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The Lithuanian competition authority Konkurencijos taryba and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy successfully completed the European Union Twinning Project in Ukraine.
On June 14 the Chairman Šarūnas Keserauskas presented the Competition Council‘s annual report to the members of the Cabinet.
On December 5, 2016 the Competition Council confirmed the final conclusions of the market study on reimbursable pharmaceuticals (hereinafter – Study) that revealed competition problems in the market, to which possible solutions were proposed.
On 29 August Vilnius Regional Administrative Court (hereinafter – Court) rejected the appeal by Panevėžys City Municipality (hereinafter – Municipality) against the Competition Council‘s decision of 16 July 2016 whereby the Municipality restricted competition and consumer rights in the municipal waste management sector.
Šarūnas Keserauskas, Chairman of the Competition Council (hereinafter – the Council), presented the authority‘s achievements of 2015 to the members of the Cabinet.


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In 2013, scientists with Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) made headlines by making titanium shoes. The buzz wasn’t so much that the plates were titanium — after all, shoes have been made from this material before. Instead, it was the process in which they are made.
CSIRO used a 3D-printing process to manufacture the shoes for this experiment. A horse’s hooves were scanned and then using 3D modeling software, a set of four titanium shoes were produced. In looking at new uses for titanium, the group’s staff was challenged to come up with a horseshoe that weighs less than existing shoes for racehorses.
Other titanium shoes are on the footcare market, and the 3D printing experiment didn’t launch a revolution in the usage. Manufacturers, in and out of hoof care, will continue to use the technology to develop product innovations.
However, equine anatomical education and advancements in overall equine health have been beneficiaries — and may see significant developments in coming years.
Coupled with existing technology, 3D printing has been used for a few years to improve understanding of equine anatomy.
To create an anatomical model, the first step is to determine whether you want data on the internal or external foot, says Dr. Renate Weller, a professor and instructor at the Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) Structure & Motion Laboratory in Hatfield, United Kingdom. She says that the external foot is a relatively easy model to generate from this process. Data…

domain: news


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At the dawn of rapid prototyping, a common predication was that 3D printing would transform manufacturing, spurring a consumer revolution that would put a printer in every home. That hasn't quite happened—-and like so many emerging technologies, rapid prototyping has found its foothold in a surprisingly different field: Medicine.
The following studies and projects represent some of the most fascinating examples of "bioprinting," or using a computer-controlled machine to assemble biological matter using organic inks and super-tough thermoplastics. They range from reconstructing major sections of skull to printing scaffolding upon which stem cells can grow into new bones. More below—and look out for more 3D printing week content over the next few days.
Osteofab is a product made by a British company called Oxford Performance Materials. OPM got into the business by selling a high-performance polymer often used in medical implants—a thermoplastic called polyetherketoneketone—in raw form. But over the past few years, the company has also pioneered the application of the stuff, primarily through additive manufacturing. In February, an American patient received an FDA-approved skull patch made of the material, which had been carefully molded and printed to fit 75 percent of his unique skull geometry. [Osteofab]


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There are about 28 related results
* Contains illegal characters, please re-enter.
TCL CSOT is currently working on relocating JOLED factory equipment to China
Global advanced TV shipments grew 4% year on year in the second quarter of 2023 to 4.7 million units, showing some signs of recovery led by gains from Chinese brands.
Chinese electronics giant TCL Technology is expected to use Mini LED in small-sized electronic products
China’s top five display panel vendors report loss due to factors like inflation and a sluggish consumer electronics market
Chinese consumer electronics supplier TCL proposed achieving a carbon peak no later than 2030 and carbon neutrality no later than 2050 in a white paper released at its Global Ecosystem Partner Conference on July 6.
China’s leading display supplier TCL CSOT (TCL华星) announced an upgraded strategic partnership with Intel on May 30
TCL Zhonghuan cooperates with Vision Industries to build a solar wafer plant in Saudi Arabia
Chinese TV manufacturers’ global market share rising
Chinese and Japanese display makers team up to challenge South Korea’s domination in the large-size OLED market
China’s OLED display shipments to jump 40% in 2023 as phone makers upgrade, analyst says


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Maybe the One was worth waiting for, after all; HTC sales resurge on One
Taiwanese phone maker said April revenues were NT$19.6bn ($645m), up 24% from March.
However, last month’s revenue still took a tumble by 37% compared to April ’12.
Since January, sales revenue has fallen consecutively each month by around 40% on average.
Last week the One maker said Q1 (Jan-Mar) profit fell a massive 98%, and revenue dropped to NT$42.8 bn ($1.4m), a fall from $NT60m last quarter, and down on last year.
March revenues slumped almost 50% to NT 15.8bn.
Last month, HTC made its acclaimed One smartphone available in more countries globally including Australia after weeks of production delays.
However, all is not lost for the struggling former Android darling.
Figures just out from analyst comScore show HTC is the No. 3 smartphone in the US behind leaders Apple and Samsung, falling -1.2% during the period Dec-March this year and is still ahead of Motorola and LG.
Last week CEO Peter Chou confirmed HTC would put additional marketing resources into pushing HTC One globally.
However, the phone maker who also backed Microsoft Windows 8 platform with HTC 8X and 8S devices
, expects a better second quarter with revenue around NT$70 billion and operating margin to pick up to 1-3%- up from just 0.1% at present.
However, there was some other good news for HTC locally.
Retailer JB Hi Fi last week said HTC One along with Samsung Galaxy S 4 would be one of the big sellers in its phone market this year, in an investor presentation last week.
Maybe the One was worth waiting for, after all.


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GfK forecasts total sales of household appliances to reach €307.8 billion in 2021
GfK reports the global market for small and large household appliances recorded an excellent first half of 2021, with sales of small appliances up 21% and large appliances up 31% compared to the same period last year, which was impacted by lockdowns.
GfK says it expects total sales for 2021 to reach €307.8 bn, which represents an overall increase of 8%, marking a new record in global sales volume. The focus on people’s homes further fuelled the buying mood. When it comes to storage, food preparation, cooking, and even cleaning chores, consumers value performance/capacity, high quality, and top class.
Norbert Herzog, GfK’s Expert for Household Appliances, said demand for small and large household appliances was impressive in the first six months of 2021, even exceeding pre-COVID sales levels in comparison to 2019: a 20% increase for large appliances and 25% increase for small appliances.
However, due to the pandemic and the varying infection levels and associated restrictions, extreme fluctuations can be observed in the market. Compared to the same period last year, the large equipment market in India grew by 51%, in China by 38%, and in Western Europe by 32% in the first half of 2021. Small appliances recorded above-average growth of 27% in Europe.
Herzog said: “Increased demand in the market is also causing price increases, which are additionally exacerbated by sharp increases in raw material and logistics costs.
“A price increase of 23% in the second quarter confirms the upward price trend that has already been observed since the third quarter of 2020. This could slow demand in the second half of the year. Regardless, we expect the market for home appliances to grow by 8% overall in 2021, setting a new record in global sales volume.”
Consumers focus on performance/capacity, high quality and top class
In 2021, people still spend a lot of time inside the home and their demands on household appliances will increase. When it comes to storage, food preparation, cooking, and even cleaning chores, consumers value performance/capacity, high quality, and top class.
For example, high-capacity side-by-side refrigerators (+36%) or those with more than four doors (+33%) were particularly popular. Furthermore, products promising elevated hygiene also showed potential.
Herzog said: “Washing machines with a steam function sold almost twice as much as the year before, when the market was already worth around €4.3bn.
“There is also an increased demand when it comes to the kitchen. Whether food processors or espresso machines, built-in appliances such as dishwashers or cooktops (preferably with integrated exhaust system), all these product segments grew significantly faster than the market for large and small appliances as a whole.
“While during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, small cooking appliances were still in great demand, a year later, old familiar categories such as automatic espresso machines, but also styling appliances (e.g. straightening irons, hair styling tools) are again driving growth.”
When it comes to cleaning, many consumers focus on time-saving helpers. Robot vacuum cleaners grew by 50%, overtaking traditional cylinder vacuum cleaners in sales for the first time. They performed particularly well alongside handstick vacuum cleaners, which again grew by 19% in the first half of 2021.
Online sales reach unprecedented levels
One look at online retail shows that new all-time highs are being recorded for both small and large appliances. Following growth in large appliances online in the first half of 2020 (+30%), this year saw renewed growth of 38% compared to the same period last year. This means that more than 31% of all major household appliances are sold online. This figure for small appliances is even higher at 49%.
Herzog said: “COVID-19 has elevated us, almost by necessity, to a new level of digitalisation.
“But consumer loyalty and trust in traditional retailers remains strong. It is their online business that has benefited the most, driving up the home appliances market in Europe with a triple-digit growth rate of 152% compared to 2019. New online formats and innovations such as live streaming events in China also offer great potential for Europe.”


