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Does Abbey owe me cash?
SOME mortgage companies that charged different rates of interest to existing and new customers were forced to compensate borrowers who lost out. Did this affect Abbey National? MS, St Albans.
Pete Gettins at mortgage broker London & Country says: Abbey National had three rates - the standard variable rate (SVR), Classic Variable Rate and Lifestyle Rate.
The Ombudsman ruled against Abbey in a complaint about the Classic Rate. Abbey dropped this account on August 30, 2002 and said it would refund customers the difference between the SVR and the Classic Rate for the period between their initial complaint and August 30, 2002.
It scrapped the Lifestyle Rate at the same time. If you were paying over the odds and you complain now, Abbey may say you are too late to get a refund - but you are still free to complain to the Ombudsman.
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From $5 for flashing LEDs to $40 for a laser headlamp, Phnom Penh's motorbike customising shops promise to give you a sexier set of wheels
Trang Shan, employee of a customising shop on Street 170, works on laminating a motorbike.
PIMP my ride. It's a refrain not yet commonly heard on the streets of Phnom Penh, but you could soon be hearing it more as interest in customising motorbikes grows in the city.
Near O'Russei market, on streets 170 and 182, dozens of shops display a veritable rainbow of stickers, decals and accessories.
Outside each business, a team of workers clambers around parked bikes; most are working on simple laminate jobs that protect the chassis from scratches and dirt, but others are pimping and prettying.
Bun Phay, owner of a shop on Street 182, is busy replacing a moto's standard factory foot pedals with chrome and rubber "gorilla feet".
The US$2 job is one of the cheaper ones he offers.
"Most of the young people who bring their motorbikes here do so to decorate them," he said.
Bun Phay's mainly male clientele, most of them students, are keen to make their bike more "handsome" to the opposite sex.
Like the customers, most of the bikes are young too, the majority no more than two years old.
In a standard day Bun Phay's team completes six or seven decal jobs, and on a good day 10 or more, he said.
The shop also offers a range of other cosmetic enhancements including lighting packages, metal faceplates and security upgrades.
Jov Man, owner of a store on Street 170, said a huge cross section of people were now interested in decorating their bikes in stickers and lights.
And, as interest in customising grows, so does the number of businesses offering services.
"It's very difficult doing business now because there is a lot of competition," said Joy Man. "I usually earn only $10-$20 per day."
Bun Phay also cited growing competition as a factor in the area, but said he could still earn $100 on a good day.

domain: news


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Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST), a leading industrial supplier focused on fasteners, has stayed broadly unaffected by the manufacturing slowdown caused by economic uncertainties. The company, which operates through its extensive store network and onsite locations, has a good track record of effectively navigating economic cycles.
Fastenal’s stock has grown 23% since the beginning of the year, and the uptrend gathered steam in recent weeks. But FAST seems to have peaked and there are no clear signs of it making meaningful gains in the near future. After the recent gains, the stock has moved closer to the record highs seen at 2021-end, assuming a valuation that looks high. On the positive side, the company has raised its dividend consistently and offers a decent yield.
Fastenal looks to counter the impact of muted industrial lending trends and economic uncertainties through continued business expansion, especially in the on-premise and e-commerce segments. Meanwhile, the management recently warned of some weakness in the company’s end markets but exuded optimism about its future prospects. Currently, the focus is on investing in long-term expansion plans and returning value to shareholders. The company’s healthy balance sheet should allow it to pursue acquisitions and capital investment initiatives.
Q2 Report Due
When Fastenal reports second-quarter 2023 results on July 13, at 6:50 am ET, the market will be looking for earnings of $0.53 per share, which is up by three cents from the prior-year number. June quarter revenue is estimated to have increased about 6% from last year to $1.89 billion.
From Fastenal’s Q1 2023 earnings conference call:
“If you look at customers 50 through 100, they were growing nicely, because we’re picking-up market share. And that makes me more enthused because long-term our success is from taking market share every day. The economy is going to do in the short-term what the economy is going to do. We have a healthy business, we generate more cash flow in a year like this, and we’d rather be deploying the cash flow into the business. But in a year like this, maybe we return more to shareholders, but it’s a case of focusing on the long-term opportunity of business, and I’m as excited as ever.”
In recent years, the company’s quarterly earnings either topped expectations or matched the Street view. In the first three months of fiscal 2023, net profit rose 10% to $0.52 per share. At $1.86 billion, net sales were up 9% year-over-year. Of late, there has been a slowdown in the daily sales growth. The top line matched estimates in Q1, after beating in the trailing two quarters.
FAST traded higher on Friday afternoon, recovering from the weakness experienced in the previous sessions. It has been trading above the 52-week average in recent weeks.


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Blockbuster has settled a yearlong patent dispute with rival Netflix over online rentals, a growing focus for the vidtail chain.
Dallas-based Blockbuster disclosed the settlement in a SEC filing that also signaled changes to its Total Access program linking online and in-store rentals by year’s end.
In a lawsuit filed last year, Netflix alleged that Blockbuster had infringed on Netflix’s patents for online rentals. Blockbuster countersued, accusing Netflix of seeking a monopoly in the online rental market.
Both companies have agreed to a dismissal of all litigation. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Blockbuster also indicated it expects to have lower earnings than is required by a consortium of its lenders due to heavy investment in the Total Access online program. The company is therefore seeking to amend the credit agreements to allow for lower EBITDA, according to the SEC filing.
Blockbuster said it expects the amendment to be consummated in July.
The chain has already invested significantly in Total Access in the first half and plans to make unspecified “modifications” to the program by the end of the year, the filing stated, referring also to the “challenging in-store industry.”
Analysts have said the company is probably planning a price hike for Total Access.
Blockbuster’s stock fell slightly Wednesday from $4.22 to $4.20. Netflix stock rose from $19.52 to $20.78.


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GB Oils is aiming to strengthen its dealer support package with the roll-out of the HTEC GemPAY card payment terminal.
It says it will enable dealers to process transactions up to 10 times faster while providing increased end-user security in line with the latest PCI DSS compliance legislation.
GB Oils will be using industry expert, Suresite, as its agent to manage the new card platform as the company embarks on the roll-out across its 1,200-strong dealer network.
“After an intense three months of planning and development, we are delighted that the roll out is now under way,” said Paul Muncey, head of retail sales, GB Oils. “It is another significant step forward in the all-encompassing relationships that we are building with our dealers.”
“HTEC is an industry expert in this field and its GemPAY system is specifically designed to meet payment processing requirements of credit, debit and fuel cards within the forecourt sector. It utilises a proven hardware platform and the very latest advances in payment terminal technologies that are compatible with most point of sale systems. The equipment we have selected has proven reliability and is robust and user friendly.”
The new system accepts the Allstar EMV card along with both the Shell and Gulf account cards.
“Acceptance of the industry’s leading fuel cards is important to our dealers and we are working with BP to look to reintroduce the acceptance of the BP fuel cards as soon as possible,” continued Muncey.
“It’s altogether a better package for the forecourt and for our dealers. The new system is internet-based to process transactions faster and eliminate queues at the checkout and whereas transaction data was previously downloaded overnight, it’s now done in real time which improves security.”
The first phase fo the installation is now under way with the roll-out to more than 300 Gulf, Total, and Power branded dealers - previously serviced by Rontec - over the next three months. The second phase involves the roll out to all other Gulf, Pace and other branded forecourts in the GB Oils network


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Next week, the Maryland Historical Society is hosting a virtual program – a reimagining of a previously scheduled onsite lecture by one of the country’s leading department store historians, lecturer, and local author Michael Lisicky – via a free online Zoom on Wednesday, April 29, beginning at noon.
The first of more virtual programming to come, “One More Return to Hutzler’s and Howard Street” offers a related program that highlights the current onsite exhibition, “The Hutzler’s Experience” at the Maryland Historical Society, which opened this winter. Wednesday’s free virtual program will be an opportunity to hear some little-known fun facts of Hutzler’s as well as Baltimore department store icons as Hochschild’s, Hecht’s and Stewart’s from Lisicky. The one-hour program will also highlight Lisicky’s energetic passion for nostalgia with images and personal objects. The virtual program had a record 101 registrations in the first 48 hours it was made available to the public. To register, click here.
Another virtual event scheduled for May will feature a happy hour discussion, “Marvelous Style: How Fashion Defines Characters in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” From 4:00pm to 5:00pm on Thursday, May 7, Vice President of Collections Allison Tolman will discuss the style influencers who informed the Emmy-nominated costumes for this popular Netflix series. See how real 1950s designs were reinterpreted, and how Maryland-native Claire McCardell served as the go-to inspiration for modern women as Tolman leads participants in an investigation of how fashion defines characters in the show. For more information and to register for this free virtual program, click here.
For more information about the Maryland Historical Society’s virtual offerings during this time, visit www.mdhs.org.
About the Maryland Historical Society
The Maryland Historical Society’s mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the history, art and culture of Maryland. By sharing the stories of America through the lens of Maryland, it inspires its audience to think critically about the past to make informed decisions about the future. Since its inception in 1844, MdHS has collected more than 350,000 art objects and artifacts and 7 million documents and books. MdHS now serves its audience through its museum, library, and educational programs. Learn more at mdhs.org.


