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sioux falls, sd
The majority of shares of a Sioux Falls golf course are slated to be sold next week at an auction by the Minnehaha County sheriff.
The sale on May 26 could put the future of the Willow Run Golf Course in question because a new majority owner could redevelop the land. Sheriff Mike Milstead says the sale is an attempt to collect on a judgment against golf course owner Richard Tschetter that totals about $380,000.
Tschetter is an eye doctor with Ophthalmology Ltd. in Sioux Falls. He would not comment on the sale or judgment that was ordered in March.


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Children are spending a lot of time online, leading to an increase in screen time. This is a cause of concern not only for their physical and mental health but has also increased their vulnerability to various cyber threats.
According to UNICEF more than 175,000 new children go online everyday—that’s one new child every half second. Whether it is virtual classes, educational and vocational webinars, co-curricular activities, projects, competitions, and even social interaction, everything has gone digital. This has led to a significant increase in the amount of time children spend online.
Increased screen time can make children vulnerable to cyber threats
At Arkose Labs, we recently conducted a study ‘Navigating Internet Security When Screen Time Becomes Full Time‘ which revealed that on an average children are spending more than four hours online every day. The most common activities being classes for school, watching videos, video conferencing, surfing the web, gaming, and social media.
The problem is exacerbated as outdoor activities are still restricted, which means children continue to rely on digital channels for almost all their daily activities. This increased online presence makes them more susceptible to online threats such as cyberbullying, sexual abuse, inappropriate content, social engineering, malware, ransomware, malicious links, and addiction. These threats hold the potential to harm the mental well-being of the affected children, long-term.
Digital savvy, but not necessarily able to identify threats
The younger generation today is digital native, thanks to the availability of internet access at an early age compared to their parents. Most kids are accessing the internet at an average age of 5 years, whereas their parents, on, average, were 17 years when they first accessed the internet. This means children are more accustomed to and comfortable using digital channels as compared to their parents. But does that mean they are also more aware of cyber threats?
The short answer is ‘No’. Familiarity with the internet and the ability to surf seamlessly doesn’t necessarily mean they are aware of the threats they may face in the online world. 65% of the youngsters, Arkose Labs polled for the study, said they had never felt unsafe online. It is highly likely that this false sense of security may have prevented them from recognizing such incidents if and when they happened.
The good news, however, is that there is a growing awareness about internet safety among them. Nearly 33% of parents believed that the time spent online has taught their kids the importance of cybersecurity. Children are also becoming aware of scams and online frauds and they know they are not supposed to share payment-related information or social security numbers with anyone on the internet as it can be dangerous. They know fraudsters steal personal information and use them for impersonation and financial fraud.
Parental counseling can help make the internet safe for kids
Parents can play an important role in educating their children on the hazards of increased cyber exposure. In addition to discussing the various ways children are being targeted on the internet, they can use parental controls to monitor their kids’ activities on the internet and step in when needed. Parents must discourage their children from clicking random links or opening suspicious emails and explain the reason behind this advice.
That said, parents are themselves caught up in balancing their professional commitments with managing home and kids that they are not able to devote enough time to monitor their kids’ online activities. The majority of parents that Arkose Labs polled (71%) were worried about their kids’ safety online and nearly 66% of parents would like more resources to be available to help protect their children online.

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At £82.39, Asda was £1.75 cheaper than Morrisons. It offered the lowest price for 14 items and was exclusively cheapest for seven. These included the apple crumble, mineral water, mini breadsticks and pineapple chunks.
Tesco was £2.13 more expensive than Asda at the shelf-edge. However the £10.15 Clubcard Prices discount would have made it £8.02 cheaper than its Leeds-based rival. Key to this was a half-price deal on the lamb for loyalty card holders.
Waitrose was exclusively cheapest for five items including the cherry tomatoes, chocolate cake and Saint Agur cheese. This helped it to a surprisingly competitive total of £88.92, just £6.53 more expensive than Asda and £1.60 cheaper than Sainsbury’s shelf-edge prices.
Sainsbury’s went from last to second place after factoring in its Nectar Prices discounts. Nectar members would have saved £9.05 this week and thus Sainsbury’s total would have come down to £81.47.
This was 92p cheaper than Asda, but it would still have been £7.10 more expensive than Tesco after its loyalty prices were factored in as well.
Our shopping was just 0.6% more expensive than this time last year. Easter falls a week earlier this year, meaning this week’s big discounts would not yet have kicked in this time last year. Prices were also 4.5% cheaper month on month.


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European encryption fund Eureka Partners has raised $40 million, with full participation from Nordic Venture Innovations AB. The funds raised by Eureka Partners will be used to accelerate its development in the blockchain and cryptocurrency fields.
Blockchain tool and infrastructure developer Nethermind has announced on social media that the Nethermind client v1.20.4 has been launched. Due to the unsuccessful first launch of the Holesky network, it is scheduled to be restarted on September 28 at 12:00 UTC (8:00 PM Beijing time), with an epoch time of 1695902400.
Xiao Feng: The Next Three Years Will Be a Critical Moment for the Large-Scale Application of Blockchain
2023 Shanghai Blockchain International Week and Global Blockchain Summit hosted by Wanxiang Blockchain Lab, Wanxiang Blockchain Chairman Xiao Feng delivered a welcome speech, stating that the theme of this summit is "Next Stop, Web3", which includes blockchain, the internet, metaverse, AIGC, and not only technology but also innovative business models, organizational forms, economic mechanisms, and financial models.
Global blockchain mainnet XPLA, in which Com2uS Group participated, announced a strategic partnership with Web3 infrastructure company "Nefta". Through the partnership with Nefta, "NeftaToolbox", which includes basic functions for Web3 game development, has been connected to the Xpla mainnet, creating a simple development environment. It supports various Web3 technology infrastructures, including the creation and distribution of tokens and NFTs.
The recent finance and fintech news has caused uncertainty for some financial institutions and digital assets skeptics, but it has also led to a shift from blind confidence to educated optimism regarding cutting-edge financial technologies, particularly DLT. Institutional investors are increasingly recognizing the potential of blockchain technology, with a large majority believing in its potential for finance and planning to increase their allocations to the digital asset sector in the coming year.
Atari Founder: The Three Pillars of Blockchain That Can Provide Upgrades to Games Include Seamless Transfers, Smart Contracts, and Value Storage
September 15th, according to Cointelegraph, Nolan Bushnell, founder of gaming giant Atari, described in an interview the three pillars that blockchain can provide for much-needed upgrades to modern gaming, including: The first and most important value proposition is the ability to achieve seamless and secure fund transfers; The second is the practicality of smart contracts. Smart contracts are valuable not only in games, but also in all human interactions, because many of the things we do in life involve establishing relationships and setting terms for those relationships; The third is the ability to securely store the value of digital assets in the form of currency and tokens.
Despite the current bearish NFT market, ZTX's Genesis Homes NFTs achieved a record-breaking sale of its inaugural collection of 4,000 NFTs. The sale quickly sold out within hours after being posted on the OpenSea platform, showcasing investors' enthusiasm for virtual participation in the new metaverse world.
HSBC: Blockchain Bond Tokenization Platform HSBC Orion May Support Cross-Border Transactions in the Future
Mary Hui, the head of global banking business in the Asia-Pacific region of HSBC, said that the Orion platform launched by HSBC allows issuers to issue electronic bonds in Luxembourg through blockchain and can be traded in multiple currencies on the platform. It may support cross-border transactions in the future.
JPMorgan is reportedly close to entering a new era of digital finance, with a deposit token built on blockchain in the final stages of development. The product will initially target corporate clients, aiming to speed up settlements and payments. Unlike stablecoins, the deposit token will be issued by a depository institution and will allow transactions with other banks. Regulatory approval is still required before the product can be rolled out.
Blockchain Settlement Platform Zeebu Completes US$25 Million Pre-Sale Round of Financing, Bankai Ventures and Others Participated in the Investment
Zeebu, an innovative settlement platform based on blockchain, announced the completion of a $25 million pre-sale round of financing, with participation from strategic investment institutions such as Bankai Ventures. Zeebu mainly focuses on the telecommunications operator industry, providing low-cost and fast on-chain token settlement transaction services, allowing customers to no longer rely on banks and other financial intermediaries to process telecom fee transactions.


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Hundreds of visitors hear about ethical shopping choices
- Credit: Sam Attard
Suffolk entrepreneur Jo hails London ethical fashion event a great success
Ipswich entrepreneur Jo Salter hailed the first Ethical Brands for Fashion Revolution event a “great success.”
The event, at the London Brand Museum on Saturday, was part of Fashion Revolution Week, which attempted to spread the ethical shopping message and get consumers thinkking.
Mrs Salter, who runs ethical clothing brand Where Does it Come From? helped organize the special event which included fashion shows, panel discussions and almost 30 ethical traders in a mini-market.
She said: “It was a packed day, from when the doors were open at 10am right through. We had the fashions showns, three panel discussions and lots of lovely visitors, a really diverse crowd including a lot of young people.
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“There was a cotton spinning demonstration and a talk about tailoring.
“We had 500 people register in advance and a large number came - some all day, some stayed and went.
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“Our biggest seller on the day was our ant shirt; it is usually the scarves that are most popular.
“We felt it was really successful and we are already talking about what we are doing next year.”
The event was organised by Mrs Salter, Founder of Where Does It Come From? and Sian Conway, Founder of #EthicalHour - a global online network for ethical business owners, bloggers and consumers and winner of the Green and Eco Blogger of the Year Award 2018 at the UK Blog Awards in London earlier this month.
They hoped that by organising this event they could promote how stylish and affordable ethical fashion can be and raise awareness of the global Fashion Revolution campaign.
Mrs Salter added: “One of our main aims was to inspire consumers to find out about their clothes – who made them? How did they do it? Are there any negative effects on people or planet?
“Through the topics we discussed and by giving people the opportunity to meet ethical brands in person and hear their stories, I think we’ve shown just how easy and exciting ethical living can be.”


