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South Korea announced today that it plans to promote the FinTech sector in the country through the expansion of digital currency such as bitcoin, reports The Korea Herald.
Not one to fall behind in the digital currency adoption race, the South Korean government is pushing ahead with the system expansion of the digital currency, in a bid to keep up with other countries. It will also offer three trillion won ($2.65 billion) in financial support over the next three years as it develops the FinTech sector in South Korea.
Yim Jong-yong, chairman of the Financial Services Commission, said in a speech at the 12th FinTech Center Demo Day event that:
The government will push for the systematization of digital currency on a full scale in tandem with a global trend in the U.S., Japan and other countries.
A consortium on blockchain is also expected to launch before the end of this year by the government and the financial industry within the country. Their intention is to establish pilot projects and joint research.
This, however, isn’t the first venture that the country has undertaken to involve itself with bitcoin and its underlying technology, the blockchain.
In fact, 2016 has been a good year for the dynamic South Korea as it embraces blockchain technology.
At the beginning of the year, Korbit, a South Korean bitcoin exchange and wallet, announced that it was the first launching partner within South Korea to integrate BitGo Instant into their bitcoin transfer and instant transfer protocol.
In a bid to link sellers and buyers to trade securities directly, the Korea Exchange (KRX), South Korea’s securities exchange, developed a blockchain platform earlier this year. It was reported that the KRX had started the process of creating the platform to help trade securities between the two directly.
In April, Hana Financial Group, a South Korean financial firm became the first Korean financial organization to join the R3 blockchain consortium. It is reported that Hana Financial joined because manipulation, tampering, and hacking of data can be prevented through the use of blockchain technology.
Not only that, but in September, several South Korean FinTech firms petitioned the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) to object to Apple’s policy of failing to open its near field communication (NFC) to outside app developers.
Now, with the country announcing that it will expand its digital currency in a bid to boost its FinTech sector paints a clear picture that South Korea wants to become an attractive country for startups to flock to in the future.
Featured image from Shutterstock.
Last modified: June 27, 2020 10:07 AM UTC


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Most people who accessed their superannuation early in 2020 used it to pay their mortgage, rent or other household bills, according to new data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
ABS Director of Household Economic Resource Surveys, Dean Adams, said that of the people who accessed the COVID-19 early release of superannuation scheme by September 2020, 29% mainly used it to pay their mortgage or rent, while 27% used it for household bills.
Another 15% used it to pay credit card or personal debts, while around one in eight people (13%) added it to their savings.
“We found that for people who accessed the scheme twice, the average total amount withdrawn was $17,441”, Adams said.
“The average single withdrawal was $7,728 for the first opportunity, and $7,536 for the second.”
Average private household income, including earnings from jobs, investments and superannuation remained stable in real terms, at $2,117 per week in September 2020 when compared to 12 months prior.
Around one in five households (19%) had someone receiving the JobKeeper payment through their employer, or in their own business. Half these households owned their dwelling with a mortgage, while almost half (47%) were couple families with dependent children.
Average government payments rose by $89 per week per household, compared to the previous September quarter, to $300 per week. Over 1.3 million households contained someone receiving the Coronavirus Supplement of $550 per fortnight.
The Household Financial Resources report presents a snapshot of household finances in the months following the introduction of COVID-19 related restrictions.

domain: news


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|Bid||2,783.00 x 111900|
|Ask||2,783.00 x 382000|
|Day's Range||2,763.00 - 2,785.50|
|52 Week Range||2,345.50 - 2,885.00|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||21.87|
|Earnings Date||Jan 24, 2018 - Jan 29, 2018|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||0.50 (1.81%)|
|1y Target Est||2,874.90|
NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Comedian and actor Adam Devine has been appointed to the position of Captain Morgan Chief Party Officer, effective immediately, the iconic rum brand announced today. In this position, Devine will star alongside Captain Morgan in a new television campaign and will be charged with helping party-goers across the country live #LikeACaptain year-round. As the first rum-appointed Chief Party Officer in history, Devine brings years of epic (and of course responsible) partying skills to the position.
In the past year, U.S. whiskey sales have jumped 4 percent. This includes whiskies such as Bulleit bourbon, Woodford Reserve bourbon, Wild Turkey bourbon and Jameson Irish Whiskey. Take Bulleit, for example.
The brewery, located at 5001 Washington Blvd. on the site of the historic Calvert Distillery in Relay, officially opened to the public on Friday.
Company Recognized in Diversity MBA's "50 Out Front for Diversity Leadership" and named to the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index NORWALK, Conn. , July 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo North ...
NORWALK, Conn., July 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SMIRNOFF™ Moscow Mule joins in on the fun as the newest flavor in the SMIRNOFF vodka lineup. The ginger & lime infused limited-time offering celebrates the brand's invention of the Original Moscow Mule cocktail in 1941. The new SMIRNOFF Moscow Mule offers a powerful flavor combination of zesty ginger and tangy lime, and the bottle itself is wrapped with an eye-catching copper color - all of which make up the elements of the iconic Moscow Mule cocktail.
Diageo plc (ADR) (NYSE: DEO), the liquor conglomerate behind brands including Johnnie Walker, reported solid earnings Thursday morning. Diageo and rival alcohol companies are on the same page and committed to lobbying governments worldwide to ensure a global "free trade environment" for spirits, CEO Ivan Menezes told CNBC's Sara Eisen Thursday. The Distilled Spirits Council estimates that 46 percent of global U.S. spirits and 65 percent of global U.S. whiskey exports either face or at risk of facing retaliatory tariffs, Eisen said.
Diageo (DEO) delivers solid top- and bottom-line growth for the preliminary fiscal 2018, ended Jun 30, 2018, driven by strong organic sales and organic operating profit.
Britain's Diageo, the world's largest spirits company, announced a 2 billion pound share buyback programme on Thursday and better-than-expected full-year sales growth, helped by a gin boom in Western Europe. The British maker of Johnnie Walker Scotch and Smirnoff vodka reported net sales of 12.2 billion pounds, up 5 percent on an organic basis, higher than the 4.3 percent growth forecast in a consensus supplied by the company. Diageo said Tanqueray gin performed well in Europe and the launch of Gordon's pink gin also offered a boost.
The maker of Johnnie Walker scotch whisky and Smirnoff vodka made a profit of 3.74 billion pounds ($4.93 million) for the financial year ended June 30
Ivan Menezes, chief executive officer of Diageo Plc, discusses plans to buy back up to 2 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) of stock as earnings shift into higher gear at the world’s largest distiller. He also ...
Diageo Plc plans to buy back up to 2 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) of stock as earnings shift into higher gear at the world’s largest distiller.
The UK's top share index fell on Monday as trade tensions weighed on cyclical stocks while results from Ryanair weighed on the broader sector. With attention also focussed on the unfolding earnings season, the blue-chip FTSE 100 index was down 0.3 percent at 7,655.79 points at the close, in line with a broadly negative European market.
By Danilo Masoni MILAN (Reuters) - Earnings updates were the main focus on Thursday as Britain's top share index inched higher, but it stayed within recent tight ranges as caution over the outcome of Brexit ...
MILAN/LONDON, July 18 (Reuters) - European shares hit a one-month high on Wednesday, supported by currency weakness and a rally in tech stocks following well-received earnings updates and a record close for the Nasdaq. The tech index rose 2.5 percent with Ericsson up 8.5 percent after the mobile telecom equipment maker unexpectedly swung to a modest operating profit, while semiconductor bellwether ASML jumped 8.1 percent on forecast-beating results. The upbeat remarks from Powell, who will continue his testimony to Congress later on Wednesday, lifted the dollar, which in turn helped shares in Europe's export-oriented sectors and Germany's DAX rise.
Award-Winning, High-Rye Whiskey Reveals Tattoo Art Collection by Artists Shawn Barber, Jess Mascetti, Thomas Hooper and Jason Kundell Just in Time for National Tattoo Day SHELBYVILLE, Ky. , July 17, 2018 ...
After some recent setbacks, Diageo plc. (NYSE: DEO ) is likely to see increased growth over the next two years, according to sell-side analysts. The Analysts Goldman Sachs analyst Mitch Collett upgraded Diageo ...
CNBC's Sara Eisen reports on her conversation with Diageo PLC CEO Ivan Menezes about the impact of global trade tensions on the distiller's business.
Jul.26 -- Ivan Menezes, chief executive officer of Diageo Plc, discusses plans to buy back up to 2 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) of stock as earnings shift into higher gear at the world’s largest distiller. He also discusses the impact of warmer weather on alcohol consumption during an interview on "Bloomberg Markets: European Open."


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The market is floor-to-ceiling packed with email and messenger clients. Seriously, the world could do without a new one. But a new email client called Send from Microsoft promises to bring some handy new features, and has once again been released for a rival platform before Microsoft's own.
The Send app by Microsoft
is available on iOS
, and will soon arrive on Android
and Windows Phone platforms. Also, it is available in only US and Canada regions as of now. The company says that it will expand the market very soon.
Microsoft says that with Send, users will be able to instantly communicate with each other. Send enables this by letting people send quick messages without the need for a subject line, greeting, or signature.
As of now, Send requires you to have an Office 365 subscription to use its service. It syncs the communications with Outlook in case you need to reference a conversation later. The company says that it plans to make the app open in the coming months.
"Imagine you're walking into a big presentation and someone asks you to find out if your colleague will be attending. Chances are, you don't have your colleague's phone number, but you will probably have their email address - especially if you've been emailing with them recently. You don't have time to search your inbox, start a new thread, or even type out a subject line. You just want to ask that person, 'Will you be at the presentation?'" said
the Outlook team, describing a use case for the app.
Send is a product by the Microsoft Garage, a project lab where the company's employees - in their spare time - work on out-of-the-box ideas. The team has previously released a number of handy apps including Keyboard for Excel
, Next Lock Screen
, and Torque Voice Search
for rival platforms.


