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The first new-look Spark stores have been rolled out in Sylvia Park and Albany, with more on the way for Spark Northwest and Queen St. Alongside a deeper design-led refresh, the stores will offer free Spark-branded water, virtual queuing, a safe phone-charging station and live accessories.
Lizzi Hines is managing director of Spaceworks Design Group, which carried out the redesign, with head of retail design Christy Ormand at the helm. “Spark has been on a significant agenda of transition and transformation over the past few years and we knew the stores had to deliver on the constantly evolving digital future and had to inspire their expanding target market to connect, share and engage in-store,” Hines says.
“We were tasked with bringing both the tangible and intangible products to life and inspire and engage existing and future customers through clever design. We whole-heartedly believe the design has achieved this in spades.”
Hines says every square metre of the new Spark retail spaces is fastidiously considered, and engineered to guarantee the best-possible customer experience.
“The Spark stores now showcase solutions for the shoppers, rather than simply being a room housing product.”
She says this was achieved by taking the product off the walls, cross merchandising and displaying product alongside accessories which, in turn, creates a story for the shopper rather than ‘racking and stacking’ merchandise.
Spark’s head of consumer sales Greg Clark says the time had come for Spark’s store format to evolve.
“Clearly the big change for us has been the transition to a much more customer focused brand in Spark and that needed to turn up at retail which we ultimately see as being the physical face of the brand,” he says.
A research trip on global best practice showed that many industries, including those in the food and telco categories, had taken a leaf out of fashion merchandising by displaying a “story” around their products.
The team ended up with a five-point list of objectives for the store refresh, which Clark has shared below:
- Access to people, our customers tell us that is the main reason that they come in
- Product as the hero, make it easy for customers to touch and play & understand our products and services
- The environment, make it welcoming and less ‘intimidating’ than traditional retail
- Ease of access, ensuring that the store supports the increasing demand of customers to interact easily with us across multiple channels. Capability will continue to evolve in this space as technology evolves so there is an element of how can we future-proof to plug some things in down the track
- The format simply needs to work for our customers and our staff. How could we become more efficient to enable the team to spend more time with customers.
Besides this concept-driven fit out, the new stores feature a number of shiny playthings: “hospitality zones” serving free Spark-branded water; virtual queuing; a lockable cabinet where customers can charge their mobile phones; live accessories such as headphones and Fit-Bits for customers to play with.
The cabinetry in stores has been retooled to reduce the need for staff to leave customers and retrieve products, and the counters have been designed to strip away traditional ‘across counter’ transactions between customers and staff.
POS counters have been integrated with display tables to bring staff out onto the shop floor, and the lighting has also been tweaked.
“Every design feature is subtle, however when pulled together creates a store environment which aligns with the Spark brand and unleashes the potential of all customers, past, present and future. It empowers the Spark retail staff and ensures product is hero through visual, interactive and audio sensory hubs. We believe the Spark stores is a feast for the senses, taking New Zealanders to a whole new level of retail experience,” Hines says.
Now that the stores are live, Spark will spend time testing the changes and continuing to refine the new fit out so that decisions can be made around further changes.


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In December of last year, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) introduced a rule change that has big implications.
With the price of BitCoin breaking $50,000, newly minted millionaires are in abundance and the United States Treasury wants to make sure they can follow the money at any given time.
Under the auspices of fighting terrorism and illegal trafficking, the proposed rule will require banks to “gather, maintain and report information about customers engaging in virtual currency transactions with unhosted wallets.”
For those not familiar with Cryptocurrency, “wallets” are where you keep your digital currency. Hosted wallets are more like banks. You don’t have possession of your currency, they’re simply holding it for you no different than a bank holds your dollars.
An unhosted wallet is akin to stuffing gold coins into a safe or under your mattress.
You maintain sole possession over your cryptocurrency in an unhosted wallet. No one aside from you knows how much you have under your pillow and if you lose it . . . sorry, it’s gone.
Here’s the catch, cryptocurrency has to get to your unhosted wallet through the blockchain (like the ATM network of tradition banks except transparent to the public).
And that’s where the government wants to step in.
If a bank or a hosted wallet service accepts or sends a transaction to an unhosted wallet, they want to know the identity of the formerly anonymous person on the other end.
The move by the feds will give them a strong grip to pull back the veil of privacy of crypto holders and the last bastion of financial freedom will be far less free.
Comments to the rule are open to the public until March 29th.

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Erik Hartmann, Asia-Pacific manager of Google Books, has made a public apology to Chinese writers for using their literary works without their approval.
According to Hong Kong and Taiwan Media, Google says it has attached great importance to the copyright claim made by the China Writers Association, and through the discussions and communications of recent months, it is its understanding that its communications with Chinese writers have not been good enough. Google stresses that Chinese books are an integral part of its online book search service and it hopes to solve the disputes with Chinese writers through the negotiation with the China Written Works Copyright Society, a non-government organization representing writers on copyright issues.
Google promises to "display the whole page of Chinese writers' books with their approval and not use any Chinese literary works in any countries of the world without the authorization of China Writer's Association."
Besides an apology, Google will also provide an expanded list of Chinese books it used, and a timetable for resolution of the copyright issue.
In October 2009, the China Written Works Copyright Society condemned Google for using 17920 books of 570 Chinese writers without their approval. CWWCS asked Google to issue a full list of Chinese writers' books it used before January 7, 2010.


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New ruling outlaws sale and use of synthetic drugs
Loopholes in old legislation tightened up
A new law signed Tuesday by Gov. Tom Corbett appears to bring the hammer down hard on the manufacture and sale of any synthetic drug.
The original law that went into effect just over a year ago outlawed certain chemicals and compounds found in synthetic drugs.
That law allowed manufacturers to change the chemical makeup and skirt the law. But the new law signed Tuesday is much broader, and Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said it covers just about anything synthetic.
“This will enable us to cut those out so store owners, those that are buying these drugs, should be aware. The new law, effective immediately, bans pretty much all types of synthetic marijuana or any other synthetic drug,” said Marsico.
Marsico said synthetic drugs and bath salts have been a huge problem, causing extremely erratic behavior and acts of violence more so than traditional drugs.
The DA said those caught selling or using synthetic drugs will face penalties similar to the illegal sale and use of traditional drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.


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Home Editors' Picks HONOR launches premium budget phone x9a in the Philippines
HONOR launches premium budget phone x9a in the Philippines
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By Brontë H. Lacsamana, Reporter
SMART devices brand HONOR launched in the Philippines last week the X9a 5G, its first-ever premium budget phone and the latest addition to the HONOR X series.
Priced at P16,990, the X9a’s key features are its “superior curved display and long-lasting battery in a compact design,” HONOR said. Its recent social media ad campaigns have also shown the phone being dropped, smashed, or run over and sustaining no damage.
“We at HONOR believe that hardware is as important as the software. We believe that now, post-pandemic, everyone is on the rush, everyone is trying to get the three years back. We believe that a very good smartphone can do a lot for you,” Stephen Cheng, HONOR vice-president for marketing, said in an interview with BusinessWorld.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the trend… We are just emphasizing the durability of the project,” he added.
The phone’s 6.67-inch 120Hz OLED curved tempered glass display is durable, based on tests BusinessWorld did along with other media outfits on X9a review units.
Like other smartphones with curved displays, its appearance had a premium feel but showed no dents or scratches despite being dropped from five feet, smashed into pistachio nuts, or hit by badminton shuttlecocks and BB gun pellets.
The X9a’s display supports a resolution of 2400×1080 pixels and displays up to 1.07 billion colors to reproduce detailed and vibrant images, HONOR said. BusinessWorld found that its 93% screen-to-body ratio offered immersive viewing for video.
For gamers looking for responsiveness, the X9a screen has a 120Hz refresh rate and a 300Hz touch sampling rate. The device instantly registered and reacted to user inputs, and had touch prevention features.
Certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue light emissions, the display was easy on the eyes. HONOR said the phone also features industry-leading dimming technology to reduce screen flickering and alleviate eye fatigue.
“HONOR wants to change the standard. Premium is not just about the design, but it’s also having powerful features packed in a beautiful design that is durable enough to serve your daily needs,” said Joepy Libo-on, HONOR brand marketing manager.
Other features include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, a 64-megapixel main camera sensor, and a 5100mAh battery with 40-watt charging capacity.
Available in titanium silver and emerald green, the X9a can be purchased starting Jan. 20 at all HONOR kiosks and online stores in Lazada, Shopee, Tiktok Shop, and Home Credit, with free HONOR earbuds worth P3,999.


