text:
Systems management seeks fresh ground
- By John Moore
- Oct 14, 2002
Systems management vendors are eager to push the technology envelope, whether it's embracing wireless networks, corralling mobile devices or cultivating self-healing capabilities.
Product announcements and technology initiatives in recent months underscore the pace of development. IBM Corp.'s eLiza program seeks to inoculate an organization's infrastructure with technology that anticipates and addresses problems before an administrator's console starts blinking red. Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) recently released products for the wireless world. LANDesk Software Inc., Novell Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are among the companies launching products that extend device management to mobile computing. Tool vendors also are enhancing security (see box, this page) and pursuing directory integration.
Federal agencies, however, appear to favor the old-fashioned virtues of systems management over new-fangled features. In some cases, agencies' security concerns prevent them from embracing some of the newer developments. Other agencies are simply more interested in time-tested features that give them a quick-hitting return on investment.
Jean-Pierre Garbani, a research director who follows systems management for Giga Information Group, said the disconnect between vendor innovation and customer indifference is a complex issue.
"Vendors are working to broaden their revenue, and the game consists [of] creating a potential demand by exploring new avenues of potential progress," he said. "It is usually a focused effort. Clients, on the other hand, have a bunch of problems in a universe that is not focused and where the mundane has the same priority [as] the very advanced."
That said, vendors are banking that federal customers will eventually grow into the newer capabilities of their management frameworks and specific products.
"Very few [customers] come looking for a comprehensive management solution," said Robert Naegle, director of marketing development for LANDesk, a recent desktop and device management spinoff from Intel Corp. "They go after a couple of pain points initially" and later consider the longer-reaching impact of management products.
Ask customers what they most care about in systems management and a pattern emerges: asset management, software distribution and remote diagnostics. Agencies are drawn to those areas for their cost-savings and return-on-investment potential.
"Enterprise systems management is such an expensive process in the beginning," said Jim Kennedy, program manager of enterprise systems management at the Internal Revenue Service. "You have to get a fairly quick" return on investment.
To that end, the IRS has focused on inventory management and software distribution, Kennedy said. The IRS uses IBM Tivoli Software management tools for its Windows infrastructure and most of its Unix infrastructure. The agency recently upgraded to the latest releases of Tivoli Inventory and Software Distribution, which have been consolidated as Tivoli Configuration Manager 4.1. The ability to electronically handle such tasks as distributing antivirus patches saves the agency hundreds of thousands of dollars in labor costs, according to Kennedy.
The potential for payback also influenced how Los Alamos National Laboratory's Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, or LANSCE, employs its systems management tools. Brad Sorensen, a network administrator at LANSCE, said he uses NetSupport Inc.'s NetSupport Manager primarily as a "trouble call utility," although the product has other functions. NetSupport Manager's remote control facility enables technicians to diagnose Windows PC problems remotely. That's an important feature given that Sorensen's users are scattered throughout 30 buildings. The tool "pays for itself" because technicians are able to handle more user calls, according to Sorensen.
Tommy Avants, network administrator at the National Ice Center, also identifies the ability to fix things remotely as a key payoff. The center, which tracks iceberg activity in key shipping channels, uses LANDesk Management Suite. The product enables technicians to troubleshoot computer problems from a distance and electronically deploy a Microsoft service pack or security update, he said.
Vendors acknowledge that time and budget issues are driving systems management initiatives.
"Chief information officers in the federal government are much more interested in the quicker turnaround projects," said Jim Russell, business unit executive at IBM Tivoli's federal division. The strategy is to "cordon off quick hits to show an almost immediate time to value." And those quick hits, he adds, typically are found in situations "where we can go ahead and do the inventory and at the same time plot our path for software distribution."
Although the market seems to be indifferent to bells and whistles now, management vendors are nonetheless pursuing a number of technical developments.
The management of wireless networks and mobile devices is a particularly active area, at least in terms of recent product announcements. CA, for example, began shipping Unicenter wireless products in October.
One such product, Unicenter Wireless Network Management, identifies the wireless access points in an organization's network and builds a wireless local-area network topology. The product's automatic-discovery function is designed to "prevent rogue access points being brought into the enterprise," which can subsequently become security vulnerabilities, explains Sumit Deshpande, technology strategist for CA's chief technology officer's office.
But some federal customers are not ready for wireless technology, much less wireless network management. "Wireless is a ways out for us," said the IRS' Kennedy. "The organization is not comfortable yet with the level of security on wireless communications."
Kennedy said a bigger issue for the IRS is "infrequently connected or remotely connected clients." The IRS has field agents who use virtual private networks (VPNs) to connect to its closed network. In addition, the agency must keep tabs on 40,000 laptops, which travel from office to office. Kennedy said the latest versions of IBM Tivoli Inventory and Tivoli Distribution "do a much better job at managing those devices" than earlier versions do.
IBM Tivoli is not alone in extending software distribution and other attributes of traditional systems management to mobile devices. This month, CA released Unicenter Mobile Device Management, which offers software distribution, asset management and virus protection. It also includes a VPN client. Initially, the VPN feature will only be available for laptops, but Deshpande said CA would roll out a "secure communication channel" for personal digital assistants soon.
In September, Novell released ZENworks for Handhelds 5, which manages Palm Inc. and Microsoft Windows CE and Pocket PC devices. The product manages application distribution and device configuration, said Paul Hartge, director of mobile management products at Novell.
Also in September, Microsoft released its Systems Management Server 2003 Beta, identifying mobile device management as the product's primary improvement. The product has the ability to provide software updates to mobile PCs that connect via slow lines and travel along multiple locations, according to Microsoft officials. Eventually, the company will offer asset management and software distribution for handhelds and desktops running Windows CE, Pocket PC or Windows XP Embedded.
LANDesk Software is also making mobile moves. In September, the company began shipping LANDesk Mobile Manager as an option for its LANDesk Management Suite 6.6. Features include distributing applications to mobile devices and managing device configuration. "Most people we find are primarily interested in major computing assets — desktops and laptops," Naegle said. But customers, he added, are "more and more worried about the proliferation of personal and handheld devices.
Self-healing is another direction various vendors are talking up. IBM's eLiza project, according to company officials, aims to "build autonomic computers that can anticipate and recover from problems without human intervention."
Such self-healing developments will shape the future of systems management, vendors say. Tivoli products already have autonomic capabilities in performance management, availability management and software distribution, said Bob Yellin, vice president of technology at IBM Tivoli.
As autonomic features take over routine systems management chores, vendors will seek to add value beyond monitoring devices and resources, according to industry executives.
Peter Marshall, assistant vice president of systems management at Candle Corp., believes customers can expect autonomic computing to initially take hold in an organization's basic networking infrastructure: operating systems, databases, middleware and the like.
The integration of directories and systems management tools is another area of vendor interest and, not surprisingly, Microsoft and Novell are among those pushing tighter links among the two. Microsoft, for example, said its Systems Management Server 2003 Beta features "improved integration with key Windows services such as Active Directory."
Richard Whitehead, Novell's product manager for desktop and handheld products, said the company continues to invest in directory integration. He said that the company's latest handheld management product is directory-enabled so that a customer has a central location for managing devices. Novell's ZENworks for Desktops 4 links with the company's eDirectory, but also supports Active Directory in Windows-only environments. Whether it's directory integration or self-healing capabilities, vendors hope some of their new features will capture customers' imaginations.
"Vendors have a natural tendency of looking forward, as a way to differentiate themselves from the competition, and educating the market on future problems," Giga's Garbani said.
Moore is a freelance writer based in Syracuse, N.Y.


text:
It looks like Sony is gearing up to announce Gran Turismo 6, the heavily rumored next entry in the popular racing...
Gran Turismo 5
Latest News for Gran Turismo 5
Get breaking news, announcements, releases and commentary for Gran Turismo 5.
Gran Turismo 5 players will be treated to a brand new car -- the 2014 Corvette Stingray -- on Tuesday of this week. It will...
Sony has confirmed two new content packs coming for Gran Turismo 5 this week: the "Twin Ring Motegi Pack" and...
The awesome new opening cinematic from Gran Turismo 5.
Keep on racing with the latest GT5 DLC packs.
Fan input fuels Spec 2.0. First DLC Detailed.
Believe it or not, there's now a Gran Turismo clothing line. Even the biggest fans will be the envy of style enthusiasts with this apparel, designed
The first leg of Sony's GT Academy begins today, and getting close to the prestigious Dubai 24 Hour International race is now one step easier. Wannab
Gran Turismo 5 designer Kazunori Yamauchi announced via Twitter that Polyphony Digital is currently working on an update that will incorporate mid-ra
If you're anything like me, you probably thought the terrible B-spec mode was one of the worst aspects of Gran Turismo 5. But you know who loved it?