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The smart TV market has been forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% through to 2016, reaching a market value of $265 billion. Unit shipments have been forecast to increase at a CAGR of 19%, rising from 64 million in 2011, to hit 223 million units by 2018.
Smart TV generally refers to service concepts involving the transmission of video content to a TV set via internet. Like a smart phone, a smart TV offers a number of "Internet-connected services" that normal televisions cannot offer. It has the equivalent of a computer built into it, giving a greater number of services.
These new devices most often also have a much higher focus on online interactive media, Internet TV, over-the-top content, as well as on-demand streaming media, and less focus on traditional broadcast media like previous generations of television sets and set-top boxes always have had.
The technology that enables smart TVs is not only incorporated into television sets, but also devices such as set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, game consoles, hotel television systems, and other companion devices. These devices allow viewers to search and find videos, movies, photos and other content on the Web, on a local cable TV channel, on a satellite TV channel, or on a local storage drive.
Currently, approximately 12 million US households have their Web-capable TVs connected to the Internet, although it is estimated about 25 million US TV households own a set with the built-in network capability. Furthermore, it has been forecast that 100 million homes in North America and Western Europe will own television sets that blend traditional programs with Internet content by 2016.
There have been several controversies surrounding the smart TV market and its on-demand Internet streaming media in general, especially in the United States. Cable providers as well as content providers have been slow to warm to smart TV platforms and devices, and some broadcast networks even been accused of using broadcast syndication against smart TV platforms.
For example, Boxee supported NBC Universal's Hulu quite early on, but in February 2009 was asked by Hulu to remove the service at the request of Hulu's content partners. Boxee later reinstated the feature using Hulu's RSS feeds, but Hulu once again blocked access.
Growth in the smart TV market over the next few years will be primarily driven by developing sectors, given the fast improving broadband connectivity, growing consumer affluence especially in emerging markets such as India and China, and the subsequent rise in demand for quality content over the best TV sets available in the market.
For more information on the smart TV market, see the latest research: Smart TV Market
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Companiesandmarkets.com issues news updates and report summaries covering all major industries and sectors. The service provides additional client monitoring and timely alerts to breaking industry and sector news leading the day's business headlines. News articles, written by our staff, contain additional analyst insight, providing value added insight for our readers. News updates and real-time alerts on newly-released market reports are also available from our Facebook page, Twitter feed @CandMResearch and RSS links. We also welcome inquiries from business journalists and the news media.


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Federal government still working on investments in Fiat Chrysler, GM
Open to working with other automakers who submit plans to increase their footprints in Canad
Fiat Chrysler hires 4,100 Detroit residents for new plant
Part of a development deal with the city for the land where Mack assembly plant is being built.
[UPDATED] Unifor reaches tentative deal with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Union went into negotiations with concerns about restoring the third shift at FCA’s Windsor and Brampton facilities.
Unifor targets auto OEM as labour negotiations heat up
Ford picked as the template agreement. Union is pushing for commitments that new products will be made at Canadian plants.
Fiat Chrysler calls GM’s bribery allegations ‘preposterous’
GM alleged in a court filing last week that FCA spent millions on bribes by stashing the money in foreign accounts
Fiat Chrysler swings to loss as virus hits production, sales
Despite the crisis, terms of a full merger deal with French carmaker PSA Peugeot had not been changed.
Fiat Chrysler in talks with Foxconn to develop electric cars
A joint venture would focus first on China, the biggest market for electric vehicles.
Think tank says UAW deals increased automakers’ labour costs
Center for Automotive Research calculated GM and Ford will see total costs grow $8 per hour, Fiat Chrysler’s will rise by $11.
Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot sign deal for 50-50 merger
Creating the world’s fourth-largest automaker.
UAW workers ratify new contract with Fiat Chrysler
Deal extends a moratorium on outsourcing of jobs and will maintain its US presence through the life of the contract.
GM accuses Fiat Chrysler of bribing UAW to get lower costs
Lawsuit alleges FCA corrupted the bargaining process with the UAW in the 2009, 2011 and 2015 contracts.
Fiat Chrysler PSA deal likely to bring fewer brands, models
Will create the world’s fourth-largest auto company worth $50 billion.
Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot to create fourth biggest carmaker [UPDATED]
New company would be worth US$50 billion, with revenue of US$189 billion.
Fiat Chrysler merger with PSA appears headed for approval
Would create the world’s fourth-largest automaker with a combined market value of around US$50 billion.
Fiat Chrysler confirms talks with French carmaker Peugeot
Not specifying whether the goal is a full merger or a looser alliance.
GM deal costs make talks with Ford, Fiat Chrysler difficult
Pay raises and a huge signing bonus, union’s top-notch health care changed little.
UAW workers vote to authorize strikes against Detroit 3
But it doesn’t mean there will be a work stoppage. Contracts expire Sept. 14.
Fiat Chrysler pulls merger bid for Renault in surprise move
FCA cited “political conditions in France” for the withdrawal.
UPDATE: Fiat Chrysler wants to form global giant with Renault
Merged company would make some 8.7 million vehicles a year, leapfrogging GM and trailing only Volkswagen and Toyota.
Land deals, incentives okayed for new auto plant in Detroit
Michigan’s economic development board approved a US$223 million incentive package, the automaker will create 6,400 jobs.
FCA invests big in Michigan as analysts question future of Brampton plant
Investment in Canada’s vehicle assembly sector averaged just $1.2 billion a year between 2010 and 2017, down from $2.3 billion a year in the previous decade.
Fiat Chrysler: US$4.5B plan would add 6,500 Detroit area jobs
The investment would roughly double FCA’s hourly workforce in the city.
Fiat Chrysler to pay US$650M in emissions cheating case
Automaker will also need to pay about $280 million to compensate vehicle owners.
As GM cuts in US, Fiat Chrysler invests in Italian plants [UPDATED]
The all-electric 500 will be built in Mirafiori, in Turin, while the Alfa Romeo SUV will be built in Pomigliano, near Naples, along with the Panda.
Ailing auto CEO Marchionne had multiple roles, no script
Legacy is a corporate culture where “mediocrity is never, ever worth the trip.”
Fiat Chrysler is shaken without visionary CEO behind wheel
Marchionne steps down early because of severe health problems. Jeep executive Mike Manley is taking over.
Fiat Chrysler’s Marchionne says new CEO will be named this year
Candidates include Canadian Reid Bigland, former FCA Canada president and CEO.
FCA to invest $1B in Michigan plant, pay out bonuses
Warren Truck Assembly Plant will make the Ram Heavy Duty Truck starting in 2020.


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Try these 7 restaurants that opened in Richmond in March
Looking for a new place to eat? Check out these restaurants that opened in March.
🐟 Odyssey — the seafood restaurant from chefs and co-owners Lee Gregory and Bobo Catoe — is now open for dinner Thursday-Saturday from 5-9:30pm in the Near West End.
🍷 Revel Market and Bar — a European-inspired small, shared plate restaurant and market from the folks behind Julep's — is now open in Lakeside Tuesday-Saturday from 3-10pm.
🙌 Acacia Midtown came off its soft operation at Libbie Mill and is now fully open for dinner Monday through Saturday with lunch hours coming soon.
🥘 Soul N’ Vinegar reopened its grab-and-go soul food operation in a new Church Hill space at 2910 Q St., per Richmond Magazine.
🌯 88 Street Food is now serving banh mi sandwiches and other Vietnamese cuisine at 5905 W. Broad St., also per Richmond Mag.
👻 ChefSuite, Richmond's newest ghost kitchen, is now open serving up On A Roll Italian Subs, Latin Quarter Kitchen and A Pinch of Sugar via your delivery apps with varying hours.
🍦 Blue Cow Ice Cream opened its second Richmond location in the Greengate Shopping Center in Short Pump.
More Richmond stories
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Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Richmond.


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For the 7,000 or so Microsoft partners descending on Boston for this week's Worldwide Partner Conference, delays in the release of Windows Vista and Office 2007 could leave them feeling like a shop unable to stock its shelves with goods.
And some of those partners – ranging from resellers that do custom installations and upgrades to independent software vendors that create third-party add-ons to Microsoft software – are wondering what to do now. "Every [value-added reseller] wants to hear how we're going to bridge the gap and continue to make money," said Ric Opal, vice-president of Peters & Associates, a 50-employee Microsoft systems integrator in Illinois.
Opal, who plans to attend the conference, which runs from today until Thursday at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, said his small to mid-size enterprise customers tend to hold off on major Microsoft software upgrades for several years after their release in order to assess reliability and impact.
Microsoft's oft-delayed Vista, which at one point was due out in late 2003, as well as delays in the release of Office, aren't helping his cause.
"Sure, there are always early adopters. But right now, a lot of [Windows] NT 4.0 has been updated, a lot of NetWare has been updated," Opal said. "There is still ample opportunity, but it's less than there was a year ago."
Last October, an independent study conducted by Yankee Group of 700 companies with fewer than 1,000 employees showed that about half were already running some version of Windows 2003 Server on the back end. Just 15 percent were still running Windows NT 4.0 Server, and less than 5 percent were still running Novell's NetWare.
Microsoft views the same statistics and sees the glass as half-full. "If the whole world were already on Windows Server 2003, or on SharePoint, or Dynamics, then that would be a great question," said Ryan Gavin, director of platform strategy for Microsoft. "Maybe the early adopter fruit is gone. But the opportunities are still great."


