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US NGOs Publish Surveillance Report on Flame Retardants Content in TVs
Organohalogen flame retardants are persistent chemicals mostly linked to a variety of health concerns including thyroid disruption, learning deficits, cancer and have got more and more attention in the world. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed rules to end the production, import, processing and distribution of deca-BDE under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Washington state has also passed a legislation to identify and restrict the use of flame retardants in consumer products. In 2017, the Consumer Safety Protection Commission (CPSC) recommended the manufacturers and retailers of electronic products refrain from using halogenated flame retardants.
Recently, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the United States held an investigation on the content of flame retardants in TV products sold by famous electronics retailers A and B. According to the survey, outdated harmful halogen flame retardants are still used in TVs, and can migrate into the indoor air, posing risks to human health. In view of the health problems caused by these harmful substances, NGOs call on the retailers to stop purchasing and selling these non-compliant products.
According to the survey report released by the NGOs in October 2019, a total of six leading brands of TV products were surveyed. It found that there are different degrees of brominated flame retardants in the casings, including 2,4,6-tribromophenol (2,4,6-TBP), deca-bromodiphenyl ether (Deca-BDE), deca-bromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and 2,4,6-tris(2,4,6-tribromphenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine (TTBP-TAZ). All three TVs sold by retailer B contained Deca-BDE, and one of these shows the concentration level is above Washington’s enforcement limit. The results are as follows.
|Model||TTBP-TAZ (%)||2,4,6-TBP (%)||DBDPE (%)||DECA-BDE (%)|
|LED TV 24” 720P||7.4||0.15||0.95||0.06|
|LED TV 43” 4K Ultra HD||9.6||0.45||0.69||0.01|
|LED TV 50” 4K Ultra HD||12||0.28||0.56||0.13|
|43” 4K Ultra HD||3.7||0.12||0.93||ND|
|50” 4K Ultra HD||3.9
|55” 4K Ultra HD||3.5||0.14||1.0|
In October 2019, the European Commission has adopted a draft regulation on eco-design for electronic displays pursuant to the energy-related products (ErP) directive, which prohibits the use of halogenated flame retardants in the enclosure and stand of electronic displays. The draft is proposed to come into effective in 2021. NGOs suggested that the United States should follow the European Union's ban on the use of halogenated flame retardants as soon as possible.
As a global leader and innovator in Testing, Certification and Inspection services, SGS provides a one-stop solution to RoHS & halogen testing services to ensure compliance for the global market!
For enquiries, please contact our Customer Service team!
To obtain a copy in PDF, please click here.


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For the 11th time, Taylor Swift has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her latest LP. Midnights has sold more than a million copies since its release on October 21, including more than half a million vinyl sales, making it the biggest-selling album in almost seven years. The last album to achieve larger first-week sales was Adele’s ’25.’
Swift now ties Barbra Streisand for the most No. 1 albums among women. Swift is also the sixth musician to earn more than 10 No. 1 LPs on the Billboard 200, joins The Beatles (who lead with a record 19 No. 1s), Jay-Z (14), Drake, Bruce Springsteen and Streisand (each with 11).
In addition to being this year’s top-selling LP by overall sales, Midnights also had the largest sales week for an album since Swift’s 2017 full-length, Reputation.
Editorial credit: Brian Friedman / Shutterstock.com

domain: news


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A malware scam is making its way to a wide range of Mac users recently. It works by putting malicious links at the top of search results and tricks users into accidentally clicking them. After doing so, a fake virus scanner pops up on the screen. It then falsely informs the user of potentially harmful software on their computer and recommends downloading an even more dangerous application: MacDefender. The scam soon gets even worse when it prompts the user to provide credit card information before downloading the fake anti-virus removal tool.
On May 24th, Apple acknowledged the malware scam’s existence and posted a tip on how to remove the virus or just avoid it altogether. It states the following:
If any notifications about viruses or security software appear, quit Safari or any other browser that you are using. If a normal attempt at quitting the browser doesn’t work, then Force Quit the browser. In some cases, your browser may automatically download and launch the installer for this malicious software. If this happens, cancel the installation process; do not enter your administrator password.
Apple has promised to deliver a software update for all Mac OS X users that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender, also known as Mac Protector or Mac Security, within a few days. It will also prevent users from accidentally stumbling onto it.
While these types of threats are relatively new for Mac users, Windows users have been experiencing scams and viruses of all sorts for years now. In fact, this exact type of scam — i.e. one that tricks users into downloading fake anti-virus software — is now almost infamous. Critics have said in the past that as the Mac becomes more and more mainstream, it will begin to face the same issues which have haunted Windows advocates for so long.
As of April 2011, Mac OS X had a worldwide market share of approximately 5.4% according to Net Applications. Windows remains strong at 88.91%, but has declined by about 2.5% in the last ten months while Mac usage continues to grow. At this rate, could Mac users see a rising amount of threats in the future? It is plausible, but still a concept that should be taken lightly.


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‘Cull or Keep’ at Marina Mirage
THE fashion trends from seasons past will be in the spotlight at Marina Mirage’s Cull or Keep Styling Event on Friday, September 21.
The fashionable soiree, held from 1pm to 3pm will kick off a string of Spring-inspired events which focus on fabulous fashion, fine food and designer flair.
A total of 50 guests will attend Cull or Keep, an interactive styling session, where guests are asked to bring along three of their worst fashion faux pas from their wardrobe.
Hosted by designer, stylist and former fashion editor of The Sunday Mail Kellie Alderman and Channel 7 presenter, The Sunday Mail socials editor and fashion ambassador Damien Anthony Rossi, the afternoon is set to be entertaining, as the memorable fashion trends that turned fashionistas into fashion victims are paraded before the audience and the ‘cull or keep’ verdicts are announced.
Registrations are now open, for more information on Marina Mirage’s Cull or Keep Styling Event visit www.marinamirage.com.au/stylingevent.


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Madison online bakery opening first physical location in Middleton
Miggy’s Bakes, which began in late 2019 as a side hustle for owner Shelby Olstad while she worked her way through college, will soon open a 1,900-square-foot, brick-and-mortar storefront at 6712 Frank Lloyd Wright Ave. in Middleton, in a former Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt location, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal.
Olstad has been using the commercial kitchen at downtown Madison restaurant Marigold Kitchen, but the business has outgrown that space. The Middleton space includes a much larger kitchen that’s 900 square feet and will better accommodate the seven-employee staff.
The new Miggy’s Bakes home is slated for a May opening.


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News and Articles About Digital Wallet
The idea is to pre-install Google's electronic payment service on phones, as the companies seek to counter Apple Inc's recent entry into the nascent market for mobile payments.
The world's largest Bitcoin wallet service just sealed a record venture capital deal. Backers include none other than billionaire Richard Branson.
A Bitcoin that was shown during a segment on Bloomberg TV was immediately stolen by an observant Reddit user, providing the host and his audience with a valuable lesson about security and digital currency.
When PayPal launched its newest mobile payment platform, it joined a wide selection of existing services. Here's a breakdown of the leaders.
PayPal's new payment option could easily be useful for merchants that want to cut out credit cards.
Copyright © 2017 Entrepreneur Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2017 Entrepreneur Media, Inc.


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Soda Pop Shoppe closing after more than three decades
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Locals are saying goodbye to yet another Savannah staple - Soda Pop Shoppe is closing its doors for the final time Friday evening.
It’s been in business for more than three decades.
Since 1989, Soda Pop Shoppe has been serving food at Broughton and Bull Streets.
But owners say its the connection they’ve had with their customers that has kept them in business.
It was a day of hugs and goodbyes outside of the shop today.
Management says they’re closing the store after 33 years for personal health reasons and this is a decision that’s been in the works for just over a year.
And while many loved the shop’s hot dogs and sandwiches, owners credit their success with the restaurant’s family-like atmosphere.
Owner Steve Lewellyn and manager Wilfredo Chavez say regulars have been crucial for business.
“I would say that 70% of the customers are regulars and they love it here because you can get a sandwich and it makes you feel like you’re at home,” said Chavez.
“And they can get involved in all the fighting and bickering going on inside the store,” said Lewellyn.
Lewellyn and Chavez say they’re going to miss their customers the most when they close their doors for good.
They say they’re looking forward to what next in store for them.
Copyright 2022 WTOC. All rights reserved.


