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Fake Samsung SSDs, Google Bard chatbot launched, Counter-Strike 2 announced and more
Bite-sized updates about tech news you might have missed in this week's Tech C Siew Dai
Here is a roundup of the tech news that you may have missed this week.
TikTok is revising its community guidelines
Popular social media app TikTok is revising its community guidelines in its latest efforts to provide more transparency on how the app operates.
This comes after many places such as United Kingdom and New Zealand restricted its usage on government devices.
Even Singapore has put out a reminder that only selected officials are able to install apps like TikTok on their government devices.
One of the new guidelines states that “Synthetic media or manipulated [media] that shows realistic scenes must be clearly disclosed. This can be done through the use of a sticker or caption, such as ‘synthetic,’ ‘fake,’ ‘not real,’ or ‘altered.’”
Other guidelines seem to have been tweaks to existing policies, Engadget reported.
Fake Samsung SSDs
There is a forum post on Baidu about an imitation Samsung 980 Pro SSD making its rounds in the China market.
With a sticker that resembles the real deal, it would be tough to distinguish the fake SSD from an original at first glance.
What's pretty crazy about this is that the imitation SSD's firmware could even fool Samsung's Magician software (Samsung's software for its SSDs), which detects it as an 'original SSD'.
Once you peel off the sticker, though, you start to see the everything wrong about it.
It uses an aftermarket SSD controller, which is already a telltale sign. Samsung usually uses an SSD controller that is build in-house.
The fake version also unsurprisingly performs much worse than the original product, with speeds that are about two times slower than a real Samsung 980 Pro.
The merchant that sells this counterfeit Samsung 980 Pro 2TB SSDs lists it on Xianyu, Taobao's second-hand market, for 880 yuan (S$171). It even comes in a very convincing packaging.
Be weary about counterfeits like this while purchasing your electronic products.
That said, the real 980 Pro 2TB has been going for some pretty low prices. Of course, that is likely due to the fact that some versions of the Samsung 980 Pro 2TB NVME could essentially kill themselves if not updated to new firmware, a flaw which was discovered in February.
More AI news
In the real of AI, Google has finally opened Bard, it's version of an AI chatbot, to the masses.
Similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Bing AI, Bard is Google's take to the widely popular AI chatbot programs.
With Bing AI being widely popular among Microsoft Windows users, it is only a matter of time before Bard is integrated into Google's own browser, Chrome.
If you are interested in how Bard performs as an AI, our colleagues at Engadget have had some hands on time with it.
Speaking of browsers, Opera has also introduced ChatGPT into theirs. Opera has a sidebar integration with the chatbot, and you can use the AI to do whatever your heart fancies with the information that is displayed in the browser.
Acer makes e-bike
In our recent coverage of Acer latest products, we noted that they were producing new products for the lifestyle market.
We recently took a look at their mini-vacuum cleaner, but their lineup also consists of an air purifier and a larger vacuum cleaner.
But if you thought that was already wild from the computer peripherals manufacturer, Acer is now making an electronic bike. Yes, an e-bike.
Named ebii, it is your standard electronic bike, but it is one of the lightest in the market at only 15 kilograms.
What's more, apparently its detachable battery can also be used to charge your laptop or phone, if you really need the extra power.
That said, given Singapore's laws on e-bikes, we're not sure if Acer will even bring the product into this market.
Counter-Strike 2 is a reality
Yes, as long as it is not the third game in the series, there is a high chance Valve will make it happen.
And that is exactly what we got with Counter-Strike 2.
Technically, this is probably the fifth or sixth iteration of the series (I'm really not keeping count, don't quote me on that), but the fact that Valve decided to update its legendary esports title with new graphics and mechanics 11 years after Counter Strike:Global Offensive was released is a step in the right direction.
Drowning in the sea of competitive shooters like VALORANT, this was the perfect way to revitalise the series and garner interest from the new generation of gamers that were only exposed to shooters like VALORANT and Call of Duty.
Among the changes shown off during its announcement was the update in graphics using Valve's latest Source 2 game engine.
They also showed off new networking experiences and how the game handles lag and the online environment.
Also revealed was one of the first game mechanics to be changed: the way smokes work in the Source 2 engine.
In what Valve is calling 'responsive smokes', this change allows players to shoot through the smoke to clear a line of sight.
Counter-Strike 2 is touted to be released somewhere between June to September 2023 as a free-to-play update to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Dominic loves tech and games. When he is not busy watercooling his computer parts, he does some pro wrestling.


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Nigeria trains ICT entrepreneurs
GOVERNMENT| Dec. 9, 2011, 9:07 a.m.
Training got underway this week for thousands of aspiring ICT entrepreneurs under a new development programme in Nigeria.
The programme aims to nurture young ICT entrepreneurs by establishing ICT business incubation centres across the country.
The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (You WiN!) Programme is a collaboration of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communication Technology (CT), and the Ministry of Youth Development, in partnership with the private sector.
With the first phase of the project complete, thousands of applicants will now begin their training. By the end of December, business plans by the aspiring entrepreneurs will be assessed and winners will be notified by the end of January 2012.
The programme is designed to attract ideas and innovations from young entrepreneurs from Universities, Polytechnics, Technical colleges, and other post-Secondary institutions in Nigeria.
It will provide business training for up to 6 000 young entrepreneurs and a one time equity grant for 1 200 selected entrepreneurs to start or expand their business concepts and mitigate start up risks and is expected to generate 80,000 to 110,000 new jobs for currently unemployed Nigerian youth over the three years during which the three cycles will be implemented.
Communications Technology Minister Omobola Johnson recently underlined the government’s commitment to nurturing new ICT business.
She noted that many of the household names in IT today, such as Apple, Microsoft, Google and Facebook, were started by young entrepreneurs with great ideas and access to venture capital. She said the government aimed to develop an environment that would discover, nurture and unleash local talent to drive the growth of Nigeria’s ICT industry.
MORE GOVERNMENT NEWS
Botswana Ministry introduces e-nnovationBotswana’s Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture (MYSC) is developing ways of getting the local youth to chart the technology waters by coming up with programmes that allow the them to be innovative for the benefit of the nation. Read More
Ghana to build largest data centre in West AfricaThe Ghana government, through the Ministry of Communications, is currently constructing what it believes will be the largest data centre within the West African sub region. Read More
‘Why NCC must intercept your phone calls’Nigeria’s telecom sector regulator, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) said it is seeking legal backing to intercept the calls of subscribers to protect them and ensure the security of the nation. Read More
Safaricom dominance under discussion in ParliamentA bill aimed at levelling Kenya’s telecommunications sector by declaring leading operator, Safaricom, as dominant in the industry, is now in Kenya’s parliament. Read More
KRA marks 2 millionth iTax registrationThe Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), has sealed a major milestone in its organisational transformation journey, with the registration of its 2millionth iTax client. Read More
CBN extends BVN enrolmentThe Central Bank of Nigeria has extended the timeline for the enrolment for the national Bank Verification Number (BVN). Read More
NITA gets a new bossGhana’s President John Dramani Mahama has appointed a 35 year old computer scientist, George Atta-Boateng, as Acting Director General of the National Information and Technology Agency. Read More
Nigeria BVN deadline loomsBank customers in Nigeria are reported to be rushing to register for their biometric banking ID as the deadline for the BVNs looms. Read More
Young entrepreneurs in Rwanda told to be more creativeThe latest YouthKonnekt Hangout hosted by Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and ICT (MYICT) in partnership with UNDP, ADMA, Tigo, and HeHe Labs, has urged young entrepreneurs to be innovative. Read More
FEATURED STORYBatswana dragging feet in digital migration
More than a month after the deadline for the digital migration from analogue television, few people have shown any pronounced enthusiasm in entering the new digital TV realm.
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Google’s Announcement about Improving SEO
If you haven’t yet heard, Google has officially stated that mobile-friendly sites will be favorably ranked in search engine results, effective April 21.
In Google’s official webmaster blog, they wrote, “we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal.“
That wasn’t the first warning…
For years Google (and other search engines) have been nudging, prodding and not-so-subtly telling us what they’re looking for in terms of good ways to optimize for search for mobile devices.
We had to know it was coming. Back in 2007-2008 when the first iPhones and Android-based phones hit the market with “mobile” browsers, it was clear that regular sites just didn’t work well on a tiny screen.
In late 2009, Google published three separate articles about “making the mobile web faster” and designing sites for mobile platforms.
These initial, gentle reminders that mobile devices have different requirements than desk and laptop computers were followed by 13 more announcements and articles between 2010 and this past February.
They were all posted to Google’s webmaster tools page – so it seems like they want people to take notice.
Normally, Google isn’t this forceful about their upcoming changes.
Understandably, they keep their preferences a well-guarded secret. For Google, how they run their search engine is the core of their business and the fact that consumers prefer Google to other search engines is their prime competitive advantage.
They don’t make their rules for websites explicitly known very often, but the message is now clear: Google is done with sites that aren’t mobile-friendly. They’ve spelled it out in black and white – and we need to take notice.
So we’re taking this message seriously. Over the past 6 years, Google has begged, said please, pretty please, and now, they just added sugar on top.
Making sites mobile-friendly is all about making your site as look and operate appropriately to rank well in Google – but it’s more than just search. It’s about making your site look as good as possible in every format.
The point is: We should follow Google’s lead and optimize for mobile.
If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, there’s never been a clearer signal that it’s time to make the change. Over the next couple weeks, we have a big push to ensure our client websites get upgraded to mobile-friendly. If you haven’t already, I strongly suggest you get in touch with one of our consultants to begin this process.
It will take just a few minutes on your end – and the sooner you get signed up to make the change, the better the chance your site will be mobile-friendly ahead of the April 21 deadline.
Click here to email us or give us a call at 888-932-3644 to get set up.