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Google Offers Two-Step Authentication to Tighten Gmail Account Security
March 07, 2013
By Colleen Lynch
, TMCnet Contributor
The more popular any e-mail platform gets, the more security issues comes to the forefront, as an increase in users directly results in an increase of hackers. Google (News - Alert) is aiming to combat this phenomenon with their Gmail accounts by making them as safe as possible by introducing a new two-step authentication system.
In today’s impatient society any log-in that requires more than just entering a password isn’t necessarily well-liked, but Google believes this could impact e-mail security in ways that justify adding an extra step to the log-in process.
The way it works is users will now be prompted to enter their regular password, but after doing so another box will pop up asking for another password. This password won’t be provided on your current computer, but will be sent to you by way of SMS, voicemail or smartphone app.
It may seem laborious but do not fear--the code only needs to be entered every 30 days, as long as you log into your e-mail from the same device. Users can also request a new code at any time, for further security.
Gmail has even planned for those who lose their preferred device, if it is a smartphone, or cannot access it, by providing a list of backup emergency codes that you can print out and keep on-hand.
One feature of this new process that may especially irritate users, however, is the fact that many applications on the user’s smartphone will also request a separate, application-specific password that will be generated in the Web interface of the user’s Google account.
The general consensus is that this may be going a little overboard, but Google insists it has its reasons.
To get a first-hand look at the new authentication process, users can go to Gmail.com and log in as usual (in one step). After this, a small arrow at the top right of the page will take you to “Google Account Management,” where you should click on “Security,” then “Using two-step verification,” and lastly click on “edit.”
Of course, the two-step authentication feature is only an option, so it may sink rather than float, but Google will be pushing users to opt-into the new security measure to cut down on hackers and hacking-related incidents.
Basically, if you choose not to implement two-step authentication to your Gmail account and smartphone apps, Google will have no pity for you, so you may want to at least check it out.
Edited by Brooke Neuman


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EUGENE, Ore.--()--SheerID, the instant identity verification service used by the world’s top retailers, announced the launch of its Marketing for a Cause identification solution. For many organizations, Q4 is holiday crunch time. Network for Good reported last year, 1/3 of annual giving happened in December, and up to 70% of charitable gifts are donated in the fourth quarter. SheerID allows companies to seamlessly partner with nonprofit organizations and create measurable value.
“SheerID’s Marketing for a Cause was designed for companies who want to work with nonprofits and their members, making it simple for supporters to donate and receive special offers”
“SheerID’s Marketing for a Cause was designed for companies who want to work with nonprofits and their members, making it simple for supporters to donate and receive special offers,” said Jake Weatherly, CEO of SheerID. “With SheerID it’s even easier for corporations to support causes in a meaningful way plus create a sustainable relationship with nonprofit partners while elevating consumer engagement with their brand.”
Benefits of using SheerID this holiday season for cause marketing campaigns:
- Seamless customer interaction through any technology
- Easy rebate capabilities
- Powerful mobile application capabilities
- Meaningful reporting on ALL member engagement metrics
- Valuable contact information for long-term connections
According to the Cause Marketing Forum, in 2012, 47% of consumers bought a brand at least monthly that supports a cause. SheerID’s Marketing for a Cause identification solution measures the financial value of the initiative for the corporation and provides value to the nonprofit. SheerID’s simple implementation process makes it the number one verification provider for many large ecommerce platforms like Magento for online, mobile and in-store purchases.
SheerID is the creator of technology used to transform existing, protected private data into a privacy-appropriate service that benefits commercial enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and the public, while still keeping the information safe and secure. By acting as a bridge between secure databases, SheerID allows commercial enterprises to accurately, instantly verify whether or not their customer qualifies for an exclusive offer. SheerID’s tools assist nonprofits and associations with cause marketing, member engagement, and corporate partnerships, often at no cost to the nonprofit. SheerID’s platform can be configured for any e-commerce website, internal customer sales system, mobile application, or POS.
For more information on SheerID’s services call 855-SheerID to speak directly to a representative, email info(at)sheerid.com, or visit http://www.sheerid.com/cause-marketing-campaigns-are-easy-with-sheerid/.


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This week in pictures: Amazon's on fire!
Also: More layoffs at Nokia, Diebold voting machines hacked for cheap, Netflix outbids HBO, Twitter knows when you're sad, and Larry Ellison throws more stones!
Source: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Amazon unveils Kindle Fire, its entry into the tablet fray
The $199 Android-based tablet joins a crowded market, but could be serious competition for the iPad, analysts say. Meanwhile, the Kindle Fire's cloud-powered browser raised some privacy concerns.
Will Amazon buy Palm and WebOS from HP?
We're not quite done with Bezos yet. If Palm and WebOS does go sailing up the Amazon, Captain Bezos and crew can then avoid any Android mess over the next couple of years. Read more.
Liar, liar, says Larry Ellison about Autonomy pitch to Oracle
HP buying Autonomy for $10 or $11 billion bucks may be boring, but now that Autonomy CEO Mike Lynch has been called a liar by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, the excitement quotient has jumped. British IT papers are going all tabloid about it.Read more.
Nokia lays off 3,500 employees
Nokia is planning to lay off an additional 3,500 employees, as the company continues to restructure after announcing its decision to focus on Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system. Read more.
Hacking Diebold voting machines with $10.50 worth of parts
Diebold dominates the voting machine market in spite of multiple security issues raised over the years. The Vulnerability Assessment Team at Argone National Laboratory in Illinois just released information about a man-in-the-middle exploit that can change votes while leaving no trace of the attack. "$10.50 worth of parts and an 8th grade science education" can do the trick. Read more.
© mekuria getinet / www.mekuriageti.net
Google Drive: One cloud to connect them all
Long rumored, the "Gdrive" may be here soon. Google, already giving 7.63+GBs to all Gmail users, supposedly will soon offer a cloud storage service, based on what TechCrunch reported in the source code for Chromium, the open-source browser behind Chrome. Read more.
Netflix outbids HBO in deal with DreamWorks: $30 mil per movie
Netflix needs some good news lately, after getting bashed for raising prices and losing their redistribution deal with Starz. The stock headed down, as did customer confidence. Will outbidding HBO for first access to DreamWorks movies boost Netflix? Read more.
Oracle, Google will hold third settlement conference
Oracle and Google will go back to the bargaining table on Oct. 1 to settle their lawsuit over alleged Java patent and copyright violations in the Android mobile OS. Read more.


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Maryland law sets standards for honey labeling
Several new laws went into effect in Maryland Oct. 1, and one of them 'stings' honey operations if they mislabel their products.
Loyd Luna's backyard is buzzing with activity; his closest neighbors are thousands of bees. For 40 years, the hobby beekeeper has enjoyed fresh, pure honey straight from the source.
"That's better than Campbell's soup!," Luna exclaimed.
Monday, he had something else to smile about.
Luna testified earlier this year in favor of the bill that sets standards on honey labeling. Maryland is now one of several states that will make sure you're getting what's advertised on the bottle.
"If I find out that someone else is selling adulterated honey, and I can make a complaint to the state authorities, and that person can be prosecuted," Luna explained.
Jerry Fischer, who works with the Department of Agriculture, says in some cases, products on store shelves can be misleading. Instead of pure honey, consumers might be buying fillers.
"Several countries are allowed to adulterate honey in some ways. They can add percentages of high fructose corn syrup or something to it," Fischer added.
Luna said you can tell the difference between the real deal and the fake one by the taste.
"If you could smell the black locust when it's in bloom, that's exactly what this smells like--fresh locusts blooms," Luna continued.
Luna is one of more than 1,700 registered beekeepers in Maryland. However, there are no large honey producers in the state.
"Some of our backyard beekeepers have enough to sell to local stores and farmers' markets only," Fischer said.
Luna added buying locally is usually a safe bet for consumers.
"The only way you're going to know that you're getting 100 percent pure honey is to buy locally from a beekeeper who uses no chemicals."
Would you like to contribute to this story? Join the discussion.


