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Banking scams, refunds and protecting the vulnerable
Financial scammers are ingenious and credible, and they prey on the vulnerable. That makes older people particularly susceptible. A new scheme should help to combat this form of fraud.
Older people tend to be more trusting, and less informed about the methods that criminals will use to relieve them of their savings. And it is hard to keep up with the rapidly changing pace of financial services, where face-to-face has been replaced by ‘phone, web and mobile app. It’s not surprising that they have become a firm favourite with fraudsters.
So if an older friend or family member mentions that they have transferred money as requested to someone who sounds questionable, how can you help them to retrieve any money lost to fraud?
Until now, if a customer has willingly sent money to another account, there has been little that many banks have been prepared to do about it. The customer is deemed to be at fault. (It’s a different matter if the customer didn’t know about the transfer.)
From the end of May 2019, though, a new voluntary code will see the criteria for refunds for these “push payments” becoming more relaxed.
Under the new “no blame” code, customers are far more likely to be reimbursed if they have been persuaded to transfer money – even if the bank has done everything that would be reasonably expected to protect the customer from fraud. Helpfully, the code means that both the sending and receiving banks need to look at their actions to see if they have done as much as possible. It should also see cases being resolved much more quickly. It doesn’t cover international payments though.
Who’s signed up?
From 28 May 2019, the banks that have committed to implementing the code are:
- HSBC (HSBC UK, First Direct, M&S Bank)
- Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Intelligent Finance)
- Metro Bank
- RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland, Natwest, Ulster Bank)
- Santander (Santander, Cahoot, Carter Allen)
- Starling Bank
Other major financial providers that haven’t committed yet include Virgin, Yorkshire Bank, Clydesdale Bank and Co-op, although several of these have said they will join in the future.
TSB has not signed up to the code as it has its own scheme, which it argues goes further than the code.
What to do
If you suspect fraud, then the victim needs to report it to their bank as soon as possible.
If the bank has signed up to the code, then you can expect them to confirm whether it is going to reimburse the customer within 15 business days. If the bank says yes, reimbursement should be without delay.
If the bank says it needs more time to investigate, then it cannot take more than 35 business days to make a decision.
Who will get refunded – and who won’t
If a bank is to blame, the customer is likely to be reimbursed by the customer’s bank.
If neither the bank nor customer is to blame, the customer is still likely to be refunded, but out of a different pot of money.
If the customer is to blame, because they made the payment without a reasonable basis for believing that the transaction is genuine, they may not get a refund at all.
The rules are not absolute on how a customer should comply to avoid being considered to be “grossly negligent” and therefore not eligible for a refund.
The good news is that the code recognises that some people are vulnerable and therefore less likely to be able to protect themselves, and will consider those claims on a case-by-case basis.
Where is the money coming from?
The industry has committed to funding payments until the end of 2019. Trade association UK Finance says this initial no-blame funding is intended to enable the industry to work with the regulators and government to deliver sustainable longer-term funding.
Find out more
Find full details from the consumer service Which?, which has been campaigning for change for several years. MoneySavingExpert also offers a fuller and very clear explanation of how the service will work.
Name-checking service due soon
A further service designed to beat fraud is also due to be introduced for most of the UK’s bank transfers by the end of March 2020.
This “confirmation of payee” service will see banks sending out alerts to customers if the name of the account they are sending money to doesn’t exactly match the name they have entered.
This will give the customer the opportunity to check the payment before it goes out, rather than go through the process of claiming back a fraudulent payment after the cash has been transferred.
Article by Kathy Lawrence, editor of When They Get Older.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.


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- News tagged "2-in-1"
Wednesday, 4 Jan 2017
Just like crossover utility vehicle (CUV) that marries aspects of a full-fledged SUV and that of a passenger hatchback vehicle, Lenovo thinks its latest 2-in-1 detachable notebook has got what it takes to perform up to expectations in both casual lifestyle usage and to serve up the power needed for creative professionals to express their artistic thoughts precisely. Meet the Miix 720.
Thursday, 1 Sep 2016
Lenovo is trying something different with the Yoga Book, a brand new 2-in-1 notebook that dispenses with a physical keyboard in favor of a touch-based one that adapts to your typing style over time.
Friday, 26 Aug 2016
ASUS has launched the Transformer Book T101, a lightweight and affordable 2-in-1 notebook that costs just S$399.
Tuesday, 24 May 2016
Toshiba will be making a comeback at the 2016 PC Show with a full range of business notebooks and accessories.
Friday, 8 Apr 2016
Samsung has just announced the Singapore pricing and availability of its first 2-in-1 premium Windows 10 tablet, the Galaxy TabPro S. Full details inside.
Thursday, 2 Jul 2015
Microsoft has announced that 4G LTE will be coming to the Surface 3. It will first roll out to business customers in select countries before becoming commercially available.
Thursday, 18 Jun 2015
HP has launched a new design of the Pavilion x2, a lightweight 2-in-1 hybrid that features a fanless design and a 10.1-inch touchscreen IPS display.
Wednesday, 8 Apr 2015
ASUS has just confirmed that the Transformer Book T100 Chi will be available in Singapore from mid-April. More details, including specifications and pricing information, inside.
Tuesday, 31 Mar 2015
Microsoft has just announced the Surface 3, a smaller and handier version of the Surface Pro 3. We have the lowdown on the specs and other details inside.
Thursday, 5 Jun 2014
Earlier this week, Dell released two of their latest 2-in-1 laptops, one 11-inch laptop that updates its current model to a faster processor and a 13-inch addition to the current series that features a 4th generation Intel Core processor.

domain: news


text:
The growing IT needs demand for businesses to have excellent and up-to-date IT infrastructure and enterprise-grade software solutions. The tech experts at PixelPlex guide businesses along that line to ensure enhanced system security and efficiency.
PixelPlex, an exceptional blockchain solutions provider, has developed an STO platform that helps businesses seamlessly access innovative investment opportunities and seamlessly run security token offerings.
InnoSoft Group proudly announces its recognition as the Top Artificial Intelligence Company in Dubai by industry authority Firmstalk. This accolade reaffirms InnoSoft's commitment to excellence and innovation in AI development services.
Proof of Staked Authority (PoSA) represents an innovative approach in blockchain technology, blending elements from two established consensus mechanisms: Proof of Stake (PoS) and Proof of Authority (PoA).
The world is poised for an unprecedented convergence of business, law, and technology on April 23-24, 2024, as World Law Alliance presents the World Business Fest 2024 (#WBF2024London) at the prestigious Hilton London Heathrow Terminal 5.
WazirX Clone Script Development offers a customized solution to create a cryptocurrency exchange platform similar to WazirX. This script provides essential features such as secure trading, multi-currency support, and real-time market data.
Create unpredictable music videos with your friends using your phone camera and most popular songs. Record yourself dancing to one segment of a popular song, while others record other segments of that same song.
Paxful clone script development creates a customizable platform mirroring the features of Paxful, enabling entrepreneurs to launch their peer-to-peer cryptocurrency exchange, and fostering secure and seamless digital asset trading.


text:
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Sign Up for the South Florida Business Journal Afternoon Edition Newsletter
Send this story to a friend
Venezuela’s crackdown on retailers pushes big money to Florida
(Page 4 of 5)
“You will see another influx of Venezuelan people come to Miami and shelter what they have here instead of having their businesses taken over by the government,” Feinstein said.
The key for Venezuelans is to move their business interests to the United States before they go broke, Pena said.
“The people with cash and money to invest and have possibility to take their money out will start buying items outside, including in Miami, to keep their money’s value,” Pena said. “If you get a dishwasher, that money isn’t diluted but if it’s money in the bank, it’s losing value by the day.”
That could translate into all kinds of Venezuelan purchases in South Florida, Pena said, from diamonds to real estate.
Huge impact on international trade
FIU's Mora said Venezuela’s government has severely limited the supply of dollars so retailers looking to exchange bolivars for dollars in order to purchase foreign-made goods must use the black market, which is even more expensive. This is why prices are so high and inflation is out of control, he said.
“It is impossible to import and sell at a profit in Venezuela because the government will force you to sell your TV at what they think is a fair price,” he said.
That means that South Florida exporters will have a difficult time selling products to Venezuelan companies, Mora added. Ortega said that few banks would finance trade with Venezuela given the currency problems with the bolivar.
Venezuela was Miami’s fourth-largest trading partner in 2011 at $6.7 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Exports accounted for 78 percent of that trade.
Brian Bandell covers banking, finance, health care and education. Get the latest banking industry news here.
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After previously reported that Microsoft started offering and promoting Edge Chromium from the Search page on Windows 10, it’s now also reported that Microsoft is starting to display bidding banners in the Windows 10 Settings app.
Reporting from Windows Latest, Promotional banners and Edge Chromium offers are now reportedly only appearing on versions of Windows 10 Home or Pro Insider Preview Build, and only selected Insider users get them.
To offer Edge Chromium, Microsoft added a new section to the Header in the Settings app, where besides Windows Update, there will be a Web Browsing option.
In addition, if the user uses Firefox or Google Chrome, there will be a ‘Restore recommended’ under the provided Web Browsing option, which will display a confirmation to make Edge Chromium the Default browser, and pin the application to the Taskbar and Start Menu.
For now, the banner only appears for selected Insider users, but of course, many users will not like the addition of the banner as if Microsoft is forcing users to switch to Edge Chromium.
Besides that, it’s a shame, until now there has been no steps that users can take to remove the promotional banner.


