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Over the weekend, NSI fixed its WhoIs database to make it show when a domain name was originally registered. The Herndon, Virginia, company's removal of that data in January angered some firms, which said they needed the information to run their businesses. Restoring the information was among the topics officials at the Commerce Department were discussing with NSI.
NSI made the move in response to customers and trademark owners, a company spokesman said. "We're constantly evaluating what the proper construct of information available to customers should be," said Network Solutions spokesman Brian O'Shaughnessy.
Starting last month, NSI also began redirecting Web users trying to access the government-owned InterNIC site to NSI's home page. The move sparked criticism from companies hoping to compete with NSI when its exclusive contract with the Commerce Department expires. NSI took the actions without prior notice, prompting agency officials to investigate if they violated the agreement.
Over the past few weeks, both parties have been meeting regularly to discuss those changes and to map out the opening up of the registration system to competitors. Under a 1993 contract, NSI has exclusive authority to register domain names ending in ".com," ".org," and ".net." Those endings account for an estimated 75 percent of the world's Net addresses, and are responsible for the bulk of NSI's $93 million in revenues last year.
Both NSI and the Commerce Department declined to discuss specifics of the meetings, which are taking place on a daily basis. "We are more than happy to work with Commerce on a host of issues," said NSI spokeswoman Cheryl Regan. "We feel we have a good, healthy working relationship with them."
As first reported by CNET News.com, NSI last month also purged tens of thousands of addresses from its database that are on hold. The move was designed to crack down on speculators who register potentially popular domain names in the hopes of reselling them. So-called cybersquatters would register the names but sell them before NSI required payment.
The Commerce Department has appointed the nonprofit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to set up the new competition. The group next month hopes to begin a trial period during which five companies will begin registering domain names. Within a few months, ICANN plans to open registration of domain names to any company meeting accreditation guidelines.


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“The Tyranny of Big Tech” is the book that corporate monopolies don’t want you to read, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley recently told CBN News
In his new book, (at end of article) Hawley lays out frightening facts about the data Big Tech giants have amassed on users and what he believes Washington needs to do about it. Hawley hopes it brings renewed attention to the negative impacts of Big Tech, from monitoring young children to influencing worldwide elections.
“For me, this really started as a parent,” he said. “These companies were following around the kids online and building profiles of them, so that really led to me getting interested in this.”
READ: Florida now allows social media users to sue Big Tech
As Missouri attorney general at the time, Hawley led the charge by filing anti-trust investigations against both Facebook and Google, which he says has expanded to include similar suits in all 50 states.
“I think at the end of the day, monopoly power is always bad for liberty,” Hawley said.
“Monopoly power is bad for free speech, and these companies have unprecedented power over speech, over our lives, and we’ve got to reclaim that power for us as individuals and as families.”
Now a U.S. senator, Hawley is fighting Big Tech on a federal level. “I think from a political point of view, we have to break up these companies,” he said.
Laying out the case in his new book, Hawley exposes his alarming discoveries and points to why he believes Big Tech companies are influencing millions of voters worldwide.
“I think they absolutely are swaying votes,” he said.
“The Tyranny of Big Tech” sold 20,900 print books in its first week, according to NPD BookScan data, landing on the “New York Times” bestseller. Regnery published it after Simon & Schuster dropped the book over his objections to the presidential election results.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
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YOU CAN HELP METRO VOICE FIGHT BIG TECH:

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on RRD Produce Co., Los Angeles, Calif., for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include barring the business and the principal operators of the business from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.
RRD failed to pay $174,464 to 17 sellers for produce that was purchased, received and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from May 2018 to December 2018. This is in violation of the PACA. RRD cannot operate in the produce industry until Dec. 7, 2022, and then only after they apply for and are issued a new PACA license by USDA.
The company’s principals, Ricardo Villalobos, Raul Gomez, Baudelio Villalobos and Maricruz Villalobos, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until Dec. 7, 2021, and then only with the posting of a USDA approved surety bond.
Individual not responsibly connected to IL violator
The USDA has also determined that Frank Cione is not responsibly connected to Lurie Brothers LLC, Chicago, Ill. This is an update to Press Release No: 036-20 issued on Feb. 13, 2020.
Lurie Brothers LLC violated PACA by failing to pay a reparation award in the amount of $26,163 in December 2019. As a result, USDA imposed sanctions on the business, including requiring that all principals may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
USDA made an initial determination that Frank Cione was responsibly connected to Lurie Brothers LLC and subject to sanction. Frank Cione contested this initial determination and USDA has now determined that Frank Cione was not responsibly connected to Lurie Brothers LLC at the time of the violation.
As a result, Frank Cione may be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed wilful, repeated and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.
Click here for an overview of companies who previously violated PACA.


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For more than a decade, the next big thing that is being considered in the health care sector is telemedicine. Several billions of dollars have been invested in order to create apps and websites that are expected to offer these virtual consultations with physicians, which are ranging from a doctor on demand to the America Well. The theory that has been behind this is that a large number of people would like to apt for a digital alteratives to an in-person visit of a physician if the option were available. And several patients in rural areas and in remote locations, who are miles away from the nearest doctor would also have some alternatives.
At present, telemedicine is quite far from the mainstream. In a research study that has been sponsored by a provider by telemedicine from the 2017, in which they found that around 82 percent of the consumers across the U.S. that do not use it. In this several factors are expected to be blamed. One of the most important and biggest thing is that several consumers across the U.S. are still not aware of the fact that the option of chatting with their doctor making use of video or phone.
The lack of awareness is considered as one of the main problems. The players in the market are expected to make efforts to create an awareness regarding the availability of alternatives, which is estimated to encourage the growth of the overall telemedicine market in the next few years. The increasing number of apps and other facilities that are being provided are predicted to accelerate the growth of the global market in the next few years.


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Rep. Gene Taylor, D-MS, thinks so. According to CongressDaily, Taylor is about to introduce a two-page bill that would withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Taylor blames the agreement with Canada and Mexico for the loss of 5 million manufacturing jobs since it was enacted in 1994. This is a popular but false charge. Manufacturing jobs have declined in the past 15 years for one big reason: soaring productivity.
Overall output at U.S. factories was actually 37 percent higher in 2009 compared to 1993, the year before NAFTA took effect, according to Table B-51 in the latest Economic Report of the President. We are producing a higher volume of stuff with fewer workers because individual workers are so much more productive than they were in the early 1990s.
As I’ve argued before, NAFTA has spurred more trade and deeper integration among the three partner countries. It has created new opportunities for American companies and their workers to raise their competitiveness in global markets. It has strengthened ties to our two closest neighbors.
The U.S. government would be foolish to withdraw from an agreement that continues to pay huge dividends.


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The curious case of the cookie dough recall
By now, most people have heard that Nestle has “voluntarily” recalled its Toll House cookie dough. (A full list of the recalled Toll House products is available on the FDA’s Web site.) So far 65 people has suffered illness, 70 percent of them under 19 years old and two in Missouri.
The strain of E. coli the CDC believes is in the cookie dough is a particularly bad one called 0157:H7. It especially affects the very young and elderly and can cause “acute bloody diarrhea” for 5 to 10 days and in rare cases kidney failure. It can also lead to dehydration (caused by diarrhea) and infections.
How did it end up in cookie dough? Food activist Marion Nestle is perplexed by this, writing, “how on earth did this nasty form of E. coli, usually excreted by farm animals, get into it? Eggs? Butter?
Children aren’t supposed to eat cookie dough, because raw egg is considered a salmonella risk. But eggs can harbor E. coli too.


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By Standard Reporter
Speaking at Brookside Dairy, Ruiru, where he laid the foundation stone for the firm’s dry milk complex, President Kikwete hailed the role of the private sector in job creation and contribution to the GDP East African economies.
“We are keen to strengthen bilateral relations between our nations for the common good of our people,” President Kikwete said.
Livestock Development minister, Mohammed Kuti, said the private sector had played an important role in actualising reforms in the dairy sector.
Also present were Kenya’s high commissioner to Tanzania, Mutinda Mutiso. Brookside Dairy executive chairman, Muhoho Kenyatta, decried the steep tariff regime, saying it was impeding growth of commerce.
Kenyatta called on countries in the region to harmonise regulatory procedures to offer a one-stop shop for businesses.
“Some of the challenges to free trade emanate from the different regulatory procedures adopted by each country,” Kenyatta said.
He thanked the Government of Tanzania for according Kenyan businessmen an opportunity to thrive in the country. Kenyatta said Brookside had set its eyes on the wider East African market as a source for its raw milk.
“Recently, we embarked on a programme to grow our milk volumes as we prepare for the commissioning of our powder plant. We are now set to venture into the wider East Africa region as a possible source for our raw milk,” he said.


