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S&P 500 hits intra-day record on stellar results
THE benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index hit an intra-day record yesterday, following better-than-forecast earnings from many companies with big operations in Ireland and positive data on US jobless claims.
It added 0.9pc to touch 1,691.54 in New York, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Index rallied 1.5pc to reach the highest closing level since May.
The dollar strengthened against 15 of 16 major peers, while the yen weakened amid bets that Group of 20 finance officials would endorse Japan's monetary easing.
S&P 500 shares were lifted by US government data which showed that jobless claims declined by 24,000 to 334,000 last week.
Stocks then extended gains as the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's general economic index surged to a two-year high.
Among US stocks moving in early trading, IBM climbed 2.4pc as the biggest computer-services company raised its annual forecast. UnitedHealth jumped 5.7pc.
Intel slid 3.6pc after the largest maker of emi-conductors released sales forecasts that fell short of some estimates.
Of the 82 index members that have released earnings so far this month, three-quarters have topped analysts' profit projections and half have beaten on sales, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Thirty-two companies in the S&P 500 reported earnings yesterday.
Europe also had a good day, with four shares rising for each that declined in the Stoxx 600.
Ericsson fell 4.8pc after second-quarter sales missed estimates. Akzo Nobel slid 8pc, the most since 2008, as Europe's largest paintmaker reported declining earnings and sales.
Publicis Groupe SA, the world's third-biggest advertising company, climbed 3.4pc in Paris trading as first-half profits rose 15pc. WPP, the biggest advertising company, advanced 3.6pc. (Bloomberg)


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Google Looking for Android Nexus One Support Manager
As most are aware, customer support for the Google Nexus One superphone was found somewhat lacking when Nexus One owners experience issues with the smartphone, mainly due to Google not having any phone support.
This led to customers venting their anger on forums over the requirement the email Android support with a response time of up to three days, which simply isn’t good enough.
However, according to an article over on labnol.org, this may soon change as it looks like Google is looking for a Phone Support Program Manager for Android and the Nexus One.
Google’s job portal states whoever gets the position will be “responsible for ramping up and managing operations of Google’s telephone support for our direct-to-consumer Android/Nexus One customer.”
So it does look like Google is removing their finger from wherever it was lodged and finally looking to offer some direct customer support for the Nexus One and any future mobile phones.

domain: news


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Yum Brands, the owner of KFC and Taco Bell, has reported a lower than expected rise in quarterly sales at established restaurants worldwide as fewer diners ate at its Pizza Hut chain.
Sales at restaurants open for at least one year rose 1 per cent in the fourth quarter ended December 31, compared with a 2.1 per cent rise analysts polled by Consensus Metrix had expected.
Same-store sales rose 3 per cent at KFC and Taco Bell, but this was tempered by a 2 per cent decline at Pizza Hut.
“KFC and Taco Bell had relatively strong performance in December, despite difficult US industry conditions,” said the chief financial officer David Gibbs.
US restaurant chains have been struggling with competition from convenience stores, supermarkets and meal-kit delivery services such as Blue Apron and Chefd.
Minimum wage increases have also forced restaurants to raise menu prices while supermarkets have been able to pass on lower food costs to shoppers.
The latest-quarter results are Yum’s first since spinning off its China business in November.
Yum’s income from continuing operations fell to US$285 million in the quarter from $290m a year earlier.
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was 76 cents per share compared with 66 cents per share. Earnings excluding special items was 79 cents per share.
Total revenue rose 2 per cent to $2.02 billion.
Analysts on average had estimated sales of $2.09bn, according to Reuters.
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K-Swiss Inc. has agreed to a $170 million acquisition by major South Korean retailer E. Land World.
E. Land World in Seoul will pay $4.75 per share for the Westlake Village sports brand, which sells shoes, apparel and accessories. The acquisition was announced late Wednesday. The deal represents a 40 percent premium over the stock’s Wednesday close.
The merger must be approved by K-Swiss shareholders.
K-Swiss, which was founded in 1966, has struggled to recover from the recession and hasn’t posted an annual profit since 2008. E. Land, which manages 200 brands and operates more than 10,000 stores globally, last year was considered a potential bidder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, which eventually was bought by a group led by Magic Johnson.
“E. Land has a 30-year record of successfully building a global fashion and retail conglomerate and also shares our culture of valuing associates,” Steven Nichols, K-Swiss chief executive, said in a statement. “I believe that such a platform will provide K-Swiss with the resources and scale to return to its former performance levels.”
K-Swiss Inc. shares closed up $1.52, or 48 percent, to $4.71 on the Nasdaq.
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Computer giant HP, which acquired Palm earlier this year for $1.2 billion, plans to release a tablet system running Palm's mobile OS webOS in 2011.
"You'll see us with a Microsoft product in the near future, and a webOS-based product in early 2011," said Todd Bradley, head of HP's personal systems group, during yesterday's quarterly earnings call.
The way HP plans to segment the market here is interesting. According to HP tablets running Windows 7 OS would be aimed at enterprise users, while webOS-based tablets would be aimed at consumers. I guess that HP believes that consumers are more price sensitive than OS sensitive.
Time will tell ...


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iPhone Stun Gun?
One would think that we already have too much iPhone variants. Now comes a report that an ?iPhone stun gun? was seized in Manchester, UK.
Don’t worry, this is not a device that is sold in your neighborhood Apple store. But, it is a real item that can easily be bought, even by 14 year olds.
Yes, a 14 year old was arrested with suspicion of possessing a deadly weapon when a police officer inspected what looked like a black iPhone but turned out to be a stun gun.
The police officer got the ?shock of his life? when he conducted the search on the boy after the youngster, aged 14, together with three other boys (one aged 16 and two aged 17), were reported for a ?hate incident? involving a bus driver. The officer suffered a shock as he examined the device, but was not injured in a serious manner.
The ?iPhone stun gun? has the capability of emitting a large jolt of electric shock that can injure an individual. Stun guns have been reported to cause fatal heart attacks in people with cardiac problems.
When the police officer, Sgt. Phil Marsh, searched the possessions of the 14 year old, he was found to carry a knife and the device that turned out to be a stun gun disguised as an iPhone.
Sgt. Marsh described the device as ?It has the appearance of a black iPhone but the volume buttons are more prominent…..The top has a silver strip with two points from which the current is discharged….The volume buttons appear to activate the device.
He added that ?People need to be aware that possession of them is an offense under the Firearms Act.?
The 14 year old boy was also arrested for the racially aggravated offense as well as possessing the bladed weapon. The other three boys were also arrested for being suspected of racially-aggravated offenses with one of them also investigated for being in possession of marijuana (cannabis). All four have made bail and the police are conducting further investigation into the matter.
Media reports have noted that stun guns, most of which are made in China, can easily be ordered over the web for just US$ 25 Dollars (15 pounds). These stun guns have the capacity to emit an electrical charge of up to 50,000 volts and can cause massive or even fatal injuries.
They are marketed primarily as self-defense devices or gadgets for personal protection. Many undesirable individuals however have been reported to use the device for violent purposes and criminal activities.
Further research done by The Bitbag has also unearthed ?stun gun? devices that are actually made to look like mobile phones for the purpose of concealment and carrying convenience. A simple search in online stores and social networks reveal a wide array of stun guns that are disguised as iPhones and other mobile phones.
We will look more into this and do visit us again here at The Bitbag for more news on ?mobile phone stun guns?.
Photo Sources: https://www.facebook.com/stun.guns.10?fref=ts ; http://cdn.sulitstatic.com/server2/images/2013/0801/041955393_20130731171319-1.jpg ; http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/968866/33186741/0/1375671926/Iphone_4S_Stun_Gun_Thin_Cell_Phone_Stun_Gun_with_Flashlight_Recharge.jpg


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Invictus MD Strategies Corp. announced this week that Gene Simmons will come on board as Chief Evangelist Officer. Gene Simmons is well-known as the iconic leader of the rock and roll band, KISS.
He was also a part of the team that streamlined the production and distribution of all the rock band's merchandise, a huge factor in the foursome becoming the household American name they are today. Invictus will bring Simmons on for their current public awareness strategies and eventually, he will become involved with their branding efforts.
Dan Kriznic, Chairman and CEO of Invictus elaborated on the rocker’s role in the business:
"Gene will lead marketing initiatives that will help spread the positive messages that dwell at the heart of Invictus in accordance with the strict regulations of Health Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR), the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) and the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR)" said Kriznic.
According to their website, Invictus is a platform of cannabis cultivators across Canada boasting 250 acres of production capacity. By 2021, they hope to have an excess of 50,000 kgs, growth that can only be bolstered by the addition of Simmons. The rockstar, and businessman, has not only been involved with product merchandising, he’s also produced his own reality show, 'Simmons’ Family Jewels'. Simmons is excited to be on board with the cannabis company and be in a position to share his business expertise.
"Values and family are very important to me, and when I first connected with Dan at Invictus, I understood immediately that we enjoyed a shared passion for these key life foundations," said Gene. "Instead of launching straight into business, we talked about the things that matter the most."
We are very excited to see how this partnership plays out over the coming years!
I personally grew up loving KISS, and Gene Simmons was my all-time fav band member—check out the video below to see him perform his classic fan-favorite moment from their 1976 tour, which ended up becoming a concert staple for all KISS shows….SO GOOD!Posted: Friday, March 16th, 11:45pm 9 months ago
Parker is a cannabis enthusiast to the core who shares a keen interest in listening to what others have to say and understanding what’s important to them. Those who know Parker know that his passion for health and wellness runs deep, and his love of Canada even deeper!