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Uber is ready to take to the sky!
According to Wired, the ride sharing app is eager to launch UberAIR as a way for consumers to combat exhaustive traffic. The company went public with its “flying cars” idea a little over a year ago and, since then, they’ve become more dedicated to the idea.
So what is UberAIR and what does it entail?? In short, customers would be picked up on the roof of a tall building and would then step into a helicopter hybrid to be whisked away over the standstill of cars. Or, at least, that’s the dream.
However, this dream may come into fruition sooner than later as Uber has made deals to run some kind of “air” service in both Dallas and Dubai. Not to mention, the company also announced this week that they want to launch flying cars in Los Angeles by 2020. Oh, and they’d like a real commercial service to be up an running a handful years after the ’20 launch. Whoa.
On the revolutionary idea, Uber chief product officer Jeff Holden, noted in a statement:
“UberAIR will be performing far more flights over cities on a daily basis than has ever been done before… Doing this safely and efficiently is going to require a foundational change in airspace management technologies.”
Of course, there are plenty of kinks to work out as the company didn’t specify how they’d prescreen customers, navigate the city’s already busy airspace, etc. Although, it’s said Uber is currently collaborating with NASA to develop a Unmanned Traffic System for Unmanned Aerial Systems.
So, it seems, air taxis may REALLY be coming to El Lay or a city near you sometime soon. Color us impressed!


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IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoGravity, a FinTech pioneer on a mission to transform the way people buy and finance their cars, has announced the appointment of Sheng Wang as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to drive the company's global engineering efforts. Wang joins AutoGravity's executive team with responsibility for leading product and engineering to deliver a trustworthy and innovative car buying experience that empowers the consumer.
"Sheng is a true master of her trade, a trusted leader with the utmost command of product and engineering, uniquely qualified to take AutoGravity technology to the next level," said Andy Hinrichs, founder and CEO of AutoGravity. "Sheng's authentic, hands-on leadership has been instrumental to our speed and success in setting the pace of digital retailing in the automotive industry. We are confident in her ability to rally our world-class engineering team to definitively own the digital car buying journey, beginning to end and beyond."
Prior to her appointment as CTO, Wang led AutoGravity product development as the company's first Director of Product, building cross-functional teams to develop and launch the award-winning AutoGravity platform, as well as branded platforms for Volkswagen Credit and Kia Motors Finance. Wang joined AutoGravity with more than fifteen years of leadership experience in the technology industry and an uncompromising dedication to building dynamic teams and high-impact products that people love.
"As mobile technology matures and mobile usage continues to surge, more and more people are looking to shop and buy their cars online. Car shoppers want an easy way to find the right car, check affordability, secure their financing and get the car delivered to them in a few simple steps," said Sheng Wang. "It has been rewarding to see how AutoGravity has already changed the car financing process and I can't wait to continue the journey to provide the best digital car buying experience to all consumers."
As CTO at AutoGravity, Wang will elevate the AutoGravity platform by applying her passion and expertise in user experience, customer relationship management, program management, project planning and workflow analysis to the forefront of the company's developmental efforts.
Wang is inspired by audacious missions, challenging problems, thoughtfully opinionated people, and positive work culture. Prior to AutoGravity, Wang led product development teams at eBay, Microsoft, and The Walt Disney Company. Wang holds a Bachelor of Science from Taiwan University and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from Santa Clara University.
AutoGravity is revolutionizing the way people buy and finance cars. Harnessing the power of the smartphone, AutoGravity technology provides a new level of transparency, convenience and speed to the car shopping and financing process. AutoGravity partners with the world's leading banks and financial services companies to give car buyers direct control over their car financing options while connecting them to a nationwide network of trusted car dealerships. Available on iOS, Android and Web, AutoGravity empowers car buyers with up to four binding offers in minutes. Based in Irvine, California, AutoGravity was founded by an international team of digital natives and auto industry veterans. For more information on AutoGravity, please visit www.AutoGravity.com and follow @AutoGravity on Twitter.


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Konami aired a brand new trailer of Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater during the Nintendo 3DS press event earlier this morning. The trailer showed Snake sneaking across the bridge from the start of the game, as well as him taking on a young Ocelot and his group from Spetsnaz. This will be awesome, yessir.
MGS 3DS is due out this winter on 3DS. Get the trailer below.


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It has been a long struggle, but the American wine industry appears ready to stop fighting sulfite warnings on wine labels.
``We have decided that even if only one person in the country is in danger of a severe reaction to sulfites in wine, their presence should be noted on the label,`` says Richard Peterson, president and winemaker of Monterey Vineyard in Gonzales, Calif., a subsidiary of Joseph Seagram & Sons.
Sulfites, which are sulfur compounds, are added to most wines to kill the microbes that would cause spoilage if allowed to grow unchecked. Used in moderation, they impart no taste or smell of their own and can enhance the wine`s taste. Used in excess, they produce a noticeably unpleasant taste and smell. Some people, notably asthmatics, can suffer allergic reactions to sulfites, even in quantities much smaller than those allowed under federal regulations.
Peterson, who also is chairman of the viniculture committee of the Wine Institute, the trade organization of the California wine industry, says efforts to produce a warning label still are preliminary and that scientific study of allergic reactions to sulfites is continuing.
The wine industry`s change in position on the proposed warning label represents a major reversal, since it has long maintained that sulfites in wine endangered no one.
Some industry observers interpret the change as a reflection of the current crises in the wine business. Sales have been sluggish for three years, and consumption of table wine - the backbone of the business - has been dropping. These economic problems, a vigorous crusade against drunken driving, an ``equivalency`` campaign showing that alcohol is as potent in wine as in whiskey or beer, and mounting efforts in Congress and by the spirits industry to increase excise taxes on alcoholic beverages all have combined to put the wine industry on the defensive.
By consenting to a warning label, these observers believe, the industry sidesteps a fight with consumer and health groups that, given the current climate of public opinion, it would probably lose.
Officials at such federal agencies as the Food and Drug Administration believe at least 15 deaths have been linked to sulfites since 1983.
One of those deaths, that of a 33-year-old asthmatic, was attributed to a bottle of German wine. According to Mitchell Zeller, a lawyer for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based consumer group, Daniel Tsevat of Dallas died last July after an allergic reaction so sudden he did not have time to take epinephrine, a drug carried by many asthmatics. According to the Dallas County Medical Examiner`s Office, Tsevat, who had been advised to avoid sulfites, died of acute asthma. Laboratory analysis showed that the sulfite content of the wine Tsevat drank just before his death was 92 parts per million, well within the allowable federal limit of 350 parts per million.
According to studies done by Dr. Ronald Simon of the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, Calif., 5 percent to 10 percent of all asthmatics in this country, or as many as 100,000 people, probably are sensitive to sulfites. The Wine Institute, working with figures developed by Simon, estimates that about 4,000 Americans could have a fatal reaction to sulfites. Common symptoms of allergic reaction include hives, headaches, swelling of the tongue and throat, shortness of breath, flushing and loss of consciousness.
Some scientists have raised the possibility that not all allergic reactions to wine are caused by sulfites. Other culprits may include the histamines released during wine fermentation and such protein substances as gelatin, egg white, isinglass and casein, a milk byproduct - all of which are clarifying agents that combine with free-floating matter in the wine vats or barrels to draw it to the bottom.
In tests, Dr. Vincent A. Marinkovich, a staff member of the Stanford University Medical Center, found that patients with allergies reacted to these substances, but their reactions were very mild.
Some people get headaches after drinking wine - sometimes because of the sulfites but more often as a reaction to other chemicals, produced during fermentation, that contribute to the wine`s flavor.
Some scientists and winemakers still contend that sulfites in wine pose no substantial problems. Further, they contend that a warning label will be a capitulation to pressure groups and will only serve to alarm consumers who are not allergic to sulfites.
``This whole thing is threatening to cause the consumer and the business a lot of trouble,`` says Vernon Singleton, a professor at the School of Enology of the University of California at Davis.
``We`ve been using sodium dioxide in moderate amounts for hundreds of years,`` he says, referring to the most widely used sulfiting agent. But Singleton concedes that too much sulfite is being used in winemaking, and he strongly supports efforts to reduce the amounts.


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Mold-Tek Packaging has inaugurated new Daman Unit on April 29, 2012. Initially it started with production of Pails and will also start producing In-Mould Labeling (IML) pails from June 2012 onwards.
Recently, Mold-Tek Packaging has performed ground breaking ceremony at Moushi village, Khandala district on March 14, 2012 to start another manufacturing unit with a capacity of 4000 TPA mainly catering to Asian Paints. This unit also will have facilities to manufacture Robotic IML (In Mold Labelling) decorated containers.
Mold-Tek Packaging is the leader in manufacturing of plastic packaging products including pails. It specializes in both standard and made-to-order packaging solutions for leading brands of paints, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, FMCGs, etc


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Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
Business of Fashion reports that e-commerce site Farfetch has just reeled in an $86 million investment from DST Global, along with contributions from existing investors like Condé Nast International. To date, the company has raised over $195 million, and the latest round of investment bumps Farfetch's valuation up to $1 billion—launching it into the same field as buzzy tech startups like SnapChat and Slack.
The report points out that obtaining a $1 billion valuation, especially in the fashion industry, is extremely rare—Asos, Yoox, and Net-A-Porter have been contenders but none have actually reached that mark.
Farfetch will reportedly use the investment to expand its international presence, opening offices, and signing on more boutiques to better serve its customers in 180 countries.


