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Tech startup Lista PH aims to help small businesses, freelancers and individuals all over the country gain free access to digital tools to manage their business and collect over PHP 75 million in receivables via a smartphone.
Through its financial inclusion app, Lista PH provides Filipinos a free and secure way of managing finances such as tracking debts, recording transactions, and even issuing invoices.
“Helping Philippine MSMEs was an advocacy close to my heart. Growing up, I saw the challenges my family endured in running a sari-sari store (community store),” shared Lista PH co-founder Aaron Villegas. “I spent almost a year just talking to various MSMEs in the province and trying different ideas to help them grow. And that’s when I realized that the first thing to do to really help them grow is through digitization and replacing pen and paper with easy-to-use tech,” he adds.
As the pandemic struck early last year, digitization of business processes proved to be pivotal in ensuring the continuity of business operations. Micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs were among the most affected during the prolonged quarantines – 74% of these businesses halted operations due to the lockdowns according to the Department of Trade and Industry. MSMEs are vital to the Philippine economy as they comprise about 99.51% of business establishments in the country and employ around 63% of the country’s workforce, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Lista PH also conducted a survey among 300 microentrepreneurs on the topic of how they do their record-keeping. Results showed that 26% are not able to track all their income and expenses. 64% also said that they use traditional and most often manual methods to monitor income, expenses, and customer debts such as writing on notebooks, while only 3% use digital tools such as Microsoft Excel.
Using digital tools can help fill this gap and allow them to record transactions and track their growth more easily. Lista PH aims to help MSMEs, including freelancers, logistics operators and riders, and other small businesses, digitize their business and provide a free and secure way of easily managing their finances.
“MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy and it’s time we stop leaving them behind,” said Lista PH Co-founder Khriz Lim. “Through this app, we want to revolutionize the way MSMEs operate and provide them with a reliable digital partner for small businesses in the country.”
Since its launch in September, Lista has helped collect over PHP 75 million in receivables of MSMEs or an average of PHP 3,800 paid per user all over the Philippines.
Supporting the advocacy of financial inclusion for MSMEs as Lista PH’s investors is Brian Cu, former Grab Philippines president and co-founder, who shares his insights, “Financial awareness and inclusion remain to be a big problem here in the Philippines and the reason for that is a lot of our MSMEs don’t have the right tools even though they do understand that money needs to come in, money needs to go out in their business, they are unable to track it.”
Cu continued, “Lista is about helping the common man, about helping that core customer and getting them into the digital age and uplifting their lives by giving them a tool to help them understand their finances more and hopefully be able to build their businesses in a larger way because of the tool.”
Joining Cu in Lista PH’s impressive roster of renowned local and regional investors are Monde Nissin Family Ventures Willy Arifin, Jupiter Bank Chief Executive Officer Jitendra Gupta, Pinelabs Chief Executive Officer Amrish Rau, CRED founder Kunal Shah, Google Asia Pacific Senior Execs Aurelien Pichon and Alap Bharadwaj and other prominent angel investors.
They are also backed by Saison Capital bank in Japan as well as East Ventures and 1982 Ventures, which are venture capital firms that fund promising early fintech startups in Southeast Asia.
“Lista is empowering millions of MSME businesses in the Philippines move from pen and paper to digital,” said Herston Powers, Managing Partner and Co-founder at 1982 Ventures. He continued, “The book-keeping app space in the Philippines is wide open and Aaron and Khriz are the right founders to capture the opportunity. Lista’s product and strong traction have put them in pole position to win the market.”
To know more about Lista PH, you may visit their website at www.lista.com.ph or follow their Facebook page at facebook.com/ListaPhilippines.
COMCO Southeast Asia is the PR partner of Lista PH.


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A supply network capable of withstanding the threats presented by Russian aggression.
In 1939, the United States Army mobilized 174,000 men over three and a half divisions. Today, more than 8 million men are deployed over 92 divisions. General George C. Marshall warned during World Battle II that “a wealthy country that lays down its guns after every war in its history would court tragedy.” Peace dividends came after the conclusion of the Cold War, although demobilization reduced the effect on the military.
In Ukraine, a worldwide supply chain has served as a bulwark against Russian aggression raised by the free world. U.S. corporations depend on Taiwan for 90 percent of their semiconductor output, while China has prioritized self-sufficiency. Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act funds is being sought by the Biden administration. Due to sanctions, Russia is now experiencing a semiconductor scarcity and has resorted to acquiring computer chips from household goods. Gilman Louie is the chief executive officer of the nonprofit strategic-investment firm America’s Frontier Fund.
He and his colleagues feel that strengthening the United States’ supply chain is the biggest problem facing national security. Utilizing a system where invention happens in the U.S. but production occurs overseas, U.S. corporations have achieved substantial success. Louie thinks that early government investments in defense-related industries will signal to private investors. The CHIPS for America Act is a vital first step, but it is insufficient to address our supply chain risk. In 2020, U.S. firms spent roughly $14 billion in Chinese manufacturing, while Chinese corporations invested just $141 million in the United States.
Wall Street has been slower to recognize the hazard posed by overexposure to Chinese markets than Washington. Tencent Games, which has links to the People’s Liberation Army, holds a 40 percent financial stake in American Epic Games. AFF would want to see more regulatory and public monitoring of such ties in the United States. The issue is whether a culture of short-term economics and politics can be substituted for long-term national defense.

domain: news


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Apple's iPhone 5c sales report is dissapointing!!
It has only been a few days since the Apple iPhone 5’s replacement 5c came out and now looking at the first quarter financials of Apple shows that some people might have been right in their assumptions that the 5c wouldn’t end up doing so well for Apple after all. The Q1 report shows that the sales figure of iPhone 5c is not so impressive and this wasn’t something that Apple was looking out for. Despite of these facts, the CEO is still very positive and has an optimistic view regarding the performance of iPhone 5c.
Don't Miss: The best Deal on a new Samsung Galaxy S8
He rather puts it this way that the phone was certainly quite different and it may take time for people to digest the new looks which are not in line with the signature Apple appearance on every phone. Even though there was excellent response from customers on the Black Friday sales day, the 5c still hasn’t managed to gain a market share larger than that of the predecessor 4S. In such circumstances the CEO surely has some explaining to do and according to him, there was nothing wrong with the 5c.
According to a view put forward by the CEO Tim Cook, the 5s model was a star with its Touch ID and many other significant features and that just might be the reason why people were not attracted to the 5c. All in all, Apple is surely not a sweetheart for investors at this point and the company stocks go down by 6.70%.


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Microsoft announced a new $0 platform licensing rate for smartphones and tablets as it looks to bolster its position in the mobile space, with new vendors also signing up to back Windows Phone.
The company is offering the new rate for devices with screens up to 9-inches – meaning it does not apply for “premium” tablets competing with Apple’s iPad at the high end, or convertible devices that double-up as laptops.
The move is a significant step for the company, which has previously stuck with the model of commercially licensing platforms, even as the industry was transformed by Google’s Android.
Microsoft also announced two new hardware partners – Prestigio in Europe and Micromax in India – in a move “to further ensure that individuals around the world will have access to the amazing experience that only Windows Phone delivers consistently across all price points”.
Both of the new partners are using hardware reference designs from Qualcomm, which have been designed to make it easier to bring products to market.
The companies join a list that was significantly elongated at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, and includes names such as ZTE, Lenovo and LG Electronics, as well as regional players such as Longcheer, Gionee, JSR, Karbonn and Lava.
Microsoft has also made moves to make it easier to port Windows Phone to existing Android hardware, enabling companies to leverage existing designs and hardware supplies, and is supporting a wider range of processors.
In addition to the $0 licensing rate and the introduction of Windows Phone 8.1, the company also announced an update to its Windows 8.1 platform which it said means that “hardware partners can also more easily build lower-cost machines – such as devices with 1GB of RAM and 16GB hard disk drives”.
The company made no specific reference to its Windows RT 8.1 platform, which is designed specifically for tablets powered by ARM processors.
Microsoft has previously been criticised for the existence of this platform, which has created an additional level of fragmentation, and fares poorly in comparison with its alternatives.


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The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank will be partnering with Sleep Number and other local merchants from noon-4:30 p.m. Saturday at The Marketplace at Tech Center in Newport News to recognize Hunger Action Month.
The foodbank will be collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations as well as giving out prizes. Music by the FiftyThirds will also be on-site, according to a press release.
Businesses in Tech Center including Sleep Number, Starbucks, BJ’s Brewhouse and Restaurant, Nothing Bundt Cake and Whole Foods will also participate. Zoe’s Kitchen will donate a portion of their sales to the foodbank when presented with an event flyer, the release said.
“We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Sleep Number and Tech Center merchants during Hunger Action Month,” said Michele Benson, chief development officer at Virginia Peninsula Foodbank in a press release. “For us to continue meeting the needs of those facing food insecurity across the Peninsula, we rely strongly on the community’s support of our work to distribute healthy meals to families, children, seniors, and veterans.”
The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank provides hunger relief to the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City, Gloucester, Mathews, Surry and York.


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The 2nd annual Dental Marketing Manager Bootcamp is just 2 months away! Unify founder Tanner Applegate joins Gary to talk about how data, tech, and AI are changing dental — and how he’ll share more on this at Bootcamp.
In this podcast episode, we discuss our Dental Marketing Manager Bootcamp, initially slated as an in-person live event on October 19-21st. However, we want to inform our listeners that we have made the decision to transition this event into a virtual format, with the launch date set for November 3rd.
Unify – Founder and CEO
Say hello to Tanner!