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According to the latest stats from AdGooroo - a search marketing consultant that tracks search ads from a network of servers across the globe - Google expanded its ad coverage (yet again) during the first three months of the year, despite a decrease in the overall number of advertisers using its AdWords platform.
"An increase in the number of ads coinciding with a decrease in the number of advertisers suggests an artificial change in ad coverage, perhaps in response to sluggish activity, quite different from than the organic growth which fueled revenues in previous quarters," reads a preliminary draft of AdGooRoo's quarterly report, due for release on Monday.
Google's official line is that by expanding coverage, it's somehow improving the "quality" of the text ads that turn up when you type certain keywords into its search engine. But the Mountain View Chocolate Factory said the same thing last year when it was actively shrinking coverage.
During the first quarter - a traditionally slow quarter for online advertising - the average number of ads per Google keyword reached a high of 5.25 in February, up from 4.39 in the shopping-happy month of December. Meanwhile, the number of first-results-page advertisers dropped 1.3 per cent during the quarter.
Typically, AdGooRoo says, an increase in ad coverage results in more revenue: More ads means more clicks, and more clicks means more dollars. But considering the decrease in the number of advertisers, the outfit questions whether this will still hold true.
Potentially, there could be cases where expanded ad coverage does not grow revenue. If Google posts more ads with lower per-click prices, for instance, this could shrink the bottom line by reducing the numbers of clicks on ads with higher prices. But in the end, Google controls AdWords prices - though it says otherwise. Advertisers do set the maximum price they wish to pay, but Google's top-secret algorithms, in tandem with what others are advertisers are bidding, determine how much it actually charges for a particular ad. Thanks to Google's "quality score," ads at the bottom of the page may have higher prices than those at the top.
Google's ad coverage is limited by the keywords advertisers are bidding and their daily ad budgets. But because Google controls such a large swath of the search market - more than 60 per cent in the US, according to comScore - advertisers are generally willing to pay for as much traffic as they can get.
"Our experience is advertisers are willing to take all the clicks we can give them at the current CPC [cost per click] - even in tough times," Google senior vice president Jonathan "Perfect Ad" Rosenberg said during the company's fall earnings call. "We think that will continue to be true because nobody wants to turn away a customer."
AdGooroo founder Rich Stokes argues that click-for-click, Yahoo! and Microsoft are generating better leads than Google. But advertisers are still more likely to opt for Mountain View.
"There's some pretty good ROI to be found on Yahoo!, much better than Google. But the volume is so much higher on Google," he tells us. "It takes just as much effort to manage a Yahoo! or Microsoft campaign as a Google campaign, so advertisers - many of whom are shorthanded - are going to choose Google."
Anytime Google wants to expand coverage, it can do so. Certainly, the company is concerned with so-called ad quality. But when it wants the extra cash, it can always hedge that commitment in the short term.
The question is whether this latest coverage-leap will boost the bottom line.
Earlier this year, CEO Eric Schmidt admitted that even Google is "not immune" to recession. "The situation is pretty dire," he said last month at a San Francisco analysts' conference, referring to the global economy. "During this time, what's happening is that people are using the internet more. But it obviously will affect the online-advertising markets as well - simply because our systems are so tightly tuned that if customers are buying less it will eventually be reflected in [cost per advertising click]...
"We are not immune - 'we' Google and 'we' the online-advertising industry. But we may be better positioned than other advertisers."
Pay no attention to the "finely tuned" bit. AdWords isn't anywhere near as finely tuned as Google would lead you to believe. And in all likelihood, you can ignore the "not immune" bit too. Schmidt likes to downplay the power of the money machine.
Google announces its first-quarter earnings next week. ®


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I’m a big-time cannabis bull, and have been for quite a while. But that doesn’t mean I’m a bull on every cannabis stock. Hexo (NYSE:HEXO), and HEXO stock, is one of the names I’d avoid.
Again, I see a bright future for the industry worldwide. I have a service — Cannabis Cash Weekly — dedicated solely to the sector. Even as cannabis stocks struggled in 2019 and 2020, I kept my long-term bullish outlook.
Since early November, the group finally has found a rally. HEXO stock has come along for the ride, doubling from late October lows.
But this looks like a case of a rising tide lifting a leaky boat. There are a number of cannabis stocks out there that I recommend, but HEXO isn’t one of them.
The Case for HEXO Stock
I can see why some investors see HEXO stock as attractive here.
This is a company that was struggling significantly. HEXO stock in fact dropped below $1, leading the company to execute a 1-for-4 reverse split to satisfy stock exchange requirements.
But fiscal first-quarter results look better. Net revenue more than doubled year-over-year. Losses narrowed as well. Hexo finished the quarter with 150 million CAD in cash.
Meanwhile, optimism toward the sector has built since late October. Part of that optimism comes amid a broader rally in small-cap stocks, but the cannabis sector has outpaced the market. Big wins in the U.S. for marijuana legalization no doubt have added to the broader “risk-on” sentiment.
Even the low share price probably helps the case. A stock with a lower price isn’t necessarily “cheaper,” but some investors see it that way. Add up everything that’s gone on over the past couple of months and it’s not really a surprise that Hexo stock has doubled.
The Case Against the Rally
The problem is that the story gets a bit weaker as investors look closer.
For instance, Hexo’s revenue did double year-over-year. But the same is true for most Canadian cannabis plays. The period between Q1 FY2020 and Q1 FY2021 (the most recent quarter) saw a massive expansion of retail shops in Canada, along with the release of so-called Cannabis 2.0 products.
Quarter-over-quarter revenue growth, meanwhile, was just 8%, somewhat disappointing given the recovery from the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, Hexo’s growth came entirely from adult-use products in Canada — which, again, is a market that’s growing. Elsewhere, Hexo struggled. The medical business saw revenue decline 11% quarter-over-quarter to just 486,000 CAD. International sales fell 13% versus Q4, to 1.125 million CAD. Wholesale revenue fell sharply as well, though that’s less of a surprise given the glut of capacity across the industry.
Hexo has done a decent job building out its beverages business, but at 3 million CAD in sales for the quarter that business still has a long way to go.
Broadly speaking, Hexo just doesn’t really stand out from the pack. It’s not terribly big. Its growth isn’t particularly impressive. The company did get adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) near breakeven in Q1, but it’s still unprofitable on a net basis. Free cash flow for the quarter was negative 7.8 million CAD.
The U.S. Problem
Meanwhile, Hexo has joined in the rally over U.S. legalization — but I’m not convinced that really makes much sense. There are bigger companies set to the enter the U.S. market with more resources, more products and stronger brands.
Hexo will have an uphill climb. Its current international business is limited to a single agreement for medical marijuana sales in Israel. Admittedly, solid performance in beverages could provide a beachhead in the U.S. But the company’s 150 million CAD in cash is likely to dwindle further given the combination of 58 million CAD in debt and negative free cash flow. That lower cash balance will limit the company’s ability to go full-bore into markets outside of Canada.
That’s a problem, as Canada clearly isn’t enough. Growth is decent but not spectacular, and profitability remains elusive.
To be sure, this isn’t a terrible company. I’m not by any means recommending that investors short HEXO stock. Rather, the point is that there simply are far better options elsewhere in the sector — for any kind of investor.
There are bigger companies. There are a number of rivals with far larger cash hoards that can drive needed international expansion. Some cannabis companies already have reached profitability. Others are cheaper on a price-to-revenue basis.
In contrast, nothing about Hexo really stands out. It’s growing at a decent clip. The beverages business is intriguing. So is top market share in Quebec. But after a 100% rally, there just isn’t enough here. Cannabis investors can do better.
On the date of publication, neither Matt McCall nor the InvestorPlace Research Staff member primarily responsible for this article held (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in the article.
Matthew McCall left Wall Street to actually help investors — by getting them into the world’s biggest, most revolutionary trends BEFORE anyone else. Click here to see what Matt has up his sleeve now.


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The Chilean garlic harvest begins November, and growers-packing-exporters are now beginning the export season which will be in its peak in January, February and March. The main variety grown in Chile is the Chinese purple garlic, and the country’s main export destinations are Mexico and Brazil.
Pricing has improved this year
Francisco Katunarić, the business manager of Eight discusses this year’s season and says: “The harvest started on time this year and is going very well. We have been very fortunate with the weather this year – the dry climate was good for the garlic condition. We have had normal sizing and coloring, but overall the quality is very good.”
“Last year, the prices were low. This was because the prices of the Chinese product were low, and since they are such big suppliers of garlic, other markets had to adjust their pricing based on China in order to remain competitive. This year, the prices are much better. We are seeing better pricing and are expecting higher returns”
Brazil turns to Chilean garlic
Chile’s garlic season contrasts with the seasons of their competition, which means they are able to export the garlic to the northern areas and fill gaps in demand there. Katunarić shares: “Last year, Chile exported about a million boxes of garlic, so it is a small market for us but I like to say that good things come in small packages. Our largest market is Mexico, and about 91% of our product is destined to go there. Brazil is the next largest market and receives 8% of the product. The final 1% of the product is divided over a few other countries around the world, like Australia and Spain.’
He continues: “Brazil has been surprising us this season, and has been buying a lot more garlic from Chile than they have in the past. We expect the usual 8% to Brazil to increase to 20-25% this year. Brazil usually gets most of its garlic from China, but due to Brazil’s anti-dumping fees for China the prices have risen. Argentina is another big supplier for Brazil, but Chile well positioned in the market this year and able to offer very competitive prices, and Brazil is using this to their advantage.”
Eight recently changed up their logo and have their own brand called Happy Garlic. “Right now, we are focusing on exporting high quality garlic and are dedicated to developing our Happy Garlic brand,” Katunarić concludes.


