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Fear is a powerful motivator. Over the next year, the anxieties of bank strategists around digital disruption, economic uncertainty and frenzied fraud schemes will galvanize substantial technology implementations.
Here are seven predictions regarding the future of banking that will compel decisive technology investments in 2023.
Budgeting solutions come back en vogue: In the face of inflation and a slowing economy, consumers will be looking for guidance on how to make the most of their money. This is good news for fintechs in the personal financial management space, which will likely see their customer bases grow considerably. Banks, meanwhile, will be on the hunt for ways to remain relevant as demand for loans diminishes. This may spark additional interest in fintech-bank partnerships that meet digital consumer demand for personalized finance tracking apps.
Identity protection takes pole position: The battle for primary financial relationships will drive bankers to deploy tech that helps existing customers ignore the siren song of competitor and fintech promotions. Digital products that act as armor for vulnerable consumer identities will be a primary enabler of that strategy. Personalized identity protection will replace cheap, one-size-fits-all solutions that lean too heavily on resolution and insurance. Regular touchpoints built into the experience will remind customers that the bank continues to occupy a very important role in their lives as a watchdog against identity crime.
Neobanks fade into the background: Easy pre-pandemic investor funds are drying up, which will cause most of the 100+ niche-focused neobanks to blink out of existence. Too often, these organizations have deployed a shiny new interface atop legacy, third-party banking rails. As it turns out, that strategy isn’t the money maker it was thought to be. Even the largest are struggling to turn a profit under that model. As investors pull back funding from losing fintech bets, they will redeploy capital to startups with clear paths to profitability.
Super apps accelerate dominance: A perennial fear of traditional banks is that super apps will reshape U.S. banking the way Amazon reshaped U.S. e-commerce. With a massive base of existing customers and a ton of newly unemployed neobankers on the market, super-developers have the scale and talent they need to make it happen in 2023. Political factors may also play in their favor. Conservatives in Congress are looking to distinguish themselves from their liberal counterparts who have supported so-called “dangerous Silicon Valley disruptors” like the now-collapsed FTX. Super apps from well-established companies, these legislators may argue, reduce the risk to consumers’ finances and data.
Digital drivers licenses become the onboarding go-to: The Digital Identity Act (or some version thereof) will ensure that uniform standards are in place for the issuance and validation of the digital driver’s license. Most already follow International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications. Further uniformity in 2023 will bolster the business case for bank investment in fintech to accept these credentials for account opening across channels. Financial institutions that do so will quickly experience a marked decline in application fraud, creating further proof points for FOMO-motivated banks.
Fraud will chip away at profits: Large-scale fraud schemes accelerated by democratized technology will reduce the profitability of deposit accounts, which are becoming riskier in the face of liability shifts. Receiving banks, for instance, are now on the losing end of fraud related to remote deposit capture, and Zelle-related fraud will soon be handled with a similar liability paradigm. Banks will be forced to implement more comprehensive identity proofing schemes, increasing the origination costs for any bank with a model dependent on deposit growth.
The crypto exchange becomes persona non grata: The specter of considerable regulation following the FTX implosion will motivate traditional banks to run away from crypto association. Bank pullback will not be limited to crypto trading and custodial services alone. Banking-as-a-service relationships with crypto exchanges and others in the space are also likely to suffer, with the Federal Reserve now warning of the safety and soundness risks involved with all things crypto.
Decisions made out of fear or anxiety are highly effective at solving problems in the short term. Their influence on longer-term success is much weaker.
Bankers making technology decisions in 2023 will do well to police against knee-jerk responses to trending terrors. They can do this by considering their bank’s unique strengths and purpose, the needs of their distinct market segment and their vision for the future of their institution. The technology that dovetails best with these elements can set short-term orientation while also keeping the bank on course for long-term vitality.
Al Pascual is SVP of enterprise risk solutions for Sontiq, a TransUnion company.
Jeannette Kescenovitz, who leads development of banking-as-a-service at Finastra, joins us on the BAI Banking Strategies podcast to share her views on how BaaS might grow its presence at U.S. banks and credit unions this year.
Research shows that financial institutions recognize the potential for the metaverse. While rightly cautious, there are still unexplored opportunities for financial services with new business models to serve their customer base. Download Now...
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As the cannabis industry continues to expand to new states, cannabis jobs are emerging nationwide. Last year, we were excited to see a spike in cannabis jobs in states like Ohio, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Illinois. This year, we’re taking a look at states that have become key players in adding new jobs to the economy.
California, Colorado, and Florida continue to lead the nation in the highest number of total cannabis jobs… There are more people employed in the cannabis industry in CA, CO, and FL than in any other state.
But something else to consider is… Which states added the most cannabis jobs to the economy. States that added the most jobs are currently showing the rapid industry growth.
States that added a high number of cannabis jobs are playing a pivotal role in economic growth. As the industry continues to rapidly emerge in new states, job opportunities are appearing, and much-needed tax revenue is coming in… It could be exactly what’s needed for our nation’s economic recovery (2).
The 8 states that added the most cannabis jobs to the economy:
According to Leafly’s 2020 Job Report, over 77,000 cannabis jobs were added in the United States during 2020. These are the states that added the most jobs to the economy (4):
Colorado didn’t add as many jobs in 2020. But The Centennial state continues to lead the industry with the highest per capita sales — the most sales in comparison to Coloradoans (4). Cannabis continues to be Colorado’s strongest economic success story in comparison to other industries. While the number of jobs added was lower than all of the states listed above, Colorado had a 29% year-over increase in cannabis sales (4). CO brought in $350 million in state tax revenue (4).
In 2020, Colorado added 4,338 jobs to the market, totaling 35,539 jobs, with sales reaching $2.28 billion (4).
Marijuana Business Daily reports that vertically integrated cannabis companies have had long lines at their dispensaries (7). And the stats back it up. Before adult-use stores were opened this past January 2021, the medical sales were over $1 billion (4). With such high demand after the adult-use market opened up, there’s fear that the supply won’t keep up with the demand. What we do know is that jobs are being added and it’s helping Arizona’s economy. Arizona is following closely behind the top three states (CA, CO, and FL) for the most cannabis jobs.
In 2020, Arizona added 5,648 jobs to the market, totaling 20, 728 jobs, with sales reaching $1.03 billion (4).
Oklahoma’s medical cannabis 2020 sales more than doubled the 2019 sales with a 131% annual gain (4). This means that the state brought in $71.6 million in both local and state taxes during 2020, that’s $41 million more than in 2019 (5). This helped the Oklahoma’s economy big time!
In 2020, Oklahoma added 6,237 jobs to the market, totaling 16,759 jobs, with sales reaching $808 million (4).
Pennsylvania is a medical-only state, but it has some of the highest numbers of medical patients. After the medical cannabis market rolled out in Pennsylvania, it quickly became a mature market and is still functioning well (6).
Pennsylvania saw over 100,000 new patients get added to the registry, going from about 175,000 patients to about 275,000 patients (4). This spike in medical cannabis patients led to a spike in cannabis job growth.
In 2020, Pennsylvania added 7,188 jobs to the market, totaling 15,895 jobs, with sales reaching $810 million (4).
Last year, Illinois was predicted to easily reach $600 million in cannabis sales (8). Which would have been just under double its 2019 sales. Well, Illinois did $1.03 billion in cannabis sales which is nearly double the sales that were predicted! (4)
What’s next for Illinois? Opening more stores to meet the demand, and opening cannabis businesses that are minority-owned (3). The current system has been excluding minorities in opportunities for licenses and it’s been a huge problem for those hit hardest by the War on Drugs.
Illinois follows closely behind Michigan for the total number of jobs and the number of jobs added during 2020. In 2020, Illinois added 8,348 jobs to the market, totaling 16,837 jobs, with sales reaching $1.03 billion (4).
Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma came in close with (4):
- The number of jobs added to the market
- The total number of cannabis jobs
- Total sales in 2020.
At the end of 2019, Michigan opened its first adult-use dispensaries. This led the cannabis sales in 2020 to nearly double from what it was during 2019 — a medical-only year. Not only did the revenue almost double from 2019 to 2020, but the number of cannabis jobs did too (4,8).
In 2020, Michigan added 9,216 jobs to the market, totaling 18,078 jobs, with sales reaching just under $1 billion, coming in at $990 million (4).
In 2019, the cannabis industry in Florida saw 93% year-over growth because of the lifted ban on smokeable flower (8). This lift led the market to continue at a steady increase during 2020.
The number of medical patients went from just over 300,000 in 2019 to about 470,000 medical patients in 2020 (4,8). Florida is the second state behind California that added the highest number of jobs to the legal cannabis market. Recreational cannabis isn’t even legal there yet and they’re not too far behind Colorado in the number of cannabis jobs (more on Colorado below).
In 2020, Florida added 14,891 jobs to the market, totaling 31,444 jobs, with sales reaching over $1.2 billion (4).
Within the cannabis community, sometimes there’s a question on whether the illicit market will continue to persevere… But California has shown us that cannabis consumers are continuing to steadily transition to the legal market, despite high tax rates (1). This steady migration means that both legal cannabis sales and the number of cannabis jobs continue to increase.
In 2020, California added 23,707 new jobs to the market, totaling 57, 970 jobs, with sales reaching over $3.7 billion (4).
States to keep your eye on
While these states didn’t make our top eight list, keep your eye on New Jersey and New York for cannabis job growth. These markets are just beginning to bud and are still in their infancy. But we predict that adult-use in New Jersey and New York will have them following closely behind Pennsylvania’s economic growth in no time.
With the legalization in New York and New Jersey, it won’t be long before Pennsylvania follows suit. We predict if Pennsylvania legalizes adult-use their economy will continue to flourish… Especially with their successful medical program. The tri-state area will be a Northeast powerhouse.
Where should I look for cannabis jobs?
All of the states listed above are prime real estate for finding a cannabis job. Other states that are rapidly growing and adding jobs are Washington, Oregon, and Arizona (4).
If you want to look for cannabis jobs not located in one of the states we’ve profiled, take a look at your local cannabis laws to see what opportunities may be available to you. You can also check out our article on How To Find Your New Job in the Cannabis Industry for tips on how to get started.
Pre-register now for our Virtual Talent Conference Summer Breakout 2021! This event will be a unique hybrid event with in-person sessions in cities across the country, and a virtual stage for a global audience to tune in and discover opportunities in the cannabis industry.