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The Calgary Flames are turning back time with a new jersey inspired by the 1980s ones.
The branding will also revert to the original colour scheme — red, yellow and white — and ditching the accented black portion that has been present since the mid-90s.
“Since reintroducing the retro look in alternate jerseys back in 2009, we’ve heard the feedback from a large portion of our fan base. They love the original look and really wanted us to return to it,” said Flames director of marketing Ryan Popowich in a press release.
“It took a while to get all the pieces in place to make it happen. Adding the retro-inspired Heritage Classic white jersey last season was the final piece of the puzzle and the time has finally arrived where we can deliver to the fans what they’ve always wanted: for us to go full retro.”
The team explained that the current alternate jersey, which featured the 80s look, will now be the red home jersey, and the recent Heritage Classic jersey will be the away jersey. The Flames’ return to retro is a “final nod to the current 40th season celebrations” that started in the 2019-20 season.
‘A legacy and tradition’
Flames captain Mark Giordano loves the new jerseys, saying they conjure up images of when the Flames won the Stanley Cup in 1989.
“There is a certain amount of pride for the current players knowing that we carry on a legacy and tradition,” he said.
“They look great and feel even better on. I think they are the coolest jerseys in the league.”
The current red home jersey, featuring the black-crested flaming C, will now be the Flames’ alternate jersey for the upcoming campaign.
Calgary Flames alum Jamie Macoun has fond memories of playing in the club’s classic 1980s jersey.
“For me, those are the ones I think most signify who the Flames are all about,” Macoun said.
“I understand why they did other jerseys — you switch a jersey every three or four years, and people buy new ones and you generate a bunch of money and a bunch of interest — but I think most teams like going back to the original ones.”
– With files from Cami Kepke


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BRISTOL, Va. — It’s 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning, and the breakfast business Is brimming at the G&G Country Store in Bristol, Virginia.
I’m up here gobbling down four pieces of bacon, sliced tomatoes, scrambled eggs and a hearty helping of biscuits and gravy.
Across the booth from me is the legendary Bristol businessman Bobby Griffin, who, at age 88, is munching on a tenderloin biscuit, washed down with a cup of coffee.
Griffin eats about 95 percent of his meals at restaurants, he said, and he’s always passing along tips about where you might find the next great bite. “I hate to eat alone at home,” he said.
So here we are at this little country store, just off I-81’s Exit 3 and within walking distance from a potato chip factory called Shearer’s.
And now, while the early bird breakfast bunch has flown away by 9:30, there is still a line waiting to get more biscuits — even at 10 a.m.
What’s the buzz?
“Good food,” Griffin jumps in to say.
Janice Houser laughed at that comment.
“And, basically, our customers are just a really good clientele that we’ve had for years,” Houser told me. “It’s like family. We’re all like family. We love ’em all.”
Houser, 55, serves as the manager for her brother Daniel Laughlin, who has owned the G&G Country Store for 30 years.
Once this truly was a general store; now it’s a deli for breakfast and lunch.
But you can buy a bit of tobacco and bottled drinks.
In the spring, business dropped about 40 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Houser noticed.
But it has since bounced back with the start of the summer.
And that’s especially true as the sun comes up each morning.
“They’re sitting there before we open the door,” Houser said with a laugh. “And they’re from all over. Some are from the Tennessee side; some are from the Virginia side.”
In the back, you’ll find seating for about a dozen customers — what’s just now again open after being closed due to coronavirus concerns.
Customers here are “very dedicated,” Houser said. “When the back was closed, and they couldn’t eat in, they would eat in their cars.”
Bacon is the big deal, Houser said. “Bacon, we sell a lot of.”
You do get a pile — four pieces — with your order. “We put a lot on there. It’s not that one little piece that you have to hunt for,” Houser said.
Tenderloin, too, is a treat favored by many.
Standing tall, the country store building dates to the mid-1900s, according to Houser, and, here, you could once buy practically everything — from dog food to clothing.
“And when my brother first bought it, it was a convenience store,” Houser said. “We had shelves and shelves of groceries.”
Now, it’s all about food, served hot and fresh.
“Basically, we’re just a deli,” Houser said. “Breakfast is good. And we do a pretty good lunch as well.”


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The collaboration will enable Huawei and NetRange to create added value for the next generation of OTT services for telco operators and end users.
The two companies agreed to cooperate with a view to providing content-rich OTT ecosystem services, including linear TV streaming, video on demand and cloud gaming. The creation of this joint OTT ecosystem will especially benefit telco operators, who will be able to seamlessly integrate the high value OTT services on offer with their products.
The move comes as Huawei is aiming to launch its hosting service in Europe this year, following its successful rollout in the Middle East and in China. Keen to provide high quality OTT content, including linear TV, gaming and video on demand services, to the public worldwide together with its partners, Huawei believes that NetRange is the perfect partner to turn this project into another success story.
As OTT content continues to grow in popularity, the new collaboration will enable the two companies to help customers seize new opportunities in a rapidly changing environment, by creating an offering tailored to their needs.
NetRange is the leading global provider of white labelled, turnkey Smart TV and OTT ecosystems. The company is operating an integrated, full-service solution which includes UI design, payment, billing and customer management, content aggregation, backend services incl. global CDN, second level support and app development for more than 100 global CE, TV, STB, retailer and operator brands, such as Sharp, Loewe, Changhong, Ikea, TCL, MSH, Thomson, Skyworth or HD+. Its fully featured content portfolio includes local and global premium VoDs, linear TV channels via IP, cloud games, live sports, music and lifestyle apps. On its white labelled Smart TV app store NetRange makes media content available for TV users in over 100 countries around the world.
For more information, please visit www.netrange.com.
Huawei is a global leader of ICT solutions. Continuously innovating based on customer needs, Huawei is committed to enhancing customer experiences and creating maximum value for telecom carriers, enterprises, and consumers. Huawei telecom network equipment, IT products and solutions and smart devices are used in 170 countries and regions. Huawei ranked 285th on the Global Fortune 500 based on its revenue in 2013. In 2014, Huawei’s revenue reached approximately USD 46.5 billion.
For more information, please visit www.huawei.com.


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PENTAGON Reveals Official Light Stick + New Slogan
Ahead of their comeback with “DEMO_02,” PENTAGON has revealed their official light stick and new slogan!
The new goods will be available online starting November 24 and at their concert on November 23.
Check them out below!
PENTAGON also announced the official color for group and fans as “Uninavy” ahead of their comeback! “Uni” refers to “U & I” which alludes to PENTAGON and their fans, UNIVERSE, being one.


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The Chief of Staff, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare has called for active stakeholder involvement in tourism to drive inclusive growth across the country.
Such involvement, she said would effectively harness the country’s cultural assets.
Mrs Osei-Opare was speaking on “Harnessing Cultural Assets for Inclusive Tourism Growth” at the Presidential Summit on Tourism at Peduase in the Eastern region yesterday.
The two-day summit which began on Tuesday and themed ‘Rethinking Tourism for Economic Growth and Job Creation,’ was aimed at bringing together tourism stakeholders to explore new approaches to the tourism industry to promote national development, job creation and sustainable tourism.
The summit was expected to increase awareness and understanding on the need for a new tourism in Ghana; develop new ideas and strategies for sustainable and equitable tourism; increase collaboration and networking among stakeholders in the tourism industry and create an action plan for implementing sustainable tourism practices.
Mrs Osei-Opare stressed the need for the public and private sector to collaborate to promote Ghana’s festivals, cultural programmes and other artistic expressions to ensure that the benefits of tourism were shared equitably.
“This requires us to actively involve local communities in the tourism value chain by empowering them to participate in the sector, whether through artisanal crafts, cultural performances, or community based tourism initiatives,” she added.
Mrs Osei-Opare said communities must of a necessity have some financial share of the proceeds from tourism ventures, investment in education and skills development.
She said tourism practitioners need to invest in training programmes that equip the youth with the necessary skills to excel in tourism related professional.
“By nurturing a skilled workforce, we can enhance the quality of our tourism services and offer unique experiences that sets us apart in the global market,” she added.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku Mantey, underscored that tourism could revolutionise the country considering the immense benefits that could be generated from it.
He said that was because the creative industry qualified to be the highest employer and greatest contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mr Mantey therefore advised that among other things the policy leadership, promotions and partnerships were deepened to drive tourism in the country.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR, PEDUASE