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Thermoformed packaging specialist expands its presence in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Caribbean regions
Nelipak, a manufacturer of thermoformed packaging for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, has bought Tegrant Alloyd Brands (TABR) of Puerto Rico, a subsidiary of Sonoco Products, a thermoforming company based in Juncos, Puerto Rico.
No financial details have been released.
The business will be owned by Nelipak and operate under the name of Nelipak Healthcare Packaging.
TABPR is a manufacturer of thermoformed rigid packaging primarily for the medical market. The company's packaging products include trays, clamshells, and blisters. Under the Nelipak Healthcare Packaging brand, TABPR will further develop its thermoformed packaging products and service capabilities for the healthcare market.
Nelipak says this acquisition strengthens its commitment to the North American healthcare market and will allow it to take advantage of growth opportunities in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the broader Caribbean regions. TABPR's customers will have access to Nelipak's design teams and modern cleanroom manufacturing throughout its global locations.
'We are thrilled to expand our global manufacturing footprint and gain greater access to the Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic healthcare markets with the acquisition of Tegrant Alloyd Brands of Puerto Rico,' said Mike Kelly, President and CEO of Nelipak.
'This acquisition enables us to better support our global customers since many of them have operations in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the Tegrant Alloyd Brands of Puerto Rico's team and customer base complement our current capabilities.'
Nelipak Healthcare Packaging has operations in Cranston, RI; Phoenix, AZ; Venray, the Netherlands; Galway, Ireland; Juncos, Puerto Rico; and San Jose, Costa Rica.


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Payments supplement: Speeding it up
Written by Liz Morrell
This May saw the second anniversary of the rollout of the UK's Faster Payment Scheme. Big things were promised for the scheme, but more than two years on, take-up remains limited to the initial 13 members. Some of the huge benefits that were supposed to come through for customers and banks alike, such as the launch of new services, have still to come to fruition, while the rollout of the Direct Corporate Access (DCA) facility – introduced a year later – remains limited to one bank.
“We had expected there to be more use of it, but the banks have had other priorities,” says a spokesperson for the Payments Council.
The timing of the scheme has been much to blame. “When the banks set out on the faster payments route around four years ago they had very strong views on changing everything – and had ambitious plans,” says Bob Larkham, head of payment industry relations at Albany Software.
Yet by September 2008 the collapse of the banking industry put a grinding halt on such plans. “Banks had to revisit what their IT priorities were,” notes Larkham.
“Implementing UKFP requires integration of channels to new real-time systems, and to legacy banking applications,” says Colin Kerr, industry manager for payments and core banking, Microsoft Financial Services. “It's a complex process that requires careful planning to avoid introducing new processing risks,” he says. “The start-up banks will be in a better position to implement this quicker because they can leapfrog the technology,” agrees Amanda Gilmour, product director, Temenos AML and STP.
David Sear, divisional managing director of Global Business Payments at Travelex, previously worked at Voca – which as Vocalink now runs the infrastructure for the scheme. He says a bigger problem is to blame: “I was engaging with the banking industry to get the service introduced and one of the reasons that I don't think it has had the take-up it deserves is because the banks didn't really want to introduce it in the first place. The float wasn't really the issue – no one wanted to invest in a service that was already working well,” he says.
Faster Payments has rolled out though and according to the Payments Council 82 per cent of payments that could go through Faster Payments do. But again part of the trouble seems to be that the banks are keeping very quiet about such services, and as such, customers and corporate alike often know little about it. “At the moment Faster Payments is very much used behind the scenes and it tends to be used at the bank's discretion, which gives an inconsistent customer experience,” says Jeremy Light, head of European payments practice at Accenture. Until the service is uniform it is unlikely that any bank will be shouting about it.
More to worry about
Other worries have also held adoption back, with many citing the fear of fraud. “There is an inherently conservative view – particularly around fraud – that is putting a throttle on the development of faster payments,” warns Sear.
Others argue that with the correct 'know your customers' checks, and products in place such as Barclays' Pin Sentry or Experian Payment's Bank Wizard which verifies account details, such risks can be negated.
“As latency in payment systems is reduced by initiatives like UKFP a move toward real-time risk management is also required to mitigate operational and systemic risk. This places an increased emphasis on solutions for Business Intelligence across customer segments and transactions types,” says Kerr.
However, because of the speed at which money can be transferred banks are wary and it seems likely that the lower limits offered by some banks (which can be as low as £250) on faster payments are in place while they tighten their anti-laundering processes.
Another reason for the lower limits is to help the banks deal with their liquidity – something the larger users are less worried about. “The ones that are processing the big volumes do seem happy with the service and their liquidity profiles,” says Gilmour.
The Payments Council's spokesperson admits that the banking industry's insistence to brand each of their Faster Payments service differently has also led to confusion. “The banks often call it one of their own internal system titles – they just see it as the way money gets around,” she says.
And when it comes to DCA – where corporates can submit up to 1.2 million transactions in one file – the confusion is even greater. Just ahead of the banking crash, Barclays and RBS Group were to launch DCA services through Albany Software – only Barclays went live.
Running to time
Time restrictions on the service haven't helped. Until March the DCA service was limited to a 6am to 2pm timeframe – unsuitable for many corporates. It now runs from 3am to 11pm Monday to Friday, with a fuller service being considered for next year.
“We are working to get DCA hours to 24/7. We are negotiating on who pays the cost of that, but it looks feasible,” says Marcus Bateman, senior product manager at Barclays.
The service was also hampered by the £10,000 limit on faster payments, which at the beginning of September increased to £100,000, a move which should help stimulate demand. However, Salih Mripa, IT director at Direct Debit Limited, believes even this limit is too low. “For large, quick payments, to a lawyer when you are purchasing a house for example or for other business transactions higher than £100,000, CHAPS will remain the preferred method, as the faster payments limit will not enable people or companies to make significantly big purchases.”
Many think that two years on rival banks may leapfrog the DCA model completely – instead offering similar facilities through their own internet banking business products – something most are already developing. “Banks are starting to look at whether there is another way of doing things. If it is not DCA, then it will be a hybrid to meet the needs of the corporate customers,” says Larkham.
Norman Taylor, product manager at Experian Payments, agrees. “Other banks are looking at 'do we support DCA at all?'. A lot of customers are already on their business internet banking so many see that as a better solution for DCA,” he says.
Even the Payments Council believes DCA offers will evolve. “A lot of the banks will give a service that looks and feels like DCA but that’s not what they would call it,” says the spokesperson.
However, that could lead to further delays in wide scale take-up, says Direct Debit Limited’s Mripa. “We don’t expect to see other banks moving towards the Barclays model, so the industry is faced with multiple approaches to making payments. If there had been more consistency in the way corporates make faster payments when the initiative was introduced, then take up might have been greater.”
But as corporates catch on to the benefits for Faster Payments and DCA, banks would be stupid not to be making best use of such opportunities with many new companies already using it to their competitive advantage, according to Taylor. “New companies, such as mobile phone recycling companies, offer faster payments, and some of the lower end loan companies have used this and are sending emails or texts to their customers saying ‘we have agreed your loan and the money is now in your account’,” he says.
Such tactics are customer winners, according to Bateman. “One of our customers is a cash for old mobile phones business. They do a faster payment service to your bank account potentially by lunchtime the day after you have posted your phone off. That’s great customer service and something to go away and tell your friends about,” he says.
Indeed, Faster Payments creates the opportunity for a number of new services, such as mobile payments, but there seems to be a disagreement about how best to use such services. “Part of what was looked at was the ability to make mobile payments. The ability is there and there was a bank scheme that was looked at, but suddenly the individual banks are wanting to do something different and the telephone companies are looking at their own thing,” says Larkham.
Barclays Corporate is also building a number of new services. These include two scheme services – FIM (File Import Module) – a specialised version of DCA for agency banks, and a Direct Agency service, both of which are due to go live with clients early next year. It is also providing a DirectData service – a Barclays branded service that advises customers of payments that have been received.
The closure of central cheque clearing in 2018 means an alternative must be found. “Some of the bigger users will be looking at DCA or their bank’s own service as they move away from cheques,” says Taylor.
As banks profitability returns and IT budgets increase, the banking industry can’t afford to ignore the benefits of FPS – and the associated services it can support any longer. “If your bank’s not providing faster payments you can always move with your feet,” says Larkham.
Bateman admits this has already happened at Barclays. “We have clearly won business which is fantastic because businesses don’t move their banking lightly,” he says.
Faster Payments has its critics and its fans. “It’s an outstanding initiative that is being taken up more and more. It is achieving the objectives, but just a little slower than customers were hoping for,” says Gilmour, who believes that as confidence increases, take-up will also improve. “The faster payments scheme may not have had a fantastic trajectory in the first 12 months but unquestionably one of the best payment systems in the world.”
Light agrees: “FPS is not a big white elephant – it’s a solid service that is slightly ahead of its time.”