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Benderson Development broke ground last summer on an 83,000-square-foot industrial building in southern Manatee County, and completed it in January. All that remains to be leased is a 19,000-square-foot space — which has a couple of serious suitors.
That scenario comes courtesy of Larry Fineberg, executive director of industrial, office & warehouse for Benderson, illustrating that industrial development is humming in Manatee.
The spanking new SRQ Commerce Park sits right on US-301, a couple of miles from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Benderson plans to break ground on the second phase, a 110,000-square-foot adjacent building, in June.
Both began as spec projects. “We own a big commerce facility around the corner,” Fineberg said, speaking of the 687,000-square-foot Sarasota-Bradenton Commerce Center. “So we understand the pace of delivering product and tenant needs for new product.”
Buying the land right was the key. Benderson acquired the 27 acres where SRQ Commerce Park sits via a foreclosure sale. The company paid about 70 cents a square foot. A previous developer had done some significant work on the property’s infrastructure, including paved areas. Those circumstances made it viable to build industrial, which draws lower rental rates than retail or office.
Fineberg said lease rates range from $6 to $10 per square foot, a little higher than the norm in the area. “Our tenants appreciate the newness, the visibility,” he said. “They might have customers come here.”
One such tenant is Classic Cars of Sarasota, which has a room brimming with sexy rides, most of them American muscle cars from the ’60s. A couple doors down is the new home of RND Automation & Design, which designs and manufactures custom automation machinery for a variety of industries.
Benderson Development, based in Sarasota, is a big player in retail. The company has partnered with Taubman Centers in the Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota, which opens Oct. 16.
One of the reasons Benderson is experiencing success with its Manatee industrial space is because Sarasota has “no product like this,” Fine said.
He hopes to change that. Benderson is in negotiations with Sarasota County to develop an industrial complex of 500,000 to 600,000 square feet on a 42-acre parcel owned by the county. Benderson expects to begin the project — located at the Fruitville Road interchange, just east of I-75 — in the next six to 12 months.
“[Sarasota] doesn’t have any place to put these companies that need a facility where they can move in within a month or two,” Fineberg said. “They can’t wait around.”


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The set of proposals are part of a growing EU drive to rid the environment of plastic waste which has begun showing up in the food chain.
“Plastic waste is undeniably a big issue and Europeans need to act together to tackle this problem,” EU First Vice President Frans Timmermans said.
“Today’s proposals will reduce single-use plastics on our supermarket shelves through a range of measures,” Timmermans added.
The proposals call for banning banning plastic cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers and balloon sticks, but it did not set a deadline.
These items must all be made from sustainable materials instead, according to the plan which must be approved by the 28 EU member countries and the European Parliament.
Member states must reduce the use of plastic food containers and drinks cups, by promoting alternatives for sale or ensuring they are not offered free.
Under the plan, producers must contribute to the costs of waste management and will be offered incentives to develop less polluting alternatives.
For example, it calls for producers of plastic fishing gear to cover the cost of waste collection from port reception facilities.
Under the plan, member countries must collect 90 percent of single-use plastic drinks bottles by 2025, through deposit refund schemes, for example.
The plan calls for producers to clearly label products and inform consumers how the waste should be disposed of.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, said businesses will benefit from one set of rules for an EU market of around 500 million people.
It said it will encourage EU companies to develop economies of scale and become more competitive in the “booming” global market for sustainable products.
The proposals, plus one in January for all plastic packaging in Europe to be recyclable by 2030, follows China’s decision to ban imports of foreign waste products for recycling.
The EU currently exports half of its collected and sorted plastics, 85 percent of which goes to China. DM
Watch Pauli van Wyk’s Cat Play The Piano Here!
No, not really. But now that we have your attention, we wanted to tell you a little bit about what happened at SARS.
Tom Moyane and his cronies bequeathed South Africa with a R48-billion tax shortfall, as of February 2018. It's the only thing that grew under Moyane's tenure... the year before, the hole had been R30.7-billion. And to fund those shortfalls, you know who has to cough up? You - the South African taxpayer.
It was the sterling work of a team of investigative journalists, Scorpio’s Pauli van Wyk and Marianne Thamm along with our great friends at amaBhungane, that caused the SARS capturers to be finally flushed out of the system. Moyane, Makwakwa… the lot of them... gone.
But our job is not yet done. We need more readers to become Maverick Insiders, the friends who will help ensure that many more investigations will come. Contributions go directly towards growing our editorial team and ensuring that Daily Maverick and Scorpio have a sustainable future. We can’t rely on advertising and don't want to restrict access to only those who can afford a paywall subscription. Membership is about more than just contributing financially – it is about how we Defend Truth, together.
So, if you feel so inclined, and would like a way to support the cause, please join our community of Maverick Insiders.... you could view it as the opposite of a sin tax. And if you are already Maverick Insider, tell your mother, call a friend, whisper to your loved one, shout at your boss, write to a stranger, announce it on your social network. The battle for the future of South Africa is on, and you can be part of it.
King Tutankhamun's ceremonial dagger is forged from meteorites.


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Cable, syndicated TV
Internet advertising was the fastest-growing sector, with a 15.7% growth, followed by cable TV (15.6%) and syndicated TV (15.3%).
All media showed growth except spot TV, which dropped 5.4%, due to comparisons to spending on last year's elections. A growth surge of 13.4% put newspapers at the top of the spending chain, with $22.79 billion in advertising, ahead of network TV, which totaled $20.37 billion, up only 1.8% vs. 2002, when the Winter Olympics boosted ad spending. Even the battered business-to-business magazine sector posted its first annual increase in three years, up 0.7%.
Biggest spender: P&G
Procter & Gamble Co. claimed the top spot among advertisers, increasing its spending by 24.7% to $2.67 billion. General Motors Corp. dropped to second place with flat spending of $2.49 billion. Spending by automakers was mixed. Ford Motor Co. was the fourth-largest spender, with $1.41 billion, up 13.2%, while fifth-place DaimlerChrysler spent $1.57 billion, down 1.1%, and Toyota Motors Co. spent $1.01 billion, up 7.8%, to come in 10th.
Media companies also showed spending increases, although a portion of their advertising tends to be carried on their own outlets. Time Warner was the third-largest spender, up 2.5% to $1.88 billion, while Walt Disney Co. was up 17.8% to $1.4 billion, enough for sixth place.


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THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has a number of bank charges, including ATM withdrawal charges and inter-bank transfer.
The apex bank issued the downward review for electronic banking transactions charges in its revised guidelines to bank charges, other Financial Institutions, OFIs, and Non-Bank Financial Institutions.
The apex bank made this known via a circular released by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Chibuzor Efobi.
In the release titled “RE: GUIDE TO CHARGES BY BANKS, OTHER FINANCIAL AND NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS”, the CBN noted that the review was in response to “further evolution in the financial industry in the last few years” adding that the new guide, includes a review of other bank charges in order to comply with market changes.
Among others, the CBN stated that changes on ATM withdrawals which hitherto stood at N65 after the third withdrawal within the same month, is now N35 while it crashed inter bank transfers from N300 to maximum of N50 per transaction.
The CBN statement also indicated that new sections are now on accountability and responsibility, as well as a sanction regime to directly address instances of excessive unapproved, arbitrary, charges.
According to the statement, the new guide provides a basis for the application of charges on various products and services offered by banks and other regulated institutions under the purview of the apex bank.
“The guide was first released in 2004 and revised in 2013 and 2017 due to market developments such as innovations in products and channels, as well as new industry participants,” CBN statement noted.
Below is the list of the new Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
A. 1. N10 for Transactions below ₦5,000 now ₦10
- N25 for Transfers between ₦5000 and ₦50,000
- N50 for transfers beyond ₦50,000
B. 1. No account card maintenance cost
- Rather than N50 monthly savings accounts cost, same cost will now be quarterly
- $10, instead of $20 for annual card maintenance cost for cards denominated in foreign currency, FCY
- Charge for a hardware token now based on cost recovery, and capped at ₦2,500 instead of previous maximum ₦3,500.
- SMS alerts fees now based on a cost-recovery model, with a maximum price of ₦4 in place previously.
- Payment of bills via e-channels will incur a maximum charge of ₦500, based on 0.75 percent of the transaction value up to ₦1,200


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Almost all streaming services provide a paid version that is ad-free; this version now includes Amazon Prime Video. Except for brief advertising for its own shows that runs right before a show begins, the service doesn’t currently feature any advertisements. These often last between 10 and 30 seconds.
Right now, Prime Video offers this function for free as well. This is included with most people’s Amazon Prime subscription. However, that is soon to change, and customers will eventually need to pay an additional $3 per month to continue watching series and movies ad-free. Disney+ includes advertisements in its streaming content, and Netflix launched a less expensive ad-supported tier towards the end of 2022. Consequently, an ad-supported option is now the standard worldwide.
Both Prime members and those who pay exclusively for Prime Video will be impacted by the increase in the ad-free price. In essence, there is no way to avoid having to pay for the privilege of not having advertisements. Either you watch the advertisements or you pay for them. If you are a Prime member, be prepared for a $3 monthly membership increase unless you prefer to remove the advertisements. If you only pay for Prime Video, the monthly cost will increase from $8.99 to $11.99 alone.
In 2024, Prime Video will start charging for ad-free access
The cost for ad-free viewing and ad-supported Prime Video is expected to launch in 2024, though a specific day is not yet known, according to The Streamable, which quotes Amazon CEO Andy Jassy from the company’s earnings call today. It’s interesting to note that, according to Jassy, Prime Video ranks as the second most popular reason for joining Prime.
Ad-free pricing will be announced early in the year, so it’s likely to appear in the first few months. And because the price has been made public, customers can anticipate receiving letters from Amazon indicating this modification. and the precise time it will arrive.
I’m a communication enthusiast and junior editor-reporter at Research Snipers, I have completed a degree in Mass Communication but am very enthusiastic about new technology, games, and mobile devices. I have the main interest in Technology and games.


