitely recommend working with an importer like the Import Guys. But if you’re stubborn like me, buckle up, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
G/O Media may get a commission
The journey of importing a car yourself begins with figuring out how you’re going to buy the thing in the first place. Japan has an entire industry dedicated to funneling cars out of the country. You can purchase cars through auctions, car export sites, Goo-net, or even through a dealership. Buying a car in Japan is actually really easy.
Each method of buying a car comes with some quirks. Cars on Goo-net are often priced higher than similar examples found on export sites and the price you see online may actually be lower than the real asking price. A number of times I contacted sellers and dealerships on Goo-net only for them to demand a price that was higher than the list price, and that was before tacking on the cost of shipping.
There are some potentially great deals on car export websites, especially if you’re looking for something cheap like a kei truck. However, be sure to get an inspection done on a vehicle before buying it, if you can. While these sites have some cheap gems, they’ll also have some real junkers that you should avoid at all costs.
Diving into Japan’s auction services is probably the most fun way to buy a car from the country. The selection is vast and changes every day. You could buy everything from crazy flatbed trucks to your dream van in the auction system.
You can access the auction systems through an importer or exporter. It’s usually free to look, but bidding will usually cost you a deposit and you will probably pay the importer or exporter for using their service.
Google Maps is adding transit crowd predictions covering 10,000 transit systems in 100 countries, making it easier for you to tell how busy your train or subway line will be, even down to each car.
The transit predictions are based on AI technology, user feedback and location trends over time, the search giant said Wednesday. And in New York and Sydney, the crowdedness indicator goes down to a car-by-car level — so you’ll have an idea of which parts of the train to avoid.
Transit ridership plunged during the pandemic, but as vaccines roll out in many areas worldwide, use of transit directions on Google Maps has increased 50% compared to last year in the US, according to Google. But even as we return to our normal travels, it will still take time for many people to feel comfortable in crowded places like a packed subway.
Keep on top of the latest news, how-to and reviews on Google-powered devices, apps and software.
While the Google Maps update is now available for iOS and Android users, Android users who enable location tracking will also see a new tab in your timeline with traveling trends based on your location history. You’ll be able to see how much time is spent at your favorite shops, and which modes of transportation you used most. Google Maps also lets you relive past trips by saving places from your timeline and sharing them with friends.
Google said privacy and security remain a priority, and that the Maps update will use anonymization technology and differential privacy to keep your location history private.
We’ll show you how to easily use these new features for a smoother trip. If Google’s predictions are right, you’ll have a comfier commute (and hopefully a seat). You can also see our favorite Google Maps tricks and how to stop Google from tracking you (Hint: You’ll need to do more than disable your location).
How to check for crowded public transportation with Google Maps
1. Open Maps, type in your destination and tap Directions.
2. At the top of the screen, select your your transportation preference (for example, bus or subway).
3. Select your route, if there are multiple ways to get there.
4. When you’re reviewing your route you’ll see a section under the public transit section that asks “What’s it like on board?” You’ll see a message that says “Not too crowded,” “Very crowded,” or other prediction messages.
5. If you get on a train or bus that Google Maps predicts not to be too crowded, but it’s busier than the app says, you can change the prediction by tapping on the alert and selecting if it’s crowded or at capacity based on what you see. All submissions are public.
You may also see a message that says “Public transport services are modified due
A Totota dealership is seen in Annapolis, Maryland on May 27, 2021, as many car dealerships across the country are running low on new vehicles as a computer chip shortage has caused production at many vehicle manufactures to nearly stop.
Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
DETROIT – Sales of new vehicles in the U.S. remain healthy but are showing signs of a slowdown amid concerns about inflation and a global shortage of semiconductor chips that continues to depress auto production and dealer inventory levels.
Analysts estimate automakers sold about 4.5 million vehicles in the U.S. in the second quarter — a 52% to 53% increase compared with a year ago when the coronavirus pandemic caused Americans to shelter in place and temporarily closed auto dealerships. Most major automakers report June and second-quarter sales data on Thursday, except for Ford, which is expected to release its results Friday.
While the sales recovery from the depths of the pandemic is impressive, the pace of sales this year is slowing. Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Rosner expects June’s sales pace to be 15.7 million vehicles, down from 17.1 million vehicles in May and 18.6 million vehicles in April.
The sales pace for any given month measures how many cars the industry would sell for the year if it sold the same amount every month. It’s a main barometer of the industry’s health and consumer demand.
“The sales slow-down likely reflects a lack of availability on dealer lots rather than a decline in consumer demand as automakers struggle to replenish dealer inventories with top models, particularly SUVs and pickup trucks,” Rosner wrote in an investor note.
Sales for every major automaker are expected to be up double digits during the second quarter compared with the same time a year ago, according auto research firms Cox Automotive and Edmunds. But they’re only slightly above the second quarter of 2019.
Something not showing signs of slowing down is sales prices of new vehicles due to tight supplies from the global chip shortage and stronger-than-expected consumer demand throughout the Covid pandemic.
