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A common theme in cryptocurrency circles in the last couple of years has been the one of institutional investors entering the space. However, certain key players, including Intercontinental Exchange-backed crypto market Bakkt, have postponed their launch.
But a new, big player might join the fray soon. On Monday, Bloomberg reported(Opens in a new tab) that finance services behemoth Fidelity Investments will launch a cryptocurrency trading service "within a few weeks."
According to the report, which cites a person familiar with the matter, Fidelity's offering will focus on institutional customers only. In contrast, brokerage firm E*Trade is said to be launching crypto trading(Opens in a new tab) for retail investors, while another brokerage firm Robinhood(Opens in a new tab) already did so in January 2018.
The news comes a few weeks after a survey, commissioned by Fidelity, has shown that 47% of institutional investors said digital assets such as Bitcoin are worth investing in(Opens in a new tab).
Fidelity told Bloomberg that it's already offering Bitcoin to a "select set of clients" and that it plans to continue to roll out such services "over the coming weeks and months."
Fidelity is one of largest financial services and investment firms in the world, with $6.7 trillion(Opens in a new tab) in total customer assets as of December 2018, $2.8 trillion(Opens in a new tab) of which come from institutional investors.
The fact that big institutional players mostly aren't investing into crypto assets yet isn't entirely surprising. Several attempts to launch a Bitcoin-based Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) in 2018 and 2019 have fallen through, as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) either rejected or delayed(Opens in a new tab) its decision on such proposals, mostly over concerns of market manipulation. And there has been plenty of that recently. A recent report by crypto index fund Bitwise(Opens in a new tab) had found that 95 percent of Bitcoin trading volume is fake. And in April, cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex and stablecoin Tether (a special type of cryptocurrency whose value is tied to the value of a real-world asset, like the U.S. dollar) were accused of covering up the loss of $850 million in customer funds by using Tether cash reserves.
The price of Bitcoin (and most other major cryptocurrencies) has jumped roughly 80% after hitting a low point of $3,196 in December 2018. Bitcoin is currently trading at $5,704.5 according to CoinMarketCap(Opens in a new tab).
UPDATE: May 7, 2019, 8:10 a.m. CEST Originally, the article said Robinhood launched crypto trading in December 2018, not January 2018. We regret the error.
Disclosure: The author of this story owns, or has recently owned, a number of cryptocurrencies, including BTC and ETH.


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Lyft and self-driving technology company Aptiv have been operating a small fleet of self-driving cars in Las Vegas since the Consumer Electronics Show last January. And today, the companies say they’ve reached a new milestone in their partnership: 5,000 paid rides.
Lyft and Aptiv claim to be operating the only commercial robot taxi service in the US, and perhaps the world. And while there are a number of ride-hailing pilots taking place around the country — Waymo in Phoenix, Cruise in San Francisco, Voyage in Florida — none are yet charging customers to ride in their self-driving cars. Waymo is expected to launch a commercial ride-hailing product in Arizona later this year.
Lyft and Aptiv claim to be operating the only commercial robot taxi service in the US
Lyft and Aptiv’s fleet in Las Vegas is modestly sized, just 20 vehicles servicing around the same number of popular destinations along the Las Vegas Strip. They are part of a larger fleet of 75 vehicles that is kept in the city by Aptiv, an offshoot of global auto parts supplier Delphi. The companies hope to add 10 cars to the operation in the coming weeks, as well as new destinations in downtown Las Vegas.
“We really want this to be something accessible to all Lyft passengers in Las Vegas,” Jody Kelman, product lead for the company’s self-driving platform, told The Verge. “Everyone from your grandma to the bachelorette party.”
When users open the Lyft app in Las Vegas, they are given the option to opt into in the self-driving pilot. Once a user begins the booking process, if the system plans to send them a self driving vehicle, then the customer can accept or decline receiving a self-driving car at that time. The trips cost the same as a human-driven Lyft ride (no self-driving surcharge) and the revenue is divided between the companies, though neither would disclose the exact details of the deal.
“Everyone from your grandma to the bachelorette party.”
A backup driver remains behind the wheel to take control when needed. The companies wouldn’t say how many disengagements, when the vehicle forces the human driver to take the wheel, they’ve recorded over the course of the operation so far, nor would they disclose the total miles driven.
The self-driving hardware and software is developed by Aptiv, while the ride requests and payments are handled by Lyft. The San Francisco-based ride-hailing company has also worked with NuTonomy, a subsidiary of Aptiv, on a self-driving pilot in Boston, which has since ended.
Because the rides are connected via Lyft, the companies are able to solicit feedback from riders about their self-driving experiences. Kelman said the rides have received an average of 4.96 stars.
As Uber slims down and scales back its self-driving program in the wake of a fatal crash in Arizona earlier this year, Lyft is plowing ahead with its own project. Part of that is teaming up with other companies like NuTonomy and Aptiv, and another is developing its own technology at a newly built R&D facility in the Bay Area.
“One of the things that’s really different about this for us is that we think of this as a scaled program,” Kelman said. “In starting to charge our passengers for rides, that’s really for us a notable transition into something we want to continuously operate on the Lyft network as a real part of our transportation operation.”

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FactSet Research Systems (FDS), which provides financial information and analytics software for investment professionals, Tuesday reported better-than-expected second quarter earnings, though the top line fell shy of the street consensus.
The company reported earnings of $2.42 per share, up 14.2% year-over-year, surpassing analysts’ expectation of $2.34 per share. Revenue rose 5.9% to $354.9 million during the second quarter. Analysts had expected the top line to hit $356.92 million.
The growth in top line was spurred by higher sales of analytics, content and technology solutions (CTS) and wealth management solutions.
FDS shares ended its last trading session down 0.6% on Monday. The stock has gained 11% since the beginning of this year.
Annual Subscription Value (ASV) plus professional services organically grew 5% to $1.44 billion at the end of February 28, 2019. In the US, ASV improved 5.8% to $890.5 million.
CFO Helen Shan said, “Ongoing cost discipline efforts are yielding results and we believe we are well positioned to continue growing and returning value to shareholders.”
For fiscal 2019, The Norwalk, Connecticut-based company expects revenues in the range of $1.41 billion to $1.45 billion. GAAP EPS is seen in the range of $8.70 and $8.85, while adjusted EPS is projected between $9.50 and $9.65.
Last month, the IPO market was in a full swing. IPOs of Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) and JFROG (NASDAQ: FROG) had an impressive opening day in September, the former creating a
PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) beat market expectations on both revenue and earnings for the third quarter of 2020. The company saw the momentum continue in its snacks business while the
With more and more people turning to virtual entertainment sources, amid the virus-related movement restrictions, video game publishers like Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) are witnessing unusually high demand. Not surprisingly,


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Hey Aerosmith fans — it looks like you don’t have much time left to experience Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris. Disneyland Paris recently published their refurbishment schedule, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is on it…indefinitely.
Last December, Disney revealed new details of the Marvel-themed lands coming to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris. And by the looks of the Disneyland Paris website, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be a part of the Walt Disney Studios transformation. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is scheduled for refurbishment from September 2019 onward with no end date. So if you’re a fan of the original theming, better walk this way before September.
This may be bad news for fans of the current theming, which mimics that of the attraction of the same name in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. But the idea of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster turning into an Avengers attraction is nothing new for those who have been following the Disneyland Paris expansion. Disney announced their plans for a Marvel-themed land quite some time ago, revealing in February 2018 that a reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster would be part of the two billion euro, multi-year expansion of Disneyland Paris.
But although this announcement is nothing new, the refurbishment schedule is. Originally, Disney announced that the development for the new lands at Disneyland Paris, including the Marvel-themed land at Walt Disney Studios, would roll out in phases beginning in 2021. Now that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is scheduled for refurbishment in September 2019, it seems as though we may be seeing development earlier than anticipated. Disney hasn’t officially announced that the 2019 refurbishment of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is related to the Marvel expansion, but the two seem to add up.
One thing’s for sure: we’re totally excited for a unique Avengers-themed coaster to come to Disneyland Paris. Disney has described it as a high-speed adventure featuring Iron Man. What’s not to love?