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Chemical Industry Regulatory Update – March 2020
A Newsletter from The Adhesive and Sealant Council and Thompson Hine LLP
Date: March 20, 2020
The chemical industry is subject to complex and ever-evolving laws and regulations. New standards governing the production and use of chemicals are implemented every year worldwide, and existing laws and regulations are constantly changing to keep pace with new information and scientific advancements. Chemical Industry Regulatory Update provides a monthly digest of recent legislative and regulatory developments and related industry news.
Webinar – COVID-19: Planning Considerations for Employers
As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread, so do fears and uncertainties. As an employer, you are equally concerned about the health of your employees and that of your business, and many new questions arise daily. How do you comply with current recommendations regarding travel restrictions, quarantines and other guidance from government and health authorities to maintain a safe working environment while trying to conduct “business as usual”?
Click here to view our COVID-19 Webinar presentation recorded on March 10.
Click here to access the COVID-19 checklist
Click here view the PowerPoint presentation
Novel COVID-19 Virus, Commercial Contracts and Force Majeure
Jennifer S. Roach, Matthew David Ridings, Laura Watson Schultz, John D. Cottingham
The novel COVID-19 virus has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and its impact on global supply chains is already significant and increasing day-by-day. Businesses around the world are dealing with reduced demand, uncertain supply, slowing growth or labor shortages. While it may be too soon to evaluate and quantify the full impact of the COVID-19 virus, manufacturers are evaluating how their commercial contracts may be affected by the outbreak in the context of force majeure provisions. More information is available here.
The Coronavirus Threatens U.S. Company Supply Chains - Practical Tips and Contract Considerations to Manage Risk
*Not licensed to practice law
There are growing concerns that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak will have a serious negative impact on the global economy. U.S. businesses that depend on Chinese suppliers may soon be facing product shortages and supply chain disruptions. To minimize supply chain interruptions, U.S. businesses must be proactive and engage in contingency planning to keep plants operating and fulfill customer requirements. Also, to understand legal risks, companies should carefully review their contracts with Chinese suppliers, customers and transportation providers and determine whether force majeure clauses excuse performance failures, if there are risks of minimum volume shortfalls and/or liquidated damages, and if cost-recovery mechanisms and other commercial protections exist. Options available to mitigate risk will depend on the specific facts and circumstances and contract terms. Click here for more information.
Newly-Effective California CCPA Regulations Address Cyberattacks
While much attention has been paid to the privacy components of the newly-effective California Consumer Privacy Act, relatively little attention has been paid to the new risks businesses face under that law for data breaches. As of the beginning of this year, California consumers can now bring an action if they are adversely affected by a data breach, even one occurring outside of California. This private right of action raises the already high stakes companies face if they are the victim of a data breach, as many of these cases are litigated as class actions seeking tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars in class-wide damages, attorneys; fees and other remedies. While class action data breach litigation is hardly new, the CCPA’s explicit grant of a private right of action also may tilt the scale further in the plaintiff’s direction on issue of standing and damages. The need for good data incident prevention, detection and response is starker than ever.
And speaking of the CCPA, while many businesses have completed their extensive CCPA compliance projects and are well situated to meet its standards, there is no time for rest. Other states, most notably New York, Washington and Virginia (among others) are actively debating their own state privacy laws, laws that are not in step with the CCPA’s requirements. While it is too early to predict the final products of the legislative process, it is likely that California will not be by itself on the tip of the regulatory spear for long. To compound matters, the prospects for comprehensive federal privacy legislation with pre-emptive effect (solving the problem of patchwork state laws) are not good, particularly in an election year.” Click here to learn more about the California Consumer Privacy Act.
Cyber Attackers Are Exploiting Coronavirus Fears
Recently, Steven G. Stransky, Partner/Privacy and Cybersecurity, published an article entitled, “Cyber Attackers Are Exploiting Coronavirus Fears,” which can be accessed in full here.
The article discusses how organizations need to address, in addition to health and safety issues related to the coronavirus, new and evolving ancillary threats related to the disease – phishing and cyberattacks. More specifically, security firms and law enforcement officials have recently been warning organizations about phishing emails that purport to be from government health agencies, but that direct recipients to fraudulent websites or links that contain malicious software. In addition, cybercriminals have begun targeting employees’ workplace email accounts through phishing emails that pretend to be sent from senior company officials about new coronavirus-related travel and work policies, but actually contain malware. If unchecked, these cyberattacks have the potential to damage business operations during an already serious health emergency.
The article is published on Lawfare (blog), which is managed by the Lawfare Institute in cooperation with the Brookings Institute. The full link to article can be accessed at https://www.lawfareblog.com/cyber-attackers-are-exploiting-coronavirus-fears.
OSHA Issues COVID-19 Guidance for Employers
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) recently issued guidance to employers concerning their regulatory obligations to keep workplaces safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA’s guidance includes information on the ways COVID-19 can spread, which includes between people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Read more.
Chemical Industry Regulatory Update is compiled by Thompson Hine lawyers on behalf of The Adhesive and Sealant Council. It should not be construed as legal advice, and the views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the ASC or its members.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this newsletter or any of its contents, contact the editor, William J. Hubbard, or any of the authors.
Check out our latest Employment Legislation Outlook. Learn about the latest developments in paid sick and safe leave laws, family and parental leave, recreational and medicinal marijuana use, and workplace issues.
ASC Regulatory Affairs Update Webinar
Join us for our free, members only, webinar that provides an update on TSCA regulations, Prop 65 and recent developments in the ever-changing field of product compliance and stewardship.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020; 10:00 a.m. ET
For more information, click here.


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Independent entertainment media company Entertainment One (eOne) has expanded it global reach with the opening of two new offices in Germany and Australia, Music Week can exclusively reveal.
The new offices build on from itsthe company's established UK operation and New York HQ as the business looks to grow its international presence.
In addition to its new German office, Entertainment One has entered into a marketing, promotion and physical distribution agreement for Europe with German indie SPV. SPV will provide physical distribution services throughout the territory with strategic guidance from Entertainment One’s music leaders. Entertainment One will also handle digital distribution and marketing across Europe.
Commenting on the announcement, Chris Taylor, global president, music, Entertainment One, said: “Entertainment One is at the forefront of indie music companies; thinking globally, acting locally, and pushing digitally across all management, label and publishing divisions.
“With the combination of our worldwide digital footprint, our new, on the ground marketing and promotion teams and our new physical partner SPV, eOne now has the capabilities in Europe that are unmatched by any other North American based independent.”


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Seoul, South Korea – (BUSINESS WIRE) –Coupang announced today that the company has partnered with Japanese furniture and home decor company Nitori as its exclusive distributor in South Korea. This partnership will provide customers in South Korea with an even wider selection of stylish and affordable products only available from Coupang.
Founded in 1967, Nitori is the largest Japanese furniture and home decor company. The company is headquartered in Sapporo and has over 780 stores worldwide, including in China, Taiwan and the United States. Through Coupang, Nitori will offer over a hundred different popular products including bedding, pillows, slippers and kitchen mats. The company also plans to launch its N-Cool range of cooling bed products, tailored for the South Korean market, in the summer of 2022, all of which are available from Rocket Delivery.
One of the largest and fastest growing e-commerce segments in the world, South Korea is a great opportunity for international companies looking to expand their online presence. South Korean e-commerce in particular is expected to become the third largest in the world after the US and China. Coupang, as South Korea’s largest e-commerce player with nearly 17 million active customers, continues to grow many times over in this fast-growing South Korean e-commerce segment.
“We are excited to work with Nitori to bring our customers an even wider choice of high-quality products,” said Jonathan Burks, Coupang’s senior director of global e-commerce. “We will continue to explore new ways to partner with strong, customer-centric companies to create an unparalleled shopping experience on Coupang.”
Coupang is one of the largest e-commerce companies in Asia with a mission to revolutionize the everyday lives of its customers and create a world where people wonder, “How did we ever live without Coupang?” Coupang offers a variety of Services including same day and next morning delivery of groceries and general goods, ready meal delivery through Coupang Eats, and video streaming through Coupang Play. Coupang has offices in Beijing, Los Angeles, Seattle, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Taipei and Tokyo.