The average transaction price for a new vehicle in June is expected to reach a record $40,206, according to J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. The previous high for any month, $38,539, was set in May, according to the companies.
The higher pricing has led to higher profits for automakers and retailers but has stoked broader concerns about inflation. Consumer spending on new vehicles is expected to reach a second-quarter record of $149.7 billion, up 60.7% from 2020 and up 27.9% from 2019.
“Despite inventory shortages constraining the volume of vehicles sold to consumers, the underlying strength of consumer demand is clear. Consumers are buying more expensive vehicles despite smaller discounts, which is dramatically increasing the profitability of those sales for both manufacturers and retailers,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power, in a statement.
– CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
US President Joe Biden gifted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson a custom-built bicycle as a special souvenir for the first meeting between the two heads of state in Cornwall ahead of the G7 summit. According to reports, the special hand-built bicycle was designed as a part of the customary exchange of gifts between the heads and was chosen keeping in mind Johnson’s regular cycling outings in London.
Biden gift to Johnson
The bike was custom-made by a Philadelphia firm in a record time and at a third of the price. The red and white bike, in the colours of the United Kingdom flag, would otherwise take months to construct. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, owner of Bilenky Cycle Works- Stephen Bilenky was contacted by the US State Department on May 23 with a request to design a custom-made bicycle and a matching helmet for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Operating on a staff of four persons only, Bilenky Cycle Works usually takes up to 18 months to make a custom-made bicycle, however, the order was expedited ahead of the President’s visit to the UK for the G7 summit on June 10.
‘Controlled chaos’ followed shortly after, as per the owner who began powering to meet the prestigious order. The price of the special hand-made bike stands at a whopping $6,000, however, the budget was only set to $1,500 (£1,060), a third of the minimum price the firm charges.
Apart from Biden’s gift to Johnson, US First Lady Jill Biden gave Carrie Johnson, UK PM’s newly-wedded wife a leather tote bag made by the wives of American troops, along with a presidential silk scarf.
UK gifts Biden a mural
In a nod to the Black Lives Matter protest, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the other hand gave US President Joe Biden a framed photograph of a British mural featuring 19th-century Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The gifted image is painted by Ross Blair and it is a part of a mural trail around Edinburgh, photographed by Melissa Highton, an American-British dual national.
Johnson also gave US First Lady Jill Biden the first edition copy of Daphne du Maurier’s The Apple Tree. Downing Street said in a statement that the choice of the book was to reflect Du Maurier’s Cornish links.
Eric Fierro had been itching to buy an electric vehicle for years. So when New Jersey launched a generous $5,000 rebate program on the cars this month, the teacher and coach at Southern Regional High School was fired up.
“Boom! It’s like, this is what you’ve been waiting for, coach. Let’s go!” he said.
When he went to a local dealership, though, the employees there were confused. First, they told him the program wasn’t up and running yet. Then, they said it was, but he’d have to figure out how to get the money himself.
Originally looking to buy, Fierro settled on leasing a 2019 Chevy Bolt to limit his financial exposure should the rebate fall through.
“I’m anticipating there being a chance that this doesn’t happen,” he said. “I’m hoping that it does. I’m about 50-50 right now, I’d say, that I get the $5,000.”
The problem is that Gov. Phil Murphy trumpeted the rebate program before the state Board of Public Utilities had time to set up how it would work. Asked to clarify the situation on his monthly call-in radio show, Murphy vouched that the rebate would apply to all electric-vehicle purchases or leases dating back to Jan. 17, the day he signed the program into law.
“The rebates will become available in spring, but they’ll be retroactive to any purchases since I signed the bill,” Murphy said. “That will be a mail-in process, so you’ll get the check by mail. Beginning in the summer — I don’t have a specific date — it will be what they call cash on the hood, meaning it’ll be a rebate literally at the point of sale.”
Still in the works
For now, those interested in driving a new electric vehicle will have to take the governor at his word. Asked to confirm the details, a spokesperson for the Board of Public Utilities said they are still in the works.
“Board staff is in the process of developing the program along with the program manager, Center for Sustainable Energy,” said spokesperson Peter Peretzman. “It will then be presented to the Board for consideration and potential approval.”
According to the new law, the rebate will apply to vehicles with a retail price below $55,000 that are registered in New Jersey. How big a credit drivers get will depend on how far their vehicle can travel on a single charge. The state will offer $25 for each mile the car runs on electric power instead of gas, up to a $5,000 cap.
That means cars with 200 miles of electric range or more — such as those offered by Tesla, Chevrolet, Nissan and several other carmakers — would qualify for the maximum amount.
Plug-in hybrid cars are also eligible for the rebate through 2022, although with a median electric-only range of


text:
GENEVA — The global labor market is expected to deteriorate further this year, partly due to the slowdown in economic growth — particularly in Europe and other developed countries — with world unemployment forecast to rise to more than 202 million, up 5.1 million from 2012, an International Labor Organization report published Monday said.