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Determined to achieve its set target of a toxic-free environment, the European Union has unveiled a new chemical strategy.
This is part of the EU’s much touted ‘Green Deal,’ which is aimed at ensuring zero carbons emission by 2050.
The Strategy will boost innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals, and increase protection of human health and the environment against hazardous chemicals.
“Chemicals Strategy fully recognises the fundamental role of chemicals for human well-being and for the green and digital transition of European economy and society. At the same time it acknowledges the urgent need to address the health and environmental challenges caused by the most harmful chemicals. In this spirit, the Strategy sets out concrete actions to make chemicals safe and sustainable by design and to ensure that chemicals can deliver all their benefits without harming the planet and current and future generations. This includes ensuring that the most harmful chemicals for human health and the environment are avoided for non-essential societal use, in particular in consumer products and with regard to most vulnerable groups, but also that all chemicals are used more safely and sustainably.“EU Statement
For the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius, the chemical strategy represents a game-changer in the well-being of Europeans.
“We owe our well-being and high living standards to the many useful chemicals that people have invented over the past 100 years. However, we cannot close our eyes to the harm that hazardous chemicals pose to our environment and health. We have come a long way regulating chemicals in the EU, and with this Strategy we want to build on our achievements and go further to prevent the most dangerous chemicals from entering into the environment and our bodies, and affecting especially the most fragile and vulnerable ones.”Virginijus Sinkevicius, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
In 2018, Europe was the second biggest producer of chemicals (accounting for 16.9% of sales).
Chemical manufacturing is the fourth largest industry in the EU, directly employing approximately 1.2 million people. 59% of chemicals produced are directly supplied to other sectors, incl. health, construction, automotive, electronics, and textiles.
Global chemicals production is expected to double by 2030, and the already widespread use of chemicals is likely to also increase, including in consumer products.


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The competitive landscape of the global access control and authentication market is highly fragmented owing to the presence of a large number of players with small market shares, says Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a recent report. As innovation is the key to enter or sustain in the market, many new players are focusing on the development of innovative products. However, to keep up with the pace of innovation and to stay ahead of current technology curve, big companies are merging with organizations that will give them more resources.
Browse The Press Release: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/access-control-authentication-market.htm
Events such as Honeywell acquiring Xtralis and RSI Video Technologies in early 2016 and partnership between Bosch Security Systems with Sony in early 2017 are intensifying the competitive landscape of this industry. Some of the leading companies in the market are Morpho Safran, Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., Bosch Security Systems, and 3M Company were identified as prominent players in this market.
In the report, Transparency Market Research (TMR) has revealed that in 2013, the global access control and authentication market was valued at US$ 18,723.6 mn. The market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 15.3% from 2014 and 2020 and is estimated to reach a valuation of US$ 49,890.3 mn by 2020.
Get Table of Content @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/4344
Growing awareness, rising security concerns, and acceptance of technology for security purposes are among the key driving factors of the global access control and authentication market.
Prevention of activities like vandalism in logistics and transportation, trafficking, smuggling, crime, and terrorism are motivating governments from across the world to set strict laws and regulations and enhance security systems. Governments have instigated strict laws for the transportation sector. Moreover, the growing demands from sectors such as education, healthcare, hospitality, and retail are anticipated to boost the growth prospects of the global market.
Get Sample Copy of this report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4344
In business organizations, access control and authentication systems find uses across applications areas such as remote diagnostics and configuration, equipment/location identification, user authentication for remote connections, access to network services, and keeping passwords and privileges. The rising set of applications from the enterprise sector is further anticipated to poise the market.
The rising cost of advanced access control and authentication systems may act as a restraint for market growth. However, emerging technologies and innovations are expected to overcome this challenge. Trend for mobility-based solutions are motivating the engineers to build mobile security solutions. However, connecting these devices through the wireless mode is considered insecure by various end-user industries. Nevertheless, manufacturers are continually developing technologically advanced equipment, which is estimated to help the market gain sustainable growth opportunities.


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Ford Philippines posted a noteworthy 36,623 units sold for the entire 2017, a 9% increase vs. the year before. This is helped by its all-time high monthly sales record of 4,629 units, which it achieved in December, a commendable 45% upward momentum compared to the same month in 2016.
As it stands, the Everest midsize SUV remains as the brand’s best-selling model, churning out a total of 12,455 units sold in 2017. Adding to this feat is its best-ever 2017 monthly sales record in December, a total of 1,582 units sold or an impressive 48% increase over the same period the year before.
The Ranger pickup, meanwhile, has been sold a total of 10,658 times last year, which Ford Philippines claims to have shown a commendable 31% improvement compared to its 2016 performance. This is boosted by its December 2017 sales feat of 1,433 units, a staggering 81% improvement vs. December of the year before.
Also scoring high in 2017 was the EcoSport subcompact crossover. For the entirety of the said year, Ford Philippines sold a total of 11,299 copies of it, which equates to a 13% increase vs. the 2016 record. As for its December 2017 sales, the brand managed to roll out 1,450 units, a 29% improvement over the same month in 2016.
Finally, the brand’s North American made vehicles likewise did a great sales performance last year. The Explorer premium midsize SUV posted a total of 1,125 units, while the Mustang sports car was sold to a total of 407 proud buyers last year.


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Snapchat is currently in talks with investors over a round of funding that could value the company at a mind-blowing $10 billion, according to sources for Bloomberg. That’s a little over half the $19 billion Facebook paid for WhatsApp, but double the $5 billion market cap currently held by BlackBerry.
Although BlackBerry hasn’t been a serious competitor to the iPhone in years, the UK phone trade-in website “Cash for phones comparison” has published some pretty damning statistics, showing just how massive the gulf is between the two “competitors.”
Only 8 percent of customers who traded in an old BlackBerry phone claimed any kind of loyalty to the brand, while an overwhelming majority of 66 percent decided to switch to an iPhone. However, it seems that these people weren’t looking so much to get a new iPhone as they were to get any iPhone — since 42.1 percent of respondees decided to ditch their trustworthy BlackBerry for an iPhone 4: a phone which was introduced all the way back in 2010.
BlackBerry has announced that it will not renew the T-Mobile (U.S.) license to sell its products when it expires on April 25 — ending a decade-plus relationship between the two companies.
“BlackBerry has had a positive relationship with T-Mobile for many years. Regretfully, at this time, our strategies are not complementary and we must act in the best interest of our BlackBerry customers,” said BlackBerry CEO John Chen in a statement.
BlackBerry — the beleaguered Canadian smartphone maker that controls literally 0 percent U.S. market share — is now suing its own executives to prevent them from quitting their jobs and flocking to Apple. Really!
That’s not to say that the iPhone 5c’s sales are what Apple wants it to be. In the most recent quarterly earnings conference call, Tim Cook himself admitted that iPhone 5c demand “turned out to be different than we thought.” Even though the iPhone 5c is selling well according to the standards of the rest of the smartphone industry, you have to wonder if even for $100 less, people would really prever a colorful plastic iPhone 5c than a premium-feeling iPhone 5. Even people opting for year old miles are buying an iPhone to get a high-end product, and the major failing of the iPhone 5c seems to be the plastic just doesn’t satisfy that requirement. What do you think?
Apple designed CarPlay “from the ground up” to be the future of car dashboard systems. And while technology is still based on iOS, how it communicates with the car is another matter. CarPlay utilizes QNX, the leading platform in the growing “infotainment system industry” that is owned by none other than Blackberry.
Apple is listed as a partner on the QNX website. QNX runs the embedded systems in many vehicles, including luxury brands Apple has associated CarPlay with, like Mercedes.


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Adult video store robbed at gunpoint in Byram
The Hinds County Sheriff's Dept. is investigating an armed robbery at an adult video store in Byram.
Moonlight Adult Video located at 6034 Interstate 55 was robbed Thursday morning. A man came into the store around 5:35 a.m. and demanded money. The employee gave him a cash from the register and the suspect left the store, according to WLBT. Two customers were ins the store during the robbery.
The store manager said the robber was in the store a few hours before the robbery. The suspect is described as being 6 feet, 1 inch tall. He had dreadlocks and wore a black t-shirt, camouflage pants and a black bandana over his face.
There were no reports of injuries.
Anyone with information in this incident is asked to call the Hinds County Sheriff's Department at 601-974-2900.