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Below is a daily summary of links to the latest SPAC news and rumors gathered across the web.
Latest SPAC News: Volocopter to serve Paris Olympics, ZeroNox announces product development agreement with Kubota Corp., and Spectral MD completes audit for its DeepView Wound Imaging System
Air taxi maker races to serve Paris Olympics as sector struggles for funds
A year ahead of the Paris Olympics, flying taxi maker Volocopter wants to prove to executives at the Paris Airshow it is on track to ferry customers around the sporting showcase and take off globally.
The world’s largest air show tends to focus on military and commercial planes. But electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft makers are also there in force, with Lilium announcing a deal on Monday for China’s HeliShenzhen Eastern General Aviation Co. to buy 100 of its jets.
Volocopter had initially planned to go public via a SPAC, but ultimately ended up canceling those plans in 2021.READ
ZeroNox Announces Product Development Agreement with Kubota Corporation
Zero Nox Inc. a leading provider of sustainable, off-highway vehicle electrification, today announced a product development agreement for currently undisclosed products with Kubota Corporation in Japan.
Under the terms of the agreement, ZeroNox and KBT have entered a product development agreement to electrify select undisclosed products. Further details of the products included in the product development agreement will be disclosed at a later date.
As previously announced, ZeroNox signed a definitive business combination agreement with The Growth for Good Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: GFGD).READ
Spectral MD Holdings Completion of ISO 13485 Certification Audit
Spectral MD Holdings, Ltd. (AIM: SMD), an artificial intelligence (AI) company focused on medical diagnostics for faster and more accurate treatment decisions in wound care, announces it has completed the quality management ISO 13485 certification audit for the manufacture and distribution of its DeepView® Wound Imaging System. ISO 13485 certification has now been recommended and is anticipated in Q3 2023. The completion of the audit validates Spectral MD’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of quality, reliability, and safety in the medical device industry.
As announced on April 11, Spectral MD Holdings has entered into a business combination agreement to combine with Rosecliff Acquisition Corp I (“Rosecliff”, Nasdaq: RCLF).READ
Mobiv Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:MOBV) announced this afternoon that it has closed its combination with EV motorcycle-maker SRIVARU. Shareholders originally approved the deal at a special meeting held back on September 28, but at that time, the parties expected the transaction to take just a week to close. Redemptions whittled Mobiv’s IPO share pool of 10,005,000 down...
Achari Ventures I (NASDAQ:AVHI) has entered into a definitive agreement to combine with medtech firm Vaso Corporation at an equity value of $176 million, or 19.5x its 2022 adjusted EBITDA. Wuxi, China-based Vaso provides IT services and sales support to medical device manufacturers. The combined company is expected to trade on the Nasdaq under the...
EF Hutton Acquisition Corp. I (NASDAQ:EFHT) announced this morning that its shareholders have approved its business combination with E.C.D. Auto Design. At the meeting, there were 5,089,203 shares of common stock, representing approximately 76.82% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, present. In connection with the meeting, the company’s stockholders holding 3,470,945 shares,...
Legato Merger Corp. III (NYSE:LEGT) filed for a $175 million IPO yesterday afternoon, becoming the fourth SPAC to file this week. While the other three SPACs that filed their S-1s earlier this week intend to pursue targets in the financial services and biotech industries, Legato III, similar to the earlier Legato SPACs, will focus on...
At the SPAC of Dawn This week ends with an unusually busy earnings calendar as 172 US-listed companies report quarterly figures today. Among them is Exela Technologies (NASDSAQ:XELA), which completed a combination with Quinpario 2 in 2017. The billing software company has gone on to do another SPAC deal on November 29, this time spinning...


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Google has announced the opening of a cloud region in South Africa, the company’s first on the continent.
As a competitor, Google will take on industry leaders Amazon and Microsoft in the cloud services space.
In order to give its clients and partners in Africa access to full-scale cloud capabilities, Google said it is also constructing Dedicated Cloud Interconnect sites in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. These sites connect users’ on-premises networks with Google’s grid.
Google’s worldwide network now includes 35 cloud regions and 106 zones thanks to the addition of South Africa.
To support the sites, Google will use its private undersea cable, Equiano, which links Africa and Europe.
The first Google Cloud region in Africa is something we are thrilled to announce. Application and service localization will be possible in the new region. It will be much simpler for our clients and partners to quickly implement business solutions that allow them to take advantage of computer artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning capabilities, as well as data analytics, to make better business decisions moving forward, according to Niral Patel, director of Google Cloud Africa.
Similarly to how Google revealed its own cloud infrastructure in South Africa, Microsoft announced the launch of two cloud regions in the same year.
In 2020, Amazon used a similar strategy and expanded its AWS data facilities to South Africa.
This year, Oracle also launched a data center in Johannesburg.
By 2030, the South African cloud region would support the development of more than 40,000 jobs and contribute over $2.1 billion to the country’s GDP, according to research by AlphaBeta Economics.


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There had been rumors that Treasury would unveil a rescue plan for the Big Three on Wednesday. The day came and went with no announcement.
Tonight we learn, via the Wall Street Journal, that Cerberus has revived merger talks for Chrysler with GM. The possibility of a deal would seem to complicate vastly an attempt to craft a rescue package (if Paulson & Co. was close to a deal for each of the Detroit automakers, the spanner-in-the-works of a pending transaction would force the powers that be to rethink how what the offered for GM and Chrysler separately would change if they were combined. It introduces an element of delay for two companies that have said they need a cash infusion in very short order.
That in turn suggests either that the discussions with the Treasury are not going well (at least from the GM/Cerberus point of view) and/or they are going too slowly relative to the urgency of their financial needs, and they are being forced to consider desperate measures. (Note that the New York Times has a “parties are deep in discussions” article up, saying that the government hopes to announce a deal by Christmas and indicating that Treasury is doing extensive due diligence on the companies’ books and plans to come up with something more comprehensive than giving a lifeline just big enough to tide them over to the Obama administration. No wonder the carmakers are nervous).
Another element that is distressing is that the media is increasingly taking up the theme that a Chapter 11 filing is the only way to restructure existing arrangements (too many focus on the UAW, when the bloated dealer networks are a bigger issue). But as The Deal pointed out in a lengthy discussion of what a Chapter 11 for GM would look like, a prepack is impossible given the number of involved parties. Worse, the process was likely to extend till late 2010. Consumer surveys have found that as many as 80% of prospective car buyers would be leery of purchasing a car from a manufacturer in Chapter 11. Short of Pinto-like exploding fuel tanks, a protracted process that is regularly in the papers is the worst sort of PR the carmakers could have.
Nevertheless, popular opinion seems to be moving to BK as the only way to get out of existing arrangements. The parallels to Lehman are scary. Outcomes are being driven by sentiment, not by analysis. Treasury and the Fed knew Lehman was on the ropes, yet made no serious effort to understand the possible impact of a Lehman failure. They should have been all over Lehman after its near-death experience when Bear went under, but instead sat on their hands.
With Lehman, the big unknown that should have been investigated was the true state of its balance sheet. With the Big Three, the wild card is how consumers would react. No matter how great theoretical advantages of Chapter 11 are, if a large proportion of customers abandon the company due to worries about its future, there is nothing to save. The Chapter 11 will morph into a liquidation as expected cashflows during the Chapter 11 process fall vastly short of anticipated levels. Assessing likely consumer reaction is far easier and less fraught than subjecting Lehman to serious examination would have been (there was a real risk that it could have fed concerns about the firm and accelerated its demise).
But as with Lehman, the public is developing bailout fatigue, and the carmaker’s failings seem more obvious than those of the financial industry, and therefore less deserving of forbearance.
AIG’s loans so far come to $1.4 million per employee, and many of whom are stationed overseas. But their requests for more cash and better terms got speedy approval, while the auto industry, on whom far more jobs depend, may be dealt a deadly blow due to the failure to due a basic investigation of likely consequences.
From the Wall Street Journal:
General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC have reopened merger talks, as Chrysler owner Cerberus Capital Management LP has signaled its willingness to give away part of its ownership in the auto maker, say people familiar with the discussions.
With cash running low at both companies, Cerberus took the initiative to restart discussions that sputtered just weeks ago. At that time, both GM and Chrysler viewed a business combination as impractical and as a distraction from their mounting liquidity problems.
Yves here. The fact that Cerberus may signal Washington backlash against bailing out a hedge fund with ample financial resources (although no doubt its funds have limits on what percentage of fund assets can be invested in any single transaction). Indeed, in the Congressional hearings on the rescue, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli revealed that the Treasury had not responded to its TARP request.
But for GM to agree to talk, as opposed to rebuff the approach, says they are worried that the government might not come back with a workable deal soon enough. Or perhaps more simply, that they have had so little in the way of substantive discussions (which they would expect if things were progressing) that they are starting to panic, particularly given this comment in the New York Times story:
In recent days, however, administration officials and company executives have sequestered themselves, offering only the slightest hints of what they are discussing, as market analysts speculate about how long G.M. and Chrysler can survive without a government lifeline.
Back to the Journal:
The renewal of the talks could be a way for Cerberus to show Washington — which is weighing a $14 billion rescue package for the auto industry — that it wants to cooperate in restructuring the industry, say people familiar with the buyout firm’s thinking. And it could offer the firm a way to protect its stakes in two distressed auto-finance companies, GMAC LLC and Chrysler Financial, which are crucial to the survival of the Detroit auto makers….
Yves here. Please. Cerberus already offered to give up all the upside in Chrysler in return for a rescue. This has the smell that it impasse is that the Treasury wants Cerberus to cough up more dough in connection with any deal, and Cerberus is scrambling to find any other option. Back to the story, which sets forth the impasse:
Earlier this month, Congress pressed Cerberus to inject fresh capital into Chrysler as part of any rescue plan. So far, the firm has rejected the idea, saying shareholders of rivals GM and Ford Motor Co. aren’t being asked to contribute more capital, and that its investment charter prohibits such a move.
One way in which Cerberus might make concessions, however, could be to give away some of its principals’ stakes in Chrysler as part of a broader restructuring. That could mean giving a future government auto czar discretion to distribute Cerberus’ stake to the United Auto Workers union or even to GM.
Cerberus’s equity in Chrysler has already been valued at zero by Daimler AG, which still owns 19.9% of the auto maker. But Cerberus hopes lawmakers would view such a move as a contribution to the restructuring of the troubled industry, says a person familiar with its thinking….
Layered on top of these complex discussions is the fate of GM’s former finance unit, GMAC, in which Cerberus holds a majority stake. It also controls Chrysler’s Chrysler Financial unit. Part of Cerberus’s strategy, say people briefed on the matter, is to protect its majority investments in these two units.
So we have tough guy negotiators (Cerberus is notoriously, even by private equity standards, greedy and hard headed) possibly holding up the rescue by refusing to offer concessions and muddying the waters by reopening talks with GM (although it does take two to tango).
A final tidbit:
One developing problem in the auto makers’ pursuit of government rescue funds is the state of Chrysler’s collateral. Unlike GM, which has assets it can pledge or use as collateral for a federal loan, Cerberus is believed to have pledged all of Chrysler’s assets in the summer of 2007 as security for $10 billion in bank debt.
GM, by contrast, could pledge its substantial operations in Europe, China and elsewhere, along with trademarks. An analysis by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. this summer estimated those assets could raise $6 billion to $9 billion for the company. That could make the government feel more secure in lending money to the auto maker.