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FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), has deployed its first 10 electric vehicles in South Africa, as part of the company’s continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable logistics.
FedEx says introducing EVs in South Africa marks an important milestone for the company as it works towards its goal to transform its entire global pickup and delivery fleet to zero-emission electric vehicles by 2040. To achieve this, FedEx Express will purchase 50% of its new vehicles as electric by 2025, and 100% of purchases will be electric by 2030. In 2021, FedEx conducted EV trials in South Africa to test the vehicle’s technology and assess its operational effectiveness on a standard route fully loaded with packages.
The EVs introduced into the FedEx fleet in South Africa are the MAXUS eDeliver 3 from SAIC Motor. On a full charge, they have a delivery capacity of 240 kilometers of operational range.
Here are the specs of the SAIC MAXUS eDeliver 3:
“For decades FedEx has been committed to sustainability. The adoption of these electric vehicles represents another step towards reducing our environmental impact and achieving carbon-neutral operations,” says Natasha Parmanand, managing director of FedEx Express Sub-Saharan Africa operations. “With the explosion of e-commerce, transforming our operations to be more sustainable is now more important than ever. We believe that this investment in EV technology will not only benefit the environment but also improve the efficiency of our operations, and ultimately provide a better service to our customers,” adds Natasha.
FedEx says it was the first delivery company in the world to use hybrid vehicles for pickup and delivery in 2003, and in 1994 the company used its first electric vehicle — a lead acid battery-powered vehicle — in California. FedEx has been a vocal advocate for improved fuel efficiency standards and policies to support the commercial deployment of alternative-fuel vehicles.
It looks like the electric van scene in South Africa is starting to get quite interesting. A few weeks ago, South African retailer Woolworths introduced 41 electric vans as part of its vehicle electrification program for its online delivery fleet in partnership with DSV and Everlectric. The 41 vans are also SAIC MAXUS eDeliver 3s.
I am a big fan of electric vans. It’s good to see more electric vans coming to African countries. Companies like Everlectric are working hard to make this happen. Everlectric packages leading international electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and innovative finance solutions that remove all the hurdles to adopting a cleaner & more efficient future. This lowers the barriers for adoption and helps fleets transition to electric vehicles as painlessly as possible.
Image courtesy of FedEx
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Official attention will make or break bitcoin. Scrutiny from tax authorities like the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and financial regulators around the world may deter off-the-grid types from using the digital money. Yet interest from investors and even creators of derivatives could start drawing bitcoin into the mainstream.
An easy, relatively anonymous way to store value and make online and cross-border transfers has appeal both for those who don’t trust governments and those whose nefarious activities require them to avoid oversight. The bitcoin world for now remains volatile, opaque, and – as the disappearance of a big stack of them from Tokyo-based exchange Mt. Gox demonstrated – not fully secure.
Even so, serious investors are becoming converts. Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen took on bitcoin-skeptic Warren Buffett on Twitter last week. Andreessen sees in bitcoin a smart application of technology that allows transfers over the internet in a way that leaves both sender and recipient confident there’s little scope for fraud and avoids the cost of paying a middleman like a credit card issuer. That could be very valuable.
Andreessen’s venture capital firm has invested about $50 million in related companies, like Coinbase. Even the volatility of bitcoin – the value of each unit has gone from over $700 to peak near $1,000 only to dip to about $500 over the past three months – may be amenable to smoothing. Tera Group on March 24 announced what it claimed was the first standardized bitcoin swap.
Moreover, the controversy surrounding bitcoin is forcing mainstream government entities to take note. Last week, the IRS determined that bitcoin holdings would be treated as property, not currency, for tax purposes. That means that intangible moolah is now concrete enough to blip across the tax radar.
It’s also under discussion at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and other U.S. regulators, while EU financial watchdogs have warned users about the risks of bitcoin and China’s authorities are clamping down.
If all the interest doesn’t kill off bitcoin, it will gradually legitimize it. Then the digital dough could become as commonplace as PayPal or even a credit card swipe. Despite the enthusiasm of Andreessen and others, the jury is still out. But one thing is clear: whichever way it goes, bitcoin’s days in the shadows are surely over.


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Koomal Dreaming was announced as the winner of the Indigenous Tourism Award at the Western Australian Tourism Awards Gala Dinner on 25th October, 2014. This follows on from recent wins of two business canadian pharmacy generic cialis awards in June 2014.
Having won the Indigenous Award also in 2013, a win next year will see them enter the prestigious Hall of Fame. Owner of Koomal Dreaming, Josh Whiteland said “being recongnised in these awards is really important in building our profile and demonstrating the professionalism and commitment to delivering real authentic cultural experiences.” “It is also an opportunity to promote the Cape to Cape region and the diverse range of products the region has to offer”.
As a gold medallist, Koomal Dreaming will go on to represent WA at the Australian Tourism Awards in Adelaide next year.


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Sunday, May 06, 2007
Fayetteville Fly Tie-a-thon
The Tarheel Fish and Game sporting goods store recently sponsored a "fly tie-a-thon" to benefit the March of Dimes. Anglers tied flies for 12 hours and then sold them with the proceeds going to Jerry's Kids. About 200 flies that didn't sale were donated to "Casting for Recovery."
"For 12 hours, participants worked behind vices to fashion flies for trout, bass and a variety of fish. Two-hundred flies tied at the event were donated to Casting for Recovery, a non-profit organization that provides fly-fishing retreats to women who have breast cancer."
Photo David Smith from the Fayetteville Observer.


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Catherine Bowen has been appointed as Policy and Stakeholder Director for the retail strand of the National Business Crime Solution (NBCS). She will be responsible for raising the profile of the NBCS with key retail stakeholders across the law enforcement community, as well as highlighting the benefits of membership to the wider business community. The NBCS helps businesses tackle crime through centralised and collective data sharing. Employing police analysts, using the wealth of intelligence including CCTV and ANPR held by businesses, and linking with law enforcement agencies such as GAIN (Government Agency Intelligence Network), a direct feed of business intelligence is fed to the police via the National Business Crime Intelligence Bureau. With a background in law enforcement and having spent the last six years working at the British Retail Consortium, Bowen has worked with a range of retail outlets from small independent stores to large multiples. Drawing on business crime issues raised by these retailers, she has petitioned the Government and the senior law enforcement community to establish a strategy for tackling business crime. Bowen stated, ‘The National Business Crime Solution is the most effective option for businesses wanting to take measures against retail crime. I have built my career around advising on business crime and I look forward to helping expand the reach of the NBCS with the ultimate objective of driving down business crime.’
Brian Sims BA (Hons) Hon FSyI, Editor, Risk UK (Pro-Activ Publications) Beginning his career in professional journalism at The Builder Group in March 1992, Brian was appointed Editor of Security Management Today in November 2000 having spent eight years in engineering journalism across two titles: Building Services Journal and Light & Lighting. In 2005, Brian received the BSIA Chairman’s Award for Promoting The Security Industry and, a year later, the Skills for Security Special Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Security Business Sector. In 2008, Brian was The Security Institute’s nomination for the Association of Security Consultants’ highly prestigious Imbert Prize and, in 2013, was a nominated finalist for the Institute's George van Schalkwyk Award. An Honorary Fellow of The Security Institute, Brian serves as a Judge for the BSIA’s Security Personnel of the Year Awards and the Securitas Good Customer Award. Between 2008 and 2014, Brian pioneered the use of digital media across the security sector, including webinars and Audio Shows. Brian’s actively involved in 50-plus security groups on LinkedIn and hosts the popular Risk UK Twitter site. Brian is a frequent speaker on the conference circuit. He has organised and chaired conference programmes for both IFSEC International and ASIS International and has been published in the national media. Brian was appointed Editor of Risk UK at Pro-Activ Publications in July 2014 and as Editor of The Paper (Pro-Activ Publications' dedicated business newspaper for security professionals) in September 2015. Brian was appointed Editor of Risk Xtra at Pro-Activ Publications in May 2018.


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Today, Netflix announced (and launched) its new Netflix Games service, something that we previously caught wind of via the streaming company’s developer acquisition efforts. For now this service is available for folks with Android-based mobile devices, with plans to get it rolled out for iOS users sometime later.
The biggest part of this news is that Netflix Games comes with a regular Netflix subscription. According to the company’s website, there are no fees, ads or purchases required.
It looks like accessing the games has been integrated right into the Netflix app’s main UI, with a new tab or row for Games depending on the device you’re using. This access applies to every user on the account, although a “kids” profile does not grant Games permission.
The following games are available as of launch:
- Stranger Things: 1984
- Stranger Things 3: The Game
- Shooting Hoops
- Card Blast
- Teeter Up


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Commercial Bank of Dubai is to launch a digital-only bank, dubbed CBD NOW, targeting millennials and tech-savvy customers in the UAE.
The new bank, which will open in early 2017, will enable customers to conduct all of their financial affairs via a smartphone. The proposition is being developed with the support of a 'co-founders' programme, featuring input from beta-testers to influence product development and refinements before rolling out the brand to the public.
Walter Lironi, general manager digital transformation, says: “There is no bigger convenience than bringing the branch to the palm of our customer’s hand. Our research shows that digitally connected customers want a banking experience that is simple, smart and safe, whereby everything can be done via smartphone.”
The announcement follows the launch of a series of initiatives in June under the banner CBD nEXT, a multiyear digital transformation programme initiated by the bank.


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Was reading this article over at Honolulu Advisor (why not, I lived in Honolulu for a few months years ago!).
The Kaua’i County Council yesterday passed the state’s first ban on "big-box" stores, with a prohibition on any retail or wholesale establishment bigger than 75,000 square feet.
Council members said they oppose big-box stores for many reasons, among them protecting communities and local stores.
"Big-boxes, regardless of what company, when they come into town they do cause mom-and-pop stores to close," said Councilman Mel Rapozo.
Gee, legalizing prejudice against the poor, eh? It is that vs keeping mom-and-pops alive. While it may be "good" for tourism for the small stores to be available, the governing bodies have just declared "hey poor person (and there are many there), we want the money from tourism over helping you out". Could the poor sue for discrimination?
I have found that anytime the government insinuates itself in the economy, it distorts it. The reasons may vary and may actually sound valid. But by descriminating against the big box stores ("BBS"), they have also disallowed the efficiencies in purchasing and logistics that the BBS bring – and thus, the lower prices that gives.
The US is a capitalistic society and our economy depends on it. I live in a fairly rural area, and felt the same way when some of the bigger chains moved in. Yet, while a couple of stores did go out of business, prices fell and we benefited.
And some small businesses that should have been impacted have flourished. Not on price, but on service and offering a mix of products that the BBS wouldn’t bother to touch.
The island already has Costco, Wal-Mart and Kmart stores — all in Lihu’e — that are in excess of 100,000 square feet. But those would be the last such stores under the new zoning regulation.
And now they have codified a competitive edge to these folks over any other competition. Nice way to enrich the stockholders, eh?
The first target of the law is likely to be Wal-Mart’s proposal to expand its 119,000-square-foot Lihu’e store into a Supercenter with nearly 200,000 square feet. The store would have both the normal Wal-Mart fare and a grocery component.
"This limits consumer choice. On behalf of our customers and consumers on the island, we’re disappointed with this decision," said Eric Berger, western regional public affairs director for Wal-Mart.


text: In 2018, Jilin province carried out work in coordination with more than 20 ministries and commissions including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, and signed strategic cooperation agreements with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Oceanic Administration, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the State Ethnic Affairs Commission. In April last year, a meeting was held to support FAW's reform and development and promote the Hongqi brand. Xiao Yaqing, director of SASAC, delivered a speech. The sales volume of Hongqi brand cars increased eight times in the whole year. China (Hunchun) -Russia (Khasan) cross-border economic cooperation zone has been approved by the State Council and transferred to the Ministry of Commerce for handling. Changchun national cross-border e-commerce comprehensive test zone has got approval of the State Council, Ji'an highway port has passed preliminary acceptance procedures,, and the Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe train has resumed operation. Jilin Province will build a national policy information base, organize a new round of work docking activities with national ministries and commissions, sign a number of co-construction agreements, and seize each opportunity to promote development.