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The Hamptons Police Department reported last week that they had infiltrated a ring of black market Valentine’s hearts dealers and apprehended dozens of people involved in the criminal fleecing of the beloved heart-shaped candies.
The crime ring came into existence when the legal supply of Valentine’s hearts dried up. “Last year the company that manufactured the bulk of Valentine’s hearts sold in this area went out of business,” Hamptons Police spokesman Larry Hirsch says. “Local shop owners were slow to understand the situation.”
That’s when criminals involved in black marketeering saw their chance, Hirsch says. “Before the market could react to that news, these wise guys went and glommed up all of the candies they could get their hands on. We’re talking tons and tons of Valentine’s heart candies.”
According to Hirsch, the group formed a syndicate and began offering the candy hearts to local candy stores and pharmacies at vastly inflated prices. “Let’s face it, these are not high-end candies,” Hirsch says. “You may as well be eating chalk. But tradition is tradition, and shop owners were desperate to have them on the shelves for the holiday, so they paid the extortionate prices.” By February 13, Hirsch says, Valentine’s hearts were fetching $100 per pound.
Meanwhile, the Hamptons Police Black Market Undercover Investigations Unit (HPBMUIU) had inserted several agents into the heart supply chain and was developing evidence to incriminate not only the underlings but also the kingpins of the operation. “We were deeply imbedded, and they didn’t have a clue,” Hirsch says.
“These were some pretty tough customers, but as time went on, they started to get really sloppy.”
Hirsch cites numerous incidents, many of which were caught on surveillance video or tape, where the criminals spoke openly and plainly of what they were up to, identifying their bosses by name and bragging about their success in gouging shop owners for supplies of Valentine’s hearts. “It kind of turns your stomach to watch this stuff,” Hirsch says. “They were treating this like it was just a big game—but this is people’s livelihoods we’re talking about.”
Finally, on the evening of Thursday, February 14 the police made the determination that they had gathered all the evidence needed to make cases against the black marketeers, and they began to roll up the operation. “We needed to nab these guys before they absconded with their ill-gotten gains,” Hirsch explains.
Police arrested 33 suspects and impounded an undetermined amount of cash. “We caught these guys, and we’re confident that we have the evidence to put them behind bars for a long, long time.” The suspects are being held without bail.


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DETROIT — Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it planned to restart production at some plants in North America as early as April 6, bringing back its most profitable vehicles at a time when U.S. demand has slumped and the No. 2 U.S. automaker is conserving cash to survive the coronavirus pandemic.
The Dearborn, Michigan-based company said it was bringing key plants back online, while introducing additional safety measures to protect returning workers from the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the vehicles Ford will begin production of again are the sales-leading F-150 full-sized pickup and heavier-duty versions of the truck, as well as commercial vans and SUVs.
“We will continue to assess public health conditions as well as supplier readiness and will adjust plans if necessary,” the company said https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2020/03/26/ford-aims-to-restart-production-at-key-north-american-plants.html in a statement.
The global coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 21,000 people, has forced the shutdown of auto plants around the world as companies attempt to curtail the spread of the disease among factory employees.
The outbreak has put pressure on companies, including Ford, which drew down credit lines to build its cash position. That move led Standard & Poor’s on Wednesday to downgrade the company’s debt to “junk” status and warn Ford was at risk of another downgrade.
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed a $2 trillion economic rescue package to help unemployed workers and companies, including the auto industry, hit hard by the outbreak.
U.S. President Donald Trump, concerned about the economic repercussions of an extended shutdown, has said he wants America to get back to business by Easter, or April 12, suggesting some efforts to slow the spread of the outbreak will no longer be needed by then.
General Motors Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) previously said they would shut down their North American operations through March 30 and then reassess after that.
“The situation is fluid and can change week to week,” GM spokesman Jim Cain said on Thursday. “We don’t have firm return-to-work dates at this time.”
FCA spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said on Thursday the Italian-American automaker was evaluating the situation.
UAW President Rory Gamble said on Tuesday in a letter to union members that Ford and FCA had no plans to reopen manufacturing operations on March 30. The UAW has said three union members who worked at FCA plants have died due to the coronavirus.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an order on Monday barring non-essential businesses from operating until April 13. A spokeswoman for Whitmer was previously unable to clarify whether auto production was considered essential or not.
Ford plans to begin production on one shift at its Hermosillo, Mexico, assembly plant, where it builds the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans.
It will restart production on April 14 at its Dearborn plant that builds the F-150 and a Kentucky plant that makes the Super Duty version of the pickup as well as the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.
The Ford Transit van line at its Kansas City, Missouri, plant, the Ohio plant that builds Econoline vans and heavy duty trucks, and several stamping, transmission and parts plants also will restart on that day. (Additional reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Bernadette Baum)


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BUY IT; BIN IT: The construction shares to snap up - and those to ditch
Each week in our new column an investing expert delivers their verdict on a pair of shares - one that may be worth buying and one that it may be better to shun.
These are investing ideas meant as a starting point for your own research, not personal recommendations.
Whether to buy or sell a share or fund is a decision only you can make based on your own personal situation and careful research. Each share is linked to our company data pages, where you can start to look through the figures and latest reports.
If you are unsure about investing then you should seek independent financial advice.
BUY IT: Kier is developing the Greenwich Peninsula where more than 10,000 homes will eventually be built
BUY IT: KIER GROUP
Kier Group is a business that’s thriving where many of its competitors are flailing.
It’s a FTSE 250 company that deals in construction, property and support services, such as motorway maintenance.
While many firms in these industries are seeing squeezes on their margins, Kier’s are steady and the company is benefiting from increased government spending on housing and infrastructure.
The business also took over rival firm May Gurney last year, which has increased its order book and work flow substantially.
On top of that, the dividend yield is a very attractive 5 per cent. The share price has fallen somewhat this year, to around £14.50 per share, but prospects for the company look good and its peak price of £19 could be attainable again.
BIN IT: BALFOUR BEATTY
Struggling: Balfour Beatty share price has fallen from 230p to 163p in just three months
The construction stalwart is having a tough time.
It has put out five profit warnings over the past five years and rejected a takeover bid this summer, which leaves it struggling to sort out its business.
The UK construction arm in particular is flailing, with deep divisions among management and losses mounting.
The group has appointed auditing firm KPMG to conduct an independent review to find out what’s going wrong - that should be published by the end of the year.
Balfour has historically been a big dividend payer but, as its woes continue, that is likely to be reduced at best or scrapped at worst.
The share price has fallen from 230p to 163p in just three months.
A deal to sell the U.S. division is akin to selling the household jewels - it may bring in some money in the short term, but it’s the most profitable part of the business.
Shareholders and City analysts have lost confidence in the firm, which seems to have lost its way.
A new chief executive has been appointed to help turn around the business, but he doesn’t start until the end of January, and it could be too little, too late.
Views this week from Neil Craze, investment manager at Redmayne Bentley
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The mystery surrounding Amazon’s Treasure Truck that’s been driving around the streets of Seattle for the past few days has been revealed – Cnet reports that the truck will deliver daily deals to customers in the city.
“Customers in the Seattle area can view and purchase what’s on the Treasure Truck through Amazon’s mobile shopping app,” Cnet reported. Customers can then can pick up their order at one of the predetermined drop-off points.
You can see more information for yourself at Amazon.com/TreasureTruck.
An Amazon spokesperson said beginning Saturday, June 27th at 7:00 am PST, customers can purchase the very first offer: a $99 Solstice Bali stand-up inflatable paddleboard set which retails for $476.99 (79% off). “Treasure Truck will offer customers great deals on unique selection, most of which can’t be found elsewhere, in limited quantities. These deals are unlike anything you’ve ever seen from Amazon – we will have Treasure Truck exclusive items, deals on local favorites and more.”
Customers can find out the featured product of the day via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and through the Amazon Mobile Shopping app (select “Treasure Truck” from the Main Menu).
The truck appears to be a great way to spread goodwill among local residents of its hometown, gain publicity, get new followers to its social media accounts, and to get more people to download its mobile app.
It’s interesting that Amazon sees its brown boxes featuring its logo as a big part of its brand – the truck body is shaped like one of its boxes, and they feature heavily in its current television commercial.
Cnet reminded readers that Amazon had run a “real world” promotion last year in San Francisco to promote pickup lockers.
Update 6/27/15: Geekwire reports that Amazon has delayed launch of the Treasure Truck deals – “people opening the Amazon mobile shopping app this morning are instead being told that the offer has been “moved to a later date,” and it wonders if Amazon forgot to apply for a permit.


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Radioactive contamination has been detected in udo – a type of Japanese vegetable -brought into Thailand by Japanese passengers. Thais are advised not to eat it, regardless of the source, the Food and Drugs Administration warned Thursday. Although the contamination level is within safe limits, eating udo or bringing it back to Thailand is not advised, said FDA secretarygeneral Phiphat Yingseri.
“Those passengers carrying a few kilos of Japanese food may enjoy leniency… but those who carry them in large amounts should be ready for inspection and quarantine,” he added.
Except for seafood, FDA officials are ready to inspect and quarantine Japanese food found to be contaminated at supermarkets and restaurants that sell imported food from Japan, he said.


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Singer Lee Hyori showed off an irreplaceable style icon look.
On March 29th, fashion magazine Cosmopolitan released a pictorial featuring Lee Hyori.
In this photoshoot, Lee Hyori expressed her own French bohemian sensibility in a comfortable and free-spirited atmosphere with a Hime-cut hairstyle.
As a brand that she has worked with for a long time, she captured the admiration of the staff on the day of the shoot with her perfect breathing.
In the pictorial, Lee Hyori presented a unique French chic style with ethnic mood dresses, romantic ruffle shirts, as well as denim jackets and cropped t-shirts with a street vibe.
Meanwhile, on the 25th, Lee Hyori announced the news of filming for the cable channel tvN’s entertainment program ‘Dance Singer Travelers’ through a YouTube live broadcast.
Lee Hyori is expected to show a new side of herself in the show.