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As inflation rises to 7%, the highest rate in 30 years, retailers, consumers and producers alike are concerned about price hikes across the entire food industry.
In response to consumer concern, George Eustice advised the British public to buy ‘value brands’ from the big four supermarkets.
He told viewers on Sky News, “We have a very, very competitive retail market with 10 big supermarkets and the four main ones competing very aggressively, particularly on some of the lower-cost, everyday value items for households, so things like spaghetti and ambient products – there’s a lot of competition to keep those prices down.
“Generally speaking, what people find is by going for some of the value brands rather than branded products – they can actually contain and manage their household budget.”
According to Rupert Evans, owner of Denstone Hall Farm Shop, George Eustice’s comments advising shoppers to buy value brands to keep within budget are worrying.
He explains, “Firstly, the price of value brands is likely to also be affected by rising costs and inflation but also, this limits the consumers’ choice of local, healthy produce, which farm shops naturally promote. What is also disturbing about these comments is that local food with short supply chains is often cheaper than what is available in supermarkets.
“Farm shops also make buying in small quantities easier – for instance buying a few sausages from a butcher rather than a packet, which reduces cost and food waste.”
Mark Kacary, managing director of Norfolk Deli, echoed the idea that Mr Eustice’s comments were out of touch as he explained that buying direct from farm shops and delis can actually be more cost-effective for consumers. “Small fine food independents have had to face the issues created by Brexit with imports costing more, and we know that the only place any minister is ever likely to recommend to consumers is to go to a supermarket.
“There is no mention of encouraging farmers/street markets. Encouraging producers, farmers etc. to sell directly to the consumer which would cut out the middlemen i.e., supermarkets.”
Maintaining a customer base
With little government support for the fine food retail industry and ministers even recommending shoppers go elsewhere, independent retailers could be in a tight spot to maintain trade.
As Mark explains, “All we can do is to promote our products, promote that we are supporting local support the provenance of the products we sell and target the sector of the market which isn’t that affected by financial crises. Rightly or wrongly our core customer base is unlikely to buy value brands, our core customer base will cook for themselves and will own more than a microwave.
“We are offering a weekly discount on various products which last for a few days and then we switch to something else. We are not in a position to join some form of price war and have to rely on those who wish to eat better and who are prepared to spend a little more if not that often.”
Rupert also suggested retailers should continue to make connections with customers coming through their doors to maintain the USP of indie retail. “Despite the challenges thrown at the farm retail sector over the past couple of years, we have risen to the challenge to support our local communities, which has been reciprocated. Retailers continue to build upon these relationships with their customers and we will do our best to support each other through another uncertain time. Consumers should be encouraged to buy healthy, local produce, which supports their local economy and means buying the freshest most nutritious food.”
Wanting more from government action
After a disappointing Spring Budget report which didn’t offer much in the way of help for fine food businesses, the Environment Secretary’s comments come as yet another blow to the independent sector.
With inflation as high as 7%, independent retailers are increasingly demanding more help from the government, with removing business rates at the top of their agenda. As Mark explains, “I can’t help but feel they could ensure that some of the costs of doing business such as business rates are removed for the foreseeable future. In many ways, this is probably the only option which would allow small independents to keep enough money in their pocket which will reduce the pressure to increase prices on products. It would be hard to suggest that VAT is reduced as not all foods sold in an independent retailer are subjected to VAT anyway. We would be very interested to see if anybody comes up with any alternative ideas which could work.”
Rupert was another business owner left wanting more from government action.“The government should be supportive of independent retailers offering shorter supply chains, that are keeping food on the shelves during these difficult times. Farmers and producers, along with consumers, are facing huge prices in energy but additionally, costs of animal feed and fertilisers have also gone through the roof.
He concludes, “The government should be supporting British farmers, who produce amazing food, look after our countryside and mean we need to import less in these globally uncertain times. Let’s get back to celebrating eating the seasons.”


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TDP leader Nara Lokesh eats Mirchi Bajji at roadside shop
Mangalagiri: Telugu Desam Party National General Secretary Nara Lokesh is actively interacting with the people of Mangalagiri to know their problems. Now, a video of Nara Lokesh eating Mirchi at a roadside shop and interacting with the vendors is going viral on the internet and winning the hearts of netizens.
In the video, TDP leader Nara Lokesh has seen eating Mirchi Bajji at a roadside shop in Mangalagiri and interacting with them. He said that Mirchi is too spicy and the vendors replied that it is Guntur Mirchi. Later, the leader gave money to the vendors but they denied to take money from their leader.


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On September 7, El Salvador became the first country in the world to accept Bitcoin as legal tender.
This is a milestone for cryptocurrencies around the world, but there is a problem.
Just barely a day after the bold and ballistic move, angry protests, technological glitches and a plummet in value marked the first day of El Salvador adopting Bitcoin as legal tender.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele confirmed that the Chivo Wallet had been taken offline following complaints about installation problems. No time has been given for when it will be online again.
Chivo is a government-backed digital wallet.
Even the Chivo Wallet’s website was taken down on the very day the cryptocurrency took effect as a legal tender.
Citizens have protested against it, complaining that there has been too little explanation from officials about what benefit Bitcoin will bring and how transactions using the cryptocurrency will work.
The price of Bitcoin on the very day crashed to its lowest in nearly a month, falling from Ksh. 5,725,180.79 (US$52,000) to under Ksh.4,624,338.43 (US$43,000) at one point.
According to the BBC, an opposition politician said the fall caused one of Latin America’s poorest countries to lose $3m.
The rollout of bitcoin in El Salvador was far from what President Bukele would have envisaged when he began his bold experiment.
Nonetheless, the government has even given Salvadorans Ksh.3,302.96 each of Bitcoin to encourage its adoption. It says bitcoin could save the country $400m a year in transaction fees on funds sent from abroad.
The country approved a law to classify Bitcoin as legal tender in the Latin American country on June 9 this year.
But on June 11 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it had economic and legal concerns regarding the move by El Salvador to make bitcoin a parallel legal tender, further clouding the outlook for an IMF-backed program and widening spreads on the country’s bonds.
- Bitcoin becomes legal currency in El Salvador
- BIS gives Central banks go ahead on digital currency
- Elon Musk okays purchase of Tesla using Bitcoin
“Adoption of bitcoin as legal tender raises a number of macroeconomic, financial and legal issues that require very careful analysis,” said Gerry Rice, an IMF spokesman.
El Salvador’s own currency, the Salvadoran colon, was replaced by the US dollar in 2001.
The country depends heavily on money which citizens based abroad, often in the US, send home and these remittances to El Salvador were worth almost $6bn in 2019, amounting to 16 percent of El Salvador’s gross domestic product.
The country moved to using the US dollar as legal tender as a result of these remittances, and the move to Bitcoin is based on an expectation that more Salvadorans will begin sending money home using the cryptocurrency – and the Chivo Wallet is intended to be available to citizens who are residing abroad.
On June 23 this year, the Bank for International Settlements gave its full backing to the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), a move to ensure ‘Big Tech’ does not take control of money.
“ Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) offer in digital form the unique advantages of central bank money: settlement finality, liquidity and integrity. They are an advanced representation of money for the digital economy,” said BIS on its website.
Demands on retail payments are changing, with fewer cash transactions and a shift towards digital payments, in particular since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to BIS, the ultimate benefits of adopting a new payment technology will depend on the competitive structure of the underlying payment system and data governance arrangements.
The push comes as physical cash use falls globally and authorities look to fend off the threat to their money-printing powers from bitcoin and efforts from ‘Big Tech’ such as the Facebook-backed Diem, formerly Libra.
The BIS acknowledged that the technology could encourage either a virtuous circle of equal access, greater competition and innovation, or it could foment a vicious circle of entrenched market power and data concentration.
According to the Wallstreet Journal ,cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin have foreshadowed a potential digital future for money, though they exist outside the traditional global financial system and aren’t legal tender like cash issued by governments.
China’s version of a digital currency is controlled by its central bank, which will issue the new electronic money. It is expected to give China’s government vast new tools to monitor both its economy and its people. By design, the digital yuan will negate one of bitcoin’s major draws: anonymity for the user.


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Arturia Updates AudioFuse...
...and releases a video featuring Jean Michel Jarre using the interface 05/12/17
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Arturia tells us that the first update since the release of their debut audio interface, AudioFuse, is now available. Here's the story in their own words...
Well known for its superior audio quality, vast connectivity, and powerful features, the newly updated Arturia AudioFuse brings the superb 3ms latency of its Mac performance to Windows systems, as well as greater CPU efficiency, and a "sleep mode".
Since AudioFuse's arrival on the market earlier in 2017, Arturia has been able to analyze its performance with feedback from many of its early adopters. Drawing upon thousands of these use-cases and real world examples, Arturia's engineer's were able to improve stability and decrease latency beyond the original specifications of the interface.
Showing improvement across the board, the lower buffer sizes in the latest AudioFuse driver give a latency speed improvement of between 30% and 45%, bringing to total round-trip latency down as low as 3ms. A buffer size of just 8 samples can now be used without reducing CPU performance.
This enhancement goes hand in hand with general stability improvements, ensuring no information is lost even at the most demanding settings. Windows users will find they are able to make even more out of their CPU, with the extra efficiency letting them use more tracks, more effects, and more virtual instruments in their DAWs. The enhanced Windows drivers will be included within the AudioFuse Control Center, the companion software that unlocks many of the bonus features inside Arturia's next-gen interface.
Alongside these improvements, all AudioFuse owners will now also benefit from other useful new features, including a "sleep mode" which can be enabled by holding down the Arturia button, letting users power down their units when not in use. Users will also be able to access the technical measurements of their specific unit in the MyArturia section of the Arturia website.
To coincide with the first AudioFuse update, Arturia released a video featuring Jean Michel Jarre using the interface. The electronic music pioneer was also an early adopter of the AudioFuse.