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Experts offer advice for safe travel today
Published 12:41 am Monday, April 7, 2003
By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Travel agents all across the country are providing customers with travel safety tips and how to deal with what promises to be some rapidly changing travel rules and regulations.
The safety tips come in response to a heightened concern about travel safety because of the country currently being at war.
The changing travel rules are taking place because of Operation Liberty Shield, which is the U.S Department of Homeland Security Agency's effort to prevent terrorism from happening in America.
Michele Boyd, owner of Signal Travel and Tours in Niles, however, said travelling is still safe but it's important to take necessary precautions to avoid problems when travelling.
She said the American Society of Travel Agents has issued the safety tips to help consumers who are about to travel, and in particularly those who travel outside the United States.
Most of the guidelines aren't new, however, and they are just reminders that will help keep travellers safe, she said.
She said one of the most important things to do when travelling, is to travel inconspicuously by dressing appropriately and avoiding clothing or symbols that could be received negatively at any destination.
Boyd said travel agents are there to help consumers make those informed decisions about when, and if to travel.
Some of Signal Travel and Tours own steps to ensure travel safety for customers, is recommending travellers take out travel insurance, as well as staying connected with the travel agent.
By staying connected, the travel agent can contact and inform travellers about the knowledge they have regarding the situation in specific locations.
People can also in advance of departure prepare for their travels by checking travel-related information on the Web.
Contacting U.S Customs Service to find out rules and regulations related to leaving and entering the country might also be helpful, as well as checking with the U.S State Department for current information, including any worldwide alert or advisories.
According to Signal Travel and Tours travel safety guidelines, arriving two hours before departure at the airport, keeping personal I.D handy and watching belongings, will increase the likelihood of avoiding problems before leaving.
Claiming baggage soon after destination arrival and leaving the airport quickly, will reduce time exposed to possible threats at the airport.
And if you do happen to find yourself in a place with civil disturbance, try to move away quietly and inconspicuously.
If your cell phone doesn't work abroad and it's desired to have one, it's possible to rent a universal cell phone that works overseas, from most travel agents.


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2K Reportedly Partnering with Lego for Sports Games
LEGO and publisher 2K have partnered to develop a series of Lego sports games, VGC reported Tuesday.
The multi-game partnership will see 2K's sports development studio, Visual Concepts, working with Sumo Digital on a new line of sports games. The first Lego sports title will be a soccer game developed by Sumo Digital, which has previously developed Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Team Sonic Racing. It's expected to see release later this year to coincide with the FIFA World Cup.
Visual Concepts will follow that release up with an open-world Lego racing game. It is said to be the same title referred to in a job listing for the studio posted last week that referred to an "open world driving game with a major license." It's expected out in 2023.
A third Lego sports title based on a major sports franchise is also in development, but details on the title are scarce.
The partnership is reportedly driven by 2K's plans to expand its sports offering, and its hope to target younger players with that expansion. It's also been suggested guest characters from other Lego partners, such as Marvel, Harry Potter, and DC, could appear in these Lego sports titles.
The 2K deal coincides with the end of an exclusivity deal Lego had made with Warner's TT Games, which has developed almost every Lego game to date based on licensed properties. VGC reports Lego does not plan to extend its exclusivity deal with TT Game, which will release its next Lego game, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, this year.
The decision not to extend the TT Games exclusivity is said to be a response to decreasing sales for the games, uncertainty around Warner's future in the games industry, and reports of poor working conditions at TT Games.
Sumo Digital, 2K and Warner Bros. did not respond to VGC's requests for comment, and a Lego spokesperson said only that the company would "not comment on speculation about future products or partnerships."


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Fujifilm’s First-Quarter Profits Decline as Shipments of Printers to Xerox Suffer Sharp Decline
The Nikkei Asian Review reports that Fujifilm of Tokyo’s first-quarter profits dropped 24 percent year-over-year, citing declining shipments of office printers to sales partner Xerox. However, Fujifilm’s other businesses are said to have helped “stave off a worse result.”
Operating profit for Fujifilm’s April to June 2016 quarter declined to 27.5 billion yen ($260 million), while net profit declined 54 percent to 11.1 billion yen. Foreign-exchange losses of 6.4 billion yen are said to have contributed to the steep decline.
Fujfilm’s document-solutions group “put the biggest drag on operating profit,” declining about 40 percent. Fujifilm sells printers in Asia and Oceania via its subsidiary Fuji Xerox, but is said to rely on Xerox in other regions. The Nikkie Asian Review says Xerox is reducing its printer inventories as its prepares to split into two separate companies by the end of 2016.
Digital cameras such as Fujifilm’s Instax instant cameras performed better, with Fujifilm’s imaging solutions group seeing a 17 percent rise in operating profits.
Overall, first-quarter results turned out somewhat better than the company had expected, Fujifilm Vice President Masaru Yoshizawa said.
Fujifilm is maintaining its full-year operating profit to rise 15 percent to an all-time high of 220 billion yen. Fujifilm President Kenji Sukeno said that Xerox will emerge from its split “with greater strength in sales, expressing confidence that the office printer business will recover in the second half.”
- July 2016: Xerox Said to Abandon Bid to Acquire R. R. Donnelly & Sons
- June 2016: Carl Icahn Adds Christodoro to Xerox Board of Directors
- June 2016: Jeff Jacobson to Become CEO of Xerox Document Technology Company
- June 2016: Xerox Document Technology to Retain Xerox Name; BPO Company to be Named ‘Conduent’
- June 2016: Ashok Vemuri to be CEO of Xerox Business Process Outsourcing Company
- April 2016: Profits, Earnings Down for Xerox’s First Quarter
- February 2016: Difficult Fourth Quarter for Xerox, But Surge in Entry-Level Color A4 MFP Sales
- January 2016: Xerox to Split into Two Companies, One Devoted to Printers, Copiers, Other to Business-Process Outsourcing
- November 2015: Billionaire Investor Icahn is Second-Largest Xerox Shareholder; Considering ‘Strategic Alternatives’ for Xerox


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Warrant Officer 3 Chivon Cyrus will wear a black, sparkling gown to the party after her Army retirement ceremony — and it didn't cost her a dime.
She walked out of a shop at Fort Eustis, Virginia, on April 13 with the gown, thanks to the fledgling Operation: Deploy Your Dress, which offers its formal wear free to anyone with a military ID card.
The nonprofit organization has shops at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Fort Bliss, Texas, in addition to its shops at Fort Eustis. And in an effort to help more military families in all branches of service, the group has organized a two-day " pop-up event" in the Washington, D.C., area for April 29-30, with about 1,000 gowns already on hand.
Cyrus estimates her gown would have cost her at least $300.
"This is phenomenal," she said. "There's a saying that the Army gives you $100 and it takes back $99. That's not true in this case. These Army wives, and the donors, are giving back."
Eligible shoppers can choose one dress and one accessory from the collection of shoes, shawls, jewelry and purses. There's also a limited selection of men's formal wear.
A few of the 1,000 dresses donated to date for the event April 29-30 at AUSA in Arlington, Va.
Photo Credit: Luc Dunn/AUSA
Customers from military families of a variety of ranks have benefited, said Yvonne Coombes, an Army wife who is one of the founders. The wide range of shoppers has included military youth buying prom dresses, young spouses new to the military, and some who have been affiliated with the military for years but have never gone to a military ball, she said.
In a little over a year since the idea was born among a group of Army wives in December 2015, they’ve given away about 2,500 dresses. The first shop opened at Fort Bliss last year, and another opened at Fort Eustis after Coombes moved there when her husband was transferred.
While it's not unusual to do dress swaps in units and among friends and neighbors, their initial plan was to broaden the idea to get more dresses and people into the pool.
"We were trying to figure how to get attendance up at military balls, especially younger couples," said Coombes.
And since gowns can be expensive, she said, "we felt if we could change one piece of that financial strain, we could make a difference."
They underestimated the popularity of the idea.
"This was intended to be a one-time event at Fort Bliss," Coombes said. "It's exploded since then. It's a great problem, constantly trying to figure out how to grow. ... Our ideal scenario is to be at as many military installations as possible."
Operation: Deploy Your Dress has no budget for rent or other expenses; shop helpers are volunteers, all items are donated, and the group partners with organizations that help them find free space on installations. The group recently received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit organization.
D.C. EVENT DETAILS
The D.C.-area giveaway is set for April 29 and 30 at the Association of the U.S. Army headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Younger enlisted members and their families will get first crack — from 10 a.m. to noon on April 29, those in ranks E-1 to E-6 will be able to shop before others.
2 day event in Washington, D.C. region
Photo Credit: Operation Deploy Your Dress
Donors have been dropping off gowns, accessories and other items at a variety of collection points around the area. They hope to do more of these "pop-up events" in other areas, Coombes said.
AUSA may help the group expand because they have chapters around the country, she said. Meanwhile, staff members at AUSA headquarters have been enthusiastic about volunteering for this event, said Patty Barron, AUSA's family readiness director.
Cyrus' dress is on its second "deployment." While shopping, she met Meredith Hummel, the Army wife who donated the dress, and is a volunteer in the shop. Hummel received the dress at the Fort Bliss shop a year ago and donated it to the Fort Eustis shop after she and her husband were transferred to that installation.
"She told me it was a pleasure to donate so that someone else could enjoy it," Cyrus said.
The response from donors has been heartwarming, Coombes said, with dresses coming from all over the country as word spreads.Donors include military families, civilians and dress shops with excess inventory.
Many donors mail their gowns to the organization. The mailing address changes depending on which shop is in more need of dresses, Coombes said. The organization is developing a website, but for up-to-date information, visit its Facebook page.
"A lot of times people have bought a beautiful dress for one occasion. They hang on to to it for some emotional connection. They don't want to send it to a thrift shop. But they hear about us, and find us worthy to give that dress they have this emotional connection to," Coombes said.
She said she prefers not to talk about the costs of gowns, and that while the group has received some high-end dresses, they simply mix them in with the others.
They also often receive dresses and accessories with messages attached. One clutch purse included a note that said, "This clutch was given to me for graduation in 1954," Coombes said.
"That's so wonderful, that she felt our organization is worthy of something she'd kept for such a long time, that was so near and dear to her."
Karen Jowers writes about military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.