“Prospects are unfortunately not good…the trends are still very much in the wrong direction,” said Guy Ryder, ILO director-general, during the launch of the agency’s “Global Employment Trends 2013” report.
After a two-year decline in the number of unemployed, “2012 saw a resurgence of unemployment, up by 4.2 million worldwide,” he said, adding “it is set to rise again by a further 3 million in 2014.”
“An uncertain outlook, and the inadequacy of policy to counter this, has weakened aggregate demand, holding back investment and hiring,..This has prolonged the labor slump in many countries,” Ryder said.
The report said a quarter of the increase in global unemployment in 2012 was in advanced economies, and three quarters in other regions, with marked effects for emerging economies in East Asia, South Asia, and Sub- Saharan Africa.
In the case of the United States, retail trade is among the job sectors that has bounced back and is expected to post “continuous growth over the next two years,” without, however, surpassing its pre- crisis employment level, the report said.
On a brighter note, the ILO report pointed out that from 2001 to 2011, developing countries witnessed an increase of 401 million middle-class workers (those who earn above $4 and below $13 a day), and a further 186 million workers who were above the $13-a -day line.
It projected the number of workers attaining middle-class status and above will expand by an additional 390 million by 2017, pushing the share of middle-class workers in these countries to 51.9 percent, up from 41.6 percent in 2011, and less than 23 percent in 2001.
This emerging middle-class in the developing world, it noted, “could bring about a new driver of global growth, with stronger investment and consumption.”
In honor of Rihanna’s 30th birthday, we took a look back at an interview with the Barbados-native when she was just 18 years old. Here, she talked about her second album, “A Girl Like Me” in 2006. “I want to be me. I want people to fall in love with who Rihanna is, and that’s why I want the album to be about me so people can really find out who this girl Rihanna is, because they only know the ‘Pon de Replay’ girl.” Fast forward 12 years, and she’s released six more albums and has become a powerhouse in both the fashion and music industries. Happy birthday, @badgalriri 🎈(📷: Pavel Antonov) #wwdarchive
For @simonerocha_‘s fall show, hairstylist @jamespecis created a look inspired by the painter John Constable. Models’ hair was pulled back, tied into knots and topped off with a bow. (📷: @kukukuba) #wwdbeauty #lfw
Queen Elizabeth made a surprise appearance at @richardquinn1's London Fashion Week show to present the designer with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. The new award will be handed out annually to an emerging British fashion designer who shows exceptional talent, while demonstrating value to the community and sustainable policies. #wwdfashion #lfw (📷: @giovanni_giannoni_photo)


text:
Anaylist think there will be another Price cut for the PS3
It is nothing official announced by Sony at all, but looking at it from a financial stand point, it makes sense. They have been trying to break even on the cost of production and advertisement costs that they have already paid. Hence the high price at launch, and really right now as well. But with the announcement of Blu-Ray being the new video format and the fact that there are a bunch of new bundles coming, they should be in the green very soon. Which brings us to why the price cut.
There will be more and more reasons for people to own a PS3 just for cost effectiveness on the Blu-Ray player stand point. On top of that, if you don’t have one already and you really want MGS4 or GT5, why wouldn’t want to get the bundle for the same cost of the machine in general. Good selling points in my book. But if you can wait until the Christmas time, it is speculated that the cost for one will be down to where the Wii is currently, only you won’t have to fight to find one in stores.


text:
Satellite broadband provider ViaSat today launched a new price plan in 30 states that will provide unlimited email and web page access. Other types of Internet use – including music, streaming media and chat – will be capped, however. And the cap will be lower than for a lower-priced offering that was previously announced and will continue to be available.
The new offering, dubbed Exede Evolution, will cost $69.95 monthly and, like ViaSat’s previously announced offerings, will support broadband speeds of up to 12 Mbps downstream and up to 3 Mbps upstream. ViaSat previously announced a $49.99 offering with a 7.5 GB cap for $49.99, as well as a $79.95 offering with a 15 GB cap.
“A significant segment of our customer base values unlimited, high-speed access to web pages and email,” said ViaSat Vice President of Satellite Services Lisa Scalpone in today’s announcement.
For a limited time, customers interested in the new plan will not have to pay the $149.99 set-up fee, ViaSat said. In addition an “Early Bird Free Zone” gives customers unmetered access to “everything on the Internet,” including video, from 3:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily.
ViaSat is one of two companies, including Hughes Network Systems that offer broadband service delivered via satellite. Customers are largely in rural areas where other broadband options are not available.
Offerings from both ViaSat and Hughes have become more competitive since both launched higher-capacity satellites a year or so ago. Both companies increased their data rates considerably after the new launches.
In recent months both companies also have added voice service to their offerings.
A report commissioned by NTCA- The Rural Broadband Association notes, however, that despite enhancements, satellite broadband inherently has greater latency and is more vulnerable to weather conditions than landline broadband.