domain: news


text:
Dark Horse showed off some great new Game of Thrones collectibles at New York Comic Con.
Dark Horse Deluxe showed off some brilliant new collectibles whether you’re building a space armada, wild hunt-ing, or vying for the throne.
Kotobukiya had some big surprises in store for us at Toy Fair, and lots of amazing new statues coming throughout 2016.
Kotobukiya shared an amazing new lineup of products from the Art FX+ and Bishoujo Collections, and more.
With lots of great new reveals from Marvel, DC, and more, Kotobukiya’s booth at Comic Con was a sight to behold.
Kotobukiya had another great showing at NYCC, with plenty of new reveals for fans of comic books, Star Wars, bishoujo and more.
Dark Horse packed a ton of cool new collectibles into their misleadingly small booth at this year’s Toy Fair. New series of some old favorites were on hand but there’s also a few awesome surprises in store for 2013.
Kotobukiya had some amazing new pieces– and some exciting new announcements– on display at Toy Fair. Get the full report on their 2013 plans.
Kotobukiya had a great booth at New York Comic Con, with some excellent new reveals for the show, including a new recruit to the Marvel Bishoujo collection and a stunning Joker statue.
The awesome new Mass Effect Bishoujo statue brings us two versions of our lead in female form.
The new Robocop suit design hits the web, and the internet has finally come together to collectively frown upon it.
Distributed by DC Direct and originally slated for a Summer 2010 release, the first series of Mass Effect action figures suffered one delay after another with a small assortment sneaking onto shelves in April 2011 before disappearing completely. Frustrated with DC’s handling of the line, Bioware pulled the plug on their partnership and later announced they…
Mass Effect 3 hit shelves earlier this month to record hype– the fervor emanating from Bioware’s rabid fanbase was almost insurmountable. I personally was dizzy with excitement on March 5th just waiting for the hours to run down to 12am so I could speed home and begin a marathon playthrough of the game that would…


text:
She doesn't have to dress up to turn heads! Pamela Anderson keeps it casual but sexy while shopping in a slinky sundress
Pamela Anderson glowed on Saturday in a sheer, slinky sundress while out shopping in Malibu.
The 45-year-old Baywatch star wore a long grey and white striped dress with a casual pair of flip-flops.
The blonde beauty had her hair pulled back and secured in a small bun.
Striped beauty: Pamela Anderson wore a grey and white striped sundress on Saturday while out in Malibu
The actress wore minimal make-up with only a hint of eye liner and her only accessories were a large white purse, sunglasses and her trademark barbed wire tattoo.
Pamela displayed a blemish-free face that belied her age as she was out shopping with a friend.
The actress has gone for more of a demure look lately as she moves away from the bombshell image that made her a star in the 1990s.
Nice skin: Pamela showed off a blemish-free face
She appeared earlier this year on the British reality TV show Dancing On Ice, but she and former winner Matt Evers were the first couple voted off by judges.
Pamela is a well-known animal rights advocate and a practicing vegan.
She has campaigned against the use of fur and against seal hunting in her native Canada.
Blonde beauty: Pamela glowed in the late afternoon Malibu sunshine
Pamela was discovered in 1989 at a Canadian Football League game wearing a tight beer T-shirt and soon found herself on the cover of Playboy.
She moved into acting and remains best known for playing C.J. Parker in the immensely popular beach rescue show Baywatch.
The actress has two sons, Brandon and Dylan, by former husband Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee.
Spring shopping: Pamela went shopping in a summer dress and flip-flops
Most watched News videos
- Rowdy Mexican couple get 'intimate' inside a public bank
- Pervy presenter gets a little too touchy feely with model
- Annoyed woman attempts to teach indecorous man a lesson on the train
- Is this parrot channeling Rihanna by singing along to her hit song?
- Video shows the aftermath of a horrific car crash in Bellingham
- Terrifying moment a huge great white lunges at a surfer
- Children run in horror after seeing 'goblin' whilst playing
- Scene in Heidelberg as police react to car incident
- Irate flyer loses it as she demands to get off of a plane
- Horrific moment he is attacked with pool cue in South African bar
- Police break open closet, find woman unconscious from gunshot
- Construction worker has maths meltdown over 'simple' problem


text:
How to Schedule Social Media Posts Effectively
By Sandra BuschSep 14
Published November 30th 2015
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping days on the planet – so along with Small Business Saturday and every other Thanksgiving shopping event imaginable, we knew there would be a whole lot of social data to analyze.
Looking to Twitter, and after running the data through Brandwatch Analytics, we specifically looked at what people were talking about buying, and from who, this year. We did this by analyzing Tweets in which users expressed an intent to shop or purchase, or other opinions about the shopping events.
Which brands and retailers cleaned up this weekend? And what type of product was most popular? Let’s find out.
When it comes to hashtags, other topics can sometimes make their way into a completely separate conversation – as seen when we analyzed all mentions of Thanksgiving holiday shopping activities from the holiday weekend and the top retailers, brands and products on Twitter’s collective mind.
Looking over the last week at the top 10 hashtags mentioned in our data set around Thanksgiving holiday shopping (ranked by total number of Tweets), we can see that Chris Brown’s new album #Royalty made its way in, thanks to the timing of its release, as well as Brown’s decision to donate proceeds from the album to a children’s hospital.
When we ranked the top hashtags by impressions, Barnes and Noble’s signed editions activities around Thanksgiving weekend helped the book retailer get involved in the conversation online, with a slew of mentions specifically about Paolo Coehlo’s The Alchemist.
Khloe Kardashian’s new book #stronglooksbetternaked also featured in the chatter, as consumers snagged the book this weekend during general shopping excursions.
Conversations about Thanksgiving holiday shopping peaked on Black Friday, and the conversation has quietened down today, given the usual excitement around electronics deals on Cyber Monday.
Over the last week, clothing (41%) just missed the title of being the most talked about product type for this holiday shopping occasion.
While mentions of clothing spiked on Black Friday itself more so than electronics, toys and home goods, electronics still dominate with 1% more share of voice in the last 7 days, for a total of 42% share of voice.
Looking at conversations around product types through a gender lens, we can see that only in the category of electronics do we see men having a higher share of the mentions —and barely that, with just under 55%.
Diving deeper into what was driving the high volume of electronics conversations, the graphic below shows us the most mentioned topics and phrases specifically related to that product category.
The specific devices on the tip of Twitter users’ conversations include the Apple Watch, Xbox, PS4, iPhone 6s, and MacBook.
A tweet using a meme of Rocky by actor Sam Kalidi made its way into the most mentioned topics as well in the electronics conversation.
Strong gaming/gadget players Apple and Playstation secured solid second and third place positions in the Twitter conversation, after Victoria’s Secret.
Amazon holds onto its massive share of voice with 29% of mentions on Twitter over the last week.
Since Black Friday the conversation in general across the board has died down, but Amazon has considerably more mentions in the last 24 hours over all other retailers. Why? A number of reasons, and that includes that sheer number of products and types of products and deals Amazon has available. Not to mention discussion of Amazon around Thanksgiving holiday weekend shopping was bolstered by mentions of the company’s Amazon Kindle Fire 7″, even if purchased from other retailers.
Follow @bw_react for more hot data stories.


text:
Princess Yachts have unveiled the first images of the new Princess V58, the sister model to the acclaimed Princess V58 Open. The flexible enclosed deck model can be climate controlled or opened to the elements via triple sliding aft doors and a retractable sunroof. The WSB team take a closer look at the new trend setter.
The new Sealine C530 has arrived in style, delivering a sense of class and sophistication rarely seen on cruisers of this size. The exterior incorporates numerous design features that embrace clever technology with smart design. The WSB team step on-board to welcome this new British cruiser.
Welcome to style, comfort, class, performance, brightness, and open lounge areas, imagine these features at the very height of excellence and you will have what Ferretti Yachts suggest as the 450.
RIO YACHTS celebrate the launch of the new “COLORADO 44”. It is an important year for the boatyard from Bergamo, as it celebrates its 55 years of activity: a milestone that brings back memories of 1961, the year of RIO’s foundation, the dawn of boating, when power boats, with Chris Craft and Rolls-Royce engines, were made from mahogany by master wood craftsmen. The WSB team get up close to the 44, to check out the new arrival.
The world premier of the new Fjord 42 Open took center stage at the Monaco Yacht Show this year. Fjord is known for styling unique powerboats and the 42 open doesn’t disappoint. The vertical bow with a clear visual spectacle of the extraordinary hull stands out in any port and is the master stroke of outstanding designer Patrick Banfield. The WSB team got a chance to take a closer look at this new tasty addition to the Fjord range.
Recognised as one of the most important international boating events and Europe’s largest on-water show, the Cannes Yachting Festival is known for its unparalleled range of the world’s finest boats presented. Approximately 600 boats and yachts will be exhibited by the world’s greatest shipyards and most famous brokers in the Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto from 6th-11th September 2016.
The launch of the all new Filippetti F93 arrived to huge anticipation, born from the collaboration between Filippetti Yacht and the yacht designer Fulvio De Simoni. The F93 will complete a series of required sea tests before being delivered to an excited owner in North America. Partnered with Filippetti Yacht Americas, the F93 will be the first of two boats to hit North American Waters in the next 6 months. The Filippetti S55 is scheduled to launch in early 2017
Taiwanese boat builder Horizon Yachts announced the launch of their brand new E56XO sport yacht this summer break; this model, unveiled in December 2015, is based on the E56 motor yacht but features a lower profile for a sleeker, more sporty look. The WSB teams takes a closer look at this sports cruiser from down under.