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Enjoy spring blossoms without leaving home
Being locked down may upset many people, but a floral scene – a sign of hope and renewal – will certainly help. Follow Shanghai Daily for an online tour of beautiful spring flowers.
It's cherry blossom season, and Wuhan University in Wuhan, Hubei Province, is one of the best places in China to enjoy the canopy of white and pink blossoms.
More than 2,000 cherry trees are currently in full bloom on the university campus, but due to pandemic controls, it is not open to the public. However, the university will livestream views of campus through online platforms, according to its WeChat account.
In Shanghai, 244 parks had closed as of Wednesday at noon amid the latest surge of COVID-19. However, many are presenting beautiful spring landscapes online, including Chenshan Botanical Garden.
As one of the city's best spots to view cherry blossoms, the botanical garden has launched a 24-hour live video broadcast of its pink cherry blossom scenery for those who can't visit in person at https://krtxplay1.setrtmp.com/live/SSAA-513120-BACFD.m3u8 (only available on mobile phone).
The garden has a 1.5-kilometer boulevard of cherry blossoms, creating a dream-like pink floral tunnel.
In addition to cherry blossoms, tulips are also seen as a harbinger of spring.
Millions of tulips have burst into a kaleidoscope of orange, pink, white and other colors across the city. In downtown Jing'an District, more than 1.5 million tulips are blanketing the district, from parks such as Daning and Jing'an and commercial zones like Jing'an Kerry Centre and HKRI Taikoo Hui to flower belts along Nanjing Road W. and Suzhou Creek.


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If you choose plastic over paper at the grocery store, as a majority of shoppers do, you don't have to feel guilty about it anymore. Kroger is starting a pilot program in its Greensboro supermarkets to recycle plastic grocery bags.
Beginning today, shoppers at Krogers on West Market Street, High Point Road and Battleground Avenue can return plastic grocery bags to collection bins at each supermarket. The bags will be collected at Kroger's distribution center and returned to Sonoco, the bags' manufacturer, for recycling as trash cans, sign posts, traffic cones, protective shipping guards and plastic containers.Interest in recycling continues to grow in Greensboro.
Southeast Guilford county residents will have a recycling meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Southeast Baptist Church at 5011 Liberty Road. The chief topic will be the possibility of establishing a communitywide recycling center to serve southeast Guilford.
Starting Saturday, Citizens for Waste Reduction and Recycling will have regular recycling days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the second Saturday of each month at Cotton Mill Square. Bring aluminum, glass and plastic milk and beverage containers to the southern corner of the Spring Garden Street parking lot. Containers should be rinsed and lids removed. Please do not bring newspapers; these are collected at Greensboro Humpty Dumpsters.
For more information, call Citizens for Waste Reduction and Recycling at 375-4515.


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Subscriptions are out. Commissions are back in.
Domain Name Wholesale Exchange (DNWE, no relationship with DNW) is switching back to a commission business model.
The marketplace for investor-to-investor domain sales was initially launched with a traditional commission model. In January 2021, it switched to a paid subscription model. Both buyers and sellers paid a $ 149-a-year fee to participate. Sellers paid no commissions, and buyers covered the 5% Dan.com transaction fee.
Now, the marketplace is switching back to its original model. Sellers will pay a 12% commission, and buyers won’t pay anything.
The switch will occur on April 1, and all existing listings will expire immediately before the switch.
I subscribed to DNWE for the first year, but let my subscription lapse because I wasn’t using the service much. I will take another look now that it will be free to access. My only concern is that sellers who don’t pay a fee will flood the site with listings.
© DomainNameWire.com 2023. This is copyrighted content. Domain Name Wire full-text RSS feeds are made available for personal use only, and may not be published on any site without permission. If you see this message on a website, contact editor (at) domainnamewire.com. Latest domain news at DNW.com: Domain Name Wire.


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Samsung has announced the appointment of a new managing director, Andrew Griffiths, to lead the Samsung business in the UK and Ireland.
In his new role, Andrew will head up the Samsung UK and Ireland team which spans all three business groups: Consumer Electronics, Mobile and IT.
Andrew has over 20 years’ experience in the industry, including 6 years with Samsung. This stands him in good stead to develop Samsung’s business strategy and continue to successfully grow the business in the UK.
Previous roles include Vice President of Consumer Electronics at Samsung UK and Ireland, overseeing all activities across a broad portfolio of consumer electronic devices including TVs, Blu-ray players, domestic appliances and cameras. In addition, he has overseen several high profile launches and campaigns in the UK, including Samsung’s award-winning LED 3D TV and Smart TV.
Prior to becoming Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung UK and Ireland, Andrew worked for over a decade in a senior role at Sony.
Andrew will be working closely with Mr. Kim, Deputy Managing Director, Samsung UK and Ireland. This will be a new role for the UK and Ireland business.
Mr. David Song, the current Managing Director, Samsung UK and Ireland, will leave the Samsung UK and Ireland business to take a global role as Head of Global PC Sales & Marketing at Samsung’s PC Business.
Mr Song has been in the role since February 2010 and during this time has overseen all activities surrounding a broad portfolio of devices including, mobile phones, TV’s, Blu-ray players, white goods, notebooks, monitors, print and cameras. In addition, he has overseen several high profile launches and campaigns in the UK including Samsung’s award-winning Galaxy S II phone.
Robert King will step up from his current role as Sales Director, Consumer Electronics, Samsung UK and Ireland to become Head of Consumer Electronics.
The Mobile business group in the UK will be renamed Telecommunications & Networks as it will now include the Networks business. It will continue to be headed up by Simon Stanford.
Graham Long, Vice President, IT, Samsung UK and Ireland will continue to head up and manage the IT business including PC, Display and Print. Graham will also take responsibility for managing Samsung’s B2B sales operation including strategy and planning.


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Another prototype of the upcoming BMW M2 has been caught on camera recently.
There is no surprise anymore that BMW is working on a high-end version of the current 2-Series Coupe, a real M2, since spy photos, videos and reports with such a car have been around for quite a few months now. The clip posted below is showing us a prototype of the upcoming model wearing some light camouflage on its body. We can notice the updated body kit and the quad exhaust system at the rear which are good indicators that this is nothing else than the future M2.
The BMW M2 will be positioned above the current range-topping model, the M235i Coupe, and it is believed to come with the 3.0 liter TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder engine, which is capable of producing a total of 370 HP (272 kW) and a peak torque of 465 Nm (342 lb-ft). These figures haven’t been confirmed at this time but rumor has it that the model will also use the same brakes as its larger brother, the M3, and power will be sent to the rear-wheel drive through a 6-speed manual transmission. An automatic option is expected to be added too. From 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph), the M2 should need about 4.4 seconds and top speed will be electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). The model should be unveiled this September, during the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.


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Lava Agni 5G Smartphones Features
Mumbai: The Indian phone manufacturer Lava International Limited has been making steady progress in its quest of product innovation and design. Keeping up the pace, Lava has unveiled a new feature for its AGNI 5G smartphones, which was introduced in November of last year. This feature enables customers to customize their phones by having their names engraved on the back of the device at no extra cost.
By simply entering their information to create a coupon code, customers may take advantage of the customization function from the LAVA E-Store (www.lavamobiles.com) and receive free personalized engraving.
Agni 5G Smartphones Feature
Tejinder Singh, Product Head, Lava International, commented on the news by saying, “Customer centricity has always been the key emphasis of our company strategy, hence Lava has been diligently working on bringing new, cutting-edge features to its product portfolio. Our first concern right now is making sure that all of our customers have a quick and straightforward customizing experience. Adding this cutting-edge special function is another step in our ongoing effort to improve our goods to satisfy customer requests.
Lava strives to be at the forefront of innovation thanks to its excellent capabilities in research and development and product innovation and design. Lava has already introduced a number of unique features, including a safety app specifically created for women in the “BeU” series phones, specialized “Lava Pulse” series phones that create a contactless talking thermometer, and the customizable smartphone MyZ. Today, Lava is set to add another feather to its cap by introducing MYAGNI (Lava Agni 5G smartphones), which will enable users to get their names engraved on the 5G smartphone at no additional cost.