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Katie Holmes on her fashion nerves
Katie Holmes has said her foray into fashion has been "nerve-wracking".
The actress has a fashion line Holmes And Yang, which was featured in Fashion Week.
"Our Holmes And Yang show this year went really well and we did it at a gallery downtown and a lot of great people came and supported us," she told E! News.
"People seem to like it and it's fun, it's a different kind of challenge than making movies, but Jeanne [Yang] is wonderful and she's very inspiring so we have a good time, but yeah, of course it's nerve-wrecking because you're kind of putting yourself out there.
"You hope that people get it."
Katie said she doesn't know whether daughter Suri Cruise will go into acting, or even fashion.
But she said her little girl has, "got great taste and she's a real sweetie".


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Yesterday, Instagram changed how it presents photos’ time stamps, and now we know why. The platform is prepping for a major transition to a more personalized news feed. Instead of being organized by time, our news feeds will soon be ordered by relevance, according to an official Instagram for Business announcement. What is relevance? It’s a combination of timeliness, the relationship between the poster and the user, and the likeliness the user will find the post interesting (which we assume will be based on posts you’ve previously liked). So that means our IRL best friends will most likely appear first, which will be super helpful.
However, based on the announcement, it seems like brands’ posts may be prioritized over individual users'. It reads: “If you post about an upcoming flash sale or a new product, it will be waiting for consumers when they wake up, no matter how many accounts they follow or what time zone they live in. And when you post a video of your barista pouring the perfect latte, customers won’t miss it.”
Right now, the platform’s users miss 70% of their feeds, simply because there is too much content to keep up with. If you follow 500 accounts, and each of those accounts shared a photo, you would have to go through 500 photos. No one really has time for that, so it makes sense why people are missing their friends' posts. While the full rollout of the personalized news feed won’t be for a few months, we can keep our eyes peeled for smaller updates in the meantime.
Related: Instagram Just Got Rid of One of Its Most Hated Features


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vobo schreef op 3 mei 2021 19:59:
Gold miner Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: GOLD) added 24% to its share price last year, but that was a bit disappointing considering the shares were up about 65% in early September. The yellow metal had reached a three-year high of more than $2,000 an ounce in early August but has been trending downward ever since. Whether gold retains its status as a hedge against inflation could be tested as cryptocurrencies gain increasing acceptance as a store of value.
Analysts are bullish on Barrick, with 19 of 23 rating the stock a Buy or Strong Buy. At a recent price of around $22.00, shares are trading with a potential upside of 34% to the consensus price target of $29.57 and a potential upside of 66% to the high target of $36.50.
Barrick is expected to post March quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $0.27, a year-over-year increase of nearly 69%. Revenue is expected to rise by 10.6% to $3.01 billion. For the full year, EPS is forecast at $1.22, up by 5.7% year over year on sales of $12.48, down nearly 1% from 2020 sales.
At the current price, Barrick stock trades at 19.4 times expected 2021 EPS, 18.2 times estimated 2022 earnings and 17.0 times estimated 2023 earnings. The stock’s 52-week trading range is $18.64 to $31.22. The company pays an annual dividend of $0.36 (yield of 1.69%), and the average daily trading volume is 18.3 million shares.


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For the last few years 4K "Ultra HD" televisions have been displayed at CES, but in 2015 they'll dominate -- not just on the show floor, but on showroom floors everywhere throughout the year.
CNET breaks out the most important things to know when shopping for a new television.
In North America, the iPad's share of Web traffic is down slightly from a year ago September but up from July, new figures show.
The new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 are overshadowed by continued demand for the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Between April and June, a whopping 255.3 million Android-based smartphones were shipped worldwide.
Security experts gather again in Vegas to show off and debate the latest in hacks and flaws, focusing this year on the latest risks facing Net-connected devices.
The message to developers at Google's I/O fest this year was crystal clear: Android software will power everything from phones and cars to TVs and beyond.
Samsung Galaxy Gear watches made up 70 percent of the smartwatch market as shipments more than doubled in the first three months of 2014.
Apple is still king of the tablet market with 32.5 percent share, but Samsung keeps grabbing a bigger slice, according to IDC.
Apple captured a healthier chunk of smartphone sales across Europe, Japan, and Australia last quarter, says research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. It's a different story in the US.


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Cell-phone and laptop batteries could last up to 50 percent longer, thanks to a new type of display technology that’s being developed by Clairvoyante, a company based in Cupertino, CA. Clairvoyante announced last month that it was introducing technology that could allow cell-phone, digital-camera, and laptop makers to develop power-saving displays that could dynamically adjust their backlight and color intensity based on the color and brightness of the content.
Altering the intensity of a screen’s backlight isn’t a new idea. For instance, the forthcoming iPhone will include light sensors that determine how bright the backlight should be. But Clairvoyante approaches the problem from a different perspective. Its displays are based on a novel pixel architecture, which it calls PenTile: a pattern of red, green, blue, and white pixels (conventional displays rely on red, green, and blue only) combined with image-processing algorithms to adjust the brightness of individual pixels. By adding the extra white pixel into the mix, says Clairvoyante CEO Joel Pollack, a PenTile display gives brighter whites, darker blacks, and sharper fonts–a feature especially useful for small, handheld screens.
Pollack says that the PenTile pixels are 33 percent larger than conventional pixels. Because the pixels are larger, more light gets through. “Often we double the amount of light throughput,” Pollack explains, “so we can run at twice the brightness or half the power.” PenTile–which Pollack expects to first appear in products by early 2008–also includes algorithms that perform a “sharpening routine” to eliminate any sort of fuzziness around edges as well as moiré patterns, or image defects, that would normally come from the pixel arrangement.
In many cases, PenTile displays look better than traditional red-green-blue displays, says Pollack, but sometimes they don’t. Icons and some graphics in user interfaces and Web browsers can employ colors that “wouldn’t appear in nature,” he says, and PenTile has a difficult time recreating them. But because each pixel is individually controlled, it’s possible to turn down the white pixels, while turning up the backlight so it looks more like a typical red-green-blue display. This could be useful, Pollack says, in the case of someone building a cell phone that would run video–which could take advantage of all the PenTile pixels–and that would run conventional Web browsers or calendars, in which the backlight is turned up and white pixels are turned down.
Another power-saving technology that Clairvoyante is developing is designed to adjust to the brightness of a video as it is playing. Pollack explains that the chip that drives the display contains a number of logic gates dedicated to analyzing the color gamut of each frame of a video. At the recent Society for Information Display conference in Long Beach, CA, Clairvoyante demonstrated that this chip can analyze the colors in a given frame of video. In the next frame, it is able to make an adjustment to the panel backlight that maintains colors so that they look like traditional red-green-blue displays, says Pollack, while avoiding the constant use of maximum-intensity backlight. “Typically, we’re seeing movies with 40 to 50 percent power savings,” he says.
“I think it’s very interesting technology,” says Thrasyvoulos Pappas, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Northwestern University, in Evanston, IL. Over the past couple of years, Pappas has seen growing research interest in red-green-blue-white displays. “The white [pixel] gives you more flexibility,” he says. “The more flexibility you have, the more options you have to maximize performance.”
Pollack says that later this year, Clairvoyante will release software so that developers can put PenTile dynamic backlight technology into products.
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Yusen Logistics has started a less-than-container-load (LCL) service from Taiwan to Los Angeles.
The direct service sails from Keelung every Tuesday and arrives at Los Angeles 13 days later, and is supported by a domestic distribution network and inland point intermodal service to all major inland destinations in the United States, the logistics services provider said.
Yusen bolstered its provision of LCL services to match increased demand in flexible shipping options. Its transpacific network now includes more than 16 dedicated LCL options from Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China, as well as a complete full-container-load (FCL) service portfolio.
“As we continue to develop our LCL network, we’re seeing a marked shift in how our customers use the service. LCL is now serving as a transport option that supports improved order management and domestic distribution, given its flexibility and reliability,” said Joseph Goldman, director of operations for Yusen Logistics Americas. “We are also combining the service with our CHB (customshouse brokerage) product and dedicated deconsolidation facility in L.A. to really improve the overall efficiency and ease of importing from Asia.”


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Shazam denies that it is to release app that tags and finds clothing
Mobile app Shazam has denied that it is set to expand its offer from music and TV advertising to clothing with a fashion app set for release.
Shazam has contacted The Drum to deny the reports that it will release a fashion app - claiming that the initial report, which stemmed from an interview with The Guardian, was incorrect.
Said a spokesperson for the company: "Shazam is not working on a new app for fashion. While there have been a number of blog posts and news pieces written based on articles in the Guardian and Observer, many of them have misrepresented what the articles actually said. Shazam currently has a merchandising feature incorporated in its television tag result so that when you use Shazam to tag any show on 160 channels in the US, you can get information on the cast and show, including trivia, music in the broadcast, cast listing, etc. Currently, that merchandising feature lets people purchase show-specific/branded items as well as clothing similar to that which is featured in the programme. Andrew Fisher was referring to Shazam’s plans to continue innovating around that feature," they explained.
According to the Guardian, the native app-based service, which has worked on partnerships to promote brands such as Red Bull, Toyota, Coca-Cola and Pepsi by delivering extra content to users smartphones during Shazam-enabled adverts, and helping them recognise songs, was to aim to deliver sales to clothing brands through a new app.
'We have the ability to identify the product in a TV show so that when somebody Shazams it, they could find out where a presenter's dress is from in one click,' Shazam CEO Andrew Fisher told The Guardian.
"We are focused on creating a new category which we call media engagement. We make it easier for consumers to engage with a brand or a piece of content they are interested in, without having to go through search engines, then mining the results. That works with both TV programming and advertising: a 30-second slot can be turned into a three-minute brand engagement – and more,” he added.
In January the company released its list of the top 20 most tagged adverts.