text:
While many previous DVLA scams told drivers they needed to purchase car tax which had expired, this email took a different approach. Consumer watch
While many previous DVLA scams told drivers they needed to purchase car tax which had expired, this email took a different approach. Consumer watchdog Which? has issued a warning to drivers on social media about the “sophisticated” scam, which could leave thousands caught out by making a simple mistake.
“It is, however, good practice to regularly clear your browsing data, keep your browser up-to-date, ensure you’ve got a good antivirus software and have good password hygiene.
“Scammers are becoming increasingly conniving, so trust your spam filters and take pause to think if you’re being asked to input payment details after following a URL.
“It can’t be ruled out that this case in particular could have been a coincidence – it’s not uncommon for scammers to chance their arm with multiple emails at different times.”
Just days ago the DVLA issued their own message on Twitter warning drivers there were a “few scams going round at the moment”.
The DVLA has recently revealed that there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of scams reported to the DVLA.
A total of 1,538 repairs were made to the agency during the last three months of 2019 as figures roise from 1,275 in the same period in 2018.
They warned scammers usually contacted motorists with links to fake services or encouraged them to hand over details to claim false tax refunds.
DVLA chief information security officer, David Pope, warned drivers not to fall for something that seemed “too good to be true”.
He said: “All our tax refunds are generated automatically after a motorist has told us they have sold, scrapped or transferred their vehicle to someone else so we don’t ask for anyone to get in touch with us to claim their refund.
“We want to protect the public and if something seems too good to be true, then it almost certainly is. The only trusted source of DVLA information is GOV.UK


text:
By SeafoodSource staff
Published on 26 May, 2010
The world's largest container-shipping company refuses to carry seafood species threatened by overfishing, including shark, orange roughy and Chilean sea bass (Patagonian toothfish), as part of its new sustainable seafood policy.
New Zealand's Green Party and Greenpeace-New Zealand on Thursday publicized Maersk's move, adding that a growing number of restaurants, supermarkets and shippers worldwide are just saying "no" to unsustainable seafood.
"How far down the chain must the message get before the New Zealand seafood industry catches up with the wave of environmental awareness sweeping the world?" asked Green Party oceans spokesperson Gareth Hughes.
"Greenpeace is demanding that the shipping and airline industries end their participation in oceans destruction and stop transporting unsustainable seafood. The urgent next step must be a commitment by companies to refuse to ship the most visible of all overfished species, bluefin tuna, and other species on Greenpeace's seafood red list," said Greenpeace-New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas.
Maersk touted its new sustainable seafood policy at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels in late April, explaining that shipping by water is more eco-efficient way to deliver seafood over long distances. Transporting salmon from Norway to Korea in a Maersk reefer container emits 25 times less carbon monoxide than moving it by air, said the Danish company.


text:
Over the past 12 years since Novacap’s initial investment, Metro SCG has expanded from its Canadian warehousing roots to provide customised solutions in warehousing, e-commerce fulfilment, transport management and post-production packaging in Canada, the US, the UK and Germany.
In the automotive sector, Metro operates aftermarket spare parts warehouses, as well as offering services for all-terrain vehicles and motorcycle preparation, warehousing and distribution.
LDC Logistics has investments in various logistics companies as well as business related to the industry: the company’s development corporation owns, manages and develops property.
Chiko Nanji, chairman of LDC Logistics and CEO and founder of Metro SCG, said: “I am excited to have the opportunity to take complete ownership of Metro SCG and continue to support the company’s current aggressive growth strategy.”
“The transaction reflects our confidence in our plans to increase Metro SCG’s market position in North America and Europe.”
In April last year, Metro SCG made an acquisition of its own, acquiring Evolution Time Critical, a UK-based emergency logistics company, for an undisclosed sum.


text:
Muscat: Tehran, capital city of Iran, will be the next destination for the Omani Products Exhibition (Opex) event, which will be held from September 26 to 30 this year.
New destination was announced during an event to honour the participants of the Opex which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last month.
Honouring ceremony was under the auspices of Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry.
According to the officials of Opex, exhibition at the Ethiopian capital recorded a turnout of significant visitors representing various segments of the Ethiopian business society.
“Aim of the Opex 2016 aimed to boost cooperation between the Sultanate and Ethiopia,” Ayman Al Hasani, vice-chairman for economic and branches affairs at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), and head of the Opex Organising Committee said.
“Event offered visitors with the opportunity to get familiarised with the Omani products under one platform,” he added.
According to him, exhibition also helped to find business-to-business meetings between Omani industrialists and their Ethiopian counterparts to discuss potential bilateral business opportunities.
Speaking about the outcomes of the five Opex events, Al Hasani said “The first ever Opex event took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2012 where around 60 companies representing various sectors participated in the exhibition and promising deals were inked. The positive results of this exhibition were followed by successful exhibitions organised in Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, and finally Addis Ababa.”
“The number of participating companies has been increasing and encouraging us to undertake more efforts and provide more space for the exhibitors," Al Hasani pointed out.
According to him more than 100 Oman firms participated in Opex in Addis Ababa.
“Firms from various industries like natural resources, minerals, wood products, manufacturing products, furniture, food, medical and pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, plastic and metal equipment, perfume, leather, and logistics participated,” he said.
“Moreover, around 82% of the participating companies and factories inked trade deals during the event," he asserted.
Opex event are organised by a government committee formed by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa), and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).
Honouring ceremony was attended by Dr Salem bin Nasser Al Ismaily, Chairman of Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa); Said bin Saleh Al Kiyumi, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI); and Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani, CEO of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE).


text:
Gloomy outlook as ITV is set to unveil sliding annual profits as advertising revenues stumble
ITV, home to The Voice and Ninja Warrior UK, is set to report a fall in annual profits this week and warn of a gloomy outlook for advertising revenues in the year ahead.
Its profits are expected to be down at £830million from last year’s £843million, said investment bank Numis, which also expected profits to fall again in 2017.
ITV, under chief executive Adam Crozier, who has led the firm for seven years, is expected to see first-half advertising revenue fall 6 per cent against the first half in 2016.
Gloomy: ITV, home to The Voice, The X Factor and Ninja Warrior UK, is set to report a fall in annual profits this week
This is partly because early last summer ITV was showing the Euro 2016 football tournament.
There are no similar sporting occasions to attract big audiences to the broadcaster this year.
But ITV is likely to have an easier time in the second half of the year compared with the latter half of 2016, so overall advertising revenue for the year is expected to be down 3 per cent.
Next year, the firm will show the World Cup, which is likely to boost advertising significantly.
Most watched Money videos
- Rare 1965 Jaguar E-type found in barn sells for £40,000
- Ford unveils electric version of Britain's best-selling vehicle
- Watch the BANNED Land Rover ad that 'misrepresented' parking sensors
- 1990's advert for the Vauxhall Cavalier Turbo 4x4
- Is Elon Musk the right person to lead Twitter?
- BMW's new 7 Series luxury limo features giant cinema screen
- Ray Massey gets exclusive access to the new green Rolls-Royce Spectre
- Ford tests traffic light tech that could change the commute forever
- Bentley brings the comfort of a limo to their popular SUV
- Land Rover unveils its new £80,000 Range Rover Sport
- A 1956 Mercedes SLR 300 Coupe reportedly sells for record £115m
- Rustbucket Mercedes-Benz roadster sells at auction for almost £40k


text:
7 Ways Binance Can Drive You Bankrupt – Fast!
Although Bitcoin is not a get-rich-quick scheme, there have been instances of people making a small (or not-so-small) fortune from investing in Bitcoin. Not to mention, we’ve already seen changes in how companies do business; large companies and small businesses alike are starting to accept Apple Pay and other digital wallet-based payments in addition to cash, debit and credit payments. No law requires companies or individuals to accept bitcoins as a form of payment. House and Senate committees report receiving bitcoin contributions on Form 3 and itemized on Schedule A when necessary. Magnetic Ink (Character) Recognition (MIR/MICR) is a form of input where a special ink containing iron oxide is used. Special thanks to Steven Phelps for help with this article. Thanks to its support for bank transfers and credit/debit card purchases, Binance is now a suitable platform for users that don’t own any crypto yet, and would like to make their first investment. Clearly, United Wholesale Mortgage – a lender that’s second only to Rocket Mortgage in size – is helping to make cryptocurrency not only more mainstream, but the company is also showing skeptics the tangible, real-world benefits of these new currencies. For example, due to Know Your Customer standards, you must complete an application supplying your legal name and identifying tax information before purchasing cryptocurrency through an exchange.
For example, newsletters or press releases might claim that a company has a viable product or service, but the company’s own filings with the SEC could show low revenues and describe the company as a development stage entity. For example, a fraudster could pose as a bitcoin exchange, intermediary or trader in an effort to lure you to send money, https://www.youtube.com/@Coinuniverse_ which is then stolen. Unit 74455 assisted in the release of documents stolen by Unit 26165, the promotion of those releases, and the publication of anti-Clinton content on social media accounts operated by the GRU. The Trump Campaign showed interest in the WikiLeaks releases and, in the summer and fall of 2016, Harm to Ongoing Matter After HOM WikiLeaks’s first Clinton-related release HOM , the Trump Campaign stayed in contact HOM about WikiLeaks’s activities. Yes. History is littered with currencies that failed and are no longer used, such as the German Mark during the Weimar Republic and, more recently, the Zimbabwean dollar. Most recently, a U.S. Unlike U.S. banks and credit unions that provide certain guarantees of safety to depositors, there are no such safeguards provided to digital wallets that hold digital currencies such as bitcoin. Yet, cryptocurrency has yet to be adopted as widely as credit cards, for example.
More people are using Bitcoin these days, which means some folks who don’t have the cash or credit on hand to take out a mortgage on a house might be more comfortable using their crypto investments to do so. I’ve been working on a new electronic cash system that’s fully peer-to-peer, with no trusted third party. Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 as an open source peer-to-peer payment system that uses its own currency, also called bitcoin, to transact business anywhere in the world. Grainger’s system is unique in that their online order system and brick a mortar locations work together seamlessly. In order to move any amount of funds into the Lightning Network in the first place, a funding transaction on the main network is still required. The Poon Dryja channels are the ones that are currently being implemented in the lightning network. Warning signs of fraud include business claims that are not backed by financial reality. Here there are many unknowns.
In a separate tweet Binance denied there had been large outflows from the platform. You’ve likely heard of Bitcoin, but did you know that it’s not the only kind of cryptocurrency out there? Exchanges also report gains and losses, so anyone who hits it big with cryptocurrency will also be sharing a portion of their earnings with Uncle Sam. But even for those who don’t discover using their own high-powered computers, anyone can buy and sell bitcoins at the bitcoin price they want, typically through online exchanges like Coinbase or LocalBitcoins. Platforms that buy and sell bitcoins can be hacked, and some have failed. Many of the apps that allow you to buy Bitcoin are free services that only charge a percentage of sales and exchanges. If there’s a hefty charge for transferring Bitcoin from one account to another, will United Wholesale Mortgage be responsible for the fees – or will that cost fall to you? Anyone can create a Bitcoin account, without charge and without any centralized vetting procedure-or even a requirement to provide a real name. Still, the history of each bitcoin is registered and publicly available in the blockchain ledger, and that can allow users of chain analysis to refuse to accept bitcoins coming from controversial transactions.