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iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Founder and Executive Chairman of US-based Instacart, Apoorva Mehta, will soon step down. He had established the online grocery delivery service nearly a decade ago. This decision comes in the wake of the company going public. In May Instacart disclosed that it had submitted a draft registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a precursor to an initial public offering.
To explain his decision, Mehta posted a string of tweets on July 22: “Today I’m announcing that once @instacart becomes a public company, I’ll be stepping down as Executive Chairman and transitioning off the board of directors. I care deeply about Instacart. It’s the one thing I have thought about for every waking minute of the last decade! This is what made it an incredibly difficult decision and something that I have been struggling with for months.”
“So why leave? Since I transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman a year ago, I realized that I want to pursue a new mission and I want to do it with the same singular focus that I had while building Instacart. Stepping off the board will allow me to do just that. I know the company will continue to thrive and is in the capable hands of @fidjissimo. Instacart has an enormous opportunity ahead and I have confidence in the team’s ability to achieve its full potential. Onwards!,” he added.
Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, on July 22 announced that Chief Executive Officer Fidji Simo has been appointed as Chair of its Board of Directors. This will come into effect upon Founder & Executive Chairman Apoorva Mehta’s transition off the board once Instacart becomes a public company. Simo had joined Instacart as CEO in August 2021.
The company partners with more than 800 national, regional, and local retail brands to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 70,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America on the Instacart Marketplace.
In a statement uploaded on the Instacart website, Simo has said: “Apoorva realized more than a decade ago that grocery delivery was a core consumer need. He worked tirelessly with the team to create and build a successful model that allows consumers to access same-day delivery from their favorite grocers. We’re incredibly grateful to Apoorva for his commitment to growing Instacart and building something revolutionary.” He added, “As CEO and future Chair, I look forward to working alongside our retail partners to shape the next decade of grocery’s evolution. We’ll do this by building on Instacart’s already strong foundation and putting our technology in the hands of our partners so we can invent the future of grocery together.”
“Instacart has been my life’s work for more than a decade. Since I transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman a year ago, I realized that I want to pursue a new mission and I want to do it with the same singular focus that I had while building Instacart. Stepping off the board will allow me to do just that,” said Instacart Founder & Executive Chairman Apoorva Mehta. “We have a high-caliber leadership team with Fidji at the helm, and I’m excited about her vision for the company and the expanded role Instacart can play for retailers for years to come. I remain confident in the enormous opportunity ahead and will always be a supporter of the team and company.”
“Apoorva created a company that is transforming the grocery industry. His hard work and dedication brought Instacart into the homes of millions of customers. He poured his heart and soul into Instacart, and we thank him enormously for everything he has done for the company,” said Instacart Board Member Jeff Jordan. “Since Fidji joined last year as CEO, she has ushered in a new chapter for Instacart. Fidji’s role as CEO and future Chair is a testament to the Board’s unwavering confidence in her strategic vision for Instacart. I am extremely optimistic about the company’s future.”
As Chair, Simo will assume leadership of Instacart’s esteemed Board of Directors, which includes Meredith Kopit Levien, President and Chief Executive Officer of The New York Times Company; Lily Sarafan, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of TheKey; Barry McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Peloton; Daniel Sundheim, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of D1 Capital Partners; Frank Slootman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Snowflake; Michael Moritz, Managing Member of Sequoia Capital; and Jeff Jordan, General Partner of Andreessen Horowitz.


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Plenty of outside uses for drones (besides killing people in war) have popped up over the past couple of years. The unmanned aerial vehicles are being deployed to monitor crops, track malaria-carrying monkeys, and give us a rare glimpse at Chernobyl. But thanks to a staffing shortage, a restaurant chain in Singapore is bringing the flying robot machines inside to serve food and drinks. Welcome to the rise of drones as servers.
Edward Chia, the managing director of the Timbre Group, which runs several restaurants in Singapore, told BBC News that he plans to purchase 40 drones to work in six locations.


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US and UK law enforcement issue unprecedented warning over Chinese spy efforts | Foley & Lardner LLP
On July 6, 2022, officials from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and UK law enforcement MI5 issued an unprecedented joint statement warning of espionage and other economic threats from China. Addressing an audience of business leaders and senior university officials, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the threats to economic and national security posed by the Chinese Communist Party are “tremendous” and “breathtaking”, while MI5 chief Ken McCallum called them “a game-changer.” many sophisticated businessmen” and that China has interfered in politics, including recent elections. This statement was validated by the United States National Counterintelligence and Security Center in a separate statement stating that China has accelerated its efforts to influence U.S. policy-making through overt and covert means, ranging from overt lobbying to collecting personal information about leaders ts of states and local communities, and uses economic incentives to reward or punish public officials. MI5 chief McCallum further clarified that MI5 had more than doubled its countermeasures against Chinese activity in the past three years and was expected to double it again soon.
Director Wray told attendees that the Chinese government was “determined to steal your technology – anything that makes your industry work – and use it to undermine your business and dominate your market”. He further indicated that China uses a wide range of tools and that China has deployed cyber espionage to “cheat on a large scale”, engaging in a level of hacking activity that rivals any other major country. reunited. MI5 chief McCallum added that the Chinese Communist Party’s greatest risk is ‘the cutting-edge expertise, technology, research and commercial advantage developed and held by the people in this room, and others. like you,” and pointed out that the risks displayed by the Chinese government included clandestine theft, transfer of technology and exploitation of research.
As further evidence of the immediate threat, MI5 chief McCallum suggested that MI5 had thwarted a sophisticated threat against aerospace organizations and described sophisticated “recruitment” activities presented as job interviews designed to encourage technology experts to describe technical information about their work to Chinese intelligence officials. McCallum said information about cybersecurity threats has been shared with 37 other countries.
While the joint statement does not directly address the impact these cybersecurity attacks could have on critical infrastructure, many of the concerns also apply to organizations involved in critical infrastructure, and those organizations should take the Party’s threats Chinese Communist and other similar nation states. threat actors just as seriously.
Significance of statement
The joint statement is the first-ever joint public appearance between the two directors and an unusual statement for two of the western world’s largest domestic law enforcement agencies. This unprecedented statement highlights some of the key cybersecurity concerns that are often overlooked:
- Cybersecurity threats cross traditional international borders. Director Wray explained the international scope of the threat posed by China and said the Chinese government posed “the greatest long-term threat to our economic and national security – and by ‘our’, I mean our two nations. , as well as our allies in Europe and elsewhere.
- While companies often focus their cybersecurity efforts on threats to personal information, the intellectual property held by many organizations may be even more valuable to many nation-state threat actors in an effort to achieve economic superiority. .
- Defending against such threats may require a coordinated international response that includes sharing threat information between countries.
China has denied engaging in the activities claimed by Director Wray and MI5 chief McCallum, and said through a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., that the position Beijing is that it is an advocate of cybersecurity, that its government would never condone such activities, and that it is a victim of cybersecurity attacks. “to be a truly responsible player in cyberspace.
What businesses should do
Attacks from China (and other threatening nation-state actors) can occur at any time. In fact, they’re probably already happening – former FBI Director Robert Mueller once said, “I’m convinced there are only two kinds of companies: those that have been pirated and those that will be. And even they converge on a single category: companies that have been hacked and will be hacked again. To defend against such attacks, businesses of all kinds should consider the following actions to protect their intellectual property and critical infrastructure operations:
- Review patching policies and procedures. Nation-state actors quickly and easily exploit systems that have failed to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Dealing with insider threats. Although Director Wray was careful to clarify that the threat came from the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party and not from the Chinese people or Chinese immigrants, companies should be alert to the potential for insider cybersecurity threats from all their employees.
- Security audits and penetration tests. Hire an independent security company to perform penetration testing and cybersecurity auditing to verify the strength of the company’s cybersecurity defenses.
- Isolate critical assets on the network. Consider moving the most valuable technology and other trade secrets to isolated computer systems that do not have physical access to the public Internet. While this may not be practical for some organizations that are still working remotely, the “sneaker net” may still be one of the best security measures when practical for the business.
- Consider the risks for doing business in China. Exercise caution when doing business in China. Director Wray also highlighted Chinese laws and regulations that pose risks to foreign companies operating in China and encouraged business leaders to assess the risk of business interactions with Chinese partners. “Maintaining a technological advantage can do more to increase a company’s value than partnering with a Chinese company to sell into this huge Chinese market, only to find the Chinese government and your partner stealing and copying your innovation. “, did he declare.
- Examine the supply chain for technology risks. The US and UK governments have launched efforts to limit or eliminate Chinese equipment from next-generation 5G telecommunications networks due to concerns about potential malware and other malicious components. Organizations should examine their supply chain for the potential for the introduction of malware – not only for physical components, but also for software and other network components, such as firewalls, routers, hotspots. wireless access devices, laptop computers, telecommunications systems, anti-virus software, and other similar network devices that may touch or have access to data. Businesses should only purchase these products and services from trusted sources and avoid products that may come from organizations that may be associated with threatening nation-state entities in countries that may be aggressive towards economic interests. from the West, such as China, Russia and North Korea. Companies may wish to consult NIST SP800-161 and NIST’s Software Supply Chain Security Guidance for guidance on reviewing and mitigating risks to their supply chain.
- Plan for geopolitical supply chain disruptions. In addition to the supply chain risks posed by malware and other malicious code, companies must consider the potential impact to their supply chain due to geopolitical forces. Director Wray suggested that China was learning from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to isolate the impact of economic sanctions that may be imposed on it by the West, and pointed out that China could disrupt the chains supply chain in an effort to hold Western organizations hostage, and the potential disruption that could result from a Chinese invasion of Taiwan or other economic retaliation would be far greater than that seen this year as a result of the Ukraine.
- Review disaster recovery plans. Although China’s goal is a bit different than traditional ransomware, China may attempt to gain an economic advantage over large corporations by deploying similar tactics used in double extortion ransomware, namely exfiltration of information and the company’s deprivation of the availability of information. In addition to the actions described above, companies should ensure that they have appropriate disaster recovery policies and procedures in place (including testing of backup and restore capabilities) to ensure that the company can recover previous progress and retain its business advantage.
- Review other cybersecurity policies and procedures. Conduct a tabletop exercise targeting intellectual property misappropriation and critical system disablement, and review and update other cybersecurity policies and procedures as necessary to further protect this important asset.
Perhaps the most heartening statement in the warning comes from Director Wray, who said, “I know this all sounds alarming. But if the threat is immense, that does not mean that harm is inevitable. Companies should take the steps outlined above to review and update their cybersecurity practices.