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MTC sets the record straight
Mobile operator MTC remains adamant it has done no wrong in its pursuit of a data charging policy introduced on 12 December 2014 despite the cries by its customers. Following its introduction on 12 December smart phone users were not happy when they were charged N$2 for 10 megabytes of data daily.
Claiming that it is following international best practices, MTC is not backing down on its data charging policy and has momentarily withdrawn the campaign, adding that it was willing to work hand in hand with regulator Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN).
Tim Ekandjo, Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer also advised that MTC have not transgressed any provisions of the Communications Act.
Ekandjo came in defence of MTC and siad, “MTC has noted that there was still a sense of discomfort and lack of understanding with this new model, and have therefore decided to suspend the promotion for now. We have also observed that majority of our customers have voluntarily remained on the promotion, meaning they have not opted out.”
He added, “we will therefore go back to the drawing board to revise and re-engage the Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia to come up with a better understanding model to accommodate those customers who appreciated the model.”
Noting customers concerns’ regarding the data promotion, MTC remained steadfast in its belief that the data promotion was introduced in the best interest of the customers considering that the evolution of the smartphone era has brought about a high demand for data usage exponentially Ekandjo explained.


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PETALING JAYA: As the world's most populous country, China is an attractive market to tap, said the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents.
“The move to ease visa applications process for tourists from China is good.
“China is a huge market, considering its large population. This will encourage more tourists to visit Malaysia.” said MATTA president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun.
He said an increase in tourist arrivals would boost the country's aviation industry.
* Full report in The Star today
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This post is part of the weekly ‘Mobile Monday‘ series on news, ideas, and strategies in the world of mobile devices.
For most of us, September is a busy month. Kids are going back to school, and parents are getting them there. The arrival of fall means finishing up summer projects and getting ready for the cooler months. But it looks like the busiest people will be those in the mobile electronics industry. Many of them have started up their campaigns and releases of new gadgets this September. With all that’s coming up, we thought it was time to give you a snapshot of it all.
On September 5, Nokia and Microsoft teamed up as they announced the next step for Windows Phones. The Windows Phone 8 operating system has supposedly been reworked “from the ground up” to make it compatible with Windows 8 itself. Microsoft hit a snag with WP 7, so it entirely revamped the software.
At the event, Nokia announced the release of its Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 phones, both of which have the Microsoft software installed and ready for use. Taiwan-based smartphone maker HTC is another one of Microsoft’s Windows Phone partners and will be holding an event in New York City on September 19. HTC has released more devices for the Android operating system than Windows Phone this year, so it’s likely they will unveil a new WP 8 device at the event.
Not to be left out of the phone game, Motorola unveiled its Droid Razr HD as well as the Razr Maxx HD. The display screen on the phones has been extended, and a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor is featured. Motorola made waves with the 3300mAh battery on its previous Droid Razr Maxx, and is continuing to embrace long battery life as the phone’s claim to fame. The Razr HD harnesses a battery with sixteen straight hours of energy and the new Razr Maxx HD has the same 3300mAh battery, which means twenty-one astounding hours of operation.
Now, if you are looking for a tablet or e-reader, Amazon’s updated Kindle Fire HD is waiting in the wings. With rounder corners and a sharper screen, the regular tablet features a 7-inch screen and the larger one boasts an 8.9-inch display. The regular model costs $200, the larger model is $300, and the 4G LTE model is $500. When it comes to storage, the price may be worth it: the Fire HD starts with 16GB of local storage. The previous had half of that. There’s also less glare—25% to be exact.
Amazon also announced the release of the E-Ink Kindle Paperwhite. The 3G version comes out October 1st and will cost around $179. The older version now costs only $79. It has capitative touch, which is different from the infrared touch of most other touch devices, which should lead to more accurate loads as well as thinner Kindles in the future. It’s a frontlit device and has a nice, even light with a battery life of 8 weeks (on medium level). The most fascinating feature is its “Time to Read” feature, which learns how quickly you read and tells you how much time it will take you to finish a chapter or the whole book.
Now, no tech/mobile article would be complete without a mention of Apple, so here it is: we may finally see an iPhone 5 this month. Apple sent out invites for a special event on September 12, with a not-so-subtle hint that the number “5″ will be significant to the event. There’s more in store than its newly designed earbuds, so stay tuned for whatever information is to come.
Which of these products are you most excited over?
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A LANARK woman has retired in style after spending nearly 20 years looking after the local community’s eye health.
Rita White (61), has been an optical assistant at Specsavers Lanark since the store opened in May 1994. A favourite with customers and staff, the mum-of-two has seen major changes in the industry in the last 19 years.
She said: “When I started with Specsavers there were just four members of staff so it has certainly changed – there’s a team of 19 now.”
For more information on this story, pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.


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Apple used to be the hall mark for expensive well designed gear.
True, the Apple II used to catch fire but you at least felt it looked pretty as you watched smoke pour out of the top. Besides, catching fire was more common in those days.
However, the iPhone 4G, which was released in the UK today, is starting to show signs that its release was badly planned and the design bodged.
Apple users are complaining that the phone’s touch screens have several brown smudges on them. These were undoubtedly dodgy panels, but there once was a time where Apple would have had enough quality control to spot this. Now quality control is being done by a possibly suicidal Chinese teen working in a Foxconn “not really” sweatshop.
This would normally be fixed by Apple giving the user a new working phone, but these are a bit thin on the ground at the moment so early adopters are having to lump it.
Perhaps more alarming are complaints that the 4G reception is pants if you happen to do something like hold the phone in a funny way when you are talking to someone.
Dozens of videos posted to YouTube show that reception gets weaker if people hold it with their hand touching the metal rim around the phone that forms its two wireless antennae.
The design geniuses at Apple somehow failed to notice that the user’s hand creates a weak circuit of the two antennae which lie on a stainless steel band on the outside of the phone.
One American user who made a video of his problems, testing the phone against a data speed test site, said his phone would not start if he was holding it. The phone runs perfectly when he releases his thumb from the side.
This can only mean that the phone did not have enough testing in the paws of people who might leave them in pubs. This is exactly what happened when a tester left his iPhone 4 prototype in a pub and its details were revealed on Gizmodo. Our guess is that Jobs thought “sod it” and released the 4G without the extensive testing that the gear normally gets – perhaps in line with the much publicised release dates.
Jobs made a big deal about having the antennae outside the casing. It was a pretty radical idea as they have been shoved on the inside for at least a decade.
The reception problem might only apply to the lower 850 MHz frequency that AT&T uses where the thinness of the antenna could still lead to dropped calls.
Apple is aware that it is a little vulnerable as it is offering “bumpers” to protect it – but they cost more dosh, as if the 24-month tariffs and handset prices were not enough.
But it highlights another problem that Apple has generally with wireless technology. It really is not that good at it. The iPad was hit by similar woes after its launch in May when users found it difficult to get connected to Wi-Fi computer networks. Apple’s airport is buggy too.
It is fairly typical of Apple to move into areas where it might have the design genius but lacks the knowledge about making reliable gear. In the 1990s it had problems when it tried to network its computers, when that technology was new-ish. Its early attempts at the internet were not that hot either. Now it appears to be wireless technology which is its bugbear.
This would be ok if Apple was at the bleeding edge of technology. But it isn’t. Most other outfits have been down that route and know how to handle it. There are certain engineering rules that have been established and yet Apple seems to want to break them for something as shallow as design.
That would be ok if it tested the gear properly before Steve Jobs signed off on it. It is starting to look like some things are not being thought through. Goodness knows what other bugs are going to come out in the next few weeks.