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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 7th Edition of the India Mobile Congress at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. This prestigious event brought together leading figures from the telecommunications industry to showcase cutting-edge technologies, discuss vital issues, and promote innovation. Here are the highlights of this significant event:
Reliance Jio’s Space Fibre and Jio Bharat Device
During the event, Akash Ambani introduced Reliance Jio’s groundbreaking initiative – Space Fibre, India’s first satellite-based giga fibre service capable of delivering internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps. This innovation is set to transform high-speed broadband services in previously inaccessible areas of India. Furthermore, the Jio Bharat device, offering 4G services, was on display at the Jio pavilion.
Bharti Enterprises’ Technological Showcase
At the Mobile Congress, Bharti Enterprises showcased the “future of innovation” with technologies like 5G Plus, AI-enabled tech, and other digital infrastructure solutions. These advancements are set to revolutionize the telecommunications landscape in India.
The ‘100 5G Use Case Labs’ Initiative
During the event, Prime Minister Modi conferred awards upon 100 ‘5G Use Case Labs’ established in educational institutions across India as part of the ‘100 5G Labs initiative.’ This initiative focuses on developing 5G applications tailored to India’s unique requirements and global demands.
Fostering Innovation Across Sectors
This initiative encourages innovation across various sectors, including education, agriculture, healthcare, power, and transportation. By doing so, it propels India to the forefront of 5G technology utilization. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in preparing India’s academic and start-up ecosystem for the upcoming 6G era, contributing significantly to the development of indigenous telecom technology vital for national security.
Asia’s Largest Telecom, Media, and Technology Forum
The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023, scheduled from October 27 to 29, is Asia’s largest telecom, media, and technology forum. It serves as a platform to showcase India’s remarkable advancements in telecommunications and technology, make significant announcements, and offer startups the opportunity to showcase innovative products and solutions.
Theme: ‘Global Digital Innovation’
Under the theme ‘Global Digital Innovation,’ IMC 2023 aims to reinforce India’s position as a developer, manufacturer, and exporter of cutting-edge technologies. This includes 5G, 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and critical discussions on issues related to the semiconductor industry, green technology, and cybersecurity.
Introducing the ‘Aspire’ Startup Program
This year, IMC introduces a startup program called ‘Aspire‘ to facilitate connections between startups, investors, and established businesses. The program promotes fresh entrepreneurial initiatives and collaborations, fostering an environment of innovation and growth.
Expectations for IMC 2023
The event is expected to host over one lakh participants from 22 countries, including approximately 5,000 CEO-level delegates, 230 exhibitors, 400 startups, and various stakeholders. IMC 2023 promises to be a hub of innovation and collaboration, propelling India to the forefront of the global telecommunications and technology landscape.


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You now have an easier online way to manage your Home Delivery subscription for The Oklahoman. Go to our secure server to update account information, make a payment, set up vacation no-delivery times, change your delivery address, or report delivery concerns.
Kosovo Albanian musicians play on the streets of Pristina celebrating the 5th anniversary since Kosovo seceded from Serbia on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Serbia rejects Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)


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The new phones have new screens, new processors, and new cameras. "Apple doesn't like to admit they copy anyone, even in the smallest things, ' Gundotra told Business Insider after watching Apple's unveiling of the Watch Series 4 Wednesday". They will be available in gold, silver and space grey colours. Of course, some of the participants are wearing the new Apple Watch Series 4, which allows you to take in the larger edge-to-edge display in all of its glory.
Apple successfully obtained 2 certifications from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been able to detect a potential heart condition called atrial fibrillation with an accuracy rate of 98 percent. The watch will also watch for irregular heartbeats and can detect when the wearer has fallen, the company said.
So far, there is no official date has been announced on when the Apple Watch Series 4 will be available in India and what it will cost.
This even-bigger iPhone, which will be available on September 21 - with orders open the week before - represents Apple's attempt to feed consumers' appetite for increasingly larger screens as they rely on smartphones to watch and record video, as well as take photos wherever they are.
Apple hopes developers will update the UI of their apps to match these new screens.
Trump Stands By Lie About Hurricane Maria: Death Toll Increased 'Like Magic'
President Trump will be visiting areas affected by Hurricane Florence next week, the White House says. "Bad politics. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who isn't seeking reelection this year, has been among Trump's frequent critics on the right.
Apple has launched a suite of three equally exciting new iPhones that it hopes will broaden demand for its smartphones.
All the data gathered by the Series 4 will be encrypted and stored in the cloud.
The Apple Watch Series 4 is essentially a super-charged version of the Apple Watch 3; it can run more apps simultaneously and will do so faster, it's got a more ergonomic design and there's a greater variety of complications available.
"The completely redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 continues to be an indispensable communication and fitness companion, and now with the addition of groundbreaking features, like fall detection and the first-ever ECG app offered directly to consumers, it also becomes an intelligent guardian for your health", Apple's chief operating officer Jeff Williams said. Apple's Digital Crown has also been improved to provide haptic feedback. Apple now sell Series 1 and Series 3.
Apple's New Smartwatch Can Literally Save Your Life The next generation of Apple Watch will be released on September 21.
You wear the watch and when you want to check your heart, you put your finger on the crown and hold it there for 30 seconds. It will automatically detect and initiate an emergency call. It used that data to separate real falls from other heavy wrist movements, such as clapping and hammering. This will make the new Watch better. It features the iPhone's biggest battery in its product line. It will remain at 18 hours, but Apple did increase the outdoor workout time to a full 6 hours.


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U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter and Joe Coors, the Republican who wants to unseat him in the 7th Congressional district, square off. Lynn Bartels and Brandon Rittiman, moderators
More in News
When President Donald Trump announced he would shrink two national monuments in Utah designated by past Democratic administrations, Native American tribes and environmental groups responded by mounting lawsuits and protests against what they viewed as a culturally and environmentally detrimental, and illegal, action.
With Christmas on a Monday, most retailers have one less day to get packages delivered on time.
The Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2017 has been revealed and the winner is . . . “Youthquake.”
Yes, free ice cream.


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A new year brings challenges to the trucking industry as it continues to struggle with truckload capacity issues. The problems with capacity continue to stem from the increased overall freight demand. Along with this increased demand, we just saw a big change in the industry with electronic logging. The ELD Mandate is changing the way freight moves and therefore impacting truckload capacity further.
Data tracked by DAT Solutions, for example, showed that the number of available loads for the week ending December 16 increased 2.4% while available capacity dipped 7.5%, sending load-to-truck ratios higher in the dry van, refrigerated and flatbed sectors compared to the previous week. Trucking freight rates, in both the spot and contract segments, have been increasing for shippers, which is an “immediate reflection” of the tight truck capacity situation. Little to no truck capacity ahead for early 2018 | American Trucker
The Next 6 Months:
If we see any big winter storms this season, it could push truckload capacity way above the current 100%. This would leave shippers having to pay much more to get loads delivered on time. Shippers might even have to be more flexible with delivery times if they can in order to save money on freight cost. This first half of 2018 will prove to be challenging for everyone in the industry.


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Would you invest in venture capital? Would you advise your grandmother to? If so, would venture capitalists want your money? For at least a decade, the answer to these questions has been no. That situation may be on the verge of change.
Since their heyday in the early 1960s, venture capital companies have shunned Wall Street, and vice versa. Today only 22 venture firms are publicly held -- less than half the number 20 years ago. The others either went private, liquidated, or merged with companies in which they had invested.
Last year, though, two formerly private capital companies -- including Heizer Corp. of Chicago, the nation's largest in assets -- swam against the tide and went public. This year, a Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. subsidiary is going a step further: It's establishing a brand-new venture capital fund and taking it public from the start. Assuming Merrill Lynch attains its goal of raising $60 million, the venture fund, to be called ML Venture Partners I, L.P., will enter life as the third largest public venture fund in the country.
What accounts for this seeming about-face by the venture capital industry is a law that Congress passed a year and a half ago: the Small Business Investment Incentive Act of 1980. Venture capitalists had lobbied long and hard for the law, claiming that it would improve the ability of innovative small businesses to raise capital for growth.
Before this law was passed, publicly held venture capital companies were regulated as though they were mutual funds. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, for example, when an investment company acquired more than 5% of a portfolio company's stock, the two became "affiliates," and all transactions between them became subject to the scrutiny of the Securities and Exchange Commission. This never bothered the mutual funds, which maintain well-diversified portfolios and rarely buy a very large chunk of another company. But it greatly hindered venture companies, which generally acquire substantially more than 5% of the companies they invest in and can't afford to wait for SEC approval of every transaction.
The new law eliminates this hassle. A public venture company now can declare itself a "business development company" (BDC), a new legal entity which, among other things, may bypass SEC inspection on certain transactions.
All is not smooth sailing ahead, though. In going to Wall Street, venture capitalists must submit to the judgment of the market, which can be harsh.Heizer, for example, went public at $17.50 a share last May; its price then slid steadily, until in mid-March it was selling for about half of that. Such a record doesn't encourage other potential venture company founders.
If any venture firm represented a credible prospect on Wall Street, the honors seemed to belong to Heizer. It had turned an initial capitalization of $81 million in 1969 into stockholders' equity of $271 million in December 1980, in addition to $65 million in securities and cash distributed to stockholders, measuring its investments at market value. Its decline may be due largely to the state of the market in general, which started to turn bearish just after the Heizer offering.
But Heizer's showing has reawakened doubts about whether the public has the patience to assess a venture fund's prospects and await a payoff many years hence. The market's well-known preoccupation with short-run performance can wreak havoc with a venture fund's price during the years its investments are gestating.
"The public market operates on price-earnings ratios," says Morton Collins, president of the National Venture Capital Association and partner of DSV Management in Princeton, N.J. "The market has not said that venture capital is a great thing to do."
But Ned Heizer, chairman and president of Heizer Corp., thinks the market eventually will raise its valuation of venture stocks. "BDCs are still new," he says. "Anytime you do something new or different, it takes a while to educate people about it. It may take five years for the market to learn what good investments BDCs are.
"When the stock market is lousy, as it is now, people get scared and want to move into something safe. BDCs are pictured as highly risky investments. But I think out business is one of the least risky. We invest in young, well-managed, innovative companies. Since they have low penetration in their markets, they can be growing like crazy in their particular niche even if their market in general is going to hell. What's risky at a time like this is to buy the stock of some big, mature company."
The new Merrill Lynch fund isn't worried about a possible aftermarket embarrassment: Though publicly owned, it is not anticipated that a public market will develop. The fund will be structured as a limited partnership. According to the prospectus, Merrill Lynch will provide investor services to assist limited partners who want to sell their units.
One prospective BDC founder disagrees with this approach. He is Leo A. Weiss, president of Business Development Corp. of America in Alexandria, Va. "I would prefer to organize my fund as a stock company, not a partnership," Weiss says. "For the investor, better to have even a poor market than none at all. Besides, with a stock company, if the value of the shares falls, then the investor who believes in the company's prospects has the opportunity to purchase additional shares at a favorable price." But Weiss concedes that the kind of offering he makes will depend partly on what underwriters are willing to handle.
A question more fundamental than liquidity, as far as potential venture capital investors are concerned, is whether their fund will land successful ventures at all. Some in the industry think there's already too much money chasing too few deals.
"I think there's adequate capital available at this time from private sources," says Collins. "If you doubled the capital available, I doubt whether you'd bring out any more entrepreneurs than now."
Ned Heizer disagrees. "Opportunities abound," he says. "From the country's standpoint, there's very little venture capital being invested now. And there's a limit to how much money institutional investors will want to put into private, illiquid investments. So there's an important place for public venture capital firms.
"The real constraint," he continues, "is in venture capital companies themselves. There are too few people with experience managing venture investments. The ones with experience have all the money they can handle."
Whether the shortage is of new companies or of venture capital managers, Collins warns that new BDCs might not be such a smart play for unsophisticated investors. "Small investment banking firms could raise money for BDCs easily and then run them out of their back pockets -- that is, they wouldn't give the fund the attention it needs, and the investments wouldn't perform the way they would for a professionally managed venture firm. If some less savory characters take the public for a ride on BDCs like this, then five years from now we'll see the SEC stepping in with new restrictions on public venture firms, undoing what this new law has accomplished."
BDCs may yet, as one business publication suggested, "open wide the money spigot for new enterprises hoping to follow in the footsteps of Control Data, Digital Equipment, Federal Express, and other storybook successes that were nurtured with venture capital." But the verdict is several years off.