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Cannabis Market expected to reach $107.67 billion by 2025
Cannabis Market Report and Patent Landscape Analysis – 2025 by Applications (Medicinal and Recreational), by Product Types ( Dried Flowers – , Concentrates and other infused products like edibles, topical, beverages), by Regional Segmentation (North America, South America, Europe, the Rest of World (RoW)), by Patent Activities (Leading Patent Players, Technical Analysis Of Patent Landscape, Patent Licensing, Academic and Corporate Collaborations), Global Forecast – 2025. The global markets for Cannabis were estimated at $14.5 billion in 2018. It is expected to reach $107.67 billion by 2025 growing at a CAGR of 33.17 percent.
The Cannabis Market Report by AheadIntel focuses on the legal cannabis including its technology, market research and patent landscape and also analyze the current market dynamics and prospective future developments to present an accurate business and patent landscape for Cannabis technology.
Patent Landscape Analysis of cannabis technology presents Patent trends in detail to understand the research and development activities happening around the world over the years, competitive landscape focusing on active players in the industry, growth strategies, strategic imperatives and detailed profiling of critical companies.
Increasing public and private investment for research
Large investment in R&D of safer forms of consumption of marijuana is expected to drive the overall global cannabis market. In the fourth quarter of 2018, $7.9 billion capital was raised globally by the cannabis companies. MJardin Group, Inc, a leader in cannabis management, recently announced its first cannabis research investment to fund studies on the benefits of cannabinoids in treatment of epilepsy and schizophrenia. Canopy Growth received a huge investment of $4 billion from alcoholic beverage giant, Constellation Brands in August 2018 increasing its stake in the company to 38 percent.
Pharmaceutical companies are making rapid investments in the cannabis space
UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals is developing cannabis-based drugs such as Sativex, for treatment of multiple sclerosis, and USFDA approved Epidolex. Johnson and Johnson even though not upfront investing in marijuana, has recently collaborated with two Canadian marijuana firms, Avicanna and Vapium Medical, to give access to its Canadian JLABS Innovation network, hinting at possible investment in the future.
The cannabis landscape is also garnering significant interest from technology firms like HP and Microsoft. Cannabis ancillary companies like Kind Financial and Flowhub dealing with sales tracking and point of sale software have partnered with the tech giants for designing newer software for tracking purposes.
Investors are shifting focus from Canada to legal US states
Lately investment interest has mostly been moving away from the Canadian industry towards legal US states. The legalization of medical as well as recreational Cannabis in more US states is expected in the coming years which will offer a huge market size for the investors to shift their focus. Although the initial sales may be at an average level, the market is expected to gain significantly over the forecasted period as the demand evolves and the products gain mainstream acceptance. Industry experts are of the opinion that if it was legalized nationally, it would overtake the total revenue generated from the sales of ice creams. At present, three in five US citizens live in the areas where medical Cannabis is legal, and one in five US citizen lives in the areas where recreational Cannabis is legal.
Cannabis Market overview by region
The North American market lead the industry in 2018 with $13.3 billion followed by Europe at $600 million and South America closely behind at $530 million. The RoW market contribution was valued at a humble $240 million. With a seven-year CAGR of 26.92 percent, the North America market is predicted to continue dominating the global markets and reach a value of $69.68 billion by 2025.
Cannabis Market Top leading Players
Companies involved in production and trade of cannabis and cannabis-based products are focusing on standardizing their products, as well as getting intellectual property rights for their products. Genetic advances in cannabis research is also expected to change the dynamics of the current cannabis market. Following are the key companies analyzed in the report are:
- Aurora Cannabis Canopy Growth Corp.
- Medmen Enterprises,
- Tilary, Aphria, AbbVie
- GW Pharmaceuticals
- AusCann Group
- Scotts-Miracle Gro .
- Cronos Group
- Hexo Corporation
- The Green Organic Dutchman
- Cann Group
- Canopy Rivers.
R&D Interest in Cannabis technology has significantly up-surged since 2012 Research community’s interest in Cannabis technology has significantly up surged since 2012, concurrently with the two principal research groups publishing their revolutions in the scientific literature. The market interest is growing exponentially with Cannabis patenting activity registering a CAGR of 21.8 percent over a six-year period from 2010 to 2016. Publications are claiming priority from 2014 to 2017 account for approximately 45 percent of the publications, hinting at several upcoming grants in the near future.
Medical Cannabis segment is the leading focus area of R&D with 7634 patent applications, whereas the recreational segment holds 735 patents
The USA is the priority region after China for approximately 33 percent of patent filings. Region wise, APAC and RoW is ahead of North America in innovation activities with 55 percent of the fillings. More than 80 percent of priority filings in APAC are from China. Japan has emerged as a key potential market for Cannabis with 1791 subsequent patent applications closely followed by Canada with 1434 applications. Korea, India, and Mexico are also well represented indicating a potential market.
AbbVie Inc holds the largest patent portfolio in Cannabis with 216 IP assets
Other companies leading the Cannabis patent portfolio include GW Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and Merck & Co. Tariq Ghayur from AbbVie and Geoffrey guy, founder of GW Pharmaceuticals have the maximum number of patent families in the Cannabis landscape, followed by Ke Zheng and Tianrui Chen. Other researchers such as Venkat Goskonda and Mingda Luo are also active in Cannabis research activities.
The most researched product type is marijuana-infused products with 5659 patents
The most researched product type is marijuana-infused products with 5659 patents filed in this segment followed by flowers with 4919 patents about this product type. The other marijuana infused products can be further classified as beverages, capsules/tablets, edibles, inhalations, injectables, and ointments.
About Ahead Intelligence (AheadIntel)
Ahead Intelligence (AheadIntel) is a technology and patent research company providing premium, comprehensive technology research on different topics. We combine IP intelligence with business and market insights to give you the complete picture around a technology space. All our reports come with interactive dashboards that give you access to the patent data and allow you to dig deeper insights into the technology space.


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Using a waffle cone, taco-shaped shell, CREAM has made a dessert hybrid. Officially starting May 5, 2015, customers can receive $1-off Cream Tacos every Tuesday.
CREAM, the dessert franchise known for its delectable ice cream sandwiches, has seen an increased for demand for the massive Cream Tacos.
“More and more customers were ordering the Cream Tacos and we wanted to offer an opportunity where they could celebrate the product and a discounted price,” says president Jim Ryan. “Most of our customers are pretty adventurous and our Cream Tacos provide them with countless combinations of super-premium ice cream and toppings.”
CREAM, which is an acronym for “Cookies Rule Everything Around Me,” offers a menu of 20 ice cream flavors and 20 cookie flavors and as many as 15 topping that customers can mix and match, as well as vegan and gluten-free options. While the ice cream sandwiches are the main draw, CREAM also has milkshakes, floats, malts, scoops of ice cream, and other baked goods.
The Cream Taco consists of three flavors of super-premium ice cream of a customer’s choice, along with the choice of two toppings, for around $4.99.
CREAM has 12 locations open and operating throughout California and Las Vegas, with plans to expand its national footprint over the next several years. According to Ryan, 30 to 40 new CREAM stores will open in 2015.
The five times weekly e-newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest industry news and additions to this website.


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A Wal-Mart accounting clerk who says a prank by co-workers left her convinced she had been exposed to anthrax filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the retail giant.
Taunya Cifuentes alleges two managers at the discount chain's Greenacres store caused her severe emotional distress by telling her she had touched anthrax-tainted money. After the joke was revealed, Cifuentes says co-workers' taunts about the incident forced her to walk off the job, the lawsuit states.
"The conduct ... was so outrageous in character and so extreme in danger as to go beyond the bounds of decency, especially given recent incidents involving anthrax and a corresponding fear on the part of all Americans," according to a complaint filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
Cifuentes is seeking more than $15,000 in damages for, among other things, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of psychological and/or psychiatric care, and loss of ability to earn money.
Cifuentes' attorney, Brian W. Smith, could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Wal-Mart spokesman Bill Wertz said he couldn't comment directly on the lawsuit because the company hasn't been served with it.
"We have a general policy that requires managers to treat associates with respect," Wertz said. "The company won't condone carrying a prank to the point that it causes someone distress."
The two managers allegedly involved in the prank -- Sabrina Teaser and Joanne Campfield -- could not be reached for comment Tuesday. They also are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
Cifuentes alleges that the day after Christmas she was counting money when she found cash that had anti-religious statements on it. Cifuentes alerted Teaser about the currency, the lawsuit states.
The next day Campfield called Cifuentes to advise her that the Greenacres Police Department had alerted the store that money with anti-religion slogans on it had been infected with anthrax, the lawsuit states.
Campfield told Cifuentes she was likely infected and should be tested immediately, according to the complaint.
Cifuentes alleges she became physically distraught, thinking that she may have infected her son, who was already sick.
Campfield and Teaser later told her that they were joking and began telling other Wal-Mart employees about the phone call, the lawsuit states.
Co-workers started taunting Cifuentes by brushing up against her and commenting that they had contracted anthrax from her, according to the lawsuit.
Cifuentes alleges she could no longer work in such an environment and left the store Jan. 4. She has not returned.
Jon Burstein can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or 561-832-2895.


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Coldplay To Headline Super Bowl Halftime Show On CBS4Coldplay is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show.
Rep. DeGette Thinks Removal Of Cuba Blockade Will Benefit U.S. CompaniesU.S. Rep. Diana DeGette was in Cuba the day before President Obama made this week’s big announcement.
Broncos Bargains: When The Broncos Win, So Do ConsumersThe Denver Broncos are 5-0 and the fans are feeling victorious. Not only do they get to bask in the success of the home team, but they get to cash in on a whole bunch of bargains.
Colorado Lawmakers Want Soda Sales Tax To FizzleCoke, Pepsi and other soft drinks would get a little cheaper in Colorado under a Republican plan to repeal sales taxes on soft drinks.