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May 07, 2015 12:29
Eels, a popular food said to be good for stamina, are selling well as early summer-like weather continues.
Lotte Mart on Wednesday said sales of eels from January to April have soared by 279 percent compared to a year ago.
With daytime highs hovering over 20 degrees Celsius since April, many people are eating eels to fight off fatigue. Prices have also dropped, boosting the trend.
The price of freshwater eels from January to April this year was W28,000 (US$1=W1,082) to W33,000 per kilogram, 20 to 30 percent cheaper than W35,000 to W42,000 from a year ago.
The price in May has been 24 percent lower than last year.
- Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com


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When Alex Chiaruttini was looking for the perfect little black dress to take with her on an overseas trip, she found it at Indigo Bleu, a recently opened boutique on York's West Philadelphia Street.
The 43-year-old environmental attorney and Springettsbury Township resident said she doesn't shop at malls and prefers shopping at downtown York boutiques because their owners know Chiaruttini's style and what she might like.
"It's more fun than shopping online," Chiaruttini said Wednesday evening while shopping with a friend at Elizabeth & West Fashion House, another downtown York boutique.
Wednesday was the second day of York's annual Boutique Week. Downtown Inc. and a committee of downtown merchants launched the event in 2012 to give shopkeepers a chance to show off their merchandise and attract new customers. The week includes a fashion show Friday evening at Central Market. Boutique owners like Zarah Brooks, owner of Indigo Bleu, say they offer their customers a more personal experience and different merchandise than can be found at a mall.
"I try to make a connection with all of my customers," said Brooks, who opened her shop in July. To be sure, shopping malls don't lack for their own designer offerings. The Bon-Ton store in York Galleria, for example, features a new shop featuring handbags and other items from trendy designer Michael Kors.
But you won't find there the new private-label clothing line that Arthur & Daughters owner Hilary Arthur is set to debut at Friday's fashion show. Arthur designed the line of dresses for daytime wear. She said was inspired by the vintage pieces her North Beaver Street shop carries. The dresses, which are produced in York County, range from $200 to $500, and come in a variety of materials, including cotton, denim, ultrasuede and leather.
They include a lambskin mini Lulu clutch with a detachable tassel that sells for $95. Ritchey is from Chambersburg and graduated from Elizabethtown College in Lancaster County, She is now based in Cleveland. Her purses are sold at boutiques in Florida, Missouri and Australia, among other places, but Elizabeth & West is the only place in York County that carries them. "I like things to be affordable and functional, without losing the fashion factor," said Rebecca Wattenschaidt, the store's owner.
Elizabeth & West also sells items from the Violet & Burke clothing line by Tabitha Phillips, a York County designer. The store carries Violet & Burke clothing baby moccasins made from recycled leather jackets, baby rompers and infinity scarves made from 100 percent organic cotton.
The third annual York City Boutique Week runs through Saturday
Here are some of the upcoming highlights:
— Thursday: Thursday Night Trunk Shows at downtown boutiques, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
— Friday: First Friday Fashion Show at Central Market, 7 p.m., Tickets are $5.
— Saturday: Kid's Fashion Tea Party at Central Market, 12 noon. Parent and child tickets start at $20.
For information and for tickets visit http://downtownyorkpa.com/yorkcityboutiqueweek/
RelatedFirst Friday in York: Boutique Week festivities include fashion show, Martin Library art opening


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Despite having a confirmed date of release in March 2017, consumers might have to wait a little longer before the much anticipated public debut of the Nintendo NX. The latest reports suggest that Nintendo is looking to enhance the console’s features, specifically its Virtual Reality capabilities.
According to Digitimes, the Japanese multinational electronics company is not cutting corners when it comes to their upcoming console. News about the possible delay appeared to have come from those involved in production of the Nintendo NX. Apparently, as sources have implied, mass production has been pushed to early 2017 instead of the original mid-2016 plan. Given that a lot is already riding on the shoulders of the NX, Nintendo is amplifying the console in a way that it is more compatible with the current trend in electronics entertainment virtual reality (VR) gaming.
Furthermore, the same tipster added that the NX will combine the traditional video gaming experience with a mobile counterpart, which will be brought to life by a 5- to 7-inch display, a controller, and joystick which player can use to navigate their chosen games. Aside from this, it will also be able to connect to a TV set so gamers can use it as a stand-in for the video game system. Shall this feature come to fruition; earlier reports suggesting that the NX will be a 2-in-1 device running on one operating system will have been proven correct.
Nintendo’s order volume for the device is also said to have been decreased drastically to 50 percent of the company’s original plan. Initially, 20 million units were supposedly ordered for mass production during the first year after its debut but now, the order is down to around 10 million units. The decision is chalked up to the less than favorable sales of the Wii U console, which will be phased out by March of 2018. Given the size of investment that the Nintendo NX will need, it seems that Nintendo is first looking to test the waters. This is contrary to Gamestop’s prediction about the device, which they predicted will take the market by storm once released.
Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima has already stated that with the Nintendo NX, they will not make the same mistakes that they experienced with the Wii U. They will make sure that the new console will have longevity in the market.