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It’s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week, and what we’re still thinking about.
From DD’s Discounts naming a new chief merchandising officer to Tractor Supply’s net sales falling in Q4, here’s our closeout for the week.
What you may have missed
Period care brand Lola acquired by Forum Brands
Lola, the period brand founded in 2014, has been acquired by Amazon aggregator Forum Brands for an undisclosed sum.
“Lola has long been a trailblazer in better-for-you period care, and we can't wait to leverage the success of their DTC platform to build on their incredible legacy together,” Forum Brands announced on its LinkedIn account.
The deal quietly closed in December, according to a Business of Fashion report. CEO Amy Fisher also departed the brand, the report said.
Ross names chief merchandising officer of DD’s Discounts
Ross Stores announced Wednesday the promotion of Karen Fleming as its new chief merchandising officer for DD’s Discounts, effective April 1. Her predecessor, Brian Morrow, who also is DD’s president, will become a company consultant following the move.
Fleming has served as group executive vice president of merchandising at DD’s since 2023. She spent 20 years in merchandise leadership roles at Ross Dress for Less before she joined DD’s in 2022, according to a company press release.
In the new role, Fleming will report directly to Ross Stores CEO Barbara Rentler. She will be responsible for directing all aspects of DD’s merchandising.
“We are excited to have Karen lead the dd’s merchandising team. She is a respected executive who has made significant contributions to the growth of our Company during her tenure,” Rentler said.
The move comes on the heels of the announcement of 51 new store openings including 43 Ross Dress for Less stores and eight DD’s Discounts stores in 22 states.
Fanatics brings on three new executives
Fanatics Commerce this week announced the appointment of three new executives, according to a company press release.
Stephen Dowlings was named to the new role of President of International and will lead growth of the company outside of North America. Dowlings comes to the company from Adidas, where he led digital growth.
Valerie Love, who was previously the senior vice president of human resources at The Coca-Cola Company, was named chief people officer. Justin Tsai is in the newly created role of chief product officer.
All three executives will report to CEO Andrew Low Ah Kee.
This fragrance is Kenough for me
Lacking self-confidence because the Barbie in your life didn’t look your way today? There’s about to be a solution to that, thanks to the DefineMe Creative Studio.
The company, which also sells a Barbie fragrance, is offering a limited pre-order of a Ken Eau de Parfum, which will ship next week. The scent features bergamot, cardamom and cedarwood, among other things, and a 3.4 oz bottle sells for $65.
“This Kensational fragrance is an experience of ocean-side breezes mixed with warm golden sunshine, a celebration of masculinity, and an embodiment of timeless allure,” the product page reads.
Ready for a full day of standing confidently and beaching people off? This is the scent for you.
Just like Ricky Bobby, Abercrombie & Fitch decides “If you ain’t first, you’re last”
Abercrombie & Fitch this week announced a partnership with the McLaren Formula 1 team, which includes releases of licensed apparel, content creation, social media collaborations and events.
The two brands originally partnered last year when the retailer’s McLaren licensed apparel went viral on TikTok, according to the company.
As part of the collab, McLaren’s new Formula 1 car will be featured inside the Fifth Avenue Abercrombie store in New York City through Sunday.
What we’re still thinking about
That’s how many jobs UPS plans to cut in order to save $1 billion in costs.
The delivery giant, which currently employs 495,000 people, is navigating softer demand compared to the early pandemic when many consumers were shopping online instead of in stores.
The job cuts, the majority of which will occur in the first half of the year, will primarily impact management-level employees and contracted positions.
That’s how much Tractor Supply’s net sales fell in Q4. The decline came as comps decreased 4.2% during the all-important holiday period, due to a lower average ticket and transaction count. Operating and net income also took a hit during the quarter, down 7% and 8.5%, respectively. For the full year, however, sales grew 2.5%, reaching $14.6 billion, with comps up 6.3%.
“While our financial performance in 2023 did not meet our initial expectations, our team successfully navigated a highly dynamic environment with agility, operational resiliency and a focus on our strategic investments,” CEO Hal Lawton said in a statement. “As we exit 2023, our business has never been stronger. Our healthy customer engagement, all time high customer satisfaction scores, peak productivity of our supply chain, technology enhancements and the scaled transformation of our store base all serve as proof points of the strength of our business."
What we’re watching
Nordstrom Rack’s store count continues to grow
Nordstrom this week announced that it will open two new Nordstrom Rack stores in North Carolina — one in Raleigh and another in Matthews.
It’s the latest in a series of announcements by the department store to expand its Nordstrom Rack presence. The company is betting on its lower-priced brand, despite declines over the last few quarters.
In December alone the company unveiled plans to open Rack stores in Houston, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Noblesville, Indiana; and Franklin, Tennessee. In January, Nordstrom announced that it was opening a new location in Fort Myers, Florida.


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Meet the winning artist of the 2013 Sesquicentennial Commemorative Poster Contest, and have the opportunity to purchase a signed poster! Framable, commemorative posters will be sold at the Elling House that night for $20.00.
There will be a reception with the winning artist, Kathleen Arvila-Scott beginning at 5:30pm where more of Kathleen's work may be seen and purchased.
The artist's reception will be followed by a special book release and signing!
The Virginia City Preservation Alliance will be publishing an anthology of articles on the history of Virginia City, to coincide with the 150th anniversary celebration of the founding the town in 2013.
"Nuggets in Time: An Anthology Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Virginia City, Montana" includes several previously unpublished articles and photos. The book will be released to the public on 7:00 p.m. on May 24th at the Elling House in Virginia City, following a brief program by the editors.
Nuggets in Time will be a limited edition issue of 1,000 copies, and each copy individually numbered. Following the initial public release on May 24th at the historic Elling House, copies will be available through local merchants or by directly contacting the VCPA. All proceeds from the sale of the commemorative book will be used to further the work of the alliance.
The commemorative anthology will be the second such project of the VCPA. In 2005, the organization published Nuggets of History from Virginia City which was a compilation of articles which appeared in the society’s newsletter (The Nugget) during its first ten years.
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New iPhones Coming To the Market
Posted: July 3, 2013 by Maja Johnson
After six years of a strict tradition in releasing only one smartphone annually, Apple has chosen to release two iPhones this September. The long awaited iPhone 5S is due mid-September this year, or September 18 to be more precise. The date will mark 100 days from the release of the new iOS7. The iPhone S5 will have some improved specifications compared to its predecessor in terms of camera, battery, and processor as well as new technologies which Apple has kept top secret.
Some speculate the extra release may be either an iPhone Mini or iPhone 6. According to images circling around the Internet, the cheaper iPhone will be smaller and available in several bright colors like yellow, pink and green. While a cheaper iPhone has not been confirmed, market research has shown that a less premium version of the iPhone will be able to reach a broader audience.
According to Apple, a cheaper iPhone can focus on target markets like China and India. China has the largest telecommunication market in the world with 700 million users and Apple has been trying to make a deal with China Mobile Ltd. to start selling the new iPhone 6 in September.


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On last Thursday, three Indian-American CEOs Sundar Pichai from Google, Punit Renjen from Deloitte, and Shantanu Narayen from Adobe have joined the steering committee of the Global Task Force on Pandemic Response, which is overseeing an unprecedented corporate sector initiative to help India successfully fight COVID19.
The task force is a newly formed public-private partnership organised by the US Chamber of Commerce and supported by Business Roundtable. It is working with the Chamber’s US-India Business Council and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum to take immediate actions to help address the COVID-19 surge in India.
The first shipment of ventilators landed in India early this week. All 1,000 ventilators are expected to reach India by June 3.
Medtronic will provide end-to-end support for the initiative.
As many as 16 businesses have joined the task force’s ventilator initiative.
Together these businesses will provide over $30 million (roughly Rs. 220 crores) in support for India’s healthcare response – joining the dozens of businesses which have pledged their support in efforts to provide oxygen concentrators, develop information and best practices to support employees in India and more, the task force said.
According to the task force, while the country has been reporting over 4,00,000 cases daily, the actual case rate in India is estimated to be much higher.
Other members of the steering committee include Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture; Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon; Tim Cook, CEO of Apple; Brian Moynihan, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Bank of America; Raj Subramaniam, president FedEx; and Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM.
Gail McGovern, president and CEO, American Red Cross; Mike Parra, CEO Americas, DHL Express; Jim Fitterling, Chairman and CEO, Dow; Alex Gorsky, chairman of the Board and CEO, Johnson & Johnson; Michael Miebach, CEO, Mastercard; Geoff Martha, chairman and CEO, Medtronic; Brad Smith, president, Microsoft; Ramon Laguarta, Chairman of the Board and CEO, PepsiCo; Carol Tomé, CEO, UPS; Sanjay Poonen, COO, VMware; and Judith McKenna, President and CEO, Walmart International are also members of the task force.
Till date, over 45 US businesses and associations have contributed to the Global Task Force’s activities.