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“The future ain’t what it used to be.”
What a year it’s been. Or should I say, considering the glacial pace of our vaccination roll-out, what a pair of years it’s going to be? Self-isolation has become the norm for many, periodic total lockdowns almost commonplace in some parts of the country. Masks are (hopefully) everywhere, even the best of friends are reluctant to hug, and words like mRNA (the “messenger” behind the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (the blood clotting plaguing AstraZeneca) have become part of our daily lexicon. I don’t think baseball’s most famous catcher had any idea how prescient he was being when he foretold that our future would not be what it used to be.
Certainly, no one could have predicted the automotive business’ topsy-turvy reaction to SARS-CoV-2. Oh, the slump last spring — April 2020 sales were off some 80 per cent from the year before — was predictable enough, but no one, not even the Oracle of Omaha himself, Warren Buffett, could have foreseen the incredible rebound the auto industry experienced starting late in 2020. Auto plants closed, so prices of used cars soared — as much as 30 per cent from the lows of April 2020, says Manheim USA. The Prime Minister handed out free money — CERB and EI doled out no less than $81.46 billion between March 15 and October 3 last year — and Canadians, with no vacations to take nor bars to hit, spent all that manna from heaven on their next favourite purchase, a new car.
Despite that incredible slump last spring, auto sales were only down 19 per cent overall — and trucks just 14 per cent — the latter half of 2020, constrained more by supply than demand. And even if the rebound isn’t complete — March 2021 was 3.6 per cent behind the same month in 2019 — should sales continue apace, the industry is once again tracking to sell 1.9 million units this year!
Nonetheless, Canadians remain worried — at least that’s what the “Global Automotive Consumer Study” from Deloitte seems to say — and the biggest casualty will be the industry’s latest darlings, electric vehicles. According to the world’s largest professional services network, only seven per cent of Canadians say they are considering shopping for a battery-powered vehicle this year, a precipitous drop from the 13 per cent who were considering them last year. Even hybrids seem to be taking a hit, only 31 per cent of Canadians considering partial electrification this year, compared with 37 per cent in 2020. All told, Deloitte says 13 per cent more Canadians will shop for old-school gasoline and diesel-fueled vehicles this year than last, a huge slap in the face for all those manufacturers — Jaguar, General Motors and Volvo, to name but a few — that have committed to eliminating internal combustion from their products between 2025 and 2035.
The reason, says Ryan Robinson, Deloitte Canada’s automotive research leader, is that Canadians are still “generally concerned” about the economy. Despite the vast monies being spent on personal transportation — RVs, off-road motorcycles, and ATVs, like cars, are also selling like gangbusters — Canadians are looking more parsimonious than ever when it comes to how much they’re willing to spend when it comes to the environment.
For instance, some 77 per cent of us are unwilling to spend more than $50,000 on an EV, which, as Deloitte points out, leaves them little selection. Even more telling is that fully 45 per cent are unwilling to spend more than 35 grand, a completely unrealistic ask unless you live in Quebec and the vehicle you’re scoping qualifies for La Belle Province’s full $13,000 ZEV subsidy.
More discouraging, at least to those continuing to predict an imminent EV revolution, is that Canadians seem more concerned about maintaining their creature comforts — e.g., air conditioning, spacious interiors, et al — than reducing their carbon footprint. A third, says Deloitte, are unwilling to pay anything for an alternative engine. A further 25 per cent are only willing to pay $600 extra for a battery-powered vehicle and, farther up the scale, another 32 per cent are unwilling to pay more than three grand. Despite the industry’s long-running promise that price parity is right around the corner — check out the price difference between a base Hyundai Kona and the EV version for context — that would seem a totally unrealistic expectation for the near term. Add it all up and it means 88 per cent of the population said they will not consider a battery-electric vehicle without serious subsidization.
That also raises some questions as to how long this generous incentivization can last, since, as Reynolds notes, every EV sold not only costs the federal government $5,000 in subsidies, but also robs it of the expansive — and expanding — taxes levied on fossil fuels. These won’t be easily replaced, says Robinson, if for no other reason that, with 74 per cent of future EV owners expecting to charge their EVs at home, it will be very difficult for governments to differentiate between traditional energy use (heating, appliances, etc.), which is untaxed, and the energy used to fuel their cars, which traditionally is. If automakers can’t reach that long-promised price parity — and, as I have said, there’s been precious little evidence they can yet — government coffers, now thoroughly drained by the pandemic, are going to be hard-pressed to continue to fund our conversion to lithium-ion.
As for how we will buy our cars — be they battery- or ICE-powered — Deloitte has a few surprises for those predicting a totally digital shopping experience. Simply put, Canadians don’t want it. Oh, there’s a huge demand for conducting more shopping online, but there seems to be little demand amongst Canadians to actually buy their cars straight off the Internet. More surprisingly, especially to those thinking that consumers want to circumvent the traditional sales network, the vast preponderance of Canadians insist they want to visit their dealer as part of the test drive/financial transaction process.
So, even though half of 18- to 34-year-olds would prefer to complete the finance application on a computer, almost 50 per cent of those would rather that said computer was at a dealership. Only 13 per cent — and remember this is the most tech-literate cohort ever — want to complete the transaction by mobile phone. That same age group is also the same buyer most likely to purchase a new car primarily “due to the need to maintain social distancing.” Overall, despite the pandemic, 81 per cent of Canadians want an in-person “face-to-face at the dealership” transaction when picking up their new vehicle. Unsurprisingly, those 55 and older — fully 91 per cent — prefer this option. Indeed, the vast majority of Canadians still want to see — and test drive — a vehicle before laying down their hard-earned cash. Only three per cent say they are “very likely” to buy a car without driving it, with a further 10 per cent stating they might consider it.
Much more surprising is Canadians’ attitude toward “virtual servicing.” Overall, almost 60 per cent of Canadians are “interested in having their vehicle picked up from their home or office” when it needs service — but only if it’s free. Only 13 per cent “would pay a reasonable fee” for the service. Worse yet — and a real challenge for those considering emulating Genesis and its “at home” business model — a whopping 41 per cent of those 55 and older, prime purchasers of premium cars, don’t want their cars delivered or picked up, even if it’s free.
Despite the radical changes it has wrought, the pandemic may not have dramatically curtailed auto sales, but it certainly has changed the way we go about our business. And it looks that, at least temporarily, the biggest casualties are what were — just a year ago — the electrification and digital sales revolutions sweeping the industry.


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Survey: The Business Value of Real-Time Streaming
Almost every time we talk about "next-generation streaming," one goal rises to the top: delivering a real-time stream to almost any point of the globe, synchronized close enough between devices that anything from gameshows to sports books can use the stream to advance their business objectives.
Given that aspiration, which has been part of ongoing conversations for more than a quarter of a century, it's not surprising there's been significant research and development effort over the years focused on making this idea a reality.
As pointed out in my recent Streaming Media Sourcebook article "The State of Real-Time Streaming," these efforts seem to come in waves. And while each of the four previous five-year waves of R&D effort made some progress toward the goal of delivering content across the globe at scale, each has invariably suffered from a lack of scalability,
This most recent wave has been different enough, with significant R&D breakthrough on a number of fronts, that there's been a shift in the last two years from discussing the technical merits to rolling out actual real-time streaming platforms. Alongside those rollouts, we've been able to start thinking about the business value and key use cases.
As part of that effort, the team at Streaming Media, alongside a key sponsor and the Help Me Stream Research Foundation, today launched a survey focused on the business value of real-time streaming.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY
We want your personal and professional perspective on the business value of real-time streaming, and we encourage anyone in the streaming industry who's ever dreamed of rolling out this type of solution to take the survey over the next few weeks.
For purposes of the survey, we are defining real-time streaming as being "device-synchronized delivery to hundreds of thousands of viewers at less than 500 milliseconds per user."
One area that the survey covers is the benefits organizations might derive from the use of real-time streaming for their customer base. Sports organizations, from broadcasters to team owners to the leagues the teams play in, are some of the most likely to benefit from real-time streaming. As such, the survey asks questions about personal sports consumption, so all you sports fans will want to head on over to the surveyto tell us how you watch the “big game” on multiple devices. While you're there, also tell us about whether you or our organization are interested in sports book and microwagering, another trend that goes hand-in-hand with sports viewership by rabid fan and casual fan alike.
Those who complete the survey, which is anonymous, also have an option to leave their email address to be entered into a drawing to win Meta Quest 2 VR headset.
New 2023 Spring edition of State of Streaming survey launches, shows shifting focus
The pandemic highlighted the need for ultra-low-latency video. Here's a look at how the industry has responded, from LL-HLS and DASH to WebRTC
Millicast Chief Revenue Officer Ryan Jespersen discusses how WebRTC reduces streaming latency in this clip from Streaming Media Connect 2022.
Rather than focusing on random tasks, this tutorial will walk you through the fundamentals of encoding for low latency HLS with FFmpeg, OBS, Mux Video, and THEOplayer
Where and how does "real time" fit into your workflows in this "COVID and beyond" era? Similar to global wars accelerating advances in medicine such as plastic surgery, COVID has pushed all of us working in streaming media to rethink, innovate, optimise, and rebuild many components of our day-to-day responsibilities.
Agora.io's Brad Altfest discusses global trends in real-time engagement in online and OTT video, ways to create shared, enhanced real-time experiences, and the technologies that enable them in this clip from his presentation at Streaming Media East Connect 2021.