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New Delhi: Revised numbers for India’s goods trade between February and March 2023 are about $10 billion different from the initial estimates, The Hindu reported. The overall export and import numbers for the last year have also been brought down by about $3 billion each.
“While exports were earlier reckoned to have grown 6% in 2022-23 to hit $447.46 billion, that number has now been pared to $444.4 billion, reflecting a 5.3% rise from 2021-22. The import bill for last year has also been scaled down from $714.24 billion to $711.85 billion, indicating a growth of 16.1%. The trade deficit for the year has risen 40.8% to $267.45 bn, slightly higher than the 40% estimated earlier,” The Hindu reported.
Good exports for February have been revised higher by almost $3.1 billion, according to the newspaper, going from $33.9 billion to about $37 billion. The import bill for February was revised to go up by over $1.93 billion.
For March, both exports and imports were revised downwards, The Hindu reported. Exports were brought down by $3.03 billion from the initial $38.38 billion estimate to $35.35 billion, and imports were brought down by around $2.4 billion to $55.72 billion.
“Data revisions amounting to over $500 million a month are not normal, but we have been seeing significantly higher revisions over the past year and a half compared to the period before that,” Vivek Kumar, an economist at QuantEco Research, told The Hindu.
“It is very puzzling and raises uncertainty on the outlook for India’s current account deficit and thereby rupee. With average monthly upward revision in net trade deficit to the tune of $1.5 billion, the cumulative for the year could add up to $18 billion. Such sizeable revision in trade deficit data turns analysis somewhat challenging,” he continued.


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The popular vinyl collectible company Funko — best known for its big-headed Pop! figures — has released its latest artist collaboration: legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. The figure is inspired by Ozzy's latest album, "Ordinary Man", and is exclusive to Hot Topic.
Ozzy previously collaborated with Funko back in 2011, but that figure has been out of production for years, and reportedly fetches high prices on the secondhand market.
Other artists who have gotten the Pop! Rocks treatment in the past include KISS, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, AC/DC, SLAYER, DEF LEPPARD, Rob Zombie, SLIPKNOT, GHOST and MOTÖRHEAD.
A Funko vinyl Pop! figure, or popularly known as a "Pop!", is packaged carefully inside a box with a transparent front. The figurine is made out of vinyl and may come as a bobblehead.
Funko reported that these figurines increased its sales by 38 percent in the second quarter of 2019. International sales spiked 65 percent to $68.5 million, while U.S. revenue grew 26 percent to $122.7 million.
This past June, Funko announced that it was cutting a quarter of its global workforce, laying off about 250 people as it coped with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Funko is a leading pop culture consumer products company. Funko designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters.


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Samsung has gotten method higher about rolling out main Android updates, however it appears an issue is ongoing with Google Play system updates, as some Galaxy gadgets haven’t been up to date in months.
Update 1/12/24: As reported by GalaxyClub, this difficulty seems to now be mounted. Models that had been beforehand affected by delayed updates at the moment are capable of pull them down, although a Galaxy S20 Ultra apparently nonetheless brings again an error message saying that “updates are temporarily unavailable.”
Our authentic protection follows.
First issues first, what’s a Google Play system replace? Distributed outdoors of main Android updates, a Google Play system replace handles sure system options, typically tied again to Google merchandise. For occasion, the most recent Google Play system replace consists of adjustments to the Play Store, help for QR code scanning in Wallet, and extra. Often, these updates may even carry larger enhancements. In October, for instance, Google delivered help for pairing Wear OS to a number of Android phones, disabled Nearby Share in work profiles, and extra.
As reported by GalaxyClub, some Samsung Galaxy phones have been sitting on the identical Google Play system updates for a number of months and even longer. The difficulty appears to be encompassing many various Galaxy gadgets throughout completely different variations of Android.
It was discovered that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy S23 Ultra had been each caught on the July 2023 replace, whereas Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 had been on the October replace. Meanwhile, Galaxy A52 was on the September replace, whereas Galaxy A34 was caught on the August replace. In all circumstances, checking for updates was both met with a message saying that “your device is up to date” or that “updates are temporarily unavailable.”
The actual reason for that is unclear, however it’s apparently not the primary time this has occurred. It was noted early this year that the very same factor occurred, with quite a lot of Galaxy gadgets struck on older updates.
For affected customers, there’s nothing to be carried out, as Google Play system updates can’t be manually put in or sideloaded. That stated, because it was mounted as soon as earlier than, it could presumably be mounted once more.
More on Samsung:
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Roku devices have been affected by an outage which lasted several hours, Variety reported.
Owners of streaming devices and TVs based on the platform were not able to load channels such as Netflix or YouTube, and reported that they saw an FBI anti-piracy takedown notice on their displays.
The notice stated that the channels were removed due to repeated claims of copyright infringement.
According to Roku, only a small number of users were affected, but according to reports, several users had taken to social media to ask why they were seeing the FBI notice.
Users also reported that FoxSportsGo, FandangoNow, Hotstar, YuppTV, and Gaia were affected by the outage.
By 06:00 South Africa time, Roku posted an update to confirm that the issue had been resolved, which was called a “technical glitch”.


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The company posted an overall operating loss of 1.36 trillion yen in the 12 months ended March and a net loss of 961.6 billion yen, according to a statement on Monday. The Tokyo-based conglomerate released figures in two preliminary earnings statements last month. The losses are the worst ever in the company’s 39-year history.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s $100 billion Vision Fund went from the group’s main contributor to profit a year ago to its biggest drag on earnings. Uber’s disappointing public debut last May was followed by the implosion of WeWork in September and its subsequent rescue by SoftBank. Now Son is struggling with the impact of the coronavirus on the portfolio of startups weighted heavily toward the sharing economy.


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Ford Motor Company South Africa has been fined R35m by the National Consumer Commission of South Africa after it found the company had "engaged in prohibited conduct" by distributing the Ford Kuga 1.6 EcoBoost, some of which caught fire.
Furthermore, the commission and Ford also reached a settlement agreement for the 160 complainants, acting head of the commission Thezi Mabuza announced on Friday.
In terms of the agreement, complainants will have three options. The first option is a settlement of R50 000 which will be a full and final settlement. This is over and above the refund, repair or replacement of the vehicle, which Ford has already paid.
If the complainant feels the damages incurred by the vehicle combusting is more, they can enter an arbitration process, which will be conducted by advocate Terry Motau SC, whose bill will be paid by Ford.
It will be up to the complainant to prove that the damages incurred were more than R50 000.
If neither of these options is agreeable to a complainant, he or she can head to civil court.
In 2016 and 2017, 56 Ford Kuga 1.6 EcoBoost vehicles caught fire.
Mabuza said they had received 160 complaints from consumers, an "alarming number" of complaints against one company in such a short time.
Ford had three recalls of the models and spent R335m dealing with the matter.
Mabuza said the amount Ford had already spent was considered when determining the fine of R35m.
The commission conducted an investigation and found a failure in the cooling system of the particular model – which was manufactured in Spain specifically for South Africa - was the cause of the fires.
"Ford engaged in prohibited conduct by distributing vehicles that failed," Mabuza said.
"The investigation did reveal that there was no negligence."
The case of Reshall Jimmy, who was found dead in his burnt-out 2014 1.6L Ford Kuga in Wilderness, George, on December 4, 2015, was not part of their investigation, as it does not fall within the commission's purview and was subject to its own inquest in the High Court.
Ford was invited to participate in Friday's press briefing, but their CEO "was engaged in other activities," Mabuza said.