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Speaking on topics that included federal legislation, diversity initiatives, and cookie ghostwriting, several officials from big-name companies and agencies spoke during a conference dubbed “The Data Privacy Balancing Act: A Data Privacy Week 2022 Event,” held virtually on Jan. 26. The day’s activities, which included three hours of sessions, were hosted by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and LinkedIn.
Opening up activities for the day was Kalinda Raina, Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer of LinkedIn. “For many of us the events of these past two years have underlined the necessity for data privacy protection and awareness in a big way,” she said.
To provide insight on federal legislation, Julie Brill, who serves as Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Vice President for Global Privacy and Regulatory Affairs at Microsoft, had a question-and-answer session with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips, who was appointed in 2018.
Notably, Brill also served as an FTC Commissioner from 2010 to 2016, and she said her focus while at the agency was on “privacy, fair advertising practices, financial fraud, and competition.”
Since she left, Brill added, the FTC’s challenges now include “algorithms bias and fairness and algorithmic decision making.”
When Brill asked about upcoming issues at the agency, Phillips said, “I think that there is a trend toward the utilization of more data about consumers on more and different kinds of businesses.”
Phillips said that, even with changing technology, the FTC makes decisions based on whether something is considered unfair or deceptive. Examples of this would include unfair competition or deceptive advertising.
Additionally, he said there is a conversation about “what kinds of harms people are going to take as being privacy harms.”
He believes the biggest issues facing consumers are:
- making digital privacy policies easier to understand; and
- competition between technology companies.
Phillips said that some believe the agency should do more in terms of enforcement against specific algorithms while others believe the courts or Congress should decide.
“I think we’re going to end up getting bad results, both for people in front of us, but also for consumers, if we try to expand our statutory authority beyond what it provides,” he said.
The subject of legislating privacy is also on the mind of Michele Gilman, Venable Professor of Law for the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Gilman is hopeful that the future will include more laws on the use of personal data.
“If Congress can’t agree on comprehensive privacy legislation, the states are going to continue to pass more and more of this as the laboratories of experimentation that they are,” Gilman said.
Gilman was joined by Ruby Zefo, Chief Privacy Officer of Uber, as well as Mary Madden, Senior Fellow at the Joan Ganz Coney Center at Sesame Workshop, during a session entitled, “Considering Privacy in Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives,” moderated by Lisa Plaggemier, Interim Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
While Gilman admitted there are sticking points to why Congress has failed to create a cohesive plan, she is optimistic that federal legislators can eventually agree to one that where universal digital civil rights could be incorporated.
She said that would get rid of “this sort of Wild Wild West situation” and have agreed-upon norms.
“I’m not holding my breath for federal law—you heard it here first,” Zefo said, with a laugh. “I do think we are seeing more calls to action on more fair and equitable ways of treating people.”
Zefo said she feels new laws are not needed for everything but supports incorporating new technologies into the laws that exist, such as equal justice laws.
Madden warned that new technology has brought its own problems. She said that COVID-19 brought “experimental and unproven health-related surveillance practices,” such as thermal cameras and facial recognition, to schools and workplaces. She noted concern about disciplinary actions taken against those who failed to comply with pandemic protocols such as wearing masks.
“If you are worried about what law enforcement will do with a certain technology, then create requirements that they can’t use it for that,” Zefo said, adding that “people create and use technology which can also empower or oppress.”
Even though sometimes people’s use of technology can lead to negative consequences, Zefo continued, “it doesn’t mean we should demonize all of tech.”
Lack of Access to Technology
The speakers at the forum agreed that it’s not an even playing field regarding access to technology.
“Many of the systems were designed without the needs of low-income people in mind,” Gilman said. Specifically, she said systems are incorrectly designed because they assume people:
- Speak English;
- Are digitally literate;
- Have broadband Internet; and
- Use desktop computers.
Madden said that the inability for low-income Americans to understand how to use technology to access unemployment benefits, when offices were closed due to COVID, led to even more economic distress.
Additionally, she warned that economic distress, like evictions and unpaid credit cards, could greatly impact people’s data profiles long-term for jobs and education.
Speakers agreed that those who experience economic distress should not be labeled for life.
Economic distress could prevent some from purchasing technology that could limit the amount of personal information collected on them, such as anti-tracking software. The new threat of ghostwriting cookies was discussed during the seminar “I Know What You Did Last Summer. Also This Summer. Also Yesterday,” presented by Petros Efstathopoulos, Global Head of Research at Norton LifeLock.
He explained that when consumers visit websites, they get:
- First-party cookies are directly stored by the website you visit (e.g., user name and password);
- Third-party entities are created by another entity (e.g., an online advertiser that has an ad on the website that you visit); and
- Ghostwriting cookies appear to come from the website that you visit but are created by an advertiser who receives all the data.
He said that cookie ghostwriting is “something we really need to keep an eye out for because it kind of demonstrates the evolution of the tracking ecosystem.”
Citing a study done by Norton, Efstathopoulos said “ghosted cookies and third-party cookies are the most prevalent ones” and are “very popular techniques to track people online.”
Businesses and Consumers
Data privacy is an important topic for both consumers and businesses. It is yet to be determined whether state and federal governments will create more data protection laws. However, businesses could see a financial advantage to offering more security over their customer’s data, making them less likely to be victims of cyberattacks. Consumers might be willing to hand over some of their data if it leads to a more customized experience for them as with browser cookies. Data privacy is only going to take on more importance in the future.


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LOS ANGELES -- So, where do you fill up a $150,000 hydrogen-fueled sports car?
The question was relevant starting Wednesday, when the two-seat Hydrogen Shelby Cobra -- built by auto legend Carroll Shelby -- could be ordered from Hydrogen Car Co., a 9-month-old Los Angeles company.
The Cobra's internal combustion V-8 engine burns hydrogen, making it cleaner and more fuel efficient than any of its gasoline-gulping Shelby siblings. The difficulty in answering the question: hydrogen filling stations are hardly on every corner.
In California, there are just 13 of them. Operating one requires special training and attention to safety concerns.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to see hydrogen stations at 20-mile intervals along the state's major freeways by 2010, though there's no money behind his dream. There's a federal program aimed at opening at least 24 hydrogen stations in the state, but nobody in Washington, D.C., has set a date, or handed over money, for construction to start.
That makes for slim pickings if you want to take the Cobra for a long drive.
It packs the equivalent of 4 gallons of gas in its special pressurized fuel tanks. Even though it can get upward of 25 miles to the gallon, it can only travel about 100 miles before needing a fill-up.
That's not too steep a price to pay, says Hydrogen Car's chairman, S. David Freeman. If enough hydrogen cars are sold to powerful people, perhaps political pressure for hydrogen fueling stations will grow, he said.
Freeman, 78, who once ran the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and helped start Hydrogen Car, said the first Shelbys could be delivered in six months. He said one of the company's missions was to speed the much-hyped anti-gasoline revolution by getting hydrogen-powered cars on streets now, instead of waiting for fuel-cell powered electric vehicles to be perfected.
Prices for the Shelby cars will vary from $149,000 to $175,000 for a top-of-the-line model rated at 400 horsepower. "Carroll has assured us that there are people out there who will buy any car he makes, even if it runs on hot air," Freeman said.
Shelby, 81, is an automotive icon. His 1960s-era Shelby Mustangs were classic muscle cars that are now treasured collection pieces. (He has produced some gas-powered Cobra sports cars, built by Shelby Automobiles in Las Vegas, that sell from $80,000 on up.)
The Hydrogen Shelby Colby deal Freeman and partners Ari Swiller and Cole Frates signed with Shelby call for him to convert standard Cobra engines from gas to hydrogen power. The cars will be assembled at Shelby's engine plant in Gardena, Calif.
"If we can start hydrogen off with the most exciting cars on the road, and then move into the sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks ... then maybe we can disconnect people from the image of these kinds of cars as too small and limited," Freeman said.
That is "a welcome development," but not critical to the future of a hydrogen-fueled transportation system, said Aaron Rachlin, manager of clean fuels for Praxair Inc., which is helping to develop California's government-funded hydrogen fueling network.
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Squeezing in some PDA! Nicole Richie holds hands with husband Joel Madden during family shopping trip
They celebrated their eight year wedding anniversary two months ago.
And on Saturday, Nicole Richie and her husband Joel Madden were every bit the happy couple as they lovingly held hands during a spot of shopping in Sherman Oaks with their two children, Harlow, nine, and Sparrow, seven.
Nicole, 35, looked positively content as she smiled while leaving the store, with her husband, 37, by her side.
Squeezing in some PDA! On Saturday, Nicole Richie and her husband Joel Madden were every bit the happy couple as they lovingly held hands during a spot of shopping in Sherman Oaks with their two children, Harlow and Sparrow
The former reality star stepped out in style as she faced the mild LA winter weather.
Nicole wrapped up in a long grey scarf and chic black coat as she scraped her locks back into a neat little bun.
She kept things casual in black trousers and a matching pair of sneakers.
Joel, meanwhile, sported a black windbreaker vest, T-shirt, slouchy jeans, trainers, and a hat.
Retail therapy: The rocker carried their purchases in a shopping bag, before handing it off to his daughter
The rocker carried their purchases in a shopping bag, before handing it off to his daughter.
Harlow kept things fun as she wore a platinum blonde wig and a pair of animal print boots.
Nicole and Joel married in December 2010, two years after welcoming Harlow and a year after the birth of their son.
So in love: Nicole was the picture of contentment as she smiled while leaving the store, with her husband by her side
The daughter of music icon Lionel Richie, Nicole has made a name for herself in the world of fashion and reality television.
She starred alongside BFF in the hit reality series The Simple Life before eventually transitioning into fashion with her line, House Of Harlow 1960.
On Friday, Nicole took fans back to the past as she shared two old Polaroids of herself.
'Sorry babies, I'm busy tonight. #MOOD #TGIF,' she captioned the snap.
'I'm busy tonight': On Friday, Richie took fans back to the past as she shared two old Polaroids of herself
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Asian businesses push to end modern slavery for migrant workers
Participants of the Bali Process, a forum for improving employment conditions in Asia, propose ideas that, if enacted, could put a dent in modern day slavery within the region.
| Manila, Philippines
Asia Pacific business leaders are working on recommendations to protect migrant workers from modern day slavery and to ensure companies' supply sources are free from such unethical employment, according to Australia's ambassador for people smuggling and human trafficking.
One idea might be to create a regional website that rates employment recruiters – something already being done in Vietnam, Andrew Goledzinowski said. Another idea could be to designate a common telephone number as a regional hotline, similar to what the sportswear company Adidas provides to its factory workers in China and elsewhere.
Mr. Goledzinowski suggested the ideas at a forum of officials and business leaders from 45 Indo-Pacific countries and territories known as the Bali Process that also aims at ensuring companies' supply of materials are not tainted by unethical employment.
Participants agreed at the meeting in Perth, Australia, to submit specific recommendations to governments next year.
"We are hoping they will come up with the recommendations for how to better manage the recruitment of migrant workers and the protection of migrant workers" he said in an interview Wednesday. He said the measures also aim "to manage supply chain transparency so that businesses are not just responsible for what happens in their business, but also who they buy from."
Migrant workers often end up dealing with recruiters they do not know, being charged high fees, and having their passports taken when they reach their destination, Goledzinowski said.
"And very quickly you are trafficked, in fact, you are in debt bondage," he said, expressing hope that business leaders agree that "migrant workers should not have to pay for their own recruitment."
In the Monitor's 2015 report on labor trafficking, Stephanie Hanes highlights the challenges companies face when attempting to eradicate modern day slavery from supply chains.
Although some US companies have taken steps to regulate their own supply chains, even the most committed businesses run into difficulties. In 2011, for instance, executives at the clothing company Patagonia discovered that some of their suppliers in Taiwan were using disreputable labor brokers. These brokers were bringing in what the company suspected was forced labor, and charging those factory workers fees that took almost two years to pay off.
“Paying that kind of money for a factory job is an almost impossible burden for workers already struggling to make a living,” company officials said later. “It creates a form of indentured servitude that could also qualify, less politely, as modern-day slavery.”
Patagonia has since developed a host of stronger migrant worker standards, which it is attempting to enforce throughout its supply chain. But Patagonia is a successful company with a brand emphasis on doing good. Those businesses without a similar corporate desire for a trafficking-free supply chain can easily claim ignorance, advocates say. And ultimately, advocates point out, there is a lot of incentive – on the part of government, businesses, and consumers – to not look too closely.
In 2012, according to the Migration Policy Institute, workers sent some $401 billion in remittances back to their developing countries. In wealthy countries, consumers continue to demand more, cheaper products and services. And migrants, whether in the US or elsewhere, are increasingly willing to risk their lives to earn wages lower than what Americans and others from wealthy countries will accept."
The recommendations [to governments] will cover employment ethics, transparency standards, and safeguards for victims and whistle-blowers. Some will be classed as minimum standards, and some as more ambitious targets.
"There's a lot that can be done which actually is quite easy but it only works if everyone does it," Goledzinowski said.
The Bali Process started in 2002 and includes representatives from the US, China, India, Japan, Afghanistan, North Korea, and countries in Southeast Asia.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