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Texas has again been ranked the number one exporting state in the nation by the U.S. Census Bureau, making it the 12th consecutive year Texas has held this position. The state’s export revenues for 2013 amounted to nearly $279.7 billion, up 5.4 percent from the previous year and outpacing U.S. export growth.
“Texas continues to set a national example for economic success because of our commitment to the conservative fiscal principles that allow businesses to thrive,” Gov. Perry said. “The Texas model of low taxes, smart regulations and fair courts continues to drive the state’s economy, attracting businesses from around the world and helping the state remain the national epicenter for international trade for 12 consecutive years.”
This ranking continues a decade-long trend of recognition for Texas’ global economic presence. Global Trade Magazine recently named Texas as the top state for global trade, noting the state’s commitment to low regulatory burdens and wealth of global enterprises. The Lone Star State has also recently been named best business climate by Business Facilities Magazine, most competitive state by Site Selection Magazine, and best state for business for nine years in a row by Chief Executive Magazine.


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Economic woes have hit this college town, which is also facing the shut down of its naval air station in 2010.
Grand City, the downtown Woolworth-like department store and restaurant is slated to close by year’s end. It’s been a Maine Street institution for ages and a gathering spot for many, who enjoyed the inexpensive fare and friendly service in its restaurant.
Already gone is another long-time favorite, Bookland, which has been selling books here since 1974. Like Grand City, it, too, had a cafe, although a fancier and pricier one, and it, too, doubled as a community meeting spot. I really hate to see the loss of an independent bookstore. Maine is still blessed with many, but their not faring well in the age of Amazon and the big box retailers.


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Wall Street analysts have been painting a gloomy picture of the iPhone X sales for months. Most analysts have reduced their estimates for 2018 iPhone sales due to lukewarm demand for the iPhone X. Back in January, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told investors that Apple had asked its suppliers to cut iPhone X production by as much as 50%. Now analysts at Nomura have reminded clients that the iPhone X sales were “flagging.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors during a conference call that the anniversary iPhone sales “surpassed our expectations.” It helped Apple post record revenues during the holiday quarter and increase the iPhone’s average selling price (ASP) to $796. Cook claimed the iPhone X had outsold the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in every week since its launch. However, its sales have fallen dramatically in the current quarter.
The iPhone X is Apple’s first smartphone to sport a 5.8-inch bezel-less OLED display with a top cutout. It has a TrueDepth camera system that supports Face ID and Animoji features. Though the notch was a design compromise, the iPhone X has inspired dozens of Android vendors to launch phones with similar top cutouts. Google has also added native support for the notch in its Android P operating system.
Nomura Instinet analyst Jeffrey Kvaal wrote in a research note (via Business Insider) that Apple would report iPhone sales below expectations this year as consumers are unwilling to buy expensive smartphones. Supply chain checks suggest “little improvement in iPhone demand in 2018,” said Kvaal. There are also “further signs of trouble” in the premium segment. Nomura believes price is the key factor hurting the premium smartphone sales.
Nomura pointed out that AT&T’s buy one, get one (BOGO) promotion for the iPhone X didn’t receive a good response, and the carrier had to retract it after two weeks. Reports from South Korea also suggest that pre-orders for Samsung’s Galaxy S9 have been 30% lower than the Galaxy S8. It’s a clear indication that the smartphone ASPs have been “bumping up against their upper limit.” The market will “no longer tolerate rising ASPs.”
Nomura analysts have lowered their iPhone X sales forecast for the January-March quarter from 13-18 million units to 8-12 million units. For the fiscal year 2018, the research firm reduced their total iPhone sales estimate from 226 million to 221 million units. Nomura has a Neutral rating on the stock with $175 price target.
Meanwhile, Longbow Research analysts Shawn Harrison and Gausia Chowdhury told clients that the iPhone X “didn’t sell well” during the holiday season. The January-March quarter orders have also been lower than expected. Though the higher price of the iPhone X was able to offset the poor sales during December quarter, the average selling price is expected to come down in the March quarter due to poor iPhone X sales.
Wall Street analysts believe that consumers are holding on to their current iPhones for longer. If used carefully, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus could last up to four years. And the iOS experience is largely the same on most iPhone models. A large number of people looking to upgrade seem to be opting for refurbished iPhones. Jeffrey Kvaal added that the average upgrade rate to the “new” iPhones in December 2017 quarter was just 7.6%, down from 10.8%, 8.8%, and 8.4% in the prior three years.
A survey conducted by Piper Jaffray tried to look into why existing iPhone users didn’t upgrade to the iPhone X. Piper Jaffray surveyed 1,500 existing iPhone users who didn’t upgrade to the 2017 flagship models. About 44% participants said they didn’t upgrade because they were happy with their current iPhones. Another 31% told Piper Jaffray that the iPhone X was too expensive for them. About 7% people didn’t upgrade because the iPhone X’s 5.8-inch display wasn’t large enough for them. The remaining 17% said they didn’t upgrade “for another reason.”
While the iPhone X sales have been disappointing, Apple’s services business is booming. RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani told clients that the services business could offset the weak demand for the iPhone X. Daryanani expects services revenue to jump 20% this year, driven by the growth in iOS install base and increased monetization of the install base.
Apple aims to increase its services revenue to $50 billion by 2020, which looks achievable, says Daryanani. The combined revenue from Apple Music, App Store, iTunes, Apple Pay, iCloud, AppleCare, and licensing is around $30 billion.


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We now know two things about Verizon as we come to the end of 2010 and are about to start a new year, Apple is to up its production numbers for the iPad, but has had to reduce the number of CDMA Verizon iPhone units that it had planned to build. This is something that Apple Insider learned from WSJ.
Tim Ollason from OSM is unsure why Apple has reduced these numbers, but I believe that it could have something to do with a Verizon iPhone 5 not being as popular an idea as it once was — this could have something to do with the long wait or those waiting moving to Android?
There have been fears that iPad sales would falter now that Android tablets have already started to hit the market, but analysts believe that Apple must be expecting to have a strong end to the year with iPad sales — but do not expect any deals over Black Friday.
There are those who believe that 2011 will be a tougher year for Apple and its iPad device, and there could be some truth to that. Yes we know that there will be more Android tablets, and the start of Windows and webOS based tablet devices, but lets not right the iPad off just yet.
The iPad set the benchmark, and you can be sure come April — when the new iPad 2 is rumored to launch — Apple will have a new device that will set the benchmark once again.
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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Model, actor, news anchor and — tech entrepreneur? That's the case for celebrities Brooklyn Decker and Whitney Casey, who've added the title to their resumes after launching wardrobe operating system FINERY.
The platform uses technology to help users see their clothes at a glance, style new looks and make purchases from a number of different stores — and the company just raised $5 million in seed funding, with strong support from female investors.
“We didn’t set out targeting female investors; it just happened that women better understood the need for FINERY,” said Casey, co-founder and CEO. “Now, some of our best investors are male, but our angels who invested at the very beginning were all females.”
The co-founders are dedicated to being a deeply female-focused company, and as such are using the funding to add more women to their tech team.
“Building a team of female developers and data scientists is so important because as women, we wear so many hats — it’s important that females are creating technology to help one another manage it all,” said Decker, co-founder and chief design officer. “We see having a team of employees who understand our product and its benefits as instrumental to our expansion and development.”
FINERY users create their digital wardrobe by linking their email and individual store accounts, which then pull in all relevant purchases. In-store purchases can be added using FINERY’s Pinterest-like browser extension.
From there, the platform uses machine learning to gather data on how a user interacts with her digital wardrobe and suggests a number of ways to wear items she already has.
Put simply: this algorithm acts as your own personal stylist.
“When we read that women spend two years of their lives deciding what to wear and eight years shopping, we were shocked, and started researching solutions in the fashion tech space,” said Casey. “We found nothing to help manage this wardrobe issue.”
The app’s capabilities stretch beyond styling and organizing — it can also remind users of expiration dates on refunds, notify them of a sale and make price adjustments when applicable.
“We realized there was an opportunity to create a platform geared towards women that would help them get back some of the time, money and mindshare currently spent on their wardrobes,” said Casey.