text:
Hadid is the cover star for Vogue Italia's May 2018 edition, but a sneak peek at the front cover this week had fans up in arms.
Gigi Hadid has been caught up in a social media storm regarding the latest cover of Vogue Italia magazine, with the fashion publication being accused of using digitally altering her skin to make her appear darker.
Shot by celebrated American photographer Steven Klein for the May 2018 edition, and featuring Hadid posing with male model Justin Martin, the 23 year old supermodel shared the image via her Instagram on Thursday morning (May 3rd).
Some felt it wasn’t entirely implausible that Hadid should have such dark skin in a photoshoot – her father, Mohamed, is of Palestinian descent – but many called out both Vogue Italia for allegedly artificially darkening her skin, and Hadid herself for not raising objections to it.
One commenter wrote: “Her skin is far, far away from tan. They are so many models from other races; black, Asian and so many more she is a role model for many young girls. This photoshoot is an insult to all the beautiful black women.”
“There’s a difference between getting a tan look (most of her pics) to actually changing her pigment to a shade of brown that a tan would never do AKA unnatural AF,” wrote another.
“Also her face has been altered SO hard. This is an actual ongoing issue and POC should be hella offended, outta here with that privilege.”
It isn’t the first time that Gigi has been caught up in a controversy like this. Last year, she landed the cover for Vogue Arabia’s first-ever issue, but was called out for wearing a hijab, a face veil worn by millions of Muslim women over the world, in the photoshoot. Many perceived it as cultural appropriation, of using the hijab as a prop, rather than for religious reasons.


text:
Biometric Verification, Fintech, and Supporting Financial Inclusion
by Bob Long, President, Americas
February 7, 2024
Recent years have brought a significant increase in digital banking and fintech applications, which allow consumers to create and access their financial accounts through mobile and online platforms. According to Bankrate, the use of mobile banking as users’ primary method of account access increased from 15.1% of consumers in 2017 to 48% in 2023. Plaid reports that U.S. consumers managing their finances with technology jumped from 58% in 2020 to 80% in 2022, “meaning more people use fintech products than social media.” In the EU, online banking penetration reached 66% in 2022.
This rise in banking and in using financial services via technology, rather than through traditional methods and brick-and-mortar branches, has powered a new era of inclusion for consumers around the world. Technology removes barriers that have kept consumers from participating in the mainstream financial system. It overcomes the challenges of living in areas where a physical bank may be miles or hours away, enables choices – since a consumer isn’t confined to doing business with a local bank – and can reduce the cost of banking with digital-native platforms and processes. Fintech has enabled millions of people around the world who were previously unbanked to open accounts.
The latest Global Findex report from the World Bank, published in 2021, showed that the share of adults worldwide with a financial account rose from 51% to 76% from the first Global Findex in 2011. It further revealed that account ownership in LICs and MICs (low-income and middle-income countries, respectively) had risen by 30 percentage points to 71%.
The World Economic Forum found that one in six people globally are living with disabilities and that households with PLWD (persons living with disabilities) are three times as likely to be unbanked as those without household members living with disabilities. “Fintech provides convenience, financial records and safety. It can provide personalized financial services with assistive technology to people with disabilities, helping them to overcome barriers to inclusion,” wrote the Forum.
Fintech is not just allowing more people to take advantage of standard banking services, though – it’s also enabling new services that can simplify both personal and business finances. For example, in Brazil, the PIX instant payment service allows hundreds of millions of people to easily make – and small merchants to receive – payments without a fee to the consumer. Or consider the Acorns app, which helps novice investors get into the market by encouraging them to round up a purchase to the nearest dollar amount and invest the difference (their “spare change”), building their account as their contributions and results add up. A third fintech service type, peer-to-peer lending, connects individuals and businesses looking to borrow money directly with investors, who may have less stringent eligibility requirements than traditional institutions and be more willing to fund people who have lower credit scores.
Wider and more convenient access to all kinds of financial services enables better lives for every person across the globe. This access fosters financial inclusion, which allows consumers and citizens to be treated with respect as they start or grow their own business, avoid being turned away from businesses that refuse to take cash, save against a rainy day or for a bright future, and to create a better life for their family and community.
The challenge of protecting digital accounts
Just as technology enables innovative financial services, it also increases the challenge of protecting account holders from criminals who would like to steal their identities and their money. Fraudsters are constantly innovating and taking advantage of technological advances to find new ways to steal and profit from data.
Whether it’s a 200-year-old bank with a mobile app or a new, digital-native fintech, all the players in the financial industry are subject to regulations like Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and local rules based on where their customers live and where their organization conducts business.
There’s also the matter of trust. If someone has never had a bank account before, they may be more suspicious than someone who’s had a bank account for their entire adult life. But no matter who the customer is, it’s critical that they believe the financial firm is doing everything it can to protect them. At the same time, much of the appeal of digital banking services is convenience; consumers want the highest security to keep fraudsters out while maintaining quick, seamless access to their accounts.
Passwords and PINs are the least secure form of authentication. No matter how many upper case letters, numbers, and special characters they contain, Hive estimates that passwords of six or fewer characters can be cracked instantly, and that an all-numeric PIN must have 15 characters before it takes more than one minute to crack. Increasing character count increases security and the time it takes to crack the password, but it also increases customer frustration with the difficulty of remembering and accurately using the password.
Some financial organizations try to increase their security by using multi-factor authentication, which involves requiring customers to use more than one security factor (like a password, device, or SMS PIN) to login – typically, a password is paired with a one-time code sent to a customer’s email or mobile phone. Yet, in its 2023 Online Authentication Barometer, the FIDO Alliance found that “Password usage without two-factor authentication (2FA) is still dominant across use cases – consumers enter a password manually nearly 4 times a day, or 1,280 times a year.”
Passwords can pose a significant burden for PLWD. A 2023 study called “Inclusion for All: Improving Banking Practices for Customers With Disabilities,” conducted by Syracuse University and the Southeast ADA Center, found that 51% of respondents had difficulty with passwords.
An additional barrier for banking customers is literacy. UNESCO reports that 763 million adults still lack basic literacy skills, which is another reason for financial institutions to avoid passwords and offer choices to their customers when it comes to how they onboard and access their accounts and data.
Today, there’s no reason for financial firms to open themselves and their customers up to the myriad problems passwords brings – especially when a more secure and more convenient solution exists: biometric verification.
Enabling secure inclusion with biometrics
Unlike passwords, which must be remembered, can easily be lost, and require a time-consuming reset if they are forgotten, biometrics relies on a user’s unique physical or behavioral characteristic, such as a fingerprint, facial scan, or typing speed, to identify the account holder. There’s nothing to remember or reset – and there’s nothing that can be hacked or stolen.
However, for financial organizations to feel comfortable adopting biometric verification, it’s important to start with dispelling some myths around the topic.
Myth #1: There are extensive technological barriers that make it difficult for consumers to use biometrics to verify their identity.
The truth is: all it takes for a consumer to authenticate themselves with biometrics and access their account is a smartphone built after 2010. These phones incorporate the necessary camera technology to implement facial recognition, along with the built-in fingerprint reader button in some models. They also provide the clarity required to authenticate using active voice biometrics, where a customer says a particular phrase, or with passive voice biometrics, which recognizes a customer’s natural cadence during a normal conversation with an agent or app bot.
Worldwide, there are 6.84 billion smartphones in use, accounting for around 85% of the global population. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, smartphone adoption is expected to reach 87% by 2030, while other regions of the world are expected to exceed 90% adoption in the same time frame.
This means that, for many financial companies, customers are already equipped to use biometrics – and, over the next six years, they’ll be able to further grow their customer base among the newest smartphone users.
Myth #2: Facial recognition isn’t technically sophisticated enough to avoid bias, distinguish between people with similar features, or avoid being fooled by photos and still images (deepfakes).
There have been cases made and research collected about the use of facial recognition systems in other industries, such as government and law enforcement, wherein systems were cited as being unable to clearly distinguish between the faces of Black people and people of color. The truth is: the accuracy of biometric verification systems will always depend on the system’s training, and in the realm of fintech and its uses, systems used to provide the level of security required to protect financial accounts include some of the most broadly tested data sets – systems tested with data gathered across races and ethnicities – to avoid bias as much as possible. This same level of training allows a biometrics platform to distinguish between people with similar features, including family members and siblings.
Today’s biometric authentication solutions are incredibly hard to fool, as they incorporate liveness detection. But what is liveness detection? It’s a fundamental technology that enables facial recognition systems to distinguish between an actual facial scan and previously taken images or video stills. Liveness detection also enables voice recognition systems to distinguish between live speech and recorded speech (known as synthetic voice).
Myth #3: Biometric verification invades consumer privacy and leaves a trail of credentials that can be stolen and used, much like passwords.
The truth is: consumers opt-in to using biometric systems to protect their accounts, and in such a highly regulated industry, financial firms are careful to ensure the information isn’t misused. The intrinsically secure nature of biometrics also guards against privacy violations.
Passwords must be saved in their entirety, in a large database somewhere, and if that information is stolen, it provides everything criminals need to gain access to an account. But biometric verification works differently.
When a person signs up with a service or opens an account, whether their biometric authenticator will be a facial scan, a fingerprint, or a voiceprint, the system extracts the unique identifying points in that authenticator into a mathematical representation of the user – a biometric template. When the customer returns, their live facial scan, fingerprint, or voiceprint is compared to the stored template.
While these templates are stored in databases, even if they are stolen, they are of little use to criminals. They cannot be hacked or reverse-engineered, and simply having the template alone isn’t enough to access an account. The template must be paired with a live scan, fingerprint, or voiceprint from the legitimate customer to unlock account access.
Biometrics are safer, faster, less prone to errors, and preserve privacy better than passwords and other traditional authentication methods. They also support the extension of banking and financial services to new populations, fostering social and economic inclusion for potentially billions of people.
According to Opportunity International, an organization that provides financial solutions and training to empower people living in poverty to transform their lives, their children’s futures, and their communities, “[Biometric identification] overcomes many traditional identification, banking, and account management challenges. Individuals with no reading education or those who do not have or regularly carry government-issued credentials—like a driver’s license or birth certificate—can still open, manage, and access accounts.”
Biometrics also eases access for PLWD by enabling them to choose to authenticate using the biometric factor that is most convenient and accessible, such as a facial scan for someone who is living with a voice disorder or a voiceprint for someone who is blind.
Consumers also prefer biometric verification. PYMNTS reported that 52% of consumers who use biometric verification to access their online banking account prefer it to other authentication methods. According to BizTech magazine, 72% of customers say they’re comfortable with their banks using biometrics. The FIDO Alliance found “…biometrics is both the preferred method for consumers to log-in and what they believe is the most secure.”
Modern verification for modern financial services
There are compelling reasons for banking and financial services to adopt biometric verification:
- It deters fraudsters more effectively than the legacy security methods, like passwords and PINs, that are currently in heavy use.
- It gives businesses the power to meet their ESG goals by expanding their products and services to support traditionally underserved communities and regions.
- It enables organizations to build trust with their customers by enhancing both real and perceived account security.
- It enables finservs to give customers what they want: advanced security and convenient access.
Look no further than Daon for biometric verification solutions designed to deliver these benefits to the financial industry.