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End of the 'Ambassadors:' Amazon Shuts Down Employee Propaganda Army
Amazon has reportedly shut down its “ambassador” program that paid warehouse workers to tweet positively about the e-commerce giant.
The Financial Timesreports that at the end of last year, Amazon shut down its Ambassador Program that paid warehouse workers to tweet positive things about their experience working at the company. Sources reportedly said that senior Amazon executives felt that the program was not having as much of an impact as expected.
Breitbart News previously reported that Amazon’s army of employees defending the company across social media was conceived under an internal project codenamed “Veritas,” which aimed to train and dispatch select employees to social media to fight for the company.
Amazon Employee, Warehouse (Ross D. Franklin/AP)
People hold placards during a protest in support of Amazon workers in Union Square, New York on February 20, 2021. – New York state’s attorney general on February 17, 2021 sued Amazon, claiming the e-commerce giant failed to adequately protect its warehouse workers from risks during the Covid-19 pandemic. The move comes days after Amazon filed its own legal action seeking to block New York state Attorney General Letitia James from taking steps to enforce federal workplace safety regulations. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Amazon admitted in 2018 that the ambassadors were employees paid to “honestly share the facts,” about working at the company’s warehouses. Many Twitter users initially accused the accounts of being “bots” due to their almost identical account bios and name formats, but this format was specifically mandated by Amazon according to internal documents. The document states: “We could also add an emoji to the username to give personality, for example a small box emoji.”
Amazon said in a recent statement: “It’s important that we do a good job of educating people about the actual environment inside our fulfillment centers.”
The FC Ambassador Program appeared to still be active up until March 2021 with new employee accounts appearing and responding to tweets about Amazon.
Sheheryar Kaoosji from the non-profit Warehouse Worker Resource Center, commented: “The ‘ambassador’ programme was always a laughable attempt to minimise the abuses unfolding inside Amazon warehouses. The fact that Amazon is now trying to hide the fact that the programme ever existed shows that the company is taking yet another page out of the authoritarian playbook to guide its management.”
Read more at the Financial Times here.


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Veritiv to Release Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Financial Results on March 1
ATLANTA, Feb. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Veritiv Corporation (NYSE: VRTV) will host a live conference call and webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results on Thursday, March 1 at 10 a.m. EST. To participate, callers within the U.S. and Canada can dial (833) 241-7249, and international callers can dial (647) 689-4213, both using conference ID number 7089015. Interested parties can also listen online at ir.veritivcorp.com.
A replay of the call and webcast will be available online for a limited period of time at ir.veritivcorp.com shortly after the live webcast is completed.
Prior to the March 1 financial results conference call and webcast, the Company will issue a news release and post a slide presentation online at ir.veritivcorp.com.
Veritiv Corporation (NYSE: VRTV), headquartered in Atlanta and a Fortune 500® company, is a leading North American business-to-business distributor of packaging, facility solutions, print, and publishing products and services; and also a provider of logistics and supply chain management services. Serving customers in a wide range of industries, the Company has approximately 170 operating distribution centers throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and employs approximately 8,900 team members that help shape the success of its customers. For more information about Veritiv and its business segments visit www.veritivcorp.com.
View original content with multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veritiv-to-release-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2017-financial-results-on-march-1-300599104.html
SOURCE Veritiv Corporation
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Yes, the cold of Michigan has reached campus. So I was amused to see these boots – ON SALE!
If you’re not farmiar with Gilt, it is high fashion meets wal-mart. Deep discounts on top brands that … are not selling well.
Gilt offers to buy a huge chunk of merchdise that is not selling well. You get a discount. And … the brand sells out of their excess.
So you can be fashionable without anyone knowing that you got high-fashion at low prices – unless you want to brag. But that’s fun too!
Here is the story!
As the chilly winter temps continue to drop, it’s time to embrace the warmth of snug boots. EMU Australia really delivers with their classic tall a.
New baby emu chicks earn their stripes at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Friday, 26 October 2012
OMG … how cute are they! Little emu chicks. Don’t you just want one. Don’t they look sooooo soft. Really cute! But remember, they get big!
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo this week welcomed a flurry of feathered friends with the arrival of four adorable, distinctively striped baby emu chicks.
The chicks arrived last week from John Morony Wildlife Care Centre, who, as part of an ongoing partnership with WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, housed the baby emus throughout a month-long quarantine period.
Marcus Mellenbergh, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo Bird Keeper, commented: “We’re thrilled to have a healthy and happy new brood with us. Emus grow extremely quickly – our chicks will be fully grown in the next five or so months – so now is a fantastic time to visit!”
These lovable creatures will grow to more than 1.2 metres, weighing as much as 50 to 60 kilograms as adults. The second largest bird in the world by height, the emu belongs to an ancient group of flightless birds known as ratites, one of the earliest offshoots in bird evolution.
The chicks were joined by other exciting new WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo habitants who now reside in the attraction’s newest exhibit, Kangaroo Walk-About. These animals include two Grey Kangaroos, six Agile Wallabies – some carrying baby Joeys in their pouches and eight vibrantly coloured Princess Parrots. The Princess Parrots are known for their affectionate and playful nature and are currently listed as endangered.
How nice it is to see students, even if returning, fall in love with EMU! Yes, this story really shows that people, often, can enjoy eduction. If I had a million dollars, I’d become a full time student. Or at least take two classes every semester. I want to know – well everything!
Good luck on your classes, I hope they bring her joy and happiness!
- the emu-bird.
Succumbing to EMU’s Magnetism, Once, Twice, Thrice
Joelle Hackney is back at EMU after graduating in 2007 with a degree in international agriculture and sociology and in 2010 with a master’s degree in conflict transformation with a focus on development. After working and gaining clarity on her future career path, Hackney is back at EMU pursuing a master’s degree in biomedicine. “It’s funny the way things work out,” says Hackney. Photo by Jon Styer.
Posted on October 25th, 2012
If Joelle Hackney had had her way when she was 18, she would have started college 2,400 miles from Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), at Humboldt State in Arcata, California. But by the summer after her 2001 graduation from Stuart’s Draft High School in Augusta County, Va., Humboldt’s steep tuition and other logistical considerations forced her to put that dream on hold.
In the meantime, Hackney’s family encouraged her to consider EMU. Her mother, Marian Driver Hackney, was a 1970 graduate. Her grandmother, Virginia Weaver Driver (EMS ’35), was an even stronger advocate. Driver called herself EMU’s “twin,” having been born in 1917, the same year Eastern Mennonite School opened (her childhood home was the Weaver House, now occupied by offices of EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding).
Hackney also had a few older cousins studying at EMU, and so by the fall of 2001 she was moving into a dorm room in Roselawn. California still beckoned, though. Hackney figured she would transfer after the year was over. But “I had some really awesome friends and they talked me into staying.”
Who will win between the emus and the kangaroo? Kangaroo and emu fight over tree branch (video) If you haven’t seen an emu and a kangaroo fight, well, it’s not to gory.
In fact, no actually animals were injured in this video. But, I must warn
you, the person holding the camera is no lady! What a mouth.
Motorists in Florida were treated to an unexpected surprise when they found themselves sharing the road with an emu early Wednesday morning.
The bird, known as Taco, broke free of his owner’s yard after jumping a four-foot fence, eventually making his way onto a Cape Canaveral highway. Apparently, Taco was looking for a mate — a task that (unsurprisingly) proved fruitless on the busy roadway.
Taco’s owner eventually retrieved his feathery friend and brought him home safely.
Here’s the youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33d-xAq0Zrg
Hey, you know the emu-bird is all about fashion … did you know I preen my feathers at least 20 times a day – I know, right, that’s what it takes to be a slave to fashion!
Well, lots of smart students at Eastern have designed cool fashions – not using emu feathers I hope. Here is the article I found about it:
Fashion Week at EMU is run by EMU students that aspire to pursue a future career in Apparel Textile Merchandise, Marketing, Public and Media Relations, Communications and Fashion Design. These students have made history as the first student organization to fully sponsor, host and produce a fashion week at a division I-A institution.
This year EMU’s fashion week is celebrating its fifth anniversary, operating under the mantra bigger, better and bolder with plans to make this fashion production the best yet in the state of Michigan. Sponsored by iSPY, 2012 Fashion Week at EMU will take place between October 8 and October 11 with the headlining “V” runway fashion show taking place on Thursday, October 11 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. in the Student Center Grand Ballroom.
Events include the Miss Fashionality Pageant on Monday, October 8, the Designer showcase on Tuesday, October 9th, the Masquerade Celebration on Wednesday, October 10 and the “V” Runway Show on Thursday, October 11.
During the Miss Fashionlity Pageant, four women will compete for the coveted Miss Fashionality crown. The Designer Showcase will expose local designers and boutiques to the EMU student and business communities. The Masquerade Celebration is a semi formal masquerade styled social event that doubles as a birthday celebration for Fashionality. Guests are encouraged to wear masks and to even submit their own creations into a mask-making contest for a prize. Finally, the “V” Runway Show will reinvent Fashion Week at EMU’s past four themes and incorporate them into this show with a very special fifth theme. Local designers, models and other artists will come together to create an unforgettable show.
Hey, can you imagine that emu are helping fight poverty. Let’s face it, one emu egg would fill anyone up.
An Emu farm has opened up many doors
Posted: 12 November, 2012
India (MNN) ― Emus are bringing hope to orphans in India.
India Partners Operating Director Dean Rees reports that land was purchased for an Emu Farm, “and we provided funding through several grants that allow them to purchase the chicks, rent the land, and purchase the other equipment that they need in order to raise emus.”
It’s a creative initiative to support orphans and children living at the Little Lamps Children’s Home.
“They use the emus to support a range of things, but all related to their ministry,” says Rees. “So they will use the proceeds and the meat for their children’s home…. Several different pastors have planted churches in the surrounding area, and they are using those funds to help support their efforts, as well.”
India Partners sees sustainability as the future of mission growth. Rees says, “We found that our donors, for the most part, would like to see a project started and be able to generate its own support down the road.”
The farm is also opening many doors that were previously shut. Prior to opening the farm, many people in the community did not want to talk to a pastor. Now that pastors are also seen as businessmen and workers, the people are willing to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
“They see [pastors] working in the community, and they see them doing things for themselves rather than just seeking support from outsiders,” says Rees. “The business has given them respect in the community, and the local population respects the work he is doing.”
This project, along with several other self-sustainable projects, have all been funded by donors. You can help by clicking here.
As you think about India and the work India Partners is doing, pray for the success of the projects. Also pray that the funds they receive will be able to help those in need..