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We have been hearing about the rise in gold prices from past many years. The market has been burning high with the news related to its increasing price. Looking at the present market scenario it can be clearly stated that in future also the price of gold will not see any relaxation in its hike. On the contrary it will keep on mounting thereby making this yellow metal the most treasured possession anyone could have. Reports have stated that it is the right time to invest in gold as this would help a lot in future.
As per the recent reports Central banks that were net sellers of gold a decade ago are heard to be buying the precious metal to cut down their dependence on the dollar as a reserve currency, which ultimately signals towards the rising demand of gold that may expand a record convention in prices. It is even estimated that as developing countries speed up purchasing gold, the price of it might reach to $2,000 this year.
Euro Pacific Capital’s Michael Pento, who from the past two years has been correctly predicting the price hike in gold, has forecast a 2011 high of $1,600. Furthermore, reports have even stated that that the gold prices attained a record 14 times this month. The reason behind this has been stated to be the demand from investors who had been looking for a substitute to the dollar after the currency bended to the lowest since 2009, US debt widened, and the Federal Reserve signaled on April 27 that borrowing costs will remain near zero percent for an extended period. The economy in China, the biggest foreign holder of US Treasuries, grew 9.7% in the first quarter. It is even estimated that in the near future China is out to have more gold than America, and even Russia is aspiring for the same.
This has increased the craze among all to invest more and more in the precious metal so that they can be benefitted by it in the near future too. The estimated reports clearly point out towards the growing demand for gold and gold jewelry which would automatically turn out to be the most priced asset of the individuals who will own them.
Trade experts too suggest that the present phase is the right time to make your investment in gold and gold jewelry. If you opt for purchasing at this time, chances are bright that you will be able to cash on its price hike in the near future.
Now if you are worried about the place from where you can get the best quality that too at reasonable price then Johareez.com is the perfect destination to all your problems related to jewelry purchase. You can not only get the best of gold crafted jewelry out here but can even make us of the chance and invest in other precious metals like silver. At Johareez.com you not only get the desired piece but it also comes with the best of quality. Whether you opt for the pendants, rings, necklaces, bracelets or any other jewelry product, you are sure to get the best and the latest of all at Johareez.com. The products available at Johareez.com site cater best quality and design, the customer assistance that you get from here is the best in market. So, don’t think much, get logged in and have a wonderful shopping experience with Johareez.com.


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Google is in September last year launched a program in India Android One, which is aimed at emerging markets and should bring cheap smartphones, coupled with the current upgrade. The search giant is gradually increasing the number of countries, but its proposal was not a special demand due to high competition from local producers. However, Google has decided to move its hundred-dollar gadgets in the segment of smartphones for 30 to 50 dollars.
Feature of smartphones for 30 to 50 dollars
Managing Director of Google in India and Southeast Asia, Rajan Anandan (Rajan Anandan) told Financial Times, that the company “remains committed” program Android One. He acknowledged that budget smartphones for 30 to 50 dollars with support from Google do not gain the expected popularity, but assured that the program will be restarted in the “next few weeks”.
The main innovation will be the care of the price “of about one hundred dollars” in a new segment – 2000-3000 rupees (31 to 47 dollars at the current exchange rate). India will be the first market where Google is testing a new approach. How will the unusually low-cost quality gadgets, as well as their technical characteristics, is still unknown. Hopefully, the search giant has figured out how to sign mutually beneficial contracts with manufacturers of high-quality and productive components, or Android One can again become popular among consumers.
Recall, followed by India in September 2014, the program began to work in the neighboring developing countries, and in May this year a budget smartphone with support from Google and arrived in Europe. However, in the latter case, the search giant had to increase prices in order to offer a more serious stuffing in the device, for the renovation of which it is responsible in person.
Earlier it was reported that Android One is not in high demand in India, as buyers are more interested in the functionality of the device than the current system updates and prefer more technically perfect devices for a similar cost. It even led to unplanned sales Android One in Europe in November 2014. But Planck smartphones for 30 to 50 dollars can seriously play into the hands of the program’s success in emerging markets.
Read another very interesting article about alternative energy of the Sun, water and air.


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In the latest hurdle for the deal, the CMA argued the acquisition threatens to hurt competition in the nascent cloud gaming market. But it did not challenge potential competition concerns in console gaming, after saying last month that evidence from industry participants convinced the agency that the transaction wouldn’t harm competition in that particular market.
related investing news
That makes the CMA’s stance a narrower one than the argument the U.S. Federal Trade Commission made in its December challenge of the deal before its internal administrative law judge. The FTC claimed the proposed acquisition would likely reduce competition or create monopolies in markets for gaming subscription services, cloud gaming and high-performance consoles.
The CMA’s decision is a mixed bag for the challenge in the U.S., in part because it did not move forward with a theory about harm to the console market, according to Daniel Francis, a law professor at New York University and former deputy director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. And the theory it did advance, about cloud gaming, relies on a concept of harm to future competition, of which U.S. courts may look more skeptically.
“Ultimately, the CMA seems to have chosen a path where the FTC may find it harder to follow,” Francis said in an emailed statement.
While having another major regulator also find competition issues in the deal may be encouraging for the FTC, the road ahead is still not straightforward, given the high burden on the government in antitrust cases in the U.S. and a generally different perspective on competition law.
According to Rebecca Haw Allensworth, an antitrust professor at Vanderbilt Law School, European regulators’ “willingness to look at the future and make some guesses about what the competitive environment would or will be in a few years is appropriate and something that we struggle with more in the U.S.”
While Microsoft said it remains committed to the acquisition and plans to appeal the CMA’s decision, Francis said that’s difficult to do and it’s common for parties to abandon at this stage.
Asked for comment on the CMA’s decision, FTC Director of the Bureau of Competition Holly Vedova said in a statement the agency also has “concerns, as explained in our complaint, about the anticompetitive effects of this deal.”
Regulators for the European Union are still reviewing the transaction for competition concerns.


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By Steven Feldman
Calhoun, Ga.—Mohawk has created a process it claims will yield the best-performing polyester carpets on the market today. The result of a $180 million investment, the process, called Continuum, creates PET carpets that not only start clean and stay clean, but offer outstanding performance as well, according to Tom Lape, president of Mohawk Residential and Commercial.
Lape told FCNews in an exclusive interview the Continuum process represents Mohawk’s largest financial commitment since the launch of SmartStrand in 2006 as it seeks to take the PET filament category into another stratosphere. The process by which products such as Aladdin Everstrand and Horizon Wear-Dated will now be manufactured involves a combination of superior raw material sourcing and a proprietary cleaning procedure, completed with Scotchgard Protector Advanced Repel Technology. The end result is a stronger, cleaner, more sustainable fiber.
It was only a matter of time until Mohawk turned its attention to improving the PET landscape. Over the last decade, the company targeted its innovation initiatives at the high end as it sought to change the game with its revolutionary triexta fiber and Embrace nylon.
Against this backdrop of innovation, Mohawk had been working on Continuum for the past three years for two reasons: market size and opportunity.
“Polyester is a big segment of the market, now amounting to as much as $1.5 billion and growing,” Lape said. “But the only innovation has been on conversion cost. In other words, ‘How can we make it cheaper?’ So we looked at how we could turn this segment on its head and create a broader platform around something other than cost. Continuum is about building a product that will better perform, better satisfy the consumer and is built on a more sustainable platform. We are innovating the process and creating value-added benefits for consumers and retailers.”
The challenge for all manufacturers, Lape said, is to accept the fact that polyester is neither nylon nor triexta. “It can be oversold in many cases. So the question is how can we innovate in the category and make sure that polyester is still properly positioned in that marketplace? It’s not a solution for every consumer and every situation. In fact, even though it has been growing, our research shows 70% of retail sales associates would not put polyester in their own homes. That demonstrates while polyester is suitable in some cases, it is not the end all, be all.”
Therefore, Mohawk sought to build the best polyester carpet, but did not expect it to be the best carpet overall. “Polyester does not have the performance attributes of nylon or triexta,” Lape said. “So if you have false expectations, the consumer will not be satisfied. And consumer satisfaction is the long-term industry goal.”
Another way in which the customer will be satisfied is the value the Continuum process will provide in what is a price-sensitive category. “We will be competitive in the space, but deliver superior product with superior performance attributes that connect with consumers,” Lape said. “The goal is to give the retail sales associate a story to connect with consumers and create value. All retailers want factual stories that connect with consumers.”
Continuum provides a cleaner process, cleaner product and, ultimately, contributes to a cleaner planet. Mohawk’s multi-step purification process reduces 95% of lubricants on the fiber, resulting in better resistance to dirt, grime and contaminants that cause other PET carpets to become dingy and wear prematurely. Other PET carpets have up to 10 times the amount of dirt-attracting oily residue.
Aptly, the Continuum process starts with high-grade raw materials. Because Mohawk uses only superior FDA-approved PET bottle resin, the resulting PET filament carpet provides improved impact resistance and strength. The carpet stands up to traffic and wears better than competitive PET due to the deterred dirt and soil buildup, which is prevented from the oil and lubricant removal during the multi-step purification process. In addition, Mohawk’s newest PET offerings feature Scotchgard Protector Advance Repel Technology, which locks in exceptional stain and soil resistance.
“There is a spin finish on the product used in extruding,” Lape said. “Any competitive finish done through solution dying that is not scoured is susceptible to oil-based stains over time because polyester is a hydrophilic fiber. After we dye the product, up to 95% of the spin finish is removed through a proprietary scouring process. That, coupled with Scotchgard, is how we build a better performing product over time. It creates a product that will be more durable and easier to maintain than any other polyester carpet, particularly solution dyed.”
Finally, the Continuum process reflects Mohawk’s commitment to sustainability as it provides the most eco-friendly PET filament fiber yet. Boasting up to 50% recycled content, the production of Mohawk’s PET filament offerings divert over 3 billion bottles from the landfill each year. Utilizing less production energy than nylon, the Continuum process is playing its part in reducing the world’s dependence on oil.
“Putting recycled content in staple is one thing,” Lape noted. “Putting it in filament is difficult. But we think we have cracked the code in building a high quality filament product. Other carpet manufacturers get their raw material from the ground. Mohawk prevents our raw material from going back into the ground. We think this will be much more important to consumers over time.”
At the end of the day, Continuum gives retailers and their sales associates a story to tell consumers. “They can say, ‘We have more confidence in this product because Mohawk builds it using a higher quality resin. These products are scoured, and Mohawk is the only one in the industry that invests in putting Scotchgard on their products, plus they are built on a sustainable base from recycled content,’” Lape explained.
Customers will start seeing products utilizing this new technology within the next 30 days. As well, the Continuum process will be available on all 2014 polyester launches under the Aladdin Everstrand and Horizon WearDated brands with some existing products being converted to this platform throughout 2014. As a result, the company’s Summerville, Ga., plant has been expanded.