text:
The new owners of the Brookside Marketplace are making plans to expand the center by adding another building and a national retailer to the growing shopping center.
Tinley Park's village board considered a variance request from the center's developer during a meeting, Aug. 7, that would allow for signage larger than the established guidelines for the center.
Officials say they can't yet disclose the name of the possible new tenant because an agreement has not been finalized, but they did say the business is a general merchandise retailer with a national presence.
DDR Corp., a retail development manager based in Ohio, purchased Brookside Marketplace at Harlem Avenue and 191st Street from the original developer, Ryan Companies US Inc., earlier this year.
The new building would be the first addition to the marketplace by DDR and the first expansion since Ryan Companies added Old Navy, Home Goods and Five Below to the center last year, said village officials.
Now under consideration is the construction of a free-standing 23,300-square-foot building that would house the still unnamed national retailer. The development would be built on the east side of the shopping center between Best Buy and a row of existing storefronts that back up to Harlem.
While the village board did approve the requested sign variations for the project on first reading, Greg Hannon, trustee and chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee, said he doesn't support the developer's request to use larger signs as presented, but he would support a smaller variance.
"I think we're going to agree to disagree, but I'd be more than happy to sit down with DDR and their people before the (next board meeting), and we'll see what they have to say," he said.
The size of the building signs used by the national retailer stand 6 feet tall, but Hannon said the development plan for buildings smaller than 25,000 square feet only allow for signs that are 3 feet tall.
"Their standard letters are 6 feet high, so they asked for a variance for 3 feet," he said.
Hannon said he would vote for a variance of 1 foot that would allow for a 4-foot-tall sign because several other businesses in the shopping center do have signs with 1-foot variances.
If the village allows a larger deviation from the guidelines for one building, then Hannon said all developers would expect it as well.
"Other developers, if and when they come in, would be looking for the same variances," he said.
DDR is also seeking a variance for taller monument signs around the shopping center to add space for the retailer's name, but Hannon said he is not in favor of having monument signs larger than what the original development plan allows.
The sign variances will be up for final approval at the next village board meeting Aug. 21.
DDR declined to comment on the new retailer because negotiations are ongoing, said spokeswoman Jennifer Daher.
"It is our policy not to comment on ongoing negotiations or potential deals that have not been fully executed," she said in an e-mail.


text:
Farmers have been feeding food scraps to poultry for centuries as a way to reduce costs and waste — but a new study shows the practice could also improve gastrointestinal health.
When it comes to keeping livestock healthy — or any living creature, really — gut health is a top priority. Researchers at Cornell had that in mind when they asked themselves if they could repurpose apple pulp and pomace — the fibrous apple bits left over after juicing the fruit — to boost the gastrointestinal health of broiler chickens.
“I would say for most farmers that have livestock, gut health is a big part of what they’re managing,” said Tom Gilbert, who owns and operates Blackdirt Farm in Vermont, which produces pasture-raised eggs, meat birds, garden compost, worm castings, and field crops.
The results of the Cornell study showed that — thanks to phytochemicals and prebiotics within the apples’ chemical makeup — the introduction of apple fiber offers gut bacteria-boosting benefits, which can create a healthier microbiome within a chicken’s GI system. “We can improve poultry’s intestinal functionality by potentially combining pomace in their diet,” said Elad Tako, an associate professor of food science at Cornell and a senior author of the study.
To be clear, chickens didn’t eat apples as part of the process. Instead, researchers used apple pomace to concoct a liquid extract, which they then injected into the amniotic fluid of a chicken embryo in vivo. During a chicken embryo’s incubation period, Tako said, one final phase before hatching involves the embryo drinking the embryonic fluid — effectively triggering its systems to wake up and crack into the world.
“The embryo will then orally consume [the apple extract], and then we can test the effect on the [chicken’s] system,” Tako said. Once the chickens hatched, the team collected samples to test the apples’ success.
Fostering a healthy gut microbiome — the trillions of microorganisms that live inside the intestinal tract — plays a crucial role in the overall health of all creatures. In chickens, a healthy gut increases the animal’s productivity and can boost a bird’s nutrient production, help the immune system mature, and protect it from pathogens.
The study’s core findings suggested the presence of apples — thanks to compounds like pectin, a soluble fiber in apples that can curb digestive issues and help control cholesterol levels — could speed up the transport system for amino acids in the chickens, and the bioavailability of iron. It also had the potential to increase the population of immunity-boosting microbes in the animal’s large intestine and support the growth of good gut bacteria. And for poultry, a diverse gut microbiome is closely linked to their health as part of a sustainable meat supply.
While feeding chickens table scraps is not a novel practice, producers appreciate this type of research, which helps guide them to the most nutritious options.
“If we had a cider maker that was nearby, I would prioritize having those apples come back here.”
At Blackdirt Farms, the chickens have long enjoyed upcycled food waste as a form of feed. The farm collects about 250-300 containers of discarded food a week from more than 100 businesses and institutions — think grocery stores, local schools, nursing homes, and prisons — within about 40 miles of their land. Instead of feeding the scraps directly to the birds, the farm pre-composts it, or brings it up to 120 degrees before they feed their flock. And Gilbert said research like this is a welcomed resource.
“If we had a cider maker that was nearby, seeing a study like that, I would prioritize having those apples come back here,” Gilbert said.
The chickens‘ health isn’t the only positive outcome of the study. The authors, Tako explained, had another goal in mind when they began their research: reducing the quantity of potentially hazardous food waste. According to EPA data, an estimated 35.3 million tons of wasted food went to landfills in 2018.
Taking into consideration apple pomace alone, nearly 175,350 metric tons of fibrous waste is produced annually and most often ends up in landfills, according to the study. As it breaks down and ferments, the sugar content of substances like apple pomace can alter the carbon-nitrogen ratio of soil, harming the soil’s health. Additionally, the decomposition of food scraps releases methane, a key contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Gilbert explained Blackdirt feeds chickens food scraps because it aligns with the farm’s ethos of regenerative agricultural practices and the creation of sustainable food systems, and it honors the chickens’ instinctual eating habits — which are more diverse than just grain. “The premise of this whole thing is not just to utilize waste byproducts, which is a good thing but is really primarily driven by trying to mimic the bird’s natural habitat and foraging tendencies.” The practice also provides practical benefits, Gilbert added, like reducing his feed costs.
“If we can achieve [healthy gut support] in a more natural way — that’s what we are after.”
Tom Watkins, co-owner of Murray McMurray hatchery in Iowa, said that he often feeds table scraps to the 200 chickens he raises at his home. He said studies like this one helps to validate the fruit and veggie-heavy feeding choices for his personal free-range chickens.
Still, both Watkins and Gilbert pointed out the potential pitfalls of apple pomace as chicken feed on a large scale. Gilbert mentioned that apple processors who are not connected to an orchard often buy their apples wholesale, meaning each apple comes with the little sticker you’d find pressed on fruit in your local grocery store. The stickers are notorious for causing issues for composting, and according to Gilbert, they can end up laced into large-production apple pomace, leaving traces of plastics he would not want to feed a chicken.
Watkins noted that on a large scale, there could be more hurdles to work through when using the apple byproduct. “Apples tend to spoil,” he said. He worries that in order to keep a product like apple pomace from rotting on a commercial scale, manufacturers may have to highly process it or add preservatives — he wouldn’t want to feed that kind of product to his chickens.
That being said, local partnerships between cider makers and chicken farmers that reduce long shipping distances and the need for longer-term shelf stability could make the use of apple pomace feasible.
Watkins said most of the hatchery’s clientele run small-scale coops in backyards as opposed to larger operations, and he thinks that is where an apple pomace product could really excel. “I’d love to see feed formulated with [apple] byproducts or something like that. On a smaller scale, I think it’s great, and it’s good for both you and the chickens.”
For now, the research is still in its preliminary stages, Tako cautioned. The next steps will include the addition of apple pomace to feed for already hatched chickens, and that stage will get more into the feasibility of otherwise wasted apple pomace as a larger-scale supplement for chickens’ diets.
“If we can achieve [healthy gut support] in a more natural way, and not by necessarily using antibiotics or other factors that can infiltrate into the food system — that’s what we are after,” he said.