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COVID-19 has been having its way since the beginning of its time and among many impacts it had and is having on the economy, on businesses, another noticeable one has been people—both men and women staying at home going through stress, anxiety and depression. In order to combat this and to keep calm and stay strong, a lot of people have added meditation and yoga to their lockdown routine. The healthcare industry has fuelled the growing interest in yoga and it is now being used for both physical and mental disorders as a therapy. With this, not only India, but other countries too saw a rise in the number of online yoga practitioners or trainers, and this further gave a push to the yogawear industry.
Not only this, but the very recent recognition of the ancient Indian practice of yoga by the United Nations by proclaiming 21 June as the International Day of Yoga has also led to yoga – a process of total wellbeing – to gain popularity globally. According to a report by Grand View Research, Inc., the yoga clothing market size globally is expected to reach US $ 47.8 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.2 per cent over the forecast period. In that, women segment generated revenue of US $ 20.7 billion in 2018, while the children segment is to register the fastest CAGR of 7.5 per cent from 2019 to 2025.
“In India, yoga has established itself as a strong sport. The growth rate of people practising yoga increased three times in the past 4 years. Yoga has become a way of living, a habit, and a trend among the youth. Since 2015, when the world started celebrating International Yoga Day, it has created a huge recognition for itself among Indians. Decathlon took this opportunity in offering the right outfits according to the users, level of practice – starting from Hatha to Power Yoga, classifying our offer from beginners to experts,” asserts Swati Joshi, Country Sport Leader – Yoga, Decathlon India.
What’s stretching the segment?
With rising urbanisation and acceptance of yoga as the perfect means to improve concentration and get rid of lethargy while working from home during the current times, the demand for efficient yoga clothing has started snowballing at a substantial rate. Sportswear major Nike has, at the beginning of 2019, launched its yoga collection for both men and women, and also rolled out a new app ‘Enhance Your Training with Yoga’ for its users. Besides, other activewear giants in the likes of Under Armour, ASICS, and Columbia Sportswear also offer yoga clothing, but these have not stopped the emergence of homegrown brands offering quality yogawear options.
Malika Baruah, CEO, Proyog, maintains, “Yoga has been gaining popularity in many new countries over the last year or so. There were many ‘fad’ yoga practices prevailing earlier. However, now I see people moving towards a more authentic version of the practice. I believe it will continue to gain popularity and authenticity. Our mission, at Proyog, is to create authentic yogawear, and hopefully work along with other conscious companies in the future to define the best clothing for yoga.” Proyog prides in offering super-specialised yoga attire that lets body breathe during the asanas. The shifting inclination of yoga enthusiasts towards comfortable and stylish clothing will enable the growth of this industry in the days ahead.
Besides, the growing popularity and rising demand of yogawear is also the result of the comfort factor and chic quotient attached to it. Fashion retailers have, in the past, maintained that the popularity is such that for every four T-shirts bought, the third of fourth is a yoga T-shirt, and similarly in the bottomwear too, yoga pants are taking up the market share of even denims and trousers. Darshan M, Founder, Deivee, points, “Given the increased focus of everything from wellness to entertainment being home focused, the category is expected to grow at a rapid pace in the next 2 years. This growth will also be facilitated by the conscious shift towards comfortable clothing, and with consumers becoming more aware, the yogawear brands will have to focus more on sustainability factor.”
To sum up, factors like rising health and fitness awareness, increasing number of yoga trainers and yoga training institutes, increased disposable income and a number of manufacturers making yoga clothing with the use of the best of fabrics and technological innovation have led to the rise of this segment.
What’s selling and where?
This increasing awareness about the benefits of yoga has influenced the sales of yoga apparel, yoga equipment, and accessories worldwide. Now, yoga clothing comprises different merchandise largely depending on the type of yoga. “Initially, yoga used to be practised with any comfortable outfit which supports stretchability and breathability, but with the evolution of yoga from Hatha Yoga to more intense Vinyasa and Bikram Yoga, the users had to adapt. Our users understood the need of the comfortable but performance-oriented outfits according to their level of practice. We offer T-shirts, leggings, pants, yoga sports bra, etc., and these are priced between Rs. 299 and Rs. 1,299. Our yogawear range contributes to around 50 per cent of our total turnover,” avers Swati Joshi.
Talking about the products, yoga pants had largely dominated the overall yoga wear segment globally with a share of nearly 36.1 per cent in 2017, generating US $ 7.66 billion in revenue. While yoga pants work for most of the brands in the category even today, Deivee’s yoga mats made using unique fibres are its bestselling products, and dhotis have been the most loved garments at Proyog for its ‘unique design and unbeatable performance’. For Decathlon as well, yoga mats and accessories are the fastest selling products.
Yoga has been a part of the Indian society for decades now and is part of the culture, and this ensures a market potential of the category in urban as well and smaller towns and cities. Malika Baruah agrees, “When it comes to yoga gear, I don’t think there is a great disparity in the buying patterns between the top cities and Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions, especially in India where yoga is so deeply entrenched into our culture. For purely a fashion brand, these distinctions may be more pronounced.” However, for Deivee, the non-metro regions are still price sensitive and the brand’s business from these towns is limited to 10 per cent.
In sync with the demand
The overall yogawear segment has seen a rise in demand for sustainable and organic yoga clothing. A number of brands and manufacturers are, thus, going for organic cotton, lycra, etc., while limiting treatments as recommended by GOTS. Consumers are looking for yoga clothing that is breathable, has attributes like anti-microbial technology, sweat wicking, anti-odour, and is made using soft, supportive fabric. In yogawear category, what matters the most is how it feels rather than how it looks. Dhriti Badani, Director, Qualiance, informs, “We offer collection that includes stitched garments as well as sew-free ultrasonic welded garments. Consumers today are looking for more performance-based attributes in their yoga clothing. In terms of fabric, we use a mix of polyester, recycled polyester, modal, softer linen. We also use technical fabric which has features like quick dry, sweat wicking, anti-odour and anti-microbial up to 50 washes. There has been an increase in demand for such yoga clothing that you can lounge around in as well post lockdown, and so, we have started focusing more on comfort-driven styles. We use state-of-the-art machinery and processes for these products – laser cutting for doing perforation then design, so we have special machinery for the perforation or cutting special shapes. For some garments, we also use bonding, wherein we use adhesives instead of stitching the seams, use overlay tapes for enhancing the features, and for the logo and design, we heat press instead of screen printing. Yoga clothing requires specialised machinery and treatments and attention to details in order to make them as comfortable and seamless as possible.”
Qualiance is an activewear manufacturing firm which has expertise of the entire fabric manufacturing process – right from selection of yarn to knitting or weaving, processing with specialised finishes.
Yoga clothing as well as yoga accessories including mats need specialised process as they go under a lot of stress, and thus, require a lot of reinforcements. Mohit Jain, Director, Fragrance of India (an activewear manufacturing firm), agrees, “In this segment, one has to keep up with the market trend in order to survive. We use four way lycra fabric and also cotton lycra fabric for yoga clothing. The machineries used for the category are specialised ones. We work on a Japanese machine called Pegasus besides four thread overlock machines, and the lycra fabric is made using a different machine. The fabrics we use are totally sourced from Korea and other countries since these are specialised fabrics and are not made in India.”
Designing and manufacturing yoga clothing depend a lot on the right choice of material and technology, and while the country has come a long way in the category, it still needs to go self-reliant on the specialised fabrics and machinery for which the manufacturing firms depend on other countries.
What do the pandemic days have in store?
While we are currently facing a pandemic and India has very recently started the process of unlock after months of complete and partial lockdowns which affected businesses in a huge way, yogawear has been one such category that bounced back right on its feet as soon as the country came out of the halt. Consumers, in most cases, may not be in shopping mood but it has come to notice that they are viewing sweatsuits and yoga apparel as essential items.
Talking about the business post lockdown, Swati Joshi says, “Our online store (decathlon.in) has made a registered a growth of 1500 per cent in yoga category during this pandemic – out of which, 40 per cent of the business has come from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. People have been showing a great interest towards the practice of yoga while working from home. We, at Decathlon, have experienced a drastic hike in yoga mat sales with a shift from 39 per cent share to the current 60 per cent share. However, this had affected our clothing line wherein the sales had gone down from 45 per cent to 32 per cent, but this is coming back on track now.”
Yoga clothing is supremely comfortable, and therefore, makes an ideal choice for people working from home. Malika Baruah agrees that accessorising these comfortwear can take one effortlessly from on to off the mat.
Yogawear category today has been, most definitely, creating its own market with a lot of aware consumers, but this is for a limited consumer segment belonging to yoga enthusiasts or experts. One of the biggest challenges facing this industry is that the categories are not well-defined, and everything from sportswear to polyester performancewear to casualwear are being used for yoga practice and are being considered as yoga clothing. Going forward, it’s going to be a market with huge potential with the Government of India (among other Asian countries) framing favourable policies aimed at promoting yoga as a fitness activity, and this, in turn, will fuel the demand for specialised yoga clothing options over the next few years.


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Here we are — already in March and it is daylight saving time. One of the things I look forward to this weekend is the time change. Yes, on March 8 we will “spring forward.” It is a proven fact that smoke detectors save lives, so remember to replace the batteries on your smoke detector(s) when changing your clocks this weekend.
Did you know in hard economic times, businesses that maintain their marketing come back stronger? There are ways to market smarter and your Chamber is one of those sources you can utilize for your business. We are here to help our members — take advantage of us.
Are you an early riser? The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast is next week on Thursday, March 12 at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, located at 1401 N. Verdugo Road. The doors open at 6:15 a.m.; breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. and the program at 7 a.m. The tickets are $20; $18 for seniors and clergy and includes free parking. Keynote speaker Tom Dreesen will speak on: “There are no secrets — the secret is you!” Call us; we have tickets for sale here in the office.


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The Federal Government has not barred vessels from berthing at the Apapa Container Terminal operated by APM Terminals Apapa Limited operators have said.
According to a release from the operator, Vessel stemming was temporarily stopped for a couple of days last week to enable the clearing of the backlog created by containers awaiting physical examination.
â€œWe have since last Saturday been receiving and discharging vessels at the terminal. It is also not true that we are diverting vessels. APMT is not a shipping line and has nothing to do with the diversion or non-diversion of vessels. It assured the shipping communityÂ thatÂ the TerminalsÂ has adequate capacity and cargo handling equipment to meet their needs.
â€œTo further enhance speedy examination of cargo, it said a new ultra-modern building that will provide decent and conducive office accommodation to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), constructed at APM Terminals Apapa, Limited, has been completed and formally handed over to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The new building will serve as facility for the physical inspection of containers and for related administration of Customs operations at the terminal.
â€œThe new multimillion naira Customs building has 14 container bays and 235 square metres net office area _ all built to British Standard and fully equipped with modern electronics gadgets and information technology.
We are also constructing a new gate and new set of entry and exit lanes to serve trucks delivering and evacuating containers at the terminal.
All of these are aimed at achieving our goal of modernizing the Apapa Container Terminal and improve the cargo delivery process.
â€œAPMT is not involved in the physical examination of goods and can therefore not be held accountable for delays within the process. We position containers in the examination yard which is now taking well over 600 ground slots and less than 50 per cent of the containers positioned end up being examined,â€ the statement added.