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Mainers who become victims of identity theft are getting some help from the Legislature, which enacted a bill that follows up on State House action taken last year.
A bill signed by Gov. John Baldacci clarifies the process of cleaning up credit reports of people who become identity theft victims. The law takes effect later this year.
Supporters describe Rep. Carol Grose’s bill as the missing piece in Maine’s identity theft laws.
The Woolwich Democrat’s bill clarifies that information that goes in a consumer’s credit report as a result of identity theft is considered inaccurate data for purposes of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and is subject to correction by the consumer reporting agency.
As refined by committee, the bill is more consistent with existing state and federal laws, the sponsor said. Passage of the legislation also puts Maine among seven other states that have enacted laws that go beyond federal procedures.
“Identity theft victims have to jump through all sorts of hoops just to regain control of their accounts and information,” Grose said. “Victims don’t deserve bad credit for a criminal’s bad choices.”
Passage of Grose’s bill continues legislative action on identity theft laws last year. One required brokers of personal information to notify consumers when their personal information has been compromised, and the other allowed consumers to freeze their credit reports when they learn they have been victimized by identity theft.
Baldacci also signed into law a measure to make it easier for Maine’s immigrants to get health insurance. The law took effect immediately upon his signature last Thursday. The law simplifies the process for immigrants to prove that they live in the state and plan to stay in Maine. To become eligible, immigrants now have to show two of six specified documents showing where they live.
Supporters said the legislation eases stringent state requirements that were put in place more than a dozen years ago.
A pending consumer-protection bill, which has the support of the Baldacci administration and attorney general’s office, would outlaw a practice in which dealers acquire the private records of cell-phone consumers and sell them for fees on the Internet.
No one spoke in opposition to the bill during a committee hearing Thursday, according to its sponsor, Rep. John Brautigam, D-Falmouth. The National Council of Investigative Services, the National Association of Legal Investigators and the Maine Licensed Private Investigators Association also spoke in support of the legislation, he said.
Brautigam said his bill would close a legal loophole that allows companies to sell cell phone records they acquire over the Internet, usually for a price of about $100 for a month’s worth of the records of virtually any cell phone user.
Action is also pending on a bill prohibiting insurance companies from using crash data from cars and trucks against drivers.
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J.P. Morgan Chase's Jamie Dimon made $20.8M in 2010, a hefty 1,541% increase from the dark paydays of 2009. See which other bank executives raked in big bucks last year.
These lucky corporate chiefs took home the most pay in 2010. Some saw their compensation more than double -- even triple! -- from a year earlier.
Despite the epic, worldwide financial hangover, billionaires are still spending lavishly. Fortune took a look at some of the memorable private parties.
Looking for Mr. or Ms. Moneybags? Hunt down the perfect mate in these wealthy cities, which are brimming with unattached professionals.
What executives cashed in and sold their company's stock last year? No. 1 Steve Ballmer sold $2 billion (!) of MSFT. In all, these 10 execs made over $6.5B from stock sales in 2010, according to an analysis by Equilar.
Shoppers around the country braved the crowds to get their hands on the best Black Friday deals.
The SC was the car that re-introduced Mercedes-Benz as a global luxury car icon.
Driving a replica of the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, the first internal combustion automobile.
This year, more Cyber Monday sales than ever start well before Monday. Here's where to shop if you don't get your fill on Black Friday.
This year's best Black Friday deals include some Apple products and a free Samsung smartphone.
This 1951 Delahaye represents the end of an era in gorgeous French car design.
The Polaris Slingshot drives like a car with the excitement of a motorcycle.
The downing of a Russian warplane by Turkey and ISIS terror attacks in Paris demonstrate how geopolitical threats can impact the global markets.
2015's best in tech included some truly stunning innovations.
|Donald Trump's denial challenged by reporter with disability|
|Gold price plummets to almost 6-year low|
|Shoppers descend on Black Friday deals|
|Raspberry Pi's $5 computer sold out online in a day|
|Paul Walker's father sues Porsche over actor's death|


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This Friday, fans of the long-anticipated NFT collection Invisible Friends will finally get to take part in the merch bundle presale! Accordingly, the event will begin at 1 p.m. EST on the official website – and it’s definitely one to remember.
From hoodies to beanies and hats, these real-life collectibles are all about paying tribute to this one-of-a-kind project. What’s more, the merch bundle drop will also come with an amazing giveaway for all buyers!
Invisible Friends Merch drop: what you should know
On January 28th, Invisible Friends fans will finally be able to purchase official merch bundles from the project. In a recent announcement, the team revealed the exact products available as follows:
- Still Hiding in the Hoodie: this heavyweight hoodie features the Invisible Friends logo on the front and a large, colorful label printed on the back. It will come in two colors, blue and black.
- Still Hiding in the Dad Hat: the hat is featuring a simple 3D-style embroidered Invisible Friends logo on the front. Thanks to its simple design, this product allows owners to keep a low profile in public.
- Still Hiding in the Beanie: the fisherman-style beanie features a circular embroidered patch of the official logo.
Each buyer can purchase a maximum amount of 2 bundles per order. Users will be able to pick one of the hoodies and either the hat or the beanie. Surprisingly, one item will cost $150 to make the purchase accessible for everybody.
What about the early minting access giveaway?
One of the most exciting parts of the Invisible Friends merch presale is its accompanying giveaway. Basically, 50 random bundle buyers will automatically join the early access minting list for the Invisible Friends NFT drop. What’s more, one of those lucky winners will receive a golden ticket “redeemable for one Invisible Friends airdrop” – as project admins confirmed.
This prize is valuable, to say the least, considering the quality and value of the digital assets. In fact, Invisible Friends is among the highest-anticipated NFT drops of the moment, scheduled to drop this February.
What are Invisible Friends NFTs anyway?
Invisible Friends is an NFT collection of 5,000 animated NFTs created by Swedish digital artist Markus Magnusson. Although there’s barely any actual information about the project, it already has over 351k Twitter followers – and for good reason.
First of all, each digital asset is featuring highly-detailed traits that make for a fascinating animated design. Once again, we can see Markus Magnusson’s creativity put to good use, just as it has been in his previous NFT pieces.
Secondly, Invisible Friends is part of the Random Character Collective group, which has previously launched the SlimHoods NFT collection. What makes this project unique, though, is that its drop will act as a 100% presale.
As a result, only those who earn a spot on the whitelist (by being active via Discord, for instance) can get a good chance at minting an NFT. Considering that the drop is scheduled for February, there’s still a bit of time to get involved and earn a spot.
Meanwhile, this Friday’s Invisible Friends merch bundle presale will likely become just as successful as the upcoming NFT drop itself!
All investment/financial opinions expressed by NFTevening.com are not recommendations.
This article is educational material.
As always, make your own research prior to making any kind of investment.


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Minnesota fishing license sales down from last year
Through the July 4 weekend, 50,000 fewer licenses have been sold than during last year's pandemic push to fish.
It’s looking more like last summer’s COVID-19-inspired rush to go fishing was a one-time blip, with Minnesota fishing license sales now down 6% from 2021 and back to levels common in previous years.
Data from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shows 50,000 fewer people have purchased 2021 fishing licenses compared to 2020, with sales through the July 4 weekend included.
Individual resident license sales are down 4% from last year while combination (husband/wife) sales are down 22%, conservation licenses (reduced limits) are down 21% and resident youth (ages 16 and 17) license sales down 24%.
There’s good news for resorts and tourism businesses, with nonresident individual license sales up again, by 13% from last year, while nonresident 24-hour licenses, often sold for one-time charter fishing trips, are up 20%. The 65,478 nonresident individual licenses sold so far are by far the most in recent years, likely inspired in part by the ongoing closure of the U.S/Canada border.
So far this year the state has sold 826,112 fishing licenses of all types, down from 876,894 at this point last summer but still higher than 786,951 in 2019 and 805,944 in 2018. This year's sales remain well below 2015, 2016 and 2017 levels at this point of summer.


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IDC said shipments of detachable tablets in
The company said total shipments of detachables increased from 0.5 million in the second quarter of 2015 to 1.6 million in the recent quarter, contrasting with a 6 per cent decline in the tablets market as a whole.
The research company said one in four tablets shipped was a detachable in both the consumer and commercial segments. It noted that a detachable tablet is designed to function as a standalone slate/tablet as well as a clamshell device through the addition of a physical detachable keyboard, specifically designed for the given tablet.
IDC said this tablet variant performed strongly across all
Surface continued to be the most widely adopted detachable in the commercial segment, while the iPad Pro reached first position in the consumer segment. Detachables posted strong growth in both consumer and commercial, showing that interest in this form factor continues to be on the rise in both segments. However, different factors are driving growth in each segment, noted IDC research analyst Daniel Gonçalves.
“[T]he penetration of detachables in the consumer segment is driven by many local vendors and white brands moving away from the already saturated slate space dominated by Android. These players keep targeting market share in the entry-level space, and now they also supply 9- or 10-inch screen size, Windows-based devices with basic features and keyboard capabilities,” Gonçalves said.
In the enterprise segment, although penetration is still low the number of companies adopting detachables “is clearly picking up as some of the classic concerns such as device performance are being tackled by this wave of new releases,” Gonçalves added.
- see the IDC release
ABI Research: PC brands develop survival tactics to cope with declining tablets market
IDC downgrades smartphone forecast for 2016, sees further decline in tablets sales
IDC: Convertible and detachable tablets prove more popular in Western Europe