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Lexmark, the printer manufacturer, has announced that it will buy a Business Process Management (BPM) software provider in a $1bn all-cash deal.
Kofax, a provider of capture and BPM software services assisting over 20,000 customers worldwide with their Operational Excellence and Customer Experience, and Lexmark announced that they had entered into a definitive merger agreement, which will help to accelerate Lexmark’s growth and significantly increase the operating margins of its software business.
Commenting on the deal, Paul Rooke, Lexmark Chairman and CEO, said it would extend Lexmark’s position into the high-growth smart process applications market: "Our customers will have a breadth of hardware and software solutions that connect their information silos and automate their business processes – enabling them to access the most relevant information at the moment they need it to drive business forward."
Kofax has over 20,000 customers worldwide in financial services, insurance, government, healthcare, supply chain, and business process outsourcing.
When the proposed deal closes, expected in Q2 2015, subject to regulatory and Kofax shareholder approval, Lexmark says it will nearly double the size of its enterprise software business into a $700mn business, "competing in the expanding $10bn content and process management software market"; a market the firm states is expanding at a growth rate of around 10% a year.
"Our market-leading ability to simplify and transform the First Mile™ of customer engagement is a strong complement to Perceptive Software's strength in managing information across silos," added Reynolds C. Bish, CEO of Kofax. "As a result, we're excited about the future and working together to realize the full potential of this opportunity."
Craig Le Clair, Vice President, Principal Analyst at Forrester and BPM expert, has a modestly positive take on the acquisition, and states: "Kofax has been a strong driver of Smart Process Apps (SPA) of lucrative use cases like mortgage, invoice and other areas. Lexmark can help with deeper vertical market penetration and more developed business development and marketing teams that could accelerate what is a strong SPA strategy."
"Once the dust settles, "adds Le Clair, customers on both sides, "will have perhaps the largest arsenal of technologies to help digitize their business".
The news follows on from Lexmark’s acquisition last year of document management firm ReadSoft in its broader strategic move to further transform itself into a solutions-based software company.


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New Papa John’s CEO, Steve Ritchie, Looks to Push Company to a New Level
Steve Ritchie is a perfect example of the fantastic possibilities that hard work and determination can produce in America. At just 43, Mr. Ritchie is Papa John’s CEO, the culmination of an over 20-year journey that seen him transform a $6 per hour job into franchise ownership. Mr. Ritchie’s hard work, determination, and skill have all helped transform Papa John’s into the third-largest delivery company in the world.
His incredible journey began in St. Matthews in 1996, taking orders at a local Papa John’s shop. According to Ritchie, “I fell in love with the brand,” as he was promoted to manager and multi-unit supervisor. He then invested $46,000 into opening up a Papa John’s. From there, he caught the eye of company executives to become the director of global operations before being named Papa John’s CEO on January 1, 2018.
Self-described as “introverted and shy,” Mr. Ritchie has taken a subtle leadership role in a company whose founder has often taken a more extroverted part. However, Ritchie is dedicated to the idea that the employees, at every level, help make Papa John’s a unique brand.
Ritchie’s Focus on Hard Work Made Him Stand Out
Steve Ritchie’s role as CEO and president showcases a different side to Papa John’s that is often not mentioned by the average press: their process of internal job placement. Rather than bring others for leadership positions, they focus on internal improvements to the company. What other company can say that their CEO originally started their career as an entry-level worker?
Of course, Mr. Ritchie’s success is due not only to Papa John’s unique promotion style and internal focus but on his hard work as well. How else could somebody making $6 per hour have the energy and character to take out a $46,000 loan to buy a franchise and become a CEO of the same company? Though he may be shy or introverted, he loves this company and knows how to make it succeed.
And through some tough patches in 2018 and 2019, Mr. Ritchie has kept a cool head and a focused attitude. And others within the company have noticed. Vaughn Frey, president of the Papa John’s Franchise Association, said that the new Papa John’s CEO is taking the “right initiatives to reinvigorate growth and recognizes the importance of working together to move forward successfully.”
Putting Forth a New Digital Branding Effort
Since taking over the operation of the company, Mr. Ritchie has shown a unique vision and a far-reaching scope that could help Papa John’s take over more of the marketplace. For example, he has expanded its marketing efforts to include more digital elements, including high-quality online videos, SEO content creation, and an increasing use of online ordering and phone-based instant order options.
Concepts such as these underline the initial idea of Papa John’s and its desire to connect with the customer and foster a friendly and open image. Ritchie wants to keep that image strong in the minds of buyers and wants to focus even more on internal promotion. Currently, 98 percent of all restaurant managers and those in leadership positions are promoted from hourly jobs held by people within the company.
Moving forward as a company, Ritchie hopes to foster that feeling of being a tight-knit family in an organic matter. He had this to say on the topic: “By focusing on our team members, we will deliver the world-class experiences our customers deserve. At Papa John’s, any opportunity is achievable if you dedicate yourself to putting your best foot forward every day.”


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|Bellisima; Maternity's New Look|
WWDMONDAY, September 10, 2007
Over the last year, tunic tops, empire waists, baby doll dresses, tent dresses, and bubble silhouettes have been all the rage for ready-to-wear designers. While the fad took the spring season by storm, maternity retailers and manufacturers confirm they have seen a negative impact on their business.
"Everyone in maternity has felt the impact of rtw styles being worn in maternity," said Song Pardue, CEO of Pickles & Ice Cream Maternity Apparel. "When pregnant women can shop in rtw stores, it's obviously diluting sales for everyone in the maternity business that sells strictly maternity."
Click here for the article.


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I was made aware of this post on VentureBeat yesterday, PAR Works ushers in the maturity of augmented reality, and immediately got captivated by the title. As a person in the field, I have seen how augmented reality has been out in the mainstream for a few years and the AR experiences now don’t seem… Read More
MobileBeat 2011 — VentureBeat’s 4th annual flagship conference on the future of mobile — on July 12-13 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, is gathering the brightest minds in the industry to explore this year’s hottest macro trend: the arrival of true mobile computing now that 4G is here. There’s no doubt that 4G… Read More
Mobile startup Color had one of the most spectacular launches in recent months — and not necessarily in a good way. Because of its lineup of co-founders (including chief executive Bill Nguyen, who previously founded music service Lala) and its ma…… Read More
Taiwanese computer giant Acer wants to be like Apple with premium products and high margins. Now it thinks it has a more promising future in tablets, Bloomberg reports.
This is a big change in Acer’s strategy. The company has previously focused o…… Read More


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A BLOG title for an award-winning company located in the rugged beauty of the Beara Peninsula in West Cork cleverly captures the essence of the innovative enterprise.
“Life, with a pinch of salt” is the catchy blog title on the website of Irish Atlantic Sea Salt, formed in 2009 by the O’Neill family in a region widely recognised for its wholesome artisan food.
The company was set up to develop and produce the first range of Irish Atlantic organic sea salt using sustainable production methods.
It took the family some time to develop and perfect a process that blends age old salt making methods with energy efficient techniques.
The natural resources available for the process are treated with great care by the company and the production causes no adverse effects on the local marine ecology and environment Over the past year, Irish Atlantic Sea Salt has made remarkable progress in producing and marketing their products which contain over 50 natural trace elements.
Headed by Michael and Aileen O’Neill, it has a new production facility at Cahermore, developed with support from West Cork Enterprise and Cork County Council.
The company’s pure and natural products are available in 300 retail outlets in Ireland and 50 in France.
And the O’Neills’ are now targeting the lucrative British food service market as well as distribution in the United States and other countries.
The company, which processes one tonne of sea salt each week, hopes that 80% of its market revenues will come from overseas by 2015.
Boosting the expanding business is a string of top awards won at regional, national and international levels. Irish Atlantic Sea Salt was chosen as the overall local company of 2012 by West Cork Enterprise.
WCE chief executive Michael Hanley put that success in context at the time when he said it is not easy to set up a business these days and even harder to grow a business to its full potential.
“Michael and Aileen have proven that with a great idea it is possible to grow a strong business. It is no accident that businesses such as Irish Atlantic Salt thrive. Dedication and determination drives a business to success,” he said.
Irish Atlantic Salt was chosen for four awards at Great Taste 2013 to add to a previous success in 2012.
“We were hoping the quality of our Irish salt products would be recognised at this year’s Great Taste Awards but we hadn’t expected them to be quite so successful,” said Aileen.
Two weeks ago when the company won the entrepreneurial category at the high profile Bord Bia Food and Drinks Awards in Dublin.
“It was fantastic,” said Michael, after he and Aileen were presented with the award at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham by Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Simon Coveney.
Michael said they went to the ceremony delighted to have been chosen as one of 21 companies short listed for awards across various categories and never expected to win.
“We were absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the winner of the entrepreneurial award. It is validation of a lot of hard work, done by a lot of people over the past few years,” he said.
Bringing a national food award back to Beara was a great joy to all concerned at Irish Atlantic Sea Salt, which has Organic Trust status.
Michael O’Neill has spent over 15 years fishing national and international waters and is an expert in the seafood industry.
But the idea for producing Irish sea salt came from his late father Bernie, who believed the high quality waters of the West Cork coast could be utilised more.
He encouraged Michael and Aileen to pursue the idea and helped them during the lengthy process of finding the right production technique for Irish salt.
The O’Neills’ did some research and found that sea salt was produced in quite a number of countries but not in Ireland.
They also discovered that sea salt was being imported into Ireland and decided that this offered the opportunity for some import substitution.
“We knew that we had excellent water quality and could produce very high quality sea salt. We saw this as a unique selling point,” Michael later recalled Finding the right recipe and technique did not come easy and Michael and Aileen, at times, were tempted to give up.
But they persevered, discovered the perfect production process, and launched Irish Atlantic Sea Salt in 2010 at Shop — Ireland’s food, drink, retail and hospitality event.
Bernie O’Neill, who played such a pivotal role in developing the idea, sadly passed away in December 2010 but his legacy continues with the company’s success.
Michael and Aileen O’Neill are extremely enthusiastic about the future of their young award-winning innovative company.
It grew out of an idea discussed around the kitchen table, and is now poised for further expansion as a result of increasing sales at home and abroad.