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As the battle of the search giants continues, R&D rolls on. Google and Microsoft have taken the war from search engines to our desktops, to our mobiles and into our marketing budgets with one prime objective – DOMINATION.
So whilst we all feel a bit violated by how far these brands are prepared to invade our privacy – as marketers we are all benefiting from a range of free tools and their innovation is also creating a wealth of new opportunities to connect and collaborate with our intended audience.
So what are some of the latest innovations and how will these change the marketing landscape?
Google wave is in marketing speak a communications and collaborations tool but to simplify it, wave is email and instant messaging on steroids. Google Wave, which was produced by the same engineers as Google Maps, offers functionality like email playback, image sharing features, real time IM and a suite of other interesting functions. With a release date set for sometime in September, Google Wave may, if widely embraced, change the way email is as we know it.
How will this change the landscape?
Wave could transform the traditional email marketing campaign and this could be an exciting prospect for the email industry. Wave does have some very funky tools that will enable email to become more social thus it could mark the start of a new era in email tools. To preview the platform click here – note the video is 1 hour 20 minutes long but after 20 minutes you will get the jist.
Bing Vertical Search
With the introduction of its new search engine, Bing wants to do more than provide search results. As its positioning states, Bing is a decision engine, as it aims to help users to make decisions related to key problems. As a result Bing is investing heavily within its vertical search categories such as travel, shopping, medical and news (view Bing US to see what Microsoft is creating). Bing sees the future of search in aggregating content from various sources into one rich experience that is easy to navigate. Thus although Google is already doing it through universal search, the information is not structured logically to support a users decision process and this is where Bing could gain a significant advantage.
But with the Bing launch now old news, I am probably not telling you much more than you already know. So the question is where is this going? While this is largely speculative, it is believed that Microsoft will expand its vertical search by up to 12 separate channels. My guess is that Bing will build verticals across jobs/careers, education, property and finance at a minimum. So whilst Bing has its sights set on vertical search it seems Google has similar ideas. Google has already begun entering the vertical arena with Google Real Estate and also Google City Tour. And whilst at this stage it is difficult to tell how successful their vertical search strategies will be, I feel if Bing stays on route with aggregating content and steering clear of white labelling third party supplier products, they might have one up on industry leader.
How will this change the landscape?
Bing vertical search expansion to our shores will largely depend on the uptake of the Bing search engine as a whole. If the uptake is not there, we may not see the vertical search channels evolve locally, however I still expect to see Google rise to the challenge and focus even more heavily on this space. Thus with Bing now powering Yahoo, and plans for expansion into vertical search, along with Google’s progression in the area, vertical search engines – such as product comparison sites may decrease in popularity as search engines start to win back vertical search categories.
Want to know more about Bing? View this 2 minute overview
What else are these giants getting up to?
Here are some of the other tools that have recently been released or are in the pipeline;
Google Natural Search Ranking; Launched earlier in the year, but somewhat under the radar Google now provides the ability for Google Analytics users to not only view organic keywords which bought traffic to a site but to determine how those keywords ranked. As personal and local search has made ranking measurement tools less accurate, this provides SEOs with added intelligence to improve for their organic search strategies. For more information on Google Natural search rankings click here
Google Voice; Whilst in beta for a number of years, Google voice lets users manage their voice services online. With a single phone number, users can manage their voice services online – and the beauty of the tool is that the number is tied to the individual not a location like a home phone number or a device like a mobile. At this stage Google Voice is a free service, but is only available in the US. It is unclear when Google voice could make its way to our shores – but if it does one thing is for sure – Google need to find a way to monetise this product so no doubt there could be some interesting advertising models surfacing here.
Bing Tweets Results; Real time search has received a lot of attention over the past few months because of Twitters rise to fame. In early July Bing announced its first steps towards integrating real time tweet from prominent individuals into their search results. In addition Bing has announced that this is the first way they are dipping their toe into the water. Thus there is no doubt that this is one of the areas they will continue to innovate within in the coming months.
Have you come across any other key innovations by the search giants? If so add them below.


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A Kodiak woman who is the star of a new nationwide advertising campaign for Vaseline Intensive Rescue body lotion got a surprise at the freight office yesterday. Petal Ruch (roosh), who was followed around by still and video photographers for a couple weeks this summer, had asked the Vaseline representatives for a few extra bottles to hand out to friends because the supply they left her was running low.
— (Vaseline 1 30 sec “When I spoke to them … the entire back of my car.”)
Ruch has been driving around town dropping of a few dozen bottles here and there to friends and acquaintances. She says she wonders if a joke she made about the product was behind the massive shipment.
— (Vaseline 2 11 sec “It was a joke … it turns out it was real.”)
Ruch says being in the commercial was a positive experience for her and her family.
— (Vaseline 3 47 sec “It’s the funniest thing … life to make it into a commercial.”)
There were dozens of other Kodiak residents in the commercials with Ruch, and she says as soon as she finds out the broadcast schedule for the commercials, she’ll let us know so we can pass it on to you.