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Digital TV News: Simulmedia
Simulmedia and TiVo renew data-licensing partnership
Aug 3, 2022 – Simulmedia has renewed its partnership with TiVo which will help ensure that Simulmedia’s TV+ platform continues to provide marketers with audience planning, targeting and activation capabilities across ad-supported channels in the U.S.
News categories: Simulmedia, TiVo, Dave Morgan, Fariba Zamaniyan, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, USA
Simulmedia launches cross-channel TV advertising platform
Feb 1, 2022 – Simulmedia has announced the launch of TV+, a platform for automated planning, buying, activation and measurement that guarantees full audience reach across ad-supported channels on both linear and connected TV in the U.S.
News categories: Simulmedia, Dave Morgan, Sam Bloom, Advertising, Digital TV, USA
Simulmedia launches TV marketplace for Direct-to-Consumer marketers
Oct 31, 2018 – Simulmedia has launched a marketplace specifically designed for direct-to-consumer (D2C) marketers. For D2C brands, the marketplace will provide a single point of access into the massive reach of TV, with transparency on outcomes, fees, supplier media and data costs.
News categories: Simulmedia, Dave Morgan, Advertising, Digital TV, USA
Nielsen powers audience based buying marketplace with API platform
Apr 9, 2018 – Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) has launched its Enterprise Audience API. Through the API, clients have the ability to transact on advertiser-defined audiences including but not limited to those based on credit card spending habits, in-store FMCG purchases and extended psychographic profiles.
News categories: Nielsen, Kelly Abcarian, Dave Morgan, Joshua Summers, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, USA
Simulmedia TV audience targeting platform goes SaaS
Jun 5, 2017 – Simulmedia has announced that it is has begun to license a standalone version of its Video Advertising Marketing Operating System (VAMOS), a predictive planning, analytics and execution platform built for TV.
News categories: Simulmedia, Dave Morgan, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, USA
- BARB releases Establishment Survey data for the UK for Q2 2022
- Simulmedia and TiVo renew data-licensing partnership
- Paramount+ joins Roku Channel’s Premium Subscriptions lineup
- Altice USA residential video RGUs down 85,000 in 2Q 2022
- DISH Network pay TV subscribers down 257,000 in 2Q 2022
- Over six million Android TV OS deployments for iWedia
- RTL Deutschland and Seven.One Entertainment to create addressable TV JV
- Charter residential video customers down 240,000 in 2Q 2022
- Access Advance adds further patent owners
- Disney+ app integrated on Foxtel set top boxes
- ADTH introduces ultra-compact USB ATSC 3.0 receiver
- ATSC 3.0-in-a-box from ENENSYS and Ateme powers WCRN Boston NEXTGEN TV
- Sinclair partners with Korean broadcasters to further NextGen broadcasting
- Linear TV viewing down as online long form viewing time continues to grow
- Auton and Anywave launch ATSC 3.0 broadcast internet test lab in Oregon
- OAN expands CTV reach with NetRange
- Liberty Global, Telefónica, InfraVia Capital to build fibre network in the UK
- Kaltura confirms receipt of unsolicited proposal from Panopto
- Comcast cable video subscribers down 521,000 in 2Q 2022
- Freeview Play adds new content discovery tools


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How much plastic do you use? Try making a list of all the plastic you have used or purchased this week and it might surprise you. Eventually, all of this plastic will probably end up in the bin, eventually causing harm to our environment.
Following the recent news stories, as well as David Attenborough’s plea to the human race to cut down on plastic, it seems people are beginning to listen and become more conscious of how much plastic they use. But, could you go plastic free?
More and more people are challenging themselves to go plastic free for one week, meaning they mustn’t buy anything that contains plastic for one week only, which is surprisingly very tricky when you consider how much of your weekly shop is contained in plastic. It is even thought that fish contain plastic micro particles, due to the amount of plastic polluting our oceans!
There are however some simple changes you can make to massively cut down on the plastic you use. Switch your plastic bag for life to a canvas one for a sturdier alternative to plastic. When it comes to your actual food, eggs are about the only thing that aren’t packaged in plastic! Bread, meat and milk are mostly all packaged in plastic.
Currently, there aren’t many ways to get around this. However, the government are in talks to create plastic free aisles in supermarkets where all the food will be packed in non-plastic packaging. It is presumed that meat would have to be contained in foil wrapping and bread in paper bags rather than plastic ones.
Iceland plan to ban plastic
Supermarket chain, Iceland, have vowed that by 2023, they will have eliminated or drastically reduced the plastic packaging of their own brand products.
Currently, it is very hard to even comprehend how you would do your weekly shop without purchasing any plastic packaged products, but Iceland have a plan to swap plastic packaging for paper trays. Paper is currently used for items such as egg boxes but Iceland are making plans for this type of packaging to be used on other foods.
One of the most toxic plastics is actually used for the black plastic tray that packages ready meals which Iceland hopes to switch for a more sustainable material. Another simple swap would be from plastic bags which hold fruit and vegetables to string bags, similar to the ones that hold oranges.
Why not challenge yourself to buying no plastic on your next food shop?
To support the Prime Minister's plan to end the plastic scourge, SodaStream has decided to arm the UK with an alternative to disposable plastic bottles. The deal is nationwide and there are 10,000 units available on a first-come-first-served basis, via the SodaStream website.


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The Delhaize group has announced its plan to build a new distribution centre at Oupeye, near Liege. The site was selected from among a list of potential locations supplied by the Wallonia and Flemish governments. An internal feasibility study is yet to be carried out, before it is formally approved by the board of directors.
It amounts to an investment of 50 million Euros, which should generate around a hundred jobs. This project could however mean subsequent development, creating up to 500 jobs and representing 100 million Euros in investment.
Delhaize already has distribution centres at Zellik and Ninove. The future centre, located at Oupeye, 80,000m² in the first phase and double that in the long term, would aim to facilitate supplies to shops in the south and east of the country, as well as those in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
L’Echo – 21/6/2011


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Most of all the Apple users are aware of what is WWDC. This is considered to be one of the biggest events that Apple host every year. It is regarding all the new update and releases. But if you are new here and looking for what actually is WWDC, then you have come to the right place. In this article we are going to talk about Apple’s biggest event of all time WWDC.
WHAT IS WWDC?
The Worldwide Developers Conference is an annual information technology conference held by Apple Inc. (WWDC). The conference is generally held in the San Jose Convention Center in California. This event is used to introduce new software and updates in the macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS families, as well as other Apple products. WWDC is also a gathering for third-party software developers who create apps for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other Apple products. Guests will be able to participate in hands-on laboratories with Apple engineers as well as in-depth conversations on a variety of topics.
In simple words, The Worldwide Developers Conference is one of the most important events on the Apple calendar, bringing together developers from all over the world to hear about the company’s next major software upgrades for its devices – and it also provides fans a preview of what to anticipate later this year.
WWDC is held every year from Monday through Friday in June for one week. The conference includes a keynote address, presentation sessions, one-on-one “lab” consultations, and special gatherings and celebrations.
Apple has usually held WWDC in San Jose, California, but the epidemic has led Apple to turn to an online-only focus for WWDC 2022, as it has in the previous two years. Apple will not only disclose the next main features of its new software, but it will also provide developer betas for each major OS upgrade immediately after the presentation. More solid public betas will be issued in the coming months and weeks, and the final versions will be launched alongside new hardware in the fall.
Apple is organizing a live viewing of the WWDC keynote presentation at the Apple Park site in Cupertino, California, for selected developers and students. This invitation-only event will be open to developers and students. This year, Apple is also hosting a Swift Student Challenge with prizes from WWDC 2022.
Apple will reveal the latest versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and WatchOS during the WWDC 2022 event. A updated MacBook Air model powered by an M2 CPU might be shown at the WWDC 2022 event this year. A trademark file for realityOS, allegedly the name of the operating system for the future AR/VR headset, was discovered a week before the WWDC.
TIME AND DATE OF WWDC 2022 EVENT
WWDC 2022 begins on June 6 and concludes on June 10. The keynote address at WWDC 2022 has been set for 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. GMT on June 6.
- West Coast US – 6th June 2022 at 10am PDT.
- East Coast US – 6th June 2022 at 1pm EDT.
- UK – 6th June 2022 at 6pm BST.
- Europe – 6th June 2022 at 7pm CEST.
- Australia – 7th June 2022 at 3am ACT.
HOW TO WATCH WWDC 2022 EVENT?
Apple WWDC 2022 will be aired live from Apple Park on Apple’s website, Apple Developer app, Apple TV app, and Apple’s official YouTube channel.
Stay tunes for this upcoming event. We will keep you posted about every event detail of the upcoming event.
Until next time, with another topic. Till then, Toodles.