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A decade ago, Chrysler was the weakest of the three Detroit automakers and staved off collapse with the help of a government-backed bankruptcy. Today, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles appears to be the sturdiest by many measures, in large part because it stopped making sedans well before its competitors.
The company’s chief executive, Mike Manley, said Monday that Fiat Chrysler was strong enough that it no longer needed a merger or an alliance – options it was pursuing as recently as a year ago.
“We went from survival mode in 2009 to a level of stability with a balance sheet and resources that we have never enjoyed in the past,” Manley told reporters at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “We are now in a position where we can deliver on our next five years as an independent company.”
By leaving the car business, where many companies are losing money, Fiat Chrysler was able to pour resources into higher-margin and better-selling sport utility vehicles and trucks. In 2018, Fiat Chrysler’s sales in the United States increased 9 per cent, powered by its Jeep brand, while the overall market was flat and domestic sales fell at General Motors, Ford Motor, Toyota and other big producers.
GM and Ford are only now scrambling to cut jobs, increase profits and follow Fiat Chrysler out of the passenger-car business. GM recently idled three car and two engine factories in North America in an effort to shed 14,000 jobs.
Ford last spring said it would stop making popular sedans like the Fusion, Focus and Taurus while moving resources into new SUVs and electric vehicles. And on Tuesday, Ford and Volkswagen are expected to announce the outlines of an alliance that is meant to help the companies slash costs.
“They look like geniuses now,” Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Autotrader, said of Fiat Chrysler’s strategy shift.
Fiat Chrysler still faces plenty of challenges. Its Dodge and Chrysler brands score below average in quality surveys and offer fewer models than many of the company’s competitors. The company has invested a lot less in autonomous and electric vehicles than its rivals, a decision that could cost hurt Fiat Chrysler in the future. In addition, the company has much lower profit margins in the rest of the world than in North America.
Manley said he was confident that Fiat Chrysler could address those problems. The company, for example, plans to introduce more hybrid and electric models. But Manley said he saw no justification for an aggressive push into electric cars because most automakers aside from Tesla have struggled to sell those cars in large numbers.
He also noted that he would not rule out mergers or alliances. “It would be foolhardy to say I wouldn’t be interested in a partnership that improves our position,” he noted.
Fiat Chrysler’s move out of passenger cars was masterminded by Sergio Marchionne, the Fiat chief executive who took control of Chrysler after its 2009 bankruptcy, and merged the two companies.
Marchionne spent heavily to develop a car, the Chrysler 200, that could compete with popular models like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, and a small car, the Dodge Dart, for the American market. The 200 became the star of an iconic Super Bowl ad in 2011 that played up vehicles “imported from Detroit” and became a symbol of Chrysler’s comeback.
In 2015, concluding that Fiat Chrysler was not profitable enough to survive on its own, Marchionne proposed a merger with GM. After he was rebuffed, he explored deals with Chinese automakers and others. At the time, the company’s North American profit margin was well below Ford’s and GM’s. Sales of the 200 and Dart were foundering too, as low gas prices enticed American consumers to gravitate toward fuel-guzzling SUVs.
Marchionne discontinued the 200 and Dart, and retooled factories producing those models to make trucks and Jeeps. Many analysts warned that Fiat Chrysler was making a risky bet that could backfire when gas prices started rising again.
Marchionne died unexpectedly last year after shoulder surgery and was succeeded by Manley.
The new chief executive said the exit from sedans laid the foundation for the company’s resurgence. The Sterling Heights, Michigan, plant that made the Chrysler 200 was barely making money when production ceased in 2016. Today, it makes the redesigned Ram pickup truck. Without revealing precise figures, Manley said the plant was now highly profitable.
The new Ram is taking market share from Ford and GM in the lucrative full-size pickup segment. The company says more large vehicles are on the way. The new Jeep Gladiator pickup has just arrived in showrooms and will be followed by two large SUVs – the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Fiat Chrysler expects to add at least 2,000 workers at a Detroit factory.
Not having any sedans to offer customers “has been a non-issue,” said Mark Scarpelli, an owner of Chrysler franchises in Northern Illinois. “The consumer has all but forgotten the 200 and Dart, and the new Ram and Jeep are very strong, very well received.”
Stay on top of all our Drive stories. We have a Drive newsletter covering car reviews, innovative new cars and the ups and downs of everyday driving. Sign up for the weekly Drive newsletter, delivered to your inbox for free. Follow us on Instagram, @globedrive.


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In some countries, systems that allow consumers to pay for goods with their mobile phones have been in place for years. In the U.S., however, mobile payments are only just starting to take off.
Right now you’ve got two choices: PayPal and Google Wallet. And if you’re using a Sprint Galaxy Nexus, and have already set up Google Wallet on your phone, you might want to watch the video clip below. As it turns out, your PIN isn’t all that safe at the moment.
Using a brute force cracking app (unsurprisingly dubbed Wallet Cracker), it takes just five seconds from the time the icon is tapped to when demonstrator Joshua Rubin’s PIN is revealed.
After discovering that Google Wallet was storing the 4-digit PINs as SHA256 hashes on the Galaxy Nexus, security researchers surmised that a straightforward brute force attack would be fairly simple to pull off. Since a PIN is just four numbers, there are only 10,000 possible SHA256 hashes to calculate. With a 1.2GHz dual-core processor under the hood, the team figured the Galaxy Nexus could perform such a task without breaking a sweat. As you can see in the video, they were absolutely right.
Google is currently working on delivering a fix for the issue, but the repair requires moving PIN verification into Google Wallet’s secure environment — where it may then become the participating banks’ responsibility (rather than Google’s as it stands now).
In the meantime, the crew from zvelo offers some ways to protect yourself. For starters, don’t root your phone. You should also ensure that you’re using a PIN, pattern lock, or ICS’ facial unlock feature to prevent unauthorized access. Additional steps you may want to take include disabling USB debugging and enabling full disk encryption — and keeping your device and apps up to date.
More at zvelo


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The Fusion chips combine a CPU and graphics processor in a single piece of silicon, which helps graphics and programs run faster while making PCs more power efficient. Fusion will compete with processors from Intel, whose Atom chips go into similar PCs priced starting at around $250.
[ Keep up on the day's tech news headlines with InfoWorld's Today's Headlines: Wrap Up newsletter. ]
Companies including Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo will ship desktops and netbooks with Fusion chips later this month. More PCs based on Fusion are expected to be shown at the upcoming CES (Consumer Electronics Show), which will be held in Las Vegas between January 6 and 9.
AMD first said it would make Fusion chips after it acquired graphics chip maker ATI Technologies in 2006. The chip was due for release in 2009, but was delayed after architectural and production issues hurt development efforts.
Fusion chips offer better graphics performance than Intel's netbook chips, said John Taylor, director of client and software product marketing at AMD. Fusion's integrated graphics processors are capable of playing 1080p high-definition video, while Intel's Atom chips, which also integrate graphics processors, are capable of rendering up to 720p video.
Fusion will also bring supercomputer-like features to laptops by harnessing the computing power of CPU and graphics cores, Taylor said. The graphics processors will accelerate specific video and graphics tasks such as Flash and DVD video playback, freeing up CPUs for everyday tasks like antivirus and word processing. Fusion will also support DirectX 11, which makes graphics on Windows 7 PCs more realistic.
Until now, PC makers attached a separate chip in netbooks to render high-definition video, which drained battery life. But integrated graphics processors in Fusion chips are highly power-efficient, which helps preserve battery life, said Cara Baez, concept product marketing manager at Hewlett-Packard.
HP is launching the Pavilion DM1 laptop in January with Fusion. Priced starting at $449, the lightweight laptop has an 11.6-inch screen and can play 1080p video. HP has measured DM1's battery life at around 10.5 hours, and high-definition video would shave just a few hours off that, Baez said.
Lenovo has announced the ThinkPad X120e ultraportable laptop, which has an 11-inch display and runs on AMD's Fusion chips. The laptop is 65 percent faster on graphics and offers 30 percent longer battery life compared to its predecessor, the X100e, which is available with AMD's Neo netbook processors.
"[Fusion] gives users an enhanced experience because the CPU and GPU are on the same chip," said Luis Hernandez, executive director of the Thinkpad transactional business at Lenovo.
The ThinkPad X120e will start shipping in February for under $400.
The Fusion lineup includes the E-350 dual-core chip running at 1.6GHz, which draws 18 watts of power, and is targeted at PCs in the higher price bands. The C-50 is a dual-core chip running at 1GHz, draws 9 watts of power and is targeted at PCs in the lower price bands. The chips include CPUs based on the Bobcat architecture.


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February 13, 2006
Ford joins European bio-ethanol initiatives
Cologne, Germany – Ford has underlined its commitment to bio-ethanol initiatives by joining two European alternative fuel projects, PROCURA and BEST.
PROCURA is a three-year project, initiated last Friday in Utrecht, The Netherlands, and which follows the January 25 launch of the BEST (BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport) initiative in Stockholm, Sweden. Both projects, partially funded by the European Union, assist the market development of alternative fuels and vehicles. BEST, which focuses on bio-ethanol, has pilot projects planned or underway with Ford vehicles in Ireland, the U.K., Spain, Italy and the Netherlands; PROCURA is establishing test programs in Italy, Portugal, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands for bio-ethanol, biodiesel and natural gas.
Ford has sold more than 17,000 flexible-fuel (FFV) Focus and Focus C-MAX models in Sweden, which became the first European country to introduce FFVs. This accounts for 80 per cent of all Focus sales and 40 per cent of all Ford sales in Sweden. The vehicles are now on sale in Germany, the U.K., The Netherlands, Austria and Ireland, and are ready to be sold in France, with other countries expected to follow. Ford’s FFVs are capable of running on E85 (85 per cent bio-ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline), gasoline only, or any mix of both in one fuel tank.