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- Articles tagged "sound blasteraxx"
The new Creative Sound BlasterAxx is unlike any wireless speaker. It features a host of smart features such as a customizable "acoustic zone" and even boasts a built-in microphone array with CrystalVoice technology for communication purposes. We check out the entire line-up, SBX 8, SBX 10 and SBX 20, to see if it will turn Creative's fortunes.
Last week, Creative unveiled the Sound BlasterAxx series of speakers for desktops and smart mobile devices, powered by a new SB-Axx1 chip. Earlier today, we were at the company's HQ to witness exactly what the trio of speakers have to offer. Here are our hands-on and ears-on impressions.
- PSA: Steam game "Journey of the Light" is a scam; first level is unbeatable
- Acer announces entry-level Windows 10 laptops
- Lexus adds the finishing touches to their branded hoverboard
- Leaked images of Microsoft's next Lumia flagship smartphone
- Have you visited Yahoo lately? You could have been hacked
- Xbox Live is coming to the Microsoft HoloLens
- LG to start selling its EG960T curved 4K OLED TV this month
- Xiaomi to hold product launch event on 13 Aug, confirms launch of MIUI 7


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Products & Services
Navia is an eight-person robotic shuttle making its appearance at CES 2014 in Las Vegas, and we took it for a ride.
Produced by a company called Induct, the vehicle is designed to be used in city centers, such as college and business campuses, malls, parks, and military bases. A company representative calls it the "last mile solution," meaning it provides transportation solutions in areas that current transit cannot reach.
Rather than depend on GPS, the Navia is equipped with lasers and cameras for accuracy, teamed with software that can record routes, detect pedestrians, and see the parameters of the road. We were able to ride in the Navia and think it’s a clever mobility solution. Currently, it is in use in cities such as Singapore, but U.S. availability is forthcoming and will be announced in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, check out our video on this innovative next step on the road to autonomous transportation.
See our complete CES 2014 coverage.
Bosch demonstrates driverless car parking
General Motors announces wide availability of 4GLTE access
Kia showcases the big-screen car cabin of tomorrow
Toyota fuel-cell car to go on sale in 2015
5 trends in automotive electronics coming to your next car
Jaguar/Land Rover unveil a smart-phone-friendly infotainment system
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray can now capture track heroics in real-time video
Solar-powered Ford C-Max Energi hints at future for cars


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T-Mobile USA is prepping two Android smartphones that will sell for just under $100. The Samsung Exhibit 4G will run the latest version of Google’s operating system, while the Samsung Gravity SMART will have a sliding keyboard.
Given its name, it’s no surprise that the Exhibit 4G is going to support T-Mobile’s HSPA+ (21 Mbps download) network. This smartphone is going to run Android OS 2.3 (Gingerbread), making it the first mid-range model to debut with this version. It will be built around a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, and is going to include dual cameras: a rear-facing, 3-megapixel camera with flash and a front-facing, VGA one for video chatting.
The Samsung Gravity SMART, on the other hand, will have a strong focus on mobile messaging, hence the four-row sliding keyboard and supporter for T-Mobile’s Group Text service. It’s also going to have a 3.2-inch touchscreen, Android OS 2.2 (Froyo), and a 3.0 megapixel camera/video recorder.
T-Mobile announced that the Samsung Exhibit 4G and Gravity SMART are going to sell for under $100, which generally means $99.99. Getting this price will require a two-year service agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate.
T-Mobile also announced via its Twitter account that both phones would become available for purchase on June 22.


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When it comes to covering all of the applications where 3D printing technology has proved beneficial, no 3D printing service bureau has the range of service that the Belgium-based company Materialise has. From spacecraft components to fashion, the 3D printing solutions provider has managed to expand their facilities across Europe while keeping their financial numbers in positive territory. Not only does Materialise have a vast arsenal of 3D printing services available for all industries, they’ve also taken it upon themselves to host conferences and workshops throughout the world. These events have helped spread the gospel of 3D printing technology, and have connected industry leaders with eager learners looking to implement the emerging technology into their business.
This past week, Materialise held the Kolloquium 4.0: A 3DP Academy conference and workshop, which brought 3D printing professionals and enthusiasts from throughout the world together in Essen, Germany. The 3DP Academy was hosted at the Zollverein coal mine, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site considered to be a masterpiece of historical industrial architecture. Thus, the cherished backdrop provided the 3D printing conference and workshop with a poetic dichotomy between new and old technologies.
Kolloquium 4.0 featured speakers from a wide range of leading tech companies, including Daimler, Deutsche Bahn, Lufthansa, Siemens, and many others. The event made sure to span over all of the sectors that have been impacted by the emergence of 3D printing technology, offering a little bit of everything for attendees. The conference was both an informative and conversational event, helping an entire spectrum of attendees discover the different ways that 3D printing technology could potentially improve their business or even livelihood.
Following the Kolloquium 4.0 conference, participants were taken on a visit of the Red Dot Design Museum, where Materialise is hosting the “Making A Difference / A Difference in Making” 3D printing exhibition. The traveling exhibition was curated by Marta Malé-Alemany and produced by Materialise, and is the first display in Germany to focus solely on 3D printing technology. The exhibition showcases how the 3D printing technology has helped save lives, revolutionize industries, and empower makers around the world.
“Even though we work with such amazing projects from varied customers every day, in so many different industries, it’s only at an exhibition like this that you really see a glimpse of what Additive Manufacturing is capable of today,” says Claudia Schallenberg, Materialise Germany. “It was also a great complement to the discussions from the conference, to come to the Red Dot museum and see many of the ideas already in action.”
Though the Kolloquium 4.0 conference has ended, you can still visit Materialise’s “Making A Difference / A Difference in Making” exhibition in the Red Dot Design Museum up until October 30, 2016. The 3D printing service provider is constantly hosting and taking part in 3D printing conferences and workshops throughout the world, so keep your eyes peeled for the next Materialise event coming to a region near you. Discuss in the Kolloquium forum at 3DPB.com.
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By Jude McCorry, CEO of Scottish Business Resilience Centre
WHILE the volume of crime overall is falling in Scotland, cybercrime in comparison has risen. Why? Our reliance on technology increased significantly last year, with Police Scotland reporting a 100% overall increase in cyber investigations between July 2019 and July 2020. Some business leaders might think this statistic means they should speak to IT and prioritise cybersecurity. However, it’s no longer enough to implement a cybersecurity strategy and expect it to keep an organisation safe. In 2021 and beyond, it will be vital for companies to embrace a cyber resilience strategy on top of standard security measures.
Cybersecurity refers to an organisation’s defence strategy – a series of measures put in place to prevent criminals from penetrating systems through methods including hacking, phishing, and ransomware. It focuses on software such as firewalls, antivirus programmes, and malware protection, and on employee education to reduce human error in allowing a breach to happen. This is important but, given the rapidly changing and expanding nature of technology, the goalposts have been moved. Cybersecurity alone is no longer enough.
Instead, cyber resilience must become the goal. This is about what happens after an organisation experiences a cyberattack on its systems. A cyber resilient organisation is one that can respond and recover from a cyberattack with minimal impact on business operations. The most cyber resilient organisation will continue functioning during an attack, with no effect on its operations.
It is natural that some security teams might want to avoid such discussions; after all, cyber resilience involves accepting that there is no perfect cybersecurity solution. Taking this idea onboard is vital for a business’ long-term survival. As we approach CyberScotland Week, which is heavily focused on cyber resilience, its importance is clear. While a breach is essentially inevitable, without a cyber resilience strategy, the cost ramifications could be catastrophic.
Certainly, the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2020 found the average cost of a breach is £4,430. However, the survey also notes that this may be an underestimation of the full costs in terms of lost business or reputational damage. The number could be significantly higher: consider TalkTalk being fined £400,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office in 2015, or – in a more extreme case – Equifax losing $4 billion (approximately £2.8 billion) in share value after a 2017 hacking incident. And while smaller organisations are unlikely to see costs this high, SMEs are often targeted because they generally have less investment in security.
In 2018, cybersecurity researchers identified at least 57 ways cyberattacks could have a negative impact on a business; ranging from regulatory fines and declining stock prices, to damaged relationships with customers and reputational loss. Given the dramatic effect a cyberattack can have on a business, organisations must assume it will happen – and undertake preparations to become as resilient as possible.
A starting point in cyber resilience discussions is to conduct a baseline assessment of where a cyberattack could have the most damaging effects on the business and then to put measures in place that mitigate this damage. For example, developing offline emergency processes that will keep essential operations running. A cross-functional response team involving employees from every department will help with this.
The far-reaching effects of a security breach highlight why cyber discussions cannot be left to the IT team. They must be included in boardroom discussions, especially because cyber resilience requires a holistic approach that involves all aspects of business operations.
Technology has been a saviour for most businesses over the past year, but brings unprecedented risks and threats to business continuity. Given that almost every business relies on online services in some way – whether that’s using an online bank account, holding customer information electronically, or just having a website – it’s not a question of “if” the business will suffer a cyberattack, but “when.” This attitude adjustment is key to ensuring preparedness and management of a cyberattack, and make sure the business can remain as operational as possible.


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Wednesday, 31 Aug 2016
ViewQwest offers free six months of English Premier League coverage for new or re-contracting 1Gbps and 2Gbps broadband plans. EPL coverage is done via Eleven Sports Network.
ASUS has just launched its new PCE-AC88 Wi-Fi PCIe adapter. It will allow desktop users to reach speeds of up to 2.1Gbps on the 5GHz band.
Running out of storage? Good news, Apple has just dropped a new 2TB iCloud storage plan ahead of next week's eagerly anticipated iPhone announcement.
The MacBook Air is not dead as Apple has plans to refresh the lineup in October.
Tuesday, 30 Aug 2016
Interested to buy the Apple iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus? Better start saving as they are going to cost an arm and a leg.
If your workstation needs some serious processing power with 10G LAN connection, ASUS has the X99-E- 10G WS motherboard that comes with all the latest connectivity options.
Called "System Firmware Update - 8/29/2016" in Windows Update, it should fix the issue of the Surface Pro 3 not holding a charge.
Google thinks we need less productivity in the office.
Fitbit has just announced two new activity trackers. The Charge 2 with heart-rate monitoring, and the "swim-proof" Flex 2.
Several purported specs of the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have been leaked on Chinese social networking site Weibo. Hit the link to find out more!