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Yadea Unveiled as an Official Asia-Pacific Supporter of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™
WUXI, China, July 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — FIFA announced Yadea, the world’s leading electric two-wheeled vehicle brand is an Official FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM Supporter, which is a third time of cooperation after the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018TM and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.
In 2018, Yadea became the very first electric two-wheeled vehicle brand to be a Regional Supporter of FIFA World Cup™ in Asia-Pacific. And since then, the internationalization process of Yadea has been developed at a staggering speed. Until today, Yadea has provided high-performance, high-tech and high-end products to more than 70 million global customers over 100 countries.
“FIFA World Cup™ tournaments are the most popular sporting events in the world that bring global fans celebrating together regardless of backgrounds, cultures and nationalities. The conveyed inclusiveness, happiness and fairness resonate the mission of Yadea, initiating an enjoyable and green commuting lifestyle for the global,” said Jerry Zhou, President of Yadea Overseas Business Group.
“The essence of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM are also part of Yadea’s genes, the going beyond spirit, the strong willpower of conquering difficulties and challenges and the perseverance of breaking down barriers and limits. We are glad to connect with the fans and reinfornce those values which drive Yadea. As an Official Asia-Pacific Supporter of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM, Yadea will build its brand awareness and engage the passionate football fans here by offering premium e-motorcycles, e-bicycles, e-scooters.”
Although aligning with FIFA for a third major tournament, it is the first time Yadea will be a Tournament Supporter of FIFA Women’s World CupTM. Yadea celebrates and supports women who break down barriers in sports. Women users account significantly for Yadea, the action reinforces Yadea’s recognition of the values and achievements of women.
“We’re delighted to welcome Yadea back to our commercial programme and we’re excited to work with them once again on what promises to be an incredible tournament of firsts,” said Romy Gai, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer. “The FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is going to be incredibly popular across the region, and Yadea are the perfect partner in helping to bring a refreshing and young audience to the women’s game’s pinnacle event.”


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Plug-in vehicles at Vancouver Auto Show hint at EV future in B.C.
Auto show recognizes B.C.'s big appetite for electric vehicles
British Columbians are among the early adopters of alternative-energy vehicles, including electrics. So it was no surprise there was an electric component to the Vancouver International Auto Show held at the Vancouver Convention Centre in March.
But who expected that more than 20 vehicles at the show — roughly five per cent of all vehicles there — had electric capabilities?
The latest models of some popular plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) were on the floor, including the Chevrolet Volt hybrid, the For Focus Electric, the Nissan Leaf, and Toyota's plug-in Prius.
The current state of EVs in B.C.
There aren't too many EVs on B.C. roads yet, but the demand is increasing. And BC Hydro plays an important role, developing guidelines for charging infrastructure and providing information for those who may be thinking about getting an EV, including:
Brand new EVs from BMW and Kia
BMW and Kia announced new EVs, with the latter revealing the Soul EV, a zero-emission edition of its sporty urban crossover.
The German auto manufacturer shone the spotlight on two EVs. The BMW i8 is a sleek machine with scissor doors that is a plug-in hybrid. It's a high priced, high powered sports car that can go from zero to 60 in 4.4 seconds.
While equipped with an electric drive on the front wheels and a turbo gasoline engine powering the rear wheels, the i8 can be operated using only the electric motor.
The BMW i3 is a zero-emission club car hatchback designed for everyday city use. The four-seater has two full doors and two coach doors that are hinged at the back and make it easier for rear-seat passengers to get in. It's more roomy than you'd expect, in part because the electric engine doesn't require as much space as a traditional combustion engine.
When plugged in to a Level 2 charger, the i3 can charge to full in about three hours, BMW claims. It only takes 20 minutes when connected to a DC fast charge station.
BMW also had its charging station, available for residential installation, at the show.
Taking alternative-energy vehicles for a test drive
Paul McGeachie, executive director of the show, said that some 850 people took the opportunity to test drive a variety of eco-friendly vehicles at the Green Ride and Drive showcase.
Vehicle manufacturers, he said in an interview, like to give people a chance to get into the cars, especially the models that have been developed in response to the growing call — by the general public and governments — for alternative energy vehicles.
Not all electric vehicles that are being manufactured were at the show, however. Among the missing models were the Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid and the Volkswagen E-Golf. And California electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla wasn't at the 2014 Vancouver Auto Show.
Third Eco-Run event taking place in B.C.
For the last two years, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has staged the Eco-Run, a "demonstration drive" involving energy-efficient vehicles.
The route for the third event, being held from May 6 to May 9, 2014, will be from Vancouver to Whistler and back.
Journalist Clare Dear explained to media at the opening of the 2014 Vancouver Auto Show that the Eco-Run is "not a race or a competition" but is designed to show consumers what vehicular options are available to them, as well as how "a few simple changes in driving habits will help reduce fuel costs".
Dear, who leads the organization of the Eco-Run for AJAC, said that the B.C. exhibition will feature 20 vehicles from 12 manufacturers, and will include "pure electrics and hybrids, as well as fuel-efficient, gasoline-powered vehicles".
Along the route to Whistler, the vehicles will be put on display and the Eco-Run ends with a consumer show at the Vancouver Convention Centre, where there will be a driving simulator to help consumers learn how to drive with fuel efficiency in mind.
First Canadian Green Car Award to be presented in 2015
At next year's Vancouver auto show, the first Green Car Award will be presented as part of AJAC's Canadian Car of the Year program.
Kevin Corrigan is an automotive journalist and chairs the committee that will make the selection. In announcing the award to media, he said that the award stems from changing fuel efficiency requirements for new vehicles, as well as the fact that most automobile manufacturers have eco-friendly vehicles that can be considered for the award.
The Green Car won't necessarily be an electric vehicle, though. Corrigan noted that in Canada, a driver's location and principal use mean that efficiency is a subjective determination. While a typical city dweller is a good candidate for a fully electric vehicle, for example, those living in rural communities may not be. And businesses operating a fleet of limousines in urban environments have different vehicle needs than someone employed in construction.
Corrigan defined a green car as being, "a vehicle which, for its size and purpose, provides the consumer with environmentally-friendly returns favourable for its class". The key, he said, was that vehicles to be considered for the Green Car Award offered fuel efficiency and addressed environmental concerns.
The existence of the award, though, indicates that electric vehicles are becoming more noticeable, and more interesting. And British Columbia is leading the way.


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Rolled Thai ice cream coming to Bethesda
Class 520 Ice Cream, the rolled Thai ice cream shop that opened in Rockville in the fall, is bringing its concept to downtown Bethesda. The new location will open on Elm Street, next to the Dunkin’ Donuts store, an employee at the Rockville location said Friday. Creation of the shop’s frozen treat involves pouring a milk-based liquid onto an extremely cold metal circle. A worker then spreads out the liquid as it freezes and rolls it into quarter-sized rolls. Customers can choose from a variety of toppings ranging from marshmallows to blueberries. The shop, which hasn’t set an opening date for the Bethesda location, first announced its expansion plans on Facebook.
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant week begins
The region-wide restaurant week offers diners price-fixed menus of $22 for lunch, $22 for brunch and $35 for dinner from Monday through Sunday.
The local restaurants participating in the annual event hosted by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington include:
(Click links for dinner menus)
- All Set Restaurant and Bar in Silver Spring
- Daily Grill in Bethesda
- Grapeseed in Bethesda
- Jaleo Bethesda
- Kapnos Kouzina in Bethesda
- Lia’s in Chevy Chase
- The Melting Pot in Gaithersburg
- Morton’s The Steakhouse in Bethesda
- PassionFish Bethesda
- Redwood in Bethesda
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Bethesda
- Sushi Ko in Chevy Chase
AMP by Strathmore to switch catering service to Ridgewells
The Pike & Rose concert venue has chosen the popular Bethesda-based catering company Ridgewells to handle its food operations after ending its deal with former food service partner Neighborhood Restaurant Group. The new menu at the North Bethesda venue includes crispy shrimp tempura, risotto bites, Korean-spiced BLT sliders and a Cuban Panini. Ridgewells officially takes over the food service operations in February.
Neighborhood Restaurant Group recently opened its own restaurant at Pike & Rose—the beer-focused gastropub Owen’s Ordinary.