text: Headlines Beyonce Wore Nearly $7M in Jewelry to the Grammys Published 3 years ago on January 29, 2018 By INSTORE Staff Share Tweet She ‘stole the show’ with her look. Singer-songwriter Beyonce turned heads at the 2018 Grammy Awards by wearing $6.8 million worth of jewels. Her ensemble consisted of pieces by jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz, Us Weekly reports. The Daily Mail described the jewelry as “a custom made pair of 70 carat diamond and titanium geometric earrings with 35 carat center stones and three platinum set diamond rings.” The newspaper writes that her look “stole the show” Sunday night even though she didn’t take to the red carpet. She paired the jewelry with a black velvet dress complete with double thigh-splits. Her look paid homage to the Black Panthers, the Daily Mail reports. Read more at Us Weekly Advertisement A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Jan 28, 2018 at 10:45pm PST Related Topics: celebrity jewelryGRAMMY Awards click to Comment(Comment) Up Next Online Retailer Helps Launch Gemology Degree Program at Major University Don't Miss Details (and Likely Value) of Royal Engagement Ring Revealed Continue Reading Advertisement SPONSORED VIDEO Wilkerson Testimonials Retirement Made Easy with Wilkerson The store was a landmark in Topeka, Kansas, but after 80 years in business, it was time for Briman’s Leading Jewelers to close up shop. Third generation jeweler and owner Rob Briman says the decision wasn’t easy, but the sale that followed was — all thanks to Wilkerson. Briman had decided a year prior to the summer 2020 sale that he wanted to retire. With a pandemic in full force, he had plenty of questions and concerns. “We had no real way to know if we were going to be successful or have a failure on our hands,” says Briman. “We didn’t know what to expect.” But with Wilkerson in charge, the experience was “fantastic” and now there’s plenty of time for relaxing and enjoying a more secure retirement. “I would recommend Wilkerson to any retailer considering a going-out-of-business sale,” says Briman. “They’ll help you reach your financial goal. Our experience was a tremendous success.” You may like Statement Rings Continue To Rock At Awards Shows 19 Celebrities Show Off Their Stunning Engagement Rings [Updated] Ariana Grande’s Engagement Ring Could Be Worth $350,000 — Take a Look Promoted Headlines Digital Warrior: A Conversation with GemFind’s Alex Fetanat GemFind A Sales Meeting Platform for The 21st Century The Plumb Club With Average Retails of $250, This Is One Brand You Won’t Want to Miss! Chic Pistachio Advertisement Latest Trending Videos Press Releases14 hours ago Gembridge Announces Global Industry Ambassador Network Press Releases15 hours ago Christopher Designs Celebrates 40th Anniversary Press Releases2 days ago GJEPC Signs MoU with eBay Fun5 days ago 54 Funny Memes That Will Make You Say ‘Yup, That’s Life in Retail!’ Headlines1 week ago Paris Hilton’s Engagement Ring May Be Worth $1M+ Headlines1 week ago $5.2M in Fake Cartier Jewelry Seized in Kentucky Sponsored Content4 days ago Digital Warrior: A Conversation with GemFind’s Alex Fetanat Jimmy Degroot1 week ago Video: Sharpen Your Bridal Jewelry Presentations Sponsored Content1 week ago With Average Retails of $250, This Is One Brand You Won’t Want to Miss! Advertisement SubscribeBULLETINS INSTORE helps you become a better jeweler with the biggest daily news headlines and useful tips. (Mailed 5x per week.) Latest Comments Most Popular Fun5 days ago 54 Funny Memes That Will Make You Say ‘Yup, That’s Life in Retail!’ Headlines1 week ago Paris Hilton’s Engagement Ring May Be Worth $1M+ Headlines1 week ago $5.2M in Fake Cartier Jewelry Seized in Kentucky Headlines3 days ago Bergio Acquires Online Jewelry Retailer Aphrodite’s Benchmarks1 week ago These Jewelry Retailers Grab Shoppers’ Interest with Inventive Displays Hot Sellers1 week ago These Were the Top-Selling Jewelry Brands and Categories in January, According To Our Brain Squad Columns4 days ago 3 Tips to Becoming the Most Resilient Jewelry Store Owner You Know Sponsored Content1 week ago With Average Retails of $250, This Is One Brand You Won’t Want to Miss!


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CommScope's COVID-19 Customer & Partner Hub Visit
RapidTV News detailed this week’s report from ABI Research on 4KTV content penetration. According to the analyst firm, high-resolution premium video, including 4K and Ultra HD content, is a fast-growing market; and therefore, content protection services must follow suit with adaptability and preparedness for the expanding space.
Top Tech News reported on recent white papers from Alitcast, suggesting that cable boxes have the potential to become an Internet-of-Things (IoT) hub.
On Wednesday, Fierce Cable covered CableLabs’ announcement of new specs for CCAP architectures. CableLabs principal architect, Karthik Sundaresan, explained how this technology “provides] significant scale advantages and flexible deployment options for both DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1 networks.”
According to a Zacks article, Comcast will open up its set-top box and software testing framework so that other cable TV operators can also access the source codes.
Showtime launched its new OTT video service, Showtime Anytime, this week. Multichannel News reported how the service will be available via: Apple, Roku, Hulu and Sony PlayStation.
Check back next week for the latest industry news.
- Faster than expected penetration makes 4KTV content protection a growing concern (July 9, 2015) by Staff Writer, RapidTV News: The good news for content firms looking to expand offerings with 4KTV quality content is that penetration is increasing; the bad is that security is also a growing issue, says an ABI Research report.
- Can Cable Serve as All-in-One IoT Hubs? Alticast Think So (July 2, 2015) by Dan Heilman, Top Tech News: According to a recently published white paper, cable boxes have the potential to become protocol-agnostic Internet-of-Things (IoT) hubs and in the process begin to address the competing protocols and closed systems that continue to hold back the IoT industry.
- CableLabs released new specs for distributed CCAP architectures (July 8, 2015) by Daniel Frankel, FierceCable: CableLabs has released a new series of specifications covering distributed architectures for the Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP).
- Comcast to Share its Cable Set-Top Box Testing Platform (July 7, 2015) by Zacks Equity Research, Zacks: Comcast Corp., the largest cable MSO (multi service operator) in the U.S., has recently opened up its cable set-top box and software testing framework so that other cable TV operators can also access the source codes.
- Showtime Unleashes Stand-Alone OTT Service (July 8, 2015) by Jeff Baumgratner, Multichannel News:Beating a previously announced deadline, Showtime said Tuesday it has launched its stand-alone streaming service via Apple, Roku, Hulu and Sony PlayStation Vue ahead of the July 12 season debuts of network original series Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex.


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Chris Brook-Carter has been appointed to the newly created role of editor-in-chief of Retail Week and will lead content creation and development for the entire Retail Week brand.
In this broad editorial role he will be responsible for digital content strategy and direction, as well as shaping the direction of Retail Week’s events business to further build the Retail Week brand and multi-platform offering.
He joins Retail Week on March 5 from news and information group Aroq, where he was publisher of digital products just-drinks, just-food and just-style.
Brook-Carter said: "Retail is fast moving and diverse so it is essential that Retail Week delivers its great content through whatever platform its customers choose.
"While the beating heart of the Retail Week brand remains the magazine, readers increasingly want to interact across several platforms.
"I am looking forward to working with the talented editorial teams and further driving its digital strategy and customer engagement through an effective multi-platform approach."
Emap Retail managing director Tracey Davies said: “Chris is an innovative editor and gifted publisher. He brings deep digital knowledge and experience, which will be critical as we continue to build Retail Week into a more effective and successful multi-platform brand."
Brook-Carter will take responsibility for the weekly magazine, Retail-week.com, Retail Week Knowledge Bank, Retail Week Reports and all commercially led editorial projects.
He will also play a key content creation role for Retail Week’s events, which includes the annual Retail Week Conference.


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Sony Defends Actions In Letter To Congress, Blames Anonymous
Ironically for Sony, the company's data was stolen right around the time period it brushed off any concerns that Anonymous' attacks could negatively impact its security or systems. Faced with irrefutable evidence that its servers were riddled with security flaws, Sony has instead claimed it "has been the victim of a very carefully planned, very professional, highly sophisticated criminal cyber attack designed to steal personal and credit card information for illegal purposes."
The company then details why it blames Anonymous (up until now, that group has denied taking place in these activities.) "Sony Online Entertainment...discovered... a file on one of those servers named "Anonymous" with the words "We Are Legion." Just weeks before, Sony companies had been the target of a large-scale, coordinated denial of service attack by the group called Anonymous. The attacks were coordinated against Sony as a protest against Sony for exercising its rights in a civil action... against a hacker."
The letter implies that these two attacks were causally linked and gives several reasons for why Sony failed to detect / prevent the data theft of several weeks ago. These second attacks were extremely sophisticated, exploited a software vulnerability, and "our security teams were working very hard to defend against denial-of-service attacks."
People talk about online crime and cyber warfare much the same way we talk about its real-world counterpart because it's the easiest way to explain complex scenarios. In this case, the analogy fails. Security teams don't defend against a DoS attack the way soldiers defend a checkpoint or patrol a country's borders; there's no squadron of guards sitting at terminals ready to leap into action at the first sign of trouble. It's far more likely that the security vulnerability Sony mentions gave the thieves a back entrance no one was watching—it might not have mattered if the security team was investigating a DoS or holding a bake sale.
The above is made more likely based on Sony's own report; the company only became aware of the problem when servers that were not scheduled for reboot began to do so. The rest of the letter details how the company has worked with law enforcement to date and how it intends to compensate customers (we've already covered both of these). Sony also notes that it hasn't noted any uptick in credit card fraud or seen evidence that information stolen from the PSN is
being used in a nefarious manner. If true, this actually argues against the company's assertion that the theft was carried out by criminal organization who wanted to use credit card information illegally.
Stealing credit cards is like stealing a mobile phone—the moment it's obtained, a timer starts counting down. Eventually, the thief must assume the rightful owner will discover the theft and cancel the card / turn off the phone. The only way a thief could make use of the credit cards he/she liberated from the PSN was to use them immediately.
The absence of any such activity seems to indicate that whoever did this was more interested in embarrassing the company over its poor security than in causing any sort of material harm to individuals. Judged by such metrics, it definitely succeeded.