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Import of buffalo meat from India
New Delhi : Saudi Arabia has removed 22-year old restriction on import of buffalo meat from India. The Union ministry of agriculture hopes that after Basmati rice, Indian buffalo meat would also be much in demand in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia had banned import of buffalo meat from India in 1982 after discovering some harmful elements in buffalo meat imported from India. After this export of Indian buffalo meat had very much decreased. Saudi Arabia removed import restrictions after OIE, an organisation in Paris, confirmed in May this year that the harmful virus in the Indian buffalo meat was eliminated .
According to director general of Agricultural Products Export and Development Agency (APEDA), R.K. Goyal, Saudi Arabia can now import 3000 containers of Buffalo meat annually from India. One container contains 25 tonnes of meat. If this happens, Saudi Arabia could become the second biggest market for Indian buffalo meat after Malayasia. He added that Saudi Arabia purchased 0.4 million tonnes of beef annually from USA, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Argentina. After reports of ‘mad cow’ disease, Saudi Arabia cut down the import of beef from these countries. The advantage will go to India.
Samar Qureshi, director of the Delhi-based export company, Hind Agro-Industries Ltd, said that the Saudi market will be very useful for India. He said that Indian exporters are presently exporting 3500 tonnes of buffalo meat every month.
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“Rhodiolife has been a leading, premium form of rhodiola for decades, with a reputation for sustainability and consistently high quality,” said Devin Stagg, chief operating officer for PLT Health Solutions. “Our non-GMO verification with the Non-GMO Project helps to underscore the clean label nature of this ingredient.”
Manufactured by Canary Islands-based nutraceutical company Nektium, Rhodiolife is distributed exclusively by PLT in the U.S. across active nutrition, cognitive and mood support, esports and immune health categories.
Upping the bar with the butterfly
Stagg explained that this new certification is part of a wider commitment to create value through clean label practices to ensure ingredient identity, traceability, transparency and consistency. It follows an April 2023 announcement that the Nektium supply had achieved compliance with the sustainability and supply chain requirements recently established for Rhodiola rosea by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“Nektium has made moves in the last two years to up the bar on the value this ingredient offers product developers and consumers,” Stagg said. “We can point to significant sustainability achievements, regulatory compliance, traceability, enhanced delivery via water solubility and lab-verified quality as some of these efforts.”
Adding the Non-GMO Project seal – recognizable by its blue butterfly logo – indicates that products have met stringent third-party provisions for raw materials, manufacturing processes and logistics to ensure that they contain no or minimal (less than 0.9%) genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Megan Westgate, executive director of the Non-GMO Project, recently told NutraIngredients-USA that “the demand for more and better choices is only growing”, with 752 Non-GMO Project Verified dietary supplement ingredients for B2B sales and over 4,000 verified vitamin and supplement products currently available for retail.
She cited SPINS retail data showing that non-GMO product sales have experienced a steady 4 to 5% increase in a global non-GMO food market that Fortune Business Insights projected would grow at a CAGR of 10.2% from $623.96 billion in 2021 to USD $1,231.13 billion in 2028.
Ensuring the fingerprint
The Rhodiola rosea (a hardy perennial also known as golden root) used in Rhodiolife is cultivated at high altitudes in the Altai Mountains of Siberia on large-scale plots located near the wild-grown supplies to replicate native climate and soil conditions.
Adriana Regidor, corporate strategy and sustainability director at Nektium, shared that there are many benefits to cultivation in addition to protecting wild-grown supplies.
“It gives us a more predictable and secure long-term raw material supply, which means improved price stability, superior safety and more effective quality control,” she told NutraIngredients-USA. “It also provides customers with reassurance over adulteration, which is a major issue among many Rhodiola rosea extracts.”
Recently, the American Botanical Council’s Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program suggested that high demand for Rhodiola rosea has led to it being mixed or interchanged with other rhodiola species.
Stagg highlighted the Nektium ID Assessment program, which consists of multiple identity tests on every batch of Rhodiolife, including macroscopic and sensorial analysis, development of chromatographic profiles and independent DNA barcode analysis to ensure authenticity of the raw material.
“The material is then standardized to provide precise levels of key bioactive compounds, rosavins and salidroside,” he said. “The resulting HPLC ‘fingerprint’ of the Rhodiolife extract is consistent from batch to batch and matches that of the native root.”


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The top and bottom ends of the wireless handset markets are to enjoy the best growth rates over the next five years, according to researchers.
This will be at the expense of mid-range models, commonly called “enhanced” phones. The enhanced phone sector is currently the largest in terms of shipments, with 854 million units shipped in 2007.
But it will be overtaken by both other classes in 2013, with just 441 million shipping.
Kevin Burden, a director of ABI Research and author of the report “Mobile devices annual market overview”, said: “As we see more user sophistication and demand for high-end features, handset manufacturers will continue to push functions of high-level smartphone operating systems further down their product lines.
“Their smartphone portfolios will grow, and with them, the entire smartphone market.”
The report said this was seen as desireable by operators as well, who wanted more smartphone users because of the higher average revenue per user (ARPU) they generated.
It added that the operators also like phones with standard operating systems that are optimised for their content delivery platforms.
At the other end of the market, demand will be driven by the huge emerging markets in countries such as China, India, and Brazil.
Here, the ABI report said the low-cost and ultra-low-cost handset categories were set to become the largest classes of mobile phones by 2013 in terms of shipments, though not in terms of revenue.
“While the unit shipments of ultra-low-cost handsets will be dramatic over the forecast period, the device class is only expected to account for 6 per cent of the market’s overall revenue,” said Burden.
“But vendors will continue to pursue these markets for the sake of brand-building and the prospect of eventual upward migration by users.”
Since no single mobile device will serve the needs of everyone, a number of other form factors will compete for users’ mobile computing cycles.
In particular, MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices) and UMPCs (Ultra-mobile PCs) show promise for wider consumer acceptance.
According to the ABI report, prices will be moderate (eventually under US$200 for many MIDs) and the devices wiill deliver a superior mobile Internet experience.


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ALROSA’s new President Sergey Ivanov led a senior delegation from the Russian diamond miner to Antwerp today to get acquainted with their partners at the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. The high-level visit focused on the longstanding cooperation between ALROSA and the AWDC, reconfirming their privileged relationship and discussing the current and future outlook for the rough diamond market. Antwerp, the world's leading diamond trade center, and ALROSA, the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds in terms of volume, formalized their partnership and mutual interest in a cooperation agreement signed in 2013; today the parties successfully negotiated the further development of bilateral cooperation, including the promotion of diamond trade, implementation of educational programs and the exchange of information. They also discussed the possibility of ALROSA's participation in the events dedicated to the 570th anniversary of the diamond trade of Antwerp to be celebrated in 2017-2018.
As a result of this established partnership, the European Union, and more specifically Antwerp, is the primary market for Russian exports of rough diamonds, receiving nearly 60% of the Russian miner’s output. Consequently, the Russian Federation is the source of 31% of all rough diamonds imported to Antwerp, making it the largest supplier of rough diamonds to the Antwerp diamond industry. AWDC’s Diamond Office, which is the supervisory body of the Belgian government responsible for all diamond imports to and exports from Antwerp, registered imports of nearly 28 million carats of rough diamonds from Russia in 2016, representing total value of 2.5 billion dollars - a 33% increase in volume and a 25% increase in value over the year before.
The Russian delegation was led by the new President of ALROSA, Sergey Ivanov. The visit to Belgium was Ivanov's first international trip since becoming Alrosa head a month ago. He was accompanied by Mr. Andrey Yurin, Head of the Gokhran of Russia. They were welcomed by the President of AWDC’s Board of Directors Mr. Stéphane Fischler, the Vice President of AWDC’s Board of Directors Mr. Nishit Parikh and several members of AWDC’s management team. They further discussed the current state of affairs regarding the Kimberley Process and the contributions of the World Diamond Council to its efforts, before holding a working meeting at the Beurs Voor Diamanthandel.


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MONTREAL – Alimentation Couche-Tard’s shares hit an all-time high Tuesday after the convenience store giant reported a surge in quarterly net income amid improving consumer confidence in some U.S. states and coupled that with a decision to boost its dividend 14 per cent.
The Quebec-based company said its quarterly dividend will increase to 10 cents per share, up from 8.75 cents, payable Dec. 19 to shareholders on record as at Dec. 5.
Following the announcement, Couche-Tard’s shares soared more than $4 to set a new benchmark of C$78 before falling back to close up $2.19, or nearly three per cent, at $76.17 in trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Couche-Tard, which reports in U.S. dollars, announced before markets opened that its net profit increased 27 per cent to US$229.8 million. That translated into $1.21 per share for the second-quarter ended Oct. 13, up from 97 cents per share or $181.3 million a year earlier.
Adjusting for currency fluctuations and other items, Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD.B) earned $249 million or $1.32 per share, up $171 million or 91 cents per share from a year earlier.
Revenue decreased three per cent to $9 billion on lower fuel prices, currency translations, the sale of its Liquid Petroleum Gas business last year and fewer days of operations by Statoil Fuel & Retail in this year’s results.
Still, same-store merchandise and fuel sales — a key retail measure — increased in North America and Europe.
Same-store merchandise revenues were up 3.2 per cent in Canada, 4.5 per cent in the U.S., and 1.9 per cent in Europe as merchandise gross margins exceeded 30 per cent in each area. Same-store fuel volumes increased 1.5 per cent in Canada, 1.7 per cent in the U.S. and 2.2 per cent in Europe.
Couche-Tard was expected to earn $1.22 per share in adjusted profits on $9.33 billion of revenues, according to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.
“I’m happy of what we accomplished this quarter in terms of organic growth in both North America and in Europe,” CEO Alain Bouchard said during a conference call.
He said merchandise revenues and fuel volumes were helped by the contribution of recent acquisitions and pricing strategies adopted in the first quarter to drive in-store traffic.
Chief operating officer Brian Hannasch said the company successfully used different promotional and marketing strategies to attract North American customers who remain very value conscious.
However, he said some U.S. states like Arizona, Florida and California and countries in eastern Europe that were hard hit during the recession are starting to rebound.
“There’s no doubt that the economies have bottomed and are improving and consumer confidence in those markets is better,” he said.
Bouchard described the acquisition environment as moderate with small opportunities in the U.S. But he foresees opportunities to buy convenience stores from large oil companies in Canada and said it has had discussions in Europe to add stores in countries adjacent to its current operations.
Irene Nattel of RBC Capital Markets said the company’s tone was more cautious on acquisitions than it had been during previous conference calls.
Still, she said the company delivered strong growth, driven by initiatives to drive traffic and size of purchases and a better economic backdrop.
“The results continue trend of solid operating improvement,” she wrote in a report.
Couche-Tard’s long-term debt decreased by $448 million to $3.16 billion.
Couche-Tard said it realized about $13 million in pre-tax costs savings from its acquisition of Statoil Fuel & Retail in the quarter, raising annual savings to $51 million. The company continues to expect annual synergies to range between $150 million and $200 million before the end of 2015.
Alimentation Couche-Tard is one of North America’s largest convenience store operators with 6,207 locations, including 4,698 stores selling fuel and more than 60,000 employees, operating under the Couche-Tard, Mac’s and Circle K brands.
In Europe, it operates 2,276 Statoil Fuel & Retail stores across Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltics and Russia, with 18,500 employees.