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News tagged ‘social networking’
Monday, 10 Dec 2012
According to AllThingsD, Facebook confirms it has disabled Instagram's support for Twitter Cards technology.
Friday, 16 Nov 2012
According to Twitter's recent blog post, users will soon be able to email a Tweet directly from their Twitter stream to contacts who are not followers or anyone for that matter. This new feature will be rolled out over the following weeks.
Wednesday, 17 Oct 2012
The new LinkedIn helps professionals tell their professional story, discover people and opportunities, as well as interact with people within and beyond their network.
Friday, 14 Sep 2012
Having struggled against the likes of social networking giants including Facebook, Apple has decided to kill its music-based social network on September 30th after an ineffective two-year spell.
Friday, 11 May 2012
The social networking company is testing out a new feature which enables users to highlight postings at a nominal fee or none at all.
Tuesday, 10 Apr 2012
Facebook acquires popular photo-sharing application and service, Instagram, for approximately US$1 billion worth in cash and stock. This is Facebook's largest acquisition yet.
Wednesday, 25 Jan 2012
Announced in an updated blog post on Tuesday, Facebook's Timeline will soon be made mandatory across the globe over the next few weeks. Users will have seven days to preview Timeline before it goes live.
Friday, 20 Jan 2012
Twitter has acquired Summify, a news aggregation start-up company. The announcement was published on Summify's blog, which left a bittersweet aftertaste for its crew and subscribers since the acquisition also marks the retirement of the popular service.
Wednesday, 18 Jan 2012
Tired of incessant email notifications? Now there is an online site which enables you to manage your social media notifications with one clean sweep. Say hello to NotificationControl.com.
Friday, 16 Dec 2011
Facebook announces that it is beginning the global roll out of Timeline, the biggest interface revamp to date.


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(Last Updated On: March 11, 2021)
Richard Buckley is a fashion journalist who is famous thanks to his relationship with famous celebrity fashion designer Tom Ford. Tom launched his luxury brand in 2006 after having worked for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.
1948 was the year that Richard was born and has largely kept details about his younger days in private. However, his career has been largely under the limelight. He started working in 1979 and has worked as a journalist for top fashion media houses like New York Magazine, Vogue Hommes International, Vanity Fair, Italian Vogue, Mirabella and lots of others. He has been promoted to top positions in some of the fashion media houses.
Aside from being a journalist, Richard is also a performer. He played a role in the 2009 movie A Single Man.
Tom Ford and Richard Buckley attend the European Premiere of “Captain Phillips” during the 57th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® at Odeon West End on Wednesday Oct. 9, 2013 in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision for BFI/AP Images)
Ford and Buckley first met in 1986 at an elevator when the pair attended a fashion show that was being held by a mutual friend. Tom Ford says it was love at first sight. In an interview with People’s Magazine he said this about that first meeting, “The first time I can remember seeing his eyes it freaked me out. I really could almost not look at him. There was something in his eyes that said, ‘Literally, the rest of your life.’ It was wonderful, but very scary.” By the end of the elevator ride, he knew he was the one.
The two have been together for over three decades and have a young son named Alexander Jon Buckley Ford. They tied the knot in 2014,
Richard has had his fair share of health scares. Back in 1989, he was diagnosed with cancer which he was able to fully beat.


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New payout over BCCI
Thousands of creditors of Bank of Credit and Commercial International, the fraud-ridden institution shut down in 1991, are to receive more cash. Liquidator Christopher Morris plans to pay out 14p in the pound next month, which will give BCCI creditors a total return of 60% of the money they had invested in the crooked bank.
The handout, which will be worth about $1.4 billion, is likely to include $200 million that has been confiscated from former BCCI executives by the US government. >BCCI is the world's biggest liquidation yet, and it has debts of $10 billion.
The planned payout will be a boost for the bank's 10,000 UK customers, which include local authorities as well as many members of the Asian community. They lost their deposits when BCCI collapsed amid evidence of massive corruption.
It will also confound critics of the liquidation operation. They thought that a team of international troubleshooters would have a struggle to raise money for creditors because of the complicated web of money laundering activities conducted by bank bosses through branches in Britain, Abu Dhabi and the US.
But Morris insisted: 'We are confident that we will be able to return this money. 'We will have paid out $6 billion to creditors, which is a pretty good result after years of hard work - and there are likely to be more payments to come.' Morris retires in May but will continue to advise on BCCI.
BCCI's collapse led to a flurry of lengthy court cases by liquidators against executives who were using the bank to launder drug money. >Not until 1997 were the troubleshooters able to make their first payment to creditors of 24 1/2p in the pound, followed by a second the next year that took the total payout to 46p.
Part of the new handout will come from a $195 million out-of-court settlement reached in 1998 with the bank's auditors, Ernst & Young and PriceWaterhouseCooper. The liquidators are pressing ahead with legal action against the Bank of England, which is the banking industry regulator, for alleged negligence after it failed to shut down BCCI when fears of fraud first surfaced.
And they may appeal to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg if the case, which is being heard in the House of Lords, is turned down, say sources.
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Animal Equality joins opposition to the EATS Act
The meat industry is making a last-ditch effort to fight against California’s recently upheld Proposition 12 and animal protection laws like it. The proposed EATS Act could undo decades of animal protection progress if passed. Fortunately, a strong coalition of organizations is fighting back.
This past week, a diverse group of 158 organizations, including Animal Equality, signed a letter opposing the EATS Act and any related legislation. The letter was submitted to the House and Senate Agriculture Committee and various other House and Senate offices.
Opponents of the EATS Act include animal and environmental protection, public health, labor, and veterinary professional organizations. Over 200 members of Congress, 1,200 U.S. farms, and industry leaders–including two of America’s largest pork producers–have joined the opposition.
The threat to animals of the EATS Act
The EATS Act, short for “Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression,” was introduced by Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA). The proposed legislation could erase a wide range of state and local animal protection laws.
Legislation like California’s Proposition 12 (“Prop 12”), which establishes minimum space requirements for mother pigs, veal calves, and egg-laying hens, are at risk. Prop 12 was recently challenged by the meat industry before the Supreme Court of the United States. Ultimately, the Court upheld Prop 12, which is now being called “one of the strongest animal protection laws” in the U.S.
The EATS Act was introduced as a further attempt to strike down Prop 12 and laws like it. The meat industry claims these laws will greatly increase costs for consumers. However, studies by the California Department of Food & Agriculture estimate the cost to consumers is only between $8 and $10 per year.
Of course, the industry is fighting to strike down animal protection laws to protect its own profits. This narrow focus is likely clouding the judgment of EATS Act supporters, who fail to see the widespread harm of the proposed legislation.
Since the EATS Act would broadly limit a state’s ability to enforce its own standards for agricultural products sold within its borders, the legislation doesn’t just threaten millions of farmed animals. It also puts laws regulating food safety, child labor, and puppy mills at risk.
With rich emotional lives and unbreakable family bonds, farmed animals deserve to be protected.
You can build a kinder world by replacing animal food products with plant‑based ones.
Opposing the EATS Act
On Wednesday, September 13, various House and Senate offices–including the House and Senate Agriculture Committee–received a letter signed by dozens of organizations, including Animal Equality. The letter stated the coalition’s “strong opposition” to the EATS Act and outlined the widespread harm that would be caused if the bill passes. The letter ends with a plea to House and Senate members to “reject the EATS Act.”
Animal Equality, alongside this strong coalition, is dedicated to fighting against this harmful legislation and protecting farmed animals with your support!
You can join our fight by urging your local lawmakers to oppose the EATS Act by using this simple form.


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Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) attended the opening of Huawei Technologies Company Kuwait ICT Skill Competition 2018, 2nd edition, on October 3rd, 2018 at Huawei Center for Innovation and Training at Al-Hamra Tower.
The ceremony was attended by H.E Khalid Al-Roudhan, Minister of Trade and Industry Kuwait (MOCI), H.E. Wang Di, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China along with Mr. Abdullah Al-Jouan, Chairman and President of the National Fund for Small & Medium Enterprise Development (The SME Fund) and Mr. Trevor Lui, CEO of Huawei Technologies Kuwait.
Representing KDIPA was Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sabah, Assistant Director General for Investment Operation along with Mr. Mohammed Al Otaibi, head of IT.
During this ceremony the SME Fund signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei Technology Company – Kuwait to promote and develop small and medium enterprises through ICT in Kuwait as part of the country’s vision until 2035.
For more information – https://www.huaweiacad.com