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It is unquestionably evident that the use of fossil fuel for powering motorized vehicles is soon coming to an end. This is disposal of the traditional energy is largely being aided by the steady influence of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and their economic and environmental advantages. Although, after implementing ceaseless initiatives, promotions and even provision of incentives from the government, EVs hardly account to one percent of the global automotive market. But the changing consumer behavior with regards to adoption of more environment-friendly practices, these stats just might take commendable jump.
The prejudices of consumers towards choosing EVs over the traditional locomotives are disappearing due to aspects such as dropping prices, growing variety and attractive incentives. Also, the inclination towards EVs is enhanced when consumers experience the amalgamation of remarkable design and radical technology. Pertaining to these factors and comprehending the rising value of EVs, certain organizations have come up with affordable, accessible and comprehensive EV charging solutions which are proficiently complementing the industry, its purpose and encouraging its ubiquity.
Recognizing such organizations, Insights Success presents you “The 10 Smart EV Charging Solution Providers, 2018”
Source: The 10 Smart EV Charging Solution Providers, 2018
After Indian Ministers Fail to Persuade Musk to Incorporate His Tesla Business in India, Musk Has Shifted His Focus to Indonesia
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is slated to visit Indonesia in November as he wraps up operations...Read more


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Waiting for Lazarus to rise
Downtown department store's one-year results could influence Market Place plans
- Tim Schooley
(Page 3 of 6)
"We've had good business to this point," he said, noting Lazarus was gaining market share. "We feel good about how we're making progress in the market to date."
He claims the Downtown store's performance will improve over time.
"We anticipate that many years from now, it will be an outstanding store for us as the mayor's plan comes together," said Mr. Mizer.
In the here and now, however, slow sales at the store could create a snag in Mayor Murphy's Fifth and Forbes vision.
Mr. O'Connor, who visited with Urban Retail Properties management in Chicago last week, wants an audit of the Lazarus store and its sales before approving a Fifth and Forbes deal. He said the Council would weigh the Lazarus store's performance, as well other factors, in making their decision.
"I believe this is going to be a much tougher sale than in the past," Mr. O'Connor said.
Federated has a reputation for shrewd management, noted Brian Eisenbarth, who follows the company as an analyst for the San Francisco-based investment firm Collins & Co.
"Their management team is one of the best retail management teams out there," he said. "They know how to spot value and after they make an acquisition, they're good at making it work under their system."
While Mr. Eisenbarth was unfamiliar with the local Lazarus deal, it is similar to a deal Federated won for Bloomingdale's in San Francisco. There, Mr. Eisenbarth said, Federated was also able to get "good concessions from the city."
"They have the leverage to get the job done on their terms," added Mr. Eisenbarth. "They're a pretty shrewd operator."
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Apple presented the new operating system of iPhone — iOS 14. Representatives of the company spoke at an online conference for developers WWDC 2020.
Now device will appear in the widgets, their sizes and position can be adjusted. Users will be able to group apps by category. In addition, the new iOS has an opportunity to play a video in the background: the video clip will be played only in one part of the screen and the other can be used to perform other tasks.


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The head of Britain’s top business lobby group says the country’s car industry could be wiped out by Brexit.
“There is a risk that the auto industry in the UK faces extinction if there’s no customs union after Brexit,” warned Paul Drechsler, president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Britain is set to leave the European Union at the end of March 2019, but the UK government has not made clear how trade will be conducted with the country’s biggest export market.
One of the largest outstanding issues is how goods will be treated when they cross the new border.
Britain is currently a member of the European Union’s customs union, which enables its 28 member states to function as a single trading area with no tariffs or border checks. What comes next is unclear.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out a future customs union, and is considering alternatives. But the leading proposals have been dismissed by Brussels or rely on new technologies that critics say don’t yet exist.
“If we do not have a customs union, there are sectors of manufacturing society in the UK which risk becoming extinct,” said Drechsler. “That is the reality.”
Click here to read more.
SOURCE: CNN, Alanna Petroff


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There’s a lot happening in the world of Apple news this week. Following are the hottest articles for the week of Dec. 11-15.
Apple’s iMac Pro will be is now available to order with pricing starting at $4,999. Announced in June, with its 27-inch Retina 5K display, next generation Intel Xeon processors up to 18 cores, up to 22 Teraflops of graphics computation, up to 16GB of VRAM, up to 128GB of memory, built-in Ethernet, and support for one billion colors, it’s most powerful Mac ever made.
Apple is acquiring Shazam, the popular music recognition app that’s used by more than 100 million people each month to identify music, get song lyrics, and more.
Apple is donating $1 million to help with fire aid in southern California.
Apple announced that it’s working with the city of Chicago to bring coding opportunities to Chicago’s nearly 500,000 students through a citywide expansion of Apple’s Everyone Can Code program.
Apple has announced the latest award from its $1 billion Advanced Manufacturing Fund. Finisar, a manufacturer of optical communications components, will receive $390 million as part of Apple’s commitment to support innovation and job creation by American manufacturers.
Apple has announced a major update to its professional video editing app, Final Cut Pro X, with new features including 360-degree VR video editing, advanced color grading tools and support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) video.


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Apparel maker Arvind Ltd's lifestyle brands arm Arvind Lifestyle Brands Ltd (ALBL) has agreed to pay $3.2 million to US-based textile maker Ralph Lauren Corporation (RLC) to settle the dispute between the companies, according to a stock market disclosure.
In October 2013, RLC had filed a case against ALBL and US Polo Association (USPA) alleging breach of agreement regarding disclaimers to be printed on USPA branded products sold in India.
Arvind Ltd has now informed BSE that "the Parties thereafter got into good faith discussions and agreed to enter into an amicable settlement without admission of liability of any party."
Luxury fashion company RLC had first issued a notice for arbitration to be held in India against ALBL and USPA and the company was successful in obtaining a temporary injunction against the commencement of the arbitration.
Later in 2013, RLC had instituted the lawsuit against both the companies alleging breach of agreement on account of non-compliance in respect of disclaimers to be printed on USPA products sold in India. Arvind Lifestyle has the licence to manufacture and market US Polo branded products in India.
Ahmedabad-based ALBL (formerly Pinnacle Risk Advisory Services Ltd) is a retailer of apparels and retails brands like Arrow, Gant, Izod and Flying Machine.
In 2013, the company signed an agreement to market and sell in India the basic and intimate apparels under the Hanes and Wonderbra brands, through a licensing agreement with the US-based Hanesbrands Inc.
Prior to that, it had signed a long-term licensing agreement with Iconix Lifestyle India Pvt Ltd (a joint venture between US-based Iconix Brand Group and Reliance Brands Ltd) for Ed Hardy.
Shares of Arvind last traded at Rs 268.30 each, up 1.73 per cent on BSE in a strong Mumbai market on Monday.
(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)


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It's no secret that digital device and content sales are steadily increasing, but IBM has assessed that there are specifically four types of digital consumers out there at the moment.
IBM has discovered a dramatic increase in the adoption of digital devices and digital content services over the last four years, with 78 percent of consumers identifying themselves as "digital device adopters" in the last year alone.
If you're curious to see where you fit in, keep reading. Here are the four digital personalities that IBM has identified:
Efficiency Experts: 41 percent of consumers fall into this category. This is basically anyone who uses the Internet for simple day-to-day activities, such as sending emails, using Facebook to send messages, and shopping online.
Content Maestros: Going a step further but without getting too complex, 35 percent of those surveyed are more into media consumption on mobile devices for activities such as streaming movies and music as well as playing video games.
Social Butterflies: Possibly also known as the Facebook and Twitter addicts, 15 percent of consumers are obsessed with having access to social media, regardless of time or place.
Content Kings: In a somewhat all-of-the-above-type of category, 9 percent of consumers call into this category. Identified as a generally male category, these Internet users frequently play online games, watch TV online and download more digital content than everyone else.
A lot of this might also vary by age, but IBM found that age isn't actually the most important segmentation when it comes to categorizing consumers. While approximately 82 percent of digital adopters are between the ages of 18 and 64, at least 65 percent of early adopters are actually between the ages of 55 and 64.
For reference, the 2011 Digital Consumer Survey is based upon the responses from 3,800 consumers in six countries (China, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) as well as representatives worldwide in broadcasting, publishing, telecommunications, and media service agencies.
For another look at IBM's digital behavioral findings, check out the promo video below:


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Customers who pre-ordered their cellular iPad minis from Apple are reporting that the company no longer mentions an exact shipping date, possibly due to supply shortages.
In what was a fairly predictable scenario, Apple has sold out the entire iPad mini stock prepared for the device’s debut. For those who ordered a cellular model, Apple said the device would ship November 23.
Now, the company has changed the shipping status to mid-November.
Apple is facing a serious supply shortage not only on the iPad front, but also in the iPhone and Mac departments too.
Tim Cook, the company’s CEO, confirmed during a quarterly earnings call that the iMac is particularly constrained this time around. This is generally the case with products that are transitioning, this being the case with the iPad mini and the iMac.