text:
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has made news again by setting a new rule for how Tesla cars are delivered in North America (NA).
Elon Musk has decided that before a customer can take their new Tesla home, they must first see a demonstration of Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system, Full Self-Driving (FSD).
This decision shows Tesla’s strong belief in its technology and its commitment to making sure customers fully understand and value it despite the potential for slowing down the delivery process.
Elon Musk’s directive requires employees not only to install and activate the latest FSD software, version V12.3.1, but also to take customers on a brief test drive to demonstrate what FSD can do. Elon Musk believes that most people do not realize how effective FSD is under supervision.
This directive was sent to employees via email, as reported by Bloomberg.
While all Tesla cars come with a basic driver assistance system called Autopilot, FSD offers a more enhanced driving experience for an additional monthly fee – $199 for most customers in NA. However, it’s important to note that FSD does not make the cars fully autonomous; drivers need to stay alert and ready to take control at any moment.
Musk has also announced a one-month FSD trial for all compatible cars in the U.S.
Tesla is now inviting owners to participate in the FSD Beta program, which lets them try out new features on public roads, helping Tesla improve the system. This move comes as Tesla addresses safety concerns from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by making voluntary updates to its Autopilot and FSD systems.
The Strategic Shift in Tesla’s Delivery and Growth Model
This change is happening at a time when Tesla is working hard to prevent a drop in its delivery numbers compared to last year. Tesla has even been encouraging its staff to assist with car deliveries, primarily as the end of the quarter draws near. A message to the employees emphasizes the importance of extra support to ensure customers receive their cars promptly.
In 2023, Tesla overcame these challenges impressively, delivering over 484,000 vehicles in the last quarter alone and reaching a total of 1.81 million deliveries for the year. This marks a significant 38% increase in deliveries from the year before.
As of 2023, Tesla remained at the forefront of the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market, with its Model Y and Model 3 vehicles leading in sales. Notably, the Model Y made up 33% of all U.S. EV sales in 2023, demonstrating Tesla’s dominant market position.
However, Tesla is facing hurdles, including its aging vehicle lineup and stiff competition from established car manufacturers and new EV market entrants. The growing competition in the EV market is raising concerns among analysts about Tesla’s ability to continue its rapid growth amidst decreasing demand and increased competition.
This situation is reflected in Tesla’s stock value, which has significantly dropped.
Analyst Colin Langan from Wells Fargo has also downgraded Tesla’s rating, suggesting that Tesla is now a “growth company with no growth.” He argues that recent price cuts meant to boost sales have not led to the expected increase in sales volumes.
Langan expects Tesla’s delivery numbers for 2024 to remain flat, in stark contrast to the record 1.81 million vehicles delivered in 2023. His projections for Tesla’s earnings in 2024 and 2025 are now 32% and 52% below what Wall Street had anticipated, respectively.
Despite Tesla cutting prices by about 5% in the second half of 2023, sales volumes only saw a minor 3% increase compared to the first half of the year, suggesting a possible saturation in the market and reduced effectiveness of price reductions.
These challenges highlight a critical reality: Tesla’s ambitious growth targets, including CEO Elon Musk’s forecast of over 50% annual sales growth, are being severely tested by increasing competition and shifting market conditions.
Currently, Tesla’s stock is trading at 58 times its projected 2024 earnings. It is considerably higher than the average for the major tech group known as the “Magnificent Seven” (Amazon, Apple, Facebook parent company Meta, Google parent company Alphabet, Microsoft, microchip manufacturer Nvidia, and Tesla) despite having lost 32% of its value so far this year.


text:
NICK UTTON: J.P. Morgan
by Jan 6, 2003, 12:00 AM
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. announced the hiring of NICK UTTON as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for its retail and middle market businesses (RMM). Utton spent fours years with MasterCard International where he was an executive vice president with responsibility for global marketing, advertising, and brand building initiatives. He directed the global rollout of MasterCard's highly successful "Priceless" advertising campaign. Most recently he gained entrepreneurial experience as the managing director and chief marketing officer for a start-up national utility company.


text:
Catch Group CEO Nati Harpaz, Optus wholesale and satellite MD Stuart Bird, and Catch Group co-founder Gabby Leibovich.
E-commerce leader Catch Group has added a mobile phone service to its stable, partnering with Optus to launch Catch Connect.
The Catch Connect service will initially offer prepaid 30 and 90 day mobile plans and prepaid 30 day data plans. Users on selected plans will receive shopping vouchers that can be used towards purchases made through the Catch online marketplace.
Commenting on the launch, Catch Group CEO Nati Harpaz said Catch Connect offers some of the best deals in the market. “Our customers prioritise choice and value, so when it came to designing Catch Connect, we wanted to create a unique and differentiated offering that delivers additional value to users.
“For launch, customers who purchase eligible plans will receive shopping vouchers that can be used to spend at Catch.com.au—we call it CatchBack—customers can’t lose.”
Nati Harpaz and Stuart Bird.
Managing director of Optus wholesale and satellite, Stuart Bird, said the partnership reinforces the businesses’ passion for providing customers with competitive services.
“I’m proud to be a part of this strong Catch Connect partnership, which promotes competition and choice in the Australian market,” he said.
“Both Catch Group and Optus are known for using innovation and technology to improve customer experience and this is clearly reflected in this new mobile service.”
Get the latest on the art and science of retailing delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up to the weekly retailbiz newsletter.


text:
Bliss Crispy Mallow arrives in Tesco stores
Image: Bliss Snacks
Bliss, the health-conscious snack brand, has announced its first supermarket listing of its newest product, Crispy Mallow bars nationwide in Tesco stores and online. Adding a sprinkling of magic to the occasion, the independent UK company has celebrated the news by introducing the latest enchanting member of the Bliss team, Chris P Mallow, the unicorn.
Marking this momentous occasion, Bliss orchestrated a city centre takeover, spreading joy, unicorn hugs and 13,000 product samples across Bliss’ hometown of Glasgow, where the brand’s owners and creators, Lightbody Ventures Ltd. is based.
The first Bliss product range to be HFSS (High in Fat, Salt, and Sugar) compliant, Crispy Mallow bars are gluten-free, high in fibre and vegetarian-friendly. At just 70 calories, they contain 30% less sugar than similar competitor brands.
Neil Stewart, managing director, Lightbody Ventures Limited, brand owner of Bliss said: “Bliss bars have always been seen as a healthier alternative to chocolate and a guilt-free tasty indulgence by our customers. However, we wanted to do something a little different with Crispy Mallow, one that the whole family would enjoy. Challenging ourselves to create a product that was HFSS compliant, without compromising on taste or price-point, became the proverbial unicorn in the room.
“It took a lot of work, but we’re thrilled with the results. Our Crispy Mallow and Crispy Chocolate Delight bars have received immense praise from our customers and securing that Tesco listing has been a long-standing ambition since we launched Bliss less than five years ago. We can’t wait to see where Bliss goes from here.”
Having built an award-winning global reputation as an independent food creator and producer, working with the likes of Disney, Weight Watchers and Hershey, Bliss is Lightbody Ventures’ first own brand product. Since the launch of its first Bliss Whip bars in 2019, UK sales of the numerous product flavour profiles, including Salted Caramel and Dark Chocolate and Raspberry have been magical. The Bliss brand is now valued at over £12 million RSV.
Speaking about Chris P Mallow the unicorn, Neil continued: “We all absolutely love Chris P and it was a delight to see them out and about in Glasgow’s Central Station and Silverburn shopping centre enchanting the public and making everyone smile. We already have some exciting plans underway for Bliss this year and I’m sure Chris P will be back and bringing his magic.”
Bliss Crispy Mallow 95g (5x19g) is now available nationwide in Tesco stores, priced at £1.15. The wider Bliss product range can be found in selected retailers, including B&M, Iceland, Poundland and Home Bargains.


text:
Microsoft looks to combat Sony and the PS5 with their own little tactics and approach to their Next Generation console Xbox Series X. Looking to unite gamers across all of its console generations, Sony on the other hand seems to be spreading rumor that the PS5 will mostly be about experiences only possible on the new hardware. What does that mean for gamers looking to upgrade to Microsoft’s latest and greatest? Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s director of program management, said “All of this is possible thanks to the power of the Xbox Series X, a level of performance never before seen in console.”
“With past console generations, the primary focus has been on graphic improvements, and with this next generation we’ll continue to see a step change in graphical fidelity. But more importantly, with this generation, is the power that you can feel.”
“As we move into this next generation with Xbox Series X, we’re really committed to tearing down all the barriers that exist in the ecosystem. We really want to make sure that everybody’s able to play regardless of the device the choose to play on and they have that great shared experience together.”
So basically, Microsoft doesn’t want to just release their new next gen console, and as we’re used to, leave the older consoles to die per say and slowly lose support over time. Rather, the idea would be to put out a new, much more powerful console, that’s not required to keep enjoying all the new games, but rather a performance option for the gamers and people that want to go that route, all while keeping Xbox One, and Series X users connected and playing together with no barriers just because of a newly released console.