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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) "is seeking a new sponsor for the England team" after Brit Insurance decided not to renew its four-year shirt deal that runs until '14, "worth a reported £18M ($28.8M)," according to Patrick Kidd of the LONDON TIMES. The insurance company is "the second main sponsor that the ECB has lost in the space of two months." Brit Group has been involved in cricket since '04, first through its sponsorship of Surrey County Cricket Club and securing the naming rights to the Kennington Oval and then as principal team sponsor of the England men’s, women’s, disability and Under-19 teams, as well as the second county England Lions (LONDON TIMES, 10/22). ECB Commercial Dir John Perera said, "If the logistics work and someone came in early, we could do something in time for the (2013-14) Ashes down under." REUTERS' Keith Weir wrote English cricket "will enjoy a high profile next year" following this season's test series with South Africa, a battle for world No. 1, being "overshadowed by the London Olympics" (REUTERS, 10/22).
A WATCHFUL EYE: MARKETING MAGAZINE's John Reynolds noted that earlier this year, Brit Insurance had dropped its marketing and communications team, "a move that put the future of its sponsorship in doubt." Perera, on a replacement sponsor, said: "The brand has to have stature commensurate with the England team. Some of the football deals wouldn't be appropriate for English cricket." The comment is a "well-aimed dig" at deals such as EPL Newcastle's United's "recent sponsorship agreement with controversial loans company Wonga" (MARKETINGMAGAZINE.co.uk, 10/22). REUTERS' Weir added that there is "growing evidence that companies are looking closely at what they are getting from their sponsorship agreements when corporate budgets are tight." U.K. Athletics has yet to announce a new sponsor after insurer Aviva announced it was ending its 13-year partnership (REUTERS, 10/22).
A group of Scottish Premier League Celtic FC shareholders are "calling on the club to drop any joint sponsorship deals" with Scottish Third Division club Rangers in an attempt to break an "unwanted alliance" with its rivals, according to the SCOTSMAN. A resolution put forward by a group of unidentified shareholders for the upcoming Celtic annual general meeting states that "it would be preferable to drop sponsorship altogether rather than sign joint deals with Rangers." Celtic and Rangers "currently share a shirt-sponsorship deal with Tennent’s, which runs out next year." The resolutions states: "In recent years the joint shirt sponsorship with Rangers FC has become increasingly unpopular with supporters, as has the term 'Old Firm'" (SCOTSMAN, 10/22).
NO SUPPORT FROM BOARD: STV.tv reported that in response to the shareholders' resolution, "the Celtic board has stated that it would not back such a proposal," as it would "seriously limit the number of potential sponsors available and hinder the company unnecessarily in any sponsorship negotiations that did take place." The club’s board said sponsorship deals are "shaped not only by what the board considers to be in the company’s best interests but also the commercial position of the proposed sponsor, and the marketplace" (STV.tv, 10/22).
FC Barcelona and Nokia India signed an agreement in New Delhi announcing the company will become the club’s regional partner in India. Nokia India has thus become the first company in the country to be associated with the club in this manner. As part of the new agreement, Nokia India presented the campaign 'Tiki Taka with Nokia Lumia,' to increase interest in the game and specifically in FC Barcelona within the country. The campaign will give 11 people the opportunity to travel to Barcelona to get to know the team’s players and watch a game at the Camp Nou stadium. Nokia India is the Indian arm of the Finnish multinational communications company, which has been the leading supplier of mobile phones since '98 (FC Barcelona).
Scottish carbonated soft drink Irn-Bru makers AG Barr has been "unveiled as the latest sponsor" of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, according to the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The soft drinks company's links with Glasgow "date back more than 100 years." It will support the Games through a range of brands, including Irn-Bru and Strathmore spring water. Water will be supplied to the athletes' village, "while other drinks will be made available across Glasgow 2014 venues." The company will also support the event through exotic juice drink Rubicon and Barr (DAILY RECORD, 10/22).
Harness Racing South Australia and the South Australian Harness Racing Club signed a major sponsorship agreement with corporate bookmaking agency Betezy. The deal is believed to be the most-significant commercial sponsorship deal ever secured by harness racing in South Australia. The three-year agreement with Betezy includes the naming rights to Globe Derby Park, which will be known as "Betezy Park, Globe Derby." The sponsorship agreement also includes naming rights to the SA Pacing Cup and the summer racing season including the "Summer Carnival" held each January. The official lunch of the new partnership occurred on Saturday at Globe Derby Park (Australian Harness Racing).
L.A.-based talent management agency Creative Artists Agency has entered the Indian market through a joint venture with Mumbai-based celebrity and sports management agency Kwan Entertainment. The venture will represent athletes and celebrities in India and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation nations. The venture will be led by CAA's David Taghioff and Caleb Franklin, along with Kwan CEO and Managing Dir Anirban Das Blah and COO Indranil Das Blah. The new company, with more than 60 employees, will be based in Mumbai, with offices in Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad (Kwan).
AC Milan has signed a co-marketing deal with Italy's national rail operator Trenitalia. The partnership will provide pitch-side advertising as well as the company's logo on the team's website. The partnership will also see the team use Trenitalia to travel to various away games (AC Milan). ... Fashion brand T.M.Lewin and EPL club Tottenham Hotspur have revealed a new partnership that will see the company provide formal suits to the club throughout the '12-13 season. As part of the one-year deal, T.M.Lewin will fit both players and staff with their suits, shirts and ties (Tottenham). ... Second Bundesliga club VfR Aalen "extended the contract with its stadium naming-rights sponsor Scholz AG for another five years." The stadium, which was renamed to Scholz Arena in '08, "will keep this name until '18" (STADIONWELT.de, 10/22). ... Brasileiro B club Ceará has reached a sponsorship deal with clothing company Rihomo. The company will have its logo on the sleeves of the club's jersey (MAQUINADOESPORTE.com.br, 10/19). ... Badminton Europe has extended its partnership with Yonex for another four years. The governing body and badminton brand have been partners for eight years (Badminton Europe). ... Financial services company HSBC has renewed its title sponsorship for the LPGA HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore for a further three years (HSBC). ... The Warmup Cycling Team, which competes in the New Zealand domestic road racing scene, has signed online bike store Chain Reaction Cycles and bike component company Specialized as two new sponsors for two years. The team has also signed up with electric underfloor heating brand Warmup for another two years. Existing sponsors, media and events company Enthuse and practical skills and mentoring coaching business Total Training, have also recommitted to the team (Warmup Cycling Team).


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40% of US and Canadian consumers have now used their smartphone to make a payment at a merchant location, up from 16% two years ago, according to Accenture’s 2014 North America Consumer Payments Survey. Millennials (52%) and high-income consumers (55%) are the most “avid adopters” of mobile payments, research based on responses from 4,000 consumers revealed.
- Gatwick Airport installs 2,000 BLE beacons for augmented reality wayfinding
- Lotte Card introduces ‘pay with your palm’
- Debit cards set to overtake cash in 2018, three years earlier than expected
- Digital, decisive and drone-ready: American Express commissioned study shows Gen Z’s customer experience expectations
- EU agency calls for action on IoT security


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Stephen Harper keeps insisting trade is at the top of his government's economic agenda.
But the results aren't there, at least not yet. Not only has the prime minister failed to turn multiple negotiations into any new free trade deals, but the real world results aren't there either.
Canada's trade performance is faltering. And for a trading nation, that's not good.
Canadian trade is emerging as a "sharp drag" on economic growth in the first quarter, ScotiaBank said Friday in a note to clients.
February marked the 11th straight month that Canada has run a merchandise trade deficit. The shortfall reached $1-billion, up from $746-million in January, paced by a 0.6 per cent fall in exports and a modest 0.1 per cent increase in imports, Statistics Canada reported Friday .
The January deficit was also larger than previously thought – to a revised $746-million from $240-million.
The drop in exports was almost entirely due to lower volumes. Prices were flat. Vehicle exports were up, but shipments of many other items fell, including metals, agricultural products, chemicals, plastics, rubber, petrochemicals, electronics and electrical equipment were all lower than in January.
The truth is that Canada's poor trade performance goes back much further than just last year. A report this week by CIBC World Markets Inc. says the 2000 to 2010 marked a "lost decade" for Canadian exporters. After climbing prior to the Great Recession, the volume of Canadian exports has now sunk back to where it was a decade ago.
"For a small, open economy, this is not a positive trajectory," CIBC economists Benjamin Tal and Andrew Grantham argued.
Statscan reported Friday that Canada's merchandise exports reached $462.6-billion in 2012, up for a third consecutive year. But that's still more than 5 per cent below where they were in 2008.
Canada's trade surplus with the United States ($42-billion in 2012) has shrunk to less than half of what it was in 2008.
More broadly, Canada is being cut out of surging global trade flows, which are up 70 per cent since 2002. Over that same, period Canada's exports were flat (in volume terms), while imports rose 45 per cent.
So Canada is losing market share in the global marketplace.
The reason isn't just the strength of the Canadian dollar – a phenomenon that exporters and importers alike have learned to live with. The other key reasons are weak demand from our major customer – the United States – diminishing returns from the North American free trade agreement, competition from emerging markets and cost-cutting by U.S. manufacturers, according to CIBC.
Friday's weak U.S. jobs report is a reminder of just how slow the recovery is in the United States, which buys nearly three quarters of Canadian exports.
The opposition NDP is also critical of the government's inability to improve Canada's trade performance. The party released research this week that compares Canada's current account – the broadest measure of trade and financial flows – to 18 other major trading nations. With the deficit rising, the NDP says "Canada is at the bottom of the list when it comes to trade performance, and the trend shows things are getting worse."