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Monumental MAPIC for InnescoDigital Editor
The Innesco team was out in full force at MAPIC last week as we represented seven clients, one of our largest groups yet, including New West End Company (R8.C19), IKEA Centres Russia (R7.E38), Tesco (P-1.K22), Meyer Bergman (R8.C9), JLL’s extensive Retail and Leisure team (R7.L15), Hines Europe and Groupe IDEC INVEST.
Our MD, Dan, got a head start on the team as he joined the Cycle to MAPIC team for the 4th year in a row in, cycling 740km from Girona to Cannes in aid of Coram‘s adoption programme and then launched into a jam-packed MAPIC programme! Although this was our 14th year attending the conference, this year’s MAPIC was slightly different from the following years due to our extensive client list, the varied events and the range of companies in attendance. This year’s theme was right up our street as it surrounded all things “trending” and many of our clients are involved in the promotion of cutting edge technology. The MAPIC Trend Hub boasted ideas for ‘offline to online’ integration, brought together experts in ‘retailtainment’ and curated a pavilion of pop up stands. It was exciting to see methods that we have already implemented as an agency, as well as possibilities for the future when sharing our clients’ and our own content. For instance, IKEA Centres Russia showcased their ‘Meeting Place’ and edutainment concepts whilst at MAPIC, whereas Tesco debuted its shopping centre portfolio app – Malls by Tesco – and Hines presented its digital brochure for Karl Johans Gate 45 in Oslo.
Of course, the retail property sector is multi-faceted and we had varied announcements during MAPIC. Apart from the technological updates mentioned above, IKEA Centres Russia released its financial results and provided an update on its investment programme as seen in major refurbishments throughout its centres’ F&B offers. We were also excited to be introducing Milen Gentchev as the new General Director.
Three of our esteemed clients, Meyer Bergman, Malls by Tesco and New West End Company, made their MAPIC debut this year. Meyer Bergman presenting its new branding at its very stylish stand in Lerin’s Hall while the asset management team was busy with new tenant meetings and media briefings promoting the diverse portfolio across Europe including high street, shopping centres and outlets. The Malls by Tesco team showcased its European projects and portfolio using its integrated and informative iPad app. New West End Company announced the West End would be the first Business Improvement District (BID) in the world to contribute £11bn to GDP by 2020, as well as hosted a speaker programme of five esteemed panels showcasing why the West End is where investment meets world class retail. Each sessions was broadcast on New West End Company’s Periscope (@newwestend), such as ‘Learnings from the world’s high street’ with Jeremy Collins, Property Director at John Lewis, Nigel Jobson, Property Director of Superdry, Mark Burlton, Global Executive Retail Occupier EMEA at CBRE, Darren Williams, CEO at T2 Tea, and Paul Souber, Head of Retail Agency London and EMEA at Colliers.
Per usual, JLL’s stand was bustling as it highlighted its retail intelligence and ‘Destination Retail 2016’ report revealing the top retail cities in the world including London, New-York, Paris and Hong-Kong. Outside the Palais, Groupe IDEC INVEST had chosen a Seaview suite on the 5th floor of the Martinez to present its new outlet destination in France – VIADUC VILLAGE and Hines Europe was meeting with premium and luxury retailers for Karl Johans Gate 45 – the 1,400 sq m, 3-storey retail hub in the heart of Oslo’s shopping and leisure destination.
Cannes becomes a 24-hour town during MAPIC and long after the Palais closed we were catching up with contacts and journalists from across the world. New West End Company kicked off the conference on Tuesday with an amazing dinner for 12 esteemed guests at La Mome just after the MAPIC Welcome Reception sponsored by Thor Equities. Wednesday evening, we were lucky enough to be hosted at various drinks receptions by Colliers, Meyer Bergman, CityCon, Atrium and Gazit Globe – not all at once though!
After another busy night, some of our team was brave enough to lunge into some sun salutations at Colliers International’s Beach Yoga at 7.30am. It was a great way to mix-up our usual networking mixers and find some calm in the MAPIC mania. On the final night of the conference, we had the pleasure of attending JLL’s Destination Soirée before joining the traditional closing party.
As a final cheers to MAPIC, we hosted our annual ‘Survivor’s Lunch’ at Astoux et Brun where we celebrated our happy clients, the successful event and our team’s great work! It was a phenomenal event and, after recouping last weekend, we’re already counting down until MAPIC 2017!


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Electric car charging stations should offer contactless payment by next spring, the government announced today.
It would let people pay for charging their electric vehicle with a credit or debit card, as well as existing methods such as smartphone apps or membership cards.
Michael Ellis, future of mobility minister, said: “The government’s vision is for the UK to have one of the best electric vehicle charging networks in the world, but we know the variety of payment methods at the moment is a source of frustration for drivers.
“It is crucial there are easy payment methods available to improve electric vehicle drivers’ experiences and give drivers choice. This will help even more people enjoy the benefits electric vehicles bring and speed up our journey to a zero-emission future.”
The government has backed the installation of more than 20,000 public charge points across the UK, including more than 2,000 rapid chargers. There are now more places to charge an electric car than there are petrol stations.
It comes alongside an announcement by BP Chargemaster, which operates the UK’s largest network of charging sites, that it will introduce card payment options on all new 50kW and 150kW chargers from today. In addition, it will be retrofitting UK-made rapid chargers with card readers over the next 12 months.
Chief executive David Newton said: “We support the government’s vision for all new rapid and ultra-fast chargers to support contactless bank card payment.”
The initiative follows the prime minister’s announcement last week that a high-speed electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs to be developed nationally. The government has warned that it is prepared to intervene to ensure a good deal for consumers if the market is too slow to deliver improvements across the entire network.


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Some new cities have been added to the availability of Bajaj Chetak electric scooter, after which this electric scooter is now available in more than 20 cities. One of the most popular electric scooters in India, the Chetak is now available for purchase in over 20 cities including Delhi, Goa, and Mumbai. The company has further stated that Chetak has managed to double the network in the first six weeks of 2022.
The only electric scooter from Bajaj Auto is now available in over 20 Indian cities, including Coimbatore, Kochi, Kozhikode, Madurai, Visakhapatnam, Nashik, Vasai, Hubli, Surat and Mapusa recently. The company has informed that in 2022, 12 new cities have been added to Chetak’s network.
Customers wishing to buy this electric scooter can get it from the company’s official website for Rs 2,000. Website You can book from The price of Chetak EV varies according to the subsidy provided by the states. The Chetak EV is priced at Rs 1,91,275 ex-showroom in Delhi, but after deducting the FAME II subsidy and adding smart card charges and insurance, its on-road price will be Rs 1,53,821. Similarly, its prices will be different in different states.
Talking about power and features, the Bajaj Chetak Electric is powered by a 4.8kW motor, which generates 16Nm of peak torque and 6.44bhp maximum power. Thanks to this, the Chetak can reach a top speed of 70Kmph. The scooter gets a 3kWh capacity battery, which is capable of delivering a range of 90Km in Eco mode and 85Km in Sport mode. The company claims that it takes 5 hours for the battery to be fully charged. The regular 5A power socket can be used for charging, which is a good thing. The company has also claimed that the Chetak scooter can be charged up to 25 percent in just 1 hour.


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IF it's January, this must be Detroit. For a onetime Michiganian like myself, the annual pilgrimage to the auto show -- invariably held when the skies are grayest -- is a homecoming and a cause for eternal hope. Chances are you'll find me today at Cobo Center, drinking in the exuberance of an industry that puts on a smiley face even when the numbers wear a frown.
This will be the 11th Detroit show I've attended as an out-of-towner. I've learned that auto-show math is fuzzy (most every company predicts impossible sales increases); that crystal balls need better technology (100 m.p.g. cars are never far away; in 1998, General Motors said it would have a "production ready" fuel cell car by 2004); that to avoid being trampled, you shouldn't stand between foreign journalists and press kits containing a model car salable on eBay; that you can gauge a company's health by checking the size of the shrimp at its cocktail reception. (No shrimp? Sell the stock!)
I have also learned that the most promising designs don't necessarily become production cars, while some head-scratchers -- Aztek, anyone? -- do.
Here are some other random recollections of the last decade at the Detroit show:
1996: Facing the Music
The Prowler retro rod was driven out by two cool dudes -- Bob Eaton and Bob Lutz, Chrysler's top executives -- to the sound of "La Grange" by ZZ Top. The band later sued Chrysler for $15 million for unauthorized use; a settlement was eventually reached.
HOLY TOWN CAR: Jaws dropped when Lincoln showed its Sentinel concept car. The sinister sharp-edged black sedan soon retreated to the Batcave.Continue reading the main story
1997: Done to a Crisp
On the way to Detroit, a Toyota Sienna minivan prototype was damaged in an electrical fire inside a trailer. After a replacement was cobbled together, a journalist presented a memento to a harried Toyota spokesman: a burnt sienna Crayola.
BEST PRESS KIT: To introduce its new S.U.V., Dodge handed out boxes of "Durangos" cereal, patterned after Wheaties and labeled "the sport utility of champions."
1998: Year of the Bug
Beetlemania gripped Cobo as Volkswagen unveiled its New Beetle. Impossibly long lines formed for cheap plastic models.
THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC: General Motors proudly offered its EV1 electric car. A few years later, it took them back, over protests from leaseholders, and crushed them.
INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE: On Tuesday afternoon as the the crowds thinned, I checked out the new Lexus RX 300. As I sat inside, a team of Asian engineers from a competitor swept in and proceeded to virtually dismantle everything under the hood, measuring and photographing each piece.
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? Buick unveiled the single homeliest car at the show, a bulbous wagon called the Signia.
1999: Let It Snow, Let It Snow
A blizzard struck as show participants were arriving. With roads almost impassable, thousands of pilgrims were stranded at the Detroit airport; hundreds were stuck in snowbound planes within sight of the terminals, some for eight hours or longer.
SHOW STOPPERS: Ford spent millions to consolidate its brands in an elaborate display that dominated Cobo. The Thunderbird and Chrysler PT Cruiser were big hits.
GREEN LANDMARK: Honda displayed a hybrid car, the V V (later called the Insight).
WHAT A CHOICE: G.M.'s concept cars included the Aztek, a bizarre van-based utility, and the Nomad, an acclaimed crossover. Guess which one went into production.
2000: Computing Power
Not to be out-displayed by Ford, G.M. consolidated its brands into an even larger exhibit called "the G.M. Experience."
DOES NOT COMPUTE: Tough, machinelike "techno" designs were prominent, and all the talk was of computers. Ford's chief designer, J Mays, showed the 24.7, three cubes on wheels that he called "a computing platform" for tech-savvy young people.
MOST UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENT: G.M. hired a mosh pit of teenagers to twist and shout while it unveiled the Aztek production car.
BEAUTIFUL LOSER: No one had a discouraging word about the gorgeous Jaguar F-Type. The roadster seemed certain for production but succumbed to the cost-cutting ax.
2001: So What's Cooking?
The show was immortalized in a comment by Mr. Lutz (between his Chrysler and General Motors posts). The vehicles, he said, looked like "angry kitchen appliances."
WHY? Ford put a 30-gallon live-fish tank in the Explorer Sportsman concept.
MOST DARING DESIGN: The BMW X coupé violated a basic rule of car design: symmetry.
2002: The Lutz Factor
All eyes were on Bob Lutz, recently arrived at stodgy G.M. He didn't disappoint, rolling out a Pontiac Solstice roadster created in just a few weeks.
TECHNOLOGY WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR: Ford's Mighty F-350 Tonka, which looked like a mammoth toy, had "hydraulic launch assist." Stored energy propelled the truck, like releasing a wound spring.
2003: Power and Money
G.M. stole the thunder that Rolls-Royce and Maybach, each showing ultraluxury models, thought was theirs. Cadillac shocked the show with an outrageous 1,000-horsepower concept car, the Sixteen.
ENTHUSIASTS WEPT: Maserati showed an S.U.V. concept, the Kubang.
CAN YOU TOP THIS? Chrysler went where no automaker had gone before. Its chief operating officer, Wolfgang Bernhard, roared in on the Tomahawk, a motorcycle with a 500-horsepower Viper V-10 engine.
2004: Mustang Fever
The reborn Ford Mustang was a sensation, but more mundane models tried to be cool, too. To prove that minivans can be sexy, Dieter Zetsche, Chrysler's chief executive and aspiring hoofer, performed with a chorus line of PG-rated models.
2005: Not So Smart
To promote the arrival of its Smart line, DaimlerChrysler offered rides in a fleet of the tiny cars. Then, after the show, it said it wouldn't import Smarts after all.
Ford's SYNus looked like a bank vault.
BEST TRINKET: Chrysler gave away Hemi Dog figurines -- a cross of canine and V-8. Within hours, several were offered on eBay.
HOW APPROPRIATE: Owners of vintage Jaguars smiled when the XK concept car made its debut with a malfunctioning headlamp.Continue reading the main story