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Recently, Tim Seymour, also known as the cannabis king, featured on CNBC’s Fast Money where he stated the difference between cannabis and cryptocurrency with the help of a Venn diagram.
Tim stated that both cryptocurrency and cannabis were subject to manipulation. He mentioned:
“I think the dynamic here is people are very concerned especially the SEC on regulated markets or markets that are very thin with big liquidity clothes are subject to manipulation”
Tim further explained that both the industries wanted more regulation and the bottom line here was that regulation actually meant something which would give them a path forward. Both the industries deserved to be in the regulatory world and investors have been embracing it.
Tim spoke about the volatility of cannabis and cryptocurrency, he stated that both were less transparent asset classes and less liquid asset classes thus volatility would remain prevalent, especially with the current valuations.
Tim illustrated the difference between cryptocurrency and cannabis, He stated that cannabis was a plant and it was a commodity whereas cryptocurrency is not a commodity even if it is CFTC [Commodity Futures Trading Commission] regulated. Tim also stated that the criminal elements were higher in the cryptocurrency world and it was more prone to criminal activity.
He further mentioned that many individuals were concerned about the criminals who were looking to extort money in the cryptocurrency world through the interweb and other negative places. The next aspect he spoke about was the speculation in both the industries, he opined that a lot of the people who were trading cryptocurrencies were trading it only because it was so volatile and the speculation was better than ever.
In a recent post, Virtual Crypto Technologies Ltd stated their project which aimed at developing a new cryptocurrency based payment solution for cannabis sales. Their agenda was to allocate an alternate source of payment to the people and ensure that the transactions would be safer and more seamless.
Mark Mason, the Dash international Outreach Coordinator gave a speech in The House of Commons [UK Parliment] where he stated that Dash will be the next PayPal of the legal cannabis industry.
Willywonka posted on Twitter:
“Yup #CNBC are attempting to drive down prices. Looking to exit #cannabis industry after pump and back into #crypto”
“The cannabis market will see lots of growth over the next decade; the crypto market will see lots of growth over the next century”
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After Bitcoin [BTC] ETF silver lining, SEC puts forth circular on ICOs
Bitcoin [BTC]: Mt Gox redemption plan demonstrates the power of open source network, says Brock Pierce
- Press Release
A New Generation of Crypto-Exchange: ALL IN ONE Crypto-Exchange
Flash Hike: XRP pumps by 10% as most top-10 coins gleam green
- Bitcoin Cash
Bitcoin Cash [BCH]: Roger Ver promises to sell his Bitcoins if the block size drops to 300KB


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Huh? Cell giant claims SA data is cheap
Vodacom tells data pricing probe that comparing us to the rest of Africa is nonsense
Telecommunications giant Vodacom has demanded access to the Competition Commission’s “current market research” into data in other African countries being cheaper than in SA, saying it was unfair to compare.
The commission and the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) are investigating the price of data with the aim of bringing costs down and making it more affordable for the poor.
The request in Vodacom's submission is among hundreds of submissions to the commission, some of which Times Select has seen. The majority raise concerns about how the poor have to pay more for data than the rich.
Vodacom claims in its submission that research done for itself had concluded that benchmarking of data prices to other countries was complex. It says significant variations in key economic and geographic factors across countries made it difficult to draw conclusions from cross-country price comparisons.
“South Africa offers one of the best ‘value for money’ in relation to mobile data services,” says Vodacom.
The commission is expected to announce this week that public hearings into data prices will begin in October and that it has been granted an eight-month deadline extension so it can successfully conclude its inquiry.
The commission's inquiry, announced in August 2017, was meant to have been wrapped up two weeks ago. It will now conclude on March 31 2019.
Andreas le Roux of the DG Murray Trust, a grant-making foundation, has argued that the poorest of the poor should have some sort of free data access. Attempts should be made to help the 30 million South Africans living in poverty, “who according to Stats SA survive on R992 a month”.
“Currently, 55% of South Africans would have to spend 15% of their income to buy a very modest 1GB of mobile data. The actual cost is much higher. More than one mobile network provider has, in recent months, aggressively marketed a 30MB bundle for R12, a price point that those living in poverty could possibly afford.
“Yet, this equates to R400 per gigabyte of data or over 40% of the monthly income of 30 million South Africans."
He said it appeared mobile networks were taking advantage of poorer South Africans by charging them disproportionately high rates, with wealthier individuals qualifying for post-paid contracts paying approximately half the cost of 1GB prepaid mobile data.
Koketso Moeti and Paul Mason of Amandla.Mobi said in their submission that “out-of-bundle” data prices were 10 times higher.
“There is significant competition at the top of the market with promotional offers that offer higher-income contract consumers data at 0.03c or less. This means those consumers who are using small data bundles or using data ‘out of bundle’ may be paying 50 times what richer consumers are paying.
“Low-income consumers purchase goods in much smaller quantities and pay a higher price per unit. Why should the poor pay more for data than the rich?”
MTN, in its submission, said its data prices had fallen by 85% and that the company was engaging in initiatives to improve access to connectivity, in particular for low-income subscribers.
“In general, regulation should promote competition, encourage investment, reduce unnecessary costs and remove obstacles for firms to compete.”
It however argues that excessive regulatory interventions, “imposed at low or arbitrary thresholds, will harm incentives to invest, competition and consumers, in particular the poorest consumers”, and calls for impediments to the provision of better-quality and cheaper mobile data services to be resolved.
Cell C argues in part that there were numerous market failures contributing to high data prices, including regulatory issues and networking sharing arrangements.
Cell C says Vodacom and MTN make up the majority of the mobile network operators market and have national coverage, whose networks Cell C depended on.
“Figures clearly show Vodacom and MTN’s entrenched dominant position in the data service market. Together, they currently constitute more than 90% of the data service market. The greater its market power, the more likely a company is able to control the availability of services and thereby increase demand, and so control price.”
Commission spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said the commission had engaged with Icasa about extending the deadline.
“We are confident we will meet the deadline. The extension was requested because of the amount of work that still needs to be done, including public hearings which will happen over two days in October.
“The work we still need to do relates to further investigations and interviews with different stakeholders, who include everyone affected by data costs.
“We need the time to do a thorough job. While we have an adequate team for the task, the commission has been hit hard by a lack of resources. We are extremely under-resourced, which affects our deadlines. The commission is interacting with our different stakeholders to get more resources to address our case backlog.”


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Pinterest (PINS 5.23%) rose as much as 5.5% on Thursday before settling down to close 3.6% higher. The online hobby-posting company continued to benefit from the news that social media behemoth Facebook (META 5.05%) is shuttering Hobbi, its experimental Pinterest-like pinning app.
It's scary when a monster tech industry peer launches a product similar to yours. Facebook rolled out Hobbi in February, promising users the ability to "capture and organize your creative process." That approach, plus the appearance of the app -- which observers said looked and felt like Pinterest -- likely made the latter company's officials nervous (to say nothing of investors).
So Facebook's retreat is happy news. And if Facebook hasn't found the hobby-posting-and-pinning space enticing enough to stick it out for more than a few months, it's unlikely many other potential big competitors will be encouraged to pile in. So Pinterest's leading position, such as it is, appears secure for now.
Pinterest hasn't yet made any official comment on the demise of Hobbi. It's likely too busy catching its breath and perhaps even celebrating the news.
Pinterest isn't entirely out of the woods now that Facebook has withdrawn. Alphabet's Google just launched Keen, which like Hobbi appears quite Pinterest-y. It's Alphabet's second attempt at this and the company seems -- again, like Facebook -- to be doing so experimentally. Regardless, Pinterest investors should keep an eye on how Keen develops in the coming month.


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FT parent posts higher profits due to better ad sales
Pearson Plc, the London-based parent of The Financial Times newspaper, reported a double-digit increase in net income in the third quarter and predicted record profits for the year, partly due to higher ad sales at its flagship newspaper.
London Times reporter Miles Costello wrote, “The FT Group, which also houses newsletters and other specialist business publications, appears to have shrugged off much of the gloom gripping advertising markets, with ad revenues rising by 10 per cent over the first nine months of the year.
“‘We still have a lot of trading ahead of us, but we are on track to produce Pearson’s highest profits ever this year,’ [CEO Marjorie Scardino] said. ‘That will be the result of strong performances from all parts of Pearson, together with our company-wide efforts to use our scale and technology to improve margins and create valuable new services for our customers.’
“Last year Pearson made pre-tax profits of Â£466 million, on record profits at its education division and a continuing turnaround at the FT. Consensus forecast profits for this year are about Â£490 million.
“Sales at the FT Group, where the FT has moved successfully to combine its online and newspaper output, rose 5 per cent over the nine months. Pearson said: ‘We continue to expect the FT Group to make further significant profit improvement in 2006 compared with 2005.'”
Read more here.


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Skechers: 2Q Earnings Snapshot
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (AP) _ Skechers USA Inc. (SKX) on Thursday reported second-quarter profit of $75.2 million.
The Manhattan Beach, California-based company said it had profit of 49 cents per share.
The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 33 cents per share.
The shoe company posted revenue of $1.26 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.22 billion.
For the current quarter ending in October, Skechers expects its per-share earnings to range from 65 cents to 70 cents.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $1.33 billion to $1.35 billion for the fiscal third quarter.
Skechers shares have climbed 52% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $34.73, a rise of slightly more than 6% in the last 12 months.


