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Millions of eBay shoppers have been told to change their passwords after the company announced it had become the victim of a cyber attack.
The online market website, whose headquarters are in California, said the assault had compromised a database containing customer names, encrypted passwords, email addresses, birth dates, physical addresses and phone numbers.
However it stated they had found no evidence of any unauthorised access to financial or credit card information and that PayPal accounts had not been affected.
The UK site has attracted more than 17 million active users since its launch in October 1999.
News of the attack saw the company’s price slide 2.6 per cent in the US.
It is understood the hackers managed to infiltrate eBay’s computer systems through a small number of employee’s long ons.
In a statement, a spokesman for eBay said: "The compromised employee log-in credentials were first detected about two weeks ago.
“Extensive forensics subsequently identified the compromised eBay database, resulting in the company's announcement today.
"After conducting extensive tests on its networks, the company said it has no evidence of the compromise resulting in unauthorised activity for eBay users, and no evidence of any unauthorised access to financial or credit card information, which is stored separately in encrypted formats.
"However, changing passwords is a best practise and will help enhance security for eBay users.”
They added: "Working with law enforcement and leading security experts, the company is aggressively investigating the matter and applying the best forensics tools and practises to protect customers.”
EBay, which has more than 233 million users worldwide, had initially issued a notice on its website asking users to change their passwords, but quickly took down the message a short time later without explanation.
It read: "eBay Inc. To Ask All eBay Users To Change Passwords" but had no other information other than the words "place holder text”.
It then issued its much longer statements.
The attack was launched in late February and early March yet was only announced today.
It comes just weeks after the Heartbleed bug wreaked havoc on the internet leaving sites including Google, Amazon, Yahoo and Facebook, open to devastating attacks by hackers.
Millions of people were urged to change their passwords to protect sensitive details – such as log-in codes, emails and banking data – from being stolen.
But because the attacks left no trace, it is unknown how much personal information has already been stolen.
The ebay attack also comes just a month after web giant AOL urged its tens of millions of email account holders to change their passwords and security questions after a cyber attack compromised about two per cent of its accounts.


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Google has fully updated its advertising brand, and AdWords will be out of history
On June 27th Google announced a new brand of advertising systems that would simplify Google's advertising portfolio, making it easier for advertisers and publishers to choose the right solution for their businessCase.
Google AdWords, which has been in the market for 18 years, will be renamed Google Ads, and the new brand will cover all of Google's advertising capabilities, including advertising platforms such as google.com, google products, services, partner websites and apps. As we know itAdvertising resources such as search engines, YouTube videos, Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Play will all be available on the Google Ads platform.
BesidesGoogle has launched a new solution for small and medium-sized businesses, Smart Campaign, which introduces machine learning technology to help small businesses quickly build ads and websites.
DoubleClick and Google Analytics 360, marketing products for large enterprise customers, were unified to Google Under the Marketing Platform brand, we continue to provide marketing services to enterprise customers.
Dan Taylor, managing director of Google's global program and display advertising business, told Morketing that in communicating with customers, Google had found that many marketers had combined advertising technology and data analytics to give them greater efficiency and better results, so Google decided to adapt to this market change and trend through product convergence.
Google Marketing Platform further enhances the existing integration between the Google Analytics 360 360 suite and DoubleClick Digital Marketing, which allows enterprise customers to plan, purchase digital media, measure communications, and optimize the customer experience with just one platform.
The in-house product line of the platform has also been integrated and simplified, such as the new Display and Video 360 integrating DoubleClick Bid Manager, Campaign Manager, Studio, and Audience Center to bring together the features mentioned earlier in one product, and advertisers' material teams, agencies, and media teams can collaborate effectively with this platform. Complete all aspects of campaign production, delivery, etc.
And the media part of doubleClick,DFP, including DoubleClick for Publisher and DoubleClick Exchange, has been integrated into a new platform, Google Ad Manager, which serves media publishers for traffic and media realization in the form of programed advertising transactions.
In an interview with Morketing about GDPR, Dan Taylor, managing director of Google's global program and display advertising business, said Google would effectively protect user privacy and meet the industry's highest privacy standards, and that "compliance" was one of Google's attitudes toward GDPR.
At the same time, Google will ensure that all advertising products and platforms are transparent, enough to give users a real choice about what kind of ads they see. Digital ads placed by advertisers and publishers do not harm their brands.
As a result of the tweaks, Google's product line will become clearer, with Google Ads showing that Google is lowering the threshold for advertising and focusing on increasing its influence on small and medium-sized businesses, while Google Marketing Platform, which targets enterprise-class services, is catering to the real needs of corporate users, namely, the idea of running and analyzing converged advertising operations, and on the media side, accelerating the impact of programd transactions Enabling more media to be programmed will be a big task for Google Ad Manager in the future.
It is reported that Google's new advertising brand will be launched next month, when more new products and solutions will be available.
Go to "Discovery" - "Take a look" browse "Friends are watching"
sent to have a look