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Leather Company Moving to Jeffersonville
A New Albany-based company has announced plans to relocate operations to Jeffersonville. Silver Creek Leather Co. LLC says it will invest more than $2.3 million over the next five years and add up to 30 employees.
Silver Creek has purchased a 30,000 square-foot facility that will increase its working space by 25 percent. The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has offered the wholesale leathercraft supplier a Skills Enhancement Fund grant of up to $40,000 to support employee training.
"After years of significant growth and several expansions, we have acknowledged our current space is simply too small to meet our current requirements and future development," said Greg Sartor, owner of Silver Creek. "We were happy to find a location to accommodate our manufacturing, packaging and warehousing needs. Since we will own the new building, and there is room for further expansion, we feel the company will be poised for new opportunities when they are presented to us."
Silver Creek currently employs 45 workers. The company did not specify a timetable for the move.


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eFootball 2022, formerly known as Pro Evolution Soccer, has been released worldwide as a free-to-play title – and fans are already labelling it a “complete disaster”.Konami have rebranded their long-running football computer game for the first time since its launch in 1995, waving goodbye to the popular PES franchise after 26 years.The new instalment, which was released on Thursday, is a digital-only, free-to-play game which can be downloaded on PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X/S , Xbox One consoles and PC as well as iOS and Android devices.However, fans have been quick to point out a number of issues with eFootball, taking to social media to criticise the PES replacement.One grumble with the new game is the quality of graphics on offer, as images of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi show the legendary pair looking very little like their real selves.
Ronaldo and Messi appear to have taken on some unusual features in the game, with the latter’s eyes much larger than normal and CR7’s eyebrows clearly out of shape.What do you make of eFootball 2022? Let us know in the comments section below.
One user uploaded a split pic of the two players and wrote: “Please tell me this is fake?” As well as the poor graphics, another unsatisfied eFootball customer has shared footage of a glitch in the game that has Nicolas Otamendi’s arm almost falling off as Pepe runs alongside him.
A different upload also shows Ansu Fati running with his arms behind his back like anime star Naruto.Don’t miss a thing with our football updates! Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star football email newsletter! From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox – don’t miss a thing.
How do you sign up? It only takes a matter of seconds.Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit ‘subscribe’.And that’s it, job done.You’ll receive an email with all of the top news stories every single morning.
You can find out more information on our email newsletter on this link here.In addition to that, eFootball only allows you to play five-minute matches, which was normally common practice with demo versions of PES.
One fan wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely embarrassing launch of #eFootball today.It’s a mobile game.Controls, graphics and UI are 100% on iPhone 3GS days.Good luck to anyone playing “year 4 of the 3 year plan”.
You’re gonna need it”.Another put: “The more I think about #eFootball, I feel bad I even compared it to PES.Gameplay just feels like a completely different, much cheaper game, with zero resemblance to its predecessor.I think it’s unsalvageable.” While a third simply commented: “my god, efootball 2022 / PES 2022 is a complete disaster”..


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Planning on getting some DIY done today? The good news is Homebase will be open this bank holiday Monday.
Homebase stores will open between 7am - 8pm today.
Homebase say it's best to use their online store finder for individual shop details before you head there.
The DIY store has got a huge end of season clearance sale on at the moment with the likes of barbecues, garden furniture and hedge trimmers on offer.


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Away from his work in politics, Mutua is a businessman with various interests spread across hospitality, real estate and media among other sectors.
Agboola, currently 38 years old, had worked as an application engineer at PayPal and in product management at Google before choosing to strike out on his own in 2016.
Former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho was considered one of the most powerful men in former President Uhuru Kenyatta's cabinet. Working alongside then Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, he cultivated a reputation as a political fixer and determined government operative - earning him numerous foes, including many in President William Ruto's camp.
680 hotel is popular with business travelers and locals seeking to enjoy staycations within the city. It is only one of the hotels in Musau's hospitality portfolio, with others including Maanzoni Lodges in Machakos.
Since exiting public office alongside former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022, former ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has shied away from the public limelight. He has, however, been quite busy - getting back to his roots working on technology for the continent.
Glovo has announced a partnership with multinational pizza restaurant chain, Domino’s Pizza, to offer consumers access to meals from the comfort of their homes. The partnership is expected to offer consumers access to a steady supply of Domino’s products through Glovo and ensure they receive...


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Indian smartphone market has recently seen the launch of new Firefox OS based smartphones from Spice and Intex.
Both smartphone vendors have launched smartphones showcased their Spice Fire One Mi FX1 and Intex Cloud FX in the market.
Though costly than the Intex smartphone, Spice scores better based on specifications.
Spice Fire One Mi – FX 1 is priced at Rs 2,229, a tad higher than the Firefox phone launched by Intex, which is priced at Rs 1,999. Hope the ecommerce channels which they are relying on will bring down the cost soon.
The Intex Cloud FX and Spice Fire One Mi-FX 1 smartphones are feature rich and designed for a better user experience.
Both handsets are very basic in nature with the only mission being to connect users to the Internet and social networking platforms.
Both are 2G enabled smartphones and do not support 3G. On the connectivity front, both devices features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.
Just like the Spice Fire One, Intex Cloud FX is a dual SIM and features a 3.5-inch HVGA (320×480 pixel) display.
Intex Cloud FX runs on a 1GHz processor coupled with 128 MB of RAM, whereas Spice Fire One has a 1GHz processor paired with 256 MB RAM.
Intex Cloud FX features a 2-megapixel rear camera but no front camera, but the Spice Fire One has both, 1.3 MP rear camera and 0.3 MP front camera. Rear camera of 2MP with Intex is better than Spice’s 1.3 MP. But you cannot have a selfie with Intex.
Unlike the Spice Fire One, Intex Cloud FX has a internal storage of 46 MB which expandable up to 4 GB via Micro SD card.
Both smartphones have Proximity sensors and Accelerometer.
Spice Fire One sports a 1400mAh battery which is long lasting and more durable as compared to Intex Cloud FX’s 1250mAh battery.