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Bed Bug Awareness Week, which takes place this year from June 6 to 12, is a time for pest control professionals (PMPs) to educate their clients about bed bug infestations.
The annual education campaign is promoted by the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public awareness arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).
During the week-long campaign, the PPMA will educate the public through various media relations and social media tactics on the signs of a bed bug infestation and the importance of working with a licensed PMP.
“While many Americans choose to take vacations within driving distance of their homes this year, the risk of encountering bedbugs remains just as high, if not higher,” said Cindy Mannes, executive director of the PPMA, in a press release. Release. “Bedbugs can survive several months without a blood meal and could go hungry if they survived unnoticed after reduced travel amid the pandemic, making it imperative for industry to ensure Americans understand that bedbug infestations should be treated by a professional. “
The PPMA encourages PMPs and members of the industry to join the cause by launching media relations campaigns, including dedicating their company’s social media pages to bedbugs throughout the week and using the hashtag #BedBugWeek on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
âBed bugs aren’t a DIY pest, so it’s important that pest control companies join us in raising awareness,â Mannes said.
The toolkit is available for download from PPMAMainframe.org, an exclusive digital marketing hub containing hundreds of personalized and professionally designed marketing materials and assets that pest control companies can use to promote their businesses. Bedbug Awareness Week kit contains customizable press release, suggested social media content, Bedbug Awareness Week logos, high resolution photographs, media training materials and a list of video content that can be directly integrated into a company’s website.


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West Allis - Caterina's Ristorante has been serving up Italian staples for three decades.
The fine-dining Italian restaurant at 9104 W. Oklahoma Ave. continues as a family business, with its founders employing their children, as well as their children's spouses.
Tony Ingrilli Jr. said the keys to its success are good food, a cozy atmosphere and personal service, adding that the restaurant has become known for its hearty portions, made-to-order meals and its complimentary antipasto tray.
Tony took over his parents' restaurant in 2005.
His father, Antonio (Tony) Sr. came to Milwaukee from Sicily in 1964 and began making pizza at age 17. By the time he was 24, he had opened his first restaurant, Ingrilli's Villa, specializing in Italian entrees and pizza. Tony and his wife, Kathy, went on to open an Italian specialty delicatessen, becoming one of the first local businesses to make and sell frozen pizzas. Their pizza and products were sold in grocery stores throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
From there, Tony and Kathy opened Caterina's Ristorante on Nov. 24, 1982, only days before Kathy's birthday. The restaurant is named for her.
To mark its 30th anniversary, Caterina's is offering specials throughout November.
- West Allis and Wangard Partners recognized for the clean up and redevelopment of an induistrial site
- In Bief: Free meals, fire, mural, fatal, FBI, brewery
- Parade to be biggest part of July 4 celebration in West Allis
- Preliminary West Allis school budget wipes out $4.2 million in red ink (2)
- 'Thinking art' to make for powerful exhibit in West Allis
- Things to do: Concerts, fests, beer garden
- Bicycle ride share proposal could be rolling soon in West Allis
- More decorative bike racks could add panache to West Allis locales
- West Allis Police blotter: June 30, 2016
- West Allis taps into tool to help get foreclosed properties fixed up


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Living in Brisbane
Brisbane Welcomes the World
Busking in Brisbane
Events and Venue Hire
Privacy, Disclaimer, Copyright
Terms and Conditions
Whether it's a restaurant, shop or announcement – find out what's making news on Visit Brisbane.
Brisbane Greeters turned on the hospitality for some of the world’s high fliers during the G20 Leaders Summit, showing off the delights of Brisbane.
10 November 2014 – Brisbane’s King George Square will welcome a fleet of food trucks in celebration of the Global Cafe at City Hall.
7 November 2014 – Brisbane’s CBD will come alive with more than 200 free live music performances from over 100 musicians and bands as part of Brisbane’s G20 Soundtrack
This is a comprehensive guide to what restaurants, shops and attractions will be open across G20 weekend, 14-16 November.
The Brisbane CBD and South Brisbane will remain open during the G20 long weekend, however disruptions to transport networks should be expected.
The City will welcome the world during the G20 Leaders Summit on 15 and 16 November with major retail centres, boutiques and restaurants all open for business.*
Travel into and across the Brisbane Central Business District (CBD) and South Brisbane will not be as easy as usual during the G20 Leaders' Summit. Here are some tips for people to note down.
Brisbane band Sheppard made its American debut as the first Australian band to ever appear on the popular Ellen DeGeneres Show.
The revitalisation of a prime city riverside eyesore site has moved a step closer to fruition today with the announcement of the successful tender for the Howard Smith Wharves Revitalisation project
Brisbane’s legendary music scene will be celebrated with 24 days of free live music acts as we prepare to welcome the world’s leaders for the G20 Leaders Summit.


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Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd is in advanced talks with key suppliers about setting up its first potential European plant in the German city of Dresden.
TSMC is sending a team of senior executives to Germany early next year to discuss the level of government support for the prospective plant as well as the capacity of the local supply chain to meet its needs, according to the report, citing people familiar with the matter.
The Taiwanese firm’s talks with several materials and equipment suppliers are focused on whether they can also make the investments required to support the plant, the report said, adding that if it presses ahead with a Dresden plant, it would focus on 22-nanometre and 28-nanometre chip technologies.
The development comes after the chipmaker flagged last year that it was in the early stages of reviewing a potential expansion into Germany but there appears to have been no substantive progress since then.
TSMC has maintained it had not yet made a decision on a plant in Europe, but that no options were being ruled out.
Under the European Chips Act, the European Commission has earmarked a total of 15 billion euros ($15.90 billion) for public and private semiconductor projects by 2030 and use the money to double Europe’s share of the highly competitive chip market.
Earlier this month, TSMC said it would more than triple its planned investment at its new Arizona plant to $40 billion, among the largest foreign investments in U.S. history.
The company expects its Phoenix factories to create 13,000 high-tech jobs, including 4,500 under TSMC and the rest filled by suppliers. Reuters


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Electronic and digital storage manufacturer Imation announced that it has filed an action in the Federal District Court in St Paul, Minnisota, requesting that the court resolve an ongoing dispute with various subsidiaries of Philips Electronics.
The company is requesting that the court reaffirm Imation's cross-licensing rights related to various optical products, including recordable and rewritable CD and DVD discs, based on a long-standing agreement between Imation and Philips.
Imation filed a similar action in October, following which the two companies entered into negotiations to resolve the dispute and Imation withdrew its filing. However, those negotiations were unsuccessful and Imation is re-filing its case.
Imation said its cross-licensing agreement with Philips allows Imation to manufacture, have others manufacture for Imation on its behalf and sell various optical media products including CD and DVD discs. Imation's action asks the court to stop Philips' alleged attempts to interfere with Imation's ongoing business relationships with its customers and suppliers.
Frank Russomanno, president and CEO of Imation, said in a statement: "We are disappointed that Philips continues to attempt to interfere with Imation's optical partners despite the existing and long-standing cross-licence agreement and despite our ongoing discussions with Philips. As a technology leader with a broad portfolio of intellectual property, and one of the innovators that helped develop a roadmap to the optical storage formats in use today by hundreds of millions of consumers, Imation vigorously supports the valid enforcement of licensing and IP rights. We simply want Philips to abide by their agreement with us."
Cotton seedling freezes to death as Chang'e-4 shuts down for the Moon's 14-day lunar night
Fortnite easily out-earns PUBG, Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018
Meteor showers as a service will be visible for about 100 kilometres in all directions
Saturn's rings only formed in the past 100 million years, suggests analysis of Cassini space probe data
New findings contradict conventional belief that Saturn's rings were formed along with the planet about 4.5 billion years ago


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AI Global Magazine awards Coalesce
"IT CEO of the Year"
My Hollywood Experience - Appearing in a Prime-Time TV Commercial04TH SEPTEMBER 2015
Coalesce CEO to Moderate the Cognitive Computing Group of Boston08TH JUly 2015
Coalesce™ Invited to Present at FinTech Innovation Event17TH JUNE 2015
Coalesce™ is featured in keynote address at IBM PartnerWorld by Stephen Gold, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of IBM Watson10TH FEB 2015