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It is incredibly complicated and without it designers are worthless.
So what is Intellectual Property (IP)? It is the absolute value of everything we as designers produce. Its why the client pays your invoice, but ultimately IP is what you have created and what a client is buying.
If you pick up a pencil and piece of paper, sketch out the new logo for your new company ‘Paul Mellor Enterprises’…. that is IP. Perhaps you could call it the X-Factor of the logo. Therefore it‘s the most important thing in any designers life, so why do so many designers still have no clue about IP nor its value?
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has four different types of IP; Patents, Design Rights, Copyright and Trademarks. I attended an IPO event last month at the Design Council, there were a number of highly regarded keynote speakers discussing just Design Rights. I have a good understanding of IP and I still found it incredibly complicated to follow. How is the layman expected to understand IP when a room of noted speakers disagree on certain aspects?
To demonstrate how complicated and valuable IP is there are a few high profile ‘patent wars’ currently being fought between some BIG players;
1. Apple claims that the Android operating system in both mobile and tablet devices infringes on the IP of their Operating System (OS), Samsung in particular has come into Apple’s firing line.
2. In response Samsung has cited Apple has infringed on it’s Android adapted OS and it’s smartphones.
3. Dyson has claimed for the last few years that VAX and Dirt Devil have infringed on the patents and design rights surrounding the DC02. The VAX alternative, the Mach Zen was released after the DC002 and Dyson feels it too closely matches their designs and ultimately has cost Dyson in lost revenue. As recently as this week, The Court of Appeal rejected Dyson’s claims that their IP has been infringed and therefore VAX is free to continue selling their Mach Zen.
4. Google recently bought a section of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, a huge sum of money but they purchased the business because it owns swathes of patents of huge value. They plan to use these patents as part of their very expensive arsenal in their continued battles against Apple.
5. Fashion house Louboutin has been in a long running legal dispute with YSL over the protection of the famous red soles on their stilettos. YSL won a preliminary ruling saying that Louboutin could not trademark the use of red soles. The battle has become increasingly fraught and surprisingly Tiffany the jeweller’s have come out supporting Louboutin. You might think it’s because they are best buddies but the business brains among you will realise that Tiffany has trademarked their distinctive Blue colour and if Louboutin lose in their efforts to trademark red then Tiffany will be next in the firing line!
6. The world of pop is not immune, Rihanna’s latest video took ‘inspiration’ from David LaChapelle. Mimicking dance moves, sequences and most importantly styling. She did this without permission and therefore LaChapelle claimed Rihanna had infringed on his IP and was understandably angry. Rihanna has rather large pockets and so an out of court settlement was agreed a few weeks ago.
So we come back to the ‘Value of IP’, Apple sold more than 17 million iPhones during the last quarter bringing in $10.98 billion from iPhones alone. If Samsung stops Apple from selling it’s iPhones it will cost Apple billions of Dollars every month!
In 2011’s second quarter Motorola shipped 11 million mobile devices, 440,000 of those were Motorola’s Xoom tablet devices. In other words because the IP protecting the way the iPad works is so effective it meant Motorola was forced to scrape the crumbs under Apple’s table and therefore created a shocker of product costing them billions!!
Google bought 13,000 patents when they acquired Motorola Mobility, simple maths suggests that they value Motorola’s patents at just under $1 million each!
Unfortunately not every designer is lucky enough to work with Apple, Dyson, Samsung or Louboutin on a regular basis however ignorance is not a defence, so it is a designers responsibility to make sure they get a grip on the IP of their designs. Both making sure they are not infringing on anyone else’s IP and that they know the value of what they have created.
Don’t stick your head in the sand!
Paul Mellor, Design Director


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(NaturalNews) Scientists are calling upon solar panel manufacturers to set up a recycling infrastructure for their products now, before the supposedly green industry becomes the next major source of toxic e-waste.
Already electronics from televisions to cell phones and computers have become notorious for producing large quantities of toxic waste, including metals such as cadmium, selenium and silicon tetrachloride, and the greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride.
"Electronic waste is emerging as one of the central challenges of our era," writes Mark Schapiro in the book Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power.
Researcher Dustin Mulvaney of the University of California-Berkeley recently conducted a analysis of all solar panels on the market, and found major toxics concerns with every variety.
The oldest and most prevalent type of panel, crystalline photovoltaic, is made with lead. Newer thin film panels, holding 21 percent of the market share, contain cadmium, which has been linked to lung and kidney damage and can be fatal in large quantities.
"It's gene toxic and a mutagen, so it has the ability to affect DNA, meaning it could affect reproduction and future generations' DNA," Mulvaney said.
Amorphous silicon panels, holding 16 percent of the market share, and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) panels, holding 6 percent, are both made with indium tin oxide, another hazardous substance. CIGS panels also contain cadmium.
Solar panels are designed to last 20 years, so manufacturers are giving little thought to the end of their product's life cycle, yet transport breakage and factory scrap are already producing waste. With U.S. solar demand projected to increase 50 percent per year for the next two years, photovoltaic waste is a potential disaster in the making.
"If you don't look at the recycling when you're designing the product, then it's really, really difficult to recycle," said Sheila Davis, executive director of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. "But if you know you're going to have to pay for the recycling at the end of life, you might make the necessary design changes in your product now to reduce that cost."
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The government recently instructed shops to return to the price of goods as it was around March.
Said Biti, “There is a price implosion in markets with the price of basic commodities shooting up by a factor of 400% since the lockdown on 30 March.Regrettably, price spike is also in US$ terms reflecting that Issue is political reflective of a broken social contract
“The price controls imposed by the regime are counterproductive. Shops have removed goods from shelves while in many instances they have ignored the directive& increased prices. Citizens should challenge controls in courts as they will cause more fragility in these #covid times.”
Biti said the future of Zimbabwe cannot be entrusted to a clueless party like ZANU PF.
“The mismanagement of the economy by this regime, the lies it has unleashed. The suffering it has caused including, mismanagement of monetary policy & FX, the 2% IMT Tax, fuel increases and duties, shortages, corruption, poverty, and unemployment are unpardonable. Emmerson has failed.
“An alternative disruptive consensus is urgently required to save our Zimbabwe. The present and future cannot be entrusted to the murderous, incompetent, clueless, predatory lot that has completely hijacked people s aspirations and dreams. A new consensus is about #Transformation.”


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What's App - AppCampus Blog
This is the official AppCampus Blog. Stay tuned for the latest news about AppCampus, AppCademy, Windows Phone apps and events.
AppCampus, the joint program by Aalto University and Microsoft, has created high-quality and innovative new apps
AppCampus, the three-year mobile acceleration program now ending, has helped app developers becoming entrepreneurs and in creating high-quality and more innovative mobile applications than the average.
Besserwisser goes camping, part 2 - It's all about "why?"
On the first day they asked us: “Why?” After two weeks they still asked us – “Why?”
Come see what's cooking at AppCampus!
Want to see the coolest new apps in development for Windows Phone? Another awesome batch of AppCademy is inhabitating the AppSpace, and they are showcasing their fruits of labour on the upcoming Friday 30th of Jan at 11 am onwards. We welcome all to come to the free event and visit our Open Doors day. We have teams from Italy, Ireland, Czech Republic, Finland, USA, Jordan, India and China.


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Marius Berlemann, the youthful global head of the ProWein wine and spirit fairs run by Messe Düsseldorf, freely admits that the company’s first ProWine exhibitions in Shanghai were not instant successes. “We were early in the market,” he says, and it was not easy to attract the number and calibre of Chinese buyers he was looking for. But 2018, he says, “was the year”.
Teaming up with the organisers of the 22-year-old Food & Hotel China fair helped to build momentum, especially in a region where the term F&B often involves the same people being responsible for buying food and beverage. But it was not until the fifth edition of the event in November 2018 that ProWine finally seemed to hit its stride. The area taken up by exhibitors was a fifth larger than in previous years, with some 750 companies represented, from 39 countries. Visitor numbers were also up by a third, to almost 19,000. For Berlemann, it wasn’t just the numbers, but also the nature of the visitors. “We are getting people from cities like Xinjiang, Guangdong and Liaoning that we never saw before, and more from Beijing,” he says, also pointing out the new presence of Chinese companies such as importer Easy Cellar, and Great Wall, the giant state-owned producer. The senior team from Changyu, another of the big domestic producers, were also spotted.
While long-term exhibitors including Frederich Helfrich of Grands Chais de France were even busier than in previous years, and pouring wines ranged from Vins de France to Grands Crus Classés, the undeniable star of the show was the large Australian pavilion which occupied an entire end of one of the halls. Under the heading of ‘Australian Wine Made Our Way’, almost four dozen producers were squeezed into tiny booths that would have been a challenge to an overweight exhibitor.
The combination of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and Australia’s new AU$50m ($35.8m) Export and Regional Wine Support Package had already helped lift exports to China by almost 25% over the previous year to more than A$1bn. The buzz surrounding tastings at ProWine of ‘next wave’ Shiraz from Victoria, Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, and McLaren Vale alternative varieties, offered little sign of that growth slowing, especially given the total removal of import duty this year.
Ross Sheppard of Capel Vale Winery in Western Australia said that after several years of exporting substantial quantities of wine to China, he was struck by the speed at which wine knowledge is growing. “When I first came here, people were basically interested in Bordeaux or wine that looked and tasted like Bordeaux,” he said. “Now, they are asking detailed questions about where wines come from and how they are made.”
A different critical path
ProWein itself hosted a conference for the international press at its Shanghai event, at which Professor Simone Loose of Geisenheim University presented the results of an international industry survey that places China, Brazil and Russia at the head of the list of countries to which producers expect to be increasing their exports. The UK, unhappily came last. Other speakers included one of China’s top online influencers, Terry Xu, who shocked journalists by admitting that he and others like him are essentially guns for hire, ready to promote wines they might not always particularly like. Those same members of the wine media were interested to see Mr Xu again, a few hours later, when he joined another leading influencer, Lady Penguin, and a number of top importers, educators and sommeliers to pick up their awards at the 6th annual Wine Australia China Awards.
For all the atmosphere of confidence and optimism at this event and at the exhibition itself, there was one cloud on the ProWine horizon. During the fair, Vinexpo announced that it would be entering the Shanghai market with a 2019 event just three weeks before the German-owned fair. Whether this was a response to ProWein having strayed onto Vinexpo’s Hong Kong turf with its own event in the former British colony, or simply a reaction to the vibrant Chinese market, remains to be seen.