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Australia’s telcos have urged the Federal Government to to do further work on the Sylvan Review’s recommendations for improving funding of financial counselling.
The three months between October and December 2020 showed a drop in complaints rates for Australia’s telecommunications service providers to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO), according to the telecoms industry peak body Communications Alliance.
Consumer complaints to Australia’s telcos increased by 7.8 complaints per 10,000 Services- in Operation (SIOs) for three months of the July-September 2020 quarter, an increase over the previous quarter’s ratio of 7.4.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has directed Telstra to comply with its billing accuracy obligations after an investigation found it had overcharged more than 10,000 customers a total of almost $2.5 million over a 12-year period.
Australia’s telecommunications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says a study it commissioned shows telco in-store sales staff may not be adequately checking that customers have the capacity to pay for the services they are purchasing.
Telecommunications lobby group Communications Alliance has called for a redoubling of efforts by service providers and the Telecoms Industry Ombudsman on addressing unresolved telecoms customer issues.
The Communications Alliance, Australia’s peak body for the telecommunications industry, has condemned the behaviour of a small number of service providers found to be engaged in “misleading sales practices”.
Consumer complaints to Australia’s telcos have fallen by 12% in the three months between April and June this year – the lowest rate for the quarter since 2016.
The telecommunications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, says telco customers will now be better protected under new consumer protection rules it has just introduced.
The latest report by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman showing significant falls in complaints volumes about landline, mobile and Internet services does not represent “job done” by any means, according to the telecommunications industry lobby group, Communications Alliance.
The telecommunications industry lobby group, Communications Alliance, has told the Australian Communications and Media Authority it wants stronger, enforceable protections for Australia’s telecommunications consumers.
Telecommunications services provider iTalkBB Australia has been warned to take compliance seriously by the telecommunications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, over its second breach in less than three years of the consumer protections code.
Customer satisfaction with services delivered by Australia’s telcos and telecommunications services providers has risen markedly, with a new survey revealing that 83% of customers now say they are satisfied with services.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has issued a reminder that Carrier Service Providers in the telecommunications sector have until the beginning of September to lodge statements of compliance with the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code.
The guide setting out principles and practices that telecommunications and Internet service providers can use when dealing with consumers in financial hardship has been updated.
Communications regulator the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says telcos are continuing to deal with consumers experiencing financial hardship in a way that remains largely compliant with their obligations under the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code.
Telecommunications services provider Exceed Connect has copped a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority for a breach of the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code 2012 (TCP) by transferring customers from another telco without the customers’ consent.
Six telecommunications providers who have failed to meet their obligations for a second time under the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code (TCP) have now been ordered by the industry watchdog to comply.
There has been a strong level of compliance by telcos with the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code in the three years since its introduction.
Fewer telco and Internet consumers are experiencing problems with their services, but despite the good news it seems that some customers might be reluctant, or just simply don’t bother, to exercise their right to complain.
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At Computex today, AMD released their first mobile platform since the acquisition of ATI, codenamed “Puma”. Puma consists of a K8-based processor, called the Turion X2 Ultra, as well as the new RS780M mobile northbridge with a built-in Radeon HD3200 graphics core that’s also capable of running tandem with discrete AMD Radeon GPUs, and even switching “off” the discrete GPU when extra power isn’t needed, saving battery life.
According to a new article at ArsTechnica covering the release, the really big news here is “XGP”, the new AMD External Graphics Platform, which would allow a discrete graphics card to sit outside the laptop case and connect through an external PCIe 2.0 x8 connector. However, ArsTechnica speculates that Puma will have some trouble gaining the spotlight, which is currently hogged by sub-notebooks (like the ASUS Eee PC) powered by Intel’s Atom and VIA’s Nano CPUs, whereas Puma is more of a direct competitor to Intel’s Centrino platform.
Puma is the first laptop platform AMD has released since it bought ATI, and the combined companies are betting that the emerging synergy between their respective product lines will entice buyers in ways current Intel products cannot match. Santa Clara won’t be the only force to overcome; AMD will also have to draw attention to its new Puma-based products at a time when small notebook and "netbook" designs based on Nano, Atom, and Tegra are soaking up the headlines.