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By Matt Tomsic
Published April 17, 2012
The S.C. State Ports Authority recorded its highest monthly container volume since October 2008, the authority’s CEO said Tuesday during a monthly board meeting.
CEO Jim Newsome said the port handled 77,000 pier containers in March. The volume is also up 36% compared to the most recent lowest monthly volume, which was recorded in August 2009.
“It is one month,” Newsome said. “I always caution at looking at individual months.”
But, Newsome said, the statistic is a push toward the ports authority’s goal to get container volumes to the levels of fiscal year 2008, when the ports authority logged roughly 972,000 pier containers.
“We’re working hard to increase our volume,” Newsome said.
March’s container volume caps the ports authority’s highest quarter since the recession. From January through March, the port handled roughly 209,000 pier containers.
For the period ending on March 31, the port recorded revenues of nearly $98 million, up 6% compared to the same period in 2011, though earnings were down by 47.8% year-over-year at $7.6 million.
Total expenses increased 16.1% year-over-year to $90.3 million, a figure that is nearly 2% higher compared to fiscal year 2012’s plan.
Pier containers increased by 1% year-over-year, while pier tons increased by 20.4% and cruise passengers increased by 8.2%.
Newsome said the volume increases are due to a new APL service at Wando Welch Terminal, March’s stature as a seasonally strong month, increasing BMW exports and roll-on, roll-off cargo, and a bulk granite account at Veterans Terminal.
Going forward, Newsome said, the port is focusing on new services, cargo development, switching empty containers to loaded containers and financial sustainability, which means growing revenue and controlling costs.


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Social media firms need to do more to tackle fraud and scams on their platforms and make their terms and conditions fair for all consumers, the European Commission (EC) has said.
Google, Facebook and Twitter were asked in November 2016 to come up with changes in these areas.
European Commissioner for Justice, Vera Jourova, said it was unacceptable that the changes were "taking so much time".
She said that changes so far only partially fulfilled the requirements.
Google+'s latest proposals are in line with the requests made by European consumer authorities but Facebook, and more significantly Twitter, have only partially addressed issues.
The sticking points appear to be over their liability and about how users are informed about content removal or contract termination, the European Commission said.
Back in November 2016, EU consumer authorities wrote to the social media firms expressing unease about a range of consumer rights issues, following a series of consumer complaints.
Since then, the social media operators have agreed to amend:
- the terms of services limiting or totally excluding the liability of social media networks in connection with the performance of the service
- the terms requiring consumers to waive mandatory EU consumer rights, such as their right to withdraw from an online purchase
- the terms depriving consumers of their right to go to court in their member state of residence, and providing the application of California law
- the term releasing the platform from the duty to identify commercial communications and sponsored content
All three promised to implement the changes to their terms and conditions in the first quarter of 2018.
When it comes to the removal of illegal content, the EC felt that the companies could do more. While Google+ has promised deadlines to deal with requests, Facebook and Twitter have only agreed to provide a dedicated email address that national authorities can use to notify infringements.
However, they have not committed to deal with such requests within specific timeframes.
Ms Jourova said: "As social media networks are used as advertising and commercial platforms, they must fully respect consumer rules.
"I am pleased that the enforcement of EU rules to protect consumers by national authorities is bearing fruit, as some companies are now making their platforms safer for consumers. However, it is unacceptable that this is still not complete and it is taking so much time."
The EC published a table charting the changes requested by it and the response from the three firms.


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Superyacht Technology Network (SYT Network) has announced a major expansion of its Superyacht Technology Show for 2025.
A new Hybrid & Electric Zone will see up to 35 yachts based in a custom dock at Barcelona’s Marina Port Vell adjacent to the main show taking place at the World Trade Centre.
The new show-within-a-show will highlight advances in alternative fuel and sustainable energy solutions by showcasing the latest technology in action aboard the exhibiting vessels.
The dedicated space will enhance and complement the extensive systems technology on show in the World Trade Centre and provide a platform for the superyacht builders and supporting industries who are incorporating innovative hybrid and electric developments in new projects.
The new zone will be accessed by EV cars and electric tenders on water to compliment the hybrid and electric theme.
The addition has been enabled after major shareholder Will Faimatea put in additional investment.
“We have been discussing the development of sustainable power systems with superyacht builders, designers and project managers from all the leading companies around the world, explained director of SYT Network Jack Robinson. “They have been unanimous in their desire to separate technology and brokerage at shows in the future to allow them to focus more on the yacht buyers.”
He added: “In response, our 2025 event will be unique in reflecting that demand. Our goal is to be a key influencer in the changing landscape of superyacht and hybrid technology.”
General manager of Marina Port Vell, Ignacio Erroz, commented: “This will be the first show of its kind to focus purely on the many technologies required to sustainably manage the modern superyachts of the future.
“It is a rapidly growing and changing market and we are proud that Jack and his team have chosen Marina Port Vell as the window into this exciting future.”
The fourth edition of the Superyacht Technology Show will be held in Barcelona World Trade Centre and Marina Port Vell on March 18 and 19 2025.


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Klépierre is going to invest 15 million euros in the remodelling and repositioning of the Maremagnum shopping centre in Barcelona.
In an agreement with Time Out Market, Maremagnum will host a gastronomic and cultural market on the property’s terrace from next year. The arrangement represents the first step towards the repositioning of the shopping centre operated by Klépierre. Specifically, Time Out Market Barcelona will showcase award-winning and promising culinary and cultural talent from Barcelona, all based on Time Out Barcelona’s editorial selection.
Read the full article in Spanish.


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Apple iPhone versus Samsung Galaxy: Who’s Winning The Smartphone Battle?Tuesday 18 June 2013, by The Media Team
The two biggest technology giants Apple and Samsung have been fighting for years, but who’s winning the smartphone battle? In our latest infographic we’ve weighed up both the iPhone and the Galaxy to see who’s winning.
Whether it’s revenue or advertising spend they both vary dramatically. In our study we’ve discovered that despite Apple having no social media presence across the major platforms they still gain nearly 6x more mentions per week, crazy eh? Most recently Apple was labeled the most valuable brand in the world but is this enough to take down Samsung? Find out below.
Copy and paste the code below into your web page to embed this infographic.
We’ve been listening to your feedback, and have been working for months to make your experience on the UK’s number one classifieds site even better. So here’s what’s new. ...Read More


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Digital tech is the only game-changer we've got
Read the article
A blueprint for the digital future.
See the article
How to fund digital transformation
Why charities need true digital transformation
See the blog
5 insights into digital transformation.
How PRs can help charities navigate an existential digital crisis.
Charity Digital News
Charities face biggest ever digital shake up.
How mobile is shaping the future of the charity sector.
Charity chief executives and trustees 'lack leadership' on digital technology.
Embrace disruption and ride the digital wave


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A New Jersey court issued a final order endorsing a best practices list offered by Christopher Peterson, a professor of law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law, in the advertising of tax refund preparation services to consumers. The opinion followed hotly contested litigation brought by the New Jersey Attorney General’s office against the Malqui Financial Group, a regional income tax return preparation chain.
New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas P. Olivieri ruled that the tax preparation chain was liable for hundreds of violations of New Jersey false advertising laws in connection with their income tax return preparation businesses. Professor Peterson was retained by the State of New Jersey to act as an expert witness and consultant in the litigation.
In awarding the state $1.86 million in penalties and ordering $1.64 million in restitution to consumers, the New Jersey court also adopted a list of restrictions on misleading advertising submitted by Professor Peterson. The court found that income tax preparation chain had falsely described their services as income tax refunds, when in fact the company brokered high cost loans with triple digit interest rates. The court also found that the tax return preparer had targeted Spanish speaking consumers with deceptive advertisements designed to capture tax refunds owed to recent immigrants.
In his colloquy announcing the decision, Judge Olivieri explained, “I think that these best practices that the state has laid out and has been endorsed by Professor Christopher Peterson are appropriate regarding any other entity [that provides tax return preparation.]”
The Court found that the Malqui Financial Group and its related companies targeted consumers eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, the federal government’s largest anti-poverty program. “This tax credit was meant to help raise low income kids out of poverty, not to line the pockets finance companies,” explained Peterson. “Particularly at this time of year, it’s good to see a court taking a stand against deceptive and overpriced consumer financial services associated with income tax returns.”