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Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal, Bob Menendez and Edward Markie wrote a letter Friday to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, urging the company to immediately stop selling AmazonBasics private label products that have exploded and suffered other electrical faults.
The letter was in response to a CNN article published Thursday claiming that Amazon had ignored safety concerns and continued to sell potentially dangerous products to AmazonBasics.
Senators called on Amazon to immediately stop selling its products with private labels that are defective, to notify customers who have purchased the products, and to work with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to withdraw them.
They asked Amazon to provide customers with additional information on the safety of AmazonBasics products during sales and to “prioritize customer safety over sales,” especially as online shopping increased during the coronavirus pandemic.
Senators denied Amazon’s response to personal and property claims, saying it was “too often inaction and silence” and said the consumer notification and notification process “also seems inadequate and underused.”
Blumenthal, Menendez and Markey refer to their 2019 letter calling on Amazon to protect consumers from defective products, writing: “We are shocked and horrified that Amazon has again failed to prevent the sale of dangerous products, this time as a manufacturer. of the AmazonBasics brand full responsibility. “
Amazon told CNN in a statement Thursday that “safety is a top priority” and is taking a number of steps to ensure that AmazonBasics products are safe and high quality.
CNN has found at least 1,500 customer reviews for more than 70 items describing products that explode, ignite, smoke or pose other risks. AmazonBasics offers budget products, including consumer electronics, home appliances, home goods and office accessories. The senators wrote that Amazon claims that products that have not been removed comply with applicable safety certificates. “However, if these products sufficiently meet safety standards, these products will not explode and catch fire,” they wrote.
A large number
$ 183.8 billion. This is the net worth of Bezos, according to Forbes’ calculations, making him the richest man in the world.
Letter to Amazon
Dozens of Amazon’s own products have been reported as dangerous – they melt, explode or even burst into flames. Many of them are still on the market (CNN)


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As we reported last year, Apple has begun offering a new way for customers to discover its subscription services through QR codes and NFC tags in some of its retail stores. With iOS 14.5, which is expected to be released to the public later this month, the company plans to expand this interaction with custom notifications to services like Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, and Apple Music.
The current experience offered in some Apple Stores is quite simple. Both the QR code and the NFC tag will simply open the homepage of that subscription service in its respective app, such as the App Store for the Apple Arcade and the Music app for Apple Music. However, it seems that the company wants to take this interaction even further in the future.
9to5Mac has discovered that iOS 14.5 features a new kind of notification to promote Apple’s subscription services. While we don’t know the actual purpose of these notifications, they are all built to be triggered through NFC tags, which leads us to believe that Apple plans to use them in Apple Stores around the world.
The image you see at the beginning of this article is a concept based on what we have found so far. Instead of just redirecting the user to an app, iOS will show custom notifications with suggestions for content available on that service. This includes games from Apple Arcade, movies and shows from Apple TV+, and featured music and playlists from Apple Music.
If the system detects someone that is not subscribed to such services, the user will be prompted to try them out individually or with Apple One. The only NFC tags capable of triggering these notifications are those created specifically by Apple, which reinforces our thoughts about this feature being intended for Apple Stores.
As Apple continues to push its subscription services, these new notifications should help customers find out what’s new on Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, and Apple Music. In the future, this feature may also be expanded to other services such as Apple Fitness+.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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The gaming market is evolving and becoming more lucrative by the year. As developers continually aim to recreate new ways to monetize game content, mobile payment operators hold a unique position in this profitable market.
Mobile games are the fastest growing segment of the video game market today. By 2017, mobile gaming spend is expected to exceed the level of console spend – reaching an estimated $40.9 billion, says research firm, Newzoo.
At the same time, revenue from in-game purchases alone will increase from the 2011 global total of $2 billion to almost $5 billion by next year. Now add in social. With social gaming on the continual rise, think Farmville and Candy Crush Saga, players are able to connect in new ways – socially and digitally, without the boundaries of distance.
The use of the smartphone in our everyday lives has increased dramatically just in the last five years, transforming the way consumers engage in games. With our increased dependency, smartphones have become more than a means for communication – they are a source of entertainment. People no longer need a console at home or that extra handheld device to carry around.
According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), about 35% of all gamers play video games on their smartphones. The accessibility and convenience of mobile gaming allows for game time, any time – from traditional video gamers, fantasy sports drafts, and virtual world dwellers alike.
Gaming on-the-go is the new norm – when waiting in line at the grocery store or on the morning commute. And although on-the-go, no one wants to play games alone. Gamers are seeking interaction, competition, and even more so these days, winnings – whether they be in game, or monetary. With this, nearly 31% of the most frequent gamers play social games, according to the ESA.
Given millennials are the largest population demographic in the U.S., and most are digitally savvy, they’re seeking new forms of entertainment, personal connections, and ways to spend and make money. Neil Howe, president of LifeCourse Associates and leading researcher on generations, says, “Millennials are putting [video games] at the center of their entertainment preferences, but it is a new kind of gaming that is more social, interactive and engaging.” Social games through mobile apps allow friends and players to connect without any physical boundaries.
And gaming providers are taking note. Social Gaming Network (SGN), one of the fastest growing mobile games studios, states that more than 500 million SGN games have been installed on leading mobile and social platforms to date. With this increase in popularity of both mobile and social gaming, mobile payment operators can present a new meaning to gaming on-the-go by enabling a pay-as-you-play model.
Gamers are looking for quick and easy access to their favorite games, and they also want it without the ongoing interruption or reminder to make a payment to get to the next level, or to purchase necessary in-game content. Simultaneously, game developers are finding new ways to monetize game content from their end – making the early levels of the game simple, and the following levels more complex and requiring payment/subscription for access.
This creates the idea of competition as an incentive for one player to want to pay to progress through the game with other gamers. Mobile payment operators can provide these gamers with convenient payment options to quickly access higher-level game features that put them one step ahead of their friend.
Who wants to spend time and effort worrying about payments? No one, especially a gamer. Mobile payment operators are addressing this issue by developing technology that allows for simple in-game payments made in a single tap or click, with no redirect out of the app or webpage. By adding the option to pay by in an instant click, it eliminates the need for lengthy payment forms and abandoned game purchases.
In bringing together the power of mobile, social and ecommerce, today’s on-the-go, interactive and competitive gamer is provided with the ultimate gaming experience.
Mobile payment operators are ready to engage with the viral nature of these games, allowing quick and easy access to payment capabilities that avoid interruptions and leverage the loyalty of gamers. With the evolution of gaming, from the traditional console to mobile and social platforms, gamers crave a highly competitive and lucrative experience that can only be achieved with advanced ecommerce payment technologies.
Joseph Hall is a vice president at Skrill USA, Inc.


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Amazon Studios wants to create a show that’s as buzzworthy as “Game of Thrones” and reportedly plans to acquire the rights to a popular Chinese book series, “The Three-Body Problem.”
Rights for the 2008 sci-fi novel by Cixin Liu could sell for $1 billion, The Financial Times reports. It would be Amazon’s biggest acquisition, far outpacing the $500 million it spent to develop a series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
The three-book series, formally called “Remembrance of Earth’s Past,” won a Hugo award and has garnered the praise of former President Barack Obama, who called it “just wildly imaginative, really interesting,” Vanity Fair reports.


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In a direct response to the sagging economy, Brian T. Beaver, co-owner of Beaver Camper in Agawam, Mass., brought several Little Guy teardrop camper trailers to the annual Springfield RV Camping and Outdoor Show, according to the Springfield, Mass., Republican.
The little teardrops are significantly smaller than the luxury homes on wheels-style recreational vehicles also sold at the show. They range from 96 inches long to 212 inches long. The interior houses a bed; an optional gas grill is outside.
Beaver said the teardrops can be towed by 4- and 6-cylinder cars and are an eco-friendly alternative. He said they found that many people bought small, fuel-efficient vehicles that cannot tow larger campers.
“We’re changing with the times. People are still going camping, but not as far and not as often,” Beaver said.
He said he sold three of the teardrops, which cost $4,000 to $9,000. They have a certain nostalgia factor as well – this type of trailer was popular after World War II, Beaver said.
Longview RV salesman James W. Worden, who works in the company’s Windsor Locks store, said there has been “a lot of positive interest” regarding recreational vehicles, something he attributes to the economy turning around.
The show, at the Eastern States Exposition (“Big E”), featured all sizes and types of recreational vehicles, information from more than 100 campgrounds, and dozens of outdoor equipment and camping specialty suppliers.
Part of the charm of attending the show is going inside the various models and checking out the amenities. Four women comfortably sat inside a $52,782 Montana recreational vehicle, sipping drinks and talking RVs.
“This is very comfortable,” said Heidi L. Kallinich, of East Hampton, Conn.
“Like a home away from home,” said Diane L. Hall, of Rocky Hill, Conn., who said she wants to buy one just like it.
Stepping out of a spacious Silverback with a price tag of $44,790 was Timothy D. Valk, of Saugerties, N.Y., who announced, “You can have a dance in this one.” He said he and his wife had two RVs.
Alicia M. Duquette, a show co-chairman, said the show has been produced for 48 years by volunteer members of the Pioneer Valley Chapter 8 of the North American Family Campers Association.
“People plan their vacations here,” Duquette said.
Trends she noticed included dealers bringing smaller trailers to the show, and more trailer rental companies, for people who are thinking about buying a recreational vehicle but who want to try it out first.
Duquette said they are trying to promote the “staycation,” where people stay close to home for vacation. With a recreational vehicle, that can be easily accomplished, she said.
She said Friday’s attendance was up compared to the previous year – 2,613 to 2,425.
The show kicked off Friday and will continue its run at the “Big E” through today.