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LED The Listed Company's Share Price Rose Broadly, Filament Lamp Market
- Sep 08, 2016 -
The incandescent light bulb comprehensive delisting positive impetus, LED related listed company's share price rose broadly in an all-round way, today the Chinese star, bdo embellish, fly photoelectric, such as dry as photoelectric stocks peatlands harden.
According to the national development and reform commission published "China sales roadmap (draft)", from October 1, 2016 to ban the import and sale more than 15 watts and general lighting incandescent lamp. This is eliminated the last stage of the incandescent roadmap also means incandescent lamp on October 1, will be completely withdraw from the market.
High yield research institute (GGII) according to the latest figures, the LED in the first half of 2016 the incandescent light bulb cumulative production amounted to 2.012 billion, and after October 1, the vast majority of incandescent lamp products exit.
According to the current more than 15 w and replace incandescent bulbs, LED ball steep light market prices will add nearly 50 billion yuan each year to replace the market demand.
The personage inside course of study says, as the incandescent light bulb out of the important time points near and LED lighting products market acceptance tend to be more mature, in 2016 China's urban lighting or peak will usher in a wave of replacement LED lights.
LED technology update already beyond the requirements
In recent years, China and the world's governments phased out introduced incandescent lamp, LED LED market penetration rising fast.
Especially the traditional lighting of LED business accounted for the rapid rise, become the most direct data LED to replace the market feedback.
Sun lighting half annual report released (600621), in the first half of the company business income is 2.126 billion yuan, increased by 11.92%, compared to the same implementation net profit attributable to shareholders of listed companies of 218 million yuan, up 22.01% from a year earlier, revenue and net income continues to maintain steady growth.
Among them, the LED product revenue was 1.74 billion yuan, up 39.71% year on year, income accounted for 82.78%, the traditional energy-saving lamps products revenue was 362 million yuan, down 42.74% year on year, revenue accounted for 17.22%.
In addition, including foshan lighting, leishi lighting, opple traditional lighting companies, such as LED revenue proportion is generally more than fifty percent. The personage inside course of study says, "with the incandescent lamp, in the final stage of time, incandescent lamp market will basically be replaced completely."
For companies, does that mean the rapid outbreak of new market demand in the short term?
Sun lighting's general manager Chen said, this is an act of the government's public opinion guide for companies don't have much material, the influence of production of ascension is market behavior.
In his view, the LED obvious advantages, so the market actually already has begun to gradually replaced. Due to the policy, early has not only to the implementation stage, so now won't have too big impact.
At the same time, the LED is not the same as the previous traditional lighting products, LED technology progress beyond the market demand of the node.
The past traditional lighting products is to rely on policies to promote, product technology will go forward. But LED lighting, because it is electronic product properties, technology changes have come in front of the policy.
Or market continues to drive the filament lamp
In the year to June 2016, lighting industry exports of $17.65 billion, compared to the same period last year dropped 14.1%, this is the last five years, industry negative growth for the first time.
In all export products, exports of ordinary incandescent light bulbs, lighting products almost flat with the same period of last year, there was no significant decline.
The filament lamp can achieve the effect of ambient light, and appearance similar to the traditional tungsten filament lamp, of archaize style, popular with European and American consumers on the market, provider is pay.
Incandescent lamp in Europe and the developed countries more left early, can directly replace the incandescent lamp energy saving products for consumers in Europe and the United States needs more urgent, so Chinese companies receive LED lamp filament order mostly from Europe and the United States.
This is also directly contributing to hot filament lamp market continue during the first half of the year. Some overseas retail channel large "players" to enter the market, such as ikea, home depot, wal-mart and other large stores have begun to set foot in filament lamp this subdivision category.
High yield research institute of LED (GGII) statistics show that in 2015 the global LED lamp filament market demand of only 70 million, 2016 global LED lamp filament demand is expected to reach 220 million, up 367% from a year earlier, the next three years, with the promotion LED filament lamp automatic production level, production will rise quickly.
As a fist products instead of traditional incandescent lamp market, the future LED lamp filament market scale will reach 8 billion yuan.
At home and abroad in recent years, companies have cut into the market, in addition to philips, osram, GE, such as wood Tomlinson, a consortium of domestic sunshine lighting, foshan lighting, Shanghai yaming, pu ears, hon optoelec, sulincy HangKe photoelectric, stars, source lei technology and LED lighting factory or packaging companies are entering LED lamp filament and produce more in related field.
In march, wood Tomlinson acquisition of the country's largest LED illuminant, shearing section.at era of filament lamp manufacturers data showed the ultra light 2015 times the business income is 428 million yuan. Previously, wood Tomlinson has been developing a new generation of LED crystal announced in hand electricity full ambient light filament bulbs.
"Three years ago, we embarked on a filament lamp products for layout, then we have to consider, to end joint chip, finished product manufacturers, thus combining the advantage of wood Tomlinson encapsulation, constitute a across the chip, encapsulation, again to the finished product of filament lamp product roadmap." Wood Tomlinson Lin Jiliang executive general manager said.
From the point of export growth, Germany, France, Denmark, Brazil, Poland and other European countries growth significantly, that conforms to the European people feelings Chinese LED lamp filament has received people's cognition of Europe, the market acceptance of rapid ascension.
Excitation test detection, 'says chang hung, a deputy general manager for the American market, in the past few years the filament lamp exports is not very big, the product safety and performance is also the focus of consumers.
But as filament technology gradually become mature, and can do mass production, at the same time, the price has dropped to the extent to which is accepted by the market, is expected in the next market demand will continue to ascend.
"The purpose of the filament lamp are also constantly expanding, not only replace the market in general lighting, and decoration fields, mainly applied to the high-end commercial place. For these businesses, can accept the price." Crystal Song Dong tyco electronics vice President said.


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Multiphase boost converter eases 12V battery 'cranking deep'
Design How-To 4/29/2011 4 comments
Auto start-stop systems offer improved fuel efficiency and emissions, but vehicle electronics need to be protected from cranking transients. A multiphase boost converter is ideal for this function and can also simplify supplying power audio components in the infotainment system as well as isolating regenerative braking energy storage.
Tools spur ECU CAN/LIN communications
Design How-To 4/22/2011 Post a comment
With the increasing use of in-vehicle networks, the development of automotive electronic control units must not only consider the software requirement, but also the implementation of the embedded software via a data bus such as CAN or LIN.
Broadcom joins GreenTouch comms consortium
News & Analysis 4/21/2011 2 comments
Fabless chip company Broadcom Corp. has said it has joined GreenTouch, a global industry consortium formed by Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs that is focused on improving the energy efficiency of IT and communications networks.
China develops phase-change RAM
Research 4/20/2011 18 comments
The Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences – working with foundry chipmaker SMIC and Microchip Technology – has announced it has developed phase-change random access memory (PCRAM) that is based on Chinese intellectual property, according to a Xinhua report.
Quantum dots enable plasmonic semiconductors
News & Analysis 4/19/2011 2 comments
Plasmonics merges with quantum dot semiconductors that couple electronics and photonics to speed up electronic interconnects, create a new generation of super-efficient LEDs, supersensitive chemical and biological detectors as well as metamaterials that can bend light around object to create invisibility cloaks.
Power Line Communication integrates electric vehicles with the Smart Grid
Design How-To 4/15/2011 6 comments
A compatible charging infrastructure and communication between an EV and any potential "charging spot" is required for easy and practical use. The established Power Line Communication (PLC) standard in the Smart Power Grid offers a robust and long term available setup—and the prospect of grid stabilization (charging back to the grid).
ISPD reveals 3-D, maskless-lithography trends
News & Analysis 4/13/2011 7 comments
Next generation trends in the physical fabrication of semiconductors, including 3-D and maskless lithography, were recently laid out at this year's 20th annual International Symposium on Physical Design in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Cadence IP targets DDR4 in SoCs
Product News 4/13/2011 Post a comment
Earlier this week, Cadence announced some new intellectual property (IP) that aims to streamline the incorporation of DDR4 memory into system on chip (SoC) designs. I spoke with Neil Hand, group director of marketing for SSD realization group, at length about the announcement.
Growth seen for CPU cores in 'smart' systems
News & Analysis 4/13/2011 2 comments
A new report by IDC's semiconductor research team predicts that "smart systems"—those with programmable processor cores, high-level operating systems and Internet connectivity—will consume more than 12.5 billion processor cores representing more than $100 billion in revenue by 2015, more than double the number of cores that shipped in 2010.
Top 50 contract manufacturers ranked
News & Analysis 4/12/2011 4 comments
Manufacturing Market Insider, a paid-for newsletter focused on contract manufacturing, has ranked the top 50 electronics manufacturing services based on 2010 revenue in its March edition.
Kilopass tests antifuse on TSMC's 28-nm CMOS
Research 4/6/2011 4 comments
Claiming that test chip results have proved the scalability of its two-transistor antifuse memory element, Kilopass Technology Inc. has announced it is working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. on the 28-nm CMOS node.
News & Analysis 4/5/2011 13 comments
Fuel cells on-a-chip could replace small batteries, according to Harvard University researchers who showed a wafer containing 145 solid-oxide fuel cells.
IBM uses chip engineering to beat MRSA
Research 4/5/2011 1 comment
IBM Corp. and the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore have shown that nanometer-scale polymeric chemicals can seek out and destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria and infectious diseases such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
E-field sensing startup raises $4 million
News & Analysis 4/4/2011 3 comments
Ident Technology AG, a developer of proximity sensing and gesture recognition ICs, has received 2.9 million euro (about $4.1 million) to fund the development of its GestIC three-dimensional (3-D) gesture control chip using a fabless semiconductor business model.
Globalfoundries joins IMEC's CMOS club
News & Analysis 4/4/2011 1 comment
Abu Dhabi owned foundry chipmaker Globalfoundries Inc. has signed a "strategic, long-term" partnership with European research institute IMEC on sub-22nm CMOS scaling and GaN-on-Si technology.
Atomic superconductor one-ups squid
News & Analysis 4/1/2011 6 comments
Circulating ultra-cold atoms around a ring exhibits superfluidity—the atomic version of superconductivity—potentially enabling sensors capable of tracking rotational motion in gyroscopes of unparalleled accuracy, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Technology.
Frankenstein's Fix, Teardowns, Sideshows, Design Contests, Reader Content & More


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One-Million apps strong, Twitter unveils new Developer Portal
Twitter has just published a blog post reporting that the platform is currently supporting one million registered third-party apps, built by more than 750,000 developers around the world. And a new app is registered every 1.5 seconds. Furthermore, since December 2010, more than $500 million has been invested in companies in the Twitter ecosystem companies, and more than a billion dollars has been paid out in acquisitions.
These are impressive stats for Twitter's developer ecosystem, considering that the platform only supported 150,000 apps a year ago. Today, the company is also unveiling a new developer portal, which aims to create a more centralized platform for third-party developers.


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The Grand Tour Heads to South Africa
I know I am not the only fan of the old Top Gear to hope that Clarkson and crew utterly decimate the new Top Gear when it comes to viewership. Amazon has announced that the first recording of their new show, The Grand Tour will happen in Johannesburg, South Africa and you can win tickets to the taping.
The taping will go down on July 17, 2016, and the pre-recorded studio segment will be filmed in front of a live audience in a giant tent. Amazon is giving away three pairs of tickets, with travel and accommodations included. To win the tickets, you have to tweet a photo or video of the most unusual place you have put up a tent.
Entrants must tweet the photos with the hashtag #TheGrandTourJoburg. The top ten entries will shortlisted by a panel from Amazon, and then the Twig and Berries (Clarkson, Hammond, and May) will choose the final three winners themselves.