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Smart Energy Fund powered by Ignitis Group and managed by Contrarian Ventures invested in Lithuanian start-up In Balance grid, a developer of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The total investment is 950 thousand euros, of them 250 thousand euros allocated by Smart Energy Fund.
The investment is made together with such co-investtors as Mantas Mikuckas, a co-founder of Vinted, the company that has achieved the status of the unicorn, and Ernestas Petkevičius, one of Business Angels.
Founded in 2019, In Balance grid develops smart electric vehicle charging solutions for commercial enterprises and network operators using the cloud computing software. The innovative software solutions of the start-up ensure functionalities that will be of extra importance for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the future. It represents the possibility to balance network capacity, integrated with third-party hardware and software, provide payment solutions and management of electricity demand in the event of network congestion.
"The solutions developed by In Balance grid team ensure a low-cost and efficient electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The electric car fleet is growing swiftly around the world, as a result, the demand for innovative car charging technologies is increasing. As a consequence, smarter and more convenient electric car charging solution encourages a faster transition to less polluting transport,“ - says Dominykas Tučkus, the member of the Board of Ignitis Group and the Director of Infrastructure and Development.
Investment in In Balance Grid is the first investment of the Smart Energy Fund after the start of the recent five-year period of the fund operation. During this period, the amount of investment in start-ups provided by the fund has increased to 2 million euros per year. In the late period, the fund invested up to 1 million euros per year in the start-up ecosystem.
A large part of future investments will go to Lithuanian start-ups. As before, investments will be targeted at companies in the smart energy and electrified mobility sectors, which are among the most promising companies.
“Such efforts, which accelerate the development of energy innovations in Lithuania, are precious because ensuring access to fiscal resources is particularly important for young companies. The Ministry of Energy, in turn, seeks to create the favourable legal conditions which would be most conducive to the development of energy innovation, which would enable unrestricted testing of innovative solutions under real conditions. A breakthrough in innovation is only expected by working in a complex manner,” says Lina Sabaitienė, Deputy Minister of Energy.
A venture capital fund Smart Energy Fund powered by Ignitis Group, founded in 2017, has already invested 3.4 million euros in 14 companies. Portfolio start-ups operate in six countries and develop novel technologies in energy and electric mobility, which can be directly applied in the activities of Ignitis Group. The fund has directed its investments in these 14 start-ups together with 22 co-investment partners, including such well-known companies as car manufacturers Hyundai and Honda, and energy giant BP.
“We all have heard about Lithuania's progress in the field of financial technologies. This success story inspires and motivates us to strive for our country to become a leader in the smart energy sector. The decarbonisation of the energy sector is taking place around the world while illustrating that technologies and products, which appear to be of niche nature, soon will become part of everyday life. Meanwhile, the companies and states, whose investments are already now targeted in these future technologies, will become the biggest winners. We are convinced that these companies and countries would reach not only financial but also long-term strategic benefits”, - says Rokas Pečiulaitis, the Managing Partner at Contrarian Ventures.
The fund has already targeted its investments to a total of five Lithuanian start-ups, including the companies that successfully operate in the field of smart energy. One of them is PVcase, which has developed a tool to automate the process of designing solar power plants. Thanks to the latter, it is possible to quicken up the developing process of solar parks and thus contribute to the accelerated development of renewable energy. The income of PVcase has increased 135 times since the launch of the product in January 2019 to April 2020. Today the products of the company are used by more than 100 customers from 26 different countries, and the company has already hired 25 employees.
Smart Energy Fund powered by Ignitis Group and managed by Contrarian Ventures invests in start-ups that are developing new technologies in the energy technology field and helps them grow. internationally.More information about Ignitis group


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Things got awkward on SolarCity's earnings call last month when an analyst had the temerity to ask: "What is SolarCity?" How easy it would have been for CEO Lyndon Rive if he could have simply responded: We're a subsidiary of Tesla.
Well, now's his chance. Tesla Motors, run by Rive's cousin Elon Musk, dropped a late bombshell on Tuesday with an offer to buy the solar power company. SolarCity's stock, a favorite of short sellers, leaped 18 percent in after-hours trading, while Tesla's sank 11 percent. In truth, both sets of shareholders should beware.
The timing is odd, to say the least. Tesla's all-stock offer is pitched as providing SolarCity's investors with a premium of 21 to 30 percent, based on a proposed valuation band that's subject to completing due diligence (itself an unusual proposal). But it's worth looking at how that proposed band compares with how the two stocks have traded over time:
SolarCity recommending this deal at this price would be telling, indeed.
Tesla is jumping in as SolarCity's entire business model is being openly questioned amid rapid cash burn and stubbornly high overheads. The company's revamped solar loan product -- as opposed to its usual business of leasing panels -- looks like an effort to raise cash at the cost of future profitability. Tesla swooping in now can look opportunistic or like a mission of mercy, depending on your point of view. Musk owns just over a fifth of each company, according to Bloomberg data, although Tuesday's offer letter said his stake won't factor into a shareholder vote on the deal.
On the subject of that letter, it's worth considering the rationale laid out. There's none of the usual talk of accretion -- how could there be when both companies are solid loss-makers? Instead, the general flavor of Tesla's rationale was summed up here:
We would be the world’s only vertically integrated energy company offering end-to-end clean energy products to our customers. This would start with the car that you drive and the energy that you use to charge it, and would extend to how everything else in your home or business is powered.
It sounds like a compelling vision; a one-stop shop for renewable energy powering where you live and what you drive. SolarCity's workers could put up some panels on your roof and install a Tesla Powerwall home battery, and maybe a charger for your Model S while they're at it. They'll even lend you the money to pay for it. Customers, given their "shared ideals" with the two companies, will want to embrace solar energy in all its forms.
Anything's possible, of course. But while both companies do share a common cause in furthering sustainable energy, their products don't necessarily align quite as seamlessly. When Rive responded to questions about SolarCity's model last month, he said the company's model, at least in the near term, was to "provide energy at a lower cost than you can get it today from fossil fuel." Which is fine, but also suggests that maybe not everyone seeking to cut down the size of their monthly power bills will also be keen to fork over tens of thousands of dollars for a spiffy new car.
Engineering synergies at the back end seem more likely, given the central role for batteries at both companies. But it isn't clear why that requires buying a struggling company with an army of sales people and panel installers.
What is clear is that Tesla so far this year has already made pledges about living within its means, only to then boost its spending plans and tap shareholders for $2.3 billion of fresh capital. Its existing mission of transforming the global car business is challenging enough that Musk says he sometimes camps out overnight at the factory. And Tesla's new, accelerated growth target, while offering a thrill, compounds the challenge. Don't forget that Tesla has also been the subject of wild speculation about the new businesses it could venture into, such as robo-taxis, with finger-in-the-air price targets to match. And now, on top of all this, SolarCity is to be thrown into the mix.
Tuesday evening, not long after news of the offer broke, Tesla's valuation had dropped by $3.8 billion in after-hours trading -- 1.8 times the entire market capitalization of SolarCity before the announcement. Awkward, much?
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.
To contact the author of this story:
Liam Denning in San Francisco at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Mark Gongloff at firstname.lastname@example.org


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It is the thorny ethical debate that many in the environmental movement had been dreading: the question of whether organic food that has been airfreighted to the UK can be considered good for the environment. A growing amount of food on our supermarket shelves is organic. But some of it has been flown in from the other side of the world, releasing vast quantities of environmentally harmful greenhouse emissions. The fact that food from afar has been produced organically may be beneficial to the environment in which it was grown. But the very fact that it has reached UK shelves is frequently negative from the perspective of the planet's climate.
Another difficult ethical issue attaches to this. Much of the fruit and vegetables airfreighted into Britain is produced by poor farmers in developing countries. According to Action Aid, developing nations earn £3bn per year from goods sold in UK supermarkets. Moves to curb imports for environmental reasons would penalise some of the poorest people on the planet.
To its credit, the Soil Association, which certifies 75 per cent of organic food in the UK, has not ducked this ethical conflict of interest. In May, it launched a consultation on the question of whether it ought to address airfreight's contribution to climate change in itsorganic accreditation standards.
In one sense it is a rather academic question as far as the Soil Association is concerned. Only 1 per cent of organic imports are airfreighted at present. But the demand for airfreighted produce is predicted to continue growing. And so is the demand for organic food. This is a problem better addressed sooner than later.
Ultimately, it comes down to priorities. The overwhelming scientific consensus tells us that man-made global warming will be a disaster for agriculture across most of the planet. Wealthy and developing countries alike will be in serious trouble if temperatures rise significantly. For anyone concerned with preserving the environment, climate change must surely be the overriding priority. This throws some clarity on the plight of poor producers. Unless climate change is mitigated, agriculture in Africa could collapse, hurting local producers far more than a ban on airfreighted exports.
The Government should, of course, be taxing airline fuel to remove the massive hidden subsidies that food importers enjoy. But what should the individual consumer do? And what guidance should the Soil Association give? This is trickier because the Soil Association, unlike the Government, does not have the power to address the problems of climate change, trade reform and environmental protection holistically. There is a risk that refusing to certify any airfreighted organic goods would merely damage farmers in poor countries and provide negligible benefit for the environment.
The Soil Association announces today that it will issue a partial ban on airfreighted imports. Produce will not be given organic accreditation unless its suppliers can show that they are delivering benefits for their farmers and unless they pledge to reduce their reliance on airfreighted exports by 2011. This seems a reasonable compromise, although there are bound to be howls of disapproval from those who believe the Soil Association should take a tougher, or more lenient, line. It sends out a strong signal of bias against airfreighting, but does not close the door on developing world producers, giving them time to find closer markets.
Consumer pressure is a powerful force in democratic societies. But it is not all-powerful. In the end, the issues of international development, trade reform, environmental protection and climate change require concerted and co-ordinated action from governments. That is where the ethical spotlight should be directed next.Reuse content