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Lzzy Hale has teamed up with Gibson to create a brand new guitar.
The Halestorm frontwoman has announced the release of the first Gibson Explorerbird. Akin to Kurt Cobain‘s Fender Jag-Stang, which combined elements of the Jaguar and Mustang guitars, the Explorerbird features the body and neck of Gibson’s Explorer model and the headstock of the Firebird.
“As synonymous as lipstick and leather, the Explorerbird brings two iconic worlds together,” Hale says. “This guitar is a statement and celebration of owning what makes you stand out. Because no one has ever made history by playing it safe.”
You can order your own Gibson Explorerbird, which costs $2,799, now via Gibson.com.
Hale previously joined up with Gibson last summer as the guitar company’s first female brand ambassador.
(Video contains uncensored profanity.)
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


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TSMC confirms plans to build in China
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co has confirmed that it plans to commence production in mainland China by the end of this year, and that it is currently surveying prospective manufacturing sites.
As the world's premier independent foundry operator, TSMC is the brightest star in Taiwan's chip industry, so its decision to join the throng of Taiwan company's moving to China is a blow for those worried that the country's economic independence is being eroded by the inexorable pull of China's huge market.
According to a TSMC spokesperson, the decision to invest in China is seen as an "inevitable" step for TSMC. China's chip market was worth $12bn last year, but to trade effectively with China "you have to be there," the spokesperson said.
TSMC and its near rival and neighbor United Microelectronics Corp would both probably have put down a manufacturing base in China before now had they not been prevented from doing so by Taiwanese government restrictions on investment in China. Those restrictions have now been lifted and Taiwanese companies, many of which feel they were badly disadvantaged by the government collar on Chinese investment, are now rushing to make up lost ground.
Nevertheless, a wholesale abandonment of their home market is unlikely to happen, not least because Taiwanese chip makers are still forbidden from transferring 300mm wafer process technology to the mainland, and building 300mm plants on Taiwan is also a condition of being permitted to invest in China. So TSMC is sticking to its earlier promise to build two new 300mm plants on the island, the spokesperson said.
© ComputerWire.com. All rights reserved.


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Shadow Banks see some decline in rural demand
June 28, 2022
Fuel costs have remained unchanged for greater than a month however have already dealt a blow to rural demand as is clear from, what trade executives are calling, client reluctance to purchase new two-wheelers. Instead, debtors who used to purchase new two-wheelers each three to 4 years are repairing their current autos to make use of them for longer, stated trade specialists. On 21 May, the federal government had decreased excise responsibility on petrol by ₹8 per litre and on diesel by ₹6 per litre.
“Two-wheeler demand is subdued partly due to the uneven rural restoration and in addition as a result of the price of autos has gone up in the previous couple of years. That aside, gas costs have elevated and, due to this fact, each the price of possession and that of working (the car), have gone up,” said Y.S. Chakravarti, managing director and chief executive, Shriram City Union Finance.
Shriram City Union lends to small businesses, and provides gold loans and two-wheeler loans. People are not changing their vehicles as frequently as they were earlier, probably trying to postpone purchases, Chakravarti said. “This is almost uniform across the country but is more evident in markets where two-wheeler penetration is high such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Telangana,” he stated.


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NBC Universal flexes its collective muscles as part of an ambitious company wide initiative to showcase NBC's hit series "Heroes" with the "Heroes World Tour,"…
NBC Universal flexes its collective muscles as part of an ambitious company-wide initiative to showcase NBC's hit series "Heroes" with the "Heroes World Tour," which will kick off the Heroes: Season One DVD and HD DVD release in domestic and international markets and feature the cast on a personal tour as production resumes on the drama's second season. The news follows last week's announcement that unveiled a multi-faceted, 360-degree marketing campaign shared by Nissan and NBC on behalf of "Heroes."
"Heroes" will be propelled into stores on August 28 for the DVD and HD-DVD launch of its heroic first season in an elaborate seven disc set loaded with bonus features, including 50 deleted scenes and the never aired 73 minute premiere episode. In late August, cast members will continue the "Heroes World Tour" with personal appearances in various countries. Members of the "Heroes" cast who will participate in the tour include: Santiago Cabrera (Isaac), Jack Coleman (Horn-Rimmed Glasses), Noah Gray-Cabey (Micah), Greg Grunberg (Matt), Ali Larter (Niki), James Kyson Lee (Ando), Masi Oka (Hiro), Hayden Panettiere (Claire), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder), Zachary Quinto (Sylar), Adrian Pasdar (Nathan), and Milo Ventimiglia (Peter).
These cast members will travel to a variety of international destinations, including the following cities: Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Munich, Paris, London and New York City, as well as further stops yet to be announced.
Those actors on the North American leg of the tour will be at the NBC Experience Store in New York City on August 28 to participate in signings of DVDs and other merchandise on the floor.
In addition, NBC.com will be the online destination for fans following the "Heroes" adventure as the cast and producers travel the world. The "Heroes World Tour" site (NBC.com/Heroesworldtour) will include photos and video from each international location, as well as vlogs and personal photos from the actors in each city. Fans from around the world can also upload their photos from the events, uniting the online community for a shared global experience. About 20 percent of traffic to NBC.com/Heroes during the regular season came from international countries.


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Narrow your search
According to a new report, the passwords might have been compromised several months ago, but the issue remained undetected.
Researcher says he found keylogging software on two new Samsung laptops and went public after getting no response from Samsung spokespeople for a week. Samsung says the report is erroneous.
An allegation that the FBI, which has long pressed for back doors into encryption products, surreptitiously placed one into OpenBSD alarms security experts.


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The Luxury, Innovations and Technology Expo
Abu Dhabi: The Middle East’s premier Luxury Lifestyle supershow is back, bigger and better than ever before with the world’s newest, rarest and most unique innovations and state of the art products from across 11 categories.
The seventh edition of the Big Boys Toys Exhibition will take place in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 23- 26 November, 2016.
BBT2016 proudly presents a car that transforms into a robot ! Letrons will be launched for the first time globally at the event. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Visit bbt2016.com to buy your ticket before they sell out.
But that’s not all, other product launches and exhibits this year include the best of the best the world has to offer such as The World’s Fastest Street Legal Bike, The Global Launch of the World’s Fastest Supercar, The Launch of Khalifa the Boat with Supercar Features, 3D Printed Music Instruments and more!
Biju Jayaraaj, the CEO of Artaaj (Organizers of the supershow) stated: “Our visitors will be a part of an exclusive journey in experiencing the world’s most unbelievable inventions. We are humbled to host the best show the world has seen yet and are proud to say the event features different products year in, year out, making each show exclusive, this is truly an experience you’ll not want to miss”
Buy your tickets now as only a limited number are available.
|23 November (Wednesday)||2 pm to 9 pm||Club Royale, Invitations and Trade Only|
|24 November (Thursday)||12 pm to 10 pm|
|25 November (Friday)||12 pm to 10 pm|
|26 November (Saturday)||12 pm to 10 pm|
VIP- AED 300
Club Royale- AED 5,000
Club Royale (Table of 10)- AED 40,000
About Big Boys Toys:
Big Boys Toys is the Middle East’s premier Luxury, Innovations and Technology Expo.
The 7th edition will take place from the 23rd to the 26th of November 2016
The exhibition is unique in featuring products from 10 different categories that include Drive, Ride, Off-Road, Marine, Aviation, Adventure, Wellness, Fashion, Lifestyle and Digital – a complete experience that caters to every facet of refined living.
The show hosts VIPs, HNWIs as well as trade visitors offering one of the most exclusive clientele in the Middle East.


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(Eats Beat by Bud Kennedy, dfw.com)
Cane Rosso’s new Downtown Arlington pizzeria and grill will open this fall. But owner Jay Jerrier, who built the original Cane Rosso into a rare regional success in both Dallas and Fort Worth, is beginning to wonder about 2020.
“Every day is like a fresh new hell,” he said on a recent Eats Beat podcast, available on iTunes.
He’s nearly open in the new Arlington location, 200 N. East St., near where North Collins Street crosses East Division Street. But the old radiator shop keeps needing another fix here and there.
And coronavirus is staggering Arlington restaurants, not only by limiting dine-in seating and keeping Rangers fans home, but also by sending some remaining workers home sick.
If you missed it, last month, two of Cane Rosso’s cousin restaurants, Zoli’s, had to take a few days off and sanitize. Some restaurants keep it secret when they clean up.
Jerrier told his customers.
“I don’t know how I could sleep at night if we just shoved it under the rug,” Jerrier said. “The right thing to do is be open and honest, and hope people appreciate that and come back.”
Cane Rosso is new to Arlington, where traditional pizzerias have reigned.
Jerrier’s flagship brand features a thinner Neapolitan-style brick oven pizza topped with house-made mozzarella and baked over a wood fire that leaves a slightly charred edge. There are 20 choices, but the runaway favorite is the habanero honey and hot soppressata pizza with bacon marmalade.
The basic pizzas come with a choice of 23 toppings including brisket, Luscher’s sausage, Calabrian chiles, fresh or candied jalapenos, mushrooms, arugula, artichokes and the basics.
There’s also a full menu of pastas such as truffle carbonara or chicken fettuccine Alfredo, and a weekend smoked-brisket lasagna. Cane Rosso also serves a choice of salads and sandwiches such as a chicken-fried-chicken Parmesan or a meatball with provolone.
“We don’t want to be a great pizza restaurant, we want to be a great restaurant where [we] serve pizza,” Jerrier said.
When Urban Union developers approached him, he didn’t take Arlington seriously at first.
“I always dismissed it,” he said. “...It’s Cowboys [AT&T Stadium], and it’s a million chain restaurants, and it’s all tourists .... but I went to check it out and said, ‘Ooh, wait a second, it’s pretty cool here.’ “
Watch for it to open about a block east of Hurtado Barbecue; canerosso.com. He also owns Zoli’s, which has an even broader menu of platters and burgers.
Eats Beat story by Bud Kennedy originally published July 21, 2020 in dfw.com. Photo by Bud Kennedy.