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- Apple finally unveils the new iPad Air Read more »
- Google's Nexus 5 is rumored to be launched this Novembe... Read more »
- Microsoft Offers Another $100 Discount to their Origina... Read more »
- Lenovo Desktop PC Doubles as a Large Tablet Read more »
- Robotic Vehicle Gets Wheelchair Bound Person to Stand U... Read more »
- Human-Powered Roller Coaster Offered in Japan Bicycle T... Read more »
- Analog Camera Filter for DSLR Cameras Offers Instagram-... Read more »
Samsung Focus 2 features a Windows 7.5 OS and can be yours for $49.99 with a 2 yr. contract with AT&T
Samsung’s Windows 7.5 powered smartphone is now available via AT&T. Dubbed as Focus 2, this device also features a brilliant touchscreen with its 4″ Super AMOLED display, Powerful 1.4GHz processor, LTE connectivity, a front facing camera and a rearfacing 5 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash.
The downside of this smartphone is its non-expandable 8GB memory and it only goes in one color, Glossy Pure White. It can be yours for $49.99 with a 2 yr. contract with AT&T.View Article Source »
US telcom AT&T is now accepting pre-orders for the Nokia Lumia 900 but for cyan and black phone units only.
Almost a week ahead of its April 8 release, AT&T is now accepting pre-orders for the windows 7.5 loaded, Nokia Lumia 900. Consumers can make a reservation through AT&T’s online and retail stores.
However, customers should know that they can only pre-order black or cyan blue versions of the new Nokia phone. The white version is expected to be released on April 22nd.
Shipments should be expected to arrive on April 6, two days before its official launch. Good news for new At&T customers, they can get the Lumia 900 phone for free after a $100 online rebate.
Check out AT&T’s online website for more information.View Article Source »
"Flash Player 10.1 is available on Android and Google TV today, with BlackBerry platform, HP webOS 2.0, future versions of Windows® Phone, LiMo, MeeGo, and Symbian OS also expected to support Flash Player 10.1." ---Official words from Adobe
Adobe just announced that version of Flash are now on its way to major smartphone OS. After it is done, the world wide mobile industry can access Flash operated websites. This technology will allow you to open Flash games, navigations, and video. This operation has been in demand for so many years and finally the wait is over.
Mos of Google’s Android OS 2.2 has already made use of this plug-in and now there’s HP Palm Pre 2. Adobe didn’t give out details on when are the company is releasing versions for BlackBerry OS, Microsoft’s Windows Phone, the Symbian OS, or Nokia/Intel’s MeeGo.Read the rest of the article »
As we all know and heard, Microsoft is holding a special event today, October 11 at NYC. They will discuss surrounding details about their much anticipated Windows Phone 7.
Today, Microsoft is holding an event at NYC. You may say that some details may be around the Windows Phone 7 launch. That’s the latest buzz swarming around. The show is about to start and you will be the first to know about the latest happenings. In case you haven’t heard, Steve Ballmer and AT&T’s Ralph de la Vega will talk about the gadgets we can’t get enough of.
Things will change for the smartphone industry in a short while. We’ll keep you posted.
Tuned in with the times below.Read the rest of the article »
Written on January 03, 2013
Written on December 28, 2012
Written on December 21, 2012
Written on December 17, 2012
Written on December 17, 2012


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iOS 17 might support the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus, after all.
A rumor reported by MacRumors said iOS 17 will drop support for several iPhones and iPads, including the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. The next day, the online publication posted a counterclaim that contradicted the previous rumor, saying devices that supported iOS 16 can support iOS 17.
The news comes as Apple prepares for the unveiling of the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 at the WWDC 2023 in June.
According to MacRumors, their source is a reputable tipster who had a “man inside” Apple’s development team who occasionally shares information about upcoming iOS devices. The tipster was also the one who leaked the Dynamic Island of the iPhone 14 Pro ahead of the launch.
If the rumor is true, then the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus will get more than five years’ worth of major OS upgrades. Owners of these devices will get their money’s worth as the three came out in 2017.
In contrast, it’s normal that older devices are left out whenever new updates are released. When iOS 16 came out, it dropped support for a handful of devices, including the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, original iPhone SE, final iPod touch, second-generation iPad Air, and fourth-generation iPad mini.
Regardless, that’s still a lot better than what most Android devices have, with Samsung, OnePlus, and Google among the only manufacturers who offer up to four years of major OS updates.
At this point, nothing is yet official. All these are still rumors. But if you’re one of those people who have any of the iPhones mentioned above, you might need to upgrade to a new device this June.
Image: Bagus Hernawan (Unsplash)


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[Germany] Cologne’s streaming video startup make.tv, which filed for insolvency in September, can apparently avoid the deadpool. The company has been given a second chance with new partners and will survive, says founder Andreas Constantin Meyer.
Two weeks ago, he countered rumours via a blog post with a defiant WE WILL CONTINUE! Now we hear that make.tv’s insolvency will not be its end because Meyer is in negotiations “with interested parties and partners”. The talks seem so advanced that Meyer says with certainty that make.tv will continue in someway or another but conveniently doesn’t go into details.
One option could be the continuation of make.tv as an independent project but with a new structure, new partners and probably tied to another company. Another possibility is that the company will be absorbed by another video service provider. But as a standalone platform, make.tv is apparently unable to survive. The service had only 60 paying customers but a lot more users of the free version.
To broadcast live, users need nothing more than a webcam or video camera connected to a laptop running a web browser. No extra hardware or software is necessary. Make.tv’s pricing, from €0 to €199 per month, attracted small businesses, musicians and event organizers, but also renowned users like the German Liberal Party (FDP), the Catholic church or one of Germany’s biggest tv stations, ZDF. But since its inception in November 2007, make.tv has appealed to far less users than planned. Paying customers were clearly sparse.
The 15 strong company received an undisclosed sum from public-private VC High-Tech Gründerfonds in November 2008, which combines investments from the German Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens.


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Currency / Forex
MARKET SNAPSHOT: Will Millennials Give Housing Shares And The Broader Stock Market A Boost?
|Top / Flop|
Monday, 20 November
Alibaba goes offline with $2.9 billion stake in China's top grocer
56m ago - BEIJING (Reuters) - Internet giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (>> Alibaba Group Holding) said on Monday it would invest HK$22.4 billion ($2.87 billion) for a major stake in China's top hypermart operator, Sun Art Retail Group Ltd (>> Sun Art Retail Group Ltd), part of a wider push into offline retail.
Despite Amazon, brick stores are not dead yet
3d ago - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Just in time for the Black Friday kick-off to holiday season shopping, stock market investors have been handed tools to bet on the decline of brick-and-mortar retail.
Toshiba shares drop after plan to issue $5.4 billion in new shares
3h ago - TOKYO (Reuters) - Shares of Toshiba Corp (>> Toshiba Corp) fell nearly 5 percent early on Monday, a day after the troubled conglomerate said it would raise 600 billion yen ($5.4 billion) from a sale of new shares in a key step that would allow it to stay publicly traded.
Mexico, Canada shun NAFTA autos counteroffers: sources
2h ago - MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Divisions over updating the NAFTA trade deal showed no sign of easing on Sunday as Mexico and Canada signaled they would not offer counterproposals to U.S. demands for far stronger automotive content rules, people with knowledge of the talks said.
Former Obama administration official in bid for The Weinstein Co
58m ago - (Reuters) - Maria Contreras-Sweet, the former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), has submitted an offer to acquire the Weinstein Co, a spokeswoman for the U.S. film and TV studio said on Sunday.
News Highlights: Top Global Markets News of the Day
1h ago - Global Economy Week Ahead: U.S. Durable Goods, Eurozone Confidence, U.K. Tax Plan The week ahead will feature durable-goods data in the U.S.,...
News Highlights: Top Company News of the Day
1h ago - Marvell Nears Deal to Buy Cavium for About $6 Billion The acquisition would create a bigger and more well-rounded competitor to chip-making...
Beyond Trump-Xi Bond, White House Looks to Toughen China Policy
4h ago - By Lingling Wei, Jacob M. Schlesinger, Jeremy Page and Michael C. Bender A month before President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, Chinese...


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Announcing 2nd Annual “Habitat for the Holidays: 3D Printed Ornament Contest”
If you missed it last year, now is your chance to enter the second annual “Habitat for the Holidays: 3D Printed Ornament Contest”! 3D printing is all the rage, and here is your chance to dip your toes in the water or, show us your skills if you’ve already got ‘em.
Learn to design in the third dimension!
Spectra3D Technologies has recorded a live webinar and lists other resources on the contest page to get you started in 3D printing. Novices are encouraged to enter!
Design a holiday ornament using free software available online.
Enter your design into Asheville Habitat ReStore’s 2nd Annual “Habitat for the Holidays: 3D Printed Ornament Contest” via the link below.
The winning design will be 3D printed as ornaments and sold to the public at the Habitat ReStore. Proceeds benefit Habitat’s building programs. The winner will receive his or her choice of a ReStore gift card valued at $100 or a 3Doodler 3D Pen, as well as a free 3D print of his or her ornament.
Contest runs now through December 1st. Winner will be announced December 5th at the Asheville Habitat ReStore, where a live 3D printing demo will take place from 10AM to 2PM. The winning 3D printed ornament will be available for sale.