domain: news


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There might not have been any meteoric blockbuster moves on China’s brand collaboration scene this week, but there was a great range of smaller product categories, from sunglasses and plant brands combining forces, to independent jewelry disruptor Yvmin continuing its partnership with Shanghai clothing brand Shushu/Tong.
These collaborations might not have broken through online noise among viral moments — such as Daniel Lee’s Burberry debut at London Fashion Week — but, they do provide some lessons in how smaller, low-engagement collaborations can sow the seed for longevity and connection to niche subcultures in China.
Exemplifying those lessons, painter and illustrator Lucas Beaufort continues to engage with the China market, feeding his fanbase by working with Wow!Dragon on its first ever artist collaboration.
For our take on the aforementioned releases of the week, check out our verdict below. Subscribe here to receive the weekly Collabs & Drops newsletter straight to your inbox.
Artistic local jewelry brand Yvmin helped accessorize the Pretty Woman Spring 2023 collection that was showcased at Shanghai Fashion Week. The two names are becoming familiar collaborators having previously launched a collection, sold internationally via luxury multi-brand retailer Ssense, together.
Out of the growing list of independent Chinese designers who have a presence in London, Shushu/Tong is one that has managed to attain a fan base across the mainland, too. It’s regularly featured in outfit posts across Xiaohongshu, with some gaining thousands of likes, helped by the fact that in January it was shown worn in a post by Blackpink’s Jisoo.
Currently, Shushu/Tong’s official hashtag on Xiaohongshu has 4 million views, and Yvmin has 2.5 million views. The independent jewelry brand is similarly benefitting from a particularly localized strategy – it has worked with Beijing’s Marrknull, the brand of Tim Shi and Mark Wang. As a conceptual jewelry brand, Yvmin’s designs translate well into fashion collections.
December 10 / Pop Up February 20
Established in 2018, eyewear brand A.Society has managed to discover an interesting consumer-crossover with Hong Kong's first root plant brand, Plants of Gods (POG). The two have launched a collection of handmade titanium plant pots.
As a stylish garden store selling root plants, cacti, and succulents imported from Madagascar, POG is made for the social media generation. In the same way, Gen-Z is one of A.Society’s core consumer bases.
The eyewear brand appears to have a stronger presence beyond China, though. The brand’s hashtag on Xiaohongshu has just 1,096 views, while on Instagram it boasts 13,400 followers, which is above average for a new sunglasses brand.
POG benefits from A.Society’s fashion positioning, as well as its retail space via the pop-up, located at Hong Kong Harbor City, that is currently in place and promoting this collaboration. On the other side of the collab, A.Society is able to extend its product categories in a way that consistently portrays its identity.
This is artist Lucas Beaufort's first ever art toy collaboration. It’s a clever foray into the realm of collectibles.
Sold exclusively via Lepop's official platforms, the dragon figurines illustrate how artists can connect to the local market via toy collaborations. Seeing as this project lasts one month, the pieces are covetable, and collectors are showing interest in them.
Both parties benefit from the cultural capital created; this is the first artist series for Wow!Dragon, too, foreshadowing more to come.
In comparison to the Marsper art toy, which was released the same month, there hasn't been any noise surrounding this collaboration. The Official LePop Weibo account attracted a miniscule 28 likes for its official post, compared to 8,940 on the previous Marsper project.
As Beaufort’s reach, 84,000 followers on Instagram and 4,220 on Xiaohongshu, is that of a micro influencer, it’s unsurprising that this has not gone viral. Small influencers have posted about the collaboration across Xiaohongshu, though likes average around 100, with minor engagement.
The collab is sure to contribute to Beaufort’s exposure in the mainland, but it’s unlikely to truly lift him off. It’ll be interesting to see whether this is a stepping stone for Wow!Dragon to release a blockbuster artist collaboration. Watch this space.