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Calvin Ayre One Ups Craig Wright’s Satoshi Proof Court Case, Says Only BSV Will Use Bitcoin’s Name
Calvin Ayre, the Billionaire entrepreneur who is the founder of the Ayre Group, Bodog entertainment brand and also a huge devotee of Dr. Craig Wright, has disclosed that there will soon be a strong court case to authenticate Wright’s claim as the real creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. The case will also seek to conclusively stop every other crypto that isn’t Bitcoin SV (SV) from using the Bitcoin name completely.
Ayre says that the other tokens using the Bitcoin name are committing some sort of consumer fraud if they’re still using the name with technology that isn’t exactly Bitcoin. He said in the interview:
“It’s a consumer fraud of some sort for all these exchanges all over the world to be telling people that this is Bitcoin and letting these tokens use the Bitcoin name when the technology is not Bitcoin anymore. It’s a type of consumer fraud and I think that that needs to be fixed as well.”
More On The Court Case
Ayre really does believe that before the case is over, there will be conclusive proof of Wright’s claim that he really is Satoshi and also that the case will involve other people in the non-crypto sector, making them aware of Wright’s claim and showing them the proof.
“This court case and this proof is not aimed at convincing these people attacking him. They’re completely irrelevant. This is all about going over their heads, getting them out of the way. And Craig, with this court decision, talking directly to the people that matter – mainstream media, business and technical, governments and enterprise and startup decision makers. Those are the only people important here.”
The case, he said, will be brought in London and should be decisively concluded by the end of the year.
Wright’s BSV Metanet
Calvin Ayre also spoke, in the interview, about the Metanet currently being worked on by Dr. Wright’s team. The Metanet is an alternative to the internet where the Metanet will rely on the Bitcoin SV chain and the internet will be a sidechain. This, according to Ayre, will be the “Internet of the Future” where the appropriate value can be properly placed on the all the data that is seamlessly flying around the internet, currently. Through this, the Bitcoin SV chain will be used for much more than just payments.
Ayre believes that for an idea like this to work as efficiently and effectively as mentioned, it’s important that blockchain transactions are a lot more scalable than they already are so that a huge amount of transactions can all happen simultaneously and without any impediments.
This, according to him, makes the Bitcoin SV chain the perfect and probably the only choice,
for such a level of scaling.
Ayre’s Involvement In The Cryptocurrency And Blockchain Industry
Explaining why he got into the sector in the first place, Ayre explained that he wanted to get into something that will ultimately make the world a better place. He says:
“I’d already been successful. I’m not doing this completely for money …I legitimately wanted to get involved with a project that would be a legacy project for me, which would actually have lasting impact on the world, improve the world, make the world a better place.”
However, he also acknowledges that the possible financial gain could also be a motivator for joining the industry. He explains that a businessman, one of the best ways to prove that you are actually right about something is to make money off it. This is therefore definitely a drive. Nevertheless, as to the most important reason for joining,
“it depends on how I feel in anytime in the day.”


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It’s no secret: Robocalls are worse than ever. Hitting nearly 5 billion calls nationwide in April, over half the calls made across the country are some form of robocall. Our partners at WKRC in Cincinnati reported on robocalls and efforts to stop them. This week, the FCC issued a warning about a new variety of robocall scam, titled “one ring.” A victim will get a call from an unknown number that rings only once and hangs up. The scammer is attempting to lure you to call them back. If you do, the number, which has a “222” country code, is based in West Africa and will incur significant international dialing charges.
Ads shown are chosen by the content creator and not endorsed by Call For Action.
The simplest solution to the robocall problem is this: Don’t answer the phone if you don’t recognize the number. “Spoofing,” where the dialer disguises their phone number to look like it’s the number of someone you know or a number in your area code, is a way scammers can trick you into answering.
The FCC further warns people not to give out personal information over the phone, and never send money in the form of wire transfer or prepaid gift cards to someone calling and claiming to be from the government — It’s a clear red flag. No government agency will request this form of payment.
If you don’t answer and are left a message from a legitimate company instructing you to call back, don’t just call the number they give. Independently verify the correct number online and you could dodge another scam.
To avoid the trap of accidentally dialing an international number, you could also work with your phone company to disable international dialing (provided you typically never make international calls).
To submit your consumer complaint, use our online form.


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GRPN may trade slightly lower ahead of earning: hold on; buy on dip, she will fly high...we won't see 6 again
1. people are still nervous
2. Google/eBay/AMZN etc are competing in what GRPN does
3. LivingSocial the latest round fund-raise doesn't help- LivingSocial sold 7.5 percent of the company for $110 million. That suggests the company is worth almost $1.5 billion now. In an earlier round of financing, the company was valued at roughly $4.5 billion.'


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London is in for a nippy November as frost begins to settle on the leaves of the Forest City.
Global News Radio 980 CFPL weather specialist John Wilson said the high for a day in early November usually floats around 9 C.
“Instead, we’re going to have a tough time just making it to 1 C or 2 C or 3 C the next couple of weeks,” Wilson said.
“All of this comes with some lake effect flurries — the question is how much.”
The cold November air is expected to arrive in London in three separate waves, according to Wilson.
“The first wave is now, the second wave comes Sunday, Monday into Tuesday and then a third wave later next week,” he said.
“All of them are going to have temperatures barely above freezing.”
READ MORE: Oct. 1 sees record-breaking heat for London
The cold weather also calls for timely vehicle maintenance, according to the owner of Hanford’s Tire and Service.
Jeremy Hanford said his auto shops have been swamped with Londoners looking to apply weather-appropriate treads.
Winter preparation requires more than just a seasonal tire change. Hanford said drivers should always make sure to have a snow brush handy along with an emergency kit that includes blankets, candles and booster cables.
Washer fluids will need to be topped up, a good set of wiper blades is a must, and Hanford adds that having enough anti-freeze will be essential to keeping a vehicle’s heating system healthy.
The tire expert also recommends keeping an eye on vehicle batteries.
“With the extreme cold temperatures, that’s where they’re going to let you down so having your battery tested when you get tires put on … is really a smart thing to do at this time of year,” he said.
Environment Canada forecasts London’s high will reach 4 C on Wednesday with an overnight low of 2 C.


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Morpho wins major EMV (Europay MasterCard Visa) payment card contract from State Bank of India
Morpho (Safran) today announced that its Indian subsidiary, Syscom, has won the largest deal in India from State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest financial institution, for EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) payment card issuance.
The deal comprises end-to-end production, supply and personalization services of Visa, MasterCard & RuPay (India's domestic payment card scheme) branded EMV debit cards along with Personal Identification Number (PIN). The volume is expected to cross 55 million cards over a 3 year period, making it the largest EMV card deal in India and one of the largest in Asia-Pacific.
The market in India is rapidly migrating to EMV payment technology. EMV has become the global standard in secure card based payments. It ensures the highest level of security in transactions across ATMs and Point of Sale (POS) terminals, that accept card based payments.
In addition to SBI, all Indian banks are also required to issue new debit cards as EMV chip cards and also, to migrate gradually their existing card base to EMV cards by December 2018, as per a recent directive issued by Reserve Bank of India. This contract creates a strong platform and a major reference for Morpho in support of this migration.
This achievement recognizes our commitment to lead and maintain technology and quality leadership, to meet the banks' requirement for payment cards. Morpho has extensive global experience in the EMV payment area, as we have supported reputable banks in their respective EMV migration strategies.


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Sainsbury’s this week launched its third reverse vending recycling trial and its first in Scotland.
The retailer introduced a reverse vending machine at its Braehead Superstore in Glasgow, allowing customers to return plastic bottles and drinks cans in exchange for money off their shopping.
Sainsbury’s other trials kicked off last month at stores in Lincoln and Hull and two more stores are expected to come online in the next few weeks.
Customers can deposit plastic bottles of any size up to three litres, and aluminium drinks cans, in exchange for a coupon worth 5p per item towards their shopping.
Up to 500 items can be deposited per visit, which means customers could save up to £25.
“We’re delighted to offer a new way to help our customers recycle while saving on their shop,” said director of Sainsbury’s brand Judith Batchelar.