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- Qualcomm accuses Apple of stealing intellectual property and giving it to Intel
Qualcomm Inc. accused Apple Inc. of funneling proprietary information about the chip supplier’s technology to rival Intel Corp., broadening a long-running legal battle between two companies central to the smartphone industry.
- For Apple, U.S.-China trade fight grows riskier
Apple Inc. dodged stinging duties on its smartwatches and wireless earbuds after the U.S. excluded those gadgets from tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, though the tech giant still faces retaliatory measures being weighed by China that could strike iPhone production there.
- Smartphones’ upsell game already priced out
Samsung expects customers to pay a starting price of $999 for the Galaxy Note 9, about 5 per cent more than the starting price of last year’s Galaxy Note model, and Apple Inc. has been boosting the prices on its smartphones as well. But buyers may already be tiring of the game.
- Twitter bucks Silicon Valley trend, opts not to ban Alex Jones
Late on Tuesday, Twitter Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey tweeted that his platform wouldn’t join other social networks in banning parts or all of Mr. Jones’s controversial content. His reason: Mr. Jones hadn’t violated Twitter policy, which bans bullying or threatening behaviour but not posts that are merely offensive to many.
- While music streaming sales surge, singers still get paid a song
According a report Monday by Citigroup, musicians received just 12 per cent of the $43 billion (U.S.) in sales generated from their work in the U.S. last year, including revenue from CD sales, on-demand streaming, advertisements on YouTube, radio royalties and concert tickets.


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Kenya’s economy thrives on small businesses commonly known as SMEs. Statistics show that 90 percent of businesses in Kenya are SMEs which are supporting the livelihood of millions of Kenyans across all the social classes.
For the past five years, however, more than 50,000 Small Medium Enterprises have closed shop in Kenya. This has left millions of Kenyans, the majority of them being the youth jobless with nowhere to turn for help.
According to statistics, more than 150,000 direct jobs have been lost in Kenya for the past one year alone. This actually spells doom to the economy. The government and other agencies have often stated their commitment to rectify the situation and bail out the economic ailing Kenyans without actually trying to figure out the real reasons why these SMEs are packing their bags.
First, one major killer of SMEs in Kenya is corruption. For a business to thrive in Kenya, it all depends on do you know anybody syndrome. All the way from setting up a business, trying to register a business as well as getting the legal permit to operate, corruption is the ruler of them all. This has led to many young SMEs giving up along the way and opting out of the business.
The second is that Kenya has become an unfriendly economy for small businesses. The cost of living has just skyrocketed at the expense of the poverty-stricken majority who are left with nothing but to consume their capital and opt-out of the business. The Kenyan economy at the moment only serves the big boys with the small boys being left to fend for themselves.
Thirdly, inadequate laws and guidelines to protect SMEs in the country. many SMEs fear setting up know and registered businesses due to heavy taxation as well as complicated rules that are involved in the process.


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Indian Railways starts new OTP-based refund on cancelled tickets
Click here to read full article from source
New Delhi, Oct. 29 -- Indian Railways has introduced an OTP (one-time password)-based refund by authorised railway ticketing agents of state-owned, Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), to ensure speedy refund for passengers.
The refund amount will be applicable against cancelled or waitlisted ticket booked by around 1.7 lakh authorized agents.
"This is aimed to bring in a transparent and customer friendly refund system for reserved e-tickets which are cancelled or which are fully waitlisted dropped tickets," Indian Railways said on Tuesday, adding that the new system will be implemented by IRCTC.
"The objective of the scheme is to streamline the cancellation refund process further so that cancellation amount i...
To read the full article or to get the complete feed from this publication, please Contact Us


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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - You need to restart your home and business network routers as soon as possible. The FBI issued this alert after a major Russian hack.
Federal investigators say hundreds of thousands of routers worldwide have been impacted.
The FBI says the malware is able to render routers inoperable. It can collect information, exploit devices, and block web traffic.
Officials say there's a simple step you can take to protect yourself. The FBI urges you simply turn your router off, and then back on.
The agency also suggests turning off any remote access feature.
You should also consider changing your password, and, updating your firmware.
- FBI alerts consumers to restart router over hacking concerns
- CDC advises US consumers not to eat romaine lettuce because of E. coli concerns
- Scammers are Finding New Ways to Hack into Mobile Devices
- Study Finds Missouri Election Systems are Vulnerable to Hacking
- Healthy hacks for keeping your New Year's resolution: Weight loss
- Finance hacks for keeping your New Year's resolution: Saving
- Colt will stop making AR-15 rifles for consumers
- FDA warns consumers to stop using THC vaping products
- Flooding concerns grow for Rushville
- Apple accuses Google researchers of 'stoking fear' about iPhone hack


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Retail Bum is looking to further grow its platform by expanding on its existing content team. With any raised funding, we would like to increase the volume of our daily distributed content, break into new categories within retail and commerce and develop innovative products that resonate with our reader base.
Why Retail Bum?
In just over 12 months, Retail Bum has quickly garnered readership among top C-level executives in the retail and eCommerce industry. …
Adidas, Nike and Under Armour are facing significant supply chain challenges with COVID-19 related closures in Vietnam, the second largest footwear supplier to the United States after China, continuing to hamper production.
Footwear factories, which were the first shut down in July, have remained closed for nine weeks straight. With the 2021 holiday season around the corner, these closures are proving particularly problematic for footwear and apparel brands.
According to a recent note from BTIG’s lifestyle and wellness analyst Camilo Lyon, brands such as Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, and Deckers Outdoor’s Hoka business are the most likely to sustain an…
Digital identity verification and fraud solutions provider, Socure, has appointed Scott Slipy as its chief people officer.
Prior to joining Socure, Slipy most recently held the role of chief people and human resources officer at financial software and workflow platform, Symphony.
Slipy is expected to bring his knowledge and expertise from working in executive roles at various major firms such as Microsoft, Cisco and UnitedHealth Group as well as earlier-stage businesses to further establish the company’s leadership development, organization design, inclusivity and culture.
“Scott is a highly accomplished leader with a deep commitment to developing a high-performance culture where everyone…
French luxury conglomerate, LVMH, has announced the launch of new initiatives to expand and train its workforce, exclusively focussing on younger millennials and Gen Z workers.
The company plans to recruit 25,000 new hires under the age of 30 worldwide in addition to 2,500 permanent contract workers. The hiring spree will add to the company’s existing workforce of 165,000 employees. Furthermore, the company plans to offer apprenticeship and internship opportunities to 5,000 candidates as part of its broader international recruitment drive.
LVMH is also opening up access to its educational platform, which is available at INSIDELVMH.com, to further support its…
PetSmart has launched a comprehensive, one-stop online destination for the medical needs of cats, dogs and livestock called The Pharmacy at PetSmart.
“The Pharmacy at PetSmart is an exciting new way to help our customers access medications for pets quickly and conveniently,” said Kristin Shane, SVP of merchandising at PetSmart. “Whether you’re ordering your prescriptions for your dog or cat, on petsmart.com or our mobile app we’ll make sure you get exactly what your pet needs to thrive delivered right to your door.”
Through the new offering, PetSmart customers with an active prescription from their pet’s veterinarian can fill anything…
Outdoor furniture retailer, Outer, is eyeing international growth on the heels of its $50 million investment round.
The Series B funding was led by Capital Today’s Kathy Xu and supported by Tribe Capital, C Ventures and Upfront Ventures. The company’s existing investors, Sequoia Capital China and Mucker Capital, also participated in the investment round.
The company plans to also use the funding for developing sustainable materials, build an eco-friendly supply chain, expand product offerings and reach new customers.
“Our work in sustainable materials isn’t stopping at recycled plastics,” Liu said in a statement. “We are working on new, eco-friendly fabrics…
Roku and Shopify are teaming up to launch a new app that will enable Shopify merchants to easily build, buy and measure TV streaming advertising campaigns across their marketing funnel.
“At Shopify, we’re focused on helping our merchants reach more consumers, boost their sales, and build thriving businesses,” said Amir Kabbara, Director of Product, Shopify.
“By launching the new Roku app in the Shopify App Store, merchants can bring their products directly to TV screens, while allowing consumers to discover exciting new brands right from their living room.”
The new offering is slated to launch in advance of the holiday…
London-based retailer MatchesFashion has appointed Paolo de Cesare as its new chief executive.
“Proud to be joining Matchesfashion as their new CEO. The company pioneered luxury e-commerce and will continue to innovate and delight the most demanding global customers,” De Cesare said on Linkedin.
De Cesare holds more than 30 years of experience in luxury and retail and over the past 12 years, he has served as the president and CEO at the Printemps Group. In his position, De Cesare led the group’s efforts to revamp its physical store business and build customer proposition with a focus on luxury.
Visa has unveiled several new benefits for U.S. cardholders in an effort to drive engagement and customer spend.
New benefits include access to free same-day delivery for groceries and essential household products, access to online learning tools as well as free concert tickets.
“We’re always looking to bring diverse and desirable experiences to Visa cardholders in ways that help create value in how they shop every day,” said Brian Cole, head of product, North America, Visa.
“These new benefit providers enhance our refreshed credit benefits portfolio to deliver special access for Visa consumer credit cardholders.”
The company has partnered with…
Pet retailer Chewy has launched a veterinarian-only marketplace that has been designed to streamline pharmacy operations and boost revenue for veterinary clinics.
The company’s new Practice Hub platform bridges veterinarians’ need for a complete eCommerce solution and access to Chewy’s various benefits and services, including quick and reliable delivery, notable customer service and auto-ship subscription enablement. Additionally, veterinarians who use the service can set prices, create pre-approved prescriptions and earn revenue when customers place an order in-clinic or purchase from them while shopping online.