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- Kennedy Osei and Tracy are still making waves even after their luxury wedding
- The beautiful coupled held their wedding on Saturday, February 16, 2020
- Photos of Kennedy and his wife Tracy rocking designer nose masks and flaunting furnishing in their gorgeous home have dropped
Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in
Nearly two months after their blissful nuptial, Kennedy Asante and his gorgeous wife are still dominating headlines because it appears many are interested in their stories.
The wedding between Osei Kwame Despite's first son, Kennedy Osei, and Tracy Osei (Nee Ameyaw), which was characterised by unmatched pageantry and luxury came off on Saturday, February 16, 2020, in Accra.
Kenney and Tracy's wedding became the most-talked about ceremony in in town and made massive waves online.
Nearly two months after their star-studded ceremony, their after honeymoon photos and video popped up which also gained traction.
YEN.com.gh has spotted recent photos of Kennedy and his wife Tracy rocking designer nose masks and flaunting the lavish furnishings in their gorgeous home.
Slide to view images.
In other news, Maame Yaa Konadu Jackson, has managed to dominate the headlines of major online portals.
The Ghanaian actress turned musician continues to spin heads with her raunchy images showing her hour-glass figure.
An earlier report by YEN.com.gh highlighted that Yaa Jackson certainly knows how to set the internet wild and have a fans going nuts over her sultry photos.
The notable Kumawood actress has been flaunting her cute curves in skintight outfits and even managed to grab the attention of AMG CE0 Criss Waddle.
Yaa Jackson has fast become popular for making striking fashion statements with sultry images on Instagram.
READ ALSO: Afia Schwar to massively 'expose' Pastor Amoateng amid cheating claims against Akua GMB (video)
Low-cost ventilators produced in Ghana by Prof. Fred McBagonluri | #Yencomgh
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Ofcom rules on spectrum auction caps, but Three says regulator did not go far enough
UK regulator Ofcom has introduced additional caps on spectrum holdings for future auctions, but Three UK has said the decision is a "kick in the teeth" for consumers
Three UK has hit out at an Ofcom decision to introduce only some limitations on an upcoming 5G spectrum auction, claiming the regulator has not gone far enough.
The CK Hutchison-owned mobile operator said Ofcom’s decision was “a kick in the teeth” for UK consumers, claiming it could “push up prices” by favouring the largest operators, most notably BT (through mobile arm EE) and Vodafone. It follows a long campaign from Three aimed at getting Ofcom to introduce caps at upcoming spectrum auctions.
40MHz of spectrum will be auctioned off in the 2.3GHz band, while 150MHz of 3.4GHz spectrum will also be made available in the auction due to take place later this year. Both bands are expected to play a key role in 5G technologies, but a number of operators had challenged Ofcom to limit how much spectrum BT and EE could acquire.
Following a review, the regulator has imposed two different restrictions on bidders. The first will see the amount of “immediately useable” spectrum available to any operator capped at 255MHz, which will prevent BT/EE from bidding on the 2.3GHz band.
The second restriction will see an additional cap of 340MHz introduced on the overall amount of spectrum a single operator can hold as a result of the auction – the equivalent of 37% of all mobile spectrum expected to be useable by 2020.
The cap means BT can only bid for a maximum of 85MHz of spectrum in the 3.4GHz band, while also limiting Vodafone to a maximum of 160MHz across both bands due to be auctioned.
The caps will also apply to the 700MHz band, which Ofcom said it will continue to make available for mobile in 2020. This band is seen as ideal for boosting rural coverage, as well as strengthening signal for deep inside buildings.
Philip Marnick, Ofcom’s Spectrum Group Director, said: “Spectrum is a vital resource that fuels the UK’s economy. We’ve designed this auction to ensure that people and businesses continue to benefit from strong competition for mobile services.
“We want to see this spectrum in use as soon as possible. With smartphones and tablets using even more data, people need a choice of fast and reliable mobile networks. These new airwaves will support better services for mobile users, and allow operators to innovate and build for the future.”
Kick in the teeth
Despite Ofcom going further than it originally planned, Three CEO Dave Dyson was still unhappy, implying the operator could take further measures to prevent BT and Vodafone from accumulating more spectrum.
Three had launched a massive marketing campaign - “Make the Air Fair” - hoping to put pressure on Ofcom boss Sharon White to rebalance spectrum in the UK, and although Ofcom has responded, Three claims it has not gone far enough.
Dyson said: ““Ofcom’s proposal is a kick in the teeth for all consumers and in particular for the near-200,000 people who signed up to the 'Make the Air Fair' campaign.
“By making decisions that increase the dominance of the largest operators, Ofcom is damaging competition, restricting choice and pushing prices up for the very consumers that it is meant to protect.
“The mobile market is imbalanced and failing customers. Ofcom has shown little interest in tackling the problem. We will consider our response as a matter of urgency.”
When Three first launched the Make The Air Fair campaign, which included a cartoon version of Ofcom chief White, it claimed BT held around 42% of all useable UK spectrum, while Vodafone’s share was 29%. Three itself holds around 15%, although this doesn’t include spectrum it acquired with its purchase of UK Broadband, while Telefonica’s O2 held around 14%.
Three and its campaign partners, including wholesaler CityFibre, Gamma Telecom, and TalkTalk, called on Ofcom to limit spectrum shareholding to a maximum of 30% in order to rebalance the market.
EE wasn't happy with the decision either, but said it was not looking to delay the process. In a statement, CEO Marc Allera said: “While we don't agree that spectrum caps were necessary for this auction, our focus remains on investing in our network, using our existing and future spectrum to provide the best mobile experience for our customers across the UK. We look forward to bidding for additional spectrum in this auction.”
Dyson’s claim that Three is considering its response shows the operator may not take Ofcom’s decision lying down. Whether this will lead to an appeal or to a legal challenge remains to be seen, but any such action could lead to a delay in the auction process, something that seems to be opposed by Three’s rivals.
O2, Telefonica’s UK mobile operation, also claimed Ofcom has not gone far enough with its ruling. In a statement, Telefonica UK CEO Mark Evans said: ““The announcement from Ofcom falls short of our expectations but it is important we now press ahead with the auction quickly so that the spectrum can be obtained by operators that will deploy it for the benefit of consumers, businesses and ultimately UK plc.”
A number of vendors have already fired warning that Europe faces lagging behind the United States and a number of APAC markets in deploying next generation mobile tech such as 5G due to regulatory delays. If Three presses ahead with an appeal, the UK could face the problem, with too little 5G spectrum available to launch the service in 2019, as is currently planned by BT’s EE.
Even if Three does find some way of appealing against Ofcom’s decision, there is no indication as to what the outcome would be. There can be no doubt that the current allocation of spectrum is unbalanced – Make the Air Fair claims the UK is one of the most unbalanced markets in the world when it comes to spectrum allocation – but the impact of this is difficult to measure.
Both Vodafone and EE have recently unveiled plans for Gigabit LTE services, and deploying these kinds of services is no doubt easier when you have significant spectrum holdings, so arguably this gives them a competitive advantage. Three’s claim that the imbalance causes price rises for consumers is much less clear.
Either way, Ofcom has acted after much lobbying from the Hutch OpCo, but it seems no-one is 100% happy with the regulator’s ruling.
GTB contacted Vodafone UK about this story and is awaiting a statement from the operator.


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Saudi Arabian company BinDawood Holding Co. acquired an 80.5 percent stake in the company through its wholly owned subsidiary, Future Technology Retail, a technology and retail solutions investment company, nabbing the 70 percent stake owned by TF1 Group, a French leader in content production, publishing and distribution, and the other 10.5 percent interest from minority investors.
Although the involved entities declined to provide financial details, industry sources pegged the transaction at 50 million euros.
Current co-chief executive officers Olivier Billon, Matteo Baldi and Anne Höweler maintained minority ownership of Ykone alongside other top managers.
Billon told WWD that the acquisition and the ambitious 70-million-euro revenue target set for 2022 are testament to renewed interest for the influencer space.
“I felt that before COVID-19 there was a sort of influencer fatigue, there were a lot of discussions about that being the end of the influencer era, but what I’m truly feeling today is that there’s a new wave in that business, [with brands being] very demanding…and as a consequence the entire industry has to make some significant progresses,” he said.
Ykone’s network-building agenda has been recently geared toward growing its size, scope and reach.
After acquiring a 51 percent interest in Milan-based digital communication agency MB New Media Agency, owned by Baldi and which includes the Bold Management talent firm, Ykone bought German agency Cover Communications this month to expand its European footprint.
Ykone already boasted offices in Berlin, in addition to Paris; Milan; Shanghai; Hong Kong; Geneva; Munich; Miami; Dubai and Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.; Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Bangalore, India, and Tunis, Tunasia.
Forecasting revenues will hit the 100-million-euro threshold in 2023, Billon said Ykone is continuously opening new offices wherever there’s market share for the luxury and tourism industry, the latter enjoying robust rebound.
To this end, Ykone is opening its second U.S. offices in Las Vegas, after Miami. “Our biggest clients are from the luxury industry…but those [influencer marketing] investments are also coming from the tourism sector, and we’ve seen a rebound with tremendous excitement from tourism companies to reinvest, and Las Vegas is one of the tourism capitals of the world,” Billon offered.
Although plans for a further race in the U.S. were not detailed, nor did Billon disclose whether global expansion will rely on M&A activity or new direct openings, he offered that the rationale is taking the European flair Stateside.
“There’s no need for a French company to venture there and replicate the American way of doing business. I believe that this strong cultural heritage that we have is our strength,” Billon said.
“Europe is obsessed with creativity and granularity…and we focus on relationships between brands and influencers that benefit the output and the creative content. In the U.S., what we’re seeing is that numbers come first, creativity comes second. There’s no taboo in the U.S. to talk about conversion and performance,” he noted.
Last month, Ykone launched its own production division called Oddly Enough, specialized in producing branded digital content fronted by influencers. It has already installed three studios and four hubs around the world to lead it. It reflects the firm’s ambition to provide all-encompassing services.
Its strong data-driven approach supported by the in-house platform Campaygn, which guarantees its clients real-time tracking and management of social media campaigns as well as provides benchmark in terms of price and performance, is pivotal as brands have grown more educated than ever on influencer marketing.
“In the social media world, a lot of data is public, so there is little value in crunching them. The real value is collecting, as opposed to crunching, data about price and performance. We want to help brands evaluate which influencers they can afford and those who have driven positive performances for other brands [in the past],” Billon explained, mentioning the 10,000 influencers and hundreds of brands the firm links with each year.
“It’s about building an ecosystem of trust….Today, brands are looking for an environment of trust as much as they’re looking for an environment of creativity and performance,” he said.