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A few global market projections for the first quarter of the new year have telltale volumes of resounding gloom. Bad economic implications of the recessive and often paralytic nature are a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forbes noted how supply chains in the industry would be severely affected as most low-cost laborers are outsourced from China, where the outbreak is said to have hit first.
On equal footing, Nike shares reflect this scenario as it dives to four percent in January 2021. The grim forecast is not far-fetched as the troublesome worldwide health crisis is coming on a full twelve-month circle soon. Despite this news which rightfully should warrant sorrow, there is, nonetheless, a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The shift in consumer trends created avenues for business makers to take advantage of.
The Internet is the lightning rod
In a metaphorical analogy, money is lightning, and the Internet is the lightning rod. As it stands today, those who could manipulate the current energy flow are on track to change the world. Tech giants have recognized the unfathomable craze that is in social media and has handsomely rewarded those who by any means could “influence” those who share in its light.
Tech public relations services, in return, became such a favorable to-go strategy. GameStop recently became an unwitting (but surely not unlucky) example of a stock market fiasco when it hit rounds at the social media platform Reddit. This has prompted Wall Street to credit internet influencers as a force to be reckoned with in this new age of advertising.
When it first took shape in the 1990s, social media has gone through various transformations and iterations. Influencers and creators have now proven to be wielders of the digital revolution. Friendster was then the humble forebear of the era, with users boasting about their often glittery home screens and pages upon pages of testimonials from friends. Investors in the current market scene are wise not to ignore internet creators. More home-bound consumers and general business practices alike are needlessly inclined to partake of the online universe in all its complexities.
Break it to me gently
The singer of the popular 80s ballad version, Angela Bofill, was an often overlooked prodigy, as aptly placed by an online write-up to “have the makings to be a much bigger star than she was,” and unfortunately, lost and commercially adrift during the Reagan era as producers somehow were clueless on what to do with her career. The great commercial “break” for artists and investors alike is the four-leaf clovers of their respective industries. In today’s Angela Boffil-like scenario, the producers being the investors should take at heart the frequencies of emotions within the workplace and the online environment.
The Entrepreneur Magazine interprets a key characteristic in the success of an organization through the honestly measured ability to communicate with the core components of the industry both inside and outside the organization. Words that travel across channels of communications create waves throughout, as experienced by Melvin Capital and its debacle surrounding the GameStop stocks where one’s conduct drew ire from a collective of strangers.
The spoken word has never gotten such credence than ever before, especially when published on the Internet. When one considers the number of time people spent communicating on the job, it is not surprising how staggering the relevance it bears for the entire company itself.
Navigating through emotions with words as your vehicle is as relenting as demanding, and it requires patience as it does patience. Jane Qiu, the co-founder of Kintell, offers a few insights in traversing the nooks and crannies in a Forbes online article. She talks about the hazards of using the same communication style for each individual and the disadvantages of asking for instant replies and giving too much information for one person to deal with.
These highlighted factors in dealing with people every day are as surmountable to note that as market builders, your functions are also of culture building. The culture that one great business founder should inculcate in the workplace besides productivity is mastering communication, as one arrives at productivity when the environment fosters creative dialogue and conscious decision-making free of whim or coercion. This free-flowing dialogue process also nurtures camaraderie and empowerment of workers’ strengths (and probably avoid Angela Bofill-like scenarios).
Lastly, be human enough to “break it gently” when bad news needs to be delivered. Your employees need to be informed to sustain their mentality and productivity. Avoiding the inevitable can only worsen the situation.


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Microsoft has been in the home console business for over twenty years now. More than half of that time has been defined by the success of their Xbox Live service, which, in the mid-2000s, was the gold standard of home console online play. However, due to the bizarre timing of Xbox Live’s rollout, customers got accustomed to paying for access to the service.
This has long been a point of contention for PC players: why are console players paying any money at all just to access online multiplayer lobbies? Microsoft (as well as Sony, who is guilty of the same bizarre practice) has tried to remedy this by offering free games that players can download as a gift for having the online service. However, PC gamers get that, too: Epic Games Store regularly just doles out free games for anyone who wants them.
Microsoft Announces Price Hike, Backpedals
On Friday, Microsoft announced a massive price hike for their Xbox Live service. So massive, in fact, that fans were truly baffled. The company announced it had plans to double the price of a yearly subscription from $60 to $120, effectively making Xbox Live Gold cost the same amount as Xbox Game Pass. Many online critics pointed out this was likely to get people more willing to sign up for Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Xbox Live Gold, and is $15 per month.
However, this price hike was panned by critics all over the internet. Microsoft isn’t exactly in the best spot to be making such bold moves right now: Sony’s PlayStation 4 handily won the last console generation, thanks in no small part to its stable of exclusive titles. While Microsoft has worked to shore up their exclusive deals, they’re currently the underdog. Burning fan goodwill by hiking up the price of an already arbitrary subscription is not the way to win over the hearts and minds of gamers.
The company quickly reversed the decision, and even went as far as making free to play games on the Xbox no longer require Xbox Live Gold. While the end result was better for more people, it is perplexing that the company ever thought such a massive price hike was going to fly.
Next-Gen Consoles Still Unavailable
Another PR disaster for Microsoft (as well as Sony, of course) has been the widespread unavailability of the new systems. The Xbox Series X and S, as well as the competing PlayStation 5, have been out of stock since before they were available for purchase, essentially. The systems have been hitting multiple bottlenecks. For one thing, the pandemic has reduced the available stock by keeping factories closed for months.
Another choke-point, again pandemic related: sales for the system have been almost entirely relegated to online stores. This has led to scalpers using bots to scoop up every unit they can and then flipping them for a huge increase in cost on sites like eBay. This has made it almost impossible for the average consumer to actually buy the system for its MSRP, meaning, for many, the next console generation hasn’t even started yet, and it won’t until supply reaches levels that see the systems actually on store shelves.


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Hints and teases happening.
Shenmue 3 was a strange game in hindsight. While this author was rather enamoured with its commitment to the legendary series’ plodding pacing, there’s no doubt that it failed to meaningfully move the franchise’s narrative forward – a bizarre decision, considering just how long we waited to play the threequel.
There was always hope, of course, that the revival would do just well enough to demand a sequel, and chatter online suggests it may be getting the go-ahead. It’s really loose, wishful stuff, but it all stems from creator Yu Suzuki’s recent appearance at publisher 110 Industries’ Tokyo Game Show press conference.
Read the full article on pushsquare.com


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The Great Recession pressured corporations to increase initiatives on supply chain and warehouse operations efficiencies to reduce costs while maintaining competitive customer service levels. More recently, the pressures on supply chain and warehouse operations have grown more critical as e-commerce market dynamics have evolved, led by Amazon and Wal-Mart.
Let’s look at a few strategies and tactics corporations are using to improve the efficiency of their warehouse operations:
As a result of truck driver hours-of service and Compliance, Safety, Accountability regulations, the importance of interface efficiencies between warehousing and trucking have become more important. Some tactics include:
— Flowing warehouse yard traffic in a counterclockwise direction, which means drivers don’t need to back trailers into the dock from the blind side.
— Many shippers are increasing the percentage of palletized/unitized shipments for faster loading and unloading.
— To shorten driver times at warehouse facilities, a trailer storage yard is created so drivers can drop and pull equipment.
— Increased operations management of freight loading and unloading times help reduce the percentage of labor time to unload or load freight.
Warehouse Site Selection
We’ve noticed a dramatic increase over the last five years in the depth of tenants’ studies into optimization of warehouse networks. A more thorough analysis better identifies the operational efficiencies of a warehouse location. In one innovative approach to this site selection trend, GEM Realty Partners and partner Mike Mullen, an industry expert in intermodal logistics industrial centers, decided to assess the logistics advantages of developing an industrial park adjacent to the new CSX intermodal hub at Winter Haven, Florida. The competitive assessment, which analyzed such things as transportation cost; labor cost and profiles; proximity to key goods movement nodes; and e-commerce operations feasibility, found that the location provided a number of goods movement competitive advantages for potential tenants.
Transloading and Cross-Docking
Transloading and cross-docking is an option supporting the improvements in warehouse efficiencies, primarily by reducing the man-hours required to receive, put away, pull orders and ship product. Other benefits include:
— Consolidated shipments to destinations.
— Savings from reduced inventory-carrying costs.
— Reduced transportation costs.
— Products getting to market faster.
An estimated 32 percent of all import containers are transloaded at local area warehouse facilities, according to a 2013 WCL Consulting analysis of the Southern California transloading market. This trend is expected to increase over the next two to three years.
Outsourcing Warehousing to 3PLs
Shippers often prefer to outsource their logistics functions to third-party logistics providers to gain operational efficiencies. Capgemini’s 2014 Third-Party Logistics Study found that 72 percent of shippers are increasing their use of outsourced logistics services this year, up slightly from the average reported in recent years.
Survey results indicated a continuing, positive overall nature of shipper-3PL relationships. Shippers are seeing positive results again this year, underscored by the following:
— Average logistics costs are down 11 percent.
— Average inventory costs are down 6 percent.
— Average fixed-logistics costs have plunged 23 percent.
E-Commerce vs. Omni-Channel
Nearly 85 percent of respondents to Logistics Management’s 2012 Warehouse/DC Operations Survey were operating omni-channel (that is, retail stores, e-commerce, specialty retailers, wholesale and catalog) distribution centers rather than exclusive e-commerce fulfillment centers. The drive to reduce costs and improve profits causes many companies to look for ways to keep multiple operations in one building. This allows them to reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies on labor, energy, inventory and capital investment.
Investments in Automated Systems
“The goal of making people more efficient is pushing the demand for robotics, but today only 15 percent of warehouse operations are automated compared with 80 to 85 percent that are manual operations,” said Tom Bonkenburg, a partner with supply chain and engineering consultant St. Onge. The challenge with an automated facility is it creates a single point of failure and significantly reduces critical flexibility to handle future business model changes.
To gain an insight into future warehouse/DC operations trends, we turn to Peerless Research Group’s 2014 State of the Warehouse/DC Equipment and Technology Survey, which confirmed that corporations are scrambling to improve warehouse efficiencies. The study reveals that activity levels have grown in manufacturing, warehouses supporting manufacturing and standalone warehousing. The growth is due largely to an increasing focus on doing more with less — optimizing existing facilities instead of building new.
Today’s hypercompetitive, ever-changing market will pressure corporations to increase their commitments to continuous improvements resulting in additional, new, innovative approaches to improving warehouse efficiencies.
Jon DeCesare is president of World Class Logistics Consulting in Long Beach, California. Contact him at 562-435-2600, or at email@example.com.