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The Radical and Necessary Notion
DOW + 44 = 17,873
SPX + 8 = 2099
NAS + 31 = 4933
10 Y + .03 = 1.85%
OIL – .06 = 49.40
GOLD – 9.50 = 1211.00
Gross domestic product rose at 0.8% rate from January to March, up from an initial 0.5% reading. The upward revision reflected a smaller drag from trade than previously estimated. The government also reported a rebound in after-tax corporate profits, which increased at a 0.6 percent rate in the first quarter after plunging at an 8.4 percent pace in the fourth quarter. Income growth for the first quarter also was revised higher. The economy has been hurt by a strong dollar and sluggish global demand. The Atlanta Federal Reserve is currently estimating second-quarter GDP rising at a 2.9 percent rate.
Consumer spending, the main engine of the economy, rose 1.9% in the first quarter. That was unchanged from the government’s original estimate. Americans spent more on housing, utility bills and health care and pared back purchases of new cars. Outlays on new home construction surged at 17.1% clip in the first quarter, up from a prior 14.8% estimate. That’s the biggest gain in nearly four years. Business investment declined, in some cases sharply. Outlays on structure such as oil rigs sank 8.9% and spending on new equipment such as computers fell 9%.
The PCE index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation barometer, rose just 0.8% in the 12 months ended in March. That’s down from 1% in the prior month. Inflation as measured by the PCE index rose 0.1% in March, as did the so-called core measure that strips out the volatile food and energy categories. Consumer spending barely rose in March. Americans increased spending by a 0.1% last month. Incomes, meanwhile, advanced a sharp 0.4% last month. The savings rate in March climbed to 5.4% from 5.2%, matching the highest level since the end of 2012.
So inflation is not a problem right now, but the Fed is afraid that if oil prices stay at or above current levels, it will be inflationary. They also are afraid of wage push inflation, which results from a tight labor market. We still have some slack in the labor market but it is getting tighter. We still aren’t seeing consumer spending push the economy into high growth mode because people are still cautious and trying to save, although retail sales are picking up a little and the housing market is showing some serious muscle again. Business is still avoiding investment, which seems to be habit now, even though businesses have been consistently hiring workers. Overall, the revision to GDP showed the economy continues to slog along.
Janet Yellen thinks the economy has made a great deal of progress. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen spoke today at an event hosted by Harvard University. Her speech comes after a number of Fed policymakers this week struck hawkish tones on the trajectory of interest rates. Yellen said the Fed doesn’t have the typical scope to cut rates in case of a shock, in other words they want some ammunition to combat the next inevitable economic downturn which could be coming sooner rather than later. Yellen said the economy continues to improve and if the gains continue, a rate hike would be appropriate in the coming months.
Will the Fed raise rates at the June meeting? Well, they can; they have telegraphed their intentions so the markets will not be surprised. If it looks like the Brexit referendum will pass or if there is really nasty economic data (such as a horrible May Non-Farm Payroll report next Friday – they can still postpone a rate hike. Whether the Fed hikes rates in June or July, in the long run, there really isn’t much difference. We know they really, really want to hike rates.
As Yellen spoke, Treasuries fell, and the odds of a rate hike in the Federal Fund Futures market increased. Stocks slid to the lowest levels of the day. And while Yellen’s outlook for a hike were front and center, she actually said some other stuff. Yellen said the Federal Reserve did not see the financial crisis coming, even though there were apparent clues. She said the explosion in borrowing was a sign, but the Fed did not see the risks evolving into a full-blown crisis.
Crude oil prices are back below $50 in early trading on a round of profit taking by investors and with the U.S. dollar perking up. Traders are also positioning themselves ahead of the next OPEC meeting scheduled for June 2. Energy market watchers are unsure if key OPEC members will agree on a production cap or increase output. Also consider that if the Fed hikes rates in the next couple of months, it would signal a stronger dollar, which would mean lower oil prices. For the week, oil was 1.5% higher, for the third weekly gain in a row.
Enjoy the low gasoline prices this Memorial Day weekend while they last. Even with global oil prices grinding higher, holiday travelers will see the cheapest prices at the pump in more than a decade for this holiday weekend, saving nearly 50 cents a gallon compared with last year. The average gas station has raised its prices 17 cents a gallon over the last month — and 5 cents over the last week alone. According to the AAA motor club the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline nationally was $2.31, 43 cents below a year ago.
The G-7 winds down. Leaders from seven of the world’s biggest industrial powers met in central Japan over the past two days, discussing topics as varied as currency manipulation, Brexit worries, and North Korea. The group agreed to avoid “competitive devaluation” of its currencies and concluded, “Global growth is our urgent priority.” Do they ever accomplish anything at a G7 meeting?
Global investors have raised their holdings of cash and bonds, citing fears about potential shock waves from a Brexit vote rippling beyond Britain and the increased likelihood of a rise in U.S. interest rates this summer. Fund managers polled by Reuters in the United States, Europe, Britain and Japan raised cash allocations to 6 percent in May, the highest level since January when global equity markets were in free-fall. They also increased their bond exposure to 37.8 percent from 37.6 percent in April. Investors trimmed their equity allocation to 46.4 percent.
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a motion to join Microsoft’s effort to challenge DOJ gag orders that prevent the tech company from telling customers when the government has ordered it to turn over data. Requests from law enforcement agencies for access to users’ personal information routinely flood tech companies that store vast amounts of data in the cloud. Massive data centers run by Microsoft, Amazon and other big tech companies allow businesses and individuals to access email, photos and other content from multiple devices, wherever they are. Law enforcement officials say that access to such data is critical to fighting crime and terrorism. But the ACLU believes the fourth amendment is critical to the Constitution.
Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez announced that Verizon Communications and unions representing nearly 40,000 wireline workers have reached a tentative deal to end a strike that has stretched for more than month. The two sides are writing up the agreement and it still needs to be ratified but workers are expected back on the job next week.
Royal Philips said it sold shares in the IPO of its 125-year-old lighting division at the lower end of the targeted range, valuing the business at $3.3 billion. The sale marks the end of Royal Philips as a sprawling conglomerate that produced everything from light bulbs and television sets to medical scanners and coffee machines.
Sears reported a bigger quarterly loss and said its chief financial officer would step down. Sears has lost more than $8 billion over the last five years. The company has managed to post a quarterly profit just once in the last four years. Sears said it did not intend to borrow money to fund operating losses and expected to close unprofitable stores more aggressively. The main focus this year will be to generate positive earnings. Sears Holdings said it is “exploring partnership opportunities” for top brand names such as Kenmore appliances, DieHard batteries and Craftsman tools to widen distribution, possibly even licensing rights with another company. So, if you can buy Craftsman tools someplace else, why would you ever go into a Sears store again?
Shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals rose 8.5 percent after news reports of a takeover bid. The Wall Street Journal and Reuters said the company had rejected an overture made earlier this year from Takeda of Japan and the private equity firm TPG Capital.
Lab and medical equipment company Thermo Fisher Scientific said it will buy imaging company FEI for $4.2 billion in cash.
Abercrombie & Fitch posted its 13th straight quarter of sales decline, hit by lower customer traffic, as the apparel retailer struggles in a tough market that forced rivals Aeropostale and American Apparel into bankruptcy.
The atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan in 1945 was the beginning of a new era of warfare. But speaking in Hiroshima today, president Obama argued that it also signaled the beginning of a new moral era, one that challenges us to change the way we think about humanity and technology. And he warned of dire consequences if we don’t.
In a speech at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Obama said the nuclear attacks that ended World War II have a clear, simple legacy: We now have the ability to destroy ourselves. As the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, Obama didn’t offer an apology for the bombing. But he said the best way to honor its victims is to advance “the radical and necessary notion that we are part of a single human family.”
Have a good and safe Memorial Day.


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Survey: Online Shopping Statistics 2012
Online Holiday Shopping Grows in Popularity, Changing the Nature of Black Friday
Mobile apps and easier accessibility of retailer websites are apparently cutting into designated holiday shopping events. According to a new survey by CreditDonkey.com, shoppers are split over whether they’ll shop on Cyber Monday, the internet’s version of Black Friday when online holiday shopping tends to spike and online retailers offer an array of deals.
A total of 56.7% of the survey respondents plan to take advantage of such deals this year, even though, overall, the majority (64.4%) of respondents plan to make most of their holiday purchases online this year.
"The trend toward online shopping seems to be more about convenience than anything else," notes Charles Tran, founder of CreditDonkey.com, which surveyed more than 1,000 Americans in October about their holiday-shopping plans. "Gimmicks like Cyber Monday aren't what's bringing people online. Rather, it seems the convenience of just getting the shopping over with is that is benefiting big box retailers with a big online presence."
New to the mix this year are mobile apps dedicated to Black Friday, which adds to the sign that the day after Thanksgiving may become a more virtual experience as shoppers continue to prefer to shop online. "This trend is tearing down the walls between Cyber Monday and Black Friday. If people are surfing for Black Friday deals on their phones and tablets, is it really an offline shopping event?" asks Tran.
Indeed, many of those shoppers who do venture to the malls will likely be walking around with their noses aimed toward their smartphones. This trend favors online retailers as the prevalence of apps for smartphones and tablets are making it easier for shoppers to browse for goods online. "Shoppers can download a retailer's app and browse inventory there on their tablet,” says Tran. “Even if they don't buy the product right there on their phone, the first step is on a mobile device, which will make it easier to buy the product on the company's main site instead of at a physical store."
As it is, 54.5% respondents to the CreditDonkey.com survey plan to spend more on Cyber Monday this year than they did last year. "Survey respondents seem attracted to the combination of low cost and convenience of buying holiday gifts online," notes Tran. "Online retailers have made it easier than ever to buy gifts without the hassle of brick and mortar stores, which is going to put pressure on smaller retailers that find it difficult to compete on price or convenience with the big boys online."
Realizing this, big-box retailers have been aggressively pushing products on their own apps and aggregate apps that display just Black Friday deals.
|Do you plan to spend more or less on Cyber Monday versus last year? © CreditDonkey|
From October 9 to October 23, 2012, CreditDonkey.com polled 1,125 Americans, age 18 and over, about their holiday shopping plans using multiple choice questions and short-answer questionnaires.
Mike Foster is a contributing writer at CreditDonkey, a credit card comparison and financial education website. Write to Mike Foster at firstname.lastname@example.org. Our data-driven analysis has been recognized by major news outlets across the country and has helped consumers make savvy financial and lifestyle decisions.