text:
Verizon and Redbox-owner Coinstar on Monday announced a new joint venture in which the two companies will offer a new streaming video service. The joint venture was originally called “Project Zoetrope” and initial details began to surface in December of last year. It’s still unclear what the joint venture will be called or what exactly each company’s role will be, however Verizon said that the companies will begin to offer a “video on demand streaming and download service” that will no doubt compete directly with services such as Netflix and Vudu. Verizon’s press release follows below.
Verizon and Coinstar’s Redbox Form Joint Venture to Create New Consumer Choice for Video Entertainment
Joint Venture Will Offer the Best of Both Worlds – Physical and Digital – to All Consumers Nationwide
NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Verizon and Coinstar, Inc. today announced the formation of a joint venture that will create a new choice for quality- and value-conscious consumers seeking a simple and affordable way to access the video entertainment they crave. The venture’s services will offer all of the convenience, simplicity and value of Redbox® new release DVD and Blu-ray Disc® rentals combined with a new content-rich video on-demand streaming and download service from Verizon.
The joint venture plans to introduce the product portfolio in the second half of 2012. It will offer subscription services and more in an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the U.S. to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the media and devices they prefer. Additional brand and product information will be revealed in the coming months.
“When you consider the core elements the parties bring to this venture – our powerful brands; our national rental kiosk footprint; our anytime, anywhere network presence; and our mutual commitment to customer-focused innovation – it’s clear that Verizon and Redbox are a powerful entertainment team,” said Bob Mudge, president of Verizon consumer and mass business markets.
“Consumers rely on Redbox for the latest new release movies at a great value, and our joint venture with Verizon will enable us to bring them even more value by offering expanded content offerings and greater flexibility for how and when they enjoy entertainment,” said Paul Davis, chief executive officer of Coinstar, Inc. “This alliance is the result of a deliberate and strategic process to identify a partner who shares our commitment to delivering innovative solutions to consumers. We look forward to rolling out the shared benefits this venture will bring to consumers, retailers, and shareholders.”
This venture between Verizon and Redbox will create the kind of national multi-platform product that customers are demanding from video entertainment service providers. It will leverage Verizon’s industry-wide relationships with entertainment content providers, its advanced cloud computing technologies and state-of-the-art IP network infrastructure to distribute video on-demand content to its customers.
“The joint venture will combine the accessibility and value of Redbox with Verizon’s vision for a borderless lifestyle – where consumers easily accomplish what they want or need to do, on their terms, through the power of the network,” said Mudge. “Together, we are erasing old technology boundaries, freeing people to spontaneously enjoy the entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the devices and media they prefer, at home or away.”
By offering instantly available online and mobile content with immediate access to physical media through rental kiosks, Verizon and Redbox will be uniquely positioned to deliver the best of both worlds – digital and physical – to consumers across the country.
The joint venture is a limited liability company with Verizon holding a 65 percent ownership share and Redbox holding a 35 percent ownership share at the outset.


text:
The UK’s largest mobile operator EE is targeting rival networks’ customers whose contracts are about to expire with a host of promotions and services as it looks to exploit its first to market with 4G advantage.
O2 is rolling out a multi-million pound marketing campaign tapping in to the UK’s love of animals as part of a “refresh” and “new approach” for the brand, which it hopes will show a lighter, more enthusiastic side of the company ahead of its 4G launch.
Tesco has fundamentally shifted the way it views loyalty to be about the retailer being loyal to customers in the wake of its poor performance over the last year.
HSBC is expanding its purpose marketing strategy with its fresh platform ‘Opening Up A World of Opportunity’, after past efforts yielded return on investment.
We arm you with all the numbers you need to tackle the week ahead.
Marketing Week reveals the top 10 marketers in food and drink retail, part of our Top 100 Most Effective Marketers, sponsored by Salesforce.
Good morning and welcome to Marketing Week’s round-up of the news that matters in the marketing world today.


text:
- Feb 4, 2016
An ongoing Zloader campaign uses a new infection chain to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus (formerly Windows Defender) on victims' computers to evade detection.
According to Microsoft's stats, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is the anti-malware solution pre-installed on more than 1 billion systems running Windows 10.
The attackers have also changed the malware delivery vector from spam or phishing emails to TeamViewer Google ads published through Google Adwords, redirecting the targets to fake download sites.
From there, they are tricked into downloading signed and malicious MSI installers designed to install Zloader malware payloads on their computers.
"The attack chain analyzed in this research shows how the complexity of the attack has grown in order to reach a higher level of stealthiness," said SentinelLabs security researchers Antonio Pirozzi and Antonio Cocomazzi in a report published today.
"The first stage dropper has been changed from the classic malicious document to a stealthy, signed MSI payload. It uses backdoored binaries and a series of LOLBAS to impair defenses and proxy the execution of their payloads.


text:
Get the digital magazine on your device!
FREE TRIAL – Limited time only
When Mark Zuckerberg addressed the Paris eG8 conference last May, he explained that soon it wouldn’t be just movies, TV, news and books that you discovered through your friends »
The strange low-frequency sound recorded across the Pacific in 1997 has turned out to be an icequake, despite rumours it was the distant rumble of Cthulhu awakening »
Hard drugs up close can be mindblowing »
Wired.co.uk reviews the Samsung Gear 2 Neo »


text:
ROSEMONT — In a reversal of traditional trade-show roles, major Japanese manufacturers came recently to Rosemont, looking for American companies to supply them with parts.
The companies included Matsui America Inc., Elk Grove Village, which like the others has a manufacturing operation in the U.S. and prefers getting parts locally.
"It's nice to be able to cut down delivery time," said Michael Kott, a customer service representative for Matsui.
The manufacturer of factory automation and material handling systems for the plastics industry now ships some components from Japan, Kott said.
"If we can cut down on those lead times and the taxes that are included on those deliveries, we'll be able to provide a better product for our American industry," Kott said.
Matsui joined 29 other Japanese-affiliated companies Tuesday at the Rosemont Convention Center as an exhibitor in a "reverse trade show" sponsored by the Japan External Trade Organization.
JETRO is a not-for-profit, Japanese-government supported organization established to promote trade relations between Japan and other nations. The event drew more than 200 suppliers from across the country looking to expand into new markets.
The concept of a reverse trade show is unique because it has buyers reaching out to sellers, according to Shigeru Ishii, executive director of public relations in JETRO's Chicago office.
"Usually in a trade show, sellers bring their products and displays, and buyers come," Ishii said.
Ishii said such business arrangements benefit Japanese companies by providing ready access to needed parts. For the American suppliers, many of them small- and mid-size companies, it means access they might not ordinarily have to purchasing directors of large companies.
"We're a minority-owned business, and we're looking to expand," said Jim Henderson, general manager of Surya Electronics Inc., Glendale Heights, a contract manufacturer of printed circuit boards. "The Japanese companies represented here have a lot of potential for us. We met a couple people here and, hopefully, we'll follow up on leads."
Exhibitors included heavyweights in the automotive and electronics industries, including Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Sony, all shopping for such home-grown products as molded plastics, aluminum castings, relays, stamped metal parts, knobs, switches and more.
Selling parts to Japanese manufacturers also helps balance trade between the two countries, since some of the products made here are shipped overseas with American parts inside, said JETRO spokesman Jerry Mayeroff.
Other exhibitors included the U.S. Department of Commerce and the international trade offices of Illinois and other Midwestern states.
Bernadine Smith, an international trade specialist with the federal Commerce Department in Chicago, said every $1 million in exported goods affects 20,000 jobs directly and four times as many jobs indirectly. Smith said jobs related to international trade also pay better than average.
"We're here," Smith said, "because of the importance of the industry and the changes that are taking place."


text:
"Personally, it has definitely helped out a lot, to get two free days to do something like a normal person," Darrow said.
It has improved his job performance, he said.
"Professionally, it just gives you that refresh," said Darrow, who said he sells about 20 vehicles a month.
Davison said sales reps, when they return from their two-day breaks, want to know about fellow staffers' sales performance.
"It's raised the whole level of competitiveness," he said.
Part of the store's culture change was scrapping its traditional BDC during the pandemic, Davison said.
Colonroche is a proponent of the store's decision. Six sales reps make up a dedicated Internet sales team and have helped bring in "much more quality traffic," he said. Show rates for appointments have improved.
Davison said Internet leads from March through November last year fell by 2,400 compared with the same period in 2020.
"We're closing our total Internet leads at 2 percent higher this year than we were last year. Our phone traffic is closing about a half percent better," he said in December. "Our showroom traffic, we're closing 5 percent better."
That translates to a 4 percent higher closing rate on sales leads despite lower new-vehicle inventory, he said.
In 2019, the dealership sold 980 new vehicles and 727 used vehicles. For 2021, even with the inventory woes, the dealership was on track to sell about 940 new vehicles and 870 used vehicles.
Fred Anderson Toyota of Sanford is part of Anderson Automotive Group, which has eight dealerships in North Carolina and also sells Nissan, Subaru and Kia vehicles, according to its website. Anderson Automotive of Raleigh, N.C., ranks No. 71 on Automotive News' list of the top 150 dealership groups based in the U.S., with retail sales of 12,915 new vehicles in 2020.


text:
Featuring Model Prices and Specifications, plus Reviews,News and Videos.
bentley, and american technology start-up filld have announced a new collaboration which will bring fuel to bentley owners wherever they happen t...
Interested in a new car? Simply tell us the vehicle you are interested in and we can take care of the rest.
Get great offers, the latest news and reviews, photos, videos and more delivered straight to your inbox.


text:
May 18, 2007
The number of consumer products using nanotechnology has more than doubled in the 14 months since the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies launched the world's first online inventory of manufacturer-identified nanotech goods in March 2006.
May 15, 2007
With nanotechnology poised to be the globe's next big economic driver, five U.S. cities have emerged as the country's top "Nano Metro" locations—areas with the nation's highest concentration of nanotech companies, universities, research laboratories, and organizations. Utilizing technology from Google Maps®, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies has created a mashup to display this newly compiled data.
May 02, 2007
As other countries increasingly incorporate nanotechnology into products, they too have the opportunity to address safety, oversight, and public perception concerns from the outset. We all share this responsibility, says Wilson Center research associate Evan Michelson.
May 01, 2007
Nanotechnology is used to make hundreds of different consumer products and is already revolutionizing medicine. The Wilson Center's Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts, is assessing the enormous potential while keeping an eye on environmental and safety concerns.
Apr 26, 2007
Given the incredible promise of the fast emerging field—and the billions in public and private investment that it has attracted—the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies has launched a series of newsletters and podcasts focused on progress toward exciting applications on the horizon of nanotechnology.
Jan 04, 2007
"Prioritizing nanotechnology risk research isn't rocket science," says Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies chief scientist Andrew Maynard.
Research Needs and Priorities Related to the Environmental, Health, and Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanoscale Materials
Jan 03, 2007
Testimony by Andrew D. Maynard, Ph.D.Chief Science Advisor Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
Comments by David Rejeski in advance of the meeting on Research Needs and Priorities Related to the Environmental, Health, and Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanoscale Materials
Jan 03, 2007
Dec 05, 2006
"Nanoscale science and engineering promise to be as important as the steam engine, the transistor, and the Internet, and have the potential to revolutionize all other technologies" according to Neal Lane, former science advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton. "But that outcome is not guaranteed."
Nov 27, 2006
Tell a friend you are buying them a nanotechnology gift for the holidays, and visions of Star Trek collectables or geeky electronic toys may start to dance in their heads. But nanotechnology gifts can include everything from silver nanoparticle enhanced food storage containers to to fleece jackets and gloves from the Lands' End™ catalog—with Nano-Tex® Resists Static treatment.