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Tobacco companies must submit any products introduced or changes since early 2007 for review through the Fda (FDA) under new guidelines introduced by the united states regulatory agency on Wednesday.
Under the new regulations, manufacturers have until March 22 to prove the cigarettes and other cigarettes and tobacco products they marked are “substantially equivalent” towards the goods they offered on the market prior to February 15, 2007, the Associated Press (AP) is reporting.
“Which means the components and design are similar and do not raise different public health concerns,” the AP reporters said. “The FDA said hello may deny an application when the product poses an increased health risks to users or causes nonusers to begin using tobacco.”
Under the new policy, companies who introduce new products after March 22 must obtain a market order in the FDA before selling their cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless products, according to various media reports.
“Manufacturers frequently alter ingredients without anyone understanding what they’re consuming,” Lawrence Deyton, Director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, told Bloomberg’s Molly Peterson and other reporters in a conference call Wednesday. “No longer will changes to products consumed by millions of Americans be made without anyone knowing.”
“For a new product to be a substantial equivalent, it must be the same when it comes to ingredients, design, composition, heating source along with other characteristics for an existing single predicate product,” added David Ashley, director from the Office of Science at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “Whether it has different characteristics, they have to not raise different questions of public health.”
In an argument answering the FDA announcement, Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said: “We applaud the FDA for quickly and effectively implementing its new authority over cigarettes and tobacco products. The FDA has seized the opportunity presented through the new law to safeguard our kids and lower the death and disease caused by tobacco use, the nation’s number one cause of preventable death.”
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, 46.Six million people, or approximately one out of every five Americans, currently smoke cigarettes. Furthermore, the CDC states that as much as 3% of the US adult population uses smokeless tobacco, and tobacco in general is responsible for more than 440,000 deaths annually.


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Premium cosmetics brand Herborist, owned by Jahwa, is set to launch in North America in a bid to capitalise on the market with its Chinese traditional medicine techniques.
Subrina Liu, Head of Marketing for the company, hopes to balance the needs of Chinese and Western consumers and is touted to move to the US to spearhead the launch of the brand in the North American market.
The premium cosmetic brand was created more than 110 years ago in Shanghai and is rooted in traditional medicines. It ranks number one in the natural segment according to China Market Monitor, while its light green packaging also has Taoist roots with yin-yang imagery created by Chinese designers.
Despite being popular amongst Chinese consumers, the traditional cosmetics concept is largely lost amongst western women. However, the brand has a niche following in France and is likened to companies such as L’Occitane, Biotherm and Jurlique.
Launching into the overseas market in 2008, it has a large presence in France, which in turn has strong cultural ties to Asia, with its approval standards for beauty products also being higher than most countries, including the U.S. Available in other European markets, Herborist is set to launch into the UK this summer.
Liu said, “France is famous for its skin care. If we are accepted there, it’s easier to be accepted globally. China is still the base of the brand, we have to be strong here first, but I’ve dreamed of making a Chinese brand international and Herborist is ready.”


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Sweden-based Einride has raised $110 million to fund the development and use of electric, autonomous trucks, the company announced in a Tuesday (May 6) press release.
New investors include Temasek, Soros Fund Management, Northzone, Maersk Growth and Build Capital. In addition, existing investors EQT Ventures, Plum Alley Investments, Norrsken VC, Ericsson and NordicNinja VC also participated in the round.
The company said its most well-known product is the “Einride Pod,” which does not have a cab section to the truck. “It’s the only driverless freight mobility vehicle on the market and in commercial use,” the firm said.
Einride said the latest funding round will be used to increase the use of its vehicles in its main customer base, Europe and the U.S. “The Einride Pod also holds the current global speed record for electric and autonomous freight,” the release added.
Einride’s existing customers include Coca-Cola, Oatly, Lidl and Electrolux. The company said its technology has helped reduce its customers’ emissions of carbon dioxide by 94 percent, compared to diesel-powered trucks.
“Einride is dedicated to transforming road freight transport as we know it, making it more cost-efficient, safe, and sustainable,” said Einride Co-Founder and CEO Robert Falck.
Jeppe Høier, partner at Maersk Growth, said his firm looks “forward to being part of Einride’s mission to electrify and decarbonize inland transport globally.”
“Einride has emerged as the category leader, allowing global shippers to shift to electric and autonomous freight options,” said Jessica Schultz, general partner at Northzone.
Ellen Kugelberg, Einride’s chief operating officer, told PYMNTS that her company sees a growth opportunity given “the environmental, labor and utilization concerns that still exist for human-operated diesel trucks.” Last October, the company reeled in $25 million in venture capital.
“Going from one or two drivers per vehicle with a high complexity of locations and needs, to one operator for 10 vehicles in one fixed location, will naturally create large cost savings,” she said.


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Hasbro: PulseCon Day 2 Reveals Published by Nick on September 28, 2020 at 01:59 PM CST Hasbro wrapped its two-day virtual event on Saturday, featuring many reveals in its line including the relaunch of the Zoids line. Check out some recaps and a photo gallery in the full article. For highlights of the Star Wars panels, check out our coverage on Rebelscum.com.
Hasbro: Full PulseCon Lineup Revealed Published by Nick on September 18, 2020 at 11:52 AM CST Hasbro blasted out some amazing new details about celebrity guests and musical performances for HasCon next week. Check out the details in the full article.
Hasbro: Power Rangers Panel Details for PulseCon Published by Nick on September 10, 2020 at 04:24 PM CST Hasbro unveiled the panelists and some teasers to expect from the Power Rangers panel during PulseCon (25 and 26 September). See the full article for more.
Hasbro: Hasbro Pulse Announces PulseCon Set for Late September Published by Nick on August 31, 2020 at 09:44 AM CST Bummed you missed out on the great Hasbro product panels at SDCC this year? Well, Hasbro has a second chance for you to see some mazing new reveals in their product lines this September. Check out the full article for all of the details.
Hasbro: Marvel Legends Fan First Tuesday Reveals Published by Nick on August 18, 2020 at 08:16 PM CST Hasbro had some great Legends reveals including a surprise tier bonus for the Haslab Sentinel. Check out the full gallery and additional details in the full article.


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WR is celebrating the withdrawal of a proposed national rule repealing the $800 value exemption on items imported and subject to tariffs – known as the de minimis 301 tariff rule.
This misguided and poorly conceived idea would have hurt many retailers that import products from overseas. Especially hard hit would have been smaller retailers that would have to raise prices to consumers to cover the huge tariffs. This in addition to the lasting impacts of the pandemic, with Washington retailers only allowed to operate at 25% capacity per state mandate, would have even further stymied many retailers trying to keep their doors open and hopefully make some semblance of a recovery.
WR joined with a large national coalition opposed to the repeal. We took part in numerous virtual meetings with members of Congress and their staffs to plead our case. Legislation and legal action were also considered – but thankfully not required.
WR strongly believes that a fair and open national trade policy is essential to the retail industry’s success and growth and will continue to advocate on our members’ behalf.