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Q. Exports have been subdued too, in some part due to global trade headwinds. Does India need a different strategy?
A. N.R. BHANUMURTHY
Many argue that India needs an export-led growth strategy, and the policy prescription for this is to allow the rupee to depreciate. But this is an empirical question and the relation between exports and exchange rate is not only ambiguous but also varies with time. Right now, the empirics do not suggest such a strategy. The only thing one can do is to explore the sectoral measures to boost exports and not the exchange rate route.
See answer to last question.
The fall in exports started much earlier than the global trade headwinds. Between 2014-17, exports grew at an annual rate of 1.68%; in the two preceding decades, the rate of growth was 13% and 14% respectively. Global headwinds are not helping, but then companies affected by the US-China trade dispute are relocating their supply chains to Bangladesh and Vietnam, and not India.
In the past five years, India’s export slowdown has been steeper than the global average. This can be attributed to declining competitiveness relative to peers such as Vietnam and Bangladesh. More recently, weak global growth and intensifying trade wars and inwardlooking policies have created new challenges to growing exports. Glitches in the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax also temporarily added to the exporters’ woes. However, rising trade tensions between the US and China have opened the doors for other countries to substitute the export goods impacted by tariffs. India has already seen some gains from China. Its exports to China grew in tariff-hit products such as cotton, organic chemicals and petroleum products. However, in the largest traded items between the US and China—such as electrical machinery and equipment, and mechanical appliances— India still lacks competitiveness to scale up to required trade volumes. Attracting foreign investment in these sectors can help India improve its competitiveness. The US-China war is leading to a shift of production bases out of China and restructuring of supply chains, paving the way for India to plug into new networks. India must be proactive in reaping this opportunity by taking steps to improve competitiveness, attract investment and ink new trade agreements.
In principle, India should be able to improve exports as its share in global trade is minuscule, at less than 2%. However, this may not be the opportune moment to target export growth as a trade war seems to be erupting, on account of Trump’s unilateral abrogation of international trade rules, upending three decades of globalisation.
The global economy and world trade are evolving into a new mode characterised by inward-looking policies of the large developed economies. India needs to realign its trade policies and strategy to the changing profile of world trade.
Yes, of course. But this is not a new issue: it has been around for at least 5 years, but the government does not think it necessary to do anything about it.
“IN PRINCIPLE, INDIA SHOULD BE ABLE TO IMPROVE EXPORTS, BUT IT IS NOT AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO TARGET EXPORT GROWTH AS A TRADE WAR SEEMS TO BE ERUPTING” —R. NAGARAJ


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Canada Should Listen to UK Treasury’s Questions About Digital Currency Investing
Governments, financial institutions, banks, and fintech firms are almost all taking measures to assess the impact and potential of digital currencies and blockchain technologies. Very few organizations who could be influenced by the growth of this new economy are still ignoring it. The most recent global move has been by the UK. The nation is asking questions about digital currency investing that all countries – especially Canada – should pay attention to.
Whether the action is active blockchain technology development, research, investment, or regulation, organizations are asking key questions of the industry.
Investors should take note of the answers gained to effectively manage their own foray into digital currency or blockchain markets.
UK Treasury is the latest to launch an inquiry into digital currencies
Members of Parliament in the UK will aim to understand the impact and opportunities that digital currencies and blockchain technologies present. The MPs will look into how consumers and businesses in the UK can remain protected without stifling innovation.
“The Treasury Committee will look at the potential risks that digital currencies could generate for consumers, businesses, and governments, including those relating to volatility, money laundering, and cyber-crime,” said Nicky Morgan, committee chair. “We will also examine the potential benefits of cryptocurrencies and the technology underpinning them, how they can create innovative opportunities, and to what extent they could disrupt the economy and replace traditional means of payment.”
The Committee will also consider how governments and regulators in other countries are approaching digital currencies and what lessons the UK can learn.
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently formed an agreement with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to collaborate on a framework for fintech innovation and regulation. In 2016, the UK government began trials for a blockchain-based welfare payments system in collaboration with Barclays, RWE, fintech startup GovCoin and University College London.
The Bank of England is currently at the very early stages of examining the potential of a central digital currency. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published discussion papers in 2017, but as of yet, the UK has taken no steps towards real regulation or adoption of digital currencies and blockchain technology.
Developments in the UK indicate that it is by no means ignoring the potential of digital currencies and blockchain technologies, but that leaps into actual adoption maybe somewhat behind Canada.
Canada’s actions speak louder than words
In Canada, there appears to be less questioning than in the UK and more decisive action.
The CSA was early to define digital currencies as securities and create a regulatory sandbox to support fintech firms. Canada also formed an alliance with France’s AMF, and the Government of Canada is trialing the use of blockchain technology to make government research grant and funding information more transparent.
Further, the Bank of Canada produced a report in November 2017 entitled “Central Bank Digital Currency Motivations and Implications,” which explores the possibility of a Canadian government led digital currency. Research by the Bank of Canada into digital currencies has been ongoing and comprehensive for a number of years.
Back in 2016, Payments Canada, the Bank of Canada, other Canadian banks and a technology consortium R3 built and tested a wholesale interbank payment system using blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT). The project, codenamed “Jasper,” achieved some success but also identified weaknesses, the main ones being issues of security and scalability.
Governments around the globe are at varying stages of research, trials, regulation, and adoption. As of yet, there are few examples of collaboration or coordinated movement into a digital currency-based global economy.
Investors can, however, learn from the research conducted by organizations in Canada and abroad, whose expert teams are assessing digital currencies and blockchain technologies from every angle.
Image credit: HM Treasury logo
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After Christmas shoppers flock to stores
Published 1:40 pm Saturday, December 26, 2015
Cash register lines were filled with shoppers Saturday — some making holiday returns, others looking for after Christmas sales, and many who could not wait to redeem gift cards.
“I am using mine for baby diapers,” Eddie Arnold, 38, of Nederland said of the gift card someone had given him as a Christmas gift.
Arnold and his wife, 37-year-old Laurie were out shopping early at Target in Central Mall with 4-month-Amy.
Earlier they had been to Hobby Lobby to hit the after Christmas decoration deals, where the couple purchased Christmas cards for their church to use next year.
“It’s not about the gift for me at Christmas, but if we happen to get money or a gift card, we use it for whatever we need,” he said pointing to the pack of diapers in his buggy.
Others couldn’t wait to get to the mall and cash in their gift cards on presents meant especially for them.
My Nguyen, manager of Elite Nails at Central Mall surveyed the nail shop mid-morning Saturday, noting that the chairs were already filling fast.
“We will have people coming with gift cards all day and all next week. They get them for Christmas, and come and get a pedicure or manicure for New Year’s,” she said.
Krista Webber, 27, of Groves and her mother Jennifer Garsee, 43, of Groves were doing New Year’s shopping too.
“We’re looking for New Year’s party outfits, trying to catch after Christmas sales,” Webber said.
Garsee said the pair were planning to go to the beach, and also looking for warm weather clothing.
“My sister rented a beach house so we need to be ready for the cold,” Garsee said.
Kadee Daniel, assistant manager at Rue 21 said the day so far Saturday was not as busy as Christmas Eve, but most customers were there redeeming their gift cards.
Others — armed with coupons — took advantage of sales.
“I hit up the sales every year on the day after Christmas,” Brittany Gage, 30, of Port Arthur said. “Usually the day after is not nearly so cluttered as before Christmas, but right now I’m done, going home, and through with shopping.”
Jamie Morgan, 34, of Hamshire was out shopping with her mother, Linda LaFleur, who was down from Greenwich, R.I. and her daughter 6-year-old Kehlan.
“It’s less stressful today. I know I have everything done and don’t have to rush home,” LeFleur said.
“I’m kind of sick of it, just tired, and ready to go home,” Morgan said.


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There is no doubt that number of Android users is more, but do you know it is prone to malware? The Japan based cybersecurity firm known as Trend Micro researcher have discovered a family of mobile malware called “GODLESS” that can virtually target any Smartphone running on Android 5.1 (Lollipop) or earlier. This malicious app that carries this threat is specifically found in prominent app stores, including Google Play, as reported by Trend Micro. As, of the now this malware has affected over 850,000 devices around the world with almost half of these devices in India alone.
Global distribution of affected devices:
The GODLESS mobile malware has been detected as “ANDROIDOS_GODLESS.HRX” that has a set of rooting exploits in its pockets. . It works by using a open-source rooting framework “android-rooting-tools”. It can root various Android based device and also receive remote instruction allowing un-authorized apps to be installed that leads to unwanted ads. The worst part is that these threats can also be used to install backdoors and spy on users. Once a user downloads these malicious apps, the malware waits until the affected device’s screen is turned off before proceeds with its rooting routine.
Trend Micro have found that the apps on Google Play store is safe, but they have a corresponding malicious version that shares the same developer certificate. So, it increases the danger of getting malicious version as although if you have installed the clean app, your app will be affected once it gets upgraded to the newer version. The apps that have this malicious code range from utility apps like flashlights and Wi-Fi apps, to copies of popular games. For example, a malicious flashlight app in Google Play called “Summer Flashlight” contained the malicious Godless code.
How to save yourself from these kinds of malicious code:
Country Manager of Trend Micro said “When download apps, regardless if it’s a utility tool or a popular game, user should always review the developer. Unknown developers with very little or no background information may be the source of these malicious apps. It’s also best to download apps from the trusted stores such as Google Play and Amazon. Users should also have secure mobile security that can mitigate mobile malware.”
Since, our mobile is one of the best gadget that is always with us, so, play safe.