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Online gambling is big news these days with millions of players logging into online casinos, betting shops and online poker rooms every day. But most of these players haven’t thought about the security risks posed by such activities to themselves and their computers.
Modern technology has enabled people to visit an online casino at any time of the day or night and select a game from a vast array of different options. But modern technology has also opened up your computer to hackers and viruses attached to downloads; it has also raised the chances of having your identity stolen by some unscrupulous individual.
When you give an online casino all your personal and financial details, you usually feel quite safe that the casino has precautions in place to protect its users. Online hackers can be very clever characters, however. Today, devious minds can hack into all sorts of highly protected and encrypted software.
So the bank account details you gave to the online casino when you signed up, along with your date of birth, phone number, address and credit card number could all possibly be seen by a third party. This person could then let loose a monster spending spree in an online shop with your card details – maxing out your credit limit before you have even noticed anything untoward has happened. Make sure you check out impartial reviews of online casinos you are thinking about joining before you give them all of your personal information. After all, a site with many previous happy customers means there is less chance of you getting your fingers burnt.
When you download software onto your computer in order to play the online casino games, viruses can get into your computer. This is not the fault of the online casino’s IT department, necessarily, but again, unscrupulous individuals who enjoy damaging other people’s computers. Once a virus has found its way onto your computer (this happens the moment you execute a file) it can be a pain and a huge cost to remove it again. It is vital that you are aware of this problem and take steps to protect yourself when using online casinos. (more…)Read more


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Get Us in Your Inbox
The U.S. Travel Association released new data showing that the travel industry’s unemployment rate has reached 51% ahead of Memorial Day. In comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate during the Great Depression was 25%.
“Our national economy is in a recession, but the travel industry is already in a depression," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association. "Travel-related businesses have been hit disproportionately hard by the pandemic's fallout, and unfortunately our workforce is on the front lines of that struggle.
More than half of the industry’s 15.8 million jobs have been wiped out in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 crisis. Travel-related job losses represent 38% of all job losses through April — nearly 10 million Americans.
Our national economy is in a recession, but the travel industry is already in a depression.
Compiled by firm Tourism Economics, the research suggests that travel spending in the U.S. will reach $4.2 billion this year, a third of last year’s levels ($12.3 billion in 2019).
"The travel industry has exhibited the ability to lead a national economic recovery, bouncing back well ahead of expectations after both 9/11 and the financial crisis of the late 2000s," Dow said. "But to do that this time, travel-reliant businesses need to survive until a recovery can truly begin. Not only are structural changes and expanded eligibility to the PPP critical for the most impacted travel businesses just to keep the lights on, but ultimately stimulative measures will be important."
One bright spot Dow points to is reported pent-up demand for travel. Though travel in the short term will look different, U.S. Travel Association has proactively published its “Travel in the New Normal” health and safety guidelines for tourism businesses.
"Whatever government and health authorities decide about the right timing to reopen, we are giving consumers confidence that the travel ecosystem is embracing the most vigorous and well-informed practices for providing the safest possible environment, and those practices adhere to a uniform high standard throughout every phase of a traveler's journey," Dow said.
The DetailsU.S. Travel Associationwww.ustravel.org


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We are back with our last week's top cyber security threats and challenges, just in case you missed any of them (ICYMI).
THN Weekly Round Up is The Hacker News efforts to help you provide all important stories of last week in one shot.
We recommend you read the full story (just click 'Read More' because there's some valuable advice in there as well).
Here's the list:
1. Quantum Teleportation — Scientists Teleported Quantum Data over 60 Miles
While the world is battling between Quantum computers and Encryption, the NIST Scientists have set a new record in the field of "Quantum Teleportation"...
…by successfully Teleporting a small amount of data (qubit) inside light particles over a distance of 60 Miles (100 km) through a network of optical fiber – the record which is four times faster than previous one.
To know how the Quantum Teleportation works and how the researchers able to reach this record, Read More…
2. Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm is a Free Man Again
Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, also known as Anakata, has been released from a Sweden prison following 3 years behind bars for copyright and hacking offenses in both Sweden and Denmark.
The Pirate Bay is one of the world's most popular file-sharing websites predominantly used to share copyrighted material, like pirated software, pirated video files, and other stuff, free of charge.
For more information on Svartholm his release, Read More…
3. Microsoft Responds by Not Addressing Windows 10 Spying
Microsoft finally responded to the growing privacy concerns around its newest operating system to regain the trust of users who are concerned about their online privacy related to Windows 10, But…
The company did admit that the operating system does regularly phone home by default.
According to the company, Windows 10 doesn't collect two types of data – communications (including e-mail and Skype) and File Contents – but the company collects everything else from Cortana and Bing searches to store purchases.
4. Microsoft's Love for Open Source
Last month, Microsoft surprised us by announcing that it has built a Linux kernel-based operating system Azure Cloud Switch (ACS) for developing software products for Network Devices.
Once again the company surprised us by choosing Ubuntu as the operating system for their Cloud-based Big Data services.
5. Unpatched WinRAR Flaw Affects 500 Million Users
A Very Big Number Indeed! A highly critical unpatched Zero-day vulnerability discovered in the latest version of WinRAR affected hundreds of Millions of its users worldwide.
The remote code execution vulnerability in the stable version of WinRAR 5.21 for Windows computers can be used by any attacker to insert a malicious HTML code inside the "Text to display in SFX window" section when the user is creating a new SFX file.
To know more about the zero-day flaw in WinRAR, Read More…
6. TrueCrypt Encryption Software Affected by Two Critical Flaws
If you are among those privacy-conscious people who are still using 'no longer available' TrueCrypt Encryption Software, then it's time for you to move on.
Despite going through audits, researchers have found two highly critical security vulnerabilities in TrueCrypt that could expose your data to hackers if exploited.
- CVE-2015-7358: Allows attackers to gain access to a running process and get full administrative privileges.
- CVE-2015-7359: Allows attackers to impersonate as an authenticated user.
For detailed information on both the vulnerabilities, Read More…
7. One Billion Android Users are at Risk of Stagefright Bug 2.0
Android users must pay attention to the newly discovered Stagefright Bug.
Yes, Android Stagefright bug is Back with a Bang. More than 1 Billion Android smartphone devices are vulnerable to hackers once again – Thanks to, not one, but two newly disclosed Android Stagefright vulnerabilities.
This time, the bug allows attackers to hack your Android smartphones just by tricking you into visiting a website that contains a malicious multimedia file, either MP3 or MP4.
For in-depth information on Android Stagefright Bug 2.0, Read More…
8. Amazon Employee bought 'Google.com' Just for $12
This was one of the last week's trending news. Amazon employee Sanmay Ved, who was an ex-Google employee, managed to buy the world's largest search engine website Google.com just for $12 from Google itself.
However, soon Ved received an order cancelation email and refund from Google Domains, but the experience of owning the search engine giant for one whole minute indeed sounds great.
For detail information and screenshots, he took while purchasing Google.com, Read More…
9. Data Breach Week
This week, we saw 3 high-profile data breaches, compromising personal and sensitive details of millions of people.
- Telecommunication giant T-Mobile – Over 15 Million Users Affected
- Crowdfunding website Patreon – Over 2.3 Million Users Affected
- US brokerage firm Scottrade – Nearly 5 Million Users Affected
T-Mobile's credit application processor Experian was hacked, potentially exposing highly sensitive details of 15 Million users who applied for its service in the past two years.
In Patreon's case, hackers managed to steal almost 15 gigabytes' worth of data including names, shipping addresses and email addresses of 2.3 Million users, and then made it available to various online locations for anyone to download.
US brokerage firm Scottrade also suffered a massive data breach in which hackers managed to access one of its servers in late 2013 and early 2014, stealing names and street addresses for 4.6 million of their clients.
For in-depth information, Read More…
10. Design Flaws Make Drones Vulnerable to Cyber-Attacks
Researchers have discovered a method that can be used to hack and hijack Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), better known as DRONES.
HP Security Researcher Oleg Petrovsky discovered design flaws in the UAV systems that allowed him to capture, modify, and inject a data stream into a telemetry link connection over a serial port, as well as spoof the connection to the ground station to take complete control of Drone.
11. AdBlock Extension has been Sold to an 'Unknown Buyer'
Yes, your favorite AdBlock browser extension that helps you block annoying online advertising has been sold – and more shockingly – to an unknown buyer.
What's more bothering is that the 'Anonymous buyer' is turning ON the "Acceptable Ads" feature, which maintains a whitelist of advertisements that are not blocked by default.
This means that AdBlock will now let some advertisements through on by selected websites or by selected companies by default, if those companies pay for showing their ads – the concept entirely contradict the key feature of AdBlock, i.e. blocking ads.


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Latest Sex industry Stories
Vibrators.com is pleased to announce the 2013 Vibrator of the year.
Rebranded for a new era, the "Cadillac of Vibrators" is now available at Good Vibrations. (PRWEB) June 25, 2013 Legendary San Francisco sex
Ireland’s leading domain registrar and hosting company, Blacknight, is offering a big discount on .XXX domain names. Carlow, Ireland (PRWEB) May 20, 2013