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Convenience store, Co-op, has taken home the Emerging Franchisor accolade at the bfa HSBC British Franchise Awards 2021.
2021 marks the 32nd year of this leading bfa hsbc franchising award, a flagship event for the UK franchising industry. The glittering event took place on 30 November at The Vox in Birmingham, where the UK’s best franchisors and franchisees were celebrated.
The UK’s fifth biggest food retailer, Co-op has more than 2,500 local, convenience and medium-sized stores. Alongside this, it also specialises in funeral services, insurance and legal services.
The Emerging Franchisor category celebrates franchisors that have shown a passion for their brand and provided continuous support to franchisees. Co-op battled it out against a record number of entries to secure the accolade for its unwavering support to franchisees. This included providing intensive training as well as a ‘buddy stores’ initiative.
Commenting on the win, Kirsty Rushby, Co-op franchisor, said:
“The team has worked so hard, pushing boundaries and stepping outside comfort zones over the past year, so to be recognised as an emerging franchisor is truly an honour. It’s a massive celebration of the team’s dedication to the development of the franchise and we are incredibly proud of everyone who has played a part in getting us to this point.”
Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchise Association, said:
“Over the past year, Co-op has shown incredible growth, having started 2021 with 14 franchise stores. The franchise team is getting stronger every month and this award win is a real testament to the hard work and resilience they’ve shown during a period that certainly tested the metal of all UK retailers. The Co-op anticipates that they will end 2021 with an impressive 42 stores. Congratulations to the whole team for a well-deserved win.”
Andrew Brattesani, Head of Franchising, HSBC, said:
“The world of retail faced extreme levels of pressure over the past year but through it all, Co-op has shown real growth, highlighting the many benefits franchising can afford. Their franchisee training and buddy store scheme has been a real asset to Co-op franchisees and we wanted to show them those efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed. The team’s dedication and resilience have been admirable and we congratulate them for all their hard work.”
For more information on the British Franchise Association and to see the full list of winners, please visit https://www.thebfa.org/events/bfa-hsbc-british-franchise-awards-2021/


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- Gap, the high-street clothing retailer, has approached agencies about its international advertising and media accounts.
Read more: http://bit.ly/OLSTb2
- Dewar's, the premium blended Scotch whisky brand owned by Bacardi-Martini, has put its global advertising account up for review.
Read more: http://bit.ly/TyGmVv
- In the week that Bodyform scored a PR hit with a spoof ad on its Facebook page, its parent company, SCA Hygiene, has called a review of the feminine hygiene brand's global advertising account.
Read more: http://bit.ly/QuSW9t
- Viacom International Media Networks is seeking an agency to handle its digital account across major markets.
Read more: http://bit.ly/R6PkMC
- Total, the Greek yoghurt brand, is on the hunt for an ad agency as it ramps up advertising efforts.
Read more: http://bit.ly/R6PyTJ


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Facing headwinds such as import tariffs and soft sales in Calvin Klein, PVH Corp. sales were buoyed by Tommy Hilfiger and wholesale revenue.
In a Nutshell: While PVH Corp. posted a slim revenue gain in the first quarter, net income was slashed by more than half as store closings and restructuring took their toll.
The company projected 2019 revenue to increase approximately 3 percent compared to 2018. Revenue for the Tommy Hilfiger business is projected to increase approximately 6 percent, but the Calvin Klein Heritage Brands businesses were forecast to be flat.
Chairman and CEO Emanuel Chirico said the company remains confident it is “in a strong position to gain market share as we deliver against our strategic priorities.” He added, “As we continue to invest in the strategic areas of the business that address the increasingly dynamic and ever-changing consumer landscape, while also taking a more nimble approach to react to emerging business trends, we see a significant opportunity to deliver long-term value for our stockholders.”
The company said 2019 guidance assumes that two acquisitions will close in the second quarter of 2019. The first is the pending acquisition of the approximately 78 percent interest in Gazal Corporation Ltd. The second is the pending purchase of the Tommy Hilfiger retail business in Hong Kong and certain other countries in Central and Southeast Asia from the current licensee in those markets. These acquisitions are expected to add approximately $150 million of revenue in 2019.
The 2019 guidance also incorporates the impact on certain of the company’s products of tariffs imposed on nearly $200 billion of total goods imported from China into the U.S. at 25 percent. However, the 2019 guidance does not contemplate any future increase in tariffs on additional goods imported from China into the U.S.
Sales: Revenue for the first quarter ended May 6 increased 2 percent to $2.4 billion compared to the year-ago period.
Revenue in the Tommy Hilfiger business for the quarter increased 4 percent to $1.1 billion compared to the prior year period. Tommy Hilfiger International revenue also rose 4 percent, to $680 million, primarily driven by strong performance in Europe. International comparable store sales were up 9 percent. Tommy Hilfiger North America revenue increased 3 percent to $372 million, driven by growth in the wholesale business, partially offset by a 4 percent decline in North America comparable store sales.
Revenue in the Calvin Klein business for the quarter of $890 million was flat compared to the prior-year period. Calvin Klein International revenue fell 2 percent to $466 million, as solid growth in Europe was more than offset by the negative impacts of foreign currency translation and weakness in China. International comparable store sales decreased 4 percent. Calvin Klein North America revenue was up 2 percent to $424 million due to an increase in the wholesale business, partially offset by a 5 percent decline in North America comparable store sales.
Revenue in the Heritage Brands business for the quarter increased 1 percent to $415 million from the prior-year period due to an increase in the wholesale business that was partially offset by a 6 percent decline in comparable store sales.
Earnings: Net income in the period fell 54 percent to $81.6 million from $178.9 million in the year-ago period.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the quarter decreased 45 percent to $135 million, inclusive of a $14 million negative impact due to foreign currency translation, from $244 million in the prior-year period.
EBIT at Tommy Hilfiger for the quarter decreased to $92 million from $132 million. This included costs of $55 million incurred in connection with the closure of the company’s Tommy Hilfiger flagship and anchor stores in the U.S.
EBIT for the quarter at Calvin Klein decreased to $48 million, inclusive of a $5 million negative impact due to foreign currency translation, from $109 million in the prior-year period. Included in earnings before interest and taxes for the current quarter were costs of $70 million in connection with the restructuring associated with the strategic changes for the Calvin Klein business announced in January, consisting of a $30 million non-cash lease asset impairment resulting from the closure of the flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York, $19 million of severance, $15 million of contract termination and other costs, $5 million of other non-cash asset impairments, and $2 million of inventory markdowns.
EBIT for the quarter in Heritage Brands fell to $40 million from $42 million year-to-year, principally due to gross margin pressure from a more promotional U.S. retail environment.
CEO’s Take: Chirico said: “We are pleased with our first quarter 2019 results, as our earnings per share exceeded the high end of our guidance range. While the global retail environment was challenging, the power of our diversified business model and the strength of our brands, global platforms and teams drove our businesses forward.”
“Looking ahead, the volatile and challenging macroeconomic backdrop has continued into the second quarter, with particular softness across the U.S. and China retail landscape. Additionally, further volatility in foreign exchange rates is expected to pressure our full year earnings per share by an incremental $0.10 compared to our prior expectations. As such, we believe it is prudent to factor this into our updated full year earnings outlook.”


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The Infinix Zero 8i smartphone will debut in India on December 3, the company revealed on Wednesday. Infinix shared the development on Facebook where it also states that phone will come in 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration. The Infinix Zero 8i that was first unveiled in select markets last month as a toned-down variant of the Infinix Zero 8, which was launched in August. As expected, the India pricing details will be announced on the launch day itself.
The Infinix Zero 8i price is available in select markets for approx Rs 16,300 (8GB + 128GB storage). It has Black Diamond, Green Diamond, and Silver Diamond colour options, and the phone may phone may have the same colour finishes in India as well as the same price point. Initially, the Infinix Zero 8i was going to debut in India on December that was later postponed to December 3. “Launch date postponed from December 2 to December 3. We regret for the inconvenience,” the company in the Facebook post said.
In terms of specifications, the Infinix Zero 8i sports a 6.85-inch full-HD+ IPS display with 90Hz refresh rate and a hole-punch cutout that houses the dual selfie cameras. Under the hood, the phone packs the octa-core MediaTek Helio G90T SoC, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB. Notably, the internal storage is expandable up to 512GB via a microSD card. It runs Android 10 with XOS 7 skin on top out-of-the-box. Its quad rear camera setup includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor, a secondary 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel tertiary sensor, and lastly an AI sensor. For selfies and video calling, there’s a 16-megapixel primary sensor, accompanied by an 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens.
Other features on the smartphone include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB OTG support, FM, fingerprint sensor, GPS, and more. The Infinix Zero 8i packs a 4,500mAh battery with 33W fast charge support. The company claims that the fast charge technology is capable of charging 0-70 percent in 30 minutes.


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The shortage of components has hit many manufacturers, including Xiaomi. Due to a shortage of components, the company may cancel the release of two low-cost flagship smartphones at once.
- What is known
- Do you know that
What is known
We are talking about models of the Redmi K40S family. According to preliminary information, the manufacturer has been working on two smartphones. The older version should be called Redmi K40S Pro. Redmi’s product manager announced production difficulties due to a shortage of components.
Chinese insiders, in turn, argue that the company may completely abandon the release of new models. This may be due to the fact that the release of smartphones will have to be postponed, but the premiere of the Redmi K50 family is scheduled for early next year.
Recall that Redmi K40S Pro will be the Chinese version of the recent Xiaomi 11T Pro. It will receive a Snapdragon 888 chip, 120-watt charging, a 108-megapixel camera and a screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. But Redmi K40S will not be an exact copy of Xiaomi 11T. The key differences will be support for fast charging with a power of 120W instead of 67W and a 50-megapixel sensor in the main camera instead of a 108-megapixel module.
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Effective Plastic Ban Needs Change In Consumer Behaviour, Says Jamshyd Godrej
Change in consumer behaviour is essential for an effective plastic ban, besides a legislation to ban its production and sale, according to Jamshyd Godrej, chairman of CII-Godrej Green Business Centre.
“It has become so endemic for people to use single-use plastic bags after their purchase that a change in consumer behaviour has become very critical,” Godrej told BloombergQuint in an interaction.
Here are the highlights of the interview:
On Environmental Footprint:
- Consumers and investors are increasingly turning their attention toward environmental footprint.
- A large number of companies now look at sustainability.
On Recyclable Materials:
- Increasing the use of recyclable and re-usable materials is key.
- Essential to understand the benefits of recycling and environmental stewardship.
- Recycling not only has economic benefits but also social benefits.
On Consumer Behaviour:
- Legislation and consumer behaviour have to go together.
- Paid plastic bags are not useful.
- A campaign with huge outreach required to influence consumer behaviour.
Watch the full interview here:


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Entries for the 2010 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards will be accepted today through Sept. 25, 2009, said the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The competition honors outstanding design and engineering in 36 consumer electronics product categories, including new software and online content categories. The 2010 Best of Innovations honorees will be announced at the New York Press Preview on Nov. 10, 2009 at the Metropolitan Pavilion and showcased at the 2010 International CES, Jan. 7-10, 2010.
The awards are sponsored by CEA and endorsed by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). The Innovations Awards program gives product developers and manufacturers an opportunity to be judged by a preeminent panel of engineers, independent designers, and journalists. Honored products will be featured in the Innovations Showcase in the Grand Lobby at Las Vegas Convention Center at the 2010 International CES.
To submit products for the 2010 Innovations, review last year’s winners or register for the show, log onto www.CESweb.org/innovations.
to Daily News