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- There’s a surplus of unsold Super Bowl tickets on the secondary market.
- The cheapest tickets are close to $2,900.
- The highest-priced seats cost as much as a home, luxury car and home entertainment center in Atlanta.
You might’ve heard this one before: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl. On Sunday, Feb. 3, the Patriots will take on Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
For the ninth time in 18 years, the Patriots will be in the Super Bowl and are looking to pick up their sixth win. Apparently, NFL fans are underwhelmed by this year’s matchup and the proof is in the declining Super Bowl ticket prices with more unsold tickets still up for grabs. This year’s average secondary market ticket price is down by 10 percent from $7,277 to $6,565, according to TicketIQ, an online sports and entertainment ticket marketplace.
The Cheapest Super Bowl Tickets: Nearly $3,000 a Pop
As of Thursday afternoon, the cheapest Super Bowl tickets on SeatGeek, the largest verified event ticket marketplace, were for four tickets in section 320 — the stadium’s highest mezzanine level — for $11,540. That’s $2,885 per seat.
Fortunately for fans who are traveling to Atlanta on a budget, the stadium will extend its famous “Fan First Menu Pricing” to Super Bowl LIII attendees. Rather than price gouge guests at the concession stands, the stadium’s menu offers classic game day fare at reasonable prices: For just $10, you can buy a soda, cheeseburger and fries.
The Most Expensive Super Bowl Tickets: Over $225,000 a Pair
On the other end of the spectrum, the most expensive Super Bowl tickets on SeatGeek will set you back a staggering $227,489.99 for two seats in section 229 — which is still in the upper deck.
To understand just how much money it costs to experience the Super Bowl live, for the same amount of cash, you could purchase a 2,000-square-foot home with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms located just 13 miles from the stadium, park your Tesla Model 3 in the driveway and still have about $4,500 left over to buy an 85-inch TV set to watch the game on from the comfort of your couch with your favorite game day snacks.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET and the game will air on CBS and be available to stream on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app.
More on Money and the Super Bowl
- For the Price of a Super Bowl Ring, You Could Get These Things
- The Richest Super Bowl MVPs of All Time
- 25 Top Super Bowl Halftime Show Performers: Maroon 5, Lady Gaga and More
- Watch: The Cost of the Chargers’ Move to LA
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The FDA approval enables manufacturing of the cartridges in North America, which localises production, reduces cost and mitigates supply chain risks
Outset Medical has obtained the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for a new method to sterilise cartridges used in its Tablo Hemodialysis System.
The single-use disposable cartridge works with the console of Tablo system to deliver dialysis treatment and is said to simplify treatment set-up and take-down.
With the FDA approval, the medical technology company is enabled to commence the full production of Tablo cartridge, through a manufacturing partner in Mexico.
Producing cartridges in a new location would localise production, eliminate air freight delivery, which is expensive and simplify the distribution and logistics, said the company.
Outset president and CEO Leslie Trigg said: “This clearance is an important milestone on our roadmap to continued gross margin expansion.
“In addition to cost reduction, we also are now better able to optimise our manufacturing process and mitigate current supply chain challenges around lead time, capacity and logistics.”
Also, the FDA approval would enable the company to start using an environment-friendly cartridge sterilisation method.
E-beam is a non-ionising technology designed to be produced on-demand and does not involve toxic or potentially explosive chemicals.
Outset is a medical technology company focused on developing advanced technology that reduces the cost and complexity of dialysis.
Its Tablo Hemodialysis System is a compact 35-inch unit with an integrated water purification technology, capable of delivering multiple dialysis treatment types.
Tablo is a connected and intelligent device, with two-way wireless data transmission capability with the cloud, and a unique data analytics platform.
It reduces the costs and complexity of dialysis, and allows remote monitoring of patients at home, to simplify the patient and provider experience, said Outset.
Tablo Hemodialysis System has been approved by the FDA, for use in the hospital and home.
Earlier this month, Tablo system has received the Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approval for a Transitional Add-on Payment Adjustment for New and Innovative Equipment and Supplies (TPNIES).
TPNIES is a programme recently enacted by CMS to enhance access to new and advanced medical technologies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.
The CMS decision is expected to encourage healthcare providers to adopt new technology that enables more patients to dialyse at home.


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Fraud with digital currency will be curbed
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans that introducing digital currency in the country can help curb bank fraud and increase transparency in the financial system, including the lending process.
Banking fraud cases increased 2.5 times
According to the data of the annual report released by the RBI in August, banking fraud cases in India increased by 159% in 2019-20, which is 2.5 times more than a year ago.
Rajesh Dhudu of Blockchain and Cyber Security, Tech Mahindra, said that despite having facilities like online banking, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) or RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement), there has been no change in people’s behavior. Because there is no such system in the system that you can monitor transactions. He said that payments being made electronically are nothing but a digital version of paper currency. Today any person can transfer money in electronic format to anyone and then convert it to cash and can also hide it.
Also read: Important news for customers of UCO, Central Bank and Indian Overseas Bank, Government took this big decision
Forensic Advisory, Deloitte K. V. Karthik said that digital currency is effective in reducing fraud, but it will also depend on how India prepares the CBDC structure. Karthik said that two models of CBDC can be adopted.
1. Account based model wherein the transaction is approved by the promoter and the beneficiary based on the identity of the consumer and then the transaction is settled by the central bank.
2. Token based models can also be used in India. In which the promoter and the beneficiary should be approved by the public private key pair and digital signature. There is no need to identify the user in this model. This promotes excessive privacy.


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A three-month corporate campaign launched by Jobberman Ghana to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ghanaian businesses has been hailed as impactful by many businesses that benefited...
The Chartered Institute of Administrators and Management Consultants (CIAMC)- Ghana has held its second annual Admin professionals conference, on the theme “Admin, the pulse of the office in crises situations”….
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has licensed KGL Technology Limited, the parent company of Keed Ghana Limited as a Digital/Online Lottery Operator. KGL Technology Limited is a wholly-owned Ghanaian entity…
The Ghana Internet Service Providers’ Association (GISPA) has welcomed the announcement by government to work with the Telcos and ECG to rollout fiber across the country, on the back of…
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HYPEBEAST 100: The innovators from all realms of creativity in the spotlight.
With in-depth interviews, focused features and fashion-forward editorials, our print publication features long-form coverage of the topics valued by readers.
Explore and be inspired by the latest women's fashion news and trends.
In a beautiful salmon pink.
A simple rendition for the spring.
A refined take on the casual low-top.
A patriotic look for the ATL native.
More Blazers for Grant Taylor.
The low-top Blazer gets a vintage makeover for Summer 2015.
Following the unveiling of the collection between Brazilian fashion designer Pedro Lourenço and
In celebration of its 15th anniversary, Japanese imprint SOPHNET. has collaborated with Nike to
Japan’s SOPHNET. looks to celebrate its 15th anniversary this fall by teaming up with Nike
After previewing the collaboration earlier yesterday, here we’re able to take an in-depth look at
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Postcard From Mexico
Esther J. Cepeda, Chicago Sun-Times, July 19, 2007
“The smell” of Mexico—the one I associate with happy family visits and late-night feasts of hot chocolate and churros—has always been, to me, the smell of burning garbage, filth and smog. Yes, even a bad smell can conjure happy memories. But it wasn’t there.
Instead I found a clean, thriving, hard-working—and very Americanized—city and countryside. In town and even in tiny, far-flung villages there’s a steady stream of business people bringing a bounty of goods and services to front doors or car windows. In the morning, men stroll the residential areas selling drinking water and other household staples. Out on main streets there are food or phone card vendors every 100 feet.
Traffic congestion is stunning, but while crawling at 11 mph you can get your windshield washed or buy any one of six daily newspapers, chilled drinks, fresh doughnuts or traditional sandwiches. For entertainment there are stilt-walkers, mimes, juggling clowns and fire-eaters.
Even hundreds of miles outside the city you’ll see tiny stands in crumbling buildings offering orthodontic and cell phone services next to huts piled high with freshly slaughtered chickens, next to tin shacks loaded with PCs and high-speed Internet access. And the bathrooms . . . people now tend them and for 3 pesos/30 cents you get a clean toilet, paper and soap.
The bonus: because President Felipe Calderon cracked down on lawlessness a few months ago, there are uniformed policemen everywhere—inside Burger Kings, walking down the streets in pairs, in six packs on trucks—it’s really safe to just walk around.


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