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When will innovative Toronto-area brokerages like Realosophy finally be able to share home sold prices with consumers online?
Editor's Note: As of Thurs Sept 20 2018, TREB has been providing sold data to brokerages and agents through a queue system. Some websites, including Realosophy.com, are now able to share some sold data with consumers.
Two weeks ago, the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) was finally told it must allow its members (agents and brokerages) to display sold data on their websites for consumers.
When the Supreme Court declined to hear TREB’s appeal against the Competition Tribunal’s finding of anti-competitive behaviour, it seemed to mark the end of a battle that started in 2011.
But the fight is not over.
Realosophy.com offers clients working with a Realosophy agent additional price, neighbourhood and house data analysis. The Competition Tribunal's ruling against TREB makes it possible, in theory, for Realosophy to offer some of this data, such as home sold prices, to registered website users as well (not just clients).
When I was approached over seven years ago by the Canadian Competition Bureau to testify in its case against TREB, I felt two things.
One, I felt proud that my brokerage, Toronto-based Realosophy, was being recognized as an innovative brokerage using data to improve its service offerings to consumers.
Two, it meant going up against TREB, an organization that routinely threatens to cut off data access for members that are building innovative websites for consumers.
TREB has long sought to protect data held in the MLS system, a platform which all member agents and brokerages use to upload details about homes for sale. TREB says it believes in restricting access to data for reasons of consumer privacy.
But it’s consumers who want access to the data, leading to the strange situation of TREB protecting consumers from themselves.
In reality, TREB, in a reflection of their traditional real estate mindset, prefers instead to maintain the status quo of agents plastering neighbourhoods with sold prices on flyers which invite consumers to contact agents for more information. The reason why TREB is fine with this practice of consumers having to call an agent to find out what a home sold for is because they believe that restricting data is the only way to attract consumers.
I don’t share the traditional real estate mindset. I founded my brokerage Realosophy in 2009 with the belief that the quality of real estate agent and brokerage services was unacceptable. Rather than using data and expertise to analyze trends in the market to be able to better inform their buyer and seller clients as to what decisions they should make, many agents' advice still boils down to the same real estate slogans you would have heard in the 1950s: It’s always a good time to buy real estate, If you don’t buy now you’ll get priced out of the market, and Location Location Location! Worse, the only interest many traditional agents have in data analysis is figuring out if they can advertise that they are the “#1 agent” in their market (which somehow just about every agent manages to be).
In deciding to testify against TREB, I risked TREB cutting off my access to MLS data which would eliminate my ability to operate as an agent - killing off my livelihood - and operate a brokerage like Realosophy, negatively affecting all our team members and clients.
But I had no choice because my mission was to do real estate better - I had no interest in just hanging onto my MLS access to simply practice like a traditional agent.
Though there are other brokerages with innovative websites serving Toronto, I was not joined by many of my peers in testifying against TREB - only one other Toronto-area brokerage, theRedPin (now defunct), joined in the fight.
I've spent the last couple of weeks talking with media about how happy I am that the Supreme Court decision means that there may finally be a light at the end of the tunnel.
But years of watching and dealing with TREB has left me unconvinced that the fight is over.
Since the dawn of the internet & data age, TREB’s main strategy has been to stall: unlike travel agents, clothing retailers and taxi drivers, real estate agents are never going to have to change. Now, I appreciate that it is hard to guide members through the data age - agents and brokerages are facing incredible pressures to change how they do business in a very short amount of time and some are already suffering.
It is hard, but you still have to lead.
In contrast, across the border, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) decided to reach a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice when faced with their own charges of anti-competitive practices in 2008, which has allowed innovative American brokerages and agents to enhance their website service offerings. In fact, I testified alongside the Chief Operating Officer of one of those innovative brokerages, Seattle-based Redfin, in support of the Canadian Competition Bureau’s charges against TREB.
By taking a hard line position against its own members who innovate, TREB has made it almost impossible for Toronto-area brokerages and members to prepare for the data age. Who knows if our fellow competitor, Toronto-based Redpin, would have survived had they been able to fully execute the data strategy they launched with. (And in a case of twisted priorities, it is interesting that TREB turns a blind eye to third-party websites that somehow obtain all MLS data and re-sell it back to brokers and agents interested in determining if they are “#1” in their market.)
Now, we are seeing evidence that TREB intends to continue with its stalling ways.
While the Competition Bureau believes that TREB should have already updated its data policies and delivered the required data to member brokerages and agents (including sold data), TREB has instead issued a notice saying that they intend to comply at the end of October.
But I’m not holding my breath.
Since initially losing their case against the Competition Bureau in 2016, TREB has consistently maintained that they are 'confused' by the ruling and don’t know what data they need to provide to members and I would not be surprised if their Oct policy update and data release (if it happens) falls well short of what the Competition Tribunal has ordered them to provide.
And amidst all their 'confusion', TREB continues to issue threatening letters to member brokerages and agents, who remain unable enhance their websites for the benefit of consumers in the meantime.
Who knows? Maybe October will bring in a new age of clarity (and leadership).
If it does, Realosophy has invested the hard work required to be ready to serve consumers from Day One.
We are ready.
But as I said, I’m not holding my breath quite yet.
John Pasalis is the President and Broker of Realosophy Realty Inc. Brokerage in Toronto. A leader in real estate analytics and pro-consumer advice, Realosophy helps clients buy or sell a home the right way.
Follow John on Twitter @johnpasalis


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Shortlisted businesses announced for BIPC Jumpstart grant programme
February 11, 2022
Eight local businesses have been confirmed as shortlisted applicants in the Business & IP Centre Cambridgeshire & Peterborough’s Jumpstart programme.
BIPC Jumpstart was launched in November 2021 – a programme of grants, resources and support designed to help start-up businesses get set and grow. A total of £30k of grants is set to be awarded as a key benefit of the programme; as well as further prizes and business support packages.
The confirmed shortlist is:
- Annika Bennett, Acben Music – Cambridge
- Phil Carter, Bluewindow Training Ltd – Ely
- Amy Corney, Acorn Flower Farm – Ramsey
- Lisa Kent, REUSE2GO – Cambridge
- Verity Lott, Healthy marketing consultancy service – Peterborough
- Christopher Ord, SWIM – Hampton, Peterborough
- Emma Peters, GLO – St Neots
- Rebekah Watson, Rebekah Daven Photography – Wyton
To apply, business owners were asked to submit a formal application form and business plan, as well as participating in three or more BIPC business support activities. In their application, entrants were asked to highlight how a grant allocation (of up to a maximum of £5000) would make a difference to their business. Eligibility criteria required that businesses had to be registered within Cambridgeshire & Peterborough on or after 14 January 2021, or within two months of receiving the grant.
In total, BIPC Jumpstart applicants collectively requested over £200,000 worth of grant support; demonstrating the continuing need for funding for local pre-start and start-up businesses.
Applications were reviewed by three BIPC Jumpstart consultants: Councillor Lis Every (East Cambridgeshire), Tom Hennessey (Chief Executive of Opportunity Peterborough) and local restaurateur Andy Maul (Bygones in Wisbech). Consultants chose the final shortlist based on strict criteria, and will support and mentor the programme applicants in the run up to a live pitching event where the eventual winners will be chosen.
Speaking on behalf of the BIPC Jumpstart consultants who chose the shortlisted businesses, Tom Hennessy, Chief Executive of Opportunity Peterborough said: “Reviewing the Jumpstart applications was a clear reminder as to the incredible breadth of pre-start and start-up businesses we have here in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Whilst choosing our eventual shortlist was a challenge due to the outstanding level of entries received, we are hugely excited to announce our final eight businesses chosen to go through to the final stage. We look forward to seeing how they perform in the pitch further to our follow-up mentoring – and send our congratulations to them all.”
Shortlisted businesses are now planning their presentations to our BIPC Jumpstart pitch judges, taking place in a dedicated event at Cambridge Central Library on Monday 28 February 2022. Shortlisted business owners are in with a chance of securing up to £5000 in grant funding if chosen as a final winner; as well as further prizes and business support packages.
Pitch judges will judge the applicants on the merit of their pitch alone, before choosing and announcing our 2022 BIPC Jumpstart grant recipients later that week (Thursday 2 March 2022).
The BIPC Jumpstart pitch judges who will choose the BIPC Jumpstart winners are:
- Julie Deane CBE – Founder and Chief Executive of The Cambridge Satchel Company
- Vic Annells – Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce
- Danielle Bridge – Founder and Chief Executive of ABC Life Support
- Alex Hughes – Founder of Shift Momentum and Shifties
More information about the BIPC Jumpstart programme is available to view at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/BIPCjumpstart, with shortlist and pitch day promotions running across social media using the hashtag #BIPCjumpstart.
The Business & IP Centre Cambridgeshire & Peterborough provides free and low-cost business support and advice to start-up business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors. From five BIPC libraries across the area – Cambridge, Ely, Huntingdon, Peterborough and Wisbech – its in-house experts and incredible resources support pre-start and start-up businesses every day. The Centre is part of the British Library’s highly successful network of library-based BIPCs across England, and is delivered through Cambridgeshire County Council & Peterborough City Council.