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World’s premier maker event to come to east London
10 March 2014
Located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Here East will become the home for the Maker Faire, the first premier event outside of the USA.
Maker Faire is “the greatest show (and tell) on Earth” a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker Movement. It’s a place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather together to show what they are making, and share what they are learning.
Here East is located on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and promises to provide infrastructure for the creative and digital industries, bringing together global companies with innovative start-ups. It will feature three main buildings: a 300,000 sq ft innovation centre; a 1,045 seat auditorium; and a 850,000 sq ft building housing educational space, broadcast studios, office space, and data centre. Here East is being developed by iCITY, a joint venture between Delancey, real estate investment and advisory company, and Infinity SDC, a data centre operator.
Companies at the cutting-edge of the Maker Movement are making a future of intelligent things that use technology and data to learn how to be more efficient and smarter in a world of connected objects that has been dubbed the ‘Internet of Things’. Gartner estimate that by 2020, there will be nearly 26billion devices connected to the Internet of Things.
Maker Faire brings together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors to show what they have made, and to share what they have learned. It was launched by Maker Media in 2006 and grown in popularity and reach. In 2013, more than 530,000 people across 10 countries attended a Maker Faire.
In 2013 demand for Maker Faire grew most in Europe. 47% of attendees to Maker Faires in 2013 were visiting for the first time.
Here East’s partnership with Maker Faire is part of the cluster’s offering to the creative, digital and TMT industries. The maker movement in east London has grown rapidly in recent years, with companies including Sugru, Technology Will Save Us, Makie and BERG transforming the way products are delivered to market.
Contact Details and Archive...


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View: India is looking for money in all the wrong places
If it truly wants to be responsible, the government should do what it’s pledged and live within its means.
September exports down 2.15%, trade gap at 5-month low
The exports for the month of September went down by 2.2 per cent while the imports recorded a jump of 10.5 per cent.
Govt hikes import duty on select communication items to 20%
This is the second round of import duty hike after the govt on Sept 26 increased import duty on 19 items.
So, Modi govt and RBI really are reading the macro tea leaves differently
One stark difference between currency crises of the past and now is how the govt and RBI are reacting.
India seen escaping Argentina's fate as remittances curb deficit
India received $69-bn in overseas remittances last yr, equivalent to almost 3% of GDP, Capital Economics said.
'Coal blocks cancellation may push CAD higher by $700 million'
The Supreme Court's decision to cancel coal block allocations may have a "marginal" impact on Current Account Deficit and the net burden on CAD would be an additional increase of $700 million.
ET View: Rate hike deferred, aiming for compression of the Current Account Deficit via a weaker rupee?
The MPC’s mandate is to target inflation, all other macroeconomic variables being taken into account only through their impact on inflation.
Stay away from pharma firms with big loans on books: Ajay Bagga, Market Expert
Financiers for autos might not have the ability to finance, says the D-Street analyst.
What India pays the world & what it gets back
The value of what India imports vastly exceeds what it exports, spelling concern for our balance of payment (BoP) position.
Gainers & losers of govt import curbs to stem the slide in rupee
The government's move is also aimed at tackling a widening current account deficit.
It may look like 'taper tantrum,' but India is in better shape
The fiscal gap has averaged 3.9 percent of gross domestic product between 2014 to 2018.
Import duty hike not to hurt listed companies much
The move should help narrow the trade deficit and help lift investor confidence.
ACs, washing machines, 17 other items to get costlier as govt ups basic customs duty
The move to hike tariffs comes at a time when the govt is fighting a rising CAD & falling rupee.
Refiners look at cutting inventory as oil prices rise
Refiners must pay for their crude in dollars and the soaring import costs are becoming a headache for Modi.
India's curbs on imports of 'non-essential' items likely Thursday: Sources
A source said India may raise import duties on components used in mobile handsets, most of them imported from China.


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The latest Tom Waits album “Bad As Me” (ANTI) has been launched last year with quite a remarkable social media campaign that deserves some credit:
Here’s the order of events
- Aug 16, 2011: First announcement of upcoming news on Aug 23 (reminder on Aug 22)
- Aug 23, 2011: Video clip with Tom Waits announcing new album release on Oct 25, contains snippets of new songs
- Aug 30, 2011: Title track “Bad as me” free stream; pre-order CD, deluxe CD, LP
- Sep 27, 2011: Single “Back in the Crowd” available as (paid for) download
- Oct 04, 2011: Track “Back in the Crowd” free stream
- Oct 11, 2011: Announcement: Full album for streaming available on Oct 17.