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Splunk (SPLK) Shares Up on Better than Expected Earnings
Shares of Splunk Inc. (SPLK) were trading up +3.70 or +8.19 percent to $49.00 per share in premarket trading on Friday, after the company announced better than expected earnings yesterday after the market close. Spunk stock closed at $45.29 per share, down -0.61 or -1.33 percent in Thursday's regular trading session.
The company reported a GAAP operating loss of -$60.4 million or -$0.51 per share on GAAP operating margin of -59.4%, with Non-GAAP earnings nearly flat at +$0.01 per share on revenue of $101.5 million, an increase of +52 percent over last year's second quarter. Non-GAAP operating income was +$1.6 million while Non-GAAP operating margin was +1.6 percent. The analyst consensus was for the company to report a loss of -$0.02 per share on revenue of $93.93 million.
Splunk Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Godfrey Sullivan said in the company's press release that, "We are pleased to deliver another strong quarter and thank our customers and partners for their continued support, he continued, "we continue to invest heavily in product innovation, including the industry's first 100 percent uptime SLA for Splunk Cloud, we shipped a brand new product - the Splunk App for Stream for wire data - and delivered a new release of our App for Enterprise Security. I am also pleased to report the promotion of Haiyan Song to Senior Vice President, Security Markets.
Other highlights reported in the second quarter included the signing of 500 new customers, which ended the quarter with a total of 7,900 customers; an industry first with a 100 percent uptime service level agreement for Spunk Cloud with a free Splunk Online Sandbox, allowing customers immediate trial access to Spunk Cloud.
In addition, Splunk announced general availability (GA) for the company's Splunk App for Stream, an app that captures real time streaming wire data for app management support; a 3.1 version of Splunk App for Enterprise Security and the introduction of the Splunk Mobile App, allowing users to receive real-time alerts and leverage the Splunk Enterprise software platform through an optimized mobile interface.
Splunk also provided guidance for its third quarter: total revenues are now expected to be between $105 million to $107 million with Non-GAAP operating margin expected to be around one percent. The company revised its full year 2015 (ending January 31st, 2015) guidance with total revenues expected between $423 million and $428 million upwardly revised from $402 million to $410 million on Non-GAAP operating margin of one percent. Previous operating margin was expected to be flat.
Splunk stock is at the lower end of its yearly range, having made a high of $106.15 in February. With improving numbers and an increasing customer base, the company's stock could continue appreciating, especially if Splunk exceeds its revised third quarter and full year guidance.
Other News About Splunk
Splunk Software Helps GoodData Scale Business for Customer Success
GoodData using Splunk Enterprise to drive customer growth.
Splunk Introduces the Splunk App for Stream
Company announces app for capturing real-time streaming wire data.
Other Stocks in the News
Project Wing, Google's secret drone-delivery program, tested with package of candy bars
Company has reportedly been testing drone deliveries for two years.
Apple working with NXP for pay-by-touch technology in new iPhone: FT
Apple to add secure near field communications tech into the next iPhone.


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In the early 1990s the term “vapourware” appeared, it was born out of big software vendors announcing mythical products with a whole new bunch of features which the opposition already had.
Usually that next great product never appeared; it was just a ploy to stop customers defecting to the competition’s superior product.
There were a number of ways to spot vapourware – the lack of a working prototype, vague release dates and no firm pricing being just three.
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Earlier this week, Microsoft brought tears to the eyes of grizzled IT industry veterans who missed the days of regular vapourware announcements with the “launch” of their Surface tablet computer.
After springing the event at short notice on the tech media, forcing the poor petals to travel to Los Angeles rather than their usual haunts of Silicon Valley, Manhattan or Texas and then starting the event late, Microsoft added insult to injury by not even letting the journalists play with a working version of the Surface, let alone take one home to play with.
One of the impressive things about vapourware are the specifications and this is true with the Microsoft Surface. The specifications of the base model Windows RT are about the same as the base model iPad with the added benefit of a keyboard, USB and Micro SD ports.
Looking past the hype, it’s clear Microsoft are having trouble with their strategy of a unified operating system across smartphones, tablets and traditional PCs, which has forced them to announce two different versions of the Surface, running different operating systems on different chipsets.
Having potentially incompatible products makes it even more important for tech journos and early adopters to play with the new devices to see how well they work – that version one of any new product doesn’t work well is another lesson from the 1990s IT industry.
In the spirit of vapourware, Microsoft hasn’t mentioned what either version of the Surface will cost, which probably indicates they don’t know what the final sticker price will be either.
Despite being funny, there was a serious side to vapourware – in the 1990s businesses often held off purchasing decisions or upgrades as they waited for promised products or features to arrive.
While eager customers waited for products that never arrived, their productivity slipped and technologies that should have been adopted earlier ended up coming late to the office desktop.
For Microsoft investors, the nature of the Surface announcement should be disturbing as the vapourware business tactic only works for incumbents in a strong market position and the software giant is anything but strong in the tablet computer market.
While it would be good to see a credible competitor to the iPad, it’s going to be difficult to take Microsoft seriously until we see some working versions that we can play with.
The lessons from the 1990s computer industry are clear – don’t fall for vapourware and buy what works for your business today.
Paul Wallbank is one of Australia’s leading experts on how industries and societies are changing in this connected, globalised era. When he isn’t explaining technology issues, he helps businesses and community organisations find opportunities in the new economy.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European shares opened lower on Wednesday, as investors took their first chance to react to an overnight sell-off on Wall Street amid ongoing nervousness ahead of Thursday's Federal Reserve interest rate meeting. European movers included German sportswear companies Puma PUM, +3.71% and Adidas-Salomon ADS, -0.13% which both slipped in early trade after U.S. rival Nike produced a profit warning overnight, while Britain's EMI Group uk:emi surged 4% after a Warner Music of the U.S. reportedly made a 2.5 billion pound bid for the music company. The U.K. FTSE 100 index lost 0.2% at 5,638, the German DAX Xetra 30 index slipped 0.4% at 5,437 and the French CAC-40 index fell 0.4% at 4,754.
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STR's preliminary March 2021 data for Berlin hotels shows slightly better performance compared with recent months, albeit at overall low levels due to continued restrictions in Germany.
Expected to open late in 2021, EDITION Hotels' first Italian property will feature 95 guest rooms and suites, including a Penthouse suite with a private 130 sqm (1,399 sqft) terrace. The Rome EDITION will offer uniquely designed food and beverage outlets, including a signature restaurant with outdoor dining space that will make locals and visitors fall in love with its cuisine and all that comes with it; a Punch Room Bar with exceptionally crafted cocktails; and a Rooftop Terrace where guests can have the choice of a seasonal bite, a drink overlooking the city, a private gathering with friends, or all of the above.
Mama Shelter continues its expansion in Europe. After London, Luxembourg, Prague and Belgrade, a new proprerty will open in Rome in July 2021.
"Whether we like it or not, hospitality is fast becoming a tech industry now. Robotics, AI, mobility, IoT devices and contactless check-in tech are being adopted across the industry at a very fast clip."
Pan Pacific London – London, United Kingdom
Interview between Guestline and Vicki Jackson, Deputy Hotel Manager at Gisborough Hall Hotel.
Stoneweg Consolidates Hospitality Expertise Into Dedicated Platform And Appoints Miguel Casas To Position Of Managing Director
Stoneweg, the real estate investment adviser and asset manager with operations and capabilities across Europe and the United States, has consolidated its specialist management and advisory capabilities in the hotels sector into a dedicated platform, Stoneweg Hospitality, as it prepares to take advantage of market dislocation and further expand its activity in the sector.
As hotels gear up to reopen on May 17, a collection of properties in London has teamed up to offer discounted stays and "value-added packages" to encourage bookings in the capital.
While the success of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the U.S. has fueled optimism about a strong summer travel rebound, tourism officials in Europe say that slower progress on vaccines there coupled with new surges likely means any widespread return of Americans won't happen until late summer.
Total European hotel transaction volume fell by 69% in the year of the pandemic following a record high the previous year when €27.1bn-worth of hotel deals were struck.
View by Christoph Hütter – Non-traditional Revenue Manager & Consultant
"Chances are you need to get more done with fewer people. Less staff for obvious reasons and "more done", well, your competition is not sleeping either... Evaluate your SOPs. Which tasks can be automated and what can be fully eliminated? Where can technology help to improve efficiencies? And a fresh set of eyes may work wonders in boosting your hotel's productivity."
Scandic – Stockholm , Sweden
With an excellent location at the entrance to the Old Town, Radisson Hotel Group is delighted to announce the opening of Palace Hotel Tallinn, a member of Radisson Individuals. Built almost 100 years ago and respectfully renovated, this monument of national architectural heritage is the first Radisson Individuals in the Baltic region.
The association justifies its commitment to help hoteliers to their rights in court. Since 2004 at the latest, the booking portal has applied best-price clauses with which it prohibited affiliated hotels from offering rooms at lower rates through any other distribution channel.
- Last 7 days
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Dara decided to take a moment and look into her “Foodie Crystal Ball” and share her top 5 trends to look for in 2014!
Check out this guide to tipping in countries across the world, so you’re prepared come tip time on your next vacation.
The nation’s largest mall is adding yet another option for hungry shoppers. Pizza Studio, from the brains of Lloyd Sugarman (of the Johnny Rockets franchise), will open a new location at the Mall of America on Jan. 20.
As bad as winter has been in the Twin Cities, conditions are apparently much worse up in Canada. At least that’s one of the major factors that’s pushing a beautiful boreal creature to fly south.
When you think of comfort food, what comes to mind? For some it’s soup. For others it’s mashed potatoes. For David Schultz, who is executive chef at Crave at the Mall of America, it’s a nice raised beef pot roast. He added you can’t forget the mashed potatoes and gravy. If you’re looking for other ideas, consider roast chicken.
Fans of The Wedge co-op will have reason to celebrate, as plans to open another location in Minneapolis have been announced. The 15,500-square-foot space will be the first phase of a multi-year expansion project for The Wedge.
With 2013 right around the corner, people are starting to think about their resolutions. A popular one is always getting in shape.
As 2014 draws closer, it’s time to look back on 2013’s high points in Minnesota. Join us in celebrating 2013’s successes by checking out our top five posts in Minnesota below.
In Buddy Valastro’s newest cookbook, Family Celebrations with the Cake Boss, Buddy shares recipes that suit just about every occasion: from Halloween to Christmas, birthdays to rainy days, there’s no limit to the celebrations one can have!
Megan Scott, from Joy Of Cooking and the blog The Joy Kitchen, shares tips on how to know your oven.
Irma Rombauer, author of The Joy Of Cooking, was an accomplished home baker. Make her Pecan or Angel slices for your holiday cookie swap or your Christmas dessert table.
What better reason to travel than trying to these amazing foods?
Renowned more for its Riesling than its rye, New York’s grape-growing Finger Lakes region — think Western Upstate, between Ithaca, Rochester, and Syracuse — is actually one of the country’s most underrated beer destinations. Home to 36 craft breweries and 19 brewpubs (the largest concentration of beermakers in the state, despite what you might think!), it’s the perfect spot for a weekend beercation.
Ski or snowboard into one of these ski resort restaurants and fill up with lamb chops, bison burgers and beef tenderloins before carving up the rest of the mountain.
New designs and local chefs at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport caught the attention of an airport industry group, which named our airport the Best Food & Beverage Program not just in the country, but in all of North America.