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By: Valentine Adese (JP) and Samuel Ogijo,
Mr. Boniface Ifokwe of the Ifokwe family has finally brought hope to people, who are frequently suffering hair loss in Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
Hair loss also known as, Alopecia or baldness is a loss of hair from part of the head or body. The cause according to experts may be attributed to genetics, hormonal changes, medical condition, medication and supplements.
Also, according to medical experts and hair beauticians, front hair loss can be quite embarrassing for women, which oftentimes makes some women hide behind wigs, weaves and other hair cover.
Findings show that, hair transplant and various hair grower creams and medications are on the shelves of big supermarkets and pharmacies, but are limited to the elite members of the society.
In an interview with Mr. Ifokwe by selected Journalists in Plateau State, Mr. Ifokwe, disclosed that in order to remedy the class difference and help those many poor Nigerians seeking help in hair loss issues, he took time and efforts to manufacture/produce, “the organic product ROSIVIM”.
Mr. Boniface Ifokwe an entrepreneur, who hails from Isuikwato Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, a registered member of Small and Medium Scale Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, but resides and does his business in Jos, the Plateau State capital, further disclosed that he conceived the product with his family members to address hair loss after suffering from baldness for many years, “as a way of contributing to national development”.
ROSIVIM, which is yet to be launched or displayed for the general public is awaiting NAFDAC analysis and registration, but has been tested on a random sample population and 90 percent has recorded improvement in their hair loss issue. A sample of the product has also been sent to a lab in America and the result was positive.
Mr. Boniface, would be seeking the assistance of the Plateau State and the Federal Government to enable the product get to a commercial level, REALITY gathered.


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Chrysler Reports Q3 Net Income of $464 Million
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At the same time, the Detroit-based company posted a net income for the first three quarters of 2013 of $1.1 billion (€800 million). Worldwide vehicle sales for the third quarter were 603,000, up eight percent over the same period last year. On the other hand, US market shares dropped slightly from 11.3 percent in Q3 2012 to 11.2 percent last quarter.
"Chrysler Group's ninth consecutive quarter of positive net income highlights our commitment to producing award-winning vehicles for consumers, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ram 1500," Chrysler Group LLC Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne said. "We also are pleased to introduce the already award-winning Jeep Cherokee to the lineup, as it launches into the largest SUV segment in the United States."
Scroll below to have a look at Chrysler’s full press blast.
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AT&T (NYSE: T) U-verse Internet and U-verse TV are now available in Ottawa, Kan., continuing the telco's expansion in the Sunflower State.
The company said the service now passes more than 540,000 living units in and around the Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita areas since its 2007 roll out in the state.
"Our most recent expansion of AT&T U-verse in Ottawa reflects our commitment to make the investments necessary to bring consumers across Kansas a new era of communications technology," said Steve Hahn, president of AT&T Kansas. "Ottawa residents have asked for more choices in television service and today we're delivering."
AT&T said its U-verse TV service closed the first quarter of 2012 with more than 4 million users, after adding some 200,000 subscribers. It's high-speed Internet service, meanwhile, closed the quarter with 5.9 million users after adding 718,000 new subscribers.
AT&T U-verse TV has added more TV subscribers than any of the major TV providers reported over the last 12 quarters combined.
- see this release
Frontier CEO: OTT video 'more important than anything else'
Forecast: Verizon FiOS TV to near 5M subscribers by year's end
FiOS, U-verse add subs, and Verizon looks long on TVE
AT&T reports 5.2% earnings bump, tops 4M U-verse TV subs


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WhatsApp has been introducing several new features and bug fixes to the messaging platform. We have also seen performance improvements coming to the platform. However, the latest version of WhatsApp reportedly is draining the battery of the smartphones. Both Android and iOS users have reported this issue. Several iPhone users said that the WhatsApp update had increased the background activity, thus draining the phone battery. Some users took on Reddit and other platforms to express their anger against the problem. WhatsApp Groups 'Admin Only' Mode Ahead of Supreme Court Verdict in Ayodhya Case.
Moreover, WABetaInfo also highlighted the issue by stating that numerous users are witnessing battery drain after updating to WhatsApp for iOS 2.19.112. He further also specified that the new WhatsApp update increases the background activity of the app, which is believed to be the preeminent cause of the issue.
The Android users updating their WhatsApp to the latest version - 2.19.308 are also facing the same problem. Reportedly, this WhatsApp issue is affecting users with devices such as OnePlus 6 & 7 Series, Xiaomi, Pixel and Samsung smartphones. WhatsApp Business App Gets Catalog Feature For Small Businesses To Connect With Customers.
On the other hand, some Android 10 users highlighted that this issue is not just limited to the Android 9 version of the app. The users using Android 10 are too experiencing the same WhatsApp background activity issue.
Though various users are affected by this problem, there is no acknowledgement from WhatsApp regarding the same. To get rid of the battery drainage problem, several users are re-installing the application. Users experiencing the issue even after re-installation, they will have to kill the app in the background.


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Just last week, the former Spice Girl was mega excited when she spotted Beyonce working the pleated midi skirt from her Ready-To-Wear AW15 collection in New York. Well, who wouldn’t be?
But now, it looks like girl-of-the-moment Kendall has eclipsed Queen Bey in becoming VB’s new #1 celeb fan.
Sharing a snap of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star working her Victoria Beckham aviators at Coachella, the 40-year-old designer wrote: ‘@KendallJenner looking great at @coachella in #VBAviators x vb.’
Last year, rumours were rife that Victoria was eyeing up Kendall to walk for her at Fashion Week, with sources claiming: ‘Victoria said she was the most naturally beautiful and striking model she’d ever seen – even more so in the flesh.’
And it looks like her Jenner crush continues. To be fair, who else would you want modelling your accessories line?
In other news, the mum-of-four recently had a cute Spice Girls reunion… with herself. Paying a visit to her Posh Spice waxwork in the US, Victoria posed up alongside ‘Posh’ (in a gold snakeskin mini dress) looking like a totally different person, all chic updo and black velvet dress.
‘Hanging with posh! #friendshipneverends x vb’, she captioned the image. She loves to have a giggle, that one…


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Top Tips on how you can increase trust online
Does internet privacy, cookies, tracking and all the rest start to worry you if you start to think about it too much? In business and in life as a whole, we all seem to stuck our heads in the sand – but you are not alone with your worries: According to a recent study released by the Ponemon Institute (a privacy research company) 59% believe the Internet, social media, geotracking devices and smart mobile devices diminish privacy and security.
They found that among the top most trusted companies are American Express, WebMD, Verizon and Disney for different industries, and in the internet and social media space Mozilla, creator of Firefox, ranked the number one trusted company. But they agree that the Internet has a lot more work to do to deepen trust in a way that empowers and protects users and engenders confidence. Here’s how:
Be proactive in search rankings and appearance
A business with an online presence needs to take an active role in how it is viewed by users. No matter how good a business is, it can suffer from poor search-engine rankings. Whether it’s being listed too low on search engines to get noticed or getting noticed for the wrong things (unfortunate press, sub-par reviews, etc.), a business’s online presence can backfire if the search results point consumers in the wrong direction.
To solve this problem, several businesses hire professional help to improve search engine rankings. By using experts, like those at Reputation.com and similar companies, businesses can make an accessible and positive appearance to customers.
Keep privacy private
Since the Internet and social media are considered to be among the least trustworthy of businesses in terms of privacy and security, a business with an online presence must work doubly hard to secure it’s user’s privacy. According to CNet.com, almost half the Ponemon Institute respondents said they received one or more data breach notifications over the past two years. Of those people, 77 percent said such notifications hurt their trust in the organization reporting the breach.
Mozilla has a blog dedicated to privacy where it details it’s commitment, procurement, and application of user security and anonymity. Not all businesses will want a privacy blog, but businesses should have some type of easy-to-read policy statement available regarding if and how they collect user data and what they do to keep it private. While few will take the time to read it, it shows users that the business is aware and respectful of their privacy.
User-centric meaningful content
Focus on the user’s experience and seek to improve that before improving business, says experts Mozilla in their Privacy blog. For the average business online this means creating content and designing the website around their customer first and their business second. Yes, the goal should be to a company’s online profit, but that’s not always achieved through focusing on the vending of wares. Websites become valued and trusted by consumers when they provide meaningful content. Valued and trusted websites garner loyalty and the willingness to spend money.
Thanks to Michael Wyman, MIT graduate for this great content submission


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It can be tough to invest your money during a market crash. While everyone has heard the phrase “buy the dip,” actually doing it can be scary. When markets are crashing, there’s usually a reason for it. It can be hard to tell which companies are actually taking long-term damage from the macro conditions and which are being beaten down unjustly.
This is one of the reasons why investors have looked to Warren Buffett for guidance over the years. Famed for buying in down markets, he has provided good ideas for investing when the going is tough. In this article, I’ll explore three picks he has endorsed over the years — two of them Canadian companies.
Suncor Energy (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) is a Warren Buffett-owned energy stock that has been beaten down badly in 2020. So far, Buffett has lost money on the stock, but that hasn’t stopped him from buying more of it. In Q2, it was one of the few stocks that he doubled down on rather than sold out of.
There’s no way to avoid saying it: SU is a very risky play. The company was genuinely damaged by COVID, with a $1.5 billion operating loss in the second quarter. Funds from operations (FFO) was positive at $488 million, but that was down from $3 billion in the same quarter a year before. So, this is not a stock that is being beaten down for no reason. The company is genuinely going through trouble. That’s something investors have to keep in mind, but it also means that if COVID-19 headwinds evaporate, the company stands to bounce back dramatically.
Restaurant Brands International
While he recently exited the position, Restaurant Brands International (TSX:QSR)(NYSE:QSR) was a long time Buffett holding. The company was formed by the merger of Tim Hortons and Burger King. Later, it added Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, which ended up becoming its biggest growth driver.
While Buffett doesn’t own QSR any more, his protege Bill Ackman still does. It’s not hard to see why. Although the second quarter showed sales declines at Tim Hortons and Burger King, Popeyes sales were up 24%. Overall sales were down 20%. That might look bad on the surface, but remember that once COVID is over, Tim Hortons and Burger King should at least return to normal. That combined with the fact that Popeyes is growing at 24% in the middle of a pandemic is reason for optimism.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) is a staple of Berkshire Hathaway’s stock portfolio. It’s also one of only a handful of stocks that Buffett’s right-hand man Charlie Munger owns other than BRK.A itself. Costco was one of the few non-tech companies that managed to grow in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to customers flocking to its stores to stock up on supplies.
In its most recent quarter, COST earnings increased 12.5% from the same quarter a year before. That’s a very impressive result in the COVID-19 era. COST also boasts many other metrics that value investors look for, like strong returns on equity. Its stock definitely isn’t cheap, but it’s a solid business.