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Welcome to Part 2 of my report on cryptocurrency’s status in Japan. My previous post summarized Japan’s current regulatory atmosphere and explained why cryptocurrency is still not considered “legal tender” in that country. In this installment, I’m going to take a closer look at the overall support for cryptocurrency in Japan, and the status of its adoption.
Government support, or just a smart strategy?
While the Japanese government deserves credit for having a forward-thinking attitude towards cryptocurrency, it’s important to recall the events that shaped such an attitude. In 2014, a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange named Mt. Gox declared bankruptcy after revealing that someone had pilfered 850,000 bitcoins from it over several years. As the most significant security breach to ever hit cryptocurrency (at the time), the theft severely weakened the public’s confidence in bitcoin. However, rather than support the industry, the government’s knee-jerk reaction was to quickly impose several new regulations. At the time, Mineyuki Fukuda, a former Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker responsible for crafting such laws, was quoted as saying “if it weren’t for Mt. Gox, I wouldn’t have been involved with Bitcoin regulation at all”.
Economic considerations were likely the only reason that Japan didn’t slap an outright ban on cryptocurrencies following this disaster. More cynical observers believe another motivation was the realization that cryptocurrency could make Japan “cool” again. Japan’s glory days of strong economic growth and world-beating innovation that gave birth to the Sony Walkman, Nintendo Gameboy, and instant noodles have long been a thing of the past
Respondents to my survey were heavily in agreement. Over 70% of survey respondents felt that the Japanese government remains non-supportive of cryptocurrency adoption, which was very surprising to me. At first, I hadn’t even included that option as an answer, since everything I had read online had indicated otherwise. However, after the first few respondents reported otherwise,
One respondent opined that the government’s primary focus was “not aiming to promote the technology, (merely) prevent any crime and bankruptcy caused by speculative investing.” Another respondent asserted that the government “does not possess the capability to adequately regulate cryptocurrency.”
Fear the taxman
In Japan, profits made from trading cryptocurrencies fall under miscellaneous income. This classification means the government will add any earnings received as regular income, with your tax burden calculated from that total. For high earners, this can push your tax rate up to 55%. However, being miscellaneous income, losses cannot be carried forward to the next year, nor can losses be deducted from other types of income. In contrast, profits from trading stocks, on the other hand, are taxed at a flat 20%.
During Japan’s Upper House budget committee meeting in June, a Japanese lawmaker asked the Deputy Prime Minister if cryptocurrency profits could be taxed in the same way as stocks. Unfortunately, the minister expressed doubt that the public would be sympathetic to such a change – as the broader population views cryptocurrencies as merely a tool for speculation.
A relatively large percentage of the world’s bitcoin trading volume is paired with the yen, and Koji Higashi believes that a small concentration of investors with large orders comprise most of it. Thus it’s likely that a reasonable number of people are getting slugged with this overwhelmingly high tax rate (assuming they haven’t already left the country).
This unfair tax treatment isn’t exactly what one might expect from a country considered a “crypto haven” by investors. Instead, it lends weight to the notion that Japan is playing a quite strategic game regarding taxation revenue.
Cryptocurrency: a business chance
Japanese businesses have quickly taken advantage of bitcoin’s popularity. According to the Japan Cryptocurrency Business Association, roughly 52,000 vendors across Japan support payment via bitcoin. Kohei Kurihara, president of the Tokyo Chapter of the Government Blockchain Association, points out that these vendors are mostly small shops or internet businesses. Despite vendor support and adoption, major electronics retailer Bic Camera recently revealed that less than 1% of all store purchases were made with bitcoin last year.
When asked why Japanese vendors are actively adopting cryptocurrency as a payment option, nearly half of my survey respondents indicated that such vendors merely saw a business chance. They were not notably aware or interested in blockchain’s technological merits. Roughly 30% of respondents asserted that businesses are not adopting it, indicating that adoption isn’t as widespread as the media would have us believe.
From these responses, we can glean that there’s still a long way to go before cryptocurrency is considered mainstream among the public in Japan.
Growing consumer support can be challenging in a stagnant, aging society.
Many people consider Japan a technological wonderland; perhaps because electronic gadgets are quite commonplace. Or perhaps its because the country relies on an amazingly fast and reliable train system. Despite this image, there’s also a side of Japan lagging behind technological progress. Take for example Japan’s love for the simple FAX machine, which still plays a significant role in business here, or the fact that most transactions in Japan are carried out in cash. Commercials for VISA debit cards are only now appearing on Japanese TV, a significant part of the financial landscape in other advanced economies for decades.
While bright, young Japanese may be hungry for change, among a rapidly-aging population, their number is dwindling year-by-year. People aged 65 or older currently account for a quarter of all people here, with that figure expected to rise to a third by 2040. One thing that has become abundantly clear to me while living in Japan is that Japanese people (mainly the elderly) are quite resistant to change. One survey respondent also made this point, stating that “cryptocurrency adoption won’t progress at all [as a form of payment in Japan], because of the dominance of cash, particularly in rural areas, which is very difficult to change.” The merits of cryptocurrencies as enablers of commission-free international travel and spending are likely lost on the average Japanese person, who is not globally-minded nor overly keen to venture abroad.
I asked survey participants why they thought cryptocurrencies were popular among ordinary Japanese people. Only 20% said it was because they tend to like new technology, a possible surprise to outside observers. The top two responses were that the Japanese follow trends quickly and that they enjoy speculating. If we include the gambling option within speculation, it takes that figure to around 40%. To be fair, the majority of people around the world who bought crypto during the past year probably feel the same way. Alas, they were not enamored by crypto technology.
Trends play a prominent role among the younger generation of Japanese, and thus fads tend to come and go quickly. Perhaps cryptocurrency will suffer the same fate here – Koji Higashi admitted that consumers pay with bitcoin mostly for its novelty. The prospect of making substantial profits in this ultra-low interest rate economy initially lured in many crypto investors. Now that we are languishing within a bear market, cryptocurrency seems to have fallen out of fashion. Indeed, when asked whether the popularity of cryptocurrency would spread, 67% of survey respondents said no.
Blockchain innovation currently hard to come by
In the paragraphs above, I explained why Japan can’t yet be labeled a hotspot for blockchain adoption; the scale of blockchain innovation here is even smaller. While Japan’s startup scene has traditionally lagged behind that of other countries, it’s gradually beginning to gain some traction. Blockchain startups, however, are considered to be lagging much further behind. Koji Higashi asserts that “all the seemingly ‘new’ and ‘hot’ crypto ventures in Japan nowadays are unoriginal ICO-related services (ICO review, consultation, and the like), and there are virtually no Japanese projects that are unique or potentially disruptive that have a strong presence outside the Japanese market.” This reality may be due to the lack of guidance surrounding ICOs, as mentioned above. According to one observer, “many Japanese ICO projects have needed to seek approval with the FSA on a case by case basis. Some have even structured their ICOs outside of Japan and blocked participation from Japanese residents.”
Fortunately, investors expect new ICO regulation within the next year or two, a confidence-building development which will give a boost to blockchain startups here. Until that happens, however, the number of new players entering the blockchain space, or even toying with blockchain innovation, will likely remain minimal.
I had initially begun my research with the expectation of writing an article about why Japan was considered a leader in cryptocurrency acceptance. Instead, I found myself guilty of taking what I had read in the media at face value and not giving it much critical thought. As I dug a bit deeper, I found that such reporting had been at best exaggerated, and worse just plain wrong. My survey results have helped to confirm this.
My aim was not to attack Japan’s handling of cryptocurrency issues. Indeed, I think they are doing an excellent job; after all, the primary aim of any government should be to ensure the economic prosperity and safety of its citizens. And Japan’s regulations aim to do just that. In addition to clearing up some misconceptions, a key point I want to make is that just because everyone is pushing a particular narrative, it won’t necessarily prove to be true. Instead, it should be carefully questioned and scrutinized. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to get ahead of ourselves when bombarded with sensationalist headlines.
Mainstream blockchain adoption won’t be achieved by the broader public anytime soon. It’s more likely that mainstream adoption will be achieved unconsciously, through the use of innovative services in which the user isn’t even aware they are using blockchain technology. Once that happens, the term “crypto haven” will have lost much of its meaning anyway. So, instead of getting wrapped up in all the hype and misinformation, why don’t we sit back and enjoy the ride.


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PH-China economic ties 'improving' despite sea row
MetadataShow full item record
Relations between China and the Philippines are “improving,” an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said, as the two countries firm up strategies to boost cooperation. Trade Undersecretary Nora Terrado cited efforts to hold bilateral discussions to tackle the sociopolitical and economic relationship between China and the Philippines. “I think that relationships, political, trade, economic is improving. The reason why I say that is because bilateral discussion has been ongoing,” Terrado told reporters at the sidelines of the 14th China-Asean Expo and China-Asean Business and Investment Summit.
Valente, C. S. (2017, September 13). PH-China economic ties 'improving' despite sea row. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.
Associated contentOnline version
- The Manila Times


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Regardless of where you are, your Northeastern network is there for you. Bond, socialize, learn, or build personal connections with your community and the global Northeastern network. Find an event to attend.
With vaccinations on the rise and covid restrictions easing across the world, the tourism industry is beginning to recover. View a panel discussion on the impacts of a tourism resurgence in a post-pandemic world, featuring our distinguished panel of experts. Northeastern is proud to welcome: His Excellency Zayad al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce & […]
Hear from Raj Echambadi, Dunton Family Dean of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, in an exciting and engaging conversation with distinguished global family business leaders. Panelists Henadi Al-Saleh, Chairperson of Kuwait’s Agility Logistics Corporation, Anil Mahtani, PNT'17, PNT'21, PNT’25, Director of Hong Kong’s Maxwell’s Clothiers, and Meher Pudumjee, Chairperson of India’s Thermax Ltd., will discuss decision-making, governance, and succession planning considerations established family businesses face, as well as provide reflections on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted these discussions.


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ViaBTC recently announced that its new exchange, Coinex, will be the first in the world to trade exclusively in BCH pairs. The exchange, which was incorporated in the UK on December 4th, will launch later this month. Initially, Coinex will offer BTC/BCH, ETH/BCH, LTC/BCH, ZEC/BCH, and DASH/BCH pairs; there are plans to eventually offer margin and futures trading, as well as to launch a platform for over-the-counter trading.
The launch of Coinex comes in the wake of the forced closure of ViaBTC’s previous exchange, which was shut down by the Chinese government as part of the sweeping cryptocurrency bans that took place in September of this year.
According to Sara Ouyang, ViaBTC’s chief operating officer, the choice to use BCH rather than BTC as the primary trading currency on Coinex is because “it has much faster transactions with low fees and better performance in terms of usability.”
Bitcoin Cash – a Steady Climb?
It is true that Bitcoin Cash does have a block size that is eight times larger than Bitcoin’s, which theoretically allows the Bitcoin Cash network to confirm eight times more transactions per second than the Bitcoin network.
However, suspicions of the BCH network’s centralization arose after the cryptocurrency spiked from around $625 to nearly $2000 before falling back around $1000, all within a 4-day period in mid-November. BCH has still not managed to return to the heights achieved during that period.
Seemingly, ViaBTC has long had a rather cozy and productive relationship with BCH. When ViaBTC’s exchange was still operating in July of 2017, it became the first exchange ever to offer futures trading for Bitcoin Cash. According to a report from News.Bitcoin.com, BCH futures were trading at about $325 a pop at the time.
As Bitcoin continues to become more popular as an investment as well as a sort of pop-cultural movement, Bitcoin Cash is still lagging behind the coin by about $260 billion in terms of market cap size. Although Bitcoin is still facing the same problems with scalability that it has had for several years, it seems unlikely that Bitcoin Cash will become the cryptocurrency of choice anytime soon, if ever.
Still, the Bitcoin Cash network is faring relatively well. Just last month, BCH underwent a fork (software upgrade) that aimed to improve the network’s Difficulty Algorithm Adjustment. The result was an end to the “erratic block time intervals” that have occasionally caused problems on the network, according to News.Bitcoin.com.
News.Bitcoin.com also reported that “BCH has witnessed a consistent increase in the number of transactions processed on its network,” an indication that the network is attracting more users. It is quite possible that the launch of the Coinex exchange, and other exchanges like it, could encourage even more BCH trading and adoption.