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Strong demand fuels expansions at Thermal Technology and EVG 01 Aug 2011Thermal Technology is tripling its manufacturing floor space to allow a ramp-up in production of sapphire-crystal growers, while EV Group is doubling its manufacturing area used to produce wafer bonders and lithography systems. Continued strong demand LED Fruit Tree for sapphire wafers from the LED market encouraged an expansion of manufacturing capacity at Thermal Technology’s headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA. Meanwhile, demand across many markets is spurring equipment maker EV Group (EVG) to greatly expand and upgrade its headquarters in St. Florian, Austria.
Thermal Technology responds to sapphire-crystal demand
Thermal Technology LLC, a leading manufacturer of crystal-growth LED Fruit Tree equipment and high-temperature furnaces, recently added a new production building to its facility in Santa Rosa, CA. Dedicated to the production of the company’s Model K1 sapphire-crystal grower, the expansion adds 25,000 square feet of floor space, effectively tripling the company’s manufacturing area.
"Market response to the K1 grower is strong. Potential customers see our machines in full production elsewhere and are convinced of our technology,” says Matt Mede, Thermal Technology president and CEO. “Utilizing the modified-Kyropoulos method, our growers remain the most productive tool in the market, with large crystal size and a short growth cycle.”
Thermal Technology says that it is shipping multiple sapphire growers weekly. “The new manufacturing facility significantly increases our production capacity and improves the overall flow of our production processes,” said Jim LED Fruit Tree Coffey, Thermal Technology’s production manager.
Mede claimed the company has the most growers in production relative to its competitors. The company now has the capacity to produce four growers per week or 200 units per year.
Thermal Technology faces competition from companies including ARC Energy, which recently sold its 100th to the LED market, and GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOLR) which recently completed a new 20,000 square foot in Salem, MA.
EVG expanded headquarters, will hire 100 employees
EVG, a leading supplier of wafer bonders and lithography tools, announced that it has realized a 40 percent increase in order intake in fiscal year 2011 compared to 2010. It has responded to steady growth in all the markets it serves including MEMS, nanotechnology, LEDs and semiconductors, by breaking ground on additional manufacturing space at its headquarters in Austria last month.
The company also intends to hire 100 additional employees in the coming months, primarily in the areas of manufacturing and technical support.
LEDs account for approximately 10 to 15 percent of EVG’s business.
"The strong order intake confirms the continued confidence our customers have in EVG's innovative solutions, technology leadership and product quality," explains Werner Thallner, EV Group's executive operations and financial director.
The new building, located directly adjacent to the existing manufacturing LED Fruit Tree facility, will more than double the company's production floor space and is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year.
The headquarters will feature a new area in which customers and visitors will have access to the manufacturing area. Two glass domes will provide a full view into the manufacturing area and a sophisticated entry control system.
Additional test rooms will facilitate customer-specific process development and customization. Such equipment customization is especially important to LED manufacturers who typically have .
EVG is also adding capacity in its machining center and new manufacturing LED Fruit Tree technologies area, and plans to further modernize the existing manufacturing facility. About the Author is a Senior Technical Editor with LEDs Magazine.


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The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA, 外貿協會) and Chunghwa Post Co (中華郵政) will collaborate on an online platform that aims to act as the “last mile” in helping local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reach international buyers.
TAITRA and Chunghwa announced yesterday that they would launch a joint integrated service on Friday that will provide information flow, logistics and payment flow on a single online platform.
“With 80,000 members and more than 1.2 million international buyers in the database, TAITRA’s Web site will be able to integrate the services of Chunghwa Post, which has long been known for its logistics expertise and success, to help Taiwan’s SMEs,” TAITRA chairman Wang Chih-kang (王志剛) said.
Wang said that SMEs account for 98 percent of Taiwanese enterprises and have been the pillar of Taiwan’s economy for decades, but that most smaller companies have problems finding foreign buyers, especially in China.
Chunghwa Post would provide an express mail service network that covers 103 countries, a 10 percent to 25 percent mail delivery discount and an online payment service so that businesses can reduce logistics expenses, Chunghwa Post chairman Oliver Yu (游芳來) said.
The service is expected to particularly benefit Taiwanese businesses trying to flex their muscles in China, given that China-bound exports account for 40 percent of overall exports, Wang said.
The Taiwantrade Web site has launched a version in simplified Chinese characters and has worked with Taobao.com and Eachnet.com — two of the largest online shopping Web sites in China — to set up online accounts for Taiwanese companies.
After a nosedive in the second half of last year and the ensuing global crisis, Wang said, Taiwan’s exports were on the way to recovery, with total export value surpassing NT$20 billion (US$619 million) last month — the highest level in 13 months.
“TAITRA’s aim is to promote Taiwanese products and to assist Taiwanese businessmen to reach out to as many customers as possible,” he added.


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A global approach to security and safety
A new open platform is set to transform the way security and safety firms operate
April 15, 2020
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By Pieter van de Looveren
In early 2020, the security industry will have access to a new, game-changing IoT platform that will transform the way we all do business within and outside the security and safety space. A common digital marketplace is being primed to launch during ISC West 2020, and it is part of the overall vision driven by the Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA).
In fall 2018, OSSA formed with the mission to gather market players to collaborate on an open industry ecosystem to move us all forward with a united global approach to addressing common challenges within security and safety. Experts from around the world contributed, and through OSSA, dozens of companies together put plans into motion to create a framework to spur innovation for customers.
This vision is anchored by the OSSA’s first Technology Stack and idea to establish one common IoT infrastructure including a digital marketplace to bundle supply and demand for new innovations. The Technology Stack outlines the use of a common, vendor-agnostic Operating System (OS) for video security devices and defines standard application programming interfaces (APIs).
Over the past 18 months, OSSA member companies worked alongside each other to steer the industry to a platform business approach. Two fundamental objectives have already been realized and are expected to significantly improve the security and surveillance marketplace:
The first common Technology Stack Specification for video security devices was completed in Q4 2019. It includes a common vendor-agnostic OS based on Android Open Source Project (AOSP) hardened for video security devices. The Stack also includes standardized APIs helping app developers to make software solutions that can easily be installed and executed on camera devices based on OSSA’s Technology Stack, as well as specifications to guarantee the right levels of performance. Now app developers can write a single software application suitable for cameras from different brands and origins, fully leveraging OSSA’s Technology Stack. The Stack also ensures full device compatibility with the common IoT infrastructure substantially reducing friction related to the purchase, licensing, installation and maintenance of apps as well as device management.
An orchestrated ecosystem for enhanced trust, innovation and opportunity: Following ISC West 2020, the OSSA-driven digital marketplace will go live, and video security device manufacturers will introduce the first commercial versions of products leveraging OSSA’s Technology Stack. This marketplace, developed by OSSA member company Security and Safety Things GmbH, offers a venue for third-party developers to create innovative apps that can then be downloaded to and executed on video security cameras based on OSSA’s Technology Stack. It gives integrators the ability to easily add functionality to their video security cameras by installing apps (the first ones are already developed and available). This new online community brings unprecedented collaboration, opportunity and harmony to the security and safety arena, all for the betterment of the end customers.
Paving more pathways to value
As the Alliance progresses into its second year, ongoing initiatives and expectations on the horizon will continue to unlock new value for industry stakeholders and customers. Looking further into 2020, we expect:
- Additional OSSA members will launch devices based on the common Technology Stacks set forth by the Alliance;
- The digital marketplace will thrive as participants engage with the platform and mine benefits such as downloading brand-independent available apps onto security cameras to increase functionality and cater to specific customer needs;
- To continue to grow the OSSA ecosystem of member companies;
- To produce and drive the adoption of new standards and specifications for products, software and solutions; and
- To introduce an OSSA trademark that provides the industry with a quality seal regarding data security, privacy and customization.
This is an exciting time for security and surveillance professionals as the industry pivots together into a new direction based on connected technologies and new possibilities afforded by the IoT evolution. It’s also an important time for companies to recognize the need to work together and utilize a common foundation from which everyone can springboard into new areas of intelligence and prosperity. Open ecosystems are a core pillar in this roadmap that is shaping the future of the security and safety systems space.
Pieter van de Looveren is the marketing committee chair for the Open Security & Safety Alliance.
This article originally appeared in the February 2020 issue of BIoT Canada.


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Miss Italy 2012, patroness of Laverda’s stand at EIMA Bologna, revealed the Breganze Company’s latest technology and design
Interest and great turnout of professionals, at the November 7th event with Miss Italy and Laverda’s M 410 as the protagonists
Breganze, November 2012. Laverda presented many new features and launched its new brand at EIMA International: the exhibition of agricultural machinery held from 7 to 11 November in Bologna.
Under the spotlight at the Laverda Stand, the exceptional patroness, Giusy Buscemi, Miss Italy 2012, had the task of unveiling the Breganze Company’s latest technology and design, November 7, the inauguration day of the expo.
"The presence of Giusy Buscemi, a symbol of Italian beauty, is significant for our journey. Her effortless and fresh image, rightly represents the innovative turn of Laverda, "said Francesco Quaranta, Vice President and General Manager AGCO EAME for harvesting and CEO of Laverda. "We are a brand that in the 2012-2013 season celebrates its 140th anniversary and has always been identified with the history and evolution of agricultural mechanization. Today, we are the only ones in Italy, producing combine harvesters and the Breganze plant is proof of Italian excellence in Europe and the world, "said Quaranta.
"Here I feel at ease - said Miss Italy - because I consider myself a country girl. Today I saw the energy and the technology of our country applied to the world of agriculture.
A large company launched toward the future, a beautiful thing in our busy world. "
To underline the important changes that have taken place in Laverda within the last year, Laverda has launched an entirely new brand. A brand with high-impact simple graphics and that expresses the strength, dynamism and driving force of the company. Now more than ever before, Laverda is able to offer its customers first class service, cutting edge technology and uncompromising quality, with undisputed operational reliability.
Skills well summarized by the tagline that accompanies the new brand:
Laverda, our reliability, your productivity.
For further information:
Communications and Public Relations Manager
Laverda S.p.A. – Via F. Laverda, 15/17 – 36042 Breganze (VI)
Tel.: 0445 - 385 305
Fax: 0445 - 385 593
Cell.: 335 84 55 892