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By Amanda Yeager | Business Journal
Fikre Mariam Worku spent years as a social worker, first in Ethiopia and then as a resettlement manager for the International Rescue Committee in Baltimore. His wife, Eskedar Abawa, worked as an accountant. But the couple found themselves drawn to hospitality. Friends and coworkers raved about Abawa’s cooking and encouraged the two to open a restaurant of their own.
With Mimi’s Cuisine, a new Ethiopian restaurant at 34 S. Eutaw St. near the University of Maryland Medical Center, Abawa and Worku are finally making it happen.
The Rise of the African Multinational Enterprise: The most authoritative book on private enterprise in Africa. Get a Copy from SPRINGER
The couple also owns Jano, an adjacent lounge that they had initially hoped would be a venue to showcase the cuisine of their home country. But the business ended up becoming more of a nightlife spot, with hookah and DJs spinning music.
At Mimi’s, they’ve created a warmer restaurant atmosphere, with brick walls, booth seating and electric lights that flicker like torches. Wood carvings and paintings from Ethiopia hang on the walls.
The eatery has American staples like wings, burgers and fried tilapia, but Abawa, the chef, is most enthusiastic about the Ethiopian fare she hopes to introduce to a broader audience.
“We really want Ethiopian food to be known,” she said. “It’s different, and people like it after they taste it.”
The menu features an even balance of vegetarian and meat-based entrees. Diners can try dishes like Kik Alicha — yellow split peas cooked in turmeric and ginger sauce — and Kitro, finely chopped beef blended with an herb butter and cardamom and served with cheese curds. Abawa loves to introduce new diners to her Yebeg tibs, cubes of lamb sautéed with onions, tomato, jalapeño and rosemary. Entrees are served with a side of injera, a spongy fermented flatbread.
To drink, there’s Ethiopian coffee and spice tea in addition to the regular list of soda and juice options.
Worku said Mimi’s Cuisine has been off to a slow start since it opened a few weeks ago. The restaurant’s debut was originally scheduled for earlier this year, but Covid-19 delayed those plans.
For now, the bulk of business has been through carryout and delivery orders, though the dining room is also open with capacity restrictions.
“People told us we are crazy because a lot of restaurants are closed right now,” Worku said, but “if people give us a chance to taste our food we know for a fact we will get good reviews.”
He and Abawa said they hope to find a following among nearby hospital workers and the downtown community. They’re offering a 10% discount to health care workers, first responders and neighborhood residents. A grand opening is in the works in the coming weeks.
They’ve already found a small fan base in some residents who have become regular customers.
“They say it’s the hidden place,” Worku said. “We are hopeful that we can make a difference here. There are some neighborhood people helping us a lot.”
Read from source Biz Journal


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(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc stated on Thursday it will spend greater than $500 million on one-time bonuses for its front-line workers in the USA who’re working the vacation season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Full-time operations employees in the USA who’re employed by Amazon from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31 will obtain a bonus of $300, whereas these in part-time roles will get $150, the net retailer stated right here in a weblog submit.
A number of retailers, together with Walmart Inc and Home Depot Inc, have spent hundreds of thousands in bonuses to compensate employees for catering to a surge in on-line procuring through the pandemic.
In an earlier spherical of one-time bonuses in June, Amazon spent $500 million in one-time funds to front-line workers and companions.
The world’s largest on-line retailer has been dealing with intense scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and unions over whether or not it’s doing sufficient to guard employees from the coronavirus.
Reporting by Ayanti Bera in Bengaluru; Modifying by Paul Simao


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Picture for illustration purposes only.
PHOTO BY ARCHIVE
DUBAI – A five-day mega sale begins in Dubai on Tuesday (June 18) to offer shoppers up to 70 percent discount on international brands.
The Concept Big Brands Carnival Super Summer Sale will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre with huge discounts on shoes, cosmetics, watches and apparel.
The mega sale will run from 10am to 10pm at Hall 8. Entry is free. ICA/Expat Media
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in March 15th this year, let China group purchase industry collective panic Gaopeng finally opened his first single business; a famous social networking site Facebook in recent days is likely to launch the group purchase service; user base breaking millions of happy net recently in the layout of independent group purchase……
all these are hidden a deep trends 2011 group purchase trade competition in dire straits.
2010 is the first year of the year founded the group purchase group purchase, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain in a short period of time across the Chinese, the formation of the e-commerce industry, the most dazzling "thousand group war"; in 2011, when Groupon, Tencent, Qihoo 360, happy net strength of many predators and fashion VC came tumbling forth, group purchase industry in the future is more full imagine, from the barbaric growth to the scale of development, group purchase industry reshuffle has begun.
Oriental Daily News reporter Zhu Guoyan
group purchase website advertising burn may exceed 1 billion
, we have this year’s advertising budget at least 200 million of it, the handle is also a network of 200 million, the entire industry must be more than 1 billion." Industry insiders revealed. Outdoor, network, building advertising, advertising has become a battlefield in the battle to buy.
is behind the hot money burn anchaoyongdong, over the past year, the field of electronic commerce financing, 1/3 to handle network group purchase: $55 million financing, the U.S. group net to get $15 million financing, dianping.com claimed to get $100 million financing, Everfount funds are flowing to the industry competition group purchase, and this situation industry.
holding capital large group purchase website for squeezing out competitors, have reduced rebate, and even subsidize their own group purchase. The war has rung, bloody battle intensified, the outcome is hard to determine.
industry sources, many group purchase website launched lottery or super low prices to attract users, and even money market, it is actually quite upset. However, with the fierce competition to buy the network, low price is not the primary factor to attract Internet users to buy, but in the long run, for the rational operation of the group buying industry harmful.
how to make customers stick a little sticky
group purchase website independent busy advertising burn is to pull the user, itself has a huge user base of Tencent, Qihoo 360 is happy, more advantages? They can share more of the cake
according to iResearch consulting statistics, the proportion of customers concerned about the daily purchase of only 33.7%, lower than the proportion of new customers by 46.8%. How to generate user stickiness? Has user habits, Qihoo 360 are Tencent, happy to let the independent group purchase website can offer the advantage.
home appliances China Network commentator Jian Jiping said: Tencent’s biggest advantage is undoubtedly a huge user base, which is the basis for it to enter the group. 360 navigation holding the user installed capacity of 300 million, has been >