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A Green Country town is expected to explode with new business in the coming months.
The Pioneer Woman - Ree Drummond - is renovating a historic downtown Pawhuska building, with plans for a general store, bakery, deli and much more.
On one of Pawhuska's main street corners, renovations are being made to the old Osage Mercantile building. The one-time hot spot will soon be back in the limelight thanks to The Pioneer Woman's blog and cooking show.
“Ree Drummond is doing a lot, yes. And I met with her just a few weeks ago,” Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said.
The chief says Ree Drummond plans to open her new general store, deli and bakery September 15th. Which is why on another main street corner, work is being done to the town's old pawn shop. That’s where the tribe plans to put in an interpretive center.
It will open for a trial run the same day as the grand opening for the Pioneer Woman's store.
“We'll run it for like three days and after we get that moving, we'll make it a permanent facility,” said the chief.
The goal, Standing Bear says, is to intercept some the traffic the Drummond's store is sure to bring through Pawhuska.
Pawhuska's city manager says some research shows the Pioneer Woman's new business could bring as many as 1,500 new people to town every day. And the Osage Nation says that's the perfect opportunity to share its culture with others.
Standing Bear says Osage Nation’s museum will have a display in the interpretive center, as well as their culture department. It will also promote the tribe's eco-park that's in the process of being built. And then they’ll eventually they'll add a gift shop.
“We're trying to interpret our culture, under our terms, not Hollywood,” Geoffrey Standing Bear said.
A culture that has long been engrained in Osage County.
“Pawhuska is the capital of the Osage Nation and it was before statehood. After statehood it became the county seat as well,” Geoffrey Standing Bear said.
You have a chance to work for the Pioneer Woman. Drummond is holding job a series of job fairs over the coming days.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be opening The Mercantile in our hometown of Pawhuska," said Ree Drummond.
"We have worked hard to create a warm, welcoming, and truly unique place for both locals and visitors from other areas. From unique goods in the general store to scrumptious dishes in the deli to pies, sweet rolls, croissants, and cakes make fresh daily in the bakery, there is sure to be something for everyone. We can't wait to open our doors!"
The Pioneer Woman Mercantile is looking to hire deli staff, bakery staff, servers, baristas, retail staff, warehouse positions and more.
Come and go job fairs are being held at several locations on the following date:
Saturday, August 27, 11:00am - 3:00pm
The Constantine Theatre, 110 West Main Street, Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Tuesday, August 30, 11:00am - 3:00pm
Bartlesville Community Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Wednesday, August 31, 11:00am - 3:00pm
The Bond Event Center, 608 East 3rd Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma


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Vending machine prices are on a steady rise on campus and in vending machines nationwide.
The New York Times reports that high temperatures increase prices because vending machines will need thermometers with higher capacities to meet consumers’ needs.
Consumers’ problems with price increases occur when they are unsure whether the increase is necessary or the company is charging more for their own benefit.
Student Nick Wort from Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) recently published an article where he explains how and why their vending machine prices have increased.
Wort interviewed the director of dining services on the IUSB campus, who explains that the increase was inevitable because the price of the product increased and he just had to work with the changes.
On our campus, dining services has no control over the campus vending machines that are privately contracted by an outside company.
There is no representative to speak on their behalf and explain why vending machine prices have gone up, whether it is for their own benefit or for an inevitable cause.
Missouri State University also seems to be experiencing the same issue, however, Missouri State students don’t feel that it is problem.
They say they would rather pay more and have a guarantee that they will have good products versus paying less for bad products.
This is assuming that the rate increase is due to better services for the consumer instead of more income for the producer.
Students are affected by the price increases because most have no choice but to buy from the vending machines.
Student Kassandra Klutts said, “I honestly don’t buy food or drinks here because it is too expensive. I’d rather bring my own food and drinks and save money.”
The New York Times also reports that although people are strongly opposed to the charges they continue to purchase the product at the same rate.
This means that the demand for the product remains consistent despite the increasing prices.
A report on Forbes Magazine explains that despite the price increases, the sale of products in the vending machines, specifically those of the Coca-Cola brand, have been on a steady rise every year.
Encyclopedia.com reports that about 10 years ago, vending machines were 14 percent of food service sales on college campuses.
That number has increased significantly since then.
Vending machine companies pay colleges and universities millions of dollars for permission to place vending machines all around campuses.
We can expect to see diversity with vending machines in the future, as some companies are looking to diversify the products their machines offer.
According to tiki-toki.com, vending machines have expanded to provide products aside from the original soda and candy.
They are now vending materials such as movies, coffee, and raw foods.
The technology in vending machines has also expanded in the form of being able to read credit and debit cards.
This is to accommodate people who do not carry cash.
Although these advancements do not confirm or deny the possibility of price increases, it is clear that we will be getting better service from these vendors.


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Thousands of <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/defective_medical_devices">medical devices are approved annually in the United States with no proof of efficacy. Now, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that high-risk medical devices are among those approved without appropriate proof of safety by the same regulators that are also not mandated to monitor recalls when problems arise.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defends a practice commonly known as known as 510(k) approvals, claiming it promotes innovation. According to Bloomberg.com, the FDA has given expedited reviews to nearly 70 devices, including pacemakers and hip joints since January 2009, when the GAO called for â€œimmediate stepsâ€ to strengthen standards or reclassify risks, citing testimony by Marcia Crosse, director of health care at the GAO. The Senate Special Committee on Aging will be discussing its findings at a hearing today in Washington.
The FDAâ€™s policy of fast-tracking medical devices contrasts greatly with its process for drug approvals in which the FDA requires new medications be studied in thousands of people to determine safety and efficacy prior to approval for market release. By contrast, medical device makers must simply demonstrate a device does what they claim, and that it poses no undue safety risks. Unlike a new drug, a device approved under 510(k) does not have to prove efficacy.
Consider the global recall of defective DePuy hip replacement devices that involved 93,000 hip devices manufactured by the Johnson & Johnson unit, which led to deeper review of the FDA review process. That review pointed to a 1976 law that is not strictly followed and that calls for high-risk devices to undergo more stringent review, said the GAO, wrote Bloomberg.com. The GAO is Congressâ€™ investigational unit.
â€œConcerns persist about the effectiveness of the 510(k) process in general, including its ability to provide adequate assurance that devices are safe and effective,â€ Crosse said in written testimony, quoted Bloomberg.com. The 510(k) program clears some 3,800 to 4,000 products annually and is, according to senior executive vice president for the Advanced Medical Technology Association, David Nexon, â€œcritical to a vibrant and successful device industry,â€ quoted Bloomberg.com, citing testimony. The program, â€œhas an exemplary record of protecting the public from unsafe devices,â€ he added.
While industry, as expected, argues that fast-tracking is needed to match technology, many disagree, saying the fast-tracking process is over-used. For instance, we recently wrote that advocacy group Public Citizen revealed eight significant loopholes in how the FDA approves medical devices, allowing potentially unsafe, ineffective, dangerous products on the market.
The recalled DePuy hip joint devices are not the only fast-tracked devices found to be defective. Protegen, a synthetic sling implanted under a womanâ€™s bladder to prevent stress incontinence was granted 510(k) approval in 1996, but was recalled three years later due to a high rate of complications. Medtronic Inc. recalled its Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead, approved under the 510(k) process, after it was found to have a higher-than-normal facture rate and was implicated in five deaths. Sadly, notes Bloomberg.com, the FDA only mandates thorough testing for less than one-tenth of all devices
The GAO only looked at high-risk devices, such as implantable or life-sustaining device and found that 26 of 27 products mentioned in the 2009 report are undergoing â€œless stringentâ€ FDA reviews, said Crosse. Of 113 withdrawn devices that were classified as high-risk recalls by the FDA from 2005 to 2009â€”81 percentâ€”were fast-tracked, said Bloomberg.com. Of the recalls, one-third were cardiovascular devices, including defibrillators manufactured by Medtronic Inc., Zoll Medical Corp., and Welch Allyn Inc., wrote Bloomberg.com.


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Global Business Travel just released their mid-year forecast study. It's good news. Worldwide business travel is predicted to jump 9.2 percent and surpass $1 trillion.
The study also explored business travel levels by industry, finding that "service industries that tend to be much more prevalent in developed economies such as business services and banking have cut T&E budgets more aggressively over the last few years; meanwhile, industries such as food processing, plastic manufacturing, paper, textiles and industrial machinery, more prevalent in the developing world, have seen strong growth over the last few years."
With more travel, comes more meetings! We like that!


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Burgers may be the most iconic American fast food. But when it comes to what’s really for dinner in the U.S., the answer is chicken.
The average American eats almost 92 pounds of chicken each year, compared to about 54 pounds of red meat.
Brands like Chick-fil-A and KFC have been able to capitalize on the U.S. population’s obsession with deep-fried fowl, but as some consumers look to lighten up, Boston Market says it has the answer to satisfy America’s love of chicken—and provide a satisfying crunch.
This week, Boston Market restaurants across the country began serving an oven fried boneless, all white meat chicken breast, seasoned and hand breaded with panko crumbs. Instead of fried, this breast is baked, yielding a crisp, golden crust, that’s not dripping in oil.
The chain is best known for its rotisserie style birds, but Boston Market CEO George Michel says the new product was carefully studied by his culinary team.
“We tasted about 24 variations of the product,” Michel told FoxNews.com. “It’s clear people like crispy chicken but we didn’t want to use fryers.”
The CEO says the chain’s research indicated consumers are increasingly health conscious and Boston Market wanted to create a poultry product that could stand out in the crowded marketplace.
So can an oven “fried” chicken breast hold a candle to the real thing?
"This chicken does not taste baked," exclaimed one surprised Chew on This taster. The boneless breast got top marks for the well-seasoned, crispy panko crumb breading, too.
"It's more flavorful than something like a plain fried chicken sandwich from McDonald's," remarked another taster.
Despite liking the flavor, some thought the bird was "on the dry side" and lamented needing a glass of water.
Still, many were happy that something could be crispy, and not be totally bad for oyu. Boston Market’s panko-crusted oven baked breast has 230 calories and just 6 grams of fat per serving. An Original Recipe Chicken Breast from KFC comes in at 320 calories with 16 grams of fat. This fast casual menu item may actually be healthier than its fast food cousin.
And unlike the chain’s traditional rotisserie style birds which usually come as a plated portion with two side, the oven crisp chicken can be wrapped into a tortilla, or piled on top of a salad or sandwich, giving Boston Market consumers more lunch-friendly fare.
And offering more variety will be key as the chain moves on to its next big initiative—international expansion.
This week the company also announced it will be moving into the Middle Eastern market—specifically Kuwait—because, according to Michel, everyone there really loves chicken.
“It’s the one protein that is eaten throughout the world without any major religious or dietary restrictions,” explains Michel. Rotisserie style chicken is already “very popular” in the Middle East, according to the CEO, and the chain wants to continue to capitalize on the growing popularity of American food brands overseas.
But for people in the U.S. who really love chicken, too, Boston Market plans on making it easier for people to get their hands on their birds—by ramping up its domestic catering and delivery businesses.