text:
Moschino’s creative director Jeremy Scott has unveiled a dream collaboration with Wizkid and CÎROC, for Milan Fashion Week.
And the partnership has promised a ‘year of revelry’ to celebrate – with swanky parties and limited edition bottles.
Ahead of Moschino’s Milan Fashion Week show, the 43-year-old has launched the new collaboration with some of the biggest fashion influencers and music stars – including Golden Barbie, River Viiperi and Wizkid.
They literally stopped traffic for the launch, so you know it’ll be a big one.
Speaking about the collaboration, Jeremy explained: ‘I love the cheeky, playful nature of CÎROC. It connects perfectly with my approach to both life and fashion, so the partnership felt natural, there’s such synergy.
‘I design a lot around personal, customised twists so it’s great to bring this into the partnership too. It’s been fun to bring together our bold take on luxury and I can’t wait to see what the year holds.’
Wizkid has had an incredible few years so far – after signing a deal with RCA Records back in 2016.
He has worked with some pretty huge names in the past, featuring on Drake’s One Dance, as well as getting in the studio with Zara Larsson.
But working with Jeremy Scott isn’t the 28-year-old’s first dabble into the fashion industry.
In fact, the singer released a collaborative t-shirt with Nike earlier this year, which sold out in just 10 minutes.
And he also stormed the catwalk for Dolce & Gabbana – alongside none other than Naomi Campbell.
Seeing as Moschino are also set to launch a fashion line for dogs with H&M, we can’t wait to see what Jeremy and Wizkid come up with for CÎROC.
Got a showbiz story?


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — The famous Explorers Club has filed a lawsuit against the parent company of Johnnie Walker for using its name on a new whisky brand.
Diageo's line of "Explorers Club" whiskies was launched in duty-free-shops in late 2012.
According to the New York Post, the 120-year-old New York-based club says it owns the trademark on the name.
The club sent a cease and desist letter to the company last spring.
The Manhattan suit says the font on the Explorers Club whisky label is "confusingly similar" to the one used by the club.
The club says it filed the suit after talks with the company broke down. It wants Diageo to stop selling the brand or pay for licensing fees.
Diageo didn't immediately return a request for comment on Friday.


text:
RICE: The U.S. 2014/15 rice crop is estimated at 221.0 million cwt, down fractionally from the previous estimate. Average yield is estimated at 7,572 pounds per acre, down 25 pounds per acre. Harvested area is estimated at 2.919 million acres, up 9,000 acres from the previous estimate with most of the increase in Arkansas. Long-grain rice production is estimated at 162.4 million cwt, up 2.1 million from last month, and combined medium- and short-grain production is lowered 2.2 million to 58.7 million. All rice imports for 2014/15 are increased 1.0 million cwt to 22.0 million due primarily to a large shipment of long-grain broken rice from Vietnam reported in the November trade data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The all rice 2014/15 domestic and residual use projection is unchanged at 131.0 million as implied by the December 1 stocks. Long-grain and combined medium- and short-grain rice domestic and residual use are both unchanged from a month ago and projected at 99.0 million and 32.0 million, respectively. The all rice export projection is unchanged at 103.0 million cwt; however, the long-grain export projection is raised 1.0 million cwt to 70.0 million and the combined medium- and short-grain forecast is lowered to 33.0 million. The boost in the long-grain export projection is due primarily to increased exports of rough rice to Latin America as reported in the November trade data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. The 2014/15 all rice rough export projection is unchanged at 35.0 million cwt and the milled and brown rice component is unchanged at 68.0 million (rough rice equivalent basis). All rice ending stocks for 2014/15 are projected at 40.9 million cwt, up 1.0 million from last month, and an increase of 28 percent from a year ago. Long-grain rice ending stocks are forecast at 29.1 million cwt, up 2.1 million from last month. Combined medium- and short-grain rice ending stocks are projected at 9.5 million cwt, down 1.2 million from last month.
The 2014/15 long-grain season-average farm price range is projected at $11.70 to $12.70 per cwt, down 30 cents per cwt on each end from last month. The combined medium- and short-grain farm price range is projected at $18.00 to $19.00 per cwt, down 50 cents per cwt on each end from a month ago. The all rice season-average farm price is forecast at $13.60 to $14.60 per cwt, down 40 cents per cwt on each end. The decrease in the price projections is due to lower-than-expected prices reported in the December issue of Agricultural Prices released by USDA and price expectations the remainder of the marketing year.
Global 2014/15 rice supply and use is changed very little from a month ago. Global rice production is projected at 475.5 million tons up 0.2 million from last month, but down 1.5 million from the record 2013/14 crop. The increase in the 2014/15 crop is primarily due to an increase for Paraguay which is partially offset by a drop in Brazil. Global consumption for 2014/15 is increased 0.4 million tons to a record 483.3 million tons with small increases distributed among several countries. The export projection for 2014/15 is raised 0.7 million tons to a record 42.6 million due primarily to increases for Burma, Guyana, Paraguay, and Thailand. Imports are raised for Bolivia, Haiti, Syria, and the United States. Global rice ending stocks for 2014/15 are projected at 99.0 million tons, down 0.1 million from last month, and a decrease of 7.9 million from the prior year. Ending stocks projections are lowered for Brazil and Thailand, but increased for Bangladesh and the United States.


text:
FDA's new recall review indicates that medical device companies are more diligent about reporting. But there's still a lot of room for improvement.
Upon the recent release of FDA’s "Medical Device Recall Report: FY2003 to FY2012," headlines blared the fact that recalls—particularly Class I recalls—have skyrocketed over the past decade. While not inaccurate, the negative slant of these headlines conveyed the sense that there’s an escalating threat to patient safety or increasing negligence on industry’s part.
But neither is the case. In fact, the report states that the dramatic uptick in recalls is the positive outcome of a concerted effort by CDRH and the medical device industry to improve the quality and safety of devices, ultimately benefitting public health. The agency further asserts that better recall reporting by manufacturers can, over time, result in enhanced device performance.
It helps to put the numbers into perspective—especially in the face of a statistic as daunting as a 97% increase in the annual number of medical device recalls over the course of a decade. "The rate of recall lags industry growth," Steve Silverman, director of the Office of Compliance, assured The Wall Street Journal in advance of the report’s release.
Ultimately, industry should be commended for its increased diligence toward recall reporting in recent years. But there’s still plenty of work to do.
Continued emphasis on proactive recall reporting isn’t a bad place to start. While recall reporting has clearly improved over the past decade, underreporting remains a problem.
Beyond reporting, medical device manufacturers need to redouble their focus on medical device and software design. The report cites software design, device design, and nonconforming materials or components as the most frequent causes of recalls between FY2010 and FY2012, with 429, 425, and 429 associated recalls, respectively.
"To reduce the number of device design- and software-related recalls, firms may work to improve their understanding of appropriate design inputs, to increase their ability to verify that the device as designed addresses the inputs, and to better validate whether the device conforms to user needs," Jennifer Rodriguez, press officer for FDA’s Office of Media Affairs, recommended. "Improving purchasing controls may decrease the likelihood of a nonconforming material- or component-related recall."
Industry and FDA also need to step up communication efforts as they work toward the common goal of reducing the number and frequency of recalls. FDA invites industry input on guidances, encourages industry use of recall and adverse event reporting data, and seeks industry participation in workshops on such high-recall areas as AEDs, radiology devices, and infusion pumps, according to Rodriguez. The agency is also collaborating with manufacturers of battery-powered implants to determine "what is critical to the quality production of those devices," she added.
The information exchange goes both ways, though. "Companies today have a wealth of data available from forum discussions, social media conversations, and other portals that can be mined in real-time to proactively assess potential issues," said Kevin Pollack, vice president of recalls for Stericycle ExpertRecall. "Leveraging this data and sharing it with FDA, when appropriate, can help in early detection of an issue and also limit the size and scope of the event."
To that point, it’s imperative that manufacturers have a recall plan in place should the unfortunate need arise. And that plan needs to factor in global considerations, according to Pollack.
"As international supply chains and distribution networks increase in prevalence and complexity, creating what we call ‘recall sprawl,’ the challenges of recall management will increase," he said. "As part of this, medical device manufacturers should consider implementing control measures on a global scale. This could include components such as country-specific recall plans or on-site assessments to identify risks in standard operation procedures."
Recalls are an unfortunate yet inevitable part of the medical device industry; at present, there is no 100% certainty when it comes to the safety and effectiveness of a commercial product. FDA’s consolidation of 10 years worth of recall data is certainly evidence of that. But industry can—and should—take certain measures to better mitigate risk to patients and reputation.
|Learn more about regulatory challenges facing the medical device industry and how to solve them at MD&M East, June 9-12, 2014, in New York.|
[image courtesy of JSCREATIONZS/FREEDIGITALPHOTOS.NET]