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- ADIB Visa cardholders can now make contactless payments using their favourite watch or bracelet, without the need to carry a physical plastic card
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading financial institution, announced today the launch of the region’s first tokenised, contactless payment methods through the options of clasp and ring ‘ADIB PAY’, in partnership with token enablement service provider Tappy Technologies and global digital payments leader, Visa.
ADIB Visa cardholders can now make contactless payments using their favourite watch, ring, or bracelet, without the need to carry a physical plastic card. The new tokenised contactless payment clasp from ADIB can be attached to a multitude of wrist wearables, instantly turning that wearable, ring, or watch into a smart payment device. ADIB PAY will be initially offered to select customers.
Samih Awadhalla, Acting Global Head of Retail Banking at ADIB, said: “ADIB continues to roll out innovative digital payment services as we further develop our digital capabilities. We are proud to launch the region’s first tokenised, contactless payment clasp with our partners Tappy Technologies and Visa. ADIB PAY demonstrates our commitment to offering simplicity and convenience to our customers. This is a significant milestone for the bank, and we won’t stop there. Customers can expect more solutions that will help them bank with ease and simplicity.”
The set-up process for ADIB PAY is simple and quick. First, the customer’s ADIB Visa card is tokenised via the supporting ADIB PAY application powered by Tappy’s Token Enablement Services (TES) solution. Second, using the companion Universal Passive Provisioning Unit (UPPU) that connects to ADIB PAY via Bluetooth, the digital card is automatically provisioned to the chip embedded within the payment clasp. Once provisioning is complete, the customer is ready to make quick and easy payments with the tap of their wrist watch and will be able to instantly view their ADIB PAY transaction history in the application.
Tokenisation is the data security process of replacing actual, sensitive card information with non-sensitive data elements that cannot be exploited even if the ADIB Pay wearable is lost, thereby supporting ADIB’s consistent efforts in providing secure and smart payment options to their customers.
Wayne Leung, CEO of Tappy Technologies, said: “We are proud to partner with ADIB to redefine the consumer wearable payment experience that is convenient, effortless and hyper secured adhering to the highest contactless standards in the world. As a certified technology partner of Visa, Tappy extends the power of network token service to safeguard customer sensitive payment credentials on wearable devices. With the Tappy developed UPPU technology, consumers can digitise their payment cards within seconds and transform their traditional timepiece into a contactless payment accessory without ever needing to recharge it.”
During the pandemic, hygiene drove consumers across the world to look for safer ways to pay, with contactless payments emerging as a popular alternative. According to a survey published by Visa, Dubai Police and Dubai economy in 2021, there are no signs this trend will be reversed – 45% of consumers surveyed in the UAE said they are more likely to use contactless payments in the future.
Salima Gutieva, Vice President & Country Manager for UAE at Visa, commented: “Innovation is in Visa’s DNA and with the rapid acceleration of digitalization, it has become more important than ever to introduce new technologies that securely integrate payments into people’s everyday lives. Wearable tech is a fast-growing segment, especially as the young and digitally savvy generations increasingly demand a seamless cashless payment experience. By combining Tappy’s technology with our highly secure tokenization technology, ADIB can meet their customers’ need for security and convenience at a time when contactless payments are very important. The launch of the first tokenized contactless payment clasp is a great example of how we can drive digital transformation by offering unique products that truly transform the customer experience.”
ADIB is a leading Islamic bank with more than AED 147 billion in assets that was established in 1997 with its shares traded on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). Over 1 million customers benefit from its large distribution network of 62 branches and more than 379 ATMs. The bank also offers world-class online, mobile and phone banking services, providing clients with seamless digital access to their accounts 24 hours a day. ADIB provides retail, corporate, business, private banking, and wealth management solutions. ADIB remains one of the leading banks in the recruitment, development, and promotion of local talent. The bank has one of the highest Emiratisation ratios with more than 40 percent of the bank’s workforce being UAE Nationals. ADIB has presence in six strategic markets: Egypt, where it has 70 branches, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Sudan, Iraq, and Qatar. Named “Best Islamic Bank globally” by The Financial Times’ The Banker publication and Best Bank in the UAE by Forbes, ADIB has a rich track record of innovation, including introducing the world’s first digital Islamic bank for youth and being the first bank in the UAE to enable account opening through facial recognition.
About Visa Inc.
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Visa, visamiddleeast.com/blog and @Visamiddleeast.
About Tappy Technologies
Tappy Technologies, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is a world leading wearable payment integrator connected to banking partners and card networks with operations that span across North America, APAC and EMEA. Our digital offerings like TES (Token Enablement Services) and PLC (Pre-Loaded Credential) programs as well as our hardware white label solutions are fully trusted and certified by industry standards. Tappy Technologies’ wearable payment solutions are designed to work at any contactless point-of-sale terminal, globally. We add Payment / Access Control / Geolocation to traditional timepieces, jewelleries, and accessories by pre-provisioning secure data keys into a battery less secure element chip.
Visit www.tappytech.com for more information.
For media information, please visit www.adib.ae or contact:
Lamia Khaled Hariz Simon Hailes
Head of Public Affairs Director of Financial Communications


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Rise of the Tomb Raider Director Leaves Crystal Dynamics
Brian Horton, who also worked on the 2013 reboot, has left Crystal Dynamics for a "new adventure."
[UPDATE] Horton has joined Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward.
The original story is below.
Rise of the Tomb Raider game director Brian Horton has left developer Crystal Dynamics, the studio announced on its Tumblr page today. Horton was the senior art director on 2013's Tomb Raider reboot and moved into the director's chair for the follow-up, which was released at the end of 2015 on Xbox platforms.
"It's been a huge honor to be a part of the Tomb Raider franchise and the team at Crystal Dynamics," Horton said in a statement. "I've met fans from all over the world, both in person and online, to share in our love for the franchise and Lara Croft."
Horton said he's moving to southern California with his family to "start a new adventure," though he didn't say anything further about whether or not he'll stay the in the game industry. There are quite a few game developers in southern California, including Naughty Dog, Riot Games, Infinity Ward, and Blizzard.
"As sad as I am to leave the team at Crystal, I'm excited to play their future games as a fan," he added. "Thanks again for the years of support and feedback and I hope to stay in touch with you all online."
Crystal Dynamics is reportedly working on a third new Tomb Raider game, and has considered a new Legacy of Kain.
Rise of the Tomb Raider launched in November 2015 for Xbox One and Xbox 360. The game comes to PC later this month and will debut on PlayStation 4 this coming holiday season. On Xbox platforms, the game has sold "well over" 1 million copies, according to Microsoft.
The game's new Endurance mode was released at the end of 2015, while even more expansions are planned for later in 2016.
Rise of the Tomb Raider has been nominated for a total of nine awards, including Game of the Year, at the upcoming D.I.C.E. Awards. The action-adventure game received more nominations than any other game in the field.


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Speaking at the BIUST 2018 STEM Festival, the BIUST Vice Chancellor, Prof. Otlogetswe Totolo, has emphasised that BIUST was created to be one of the engines that will drive Botswana’s socio-economic transformation from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. The three day 2018 STEM Festival themed “STEM Driven Economy: Transforming Research into Profitable Products and Services.”
STEM Festivals are events at which innovations and inventions are acknowledged, celebrated and nurtured. Prof. Totolo further noted that BIUST does this through a curriculum that is relevant, appropriate, problem based-learning and forging strong linkages with business, industry, professionals and the public sector to produce work-ready graduates and to promote dialogue, information sharing and skills and technology transfer.
Totolo stated that in almost every part of the world, competence in STEM is often marginal, Botswana included. This shows reasons STEM is deliberately and assiduously inculcated in learners to ignite their interest and life-long engagement in science, research and technology.
“Since 2015, BIUST has been hosting STEM Festivals. STEM Festivals also provide a platform for innovators and inventors, researchers and academics, from all walks of life, to showcase their inventions, concepts, blueprints, and final products. As they exhibit inventions and putative or commonly accepted products at the BIUST STEM Festivals, businesses and even venture capitalists are keeping a close eye on how they can invest in those new found inventions.” He said.
Totolo further noted that such festivals are a meeting place for those with invention ideas to meet those with investment capacity to package products for industry and ready markets. He stated that from 2015 to 2018, STEM has had a total of 84, 548 participants, 670 people were trained on Information Communications Technology (ICT) and a total of 446 Science Teachers countywide.
STEM coverage areas include but not limited to the following areas;
- Kgatleng District;
- Gaborone City;
- Central District;
- City of Francistown;
- North East District;
- Ghanzi District;
- Kgalagadi District;
- Ngami District;
- North West District;
- Southern District
In motivating participants he concluded by stating that “I urge you all to fully participate in the BIUST STEM Festival 2018 and appreciate local talent of innovation and invention displayed here.” He said.


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Pharmaceutical company Sigma Healthcare suffered the largest drop last week, plummetting 13.3% in value after reporting an underlying net profit decrease of 10.5% and a 5.4% fall in full-year revenue.
According to Sigma CEO and Managing Director Mark Hooper, sales revenue was heavily impacted by declining sales of low-margin hepatitis C medicines.
“This is an important turning point for Sigma,” Mr Hooper said in a statement.
“[Thursday’s] result is in line with guidance. We are working harder than ever to ensure we can grow and diversify our earnings, improve customer service and keep a close eye on costs.”
Webjet’s share price fell 8.7% over the week, despite no major announcements being made by the online travel agency.
A possible reason for this fall was a broker note out of Ord Minnett stating that analysts had cut the price target on Webjet’s shares from $14.35 to $13.96. As at 26 March, the broker has since raised the target price up to $14.
The biggest winner during a difficult week was Spark New Zeland, whose share price experienced a rise of 6.1%.
The telco provider became the first in New Zealand to do a live 5G mobile test last week, achieving test speeds up to nine times faster than those of fibre cable networks.
“We intend to be at the forefront of deploying this technology in New Zealand once the required spectrum is made available,” Spark’s Managing Director Simon Moutter said.
“We want to be ahead of the pack in preparing for it, testing it, in deploying it, and we want to be the partner of choice for all of those New Zealand businesses who are starting to think about its uses in their industry.”
Top 5 Winner and Losers of the ASX 200 (19/03/2018 to 23/03/2018)
|Rank||Change (%)||Rank||Change (%)|
|1||Spark New Zealand (SPK)||6.1||1||Sigma Health Ltd (SIG)||-13.3|
|2||Alumina Ltd (AWC)||6.0||2||Webjet Ltd (WEB)||-8.7|
|3||Soul Pattinson (SOL)||4.9||3||Southern Cross Media (SXL)||-7.1|
|4||Evolution Mining Ltd (EVN)||4.8||4||Crown Resorts Ltd (CWN)||-7.1|
|5||Apn Outdoor Group (APO)||4.8||5||Galaxy Resources (GXY)||-7.1|
Australia feeling the heat from US – China trade war
Global stock markets were left reeling on Friday after US President Donald Trump imposed $60 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese imports, which saw China slap $3 billion worth of tariffs on US imports in response.
The President said these tariffs were a retaliation against the “theft” of American intellectual property, and it has many in the industry concerned about an upcoming trade war.
The S&P/ASX 200 index fell by more than 116.452 points to just over 5820 on Friday, while Wall Steet had its biggest fall in more six weeks.
“Our local market took its lead from the US last week as the rhetoric of trade wars between the US and China heated up – the Dow Jones industrial average has wiped off any gains since November last year, ” Canstar’s General Manager of Josh Callaghan said.
“The local market is taking too much of a lead from the US in my opinion, which is overstating the risk to our big businesses from these potential tariffs.”
Mr Callaghan said US markets have greater room for a correction than Australian markets, given the fact they have recently had an “incredible bull run that our local markets have not”.
“I think what we’re seeing is money moving to the sidelines that perhaps wasn’t committed to where it has been invested and therefore, investors are happy to run for cash while they can.”
— CommSec (@CommSec) March 23, 2018