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BRAZIL: OJ companies rebuff US dumping claims
Brazil's orange juice producers have been accused of dumping orange juice in the US market.
The US Commerce Department said on Monday (9 January) that at least three Brazilian orange juice exporters were dumping orange juice at prices ranging up to 60% below fair market value.
In a statement on Tuesday, Brazil's Foreign Ministry warned that it would take the "necessary measures" against the US, if Washington's final decision on the matter did not follow international trade rules set by the World Trade Organisation.
"The Brazilian government and the private sector will closely evaluate the process and the conditions adopted in the investigation of Brazil's alleged dumping of orange juice in the US," the statement said.
Speaking to Dow Jones Newswires, Ademarval Garcia, the president of Brazil's Citrus Exporters Association, said: "We'll wait and see what we read in the ITC (US International Trade Commission) report before we go on the defensive." The ITC is expected to issue its decision on 21 February.
Brazil has been in dispute with the state of Florida since 2002, when the state added a tax on top of national import tariffs for Brazilian orange juice importers. Washington forced Florida to remove the tax in May 2004.
Earlier this month, the Florida Citrus Mutual Grower Organisation said that Brazilian processors had been dumping during the past year for less than they charge their European customers and below production costs.
Sectors: Soft drinks
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China, Switzerland Sign Cooperation Agreements
China and Switzerland signed a number of cooperation agreements covering various sectors on Friday which include science and technology, innovation, work safety, education, trade, and environment.
Reports said President Xi Jinping and Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann presided the signing ceremony of two memorandums of understanding (MOU) between Guangzhou and Chengdu and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation that will implement the two sides' low-carbon city construction projects.
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President Xi has tagged Ammann as "an old friend of the Chinese people" as he recalled his meeting with his him in June last year when the latter visited Beijing for the signing of the China-backed Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Innovative strategic partnership.
Reports said that the two nations declared an innovative strategic partnership that will boost their trade exchange and economic cooperation, and enhance their educational partnership in the coming years.
The two countries celebrated the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year and so far, trade between the two sides have grown exponentially.
"The daily trade volume is now 26 times what it was annually in the first years after we established diplomatic ties," Xi said.
Reports said China and Switzerland have enjoyed significant economic benefits over the years with trade volume between the two countries reaching $44.3 billion last year.
The Swiss nation is reportedly China's 7th largest trade partner in Europe.
Xi recalled the signing of the Sino-Swiss free trade agreement in 2014, saying it was China's first free trade pact with a European country.
"The free trade agreement with Switzerland set an example for Sino-European cooperation," Xi said.
Ammann said that his country would like to establish cooperation with China in the areas of environmental protection, science, finance, and education.
He also said Switzerland wants to get involved in China's "Belt and Road" initiative and participate in the newly-established infrastructure bank, the AIIB.
Ammann arrived in Beijing on Thursday for a state visit and held talks with Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese government officials before meeting with President Xi.
Wang Shunqing, a top level diplomat of China's Foreign Ministry, said the meeting has been "significant" and "marks a new era" for the two countries.


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According to a joint statement issued after a video conference, the ministers agreed to support the availability and accessibility of essential medical supplies at affordable prices, on an equitable basis, where they are most
According to Anant Mittal, a Civil engineering student at IIT Guwahati, the sprayer system can be deployed and operated by just one operator sitting and monitoring at one spot, eliminating the need of many cleaners manually s
The balance amount is being directed towards sourcing of masks and other key equipment for the doctors, healthcare workers and essential services personnel who are at the forefront of the battle, the statement said, adding th
More than 250 million Americans are said to be staying indoors in view of the fast spreading coronavirus, which so far has infected more than 160,000 Americans and taken the lives of over 3,000 people.
Mallya, who is wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore, also said all his companies have effectively ceased operations and manufacturing following the lockdown in
With two-thirds of the world's population living in developing countries facing unprecedented economic damage from the COVID-19 crisis, the UN is calling for a USD 2.5 trillion rescue package for these nations.
"Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days, and this is a very vital 30 days," Trump told reporters at his daily White House news conference on Monday, his second consecutive one in the Rose Garden.
"Coronavirus has spread among some of those who attended a religious prayer meeting from March 13 to 15 at Markaz in Nizamuddin area in Delhi," according to an official release. "Among those who attended were some persons fro
The new rate will be applicable for all floating-rate personal or retail loans (such as housing and automobiles) and floating-rate loans to micro, small and medium enterprises, according to an official statement.
The employees of Patanjali Ayurved, Patanjali Dairy and Ruchi Soya (the company acquired recently) and other group companies would also donate one-day salary in the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency
Following the nationwide lockdown, which will be in place till April 14, thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states have started returning back to their home states from various cities, including
Icra in a report said that as consumers are forced to defer their discretionary spends, the revenues and profitability and the credit profile of the Indian retail industry will be adversely impacted in the short-term.


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For the last year and a half, George Washington University law professor John Banzhaf, who treats the epithet "legal terrorist" as a compliment, has been bragging that fast food restaurants and other purveyors of fattening comestibles are running scared because of the obesity litigation he champions. McDonald's et al. ought to be worried, he said, because already there have been "five successful fat lawsuits."
But now that Congress is considering a ban on lawsuits that blame food manufacturers or sellers for making people fat, Banzhaf is eager to contradict himself. In a press release issued the day before the House approved the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act by a 2-to-1 margin, he said the bill "is surely premature, because there has been only one obesity lawsuit, and it was dismissed by a federal judge."
Before Congress passes legislation like this, Banzhaf said, "there should be a real history of abuse which must be corrected, not orchestrated panic based upon one failed lawsuit and some quoted-out-of-context rhetoric." Having orchestrated the panic and provided the rhetoric, he knows whereof he speaks.
Contrary to the impression Banzhaf left, none of the five "victories" he kept citing involved a plaintiff who blamed a company for his obesity. The biggest case, cooked up by some of Banzhaf's law students at G.W., faulted McDonald's for advertising that its French fries were cooked in vegetable oil while failing to mention that they were precooked in beef fat, an omission that understandably upset Hindus and vegetarians. The case, which led to a $10 million settlement in 2002, was a "fat lawsuit" only in the sense that it involved cooking fat.
Attempts to hold restaurants responsible for their customers' waistlines have been far less successful—as Banzhaf now emphasizes, lest the Senate follow the House's lead and put an early end to the litigious speculation that has brought him the publicity he craves. The first such case, filed by New York City attorney Samuel Hirsch, whom Banzhaf has served as an "informal adviser," met with such widespread derision that it was essentially laughed out of court.
The plaintiff, you may recall, was a 56-year-old maintenance worker named Caesar Barber, who was five feet, 10 inches tall and weighed 272 pounds. The main problem with Barber, who continued a diet consisting largely of burgers and fries despite a heart attack and warnings from his doctor, was that his stupidity was literally unbelievable.
"They said, '100 percent beef.' I thought that meant it was good for you," Barber claimed after filing the lawsuit in July 2002. "Those people in the advertisements don't really tell you what's in the food. It's all fat, fat, and more fat. Now I'm obese."
Hirsch eventually dumped Barber in favor of two hefty New York teenagers who claimed to have eaten at McDonald's on most days of the week for years. That lawsuit, which Hirsch intended as a class action, was dismissed twice, the second time with prejudice, for failing to adequately state a claim.
Yet as Banzhaf and others noted, U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet left the door open to arguments alleging that some aspects of fast food fare are not widely recognized. A plaintiff might make headway by arguing that fast food is addictive, for example, or that certain highly processed dishes are not what they seem, containing more fat, calories, or cholesterol than the average consumer expects.
Victor Schwartz, a leading expert on tort law who has been advising the National Restaurant Association, says these lawsuits still face formidable obstacles. He thinks a greater danger to the industry is that at some point state attorneys general will start filing lawsuits demanding compensation for Medicaid expenses, as they did with tobacco.
And herein lies the strongest rationale for congressional intervention, even if it means telling state courts which lawsuits they may hear—a prospect that should make federalists uncomfortable. The agreement that settled the state tobacco lawsuits in effect imposed a nationwide tax and nationwide regulations, including advertising restrictions that would have been unconstitutional if imposed by statute, without approval from Congress or any state legislature.
A similar arrangement with food companies (or gun manufacturers, the concern of the other NRA) likewise would usurp the authority of state and federal legislators. Although condemned as contrary to the balance of powers created by the Constitution, legislation aimed at preventing such a scenario may be necessary to preserve it.
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Frances Bean Cobain is the face of Marc Jacobs' SS17 campaign
The daughter of Courtney Love and late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain has scored her first huge fashion campaign
The trend of celebrity offspring landing major fashion campaigns continues to gather speed. Last week it was Paris Jackson, daughter of the late Michael Jackson, in Chanel, and this week Frances Bean Cobain stars in Marc Jacobs' Spring/Summer 2017 campaign. The daughter of Courtney Love and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was revealed as the face of Jacobs' campaign via Instagram.
"I have always wanted to work with Frances," Jacobs wrote beneath the campaign image, which was shot by David Sims. "Her beauty, uniqueness, and strength is something I have long admired and respected. Few things remain as constant as my continued inspiration from those whose honesty, integrity, courage, and curiousity lead them to explore and venture beyond preconceived boundaries."
Jacobs has known Frances since she was two, and previously featured her mother in his Fall 2016 campaign.