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Subscribers to Sky TV will soon able to protect their identities with a new service being offered by the satellite TV provider.
Identity theft and fraud cannot only be a nuisance but it can cost the victim too, which is one of the reasons for introducing a series of online data protection tools that will provide customers with a service that should prevent fraud from happening.
The service is going to be called Sky Identity Patrol and the purpose of it is to show customers how they can take steps to stop identity theft and fraud from occurring.
The system works by searching and monitoring the internet, illegally traded data, public records and commercial databases for sensitive date relating to the customer.
If anything is found that could be a security concern, the customer is alerted.
The cost of this service is going to be either £4.50 per month or £45 for the year.


text: Multiple crypto news outlets are reporting that the controversial SetWig2x fork has been cancelled. This is actually good news considering the number of red flags this fork was showing in the weeks leading up to this announcement. Some were calling this fork a 51% attack and others a potential black swan event. One of the biggest red flags was that there was no plan to add replay protection, which could result in transactions on one chain being replayed on the other. Without such safeguards in place, it could appear from an outsiders perspective, that a majority of miners were attempting to force the direction of Bitcoin by disrupting the chain split causing chaos on the B1X chain which would have drastically higher fees and tragically longer transaction times, making the alternative B2X chain seem much more appealing, thus forcing the marketplace to artificially adopt B2X in a Hegelian dialectic-like move. Such an event could have undermined the entire premise Bitcoin set out to accomplish. Additionally, if such a scenario would have played out there could be mass confusion in the marketplace if different exchanges decided to support one chain over another, or differ in how they would label each chain. Coinbase, to name one, went back and forth with this. SegWit2x, whether intentionally or unintentionally could have effectively killed Bitcoin, or at the very least seriously disrupted the Bitcoin ecosystem and the entire crypto market. If traders don't know what they are buying from one exchange to another, or if their transactions could be duplicated across blockchains, this could create a firestorm of frustration, bewilderment and panic and could cause a huge loss of confidence in the market as a whole. However, in the 11th hour Bitgo's CEO Mike Belshe released a statement saying “our goal has always been a smooth upgrade for Bitcoin. Although we strongly believe in the need for a larger blocksize, there is something we believe is even more important: keeping the community together.” Belshe concedes “it is clear that we have not built sufficient consensus for a clean blocksize upgrade at this time. Continuing on the current path could divide the community and be a setback to Bitcoin’s growth. This was never the goal of Segwit2x. [Thus,] we are suspending our plans for the upcoming 2MB upgrade." Very soon after the announcement was made the community responded with greater confidence than ever before sending the price of Bitcoin to just under $7900; a new all time high. Belshe also noted that he believes that with rising transaction costs and increased transaction times on the core network this issue of scalability will return, sooner than later, but he conceded that there needs to be much more community support for such a change than they had with SegWit2x.


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International trade between Cambodia and China, including trade and investment, is expected to grow next The two countries signed a free-trade agreement between the two countries, which could be completed by the end of 2020. The two sides have concluded the third round of negotiations, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on June 9 Already resolved the remaining issues.
The text of the agreement will be submitted to both governments for approval and requires signatures, the ministry said The end of 2020. It is expected that if the free trade agreement is signed and the market opens, Cambodia's export growth will increase Over the last two years, about 20%.
At the same time, foreign investment will also grow in Cambodia, which will provide employment to Cambodians Short front By: Collaborators


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QA Scheme Support Services (QASSS), and their associated home improvement consumer protection schemes (DGCOS, HIES, and HICS), have completed a new set of videos with brand ambassador, George Clarke at My Fitted Bedrooms and Kitchens showroom in Stockport.
The consumer protection schemes cover the entire home improvement sector, including double glazing, kitchens, conservatories, building, and renewables. TV presenter, George Clarke, has backed the consumer protection schemes since May 2019.
The schemes offer an array of free benefits to consumers such as alternative dispute resolution, access to an Ombudsman, deposit and stage payment protection, insurance backed guarantees and much more.
George Clarke commented: “I truly believe in what the schemes offer within the industry. I know that they are serious about raising standards in home improvement and ensuring that everybody is treated fairly. The schemes offer free protection to consumers meaning they can confidently choose a reputable installer knowing they have the right protection in place. This is also a major asset in the installer’s tool kit. By offering this complete protection, the schemes have seen installers’ cancellation rates fall by half in this year alone, meaning it’s a win-win for everyone.”
The videos are designed to help customers and create greater awareness about just how important genuine consumer protection is when undertaking a home improvement project and just how important it is to pick an accredited installer for the job.
Ciarán Harkin, managing director at QASSS, commented: “The videos are just a small part of the tools and support we give to both our members and consumers. There is often more than meets the eye when hiring someone to undertake work on a home and our schemes are set up to protect both consumers and installers throughout this process, providing that extra peace of mind.”


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Australian self-tanning brand Bondi Sands has broken into the US market via beauty retailer Ricky’s NYC.
The brand launched its full range of products through 25 Ricky’s NYC locations in Manhattan as well Miami Beach this month. Ricky’s NYC is also the exclusive stockist of Bondi Sands’ latest launch Liquid Gold, a self-tanning dry oil, for its first three months of sale.
Bondi Sands has appointed N2Z Global Group as its exclusive North American distributor. Noah Yeruham, CEO of N2Z Global Group, added: ”Bondi Sands is already a brand leader in Australia and New Zealand, having seen phenomenal success over the past three years. We are very excited to introduce the collection to the North American market and are beyond pleased to partner with Ricky's, an iconic retailer known as a trend setter in the industry.”
Bondi Sands was scouted by Ricky's NYC due to its strong social media presence; on Instagram the brand has 263k followers. Ricky’s NYC Buyer Gina Tolipani said: “I stumbled across Bondi Sands on Instagram quite a few months ago and decided to try it out. I was instantly amazed by the fast and natural looking results that the Dark Foam had left. Ricky's is well known for being home to some of the hottest and hard to get brands, most of which have a huge following on social media. With the quality and support that Bondi Sands offers, it was pretty much a no brainer to carry their line. We are super excited for the success to come with our partnership.”
Bondi Sands launched in Australia in 2012 and has become the number one selling self-tanning brand in the country and a leading brand in New Zealand. The brand is named after Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach.