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EL SEGUNDO, CALIF.—Shipments of flat-panel televisions in the United States are expected to decline by 7 percent in the second half of 2013 as the holiday season delivers little reprieve from the long-term slowdown in domestic demand. Black Friday sales are expected to be flat.
A total of 20.1 million liquid-crystal display (LCD) and plasma television sets are forecast to be shipped in the United States in the second half of 2013, down from 21.6 million during the same period in 2012, according to the latest US Television Market Tracker report from IHS Inc. With the majority of TV sales occurring during the last six months of every year, the second-half decrease will set the stage for the second consecutive annual decline for the U.S. flat-panel television market.
“Driven by holiday sales, the second half of the year is always critical for determining the fate of the U.S. TV market,” said Veronica Thayer, analyst for consumer electronics and technology at IHS. “However, even with TV brands offering lower prices during this year’s Black Friday than they did in 2012, sales in the second half will decelerate sharply. The U.S. television market continues to be stymied by the long-term slowdown in replacement and secondary purchases, with most U.S. homes already owning one or more flat-screen televisions.”
U.S. flat-panel TV shipments for the full year of 2013 are expected to fall to 34.1 million, down 9 percent from 37.3 million in 2012. This follows a 6 percent loss in 2012.
Television sales during Black Friday and other promotional days this holiday season are expected to generate about the same level of consumer activity as in 2012. However, the sales surge this year will not carry over to the rest of the holiday season, with overall Christmas demand expected to weaken compared to last year.
“When the promotions stop, TV purchasing will stop as well, because U.S. consumers are increasingly sensitive to price,” Thayer noted. “An IHS survey indicates that 43 percent of consumers now believe pricing is a major driver in their television purchasing decisions, up from 28 percent one year ago.”
On Black Friday, television brands and retailers are expected to offer price promotions on sets with larger screen sizes of 50-inches and bigger. Strong competition is anticipated to drive prices for these sets to lower levels than last year.
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Top Five MPU Suppliers Expand Share of Sales to 86% in 2021
June 30, 2022Total microprocessor sales are expected to maintain double-digit percentage growth in 2022, rising nearly 12% to a record-high $114.8 billion, thanks to higher average selling prices (ASPs).
LG accelerates its EV charger business
June 29, 2022LG Electronics announces it has acquired South Korean electric vehicle charger solutions provider, AppleMango Co., Ltd., jointly with GS Energy and GS Neotek.
Scania to accelerate electrification with Keysight
June 29, 2022Swedish manufacturer of heavy transport vehicles, Scania, establishes a battery laboratory with Keysight’s Scienlab battery test solutions.
NCAB Group acquires Kestrel in the UK
June 23, 2022PCB supplier NCAB announces that it has acquired 100% of the shares in Kestrel International Circuits Ltd from the Merlin PCB Group Ltd.
Sivers Semiconductors completes the integration of MixComm
June 23, 2022Swedish Sivers Semiconductors says it has completed the integration of MixComm, creating a challenger in 5G, SATCOM and radar.
ABB opens its largest DC fast charger production facility in Italy
June 22, 2022ABB E-mobility has officially opening of the company’s largest DC fast charger production site to date - the E-mobility Centre of Excellence in Valdarno, Tuscany.
Smith adds 30,000 square feet of space in Houston
June 21, 2022The distributor of electronic components has officially opened its new global services hub in Houston, Texas. The new location adds 30,000 square feet of space for the company’s services.
Samsung invests in Israeli AI systems & semiconductor company
June 20, 2022Samsung Ventures has made an investment in NeuReality, an Israeli AI systems and semiconductor company.
TÜV Rheinland opens test centre for EV drive batteries
June 20, 2022TÜV Rheinland has opened a new European test center for electrical vehicle drive batteries at the Dutch–German Avantis business park.
TF-AMD expands with new manufacturing site in Malaysia
June 17, 2022TF-AMD Microelectronics plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Penang with the construction of a second site at Batu Kawan Industrial Park, Penang. A move set to create more than 3,000 new jobs.
ZF launches expanded facility in Hyderabad
June 14, 2022ZF strengthens its technology footprint in India with the launch of an expanded facility in Hyderabad to support the company's plan to grow to 5'000 engineers in the near future.
Altair expands and acquires Concept Engineering
June 14, 2022Computational science and artificial intelligence company, Altair, has acquired Concept Engineering, a provider of electronic system visualization software.
LEO satellite business booming - driving global output value
June 13, 2022In 2022, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom will actively promote the deployment of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
ST continues to grow in Morocco – opens new clean room
June 10, 2022STMicroelectronics has officially opened its new clean room – dedicated to silicon carbide products – at its location in Bouskoura, Morocco.
An unavoidable issue getting too little attention
June 10, 2022Obsolescence is unavoidable, it can happen at any stage of the supply chain, and if there are no tools or strategies to handle it in place – it can be very costly.
Global semiconductor market expected to grow 16.3% in 2022
June 08, 2022Following a strong growth year of 26.2% in the year 2021, World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) expects another year of double-digit growth for the worldwide semiconductor market in 2022 with a forecast of USD 646 billion, up 16.3%, reports ESIA.
TI on top of the world as the biggest analog IC supplier
June 08, 2022With analog sales of USD 14.1 billion and 19% marketshare, Texas Instruments maintained its firm grip as the world’s leading supplier of analog devices in 2021.
Allegro MicroSystems to acquire Heyday Integrated Circuits
June 02, 2022Sensing and power semiconductor solutions provider Allegro MicroSystems announces the entry into an agreement to acquire Heyday Integrated Circuits, specialising in compact, fully-integrated isolated gate drivers that enable energy conversion in high-voltage gallium nitride and silicon carbide wide-bandgap semiconductor designs.
Semiconductor growth still seen at 11% despite 2022 headwindsLoad more news
June 02, 2022New quarterly update shows higher gains in microprocessors and power discretes this year, but lowers sales increases in optoelectronics while the global economy faces greater risks, according to a new report from IC Insights.