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Thu, 25 Jun 2020 09:50:00 GMT
“You know, they’re going to finish the MLS season in one month in Orlando at Universal Studios, right? And they’re going to finish it off in just one swift World Cup style tournament. I believe they’re going to do same thing with the NBA at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando at the similar time,” commented Matt Roberts, head of marketing NAM at Amdocs.
“It’s almost like when you watch those dystopian films from the 80’s and rather than go to full-scale war, they have the two leaders just battle it out and whoever wins, you know...” replied Alex Shifrin, president of LP/AD.
Alex Shifrin believed that this was, in fact, the plot to Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Two Tribes’ music video. Still. A good warmup for a 45-minute chat. A few minutes later, Robert DeNiro’s Rupert Pupkin (King of Comedy) would be referenced and mixed up with Artie Fufkin from Spinal Tap. With those references out of the way, it was full steam ahead.
The Great Indoors. Not necessarily where we want to be, but it’s been reality for the better part of 2020. Thanks to technology though, it hasn’t completely sucked. Just imagine your great-grandparents a hundred years ago struggling through the last global pandemic without Zoom or Fortnite.
Not only has technology been saving our bacon, but it’s actually opened up entirely new possibilities, particularly within the world of marketing. Matt Roberts, head of NAM Marketing at Amdocs, has been reflecting on the role technology has played as we navigate our situation and rediscover its magic in his podcast, The Great Indoors.
In the latest episode, ‘Marketing is Dead. Long Live Marketing.’ Matt speaks with Alex Shifrin, president of LP/AD, about how the pandemic has transformed the way companies communicate and how brands are approaching creativity. "I think you have to look at yourself and realise whether you’re a destination brand or whether you’re not,” says Alex. "Let’s say you’re Yeezy shoes or you’re Billie Eilish. You’re a destination brand. Billie Eilish could drop a new single anywhere and people will go there... If you are a B2B brand that needs to pull people in, you should go to where people are, rather than wait for them to come to you.”
We’re now seeing, for example, how previously untapped digital environments are evolving as marketing channels. Fortnite has become a weekend hangout place for people. "Because people happen to be in this virtual space, it’s being repurposed for virtual marketing and engagement opportunities. It might just be that these unexpected places [are] where even B2B brands are going to find themselves advertising at some point soon, because that’s where people are congregating."
view more - Creative
Categories: Streaming Services, Media and EntertainmentLP/AD, Thu, 25 Jun 2020 09:50:00 GMT


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Azerbaijan may grant subsidies for tomato export
Azerbaijan’s Economy Ministry may consider granting subsidies for export of tomatoes, said Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev.
He made the remarks at a conference dedicated to the fourth year of implementation of the state program on socio-economic development of the regions of Azerbaijan in 2014-2018.
Answering the question of Bashir Guliyev, chairman of Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association, Mustafayev asked to prepare relevant proposals.
Meanwhile, it is important to produce high-quality products for export growth, added Mustafayev.
Azerbaijan has already started supplying tomatoes to Riga, he continued. Export deliveries may increase, since the head of Azerbaijan’s Trade House, recently registered in the Latvian city, has already started activities, said Mustafayev.
The minister also reminded that work is underway today for expanding the export of Azerbaijani products to the countries of the Middle East.


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Known for his signature inspired by European rococo style, Sebastian Gunawan showcased his latest collections "Fly for Freedom" at Fashion Nation XIV.
With more than 70 fashion shows from 270 fashion designers and a series of fashionably riveting agenda, the 12th edition of Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) carried a vision to revolutionise homegrown industry in the midst of criticism.
Aiming to bring together Indonesian and Swiss art honouring the Indonesian tradition, the Swiss Embassy once again held a batik design competition featuring a fashion show and exhibition.
Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) 2020 officially kicked off on Tuesday, 22 October, showcasing a designers’ parade that follows with a list of exciting agenda.
As the annual fashion show has introduced the new look for the 2020 event, homegrown industry is challenged to move forward toward the global fashion agenda while appreciating the local tradition.
Strongbow, the number one cider brand in the world, collaborates with Indonesian designer Jeffry Tan to bring natural freshness to the urban life.
TAUZIA hotels in Jakarta, Bekasi, and Bogor recently organised 'The Colors of Tauzia', a workshop and fashion show to promote batik as the country’s heritage.
In celebrating summer this year, Le Meridien Jakarta has recently organized runway show, beauty demo, and food experience at the hotel’s poolside area.


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2010 FORD TAURUS WINS FIRST-EVER EDMUNDS.COM TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGH AWARD
2010 Ford Taurus
Click here to download related images.The 2010 Ford Taurus is the winner of the first-ever Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award; the award was presented today at the 2010 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show®) in Las Vegas
The Taurus offers more user-friendly technology than other cars twice its price, including 10 class-exclusive technologies not available from any other manufacturer
In addition to receiving the Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award, the Taurus is serving as the official vehicle of CES, and the 2010 Taurus SHO was dubbed Esquire magazine’s first-ever “Car of the Year”
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 7, 2010 – America’s most innovative sedan, the hot-selling 2010 Ford Taurus, is the winner of the first-ever Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award. The announcement was made today at the 2010 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas.
“We chose the 2010 Ford Taurus to receive the first annual Edmunds.com Breakthrough Technology Award because the vehicle offers an extensive and impressive array of electronic amenities that also represent an excellent value for consumers,” said Doug Newcomb, senior technology editor, Edmunds.com.
The Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award is presented to vehicles that set the standard for intuitive, practical and affordable technology that enhances safety and convenience
for drivers and passengers. Any new vehicle available for sale within the U.S. within the last year is eligible to receive the award.
With its expressive styling, the Taurus offers more user-friendly technology than other cars twice its price, including 10 class-exclusive technologies not available from any other manufacturer.
“In addition to the innovative Ford SYNC® system that provides voice-activated Bluetooth and iPod connectivity and free features such as 911 Assist™ and turn-by-turn navigation, the Taurus also has heated and cooled Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™, Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert, SIRIUS Travel Link™ and SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad,” said Newcomb.
Other class-exclusive features include:
Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler – a self-seal system without a traditional fuel cap. No lost, dangling or spinning caps. It seals automatically every time.
Sony Audio® System – a surround-sound system that delivers Dolby® Digital
5.1 sound through 12 high-quality Sony speakers.
Available EcoBoost™ V-6 – a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine that delivers the output of a V-8, 365 horsepower, without compromising its V-6 fuel economy.
MyKey™ – a programmable feature that allows parents to limit top speed and audio volume and set speed alert chimes to encourage safer driving.
In addition to receiving the Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award, the Taurus is serving as the official vehicle of CES, and the 2010 Taurus SHO was dubbed Esquire magazine’s first-ever “Car of the Year.” Since going on sale in August 2009, Ford's all-new Taurus has received more than a dozen awards from an array of leading consumer and automotive publications.
For additional coverage of the Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award, visit http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.


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According to a source close to Infendo, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions. Nintendo is currently working on a new Star Fox game for either the Wii or the DSi. Although, there hasn’t been word on what system the game is currently being developed for. It was stated that the new installment in the series is suppose to be bringing a breath of fresh air to the series, and remain close to the games roots.
I for one want a Star Fox game for the Wii that plays similar to the Wario Ware mini game in Smooth Moves. What would you guys like to see in the next Star Fox?


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On the report, Ubisoft confirmed that their slate of video games for the upcoming yr contains Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Canine: Legion, Rainbox Six Quarantine, Gods & Monsters, and an “unannounced AAA title coming from our greatest franchises.”
Sadly, the corporate didn’t additional elaborate on their final unannounced title, main many to take a position on what precisely it could possibly be.
Some have hypothesized that it could possibly be a brand new Far Cry recreation, seeing as how the fourth and fifth entry within the recreation did so nicely. Even long-forgotten franchises reminiscent of Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia are additionally possible guesses. Ubisoft will possible reveal extra particulars concerning the fifth title at its upcoming digital showcase Ubisoft Ahead, taking place in mid-July.
Nonetheless, because of the present COVID-19 state of affairs, Ubisoft additionally famous that a few of its video games may face delays, and it’ll use “the approaching months” to find out how a lot of an influence the pandemic has left on the manufacturing of their video games.
In different information, Ubisoft has not too long ago sued each Apple and Google over an alleged Rainbow Six: Siege clone.
Germaine is a fun-sized introvert who loves nothing higher than sleeping in on wet days. She might be discovered studying fanfiction and manga whereas nonetheless ready for her Hogwarts acceptance letter. It’ll come finally.
Drop a Fb remark under!


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This Just In: Dodgers Have a New Official Baseball Jersey
Photo by LAist News Editor Andy Sternberg
Wait, cancel that, reports The Smoking Gun in March:
Major League Baseball has forced the closure of an online business run by a Barack Obama supporter who tweaked team logos to create t-shirts promoting the Illinois Democrat's presidential bid. The web site Obamaofdreams.com began selling the $19.99 shirts last month and had more than a dozen versions available when an MLB lawyer sent proprietor Morris Levin a cease and desist letter threatening legal action...
The website, www.obamaofdreams.com is currently not accepting orders.


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This initiative is valid from April 12th to May 31st of this year.
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2 min read
This article was translated using AI technologies from our Spanish edition. Errors can occur as a result of this process.
Toks restaurant chain announced this week that all diners who visit their stores on the day the first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is applied will be able to enjoy a cup of 100% Mexican-American coffee.
Toks will put this initiative into effect from April 12th to May 31st of this year.
“We are excited to launch this type of initiative to pamper our guests and more at such a crucial moment in the fight against the current pandemic. That is why we warmly invite people who are using the first or second dose of the vaccine so that they can enjoy one of our classics, our 100% Mexican-American coffee, on that day. For Toks, in addition to serving food and drinks of the highest quality, it is also an obligation to support society with great empathy, ”said Claudia Amerena, Marketing Director of Toks.
To get the benefit, which is only valid on the day you use the vaccine, you will need to show your Mexican government-issued vaccination certificate and government-issued identification. This only applies to in-store consumption, not to delivery or on home service platforms.
The restaurant chain informs that all operational units have the appropriate measures in place to ensure the health of customers, employees and suppliers.