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SALINAS, Calif., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A Mexican company that distributes a salad mix linked to more than 535 cases of a diarrheal disease says it has stopped making and shipping salad mixes.
The salad mix, linked to the outbreak of cyclospora in June and July, was produced by Taylor Farms de Mexico, based about 180 miles north of Mexico City in San Miguel de Allende, and the Mexican subsidiary of the U.S. food-service company, Taylor Farms of Salinas, Calif., USA Today reported.
Texas reported the most digestive illnesses in the outbreak, 215 so far, followed by 153 cyclospora illnesses in Iowa and 86 in Nebraska.
The salad mix was served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants owned by Darden Restaurants.
Taylor Farms has 12 production sites but only the one in Mexico was affected. It shifted production of salad mix and leafy greens to its facilities in California, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, Florida and Maryland, although the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not definitively linked the other 296 cases of cyclospora in 16 other states to the salad mix.
A statement by the website of Taylor Farms said the company would grow and pack broccoli in Mexico for shipment to the United States "as broccoli is not subject to this investigation."
Cyclospora, a one-cell parasite often misidentified as a stomach virus, is spread when people eat food or water that has come into contact with infected feces.
The cyclospora parasite cannot survive freezing and is therefore not common on cold-weather crops, such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage, or greens harvested in the winter, U.S. health officials said. The parasite cannot survive heated water at about 60 degrees or cooking, so consumers should wash produce with warm water, and wash hands with soap and water before washing produce and after handling produce to minimize the risk of cross-contamination, health officials said.


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Google’s update schedule has been mostly the same with any Nexus device in the past: Android updates for two years, security updates for three years or 18 months after the Google Store runs out of stock. Honestly, there’s nothing surprising about these numbers, only that Google has posted them onto its Android support page.
The Google Pixel was released in October of last year, so the Pixel and Pixel XL will both receive “guaranteed” Android version updates through October 2018. Notice Google says “Guaranteed” because it could decide it wants to update the Pixel to the most current Android version in 2019 (only If it wants to).
Strangely, Google still has a small section in this website dedicated to the “Google Play edition” devices and their update schedules. We haven’t seen any new GPe devices since the HTC One M8, launched on March 25, 2014; also the final GPe device to be removed from the Google Play website.
Many devices have launched since then! Which device would you love a Google Play edition of?
Nothing has changed, all phone manufacturer generally has given updates for 2 year All phone makers pay Google for running Android, do Nougat costs more than Marshmallow, which in turn cost more than Lollipop, So you sell a new phone with the ...
Dear Google very disappointed after Reading that Android One Devices are not getting updates I just received updates of Patches for only one year but was promised to Get Updates and OS Update too and that was for @ Least 2 years Whats wrong wi...
This is why people buy apple even if they are too much restricted. Google come on why you cant give update to all your phones ? at least pixel, nexus should have those updates.


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A recent report claimed Queens rapper Nicki Minaj gifted new mom Cardi B with over $5,000 worth of adorable baby gifts for newborn, Kulture Kiari Cephus. The former Love & Hip Hop star, however, is confirming that the story isn’t true, messaging Hollywood Unlocked on Instagram that Minaj did no such thing. See the screenshot below.
Original Post: 7/12/2018
When Cardi B claimed she and Nick Minaj straightened out their issues during the MET Gala, many didn’t believe the Bronx rapper. It appears Ms. Minaj is truly over their previous problems, however, as she recently blessed Cardi with over $5,000 in baby gifts for newborn, Kulture Kiari Cephus.
Bossip reports that Los Angeles retailer Petit Trésor confirmed they sold the “Chun-Li” rapper a huge gift basket intended for the “Be Careful” spitter just minutes after the birth announcement was shared on social media.
Minaj’s only instructions for the basket was to “make it as girly as possible,” and was filled with luxury seasonal clothes, an assortment of dolls and stuffed animals and a sterling silver rattle. There are also luxury organic pampering items for mama Cardi as well.
What's Your Reaction?
Born and raised in Compton, California, Jessica Bennett began her career as an intern at The Oakland Post, and later, The Source Magazine. She went on to write for respected hip hop publications such as DJ Booth and Hip Hop DX before becoming the Urban Editor of pop culture website, Wetpaint.com. She joined Ebony as the Entertainment Editor August 2017. Bennett has interviewed such names as Vanessa Williams, Spike Lee, Tyra Banks, Forest Whitaker, Magic & Cookie Johnson and several others.