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HARNESSING THE START UP SPIRIT
Corporate accelerators are touted as a way for large companies to embrace innovation and mitigate rapid change. Thepeak speaks to managers of accelerators in Hong Kong to find out what works, what doesn’t, and how to get the most out of start-up land.
Corporate accelerators is a way for large companies to embrace innovation and mitigate rapid change– we speak to managers of accelerators in Hong Kong to find out what works, what doesn’t, and how to get the most out of start-up land
Infiniti Motors jumped into the world of start-ups in 2015. “Car companies are slow,” says Infiniti’s General Manager Dane Fisher as he explains why the Japanese luxury auto manufacturer decided to enter the start-up space at a relatively glacial pace.
“Although we try and be as agile as we can, it takes five to six years to build and develop a car. Start-ups live in the now, they work in very rapid environments; they go quick, fail fast.”
We’re sitting in the Wan Chai space specifically designed for hosting the company’s Infiniti Lab – a 12-week accelerator programme dedicated to smart cities and internet of things (IOT) innovation. Although Fisher says he isn’t allowed to share how much Infiniti is investing in dollar terms, the company is rolling out new accelerator programs in around 12 different markets within the next year: Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Toronto and Dubai are all on the list.
For Infiniti, the metrics are straightforward. If they are able to help entrepreneurs, bring cultural change to the company and reinforce the message of the brand – that’s the base measure of success.
“[The accelerator] speaks to the customers that we’re ultimately selling to, the people we call progressive challengers,” says Fisher. “They’re really entrepreneurial in nature, they’re premium consumers and they love technology, but they buy technology to enable them to achieve more in life.”
In this way, Infiniti feel they’ve already succeeded. They have supported start-ups such as Green City Solutions, which developed the Citytree – an air-filtering panel of moss that cleans the air by filtering out harmful pollutants at the same rate as 275 trees. They also worked with Precision Services Limited, which has created a foldable Bluetooth-connected electric bicycle.
As for cultural change, Infiniti is looking to adopt some of the efficiency and speed of working that the start-ups have set an example for. For one, it’s looking to adopt a policy that would force internal presentations to become more concise, by limiting the number of Powerpoint slides to five.
“Start-ups have to ask investors for millions in five minutes – why do we as a corporate have to use 40-50 Powerpoint slides when we’re trying to get decisions across?” Fisher asks. “We’re trying to simplify that and use start-up thinking even in our high level decision-making process.”
The company has also set up an internal innovation programme for staff to generate ideas, and has promised to implement three of the winning solutions.
But where Infiniti is really looking to see an impact is by getting a glimpse into the future of the car industry. Fisher imagines we will soon live in a world where most people don’t drive, but will own a car that can be programmed to take them to work and their kids to school, freeing up that time for other activities. “It will change people’s lives irreversibly,” he said.
AHEAD OF THE CURVE
While there are infrastructure and regulatory challenges to overcome, many big companies are keen to stay ahead by working closely with start-ups.
“[Companies] don’t want to miss out and be unaware of a technology that is eating
“[COMPANIES] DON’T WANT TO MISS OUT AND BE UNAWARE OF A TECHNOLOGY THAT IS EATING AWAY THEIR MARKET SHARE. TO THE UNINITIATED, BY THE TIME IT’S ON THEIR RADAR, IT’S TOO BIG”
– Lawrence Morgan, Nest
away their market share,” says Lawrence Morgan, chief executive officer at Nest, an investment incubator that helps Infiniti and other corporations implement accelerator programmes. “To the uninitiated, by the time it’s on their radar, it’s too big.”
Morgan explains that accelerator programmes are akin to a market scanner. “[They allow you to know] early on who is gaining success in your industry – be that small start-ups or be that incumbents with a new idea – and invest and take advantage of these technologies early on,” he says.
Infiniti may still be in the early days of the process – with two generations of accelerator programmes having emerged so far – but they’re already feeling the benefits of taking existing technologies and services created by start-ups, and adapting them for new purposes and markets.
“In the next two years there’s a great opportunity for app-based trials of services,” says Fisher. “And as autonomous drive and connected car vehicles come on stream [we’re gaining] really powerful insights on how to integrate [apps] into your car.”
The company may have ideas, but it’s difficult to make them happen without the people with
“START-UPS HAVE TO ASK INVESTORS FOR MILLIONS IN FIVE MINUTES – WHY DO WE AS A CORPORATE HAVE TO USE 40-50 POWERPOINT SLIDES WHEN WE’RE TRYING TO GET DECISIONS ACROSS?”
– Dane Fisher, Infiniti
the experience and know-how. In this case, accelerator programmes are doing exactly what they say on the tin.
Working alongside Hong Kongbased virtual reality company Visionary 777, for example, Infiniti developed a car configurator, allowing customers to customise their vehicle in advance.
PREVENTION OVER CURE
Insurance behemoth AIA started the AIA Edge accelerator programme in 2014. The company is now on their fifth iteration, and while they now feel like they’ve hit upon the right formula, it wasn’t always so successful or easy.
“We branched out a bit too far in [accelerator] number two,” says Bob Crozier, associate director of AIA Edge. He explains that working with the retail and charitable sectors around nonprofit, early-stage medical R&D rendered “brilliant ideas” – but a lack of expertise stopped them getting off the ground.
As a result, AIA is now more focused on working with start-ups that are in adjacent industries. “The agenda was to learn what the industry looks like, what health looks like going into the future, and what we need to do,” says Crozier. “Insurance for healthcare is evolving and [these start-ups are] educating us as to what products we need to create for our customers.”
With the rapid pace of technological change, insurance products have to keep up with the times. “Data is obviously very important,” says Crozier. “The more data you give us the better we can judge how much cover you need … if an insurance provider knows your family has a history of heart disease, they can advise you to look after your heart a certain way, or perhaps say you should wear a monitoring device.”
Like Infiniti’s model, the startups involved with AIA Edge keep all of their intellectual property, and AIA does not hold equity. They help the companies hone and detail their value proposition, with the ultimate aim of becoming a major customer for the start-up.
“We’ve embedded them into the team [to a point] where they’re adding value,” says Crozier. “They’re doing a very AIA specific demonstration of their ability ... we just help them make a better proposition for insurance. It’s not altruistic; it’s helping them so they can deliver a better product and we can better service our customer.”
AIA has already struck a deal with mobile learning app Gnowbe – one of the alumni of the Edge programme – to use their platform to train their agents.
There has also been a shift in the way companies think about competitors. In the case of AIA Edge, the programme invites their competitors to a pitch day, and companies whose products don’t quite match AIA’S vision get another chance to find investment.
focusing exclusively on the sale of services.
More broadly, the accelerators at Accenture have served to change corporate culture, much in the way that Infiniti’s accelerators have done. “Processes start to change, as you partner with start ups,” Seto says. “All our team members are exposed to that, and it rubs off on them.” For Accenture, the point is important: “we have to lead by example,” Seto says.
One of the big questions that senior management of large organisations might have is how to profit, or at least recoup expenses, from an accelerator programme. Seto, who was also instrumental in setting up accelerator programmes for PWC prior to Accenture, says that taking equity stakes in start ups is a difficult proposition for corporations running accelerators. “You have to be set up like a venture capital fund,” Seto says. “You need to do due diligence, plus you need to be structured to hold equity.” Companies that get into trouble might need significant amounts of help, and major corporations may suddenly find their accelerator programme straying away from core businesses.
More importantly, Seto says the mandate for the accelerator needs to come from the top and the company needs to be aligned around the purpose of the accelerator, for it to work. “You need the right mindset, and the organisation must be prepared to invest a significant amount of time and resources. It’s not a short term vision thing; you need three to five years to see a benefit.”
After running a fintech accelerator out of New York for seven years, Seto says that Accenture is now ready to “sit back with a measuring tape and try to measure successes.” The moral of the story remains simple. You need to start getting ready now for the big changes that will inevitably come your way.
“IT’S NOT ALTRUISTIC; IT’S HELPING THEM SO THEY CAN DELIVER A BETTER PRODUCT AND WE CAN BETTER SERVICE OUR CUSTOMER”
– Bob Crozier, AIA Edge
ABOVE RIGHT Frantz Lasorne, co-founder of Visionaries 777.
LEFT Infiniti’s General Manager Dane Fisher.
ABOVE Infiniti at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show.


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The Government Immediately Announces the Latest Grain HPP
By : M. Shaqeel | Thursday, March 09 2023 - 22:40 IWST
President Jokowi accompanied by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo witness the rice harvest, in Kebumen, Central Java Province, Thursday (09/03/2023).
INDUSTRY.co.id - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that currently the government is calculating the government cost price (HPP) for grain and rice following the decline in harvested dry unhusked rice (GKP) prices in line with the main harvest being carried out in a number of regions in the country.
This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo after witnessing the rice harvest, in Kebumen, Central Java Province, Thursday (09/03/2023).
"In many provinces, it's just the harvest season. And, earlier I asked the farmers directly that the GKP (harvest dry grain) fell to Rp. 4,200, indeed too low. So the government is currently calculating and the National Food Agency will soon announce the GKP price, "said the President.
The President said that in setting the price, the government pays attention to the cost of each production component, starting from land rent, fertilizer, and others.
"We have cost calculations in each component of rice production, everything has been seen, both regarding land rent, fertilizer, seeds, and others, have been met," he said.
With these calculations, the President expects prices at the level of farmers, traders and consumers to be in a reasonable position.
"We hope that the price of grain from farmers is reasonable, the price of rice from traders is reasonable, the price of buying rice by the public is also in a reasonable position. Everyone benefits and benefits from the calculation," he said.
Regarding the availability of fertilizers which farmers often complain about, the Head of State said that the government continues to make efforts to encourage domestic fertilizer production while reducing dependence on imported products.
"We know that the national need for fertilizer is approximately 13 million tons. Our fertilizer industry factories produce only 3.5 million tons, and yesterday we added 570 thousand tons at Pupuk Iskandar Muda, there is an addition," he said.
The President also acknowledged that there were obstacles in the global fertilizer supply chain which were triggered by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Indeed, we still lack fertilizer. This is what we will work on soon. But we also all have to know where the raw materials and fertilizer production are, this is just a war, that's Russia and Ukraine," he said.


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The Best Twitter Reactions To The Release Of Disney+
The day has finally come: It’s November 12, which means Disney+ is finally live.
The day started off bumpy as some users complained about having difficulties with connecting to the service.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Disney+ addressed the problem, saying, “The consumer demand for Disney+ has exceeded our high expectations. We are working to quickly resolve the current user issue. We appreciate your patience.”
Overall, though, many people were excited and had positive reactions about the launch. Read some of their tweets below.


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Microsoft has released its first video-editing app for Windows Phone 8.1. Movie Maker, which is also available on Windows 8.1, is now available for download in the Windows Phone Store.
Giveaway: Win the Logitech G910 Orion Spark mechanical keyboard!
Six Windows 10 features not available to Insiders... yet
All the latest on Windows 10 build 10041
windows 10 technical preview
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LG Windows Phone mock-up
How to get Cortana working outside of the US in preview build 10041


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The more expensive an item, the more likely it is to be targeted by thieves and stolen, a report by a University of Warwick academic has revealed.
Report author Mirko Draca undertook the work for the Social Market Foundation. Called It's prices, stupid: Explaining falling crime rates in the UK – the study analyses monthly data over a 10-year period from the Metropolitan Police and the Office for National Statistics to try to establish a link between prices and crime.
And the findings show that the rise in the theft of goods such as mobile phones, bicycles, jewellery and the decline in audio equipment, TVs and DVDs taken from properties in London is indeed closely linked to price.
The research indicates that a 10% increase in prices is associated with a 3.5% increase in crime - showing criminals are quick to react to the changing value of consumer goods.
Dr Draca is based at the University’s Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE), a research centre with the Department of Economics. He said the findings suggest that "prices deserve serious further investigation as a main driver of crime across the UK".
He added: "The evidence presented here for London indicates that a strong relationship between prices and crime exists across a full range of goods.
"Falls in the value of key, commonly stolen goods appear to have driven down the returns to property crime."
The report also established that if criminals find it difficult or costly to adapt to and overcome technologies, such as Find My iPhone, this has the potential to kill off any theft incentives, as well as cost.
And the report said the police could look at predictive policing depending on market prices and whether they start to rise or fall - especially in the instance of items such as metals.
Established in January 2010, CAGE is carrying out a ten year programme of innovative research. The centre’s research programme is focused on how countries succeed in achieving key economic objectives such as improving living standards, raising productivity, and maintaining international competitiveness, which are central to the economic wellbeing of their citizens.
22 February 2016
For further details please contact Nicola Jones, Communications Manager, University of Warwick 07920531221 or firstname.lastname@example.org