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NCR APTRA™ eMarketing software helps HDFC Bank increase cross-selling through personalized and synchronized experiences across multiple channels
DULUTH, Georgia – HDFC Bank, India’s second largest private bank, has earned a 2011 Celent Model Bank Award for the exceptional customer experience created by the implementation of NCR APTRA™eMarketing solution. The advanced marketing software from NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) enables HDFC Bank to personalize self-service experiences while delivering targeted and consistent messages through ATM, email, Internet, mobile device, and call center channels.
The implementation has delivered a significant return on investment through customer engagement, higher cross sells and reduced costs. HDFC Bank increased its response rate to 70 percent and a conversion rate of 20 percent.
Celent, an international consultancy service for financial institutions, issues its Model Bank Awards annually, recognizing the effective use of technology by financial institutions around the world. HDFC Bank will accept its award at the Celent Innovation & Insight Day in Atlanta on June 16.
“We were impressed by HDFC Bank’s implementation of a cross-ATM, mobile and online customer experience. A lot of companies talk about multichannel delivery, but HDFC Bank – through NCR’s software – is delivering substantial results with customers. HDFC Bank is a best practice example for financial institutions around the globe looking to create a more unified customer experience across growing bank channels,” said Stephen Greer, Analyst, Celent.
NCR APTRA eMarketing allows HDFC Bank to communicate to its customers and prospects across channels in a synchronized fashion using targeted email messaging, personalized online banking banner advertisements, one-to-one messaging at the ATM and follow-up contact at the call center. In addition, customers can personalize their ATM transactions based on language preference, fast cash amount, favorite transaction and receipt options, enabling a 40 percent faster experience at the ATM. Personalized communication puts customers in control of their banking experience, while allowing HDFC Bank to interact with its customers at their channel of preference and choice.
“We are honored to receive this award for our work with NCR, which has remained a valuable technology partner for several years,” said Sanjeev Patel, EVP and Head-Direct Banking Channels, HDFC Bank. “NCR APTRA eMarketing has become vital to our business operations, helping us offer a consistent and user-friendly banking experience to our growing customer base, while improving our bottom line.”
HDFC Bank also benefits from significant cost savings by using NCR APTRA eMarketing to communicate regularly with customers over email. HDFC Bank saves on paper mailing charges.
“At NCR, we strive to build innovative solutions that enable our customers to deliver fast, convenient service to their customers,” said Michael O’Laughlin, senior vice president, NCR Financial Services. “The 2011 Celent Model Bank Award recognizes how our APTRA eMarketing software is transforming business operations by helping companies gain the competitive edge they need to retain and expand their reach in today’s financial marketplace.”
About HDFC BANK
Promoted in 1995 by Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), India's leading housing finance company, HDFC Bank is one of India's premier banks providing a wide range of financial products and services to its 21 million customers across hundreds of Indian cities using multiple distribution channels including a pan-India network of branches, ATMs, phone banking, net banking and mobile banking. Within a relatively short span of time, the bank has emerged as a leading player in retail banking, wholesale banking, and treasury operations, its three principal business segments.
The bank’s competitive strength clearly lies in the use of technology and the ability to deliver world-class service with rapid response time. Over the last 16 years, the bank has successfully gained market share in its target customer franchises while maintaining healthy profitability and asset quality.
As of March 31, 2011, the Bank had a distribution network with 1,986 branches and 5,471 ATMs in 996 cities.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Bank’s total income was INR 67.24 billion (`6,724.3 crore) as against INR 50.04 billion (`5003.9 crore) for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. Net revenues (net interest income plus other income) were INR 40.95 billion (`4,095.2 crore) for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 24.0% over INR 33.02 billion (`3,302.1 crore) for the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Net Profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 was INR 11.15 billion (`1114.7 crore), up by 33.2% over the corresponding quarter ended March 31, 2010.
The Bank’s total balance sheet size increased by 24.7% to INR 2773.53 billion (`277,353 crore) as of March 31, 2011. Total deposits were INR 2085.86 billion (`208,586 crore), up by 24.6% over March 31, 2010.
Total income for the year ended March 31, 2011 were INR 242.63 billion (`24263.4 crore).
Leading Indian and international publications have recognized the bank for its performance and quality.
For more information please log on to: www.hdfcbank.com
Celent is a research and advisory firm dedicated to helping financial institutions formulate comprehensive business and technology strategies. Celent publishes reports identifying trends and best practices in financial services technology and conducts consulting engagements for financial institutions looking to use technology to enhance existing business processes or launch new business strategies. With a team of internationally experienced analysts, Celent is uniquely positioned to offer strategic advice and market insights on a global basis. Celent is a member of the Oliver Wyman Group, which is part of Marsh & McLennan Companies [NYSE: MMC].
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a global technology company leading how the world connects, interacts and transacts with business. NCR’s assisted- and self-service solutions and comprehensive support services address the needs of retail, financial, travel, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment, gaming, public sector, telecom carrier and equipment organizations in more than 100 countries. NCR (www.ncr.com) is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia.
NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.
News Media Contact


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*Bloomberg.com recently reported that some major cell phone companies are going to let their customers make purchases on their mobile devices. Here’s the story:
The report from Bloomberg said the trials would include Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile and could represent the biggest threat yet to the established credit card industry.
The service is already available in Japan of course, Turkey, and the U.K. Why is the U.S. always the last to get the cool stuff. This service should have been available a long time ago. It’s only logical and business smart. (more…)


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updated - January 19, 2020 Sunday EST
Milk allows users to tune into more than 200 stations. The interface largely revolves around a dial that is customizable, allowing users to set preferences according to genres and stations.
"Milk introduces a fresh approach to music that reflects our innovation leadership and our focus on creating best-in-class consumer experiences," said Gregory Lee, president and CEO of Samsung Telecommunications America and Samsung Electronics North America Headquarters, in the release.
"We're offering consumers amazing, rich music experiences built around what matters most to them and their lifestyle," he further said.
Lee was also mentioned in the Financial Post where he spoke of music obtained from artists like Jay Z exclusively for Samsung. The post also said that Milk allows users to skip through six songs an hour per station. It also added that the service does not ask users to register or log in.
Milk is currently available for Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 3,Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Mega, and Galaxy S4 Mini devices. Galaxy S5 users can get Milk in April, according to CNET. Currently, the service is only available in the U.S., but it eventually could be extended internationally.
"Knowing Samsung, the chances are very high" it will be expanded internationally," Daren Tsui, Vice President of music for Samsung's Media Solutions Center America, told CNET.
Financial Post noted that the radio spending in the U.S. currently stood at $1.65 billion and is expected to increase to $2.04 billion. The U.S. is currently the biggest music market in the world. Given the figures, analysts wondered why Samsung would make Milk available to all as it has closed revenue streams by keeping ads out of the service.
TOP 10 FRANCHISES OF 2020


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LG's latest collabo with Prada is up for pre-order now, with price plans starting at a shade over £30 per month with a free phone.
Retailer Phones 4U is listing price plans on Orange and Vodafone for the LG Prada 3.0 from £31 per month, offering a monthly mix of minutes, data and text message allowances.
Unveiled late last year, the third-ever LG and Prada hook-up features an expansive 4.3-inch NOVA display and a high-end eight-megapixel camera with 1080 HD video recording, autofocus and LED flash, plus a secondary 1.3-megapixel snapper at the front for video calls.
It’s also home to a sinewy dual-core 1GHz processor and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) out of the box with some none-more-Prada minimal black and white customisations, all of which is wrapped up in a lean and lovely 8.5mm-thick frame.
Rounding things off is 8GB of internal storage, with scope to boost this by up to 32GB by adding a microSD card.
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The number of large vessels lost remained at record low levels in 2020, while reported incidents declined year-on-year, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).
“The shipping sector has shown great resilience through the Coronavirus pandemic, as evidenced by strong trade volumes and the recovery we are seeing in several parts of the industry today,” says Captain Rahul Khanna, global head of marine risk consulting at AGCS. “Total losses are at historic low levels for the third year running. However, it is not all smooth sailing. The ongoing crew crisis, the increasing number of issues posed by larger vessels, growing concerns around supply chain delays and disruptions, as well as complying with environmental targets, bring significant risk management challenges for ship owners and their crews.”
The South China, Indochina, Indonesia and Philippines maritime region remains the global loss hotspot, accounting for one in every three losses in 2020 (16) with incidents up year-on-year. Cargo ships (18) account for more than one-third of vessels lost in the past year and 40% of total losses over the past decade.
From Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty:
- According to the report, the South China, Indochina, Indonesia and Philippines maritime region is also the major loss location of the past decade (224 vessels), driven by high levels of local and international trade, congested ports and busy shipping lanes, older fleets and extreme weather exposure.
- Factors such as COVID-19, piracy and cyberattacks, climate change, delays and more remain the most challenging supply chain disruptions.


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Net piracy rocks Universal
THE weakness of the global music industry, linked mostly to illicit online music swapping, meant sales at Universal Music Group, part of French media conglomerate Vivendi Universal, slumped by a quarter in the first half, plunging the group into the red.
Restructuring led Vivendi to reveal losses at Universal Music of e42m (£29m) in the half-year to 30 June against profits of e169m in the same months of last year, with sales down to about e2.17bn.
The weak performance came despite eight million copies of rapper 50 Cent's album being sold as well as strong carry-over sales from Russian teenagers T.AT.U and Eminem, and a catalogue of stars ranging from Sting to Luciano Pavarotti.
In an attempt to combat piracy, Universal has broken industry ranks and announced plans for massive cuts in US CD prices in the fourth quarter - a move that the group warned may have 'negative implications on near-term results'.
Partly because of the dismal performance of the music business, the media division of Vivendi Universal as a whole was only marginally profitable in the first half, despite sales of e8bn.
After more than a year of restructuring by rescue chairman Jean-Rene Fourtou, the group recorded a net first-half loss of e632m, down from losses of e12.3bn.
Operating profits, however, rose 20% to e1.68bn, ahead of expectations, but group debt, at e13.7bn, rose e700m after Vivendi spent e4bn to lift its stake in French number two phone operator Cegetel to 70%.
That move countered the ambitions of UK mobile phone operator Vodafone to acquire it.
With Vivendi's US entertainment business poised for merger with General Electric's NBC, Fourtou is now contemplating a demerger of Vivendi's media and telephony interests. That could open the way for Vodafone to gain control of Cegetel, valued at about e15bn.
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