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M&S is among the companies that is using the technology, which compares the DNA of shrimp in finished consumer products with data collected from the source. The technique is designed to prevent leakages into the supply chain or co-mingling from other sources.
“What’s elegant about the technological approach is it uses, as we say, nature’s barcode… You can’t change that label, it doesn’t fall off, so it can be a very precise method of tracing products,” said Ronan Loftus, co-founder and director of IdentiGEN, the company that developed the technology.
In the same way the forensic industry uses DNA testing, IdentiGEN profiles shrimp from source ponds. Shrimp products at the other end of the supply chain can then be checked against this database for authenticity.
The technique bookends the supply chain and supports companies’ own due diligence and audits. “The more complex the supply chain, clearly the greater potential for co-mingling to occur,” said Loftus.
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RM1.8 trillion. That’s the forecast for the worldwide revenue from electric vehicles (EVs) in 2030. If Malaysia were to capture even 1% of this, it would amount to RM18 billion — a substantial contribution to the economy indeed.
Within just the last decade, major automobile manufacturers such as General Motors, Renault, BMW, Ford, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Honda, Kia and Volkswagen have all introduced various models of EVs, competing to get a strong foothold in this market segment.
The International Energy Agency, under its electric vehicle initiative, reports that there are now more than 665,000 EVs being used worldwide, up from just 180,000 in 2012. To date, EVs have covered some six billion kilometres, preventing a total of 600 million kg CO2 from being emitted.
Since 2008, governments around the world have spent over RM57.8 billion on EV infrastructure, fiscal incentives, research, development and demonstration. These investments have resulted in EV sales skyrocketing by 1,002% from under 10,000 annual sales in 2010 to 300,000 units in 2014.
Today, four countries are reported to have market shares of electric cars at above 1%. Norway leads with 13% of its private car market, followed by the Netherlands with 4% and the US and Sweden with about 2%.
As for stock, the US has 39% of the global supply with more than 270,000 electric cars, Japan has 16% with 108,000-plus electric cars and China has 12%, with some 83,000 electric cars. In addition to this, China has a burgeoning electric transport sector constituting 36,500 electric buses and more than 230 million electric bikes.
The market leadership position that these countries enjoy are largely attributable to the various initiatives they have rolled out, including financial incentives such as subsidies, tax and duty exemptions and discounts as well as regulatory support such as free parking, free public charging and access to bus lanes.
The EV industry worldwide is poised to continue its prolific growth in the coming years and there is plenty to be gained should we be swift and decisive in our actions to not merely adopt but champion EVs.
The Malaysian EV Industry could impact much more than just the manufacturing and assembling of cars. The wide-scale adoption of EVs would spur an entire sub-industry value chain — from technology and innovation to charging infrastructure and network integration, and recycling mechanisms; from maintenance and service, and standardisation and certification, to qualification and training of human resources.
The potential growth of EV sub-industries can be gleaned from the spectacular escalation of the mobile telecommunications industry. Beginning from just manufacturing mobile phones, the industry grew by leaps and bounds to encompass an entire value chain, from content provider, content aggregator, back office, distribution channels, and equipment vendors to software developers. Since its humble beginnings in the 1980s, the mobile telecommunications industry has continued to thrive and is estimated to generate approximately RM10 trillion by 2017 globally.
Similarly, the EV industry has many driving factors that could see it experience a tremendous boom in the immediate future. One of the key factors is battery cost, which is currently a major contributor to the comparatively higher price of EVs, but which, with the latest technological developments, is expected to drop 70% this year.
The diversity of models and the travel range of EVs are also continually increasing, with more than 50 models available for purchase around the world. These factors, coupled with the superior safety (increased crumple zone and reduced risk of catching fire) and environmental-friendly (zero-tailpipe emissions) qualities of EVs make them a strong contender as a disruptive force in Malaysia’s transport landscape, and a key economic contributor.
Having said this, it is crucial that we recognise that the EV industry is still a nascent market that requires a certain level of nurturing to realise its full potential here in Malaysia. To date, there has been significant efforts by various authorities to develop the EV industry, including strong government support in both the supply and demand sectors as well as several public-private partnerships to increase the network of EV charging stations.
The electrification of the global vehicle fleet is undoubtedly a long-term ambition that will require staunch commitment from all parties. Nevertheless, it is a commitment that promises to be worthwhile.
China, Japan and South Korea are already leading the way for EV growth in Asia. Closer to home in Asean, Malaysia has an opportunity to helm the EV revolution if we decide to take the lead now in formulating strategies and policies that will boost the EV economy both locally as well as in the region.
Market share of EVs worldwide is still below 1% in most major automotive markets, and therein lies a huge opportunity. It is the perfect time for Malaysia to take the lead in championing this movement towards sustainability.
The question is: Do we have the fortitude to ensure that necessary steps are taken to lead the Asean market in this new and burgeoning industry? Will we just wait and watch? Or will we be completely left out in the electric race?
Ahmad Hadri Haris is CEO of Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia). An organisation under the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, GreenTech is tasked with the responsibility to develop this technology into a strategic economic driver for the nation.
This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, On June 8 - 14, 2015.
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Samsung revealed its plan to start the mass production of 5nm EUV chips before the end of Q2 2020 and start the development of the 3nm process this year. The company has reportedly increased its semiconductor output by about 40 percent while maintaining the same wafer input level, which means that Samsung has improved the efficiency of its production.The South Korean firm’s investment in semiconductors declined from KRW 27.35 trillion in 2017 to KRW 23.72 trillion in 2018 and KRW 22.56 trillion in 2019. Samsung spent KRW 1.66 trillion in 2018, but it had to spend KRW 1.86 trillion in 2019 due to a 12% rise in prices, which means there was no change in the number of wafers the company bought. But, the number of chips produced went up 39 percent from 711 billion gigabits in 2018 to 889 billion gigabits in 2019.Samsung is also making improvements to its DRAM manufacturing process by converting its first-generation 10nm (1x) process into second-generation (1y) or third-generation (1z). When the company completes this process, it can make 20 to 30 percent more chips with the same number of wafers. Moreover, once Samsung uses EUV to manufacture its DRAM chips, it can make twice the number of chips using the same amount of wafers when compared to the 1x process.In the NAND flash segment, the company recently announced that it has started developing the industry’s first 160-layer flash memory. Chips manufactured using this technology are smaller than the one built using previous-generation techniques, and the productivity per wafer is 20 percent higher.Industry experts say that China’s recent massive investment in chip manufacturing will still not be good enough to defeat Samsung. Rival Chinese firm YMTC’s 128-layer NAND flash chip technology is inferior to Samsung’s 160-layer chips that use channel hole etching technology. The company looks well set in the semiconductor space right now.
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Pakistan's fashion designers
Alkaram, a brand present in our market for 25 years, ensuring quality products to its customers is now taking steps towards initiating the cause for development for its target audience.
Fashion Shows (18)
Held on May 4th, 2014
Alkaram lawn dresses 2014 are showcased in Pakistan Fashion Week Dubai, the summer collection has luxury styles with sensational thread and fancy stitches in create inventive designs. read full review ›
All Collections & Reviews
select a collection
- Alkaram Collection at Pakistan Fashion Week Dubai 2014
- Alkaram Winter Hues 2013 Volume 2
- Allure Collection 2013 by Alkaram Studio
- Spring Lawn Collection 2013 by Al Karam
- Al Karam Collection at Pakistan Fashion Week 3 London 2012
- Summer Dream Lawn Collection 2012 by AlKaram
- Eid Lawn Collection 2012 by Alkaram
- Al Karam Summer Lawn Collection 2012 by Umar Sayeed
- Summer Lawn Collection 2012 Vol 1 by Al Karam
- Spring Lawn Collection 2012 by Alkaram
- Latest Winter Collection 2011 by Al Karam
- Al Karam Fashion Show in Lahore
- Mid Summer Fest Collection 2011 by Al Karam
- Al Karam Summer Collection Season 2
- Al Karam Summer Lawn Collection 2011
- Al Karam Resham Linen 2011
- Al Karam Fall Winter Collection 2010
- Al Karam Summer Collection 2010
Related Events (2)
Mar 16th, 2012
Pakistan’s renowned fashion label Al Karam marked the international women’s day with an elevated Women's Award Celebration on 8th March 2012. read full story ›
Nov 4th, 2011
Mall 1, Main-Boulevard, Gulberg III, Lahore.
Much acclaimed fashion label Al Karam has now entered the fashion hub Lahore by launching one of its stores at Main-Boulevard, Gulberg III, Lahore. read full story ›
Related Celeb Gossip (2)
Following its first successful launch in Karachi, Al Karam takes another plunge for its customers by launching the Spanish fashion retail brand Mango at Y Block DHA, Lahore. read full ›
Pakistan’s renowned fashion brand Al Karam has presented its latest winter collection 2011 at Al Karam Studio in Lahore. There was a great launching ceremony of Al Karam latest winter collection 2011. read full ›
Alkaram, a fashion brand presenting in market for 25 years, ensuring quality products to its customers and also towards initiating the cause for development for its target audience. more ›
Gifts & Shopping
Fashion jewellery's must-have trends.
All the latest industry spas and spoiling products.
Beauty's in the bag and accessories. Find the newest styles, designs.
Electronics and Gadgets Trends. Find the latest selection of mobile phones, digital cameras and mp3 players.
Women's Clothing and Designer Clothes, find the best picks in men's clothing.


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- The mbed IoT ecosystem: Q&A with ARM CEO Simon Segars
- China market: Prices for 4- and 8-core handset chips to fall
- PV demand expected to rebound in June or early July, say China makers
- Largan Precision sees increased April revenues
- TSMC InFO-WLP technology to generate significant revenues starting 2016
- PC demand slow in 2Q15, say Taiwan IC design firms
- Surging solar demand to trigger 4-year record high supply chain profit in 2015, says IHS
- BenQ Materials announces 1Q15 performance
- WPG expects 2Q15 sales to rise 8-13%
- Edison Opto April revenues hit record
- Global TV shipments grow 3% in 2014
- Taiwan market: CNS to finish digitization of cable TV networks by end of 2015
- Giga Solar Materials April revenues hit record
- WiseChip sending samples for PMOLED technology in wearables
- UTAC expects up to 6% sales growth in 2Q15
- HTC April revenues down
- Innolux reports 1Q15 performance
- EU may soon decide whether to start anti-circumvention probe of China PV module makers
- Edison Opto lands orders for 10 million LED bulbs from India, says paper
- TPK announces 1Q15 financial performance
- Digitimes Research: Taiwan to ship 25.5 million handsets in 2Q15
- Digitimes Research: April 7W, 9W LED light bulb prices up sequentially, down in China market
- AcBel Polytech nets NT$0.23 per share for 1Q15
- Chicony Electronics nets NT$0.91 per share for 1Q15
- Getac Technology April revenues up on year
Through intensified cooperation with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and MediaTek,...
Compal Electronics was one of the pioneers that relocated its major production base to China from Taiwan...
The development of network functions virtualization (NFV) solutions will become mature in 2015 and...
Despite years of enthusiasm for wireless charging technology, the market for wireless charging applications...
- Smartphone and tablet industry: The view from Taiwan - May 2012
Taiwan-based companies have a long and successful history of involvement in the supply chain for mobile devices, which for the purposes of this article consist...
- Taiwan handset overview - Jun 2010
The global handset market did not have a banner year in 2009, with overall shipments of 1.167 billion units representing a drop of 3.2% from the previous year,...
- Taiwan handset industry overview - Jun 2008
The use of handsets continues to grow around the world, both in mature and emerging markets, as the communication devices become ever more ingrained in people's...
- Taiwan handset overview - Jun 2007
Global handset shipments topped 977 million units in 2006, according to Digitimes Research, with Taiwan-based handset makers accounting for 14% of the market on...


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Staples Inc. and Office Depot Inc. are in advanced talks to combine, according to people familiar with the matter, in what would be a major step toward consolidating the retail market for pens, paper and other office supplies.
The price and structure of the proposed deal couldn't be learned. Staples has a market value of about $11 billion, while Office Depot, which in 2013 absorbed rival OfficeMax, has a market value of about $4 billion. There is no guarantee a deal will be reached, the people cautioned.
Together, the two companies have roughly 4,000 stores and annual sales of more than $35 billion. A combination of the two likely would get a close look from antitrust regulators, who in 1997 sued successfully to block the same proposed merger, bankers and analysts have said.
But some analysts say the retail landscape has changed sufficiently since then, citing the rise of online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. and increased competition from big-box chains like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp., which all sell office supplies now, too. In approving the union of Office Depot and OfficeMax, regulators noted that consumers have more choices than ever about where to buy office binders, paper, staplers and the like.
"The current competitive dynamics are very different," the Federal Trade Commission wrote in that review. "The Commission's investigation shows that today's market for the sale of consumable office supplies is broader" than it was in 1997.
A deal likely would be cheered by activist investor Starboard Value LP, which owns about 6% of Staples and 10% of Office Depot, and in January urged the companies to consider a merger. In a letter to Staples Chief Executive Ronald Sargent, Starboard said the cost savings from such a combination could more than double the combined company's operating profit.
Starboard hinted it might run a proxy fight for board seats at Staples if the company didn't consider a combination. The window to nominate directors opened this week and closes in March.
Merger talks between Staples and Office Depot highlight the pressures facing brick-and-mortar retail stores as consumers shift how and where they shop. Staples' North American same-store sales haven't risen since 2007, and Office Depot's haven't risen since 2006.
Meanwhile, both companies have been closing U.S. stores and shifting others to smaller formats, while pushing their online offerings. Staples recently said it would add Google Inc. executive Paul-Henri Ferrand to its board, citing his experience in e-commerce and technology.
Gillian Tan and David Benoit contributed to this article.
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