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The government has decided to reduce the sales tax on 850 cc vehicles manufactured in Pakistan from 17% to 12.5%, after which domestic and imported small vehicles and electric vehicles will become cheaper.
The government has decided to give exemption from customs and regulatory duty on 850 cc imported vehicles and exemption from withholding tax.
The Finance Minister said in his budget speech that locally manufactured small vehicles were being exempted from value added tax and federal excise duty.
It has been decided to reduce the sales tax rate for electric vehicles from 17 per cent to one per cent and reduce the customs duty for one year.
It has been decided to give exemption from advance customs duty to the manufacturers of new vehicles and new models.
A reduction in taxes on certain types of locally manufactured heavy motorcycles, trucks and tractors has also been proposed.


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Almost daily for the past seven years, United Parcel Service driver Ryan Brown has followed the same routine: He gets to the freight center about 8 a.m., inspects his truck for safety hazards and checks his delivery list for the day, mentally planning a route.
In a day, Brown might drive more than 100 miles in and around Dothan, Ala., making about that many stops for deliveries or pickups. The drivers of UPS’s more than 60,000 trucks nationwide are equipped with a hand-held computer that automatically suggests a route, based on delivery and pickup locations for the day.
But after years of driving in the same town, Brown knows some things the computer doesn’t: best delivery times, which streets are hard to navigate and where to park so he can make several deliveries at once. He often strays from the computer’s suggested path and takes his own route, which he calls “going off-trace.”
“I try to stay as efficient as possible,” Brown said.
He knows, for instance, certain businesses open later than others, so he moves those deliveries down in his mental list. If he doesn’t consider such factors, he won’t be able to deliver all packages by their requested time, he said.
Brown may soon rely less on his judgment as UPS unveils software that would infuse a computer-generated route with driver feedback, among other sources. Called on-road integrated optimization and navigation (ORION), the software accounts for geographic obstacles, customer requests and data about past deliveries before suggesting a route. Just as they do today, drivers would download the route to their hand-held computers before leaving for deliveries.
UPS has been installing ORION since October, and it will probably get to Brown’s truck in Dothan by the beginning of next year. It’s been an expensive, multiyear project, said UPS’s technology vice president, Juan Perez. Each year, UPS invests about $1 billion in technology, including ORION, whose software the company has been working on since 2003. For several years, the development team has been gathering data about driving patterns by installing sensors in some trucks.
Ultimately, the software could save UPS millions of gallons of gas each year and about $50 million in the United States in fuel costs, Perez said. It’s one of many adjustments UPS has made to save time and fuel. Since 2004, the company has discouraged drivers from taking left-turns on their routes, saving millions of gallons of gas. And in the past year, UPS has been implementing keyless trucks, so drivers don’t have to waste time searching their pockets for keys.
Such changes are about more than efficiency, Perez said, remarking, “We believe these technologies are going to put us in a position to provide better services to customers.”
Two years ago, the company launched UPS “My Choice”, which lets customers control the timing and location of a delivery — requests from My Choice are now funneled into ORION.
The software is expected to go through several releases, Perez said. The technology team is developing ORION’s ability to adjust a route depending on weather, traffic or a driver’s preferences. Currently ORION doesn’t update after a driver leaves the UPS center.
It’s a challenge to make sure that ORION uses accurate data to create routes, he said. The development team may have to review maps with dispatchers or drivers to make sure the information reflects a town’s geography, for instance.
“It’s a perfect example of garbage in and garbage out,” he said, referring to the fact that computers receiving bad data are likely to spit out the same. “We spend a significant amount of time in the early stages of the implementation process making sure we have good, clean data.”
Until it can make adjustments in real time, ORION can only complement, and not replace, the driver’s judgment, said UPS’s director of process management, Jack Levis, who has been working on ORION since its inception.
“We do want drivers to override ORION if it doesn’t make sense,” he said.


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Penguin Books has added to its licensed portfolio, planning a range of new books for Club Penguin for launch in July.
One of the largest virtual worlds for children, Club Penguin launched three years ago. Users can create a penguin and engage in a variety of activities including chatting, playing games and earning virtual coins to purchase clothes and accessories for their penguin.
Penguin Books' initial titles will be aimed at eight to 12 year olds and will include two sticker books, plus a joke book, Ultimate Official Guide and Secret Agent Handbook.
"Club Penguin has captured the imaginations of millions of children around the world and we're honoured to be partnering with such an innovative company and happy that we are once again working with Disney Publishing Worldwide to develop books that tie in with this highly successful virtual world," said Eric Huang, category publisher, brands and licensing at Penguin.


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- Diese Veranstaltung hat bereits stattgefunden.
Market opportunity for German „Green-Tech“ companies
21.10.21@9:00 - 10:30
As prosperity increases, the Chinese government and consumers attach more and more importance to the quality of life, including housing.
How can German building materials companies introduce innovative and sustainable products to the Chinese market? What are the most attractive market segments? How can the companies brand themselves and which marketing channels work best?
Listen to reports from experts from China and join the discussion!


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The Like Minds Ideas Festival welcomes family favourite Dennis the Menace to its South West event
Beano Studios, the home of Dennis and Gnasher, will take part in September’s Like Minds Ideas festival.
Digital and Commercial Managing Director Karen Eccles will join a host of speakers from global organisations, such as Lego and LinkedIn, at the Like Minds international ideas festival in Exeter this September.
Karen will talk about the legendary comic’s reinvention as it attempts to remain relevant in a new digital age.
The company recently set up Beano Studios to create, curate and distribute children’s entertainment across different channels, including television, live performances, merchandising and partnerships as well as the paper comic, annual and website. Britain’s longest-running comic, now has online influencers working alongside cartoonists and there is even a new CGI animation series set to air on CBBC this year.
After last year’s successful event in Bristol, the Like Minds Ideas Festival is returning to its hometown of Exeter for a day of inspirational speakers and immersive master classes. The international festival has also held events in Helsinki, Shanghai, London and New York.
Like Minds founder Drew Ellis comments:
“We are delighted to announce Beano Studios’ participation in September’s Festival. Karen will be talking about the comic’s determination to keep ahead of the trends and transform its product development, content and strategy, to succeed in a new digital era.”
The Like Minds Ideas Festival, entitled from ‘Start-up to Scale-up’, will take place on Friday 29 September, at the Rediscover Building, Northernhay Street in Exeter. Guests will enjoy breakfast, an informal and interactive guest speaker segment, immersive masterclasses and Q&A sessions. The list of confirmed speakers includes:
James Poulter Head of Social at Lego
Oli Barrett MBE, Co-founder Startup Britain
Minter Dial, Founder of The Myndset
Glen Woodcock, Exeter City Futures
Jason Miller, Global Content Marketing Lead, LinkedIn
Janet Coyle, Director, London & Partners
Robert Camp, Managing Partner Stephens Scown
Chris Moss, Co-founder MAV3RICK
Glenn Le Santo, Orange Business Services
Regional startups will also have the chance to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas to a number of investors in the audience from Angel & Venture networks like the UKBAA, with a collective £250,000+ to invest in the most innovative and exciting start-ups at the afternoon “PitchFest” session.
Whilst all Early Bird discounted tickets have sold out, a new “Buddy Up” discounted ticket offer is running in July, for £75 for the full day experience, a £120 saving off the full price ticket. To book tickets, please visit: http://likeminds.live/
The email address to register for PitchFest is: email@example.com
Follow @wearelikeminds on Twitter for updates