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RCP Companies recently announced its newest addition to the MidCity District, Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar. In 2024, the beloved Southern eatery will begin construction on its first Alabama location in the heart of the MidCity District.
The upscale Southern restaurant, known for its scratch-made Southern food, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner at 22 locations nationwide. Tupelo Honey’s Huntsville location, situated on the first floor of MidCity District’s first residential building Metronome, will offer the same made-from-scratch food, drinks and hospitality it has crafted for more than 23 years.
“We’re excited to add Alabama’s first Tupelo Honey location to MidCity District’s growing portfolio of exceptional tenants,” says Nadia Niakossary, RCP Companies senior director of development. “A proven concept in numerous rapidly growing cities – from Dallas to Asheville – Tupelo Honey will be a fantastic addition for MidCity visitors and residents alike looking for a delicious Southern breakfast, lunch or dinner.”
Tupelo Honey was one of the first farm-to-table restaurants in Ashville, N.C., infusing its Southern and Appalachian spirit into every aspect of the restaurant, and it continues to provide the same tried-and-true concept on a national scale today.
“We’d searched for our first Alabama location for several years before selecting Huntsville. MidCity is an extraordinary project that goes beyond the mixed-use elements we look for. The master plan intelligently blends the concept of live, work and play with a dynamic entertainment component,” says Stephen Frabitore, CEO of Tupelo Honey. “MidCity District is quickly becoming a multi-state gathering spot, and we are thrilled to be a part of the story.”
Tupelo Honey offers an extensive menu featuring Southern-inspired dishes made with a modern twist. The Southern-inspired restaurant also offers an exciting beverage program, including handcrafted cocktails, local craft beers and an exceptional wine selection.
The restaurant will be a destination for food lovers, families and friends, creating memorable moments while savoring Southern-inspired culinary delights. Tupelo Honey plans to open mid-year in 2024.


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- Victoria's Secret owner L Brands said Tuesday it is preparing to cut 15% of its corporate workforce, or about 850 jobs.
- It said it plans to save about $400 million annually through its cost-cutting efforts, which include the layoffs.
- L Brands also offered a preliminary look at its second-quarter financial results, which are expected to be released on Aug. 19: Net sales are forecast to be down 20% overall compared with a year ago.
Victoria's Secret owner L Brands said Tuesday it is preparing to cut 15% of its corporate workforce, or about 850 jobs, in a bid to trim costs as its business takes a hit from the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said it hopes to save about $400 million annually through its cost-cutting efforts, which include the layoffs. L Brands expects to see about $175 million of savings in fiscal 2020. It also expects to record about $75 million of pretax severance costs in the second quarter of 2020, specifically tied to the job cuts.
Shares of the company shot up more than 6% in after-hours trading, having closed the day down less than 1%.
"Decisions relating to our workforce are incredibly difficult and not taken lightly, but these actions are necessary to best position our company for the long-term," L Brands Chief Executive Andrew Meslow said in a statement, adding that the company is working toward improving the profitability of its embattled Victoria's Secret lingerie business.
As of Feb. 1, the company employed about 94,400 employees, 68,900 of those being part-time, according to L Brands' latest annual filing.
Other cost-cutting measures include closing stores, slimming down inventory and negotiating with landlords for rent relief, the retailer said Tuesday.
L Brands in May said it planned to shut permanently about 250 Victoria's Secret and Pink stores in the U.S. and Canada in 2020, or roughly a quarter of its shops in North America.
"We would expect to have a meaningful number of additional store closures beyond the 250 that we're pursuing this year ... meaning there will be more in 2021 and probably a bit more in 2022," Stuart Burgdoerfer, the interim CEO of Victoria's Secret, said at the time.
The company on Tuesday also offered a preliminary look at its second-quarter financial results, which are expected to be released on Aug. 19.
L Brands expects total net sales for the second quarter to come in about 20% lower than a year ago, despite a roughly 10% increase at Bath & Body Works. The company is expecting to post a 40% decline at Victoria's Secret.
It said most of its stores in North America are open after being temporarily shut due to the Covid-19 crisis.
"Sales at both businesses have been strong and have exceeded the company's expectations," the company said in its press release.
According to BMO Capital Markets analyst Simeon Siegel, L Brands will be much healthier as it becomes leaner.
"It's a classic example of a brand that stretched too far in pursuit of growth," he said. "But its revenues are the confirmation it still has tremendous buy-in from consumers."
L Brands, as of July 24, had a cash balance of more than $2.5 billion, with no amounts drawn down under its $1 billion asset-backed loan facility, the company added.
L Brands shares are up about 6% this year. The retailer has a market cap of $5.3 billion.


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An athlete empowerment brand founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter is coming to Canada.
And it’s doing so with a Canadian partnership.
On Tuesday, James’ Uninterrupted announced it’s partnering with Drake to empower Canadian athletes to be “More Than An Athlete.”
Uninterrupted launched back in 2015 in the US, and has since brought a connection between culture, sports, and media.
As its first international expansion, Canadians can expect the same connections, which will be led by CEO Scott Moore, who was president of Sportsnet for the past eight years, and Chief Content Officer Vinay Virmani, a successful Canadian film producer and director.
Uninterrupted Canada will create “authentic, athlete-driven storytelling, content, events, and merchandise.”
They will also be collaborating with Shopify Studios to develop content around athletes and entrepreneurialism. And as part of its initial content announcement, James’ company has already signed an exclusive first look deal with Toronto Raptors’ Serge Ibaka.
- NBA superstar Lebron James will be in Toronto this week
- LA went full helicopter paparazzi for LeBron just like Toronto did for Kawhi (VIDEO)
Uninterrupted Canada is also producing “a motivational series” with All Star pitcher Marcus Stroman, focusing on undersized athletes titled: “Height Doesn’t Measure Heart.”
“When we started Uninterrupted, it was to give athletes a platform where we could share our stories and connect with our fans in a way we never had before. And to show what we are passionate about beyond the sports we play. It’s exciting to see that idea now leading a whole new era of athletes around the world feeling empowered to do more and be more,” said LeBron James.
“Expanding into Canada with some incredible partners puts Uninterrupted on a global scale and creates new opportunities for even more athletes and fans to be a part of what we’re building.”
Drake said he’s honoured to be in this new partnership.
“Uninterrupted has been an incredible platform for athletes to tell their stories and connect with fans,” said Drake. “I’m honoured to partner with LeBron to bring Uninterrupted to Canada, a country that continuously supports innovation and creativity.”
Moore said the new platform will allow Canadians to engage in a new brand of storytelling, and Virmani calls this a unique opportunity.
“Culture, creativity and diversity are interwoven into our national fabric,” said Virmani. “Bringing Uninterrupted’s unique platform to Canada gives us the opportunity to share authentic stories as told by our country’s most celebrated and promising sporting icons — both Canadian born as well as those who’ve chosen to make the True North their home.”


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In today’s rapidly advancing digital world, the Internet of Things (IoT) has integrated seamlessly into our daily lives. These connected devices, from smart refrigerators to wearable fitness trackers, have offered unparalleled convenience. However, this interconnectedness raises cybersecurity concerns. Recognizing these challenges, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has introduced a pivotal program that aims to foster trust and enhance security among IoT devices.
Introducing the IoT Cybersecurity Labeling Program by FCC
The FCC has unveiled its newest initiative: the IoT Cybersecurity Labeling Program. At the heart of this program is the goal to promote cybersecurity best practices and standards for IoT devices.
The most significant highlight? Manufacturers participating in this program can feature a specially designed “IoT cybersecurity label” on their devices. This label will indicate that the device adheres to established cybersecurity benchmarks, symbolizing trustworthiness to consumers.
Although cybersecurity has been on the federal radar for some time, with entities like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) working towards it, this move by the FCC is unprecedented. What makes this announcement particularly noteworthy is the speed at which the FCC intends to roll out the program, setting a short 30-day deadline for comments post its publication in the Federal Register.
A Step in a Bigger Journey
This isn’t the first initiative focused on IoT security. The FCC’s proposal aligns with a broader White House initiative on IoT security launched recently. This integrated effort is the culmination of years of work involving directives from the 2021 Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity and consistent efforts by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to safeguard privacy and enhance cybersecurity.
Decoding the NPRM: What’s on the Table?
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by the FCC calls for public feedback on various elements of the labeling program:
Eligibility: The FCC suggests starting with IoT devices that intentionally release radio frequency (RF) energy. Their definition stems from NIST’s guidelines, explicitly targeting devices with transducers and a network interface but excluding commonly used devices like smartphones.
Oversight and Management: The Commission plans to handle the program’s administration, introducing a unique trademark for the initiative and enlisting third-party expertise for standard development and compliance assessment.
IoT Cybersecurity Standards: The FCC has set preliminary standards based on NIST’s recommendations from their 2022 white paper. The ten criteria include data protection, interface access control, and product education.
Labeling Program Administration: The NPRM delves into numerous facets of program management, from label design to ensuring the label’s global integrity. It also contemplates the establishment of an IoT registry for public access to information on approved devices.
Legal Grounds for the Proposed Regulations
The FCC believes it holds the legal right to embark on this labeling venture, citing several provisions from the Communications Act. Central to their argument is Section 302(a)(1), which grants the Commission the authority to create regulations ensuring devices don’t cause harmful interference to radio communications. Moreover, they seek feedback on their legal stance and enforcement capabilities concerning the labeling program.
What Does This Mean for Stakeholders?
With the intricacies and rapid timeline of the NPRM, stakeholders across the board will be impacted. Their active participation is crucial to ensure the labeling program’s success. It’s not just about creating a new label; it’s about fostering a culture of trust where consumers can rely on IoT devices without compromising security.
Moreover, for manufacturers and industry insiders, participating in this initiative presents a chance to champion best practices in cybersecurity and to shape the conversation. It’s an invitation to contribute, ensuring the labeling program addresses real-world challenges and meets consumer needs.
The FCC’s bold move to initiate the IoT Cybersecurity Labeling Program marks a significant step in addressing the cybersecurity concerns of our interconnected age. While the rapid pace of its rollout poses challenges, the initiative offers a clear path toward a more secure and trustworthy IoT landscape.
As the conversation unfolds, all eyes will be on the FCC and stakeholders. Their collaboration, or lack thereof, will determine the program’s success and, by extension, the future of IoT security.
Join the Conversation!
If you’re passionate about IoT and its potential, delve deeper with our IoT Pentest Course. Sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve. Click here to enroll: IoT Pentest – Lufsec