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- Mobile users 'more likely to be struck by lightning' than infected by malware
- Government-private sector collaboration vital for cyber security: Brandis
- Talking ’bout my generation – the next wave of infosec
- Australia's online ads less fraudulent but lower quality than elsewhere
- Project Fi will help Google amass even more data about you
outage - News, Features, and Slideshows
Half of Telstra mobile customers living across New South Wales suffered slow data speeds this morning due to a problem at one of the telco’s exchanges.
Telstra and Optus are scrambling to restore services in Queensland after Tropical Cyclone Marcia hit the state’s north coast on Friday morning, damaging properties and leaving many areas without power.
Bankwest has apologised to customers for technical issues on February 1 that meant its customers were unable to access the bank’s online and phone banking services, ATM network and EFTPOS services.
Telstra has restored ADSL and wireless data services following outages this morning, but is still suffering problems with an array of online applications.
Approximately 4,000 iiNet customers in Darwin won’t be able to access the Internet due to an unplanned outage, the ISP has reported.
A hardware failure has resulted in an ADSL outage in Melbourne for Telstra customers.
Optus and Vodafone have separately reported network outages on Thursday afternoon.
ANZ Banking Group confirmed via social media that the goMoney app has been restored after the app was taken offline on 24 March due to technical issues.
Telstra and Optus experienced some outages due to ongoing bushfires in Victoria, but Australia’s three big telcos say their networks are mostly standing up to the flames.
Telstra has apologised to customers after BigPond suffered an email outage and the Telstra IP Telephony (TIPT) network crashed on Tuesday.
The ASX Group should work on its communication skills with the market during technological outages, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said in a report released today.
Optus business customers experienced an outage Tuesday morning following hardware issues at the telco's exchange in Ultimo, Sydney.
Telstra is “working flat out” to fix an email outage for BigPond customers caused by a problem with switching equipment at its Kent St exchange in Sydney.
Bushfires have caused power outages at Optus mobile sites in New South Wales, the number-two telco reported.
Gmail is back online after an outage late Monday morning that provoked a global response on social media.
- IN PICTURES: RSA Conference 2015, San Francisco, April 20-24 (+37 photos)
- Technology investment in SMEs set to escalate in 2015: Robert Half
- Bulletproof increases focus on southern region in Australia with new senior hire
- EXCLUSIVE: Huawei and iCITA - a partnership cemented in the datacentre
- HP nabs Randstad most attractive employer in ICT award
- Microsoft's retail store a step forward in building immersive lifestyle experience, says brand expert
- Twitter boosts beacon technology with investment in Swirl Networks
- NetSuite to acquire Bronto's digital marketing platform for US$200m
- Beacon trial aims to engage Sydneysiders with new World War II sculpture
- MCG rates success of beacon trials for customer engagement


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On August 26, 2019, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued a press release announcing “it is moving forward to facilitate and expand scientific and medical research for marijuana in the United States.” This announcement comes in the midst of a growing demand for marijuana for medical and scientific research. Several years ago, in an August 11, 2016, press release, DEA first announced its intention to “expand… the number of DEA-registered marijuana manufacturers” because “only one entity was authorized to produce marijuana to supply researchers in the United States: the University of Mississippi.” Since that announcement, 33 entities have applied to DEA for a marijuana manufacturer registration. However, the approval process was stalled during Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ term in office, and to date no new applications have been approved. Meanwhile, the number of entities registered by DEA to conduct research on marijuana, marijuana extracts or marijuana derivatives has jumped from 384 in January 2017 to 542 in January 2019. Thus, while demand for marijuana for research purposes has increased sharply, the number of suppliers has remained stagnant.
At the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) public hearing on May 31, 2019 (read more about the hearing), over 100 people presented to a panel of FDA stakeholders and to over 500 attendees. Last week, FDA stated in a post that it recognizes the “significant public interest in these products, for therapeutic purposes and otherwise” but reiterated that “there are many unanswered questions about the science, safety, and quality of many of these products.”
The good news for the industry is that FDA “recognize[s] the need to be clear and open about where things stand, and about the efficient and science-based way in which we are moving forward,” including “being transparent and up-front” as they continue to collect data and information on CBD. FDA is taking an “Agency-wide, integrated, and collaborative approach” to regulating products made from CBD and is exploring potential pathways to market for CBD products. However, FDA still grapples with how to balance the desire for widespread availability of CBD products with the desire to preserve incentives for research and drug development of CBD products.
The cannabis industry is the next frontier, growing rapidly and becoming one of the highest grossing industries in the country. The problem is, through no fault of its own, it is also the “wild west” of industries in many ways operating without guidance or regulation from the federal agencies that have jurisdiction of its products.
On May 31, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a public hearing to allow stakeholders to share their experiences and challenges with cannabis or products containing cannabis-derived compounds. For this hearing, FDA requested information, scientific data, and stakeholders’ views on the safety of CBD-containing and cannabis-derived products. FDA hoped to obtain input on possible strategies that will allow for lawful marketing of CBD-containing and cannabis-derived products in a predictable and efficient manner, while still providing incentives for drug development with CBD and cannabis-derived compounds. Over 100 academic, industry, medical, and consumer stakeholders spoke or gave presentations at the hearing to a packed audience of about 500 attendees. In addition, over 1300 written comments have been posted to the FDA’s public docket FDA-2019-N-1482 for this hearing.
The hearing opened with remarks from Acting Commissioner Dr. Norman Sharpless. As expected, he made no new announcements about FDA’s current thinking about regulating products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds. He did restate the FDA’s current position that CBD and THC cannot lawfully be added to a food or dietary supplement and that FDA does not have a policy of enforcement discretion with respect to these products.
To read the full text of this article written by Duane Morris attorneys Rick Ball and Carolyn Alenci, please visit the Food and Drug Law Institute website.
On Friday, May 31, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a public hearing to discuss scientific data and information about products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds. Acting Commissioner Sharpless made no new announcements about FDA’s current thinking about how it will regulate products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds. However, it was clear from the FDA panel’s questions to the various academic, industry, and other stakeholders that FDA is looking for as much data from as many sources as possible. In particular, FDA’s questions focused on age and youth restrictions, dose and route of administration and how they affect the safety of the products, adverse event reporting, and interactions between cannabis/cannabis-derived products and other drugs. In addition, FDA continued to inquire about whether deregulating cannabis and cannabis-derived products would affect the incentive for research on these products.
Industry stakeholders asked for a prompt, expedited, clear, and transparent regulatory framework for products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived products. Specifically, industry sought clear definitions for terms like “full spectrum,” “broad spectrum,” “isolate,” and “THC-free.” Further, industry requested regulations on labeling, testing, good manufacturing practices, and track and trace for products. Many industry stakeholders asked FDA to look to the dietary supplement and food regulations already in place as a guideline for regulations on cannabis.
The public’s desire for organic products continues to grow. This is equally true for cannabis and hemp-derived products, especially where they are being used for medicinal purposes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued regulations setting out standards setting out specific requirements that must be met for an agricultural product to be labeled “organic”. In order to be able to include the USDA’s organic certified seal on a product’s packaging, a USDA-accredited certifying agency must verify that the product meets USDA’s regulations. This USDA certification provides many benefits, including, for example, premium prices for products. So why haven’t we seen many certifications for hemp products?
Back in 2016, the USDA, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, issued a Statement of Principles on Industrial Hemp concerning the applicability of Federal law to industrial hemp programs after the 2014 Farm Bill, but the ability to gain organic certification for hemp products was unclear. The USDA also issued Instruction: Organic Certification of Industrial Hemp Production (updated in September 2018), which stated that industrial hemp produced in accordance with the 2014 Farm Bill could be certified if it met all of the requirements of USDA’s organic regulations. The problem was that under the 2014 Farm Bill only certain parts of the hemp plant (e.g., the stalk and non-viable seeds) were permitted to seek organic certification. And, actually, some hemp seed products have received USDA organic certification.
With the enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill), hemp-derived CBD appeared to be on the table for marketing all across the country. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) press release issued that same day put a hold on the jubilation, stating that FDA considered any and all cannabis-containing or cannabis-derived products as drug products and not food or dietary supplements, regardless of whether the CBD was hemp-derived.
On April 2, 2019, departing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb issued a statement about FDA’s next steps to advance a regulatory pathway for cannabis-containing and cannabis-derived products. At the same time FDA updated its cannabis-containing products and cannabis-derived products Q&A. It is clear that, at this point, FDA has not changed its position.


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It was great to see so many Consumer Finance Association members attend our Summer Summit and then so many guests attend our Summer drinks yesterday.
The sector has undergone massive changes over recent years and can rightly be proud of its progress. However, we can’t ignore the current difficulties that many firms face as we deal with a regulatory structure that throws up questions. So it was good to see such a turnout.
I know that members appreciated the update from Rob Gruppetta of the Financial Conduct Authority and from Dawn Stobart of Christians Against Poverty.
It was very useful to share experiences and ideas.
Our next event is our annual conference taking place in Manchester on the 10th October, with our member dinner taking place the night before, kindly sponsored by Lantern. Members can book tickets now via the conference site: https://www.eventstop.co.uk/event/2866/cfaannualconference#/


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GOLFTEC reveals its new logo, in-center design, enhanced club fitting program and website
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The world leader in golf lessons has revealed its new corporate logo and updated in-center and website designs that will pave the way for the company’s bright future.
The change reflects GOLFTEC’s position as the global leader in golf instruction, and ushers in a new era that will see the company open more than 30 locations in the coming months to continue its robust domestic and international growth.
With its first major overhaul in over 15 years, the refreshed logo features a modern and sleek aesthetic, while the interior design creates a dynamic and holistic experience for students by creating an inviting, inspiring and vibrant atmosphere.
All new locations (and existing centers to be updated throughout a multi-year period) are tailored for total golf immersion by offering new amenities, game improvement products and services, an extensive digital experience and comfortable furniture in common areas.
GALLERY: New Training Center Design
In addition to in-center design changes, GOLFTEC is introducing a variety of advanced technologies that will be implemented in all centers and training bays within the next few years.
Improvements include advanced, state-of-the-art cameras and lighting that provide enhanced, high-resolution video for both in-bay playback during lessons and post-session online viewing. The cameras are custom-made for GOLFTEC and integrate with an updated and proprietary TECSWING motion measurement system that was used in millions of lessons to date.
GOLFTEC will release more information about this exciting new technology in the months ahead.
Enhanced Club Fitting
The world leader in golf instruction is now committed to becoming the world leader in custom club fitting by enhancing the GOLFTEC TECFIT program.
The initiative, which will be implemented in training centers throughout 2017-18, includes expanded club component offerings and a partnership with True Spec Golf, which will help GOLFTEC offer unique shaft options and fulfillment of custom orders from top OEMs such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno and Ping.
Improvements include upgraded TECFIT custom club fitting software that scientifically blends different swing characteristics and ball flight data to identify the proper equipment – including diverse clubhead and shaft combinations – for each unique student.