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“The Career Service Award is being given to five researchers who exerted noteworthy long-term impact through various events and initiatives on behalf of the research community and the industry as a whole,” said Jean Lambert, research director for ICSC. “They have gone the extra step in sharing their time, talents and efforts with the ICSC community.”
An internationally recognized leader in geodemographics and marketing research, Dr. Lea is a regular speaker at ICSC conferences, advises the group on industry issues and has shared his research during a career spanning more than 30 years. Founded in 1957, the ICSC is the shopping centre industry’s global trade association, with more than 68,000 members in over 100 countries. It established researcher awards in 2007 to recognize industry professionals who have demonstrated a significant commitment and contribution to ICSC and the shopping centre industry.
“It is a great honour to be recognized by the ICSC for my career contributions that emphasized retail research,” says Dr. Lea. “I have used a great deal of data in my research and presented papers on many topics, including the behaviour of customers, the location of stores, the best ways to define trade areas and the optimal mix of stores in shopping centres. This work underscores the data-driven imperative of the discipline—something I’ve come to truly enjoy. To be recognized for doing what you love to do is very rewarding.”
At EA, Dr. Lea currently oversees research and development initiatives, population estimates and projections and site evaluation models, and was instrumental in the development of EA’s PRIZM C2 segmentation system and WealthScapes financial product. Prior to joining EA in 2003, Dr. Lea was Senior Research Associate with the Centre for the Study of Commercial Activity at Ryerson University, Managing Director of MapInfo Canada and Senior Vice President of Compusearch. The recipient of master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Toronto, he also teaches research and techniques at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University, and has also taught at the University of Minnesota and Queen’s University. “I believe that passing on some lessons and methods to the next generation is especially important,” he says.


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With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Scarlett systems expected to ship later next year, publisher Electronic Arts admits to being “very excited” about the next generation of hardware. During the company’s earnings call on Tuesday, July 30, EA says it’s been “working on [next-gen games] for some time,” Video Games Chronicle reports.
EA says it “will be ready” when the next generation hits. While the PS5 has no confirmed release window, we do know Scarlett will launch Holiday 2020. CFO Blake Jorgensen said EA has been “working hard on building games for next year on Gen 5.” Jorgensen mentioned Madden, saying, “As has happened in the past, not all games will come out on Gen 5 immediately. Obviously, games like Madden, you probably bring the Gen 5 game out when the Gen 5 console ships, not when Madden itself ships.”
While EA is looking forward to the next generation of hardware, Platinum Games CEO Atsushi Inaba said “it’s more of the same.” Inaba seems unimpressed with Microsoft and Sony’s upcoming consoles, saying, “It’s nothing that’s disruptive or super innovative.”
GameStop, on the other hand, is looking forward to the forthcoming systems. Particularly, GameStop is excited about them still having disc drives, with chief customer officer Frank Hamlin saying, “We’re very much a believer in helping our customers sell them a physical game when they want it.”


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Tech giant Google has just announced its Third Quarter 2010 Financial Results reporting revenues of $7.29 billion for the last quarter, up 23% from the third quarter of last year.
Operating expenses, other than cost of revenues, were $2.19 billion in the third quarter of 2010, or 30% of revenues, compared to $1.64 billion in the third quarter of 2009, or 28% of revenues.
Google’s own sites generated $4.83 billion of the revenue, while partner sites made an additional $2.2 billion through AdSense. Google’s total revenues were split nearly down the middle between domestic and international income; $3.52 billion came from within the United States, while $3.77 billion came from other countries. Of that $3.77 billion, $890 million alone came from the United Kingdom.
“Google had an excellent quarter,” said Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google. “Our core business grew very well, and our newer businesses — particularly display and mobile — continued to show significant momentum. Going forward, we remain committed to aggressive investment in both our people and our products as we pursue an innovation agenda.”
Google is now worth in total assets, $53.34 billion, or 31.7% more than its total assets in the third quarter of 2009.
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Online consumer lender China Rapid Finance today announced it has reached the 20 million cumulative loan mark, a number that has nearly doubled over the past six months. Second quarter facilitated loans rose by more than 350 per cent to north of five million.
“We are well on track to continue expanding our platform as we serve the needs of our target Emerging Middle-class, Mobile Active consumers (EMMAs),” chairman and CEO Dr. Zane Wang said.
Dr. Wang explained his company’s tiered strategy, which has generated a repeat borrower percentage of 73.
“Our ‘low and grow’ strategy starts out new borrowers with smaller, shorter-term loans and then selectively offers larger, longer-term loans to repeat borrowers that demonstrate positive credit behavior. We are well-positioned to scale with a low borrower acquisition cost of retaining high-quality EMMAs as they build their credit histories on our platform, and have the potential to serve their lifetime credit needs. As a result, our ‘low and grow’ model creates high customer lifetime value and a source of sustainable growth for the Company.”
Dr. Wang welcomed efforts to regulate the online lending industry.
“In addition, PRC regulators have launched efforts to maintain high standards in the fast-growing online lending industry, to eliminate non-compliant industry players and thus to build a stable, sustainable, and healthy environment in which compliant and responsible companies will be able to thrive and grow. We welcome these initiatives and believe they will benefit the industry leaders such as China Rapid Finance.”
China Rapid Finance estimated there are 500 million EMMAs in China who have no credit history and experience difficulty obtaining loans. The company’s technology leads to a low cost of acquisition and the tiered strategy should produce strong stream of lifetime customers, they predict.
Learn more about China Rapid Finance here and here.
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Last waltz as MAM unloads Luminar
Fund giant Mercury Asset Management is ending its nine-year disco and dancing relationship with Chicago Rock Cafe group Luminar. Once owner of 52%, it placed its final 24% for around £45m.
Steve Thomas, the former disc jockey who is Luminar chief executive, said: 'I've seen more of MAM in the last few years than my own family.'
Luminar proved a stunning investment. It was floated at 200p in 1996, though MAM paid much less for its original stake.
The shares rose 65p to 960p yesterday on upbeat trading and plans to buy 27 bars and nightclubs, among them London's Hippodrome, for £34.5m from bowling chain Allied Leisure.
Thomas is financing the deal by offering new shares at 850p. First-half profits jumped 39% to £4.3m on turnover 32% up at £30m. Dividends are held at 2.5p.
MAM's decision to pocket its profits should not be a sell sign for other investors. Luminar remains the pick of the sector.
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Facebook is buying Microsoft’s Atlas Advertiser Suite, an ad analysis platform, in a move that should increase its advertising revenue and give marketers better information about their campaigns across the social network, on both desktop and mobile.
The terms of the deal, which was announced Thursday afternoon in a blog post, are not being disclosed.
The acquisition comes as Facebook faces growing pressure to raise its ad revenue as more users shift to mobile devices while advertisers remain largely focused on the desktop.
The deal’s rationale is based on the fact that businesses and advertising agencies are struggling to gauge the success of their campaigns across channels, Facebook said, and are often left in the dark on how their different marketing efforts strengthen or complement each other.
Facebook is betting that Atlas’ measurement tools will help to solve that problem. It plans to scale up Atlas’ back-end measurement systems, it said.
“Our belief is that measuring various touch points in the marketing funnel will help advertisers to see a more complete view of the effectiveness of their campaigns,” said Facebook product marketing director Brian Boland, in the blog post.
Atlas partners may get new routes to customers
The acquisition has the potential to give advertisers who partner with Atlas an additional way to target customers outside of Facebook, said Dana Todd, senior vice president of marketing and business development at Performics, a Chicago-based marketing agency, who described the deal as a smart move for Facebook.
“Right now, it’s a very one-way use of data,” she said.
Dane Atkinson, CEO at SumAll, a marketing analytics company, agreed. “It’s an interesting deal both in terms of what it does in establishing ROI [return on investment] on social media by tracking a user from click to purchase as well as assisting Facebook in developing an ad network,” Atkinson said via email.
“Establishing ROI on social media ad spend is key to validating this advertising channel,” he added.
The deal was announced just one day after Facebook said it will also be expanding its custom audiences tool to provide businesses with more data to help target their ads to users on the site.
The custom audiences expansion allows for more partnering between individual businesses and the Datalogix, Epsilon, Acxiom and BlueKai marketing agencies; now Nielsen and Datalogix will also be combined with the Atlas platform, Facebook said.
Many marketers on Facebook today already use Atlas, and existing Atlas clients will not see any change in the services they receive, the company said.
Pressure on Google?
Microsoft gained Atlas in 2007 as part of its acquisition of eQuantive, a global digital marketing company, for roughly $6 billion.
Some industry watchers are framing Facebook’s Atlas buy as the social network’s attempt to compete with advertising on Google, which uses DoubleClick for managing marketing campaigns, though Facebook did not immediately respond to comment on the matter.
“[It’s] absolutely a way for Facebook to continue to compete with Google for spend in the digital ad space,” said SumAll’s Atkinson.
The Atlas team will continue to be based in Seattle, Facebook noted, adding that the social network’s own Seattle-based engineering and product teams will be “substantially” invested in.
This report was posted at 5:59 p.m. February 28, 2013 and updated at 6:30 a.m. March 1, 2013.