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Tapestry has signed up for a three-year commitment .
The Coach, Kate Spade parent company has increasingly invested in its omnichannel, including digital capabilities and immersive store experiences.
Company shares rose more than 2 percent premarket as a result.
The recognition is given to U.S. companies that create nondiscriminatory workplace policies, offer equitable benefits and publicly engage with the LGBTQ community.
This brings the total number of board members to 10, including nine independent directors.
The retailer logged a $231 million profit for the quarter, up from $20 million the same time last year.
Crevoiserat, who has been serving as interim ceo since July, is the first woman to lead the fashion company that houses the Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman brands.
Meanwhile, turnaround plans continue for the Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman parent company.
Meanwhile, company shares have remained mostly flat after the news broke of Zeitlin’s past behavior, closing up just 0.37 percent Wednesday.
Bluebell Group is more confident than ever about the Asian consumer as it further expands into new markets.


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Nigeria-based e-health startup, Field Intelligence is on its mission to digitise the pharmaceutical supply chain in Africa by expanding its operations in 11 cities across East and West Africa to provide the pharmacy market with its pharmacy inventory-management service, according to media reports.
The startup plans to open its services to Rivers, Edo, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Delta and Kwara States in Nigeria, and Eldoret, Mombasa, Kisumu and Naivasha in Kenya.
This mission will be a collaboration between the African governments to scale up their healthcare system while taking care of Africa’s small private pharmacies.
The news of the company’s expansion comes after it raised $3.8 million in 2020 to scale its Shelf Life product, a subscription-based pay-as-you-sell platform. Shelf Life was launched in 2017 to solve the inventory problem that is faced by Africa’s $75 billion pharmacy market.
The startup’s winning pitch for the funding was simple. Help any type of pharmacy access thousands of products and cutting-edge inventory planning along with enabling them to pay and sell the products. This approach minimises some of the risks associated with storage activities such as procurement and inventory management and it also eliminates the over and understocking problem faced in the market.
Michael Moreland, chief executive officer (CEO) of Field Intelligence told the media, “Shelf Life’s rapid uptake across such a range of African markets is a testament to its potential as a solution for pharmacies across the continent. Rural and urban, East and West, we have found Shelf Life helping pharmacies overcome a shared set of challenges and seize new opportunities for growth by improving access for their patients.”
“The ability of our technology to digitise, automate, and optimise planning, assortment, and fulfilment, led by an incredible team, is quickly making Shelf Life one of the largest retail pharmacy supply chains in Africa.”
Image credits- Tech Crunch


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CNET: Has Microsoft taken a shine to Apple?. “Our relationship with Apple has never been better,” says the general manager for Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit.
I once owned a very tough piece of equipment, which is more than I can say for most of the gear I use these days.
Plastic: The Downside Of Tougher Sentencing — An Army Of Ex-Cons
Asia Daily: China Arrests Book Club Members.
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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) --Confirming a recent rumor, Gateway said Wednesday afternoon that Ted Waitt will step down as chief executive, with President Jeff Weitzen taking the top spot.
The company gtw said Weitzen will continue to run worldwide operations. The shift at the second-largest seller of direct PCs will take place at the end of the year. Gateway stock closed off 1 1/16 at 65 11/16, having lost about 14 percent since the beginning of the month. It traded in-line with its close on Instinet. See related story.
In other news from boxmakers, Dell dell is teaming up with National Instruments NATI, -1.81% to produce workstations loaded with technology that engineers use for measurement. Shares of Dell dipped 1 7/8 to 43 1/2 ahead of the announcement, while National Instruments slid 13/16 to 29 1/16.
IDT Corporation said after the market closed that it earned $2.5 million, or 7 cents per share, excluding gains from its stake in Net2Phone ntop Analysts expected a profit of 8 cents per share, according to First Call. First-quarter sales at the Internet telecom company " more than doubled to $275.8 million. The stock closed off 3/16 at 23 3/4, but edged down to 22 11/16.
Engage Technologies posted a fiscal first quarter net loss of $10.5 million, or 22 cents a share. That's 6 cents a share narrower than analysts expected. In the same quarter last year, the company ENGA, -62.50% lost $10.8 million, or 26 cents. Shares in the Internet marketer gained 3 at 72 ahead of the release.
Whittman-Hart whit expanded its e-commerce relationship with IBM, with 100 consultants set to train at Big Blue IBM, -0.05% Whittman shares closed up 3 7/16 to 77, while IBM gained 1 123/128 to 118 75/128.
Tribune Co. executives said they expect the company to meet Wall Street expectations for earnings and cash flow growth for the fourth quarter. Additionally, the company TRB, -16.67% said it expects to increase earnings 10 to 15 percent and revenue growth of 10 to 12 percent next year. Analysts surveyed by First Call project $1.53 a share for 1999 and $1.73 for 2000, an increase of 13 percent. Shares closed up 4 21/256 at 52 85/128.
Puma Technology PUMA, +0.00% said after the market closed that it'll issue 5 million shares for privately held NetMind Technologies. The acquisition is expected to help Puma's effort to get information from a network to a wireless gadget. Based on Puma's closing price of 74, the deal is worth $370 million. See related story.
After pumping up its market capitalization by more than $17.7 billion in Tuesday's regular session, Yahoo gave back some of its stunning rise in pre-market trading Wednesday.
Shares in the world's largest search engine yhoo slid 22, or 6.3 percent, to 326 over the Island ECN. The stock gained 24 percent on Tuesday, and was up 64 percent in December. Yahoo has joined the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. See related story.
Microsoft MSFT, +0.07% was edging up 1/2 to 93 1/2 over the Island ECN. The company introduced early Wednesday its Mobile Explorer, which utilizes a version of the Windows CE operating system to power Internet-enabled mobile phones. This will allow users to securely access personal e-mail and the Internet when connected to a wireless network.
Also, Microsoft and Sweden's Ericsson ericy announced intentions to collaborate in support of developing open industry standards to drive the mobile Internet market. Ericsson surged 5 1/4 to 63 15/16 over Island.
Finland's Nokia NOK, +1.74% a rival in the mobile phone market, fell 9 1/2 to 167 in Instinet, despite Goldman raising its price target and EPS estimates.
Shares of Digital Island isld flew 29 7/8, or 43 percent, to 99 1/2 over Island, after closing up 25 percent in Tuesday's regular session. The company, Sun Microsystems SUNW, -9.26% and Inktomi " announced a strategic alliance early Wednesday to build out a content delivery network. . Under the agreement, Digital Island will deploy up to 5,000 Sun Microsystems' servers equipped with Inktomi's Traffic server platform and content distribution suite. As part of the agreement, both Sun and Inktomi will make a minority equity investment in Digital Island. Inktomi already holds a stake in Sandpiper Networks, which is merging with Digital Island. Sun Micro's shares were up 31/32 on a post-split basis to 73 and Inktomi rallied 13 1/16 to 176 3/4.
Exodus Communications exds climbed 17 to 161 1/2 over Island. Coverage of the Web hosting and network management company was initiated at Merrill Lynch with a "buy" rating and a $200 price target. Analyst Henry Blodget said he believed that the company is one of the best-positioned players to consolidate its target market and "rapidly move upstream into value-added services."
Amazon AMZN, -0.35% and Sprint PCS pcs announced they were teaming to provide wireless e-shopping over Sprint PCS phones. See full story. Users can select Amazon.com from their phone's MiniBrowser menu and then once registered, can buy any item sold by the web site. As an added feature, Sprint PCS Wireless Web customers will also be able to send items purchased on Amazon by just entering the recipient's e-mail address. Sprint PCS shares rose 1/4 to 94 9/16 in Instinet and Amazon stepped 1 11/16 higher to 87 3/4 over Island, after seeing earlier losses in Europe.
Among other Internet stocks seeing activity in the pre-market, America Online aol trimmed 7/8 to 80 in Instinet.
American Champion Entertainment acei flew 60 percent higher to 1 1/4 over Island. More than 300,000 shares had traded in the pre-market on the ECN as of 8:53 a.m. ET. The company announced that it has a signed Stock Exchange Agreement to buy an 80 percent stake in the Great Wall International Sports Media Company of China. Great Wall, in conjunction with ACE, will be hosting an international professional boxing match in Beijing scheduled for April 22, 2000.
Citigroup C, +0.89% tacked on 7/16 to 57 5/8, in Europe, according to market makers at Madoff Investment Securities. The financial services giant announced it has signed an agreement with State Street Corp. STT, +0.23% to establish a joint venture targeting the defined contribution market. The new company will be called CitiStreet and is expected to be open for business in the first half of 2000 with approximately $200 billion in assets. State Street was untraded.
Amgen AMGN, -0.01% trimmed 5/16 to 44 1/2, said Madoff. The company said after the market closed Tuesday that Chief Executive Officer Gordon Binder will retire May 11, 2000. Chief Operating Officer Kevin Sharer will replace Binder as head of the biotech giant. See full story.