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Two brothers from Switzerland in 2016 presented an electric city car whose design was inspired by the iconic Isetta—right down to the front-mounted door.
Called the Microlino, the car is the result of Oliver and Merlin Ouboter’s desire to free up space in cities and promote environmentally friendly mobility in a way that they described as “fun and cool.”
Although there has been a lot of interest, the brothers have discovered that building cars isn’t an easy business. They ultimately missed their original 2018 timeline for the start of production, though the good news is that the delay meant they could reengineer the car to make it significantly safer.
While the original design featured a steel tubular frame chassis, the updated design features a stiffer and more rigid unibody structure made from pressed steel and aluminum. Impressively, the new design hasn’t added any additional weight.
Micro, the company behind the Microlino, said the car has a curb weight of 1,130 pounds. There’s enough space to seat two adults and buyers will have a choice of batteries with 8.0- and 14.4-kilowatt-hour capacities. The bigger of these delivers a range of over 120 miles, according to Micro. Power comes from a 15-hp electric motor that will enable a top speed of 55 mph.
What’s impressive about the Microlino is that it is only about 8.0 feet in length. It means you can fit three of them parked nose to curb in the space normally taken up by one car. The Microlino also has a handy 10.6 cubic feet of space in the trunk.
Micro is currently testing a prototype and plans to build five more ahead of the certification process for the European Union, which the company hopes to have completed in the summer. The company said it will be able to start production relatively quickly once it receives the certification.
Right now the Microlino has only been confirmed for Europe, where it will be priced from 12,000 euros (approximately $14,535).
This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.


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The Hong Kong and China stock markets have been falling recently. Is the real economy that bad?
Mainland telecom operators, at least, paint a much brighter future.
By the end of November last year, there were nearly 800 million 3G/4G mobile network users in the mainland, up almost 300 million from a year earlier.
That shows internet demand remains robust despite slower economic growth.
If we subtract the 3G users of China Mobile Communications Corp. (00941.HK), the total number of 3G/4G users was nearly 600 million, an increase of 250 million from the previous year.
Who is the biggest winner in the 3G/4G era?
Almost 80 percent of new users in the past two years have chosen China Mobile.
The competition among different telecom companies has been intensifying. China Mobile seems to have taken the lead.
That said, why has the share price of China Mobile failed to outperform those of its rivals?
The recent devaluation in the renminbi would certainly undermine the Hong Kong dollar-denominated earnings and investment value of Chinese companies.
More importantly, in the telecom industry, massive upfront investment, subsidies for new users and huge depreciation expenses all weigh on the bottom line despite increasing revenue.
However, telecom operators are expected to enjoy rising profits one or two years later, after the subsidies for new users and depreciation expenses level off.
China Mobile is therefore likely to experience rapid profit growth, unless the renminbi weakens a further 5 to 10 percent in the next three years.
Will the authorities slash internet charges during the economic downturn? It’s unlikely.
China has been trying to develop its own 4G network based on TD-LTE technology for almost a decade.
China Mobile is an active player in promoting the technology. The government will give its more leeway in earnings.
How long can the smartphone boom in China be sustained?
Mobile-phone sales expanded by less than 10 percent last year, despite an increase of 300 million new users.
The penetration rate will reach nearly 70 percent by the end of this year, when the mainland’s 3G/4G users exceed 900 million.
How to sustain such rapid growth in the future?
The telecom market’s focus will then shift to content providers and telecom operators and away from smartphone suppliers.
At that point, it depends on which platform can gather the most traffic.
Simply speaking, winner takes all.
This article appeared in the Hong Kong Economic Journal on Jan. 20.
Translation by Julie Zhu
[Chinese version 中文版]
– Contact us at [email protected]


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On the heels of Germany saying one other lockdown to attempt to include the fast rise in Covid-19 circumstances within the nation, one of many hottest startups in its capital metropolis is saying the closing of a big convertible observe to assist it hold shifting ahead.
GetYourGuide, which in brighter occasions runs a thriving and viral enterprise curating, promoting tickets for, and working walks and different exploration experiences for individuals touring completely different components of the world — viral as a result of it’s been taken up by a important mass individuals who like to share footage of their experiences on social media — has now closed funding, within the type of a convertible observe, of €114 million ($133 million).
The funding is being led by Searchlight Capital, with SoftBank Imaginative and prescient Fund, KKR, Battery Ventures, Highland Europe, Spark Capital, Lakestar, Heartcore Capital, NGP Capital, and the founding group all additionally investing.
The corporate tells me that the convertible observe will convert into fairness when it subsequent raises a spherical, with the buyers getting a stake within the firm at that time based mostly on its valuation in that spherical.
That fairness spherical will not be anticipated to be for an additional 12-18 months, the corporate tells me, which might be why some may consider a convertible observe as a mortgage (and strictly talking they’re referred to as Convertible Mortgage Notes).
For some context, the corporate was final valued at over $1 billion after it raised a Series E of $484 million in 2019.
The funding comes not simply at a tumultuous time for Germany amidst the worldwide well being pandemic, however the world usually, and in addition the tourism and journey business particularly, which has been hit particularly onerous by the shut down of many flights and the flexibility to journey locations, the closures of many amenities, in addition to a basic reluctance from shoppers to congregate with a number of people who find themselves not already of their “bubble.”
Johannes Reck, the co-founder and CEO of GetYourGuide, described the state of affairs again in March as a “nuclear winter” to us.
At the least this summer season, enterprise barely began to recuperate, with GetYourGuide seeing a bounce again in its residence nation with ticket gross sales up 60% in Germany over the hotter months, with individuals additionally making far-far-foward bookings usually, too. Nonetheless, the startup has in latest weeks laid off around 100 employees as a part of its personal cost-cutting and right-sizing for the market that exists at this time, and certain for the close to future.
All that stated, GetYourGuide tells me that it’s now seen ticket gross sales of 45 million in mixture on its platform, which is barely up 5 million on its figures from January this yr — a serious slowdown in progress that speaks to the struggles corporations prefer it are dealing with, and really possible removed from the projections it had initially made for its enlargement.
The plan continues to be to maintain on protecting on, although, with an IPO remaining in its sights for the long term.
Reck stated at this time that the fundraising is likely one of the simpler rounds it’s closed in its life as a startup — a mark of how buyers, who’re nonetheless flush with a number of cash to speculate, will proceed to make use of a few of it to assist shore up probably the most promising however most hard-hit of its portfolio corporations by the present disaster.
“Elevating this new capital was easy, as a result of our investor base shares the assumption that our mission issues,” he informed TechCrunch. “The pandemic has been the worst disaster within the historical past of tourism, however it’s additionally confirmed that leisure journey is a elementary human want. All through the disaster, individuals have by no means stopped dreaming of touring once more, and once they do, experiences might be what they crave probably the most.”
In a separate assertion (in a press launch saying the funding), he continued that optimistic place:
“After the pandemic, individuals will journey once more, and experiencing the sights and tradition of the world’s iconic locations might be what they crave probably the most,” he stated.
The assumption that the business — not simply GetYourGuide however the remainder of it, too — is credible sufficient for new backers additionally to come back in, it appears. Eric Zinterhofer at Searchlight Capital is a first-time investor within the firm with this funding.
“We’ve got a pure affinity with the proficient, entrepreneurial group at GetYourGuide, given Searchlight’s personal enterprising tradition and our success in partnering with founder-led companies,” he stated. “Whereas 2020 has undoubtedly been a difficult yr for the journey sector, we consider GetYourGuide has the proper technique, capabilities and investor assist in place to rebound strongly as soon as the pandemic is below management. We’re excited to start our work collectively.”


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Most Active Stories
- What Kentucky Teachers Think Of Their Schools, Education Department Releases Survey Results
- MSU's Presidential Search Committee Plans to Use National Search Firm
- MSU Board of Regents Approves Dr. Tim Miller as Interim President
- Kentucky to Raise Gas Tax in July
- Survey Finds McConnell Leading Over Democratic Challengers
Mon October 22, 2012
City of Princeton Continues to Accept Alcohol License Applications
Individuals are filing alcohol license applications in Princeton. City Alcohol Beverage Control Administrator Brent Thompson says six convenience stores have applied for beer licenses, and one restaurant has put in a liquor-by-the-drink license application. Thompson’s also received four requests for package store licenses. State regulation limits the city to only two package stores. Thompson says state ABC officials will decide who gets a license.
He says the filing period for package sales remains open through Nov. 2. The city of Princeton voted in August to go from dry to wet.


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A burglar who cleaned out practically all of the merchandise in a jewelry store grabbed the haul after coming in through the ceiling – then hailed a cab after grabbing the loot.
Police say the burglar entered Shlomi Jewelry at 37-65 Junction Boulevard in Queens though the ceiling, and then cut all the wires to the surveillance equipment, ABC7 reports.
The store owner says almost all of the inventory was taken.
Police say the loot was valued at an estimated $100,000.
The burglar was then captured on surveillance footage hailing a livery cab.
He is described as a male, Hispanic, 30 to 40 years-old, wearing a hoodie and face mask.