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North America intelligent virtual assistant (IVA) market to accrue appreciable returns by 2024, speech recognition technology to gain momentum
The escalating demand for rapid query resolutions & online customer self-service are expected to propel intelligent virtual assistant (IVA) market alongside the path of progress. IVA has undoubtedly, in recent times, improved the users’ online service experience as well as offered increased sales to e-commerce firms. Indeed, the product is becoming the preferred medium to gain information, make purchase decisions, and resolve issues. Companies like Microsoft and Google are adopting the technology to improve ease of access and streamline activities, and increasingly implementing the technology as well to enhance operational efficiency. For instance, ABIe, a virtual assistant developed by EIS for Allstate Insurance, efficiently helps agents to answer questions regarding business insurance policies.
Germany IVA market size, by application, 2017 & 2024 (USD Million)
IVA is reportedly becoming more and more commonplace as consumer appetite for the product has been depicting an upsurge. According to an independent survey conducted with 1,500 consumers across Europe, 81% of the respondents said they would prefer interacting with a virtual assistant as it offers enhanced online customer experience. Close to 72% welcomed the product as a key part of every website while a similar proportion claimed that they would spend longer on a website that had one. This response can undeniably be credited to the fact that IVA can take on multiple roles on a website, such as performing various helpful tasks, answering customer queries and connecting to enterprise systems when needed. These features respond according to the marketing requirements of the customers, efficiently improving the site loyalty and experience.
In order to cater to the best plausible global clientele, companies are increasingly investing in IVA to reduce costs from fields such as email response, technical telephonic support, and assistance on call. The implementation of the technology will enable the reduction in the resolution time, call wait times and allowing call transfers when an issue escalates, thereby augmenting IVA market share. The growing deployment of IoT is also expected to supplement the IVA market growth. In fact, IoT is known to have increased the quality and quantity of data being collected by the product. IVAs responding to text or speech queries through apps and smartphones has further enhanced customer engagement, a fact that has further helped impel the IVA industry trends.
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Speech recognition is one of the most vital technologies proliferating IVA market, as the system efficiently improves productivity, eliminating typing time, giving users additional time to focus on other work. Voice recognition software, in addition to being faster in task completion, are increasingly accurate when it comes to vocabulary. Speech recognition technology also makes invaluable contributions to businesses that offer customer services eventually reducing organizational costs. Furthermore, these systems improve interoperability owing to the adoption of IoT, further driving the IVA market size from speech recognition technology.
The Germany IVA market is expected to depict considerable growth in the years ahead, owing to the product’s new-found usage in the region’s thriving automotive market. Technological advancements in IVA have resulted in increased adoption of voice control and gesture control features in next-gen vehicles. IVA can now be integrated within vehicle systems such as automatic parking, lane change assist, adaptive cruise control, and other ADAS controls.
Regional automakers are constantly seeking ways to integrate the product in upcoming car segments to revolutionize driving experience. For instance, the German automotive giant, BMW has recently announced that its upcoming car segment would come with Intelligent Personal Assistant. Like Apple’s Siri or Amazon Alexa, the new AI-based virtual assistant would reply to voice commands and could adjust the temperature, lighting mood and music, among other things in the car efficiently, claims the company.
North America, apart from Germany, is another region that is forecast to accumulate commendable gains by 2024, driven by the expansive technological advancements in the region. Major software companies, like, Microsoft & IBM, have also been investing in IVA, thereby enhancing the growth prospects for North America IVA market.
The competitive spectrum of intelligent virtual assistant market also comprises other players like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Inc., Artificial Solutions, eGain Communications, IBM Corporation, Nuance Communications, and Speaktoit, Inc. These companies are known to increasingly invest in product development and innovation to bring in intelligent assistance into the mainstream. Meanwhile, several tech giant firms are adding the product to their portfolio to gain added sales. For instance, on January 7th, 2019, the world’s leading television manufacturers Samsung, LG and Hisense announced that they would open their devices to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. As advancements in the fields of automation, machine & deep learning, conversation interfaces, and natural language processing continue to surge, IVA market share is certain to soar in the years to come.
Author Name : Mateen Dalal
Mobile POS terminals market to witness a staggering double digit CAGR of 18% over 2018-2024, cloud-based solutions to drive the industry demand
The exponentially expanding e-commerce sector has indeed brought a disruption in the operation fashion of traditional brick and mortar stores. Mobile POS terminals market, a major beneficiary of this change, is gaining a substantial traction in this transformative merchandizing landscape. The increasing penetration of EMV contactless payments in digitized financial transaction is undeniably boosting global mobile POS terminals industry share. Payment service providers are scrupulously planning to bring forth an array of products that not only boost their day to day sales but also improve the consumer experience. Concurrently, many central banks, payment networks and other governmental bodies across the globe are also implementing mobile POS systems by virtue of its extensive benefits like ease of installation, less settlement time, and scalability of solution. Reportedly, the number of users in mobile POS payments would be more than 970 million by 2022.
Germany mobile POS terminals market size, by application, 2017 & 2024 (Thousand Units)
The commercialization potential of the entire business space is further coherent from the estimates brought forth by Global Market Insights, Inc. forecasting the worldwide mobile POS terminals market to exceed a valuation of USD 55 billion by 2024. While the growing inclination toward real-time payment modes create new challenges, joint venture and collaborative approaches can allow industry players to pool competencies. In fact, the trend has already established its presence in the competitive arena of the business space.
For instance, recently renowned payment solution provider, Network International, augmented identity specialist IDEMIA, and tech giant Mastercard have teamed up to introduce a mobile POS terminals project in UAE. Reportedly, this collaborative project would allow UAE based Network International merchants to avail contactless payments via NFC (near-field communication) enabled smartphones. Network International is claimed to be the largest merchant acquirer in Middle East belt and the conjoint initiative, as per experts’ opinion, undoubtedly marks a significant step toward enhancing the region’s payment infrastructure. The initiative is rightly touted as the first of its kind in UAE mobile point of sale terminals market.
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Technology has always been a key enabler of advancements across the finance-oriented industry verticals. Mobile POS terminals market is probably one of the largest recipients of the transformed payment landscape. The pay-tech revolution is allowing modern digital payment modes to address payment efficiency, speed, risk detection as well as user experience, providing SMEs the access to tailor their operations in sync with the latest advancements. In this regard, cloud based mobile POS terminals industry is gaining a mass popularity across the globe primarily on account of its enlarged storage facility, ease of operation, and better functionality. Incidentally, this has encouraged a host of new vendors to include SaaS-based solutions in their offerings like Toast, Square, Springboard Retail, and Touchbistro.
Say for instance, NewNet Communication Technologies and its partner Neubits have recently made it to the headlines with the successful trial of STC (Secure Transaction Cloud) on AWS (Amazon Web Services) in Singapore. The trial has already set a major benchmark in mobile POS terminals industry after successfully testing transactions for mobile payments via smart POI devices, mPOS terminals, and web payment clients. Reported to be available on AWS marketplace, NewNet’s STC allegedly supports usages in private, public, or hybrid cloud infrastructure with advanced level point-to-point encryption, and data security. Inherently stimulated by such highly developed web-based payment models, cloud based mPOS terminals industry is slated to grow at a CAGR of 20% over 2018-2024.
While the growth rate is quite impressive, security concern is the single most factor holding back smartphone payment adoption across some of the geographies, leaving a perpetual impact on the mPOS terminals market share. Armed with an intent to overcome the challenge, many retailers are now implementing combo terminals that are capable of reading both EMV and NFC transactions. All in all, with the remarkable proliferation in mobile technology and the growing consumer awareness toward contactless payments, mobile point of sale terminals industry is likely to be one of the most challenging yet remunerative business spaces to watch unfold.
Author Name : Satarupa De
Identity and access management market to accumulate sizable returns from the IT & telecom sector: North America to emerge as a lucrative investment ground over 2018-2024
A robust increase in the adoption of advanced technologies such as cloud computing and IoT will drive the identity and access management market in the upcoming years. IAM apparently makes businesses more agile, efficient and scalable, and also offers them considerable benefits such as reduced risk of data breaches, centralized access control, ensured regulatory compliance, improved user experience, and a significant reduction in IT costs. This has quite overtly led to a spurt in investments in IAM market from venture capitalists and enterprise organizations.
Japan Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market Size, By Solution, 2017 & 2024 (USD Million)
IAM industry has also received a considerable boost from robust investments in new artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions that are being undertaken for managing the rapid proliferation of identities and achieving least privileged access. For instance, recently Google established a collaboration with Facebook to develop their artificial intelligence to offer users a much better work experience.
Proliferation of workplace mobility is a major factor that would propel identity and access management market. Global acceptance of workplace mobility by businesses has empowered employees to work from anywhere, at any time and from any device. As per sources, by 2020, mobile workforce will reach to about 105.4 million people, that translates to roughly 72.3% of the total workforce in the U.S. On a global scale, the number is set to reach 1.87 billion by 2020, or 42.5% of the worldwide workforce. These statistics provide vital evidence to the fact that identity and access management market share is likely to soar in the years to come.
The Internet of Things has already redefined the concept of identity management. As IoT moves beyond consumer mainstream wearables and into massive enterprise deployments, IT teams are paying more attention towards securing access to the networks that connect to valuable products, including smart grid hardware, factory equipment, and more. IAM and privileged access management (PAM) demands are expected to become more complicated, with tougher obstacles and exponentially more endpoints. In consequence, the requirement of a strong IAM solution would become more commonplace, thereby augmenting the overall IAM industry.
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IT & telecom applications to drive the IAM market trends:
The rapidly escalating growth in the telecom & IT sector is certain to impel identity and access management market. As the IT & telecom industry works with a large user base, it is essential for the service providers to maintain the security of the sensitive user data. According to a survey by The Communications Fraud Control Association (CFCA), the telecommunications industry experienced $38.1 billion in fraudulent charges in 2016. As per CFCA, cyber fraudsters are seemingly working to develop new ways to siphon money from renowned, well-established organizations of various sectors.
The aforementioned survey results are a strong indicator of the fact that the IT sector will serve to be one of the most profitable growth avenues for IAM market. By implementing IAM solution business could be shielded by fraudsters and hackers, eventually saving billions in remuneration for organizations. According to Global Market Insights, Inc., identity and access management market size from IT and telecom applications was worth USD 1,420 million in 2017 and is expected to register a commendable growth rate over the ensuing years.
Unveiling North America IAM industry outlook:
North America is undoubtedly one of the most crucial regional generators for identity and access management market. In 2017, North America accounted for a mammoth 46% of the overall industry share, primarily on account of the changing workforce requirements and the surging adoption of cloud applications and BYOD. The U.S. the most dominant regional ground for North America IAM market, given that security is the foremost crucial parameter for the plethora of companies in the country.
North America IAM market has also received a considerable boost owing to the presence of a stringent regulatory landscape in the region. The continent is known to face periodic cybersecurity thefts – in 2017 alone, the average cost of a data breach was around USD 117,000 for SMEs and USD 1.3 million for large enterprises. On these grounds, the regional governments have undertaken stringent initiatives and invested extensively to come up with highly secure systems to protect user data, thereby propelling North America IAM industry share.
Some of the most prominent contenders in the global identity and access management market include IBM Corporation, SailPoint Technologies Holdings, Inc., Okta, Inc., Symantec, Gemalto, Crossmatch, Oracle, HID Global Corporation, CA Technologies, OneLogin, Inc., OpenText Corp., Ping Identity, ForgeRock, Net IQ, and Dell, Inc. These companies are often found conducting mergers and acquisitions to increase their business reach and expand their customer base. For instance, Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and innovative risk management solutions, recently announced a collaboration with IBM Corp. to provide clients with a wider access to blockchain solution for ensuring proof of insurance.
IAM solutions have proven to be effective in reducing challenges faced by organizations with regard to security and privacy such as data loss, data leakage, insecure usage, and insider attacks. IAM also decreases burden on the IT departments due to its self-service functionality. Driven by the fact that IAM delivers secure ways for authentication, authorization, and management of users without compromising on convenience and usability, the global IAM market share is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% over 2018-2024.
Author Name : Mateen Dalal


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Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again hats have been a major eyesore in our country (as well as the constant image of his orange face and that terrible hairstyle). The MAGA hats that Trump and his supporters so proudly wear and promote are not only a harsh reminder that we have a terrible president but stand for bigoted values that the majority of us thought America had moved past decades ago.
Fortunately, someone found a better use for those hats. Canadian lifestyle brand and clothing company Peace Collective partnered with ad agency Zulu Alpha Kilo to find a brilliant way to repurpose those hats to accomplish a far more noble goal (and one that will make Trump furious). Ad Week reports that in a new campaign called #UnravelHate, Trump’s precious red hats are being used to tell the stories of immigrant and refugees (and of course, welcome them to Canada). Ad Week reported:
For many immigrants, refugees and other people of color already established in America, the deceptively plain-looking MAGA hat represents an ideology that could cost them their security, their health and their lives.”
In the ad, several immigrants and refugees share their stories and talk about how the MAGA makes them feel, noting that the hat is a symbol for division, anger, and hatred. Throughout the video, the white threaded lettering is taken off the MAGA hat, and put onto a new red hat that says “Welcome to Canada.” Roman Hessary, the co-founder at Peace Collective, said:
We have an opportunity to tell the world that acceptance is stronger than hate, so the idea was to take a symbol of division and completely transform it.”
It’s a brilliant message, and we’re happy those MAGA hats will actually serve a useful purpose now. You can watch the ad below:
Featured image via screen capture