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The University of Montana's dining program is getting national attention. Foodservice Director Magazine named UM's Farm to College Program, or FTC, the "Best Overall Sustainability Program I've Seen." The goal of FTC is to support agriculture and the state's economy, while also serving healthier food on campus.
Less than a year after celebrating it's 10th anniversary, FTC is getting listed as the best in the nation by Foodservice Director Magazine, a national trade publication for the noncommercial food industry.
"That's something our students want us to be using. They want us to have a strong and vibrant local foods program," said UM Dining Director Mark LoParco.
In 2003, LoParco and another professor decided they wanted to make it their mission to bring college students healthier food. That's when they slowly started to build healthier food services on campus.
"From there the rest is history, and we've just been continuing to develop the program each year," LoParco said.
Now, UM dining buys more than $800,000 in food from Montana producers. The university also grows a portion of its own food on campus with a garden and aquaponics system. That's a system that uses fish to fertilize crops and herbs.
"It's doing what it was designed to do. We're stimulating and helping agriculture businesses in the state of Montana," LoParco said.
Not only are the healthy options on campus getting recognized, but the Galloping Griz Food Truck made the magazine's Ideas and Innovation list, under the "Best New Items of 2013" category for it's "bombs," the truck's signature wraps.
"This was something developed by the manager of the concession area, and the bombs are the bomb now," LoParco said.
He said after all of the work, it's about time UM's Dining services are getting recognition.
"We're kind of on a roll here, getting some substantial recognition," LoParco said.
UM's Farm to College program also received the gold medal award from the National Association of College and University Food Services last summer.


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Sastaticket.pk, Pakistan’s largest online search and travel booking site, is featured in Forbes Asia 100.
With 900 applications from 17 countries and from underwater drones to satellite propulsion systems, Sastaticket.pk was one of 100 companies selected to be part of the list, tracking growth and impact levels. Startup communities in India and Singapore developed 22 and 19 companies, respectively. However, there are only 2 companies listed in Pakistan, and Sastaticket.pk is one of them.
While Sastaticket.pk has been dealing with air tickets since 2016, the company recently introduced hotels, buses, airport transfers, and travel insurance on their platform for their customers. They have also introduced Sastaticket Travel app – a dedicated app for Pakistanis by Pakistanis, catering to all their travel needs.
At a time when the travel industry faced unprecedented challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sastaticket.pk stood out internationally as a young company disrupting a traditional industry that is central to our lives. It played a vital role in making travel affordable and accessible by automating travel booking processes and bridging the technological gap between customers and partners. Over the last year, the company has seen a massive 3.5x growth in its transactions as Pakistani’s have rapidly shifted towards eCommerce across all verticals.
Commenting on the occasion, Shazil Mehkri, CEO, Sastaticket.pk said, “We always wanted to build Pakistan’s most trusted platform that empowers every Pakistani to travel, experience, and connect hence we made it our mission. Being in the Forbes Asia list validates the need for this mission, and the impact it is creating. We envision a future when Sastaticket.pk shall be in the heart of every journey taken”.
This feature is not just a win for Sastaticket.pk, but also for Pakistan. Not only did Sastaticket.pk represent the Pakistani startup community worldwide, but also became a role model for up-and-coming companies striving to make an impact.


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Lennox Introduces New Territory Manager Shawn Hampton
Shawn Hampton has joined the Atlanta District for Lennox Industries as a new territory salesman. Shawn is a native of Seattle, Washington, and is a graduate of Seattle University with a degree in Business Administration.
Shawn joined Lennox recently, in January of 2019. Although new to the HVAC industry, Shawn previously worked with Grainger Inc. as a Senior National Account Representative.
“This is a new venture in my career,” said Shawn. “Lennox is great company to work for. I’ve enjoyed meeting all the customers helping with dealer development, marketing and getting their digital message out to the public,” Shawn went on to say.
You can contact Shawn Hampton at 678-232-6212 or email at email@example.com.


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OnePlus launched its latest mid-range smartphone – the OnePlus Nord – earlier this month. However, the phone is currently only available for pre-order in Asia and Europe and will experimentally enter the US market to a very limited extent. However, it seems that fans in the U.S. won't be left unattended, as OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei has assured that a OnePlus Nord phone will hit stores in America later this year.
“First things first – OnePlus Nord will not be available in the US when it hits stores on August 4th. Pei tells me that a Nord brand phone (not necessarily the same one) should land in the US later this year so you don't have to feel left out too long ”said Julian Chokkattu of WIRED in his review of OnePlus Nord.
In one of the OnePlus Nord promotional videos, the company mentioned the term "OnePlus series", suggesting that other Nord smartphones may be in the pipeline. There is even a dedicated OnePlus Nord Series page on the official OnePlus website. Unfortunately, we have no information on the specifications or prices of the upcoming OnePlus Nord series smartphone that will be released on the US market.


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New year, new trends in how people travel. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) predicts that business travel alone will be a $1.6 trillion market by 2020. Any shift in habits among the travel industry can create a cascading effect for many businesses, so it’s wise to stay up-to-date on the latest market trends.
LESS AUTOMATION, MORE HUMAN
While apps and automated services are helpful tools, they have proven to be inadequate replacements for human assistance. When problems or complications arise during trips, travelers don’t fully trust automated technologies to resolve them. According to Skift’s 2018 Global Business Travel Report, only 12% of business travelers are confident in tech to solve travel-related problems. The other 88% place their confidence in a person.
After years of trending in travel, it’s clear that “bleisure” won’t be diminishing anytime soon. In March of 2018, Hilton Hotels & Resorts surveyed 1,200 U.S. business travelers between the ages of 23 and 35. They discovered that work travel plays a pivotal role in their overall career and employment decisions. 39% of respondents stated they would not join a company that did not offer travel as part of the job. 75% of respondents see business travel as a major work perk and 65% consider it a status symbol.
OKAY, GOOGLE, NOW…
The influx of smart speakers like iPhone’s Siri, Amazon’s Echo, and Google Home have caused a massive shift in consumer behavior. In 2016, 20% of all Google searches were made using voice search, and ComSource predicts that number will rise to 50% by 2020. The shift will happen quicker than we realize and it will be exciting to see how travelers and travel brands interact.
SKIP – GEN
As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement, they have more time to bond (and vacation) with their grandchildren. Many parents are left behind at home as their children and parents embark on adventures. Grandparents use this opportunity to grow closer relationships with grandkids while giving the parents a staycation.
Although the movie may not have been a box office hit, Solo travel seems to be. Solo travel is on the rise as of all ages are venturing out alone. However, traveling on your own is not without risk – it requires a higher level of awareness and preparedness than being in a group.
As Earth becomes increasingly populated, dark skies have become scarce. The more light we have beaming up from the ground, the more difficult it is to gaze out into the universe. According to the Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute, the Milky Way is entirely hidden from more than one-third of humanity, including 60% of Europeans and nearly 80% of North Americans. Travelers are more frequently seeking remote places with dark skies for their vacations.
With the rise in affordable, more accurate DNA testing, more and more people are actively seeking information about their heritage. Intrigued by their test results, travelers set out to explore their own origins. Some seek a deeper understanding of self, while others just want to satisfy their curiosity. The mere potential of walking in the same path as a distant ancestor is enough to entice many people to venture out.
DUTY OF CARE
Duty of care, as it relates to business travel, is a company’s responsibility for the wellbeing of its employees from both a moral and legal perspective. According to AlertMedia, both lawmakers and employers have put an increasing emphasis on duty of care in the past 10 years. It’s more than just a legal safeguard. Having immediate access to the location of every traveler is a key step in ensuring their safety in the event of an emergency. With the help of travel management companies, travel managers can easily access the lodging locations of all traveling employees.
Booking Motel 6 and Studio 6 with CLC LodgingMar 29, 2024 |
FLEETCOR Announces Rebranding to CorpayMar 07, 2024 |
The Best Tech Gadgets of 2024 to Take on Business TravelJan 30, 2024 |


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MWC has officially started, and one of the first press conferences of this massive mobile event is from Samsung, still going on live as I'm writing this. Samsung's first announcement: Galaxy S II, which was fully expected to be revealed based on various leaks and Samsung's own preview ads throughout the past few weeks.
Update: Unconfirmed word on the street is that the S 2 will be carried by only T-Mo and AT&T.
Update #2: Samsung launched the official Galaxy S II site.
Update #3: The full press conference video is now available here: http://bcove.me/3zv3basr.
So, what is the Galaxy S 2?


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Nowadays, much of the focus on
Previously, the Cosmic Unity debuted in 2021 with a sequel in July of 2022. Now, following an early look at the third iteration, Nike has officially shared its details. Its build emphasizes a “low-to-the-ground feel” with its lightweight materials while also providing cloud-like cushioning with foam in the midsole. A midfoot Flymesh hugs the foot when in use while a new Flyknit collar adapts to the user. Appearing in a “Phantom/Bright Cactus/Light Bone/Medium Soft Pink” colorway, its various colorful hues trade places across the highly-detailed upper.
For those interested in giving the Nike Cosmic Unity 3 a try, this “Bring It Outside” colorway is expected to land on shelves on April 20 via Nike and select retailers at a price of $170 USD.
Enjoy the shoe’s initial reveal above and for more of the latest footwear news, rumors regarding Devin Booker’s debut signature shoe with Nike Basketball have popped up once again — this time pointing towards an expected release in the springtime of 2024.