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If you bought a Samsung phone within the last year or so, get ready for a big software update heading your way soon. On February 21, Samsung confirmed that a number of its older smartphones are getting Galaxy AI features as part of the One UI 6.1 update in “late March.”
Samsung introduced Galaxy AI last month with the debut of the Galaxy S24 series. While the AI features have been exclusive to the S24 handsets since their release in January, this upcoming One UI 6.1 update will allow a lot more people to check them out for themselves.
As Samsung has previously confirmed, the following devices will receive the Galaxy AI toolkit when One UI 6.1 lands in March:
- Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S9 Plus, and S9 Ultra
When you get Galaxy AI on any of these devices next month, there’s a lot to check out. Circle to Search is one of the most useful features. It allows you to perform a Google Search for anything you see on your phone just by circling or scribbling on it. There are also helpful translation tools for in-person and phone conversations, powerful AI photo-editing tools, and a feature called “Chat Assist” that can help adjust the tone of your messages. Some of these are less successful than others.
Samsung has also confirmed that its Galaxy AI features will cost money at some point, though it hasn’t said how much or when exactly that will happen. For the foreseeable future, though, all of these features will remain free whether you’re using them on a Galaxy S24 or one of the above devices when they get the One UI 6.1 update in March.


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Jennifer Lopez “American Idol” Style – See Judge’s Best Looks (PHOTOS)
Jennifer Lopez’s style on “American Idol” has been nothing short of epic. In honor of Thursday’s series finale, Gossip Cop takes a look back at the judge’s best looks during her five seasons. See photos of Lopez’s fashion below!
During her time on the Fox reality competition series, Lopez has wowed with countless amazing looks. The superstar is never afraid to take risks and has always delivered with stunning, high-fashion ensembles. Interestingly, though, Lopez recently revealed that she was never meant to appear on the show for so long.
“I had just signed on to do one year, and I wound up doing five. I would have never guessed that this would have been a big part of my life,” Lopez said last week on “The View.” “I love the family of ‘Idol’… and then all of the contestants. I just really love the journey of it. It’s why America loved the show for 15 years.”
And for her half-decade on the show, America loved Lopez’s style on “Idol.” Among the designers she showcased on the program were Zuhair Murad, Emanuel Ungaro, Blumarine, House of CB, Elie Saab, Valentino, and even items from her own Kohl’s line. Check out the photos below of Lopez’s “American Idol” looks.


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Oracle and SAP have finally settled a long-running and bitter dispute surrounding software piracy, with the two vendors coming to an agreement after seven years of battling in the courts. The case surrounds...
Identity and access management can be a tricky balancing act to get right
The developer says Apple's App Store represents a 'monopoly' and has filed a preliminary injunction against the firm
Britain introduced the Digital Services Tax in April, due to slow progress on a global agreement about how to tax tech giants like Facebook


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BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mobike, one of China biggest bike sharing brands, announced its entry into the U.S. market Wednesday in a company statement.
Mobike's signature silver and orange dock-less bicycles are now on the streets of Washington D.C., making the United States the company's seventh overseas market, following Britain, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
"We are very excited that Washington has become our first destination into the North American market," said Mobike founder Hu Weiwei.
"Mobike is dedicated to cultivating bike-sharing culture by working with cities across the globe. Entering the United States is a key step. We look forward to working with more cities in the United States to make cycling the most comfortable, economical, and environmentally-friendly transportation," Hu said.
Before entering the United States, Mobike partnered with U.S. telecom giant AT&T, and Qualcomm to better serve local riders.
Shared bikes have become hugely popular in China for their convenience and low cost. There are currently 16 million shared bikes on streets and about 100,000 people employed in the industry, according to the State Information Center earlier this month.P Each day, around 50 million rides are taken in China, meaning each bike is used around three times on average.
Following their success in the domestic market, the leading Chinese bike-sharing companies have expanded overseas. Ofo, Mobike's biggest rival, has also launched bikes in Austria, Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Britain and Kazakhstan.


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NEW YORK (Reuters) – General Motors Co persuaded the federal judge who oversees nationwide litigation over defective ignition switches to narrow claims by owners who said their vehicles lost value because of the defect, which has been linked to 124 deaths.
In a decision late on Tuesday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman said owners in three “bellwether” states — California, Missouri and Texas — could not seek damages based on the difference in value between what they paid for their defective vehicles and what the vehicles were really worth.
Owners - Failure - Market - Value - Vehicles
He said the owners’ failure to show the fair market value of their vehicles, despite testimony from an expert witness, created an “absence of evidence on an essential element” of their claims, making it impossible for a jury to assess damages.
The Manhattan-based judge also said that while damages could be measured by costs to repair defective vehicles, they could end up being zero if GM footed the bill.
Furman - Decision - Defeat - Owners - Losses
Furman’s 44-page decision is a defeat for owners who said they suffered economic losses from buying vehicles they thought were defect-free,...
Wake Up To Breaking News!
Aim and timing is evereything.


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As of September 21, Sprint will only sell the iPhone 4 online rather than in stores, CNET reports. While there was speculation that the phone might be removed from the carrier’s lineup completely, a Sprint spokeswoman has confirmed that the company “will certainly still be selling it,” though only through its web site. Due to the iPhone 5’s release, the iPhone 4 will become a free device for customers accepting a new two-year cellular service contract.
Sprint to remove iPhone 4 from stores, sell online
By Phil Dzikiy
Phil Dzikiy was the Editor-in-Cheif at iLounge. He mostly edited and oversaw all site editorial content, managed staff and freelancers, made the final call on product review grades and awards, and led online coverage of all Apple events and live coverage of the International CES in 2015.


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Loyal gaming attendees, you are about to experience the biggest “show and tell” that will put even your seventh-grade science class to shame. ScreenBurn at SXSW is proud to announce the current list of 2010 ScreenBurn Arcade exhibitors, demonstrating the diverse minds and talents responsible for some of the many fruits of the industry's labor, which just happens to touch every aspect of human life from education to health; music to social issues. Learn how gamers from all walks of life can finally game as equals thanks to the work of the IGDA Game Accessibility Group, an advocacy group that promotes awareness of the issues that gamers with disabilities face. From there, jump into the world of music creation seen through the eyes of the Rock Band Network, appreciate the art of the video game at the booth of Into the Pixel, the world's only curated art exhibition, and finally rock the vote at The Video Game Voters Network, a place for American gamers to organize and defend against threats to video games by registering to vote and letting Congress know how the community is being affected.
This small journey into the ScreenBurn Arcade barely scratches the surface of what will be offered in March from a plethora of diverse businesses, advocacy groups, and passionate gamers of the industry! Contribute to your peers, show off your business by getting involved in the ScreenBurn Arcade, and watch your press coverage soar through the stratosphere!


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New 'NHL 13' trailer celebrates season start
- Published: 15/01/2013 at 02:10 AM
- Online news:
Coinciding with the start of this year's North American ice hockey season is a new trailer for video game equivalent "NHL 13."
The rescheduled NHL season starts on January 19, 2013, postponed from its original commencement on October 11, 2012.
That lock-out delay gave "NHL 13" four months to rack up a raft of positive reviews, with IGN, GameSpot and Strategy Informer among those praising it for its incremental improvements to the series formula.
Those who prefer to seek out their ice hockey gaming experiences away from Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 may appreciate "Ice Rage" and "Icebreaker Hockey" on iOS and Android, while the four-player scramble "Hokra" is expected in fall 2013 as part of the Sportsfriends package.
"Hockey is Back" "NHL 13" trailer: youtu.be/7tuFklCUAWk
Official website: easports.com/nhl
About the author
- Writer: AFP
Position: News agency


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Budweiser bounces back to TV
Anheuser-Busch will promot e Budweiser with a national TV ad campaign starting on Feb 12. Thirty-second spots showing friends bouncing bottles of Bud on a rubber floor will run for three weeks on terrestrial, cable and satellite TV. Group marketing controller Vicki Kipling said: "Consumers have come to expect funny and distinct advertisements from Budweiser, and we're really excited to be back on TV with a humorous campaign." The campaign comes as A-B launches its biggest promotion, Bud Bucks ( page 28).
Buckingham-San Pedro split
Chilean wine producer Viña San Pedro is parting company with UK wine importing agency Buckingham Vintners International. The group and Finca La Celia, its subsidiary from Argentina, will announce a new distributor in due course. VSP's export director, Stuart Downes, said the two companies had enjoyed a long trading relationship but were ending their association because they wanted to pursue their own objectives in the UK market.
Taylor makes it natural
Whisky producer Duncan Taylor has launched a range of "natural" single malt Scotch whiskies. Whisky in the NC2 collection is aged 10 years and bottled by hand in Aberdeenshire. The range will be packaged in a gold embossed black tube and will be available from whisky merchants, priced from £30.
S&N in court battle
Scottish & Newcastle is taking consultancy firm Price waterhouseCoopers to court, saying that PWC gave it advice designed to cut costs, which actually made the company spend more money. The brewer, which filed the claim last year, was advised on the restructuring of supply arrangements at its UK-based Scottish Courage subsidiary between 2001 and 2003. But in February 2003 S&N blamed the restructuring, and ballooning associated costs, for a profits warning that led to a sharp fall in its share price. S&N is thought to be claiming damages of £10 million.
The Cava Institute of Spain will hold an official major tasting of more than 70 cavas at a central London location on Feb 13 from 11am. Sally Easton MW will lead the tasting and will explore both traditional styles and newer developments. Attendance is by invitation only. To register your interest e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org.
The Piece of Havana club night at Glasgow's Old Fruit Market on Feb 24 is organised by Pernod Ricard UK, not Diageo as was reported in the last issue of Off Licence News (Jan 26).
Trust cash for Benevolent
The Benevolent and two other charities will receive the money from the closure of the Licensed Trade Charities Trust. The trust will begin distributing its assets from Feb 1. Enquiries can be sent to email@example.com.