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Samsung has started sending invitations for the second event of the year, to be broadcast online on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10 a.m. ET. It’s called the amazing Galaxy A event by invitation, and it’s exclusive to the phone maker’s mid-range A series devices, in case you didn’t know.
There are rumors that Samsung will add two new phones to the lineup: Galaxy A73 and A53. Last year, Samsung announces Galaxy A72 and A52 at an Unpacked event held at the same time. Both phones are about to be refreshed and it’s likely we’ll get our first look at this month’s event.
Rumors and leaks suggest that the Galaxy A73 and A53 could both come with 5G, which would at least be an upgrade to the A72, as the A52 already has a 5G variant. The Expected A73 comes with the same 6.7-inch display, along with the Snapdragon 750G chip, while the A53 could have a 6.5-inch display paired with Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1200 system on a chip (SoC).
https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/13/22975452/samsung-galaxy-awesome-unpacked-a-series-event-march-17 Samsung’s amazing Galaxy A event will take place on March 17


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Evan Goldberg, Founder and EVP at Oracle NetSuite provided the keynote address at the company’s SuiteConnect event in London. Attended by more than 800 people, the company made several announcements including the UK launch of NetSuite Analytics Warehouse. The company says it is the first and only prebuilt data warehouse and analytics solution for NetSuite customers. NetSuite Analytics Warehouse enables organisations in the UK to simplify data management and accelerate time to insights. According to Goldberg, “It brings together, in one place, critical business data like financials and inventory to help make better more informed decisions. It combines your NetSuite data with other sources of data, including the easy import of internal and third-party data.”
Today’s climate is causing enterprises to seriously think about the fundamentals of their business. According to Goldberg, this includes, “Acquiring and growing customers since a business can’t do anything without customers. Creating and delivering great products or services which is why the business exists in the first place. Furthermore, organisations need a fantastic team, and for businesses to be sustainable, they need to optimise cash and profits.”
The new roadblocks for business
Goldberg discussed in detail the numerous challenges faced by businesses including the unpredictability of the supply chain, inflation and labour shortages. “Customers are focusing on the bottom line and making sure they’re efficient and productive everywhere in their business,” he added.
Goldberg highlighted the new roadblocks to business success, particularly in the supply chain. Some brands and retailers are moving their manufacturing, others are moving warehouses to ensure they can get goods to customers. Increasingly, the workforce is working remotely, which involves putting new infrastructures to support this new hybrid approach to work. “Organisations need great tools for collaboration, and customers are meeting brands in new places. As a result, businesses are going online like never before and requiring different types of order management tools to get their product to the customer,” Goldberg added.
Words of advice
To deal with these challenges, business departments often choose the tool that works best for managing specific departmental problems. However, it may solve the immediate issue, but ultimately when departments choose different tools, it can lead to something that Goldberg calls “The hairball”. A mess of tools from different vendors, often generating inconsistent data across different systems that the business needs to manage. According to Goldberg, “The lack of visibility causes more expense and slows everything down. Managers are constantly chasing down data and, consequently, cannot manage the business effectively with this hairball.”
Goldberg advises enterprises need to ensure employees are productive and collaborating to avoid – The Hairball. “They must become agile and flexible in terms of changing the business to the latest changes in the world. We’re urging everyone here at SuiteConnect to go full Suite ahead.”
Focus on user experience
Speaking at a separate media and analyst session at SuiteConnect, Goldberg confirmed NetSuite were focused on the business user experience. “Customers can’t afford expensive training and especially when users are doing so many different things. Oracle is investing heavily in the business user experience. Expect to see many more announcements coming soon. We have announced some of the new connectors and there will be more at the next SuiteWorld Conference in October.”
AI and Machine Learning is also expected to play a key role for NetSuite, as the company positions itself to be more helpful for its business users. The company already has capabilities in areas like the supply chain with a tool called the supply chain control tower. A solution that predicts risk in your supply chain using AI.
Enterprise Times: What this means for business
Full Suite ahead was the main theme of the SuiteConnect event. Evan Goldberg explained to the audience the new ways NetSuite are helping make the day-to-day operations and financial management of businesses easier. The idea is that business managers can spend more time, energy and resources on their company’s key aims and objectives. Needless to say AI and machine learning are expected to play critical roles in future for NetSuite products. The key for the company will be keeping a finger on the pulse of changing trends and needs of customers. Hence today’s SuiteConnect events.


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By: E&P Staff
Philadelphia Media Holdings appointed Sherry Phillips and Patrick Dignan as director of business development for advertising for the company?s newspapers and director of advertising sales for its online properties, respectively.
The company publishes The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News.
Both Phillips and Dignan most recently worked at Forbes. Phillips was vice president of conference sales at the magazine. In that role, she was responsible for custom events for such clients as General Motors, Mellon Bank, and Microsoft.
Dignan was east coast sales director at Forbes.com. Prior to that he was publisher of Saveur Magazine.
?This is like hitting two home runs,? Brian Tierney, CEO of Philadelphia Media Holdings, said in a statement.


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Low cost and Artificial Intelligence-based test kit for COVID-19
- Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad have developed a low cost and Artificial Intelligence-based test kit for COVID-19. These kits can give results in about 20 minutes.
- Lead researcher Prof Shiv Govid Singh of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the IIT-H, said that the test kits have already been tried at the ESIC hospital and the results are encouraging.
- He said the test kits are Reverse Tranion Polymerase Chain Reaction-free and get rid of many processes.


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More Stock/Fund Data
The stock market eked out another all-time high on Tuesday, but the gains were slight as investors awaited more news to give them an indication about the strength of the economy.
Microsoft has unveiled a cheaper smartphone, costing about $135, as it eyes emerging and other low-cost markets for growth. The new model also is the first Lumia smartphone under Microsoft’s own brand name.
The food company Unilever is suing a California company that uses the word “Mayo” in its sandwich spread name, saying that federal regulators and dictionaries define mayonnaise as a spread that contains eggs.
The Nucor Steel Louisiana plant has been shut down after an equipment failure at the Convent facility.
For stocks on Monday, the path of least resistance was up. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index and the Dow Jones industrial average both edged up to all-time highs on a day that was light on economic news and company releases.
GoPro said Monday it plans raise an additional $800 million in a stock offering. In June, the sports camera maker raised $491 million from an initial public offering.
Carnival Cruise Line gift cards once were only available aboard one of the company’s ships. Now, prepaid cards are available at 9,000 stores nationwide.
Prostate cancer drug developer Dendreon is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with a plan that leads to either a sale of the company or a takeover by its lenders.
The hamburger chain on Thursday reported a lower-than-expect profit for its third quarter, noting that beef costs were “much higher than our initial projections.” It also said it expects the “record high” costs to continue.
Takata Corp., the Japanese air bag maker embroiled in a massive recall totaling some 12 million vehicles globally, is taking more special losses for new recalls and will sink deeper into the red.
Perrigo is expanding its reach into Europe through a $3.1 billion acquisition of one of the continent’s biggest suppliers of non-prescription medicines.
European Central Bank head Mario Draghi opened the door for further stimulus on Thursday, saying the bank is preparing the technical groundwork for new support measures that it can deploy if needed.
THE WATCHDOGS: Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, one of President Barack Obama’s closest friends, has refused to answer federal prosecutors’ questions about whether he had a “sexual relationship” with a former aide who has pleaded guilty to stealing taxpayers’ money, court records show.
Stocks returned to record levels on Wednesday as a rebound in oil prices boosted energy stocks. The stock market also gained after the completion of midterm elections that saw Republicans take control of the Senate.
The sobering economic news just keeps coming, yet the European Central Bank appears stuck in wait and see mode — held up by policy disputes and a desire to see whether recent stimulus measures are working.


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THE Journal's Mobile Computing + Augmented & Virtual Reality Resources
Here you'll find articles covering 1-to-1 computing, BYOD, augmented and virtual reality and all things mobile! Topics range from strategies for managing devices to news and reviews about new hardware and software.
Lifeliqe, a San Francisco-based visual learning platform incorporating virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality and interactive 3D, is piloting mixed reality educational scenarios for Microsoft HoloLens in grade 6-12 classrooms.
Amazon Inc. will refund millions of unauthorized in-app purchases made by kids on mobile devices. According an announcement from the Federal Trade Commission this week, more than $70 million in-app purchases made between November 2011 and May 2016 may be eligible for refund.
Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, educators using its learning management system will be able to use Google Drive more easily within the LMS to manage grades, assignments and student submissions.
Virtual reality (VR) has found its way into the educational space, and by all indications, it’s here to stay. Since VR glasses can be obtained for as low as $10 apiece, cost is becoming less of an issue. Here are three guidelines toward introducing VR in e-learning courses.
Mobile learning is the top priority for K–12 IT leaders, according to the fifth annual K–12 IT Leadership Survey published by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). It’s the first time mobile learning ranked as the highest priority in the survey.
The United States is expected to spend the most of any country on these two systems in 2017 — $9.7 billion, according to a report from the International Data Corporation.
Five years from now K–12 classrooms will look dramatically different than they do today because of the four trends identified in this week’s blog post. You can take that prediction to the bank!
- By Cathie Norris, Elliot Soloway
In the city that has been leading the fight to slow climate change, students will soon spend class time using an augmented reality (AR) game to figure out how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Each VR "book" incorporates virtual field trips, interactive games and learning activities, a "theater" experience, a teacher demo of an experiment and access to online assessments.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
The Utah-based Women Tech Council today launched the first expansion event of its SheTech program to provide access to hands-on tech experiences and mentorship with industry experts to high school girls across the state and in rural areas to engage and inspire them to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and careers.