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Cinemark is bringing holiday cheer to moviegoers this season, with the first-ever Holiday Movie Clubhouse program. The new plan allows families to catch their favorite holiday films on the big screen at discounted prices.
From December 2 through December 18, families can see the holiday films at participating theaters for only $4 a ticket, with showtimes on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and Mondays at 6:00 p.m.
Classic holiday films coming back for the event include Arthur Christmas, The Polar Express and Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch.
Tickets are on sale now at over 180 participating locations and can be purchased at cinemark.com/hmc or on the Cinemark app.


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Cameron Smith and his namesake recruiting firm have been luring suppliers to Bentonville since 1992. But his most recent venture is a satellite expansion into Seattle around the growing supplier base for both Costco and Amazon, both headquartered there.
Smith recruited Jean Srour, a former officer of Wal-Mart Stores Inc,. to head up the Seattle expansion and Cameron Smith & Associates Costco team.
“It’s a great opportunity to look for people who can add value to hundreds of companies that supply Costco and Amazon – both growing retailers with quite different platforms,” Srour said.
Smith said just as 1,200 or so suppliers have opened offices within a 25-mile radius of Wal-Mart’s Bentonville headquarters, there has been a similar supplier boom congregate around Seattle.
“We have been building supplier teams near Costco’s headquarters for five years,” Smith said. “Srour is the right fit to establish a local office there given her 30 years of experience in the retail industry.”
Costco is the third largest retailer in the U.S. with 605 warehouse stores, including 438 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 82 in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the United Kingdom, 13 in Japan, 8 in Taiwan, 7 in Korea, and 3 in Australia. The wholesale club is also active in electronic commerce businesses through its websites, costco.com in the United States and costco.ca in Canada.
Srour recently retired from Wal-Mart after nine years work as an officer and vice president in the retail giant’s home and apparel merchandising division. She spent a bulk of her career in New York working in the apparel merchandising industry and early on she owned her own apparel business, in addition to working with Liz Claiborne.
Patti Edwards, chief investment officer for Trutina Financial in Bellevue, Wash., has covered Costco and other retailers in that area for more than nine years. Edwards says aside from Costco and Amazon, retailers Nordstrom and Blue Nile are also based in the region. Starbucks is also based in the Seattle metro area , as are tech-based companies like Expedia, Adobe and Microsoft.
“Costco only has room for 4,500 SKU’s (unique products) at a time, and they are constantly changing their inventory and suppliers,” Edwards said. “Costco’s vendor base doesn’t appear to be as visible the supplier network in Bentonville at this point. But I can see where Amazon suppliers would want to be near their corporate hub.”
The Seattle metro, with a population of more than 3.5 million, is the 15th largest U.S. metro area. By comparison, the Northwest Arkansas metro has a population of more than 460,000, which is expected to reach almost 509,000 by 2015.
Corporate recruitment will be somewhat a change of pace for Srour but she’s anxious to get started.
“People are the best part of any company. Throughout my career I have recruited and developed individuals to maximize their capabilities and realize their goals. Having worked in both small and large corporations, I can readily understand the requirements to build a successful supplier organization. And I have been a recruit myself, which should give me additional perspective,” Srour said.
On a personal note, Srour is also anxious to move near her son and daughter-in-law who live in the Seattle area.
She will move to Issaquah, Wash., near Costco headquarter,s but is equally excited about all of the recruitment opportunities in the greater Seattle region.
The new Seattle office will be the third office site for Cameron Smith & Associates. Smith said he opened a recruitment office in Minneapolis about nine years ago near the home offices of Target and Best Buy.


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When Macworld first reviewed Zediva, we cheered its innovative approach—streaming actual DVDs via DVD players that the viewer controls—but worried about how the movie studios would react to Zediva’s clever but controversial take on the law. Unsurprisingly, the answer was “not well”: On Thursday, the company informed subscribers that the service will now take an unplanned, court-mandated hiatus.
The Motion Picture Association of America first filed suit against Zediva in April, alleging that Zediva lacked the necessary licenses to stream movies. In early August, U..S. District Court Judge John Walter issued a preliminary injunction against Zediva, ordering the company to stop streaming DVDs. Early Thursday, Zediva complied with that request. In an email to customers and a message on its website, Zediva writes:
We are suspending Zediva’s operations to comply with an order by the United States District Court for the Central District of California. While we hope to be back online soon, we don’t know when (or whether) that will happen. We are disappointed by this turn of events, and that we are not permitted to serve you.
We are quite aware that some of you have unused credits with us and appreciate your patience as we figure out our next steps. Stay tuned for more information via email.
That last line addresses customers who forked over cash to Zediva, and haven’t yet watched all the movies they paid for. Zediva may be torn between the obvious appeal of refunding disgruntled customers and the strong desire to keep some of that precious coin while it plots its next legal maneuver.
Zediva’s demise—whether temporary or not—may well help Netflix, which is implementing a cost hike for its customers, beginning in September.


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Apple has enabled server-side protections against sideloading iPhone and iPad apps onto M1-based Macs, though previously installed apps will continue to function.
Developers can choose to prevent their iOS or iPadOS apps from being available on the Mac App Store. Until now, users have been getting around this restriction by downloading and installing legitimate IPA files on the Apple Silicon-based Macs.
Apps like Netflix and Instagram are not available in the Mac App Store, so users are not able to use them on the M1 Macs. The change does not affect apps that have already been downloaded or installed but will prevent any future apps from being installed.
The server-side change will prevent new apps from being sideloaded thus erasing any possibility of a legitimate app installation. 9to5Mac says it affects the APIs surrounding Digital Rights Management protections on App Store software.
The version of macOS will not affect this change. The beta version of macOS Big Sur shows a more detailed error message when users attempt sideloading, but that is the only difference. Older versions will also not be able to sideload due to the server-side change.
Apps downloaded from the Mac App Store will not be affected and will continue to function. If users want a third-party app to be made available for the M1 platform, they will have to contact the developers and request an official release.


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Apple stores reopen in China weeks after coronavirus lockdown
The last of Apple’s 42 stores in China reopened Friday, as the country slowly goes back to work following weeks of quarantine that forced the closure of businesses.
For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.
The firm announced on February 1 that it would shut all its stores, corporate offices and contact centers across the mainland as the epidemic rapidly spread.
More than 3,100 people have died and 81,000 infected in China but the number of cases has declined in recent weeks, suggesting strict quarantine measures have met some success in halting the virus.
Apple’s stores have gradually been reopening over the past few days and a spokeswoman for the company told AFP the remaining few would throw their doors open Friday.
The company’s website shows its stores now have “special operating hours.”
Many retailers and eateries in China have shortened their opening hours during the epidemic, many checking customer temperatures and restricting numbers in-store.
China has seen a slow return to work after an extended Spring Festival break, when the coronavirus epidemic took hold in the country.
Cities imposed travel restrictions, many of which remained in place over the course of February, and factories delayed a return to work.
Last month, Apple said it would miss its second quarter revenue forecast and global iPhone supplies would fall because of the epidemic.
The firm had forecast revenue of $63-$67 billion for January-March but did not disclose how much it expected revenue to fall.
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The Macbook Pro 2018, Apple's most powerful laptop to date could debut this coming March bringing a whole new world of innovation straight from Cupertino. That being said, it definitely has a lot to live up to given the company's reputation as well as expectations by fans.
Considering the rumors that the next generation of Macs will feature even more custom processors than their predecessors alongside the recent improvements to the MacOS, the Apple flagship laptop could certainly meet professional demands and expectations.
Add to that the length of time Apple had to improve this particular product line, and the prospect of the end-product impressing fans becomes a near absolute possibility. So what can fans expect from the platform this time?
To start with, there's not much information regarding the Macbook Pro 2018 at the moment, particularly its hardware. Still, fans can probably expect Apple to double down on its co-processor strategy this year.
Fans can also expect a longer battery life, something that the 2016 iteration wasn't able to offer. This power boost can also be expected to spread across all models thanks to the arrival of Intel processors with AMD graphics onboard.
The new model will most likely include more ports after the less-than-warm reaction to the decision to move to solely Thunderbolt 3 ports. Fans can probably expect a new version of Apple's MagSafe power adaptor to be added being one of the features that received an overwhelmingly positive reception from fans.
The Macbook Pro 2018 could also be the first Mac to run iOS apps. This has rumored for so long and has been one of the most requested features from fans. However, it should be noted that this requires the implementation of a touchscreen interface, something that Apple has not been to keen on doing.
While the March release date seems plausible, a much safer bet would be a launch during June's Worldwide Developer Conference. If all else fails, an October release date also seems promising given that the latest iteration was revealed during a press event on that same month.


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UK rebar fabricators are concerned about the availability of Cares-approved material under the European steel safeguard, with Brexit potentially clouding the situation further once the transition period ends.
The UK has one sole domestic rebar producer, Celsa, which owns 40-50pc of the country’s downstream fabricators. In previous years, the independent fabricators not owned by Celsa could source Cares-approved material from 17 mills in China. But this supply-source was closed when the European Commission introduced anti-dumping duties of up to 22.5pc in 2016.
Rebar imports to the UK from China totalled 279,438t in 2014 and 395,412t in 2015 — almost half the market — but this dropped sharply after the duties were imposed to just 6,836t in 2016.
When the EU quota system came into force in June, UK rebar importers were further restricted in terms of sourcing, especially when Turkey exhausted its quota in October and Russian and Ukrainian allocations reached critical levels this month.
The requirement to buy Cares-approved rebar applies only to the UK and Ireland, while other EU buyers are not bound by these same restrictions. “The issue is not the quota system per se, but the quotas combined with UK safeguards and additional burdens such as Cares. The problem is that legislators don’t understand market nuances,” one UK rebar importer said.
“Our overarching focus at Cares is to support all our partners in the steel industry, and to work with them to achieve continuous improvement in the quality and sustainability performance of reinforcing steel products entering the supply chain,” Cares said, adding that the quota system was “a matter for the EU”.
The fabricators not owned by Celsa prefer to source elsewhere when possible, given the company is their largest competitor in the downstream market. A Spanish-headquartered producer is another major supply source, but its offers are currently around £400/t delivered, while Turkish material is £30/t lower.
A Belarusian mill, which is subject to 10.6pc duties imposed by the commission in mid-2017, also has Cares-approval. The producer reportedly sold out all allocated rebar volumes until June 2020, but has access to the other countries quotas.
Imports from Belarus to the UK surged from 39,190t in 2017 to 61,099t in 2018 and to 96,966t in the first 11 months of 2019.
With a limited number of mills from Turkey and CIS, the two remaining countries with individual quotas remaining are Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have no Cares-certified mills. Moldova has one mill that lacks the flexibility to produce lengths suitable for the UK market.
Similarly, several Middle Eastern mills are Cares approved but do not provide the correct lengths required for UK construction. “We could source from EU mills and one Algerian mill, but they prefer to satisfy domestic demand first, which means we cannot depend on them,” one UK importer said.
British traders and fabricators are expected to return to new purchases soon, looking into material with March-April delivery.
There is still 175,000t available on the “other countries” rebar quota, with each country able to take a maximum of 30pc. This means that when the “other countries” quota opens up to those countries with individual quotas on 1 April, countries such as Turkey, Russia and Ukraine will be able to export around 40,700t of rebar each to the EU. But the Balkans region has recently purchased 40,700t of Turkish rebar ready to clear customs on 1 April, Turkey’s entire allowance. Should others also clear customs, they could be hit with the 25pc duty.
Industry association Eurofer has launched a campaign to have the 30pc allocation per country reduced to 20pc in the commission’s next review.
Turkish rebar exports to the Balkans have increased exponentially since 2015, going from 77,456t for the year to a high of 324,338t in 2018 and 271,602t in the first 11 months of 2019.
Uncertainty surrounding Brexit and how the quota system will be applied to UK imports and exports is adding to sourcing issues.
The transition period for the UK will last until 31 December 2020, with an option to request an extension before 30 June 2020. All trade regulations will be revised gradually, and market participants believe some clarity with quota and tariffs system will be seen closer to the end of the summer period. This means the UK will be bound to the quota system until then, compounding rebar sourcing issues for importers.
Anticipating that quota issues with Turkish material will continue and prices may rise amid limited supply options, UK fabricators significantly replenished stocks at the end of last year up to March. In the meantime, cut and bent rebar surged by around £20/t over one month, to £495-500/t delivered, with construction activity remaining relatively stable.
Until the quotas renew on 1 July, it is unlikely any more rebar will be imported from either Turkey or Belarus aside from the bookings awaiting customs clearance on 1 April. This would lend support to European rebar prices because UK fabricators will have no other option but to buy from EU mills.
By Sara Warden and Elena Grebiniuk


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Cannabis stocks had a mixed day on Tuesday as U.S. marijuana markets shook off last week’s bottom and panicked selling dried up despite a poor showing in the Canadian sector. MJIC’s North American Marijuana Index posted significant gains on the strength of the U.S. market following Monday’s day off for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Other cannabis indices showed marked increases, as well as the presumed market correction, began to shake out as investors showed confidence in the industry. Cannabis stocks did well on Tuesday in spite of a down day on Wall Street and the Canadian exchanges, with the broader markets falling for the first time in days.
Cannabis stocks skyrocketed in the latter half of 2017 as the industry prepared for its two most significant adult-use markets to open in the new year, California and Canada. The trend was evidenced in MJIC’s North American Marijuana Index, which showed a 61 percent increase in December alone. It was an evenly spread out trend, as both U.S. and Canadian stocks caught fire in closing out the year, with the United States Marijuana Index increasing by 35 percent and its Canadian counterpart soaring by 65 percent. Major players in the sector such as Canopy Growth(TSX:WEED), Aurora Cannabis (TSX:ACB) and Aphria Inc. (TSX:APH) dominated headlines as their market caps grew, by some estimates, to overtake the size of the entire industry.
For many of you, the GRE is the most nerve-wracking part of the graduate school application process. One test can determine your whole future. It is a computer-based, multiple-choice examination that can leave you doubting every answer. But with proper studying, and the right prep course, you can pass the GRE.


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In 2008, not long after Barack Obama had been elected as the 44th President of the United States, one of Italy’s highest-profile wine guides televised its annual wine awards gala on national television.
During the course of the broadcast, one of the presenters mused that the newly elected U.S. president’s favorite wine must be Brunello or Nero d’Avola. Translated literally, the former means brownish while the latter could be rendered as black [grape] from [the town of] Avola.
It was around the same time that Italy’s prime minister told reporters that he liked Obama because he was “young, handsome, and tanned.”
Can you imagine the outcry if an Italian winemaker or wine writer were to make similar comments today? What would happen if a public figure from France were to speculate that Obama’s favorite wine must be Pinot Noir (black Pinot)?
Over the last few months, I’ve heard from a number of American wine writers and wine professionals who have expressed concerns about racism in the Italian wine trade. One of them sent me the link to the website of a high-profile Italian winemaker.
The screenshot above comes from the landing page. The image was created using a rights-free stock photo to which the designer added the text on the cardboard sign the woman is holding (in the original photo, the text read: “the future is female”).
“Is this winemaker a racist?” he asked me.
Honestly, I don’t have an answer. But it’s clear that they are tone-deaf to what’s happening across the world today in terms of anti-racist reckoning.
As Americans passionate about Italian wine, we often tend to buy into the superficial and sometimes feigned progressive attitudes of Italian winemakers. Who can forget the notorious case in 2013 when a celebrated Italian natural wine producer posted repulsive and egregiously racist comments about Italy’s then minister of integration? (Few recall the blowback against American wine professionals who publicly declared that they wouldn’t sell said winemaker’s wines anymore and against American wine writers who wrote about the affaire.)
Part of the problem — the disconnect — is the language barrier. But the overarching issue, in my view, is that we tend to consider the wine without taking a broader look at the culture that produced it. Viticulture, after all, is also a reflection of culture.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the overwhelming majority — and let me just repeat that — the overwhelming majority of Italian winemakers I know personally is on the right side of the racism and anti-racism dialectic. They, like us, are reckoning with their personal and national attitudes on race as they, like us, continue to evolve as anti-racists.
But sadly, if we dig a little bit deeper and scratch below the surface, we often discover that the wines we love are raised by people whose attitudes on race may diverge significantly from our own. And of course, there are also racists among us who continue to embrace those wines and the winemakers who produce them.
Over the last few weeks, a number of prominent natural wine advocates have distanced themselves from a young and outwardly progressive winemaker whose family has been implicated in a human exploitation investigation. Everyone I’ve spoken to in that region of Italy tells me that most people “on the ground” suspected that the family engaged in questionable employment policies. But in their own statement on the ongoing inquiry, the young winemaker and family member insinuates that they themself had no knowledge of any wrongdoing.
Where does the answer lie? Those are the hard questions we need to be asking.
In the 1920s, when the American poet Langston Hughes visited Italy for the first time with his friend Romeo, the townsfolk of Desenszano offered him vino nero — black wine.
“Later that night,” wrote Hughes in his autobiography, “Romeo explained to me that never in Desenzano, so far as he knew, had there been a Negro before, so naturally everybody wanted to look at me at close hand, and touch me, and treat me to a glass of vino nero. Romeo said they were all his friends, but hardly would the whole theater have rushed into the street between reels had it not been for me, a Negro, being with him.”
Can you imagine how a black wine lover would feel today if something similar happened to them? Can you imagine how a black woman feels when they land on the website of Italian winemaker and see an image like the one above?
Let me just say it once more, those are the hard questions we need to be asking if we want to be anti-racists in wine — and life.


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RYANAIR has unveiled a preview video of the new batch of cabin crew who will feature in its 2014 charity calendar.
The calendar has previously caused controversy, with some calling for it to be ditched.
However, the airline brushed off the criticism and said it would “defend the right of its sexy cabin crew to strip down for charity.”
It also quoted a customer survey which found 99pc support for the calendar
It also called on “both online ‘petitioners’ and the Valencia housewives association to support the efforts of Ryanair’s beautiful cabin crew."
This year’s shoot took place on location in Chania, Crete.
Ryanair’s cabin crew have raised over €600,000 for charity through calendar sales since 2008.
The proceeds from this year’s sales are going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.”