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It’s no secret that the linchpin in Tesla’s ambitious plan to manufacture more than 500,000 cars per year by 2018 is the company’s Gigafactory, an absolutely enormous factory that’s still under construction in Sparks, Nevada. The primary task of the Gigafactory will be to churn out batteries at an impressive clip, and while construction will not be 100% complete for a few more years, the Gigafactory is already partially operational.
Measuring in at 5.5 million square feet, the Gigafactory is an absolutely colossal structure. In fact, the building has the largest physical footprint in the world. Naturally, constructing the Gigafactory itself is a huge undertaking that will likely cost Tesla a whopping $5 billion when the dust settles.
If all goes according to plan, Tesla boasts that “by 2018, the Gigafactory will reach full capacity and produce more lithium ion batteries annually than were produced worldwide in 2013.” Speaking to this point in characteristically colorful language, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the following during an earnings conference call last year: “Cells will be going through [the Gigafactory] like bullets from a machine gun. In fact, the exit rate of cells will be faster than bullets from a machine gun.”
Over the past few months, Tesla has been dutifully been building the Gigafactory out, and new 4K drone footage from Matthew Roberts reveals just how much progress the company has made over the past few months. What’s more, the footage gives viewers a very real sense of just how big the Gigafactory is.
Now given that Tesla has a history of missing deadlines — both the Model S and the Model X shipped later than expected — it will be interesting to see if Tesla will be able to get the Gigafactory where it needs to be in order to meet strong demand for the Model 3.


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Prime Minister: “Fighting plastic waste is not just launching a movement or half-hearting”
The head of the Government said that there must be clear sanctions, tax policies suitable for companies that import and produce non-recyclable plastic …
The determination to combat plastic waste with the goal of striving to not use disposable plastic items by 2025 has been emphasized by the head of the Government 3 times in less than 1 month.
At the Government’s Online Conference with localities on July 4, plastic and ocean waste continue to be a special concern of the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The head of the Government said that it is not only launching the movement or half-hearting, but also having specific and clear sanctions and tax policies suitable for companies importing and producing non-recyclable plastic. such as creating jobs for workers in plastic manufacturing facilities.
In less than 1 month, the Prime Minister affirmed his determination to fight plastic waste 3 times. This shows the “impatience” of the Prime Minister as Vietnam is promoting the development of marine economy and marine tourism, but it is one of the top five countries in the world globally in the amount of plastic waste dumped into the ocean.
The research results were published at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on plastic waste management at sea to support sustainable fisheries and food security in Southeast Asia in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa in mid-May. / 2019 shows that about 8 million tons of plastic are released into the ocean each year globally. Of which, 80% of plastic waste on the sea is on land activities along rivers and drainage routes flowing into the sea. The remaining 20% of which is basically plastic waste from fishing activities such as abandoning fishing gears and articles uncontrollably into the sea. Particularly Vietnam currently has about 730,000 tons of plastic waste to the sea each year.
Therefore, in order to control, reduce and prevent marine plastic waste, the Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam strives to not use disposable plastic goods by 2021 stores, markets, supermarkets in urban areas. and by 2025, the country will not use disposable plastic products.
Recently, at the Launching Ceremony against plastic waste in early June 2019, HCMC People’s Committee. Hanoi has called for and witnessed the signing of a code of conduct against plastic waste of 41 embassies and diplomatic agencies based in the city, and has developed a code of conduct to minimize waste. Plastic waste at departments, branches and people’s committees of districts, towns in the area.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, said that Hanoi has focused on implementing the signing of the commitment to fight plastic-based waste in the field of industrial production and distribution of the city. .Hanoi and some provinces and cities to 100% of production and distribution enterprises. “Accordingly, Hanoi will fulfill its target by December 31, 2020, 100% of shopping centers and supermarkets do not use plastic bags,” Mr. Chung emphasized.
The determination to fight against plastic waste has also been implemented by many localities. Since May 2019, the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province has requested agencies and units not to use bottled drinking water for single use, not to use plastic bags or disposable wipes in all activities of agencies, units and at conferences and seminars. The province also instructs the Department of Finance not to pay expenses in the state administrative agencies for the use of disposable plastic and nylon products which are difficult to decompose.
Hai Phong City has also issued document No. 3873 / UBND-MT on joint action to solve the problem of plastic waste, especially disposable plastic products and persistent plastic bags.
However, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said that the movement against plastic waste must be durable and often effective. “When local governments, agencies, organizations, and mass organizations in the province joined forces strongly, local people supported and changed their behaviors, abandoned the habit of using plastic bags, then plastic waste. just reduce it, “said Mr. Ha.
The Minister affirmed that the movement against plastic waste not only held the climax, but also slowed down, but had to do until the Prime Minister stated. To accomplish this goal, in addition to communication, raising awareness for people to change management habits and solutions with economic and tax policies in limiting disposable plastic products as well. very important.
“There is a need for higher tax policies for environmentally-friendly plastic products. At the same time, there is a need for financial policies to encourage support for manufacturers of new technologies and production of eco-friendly products. friendly with the environment, encouraging people to be supported by environmentally friendly products so that each person and each family will abandon the habit of using plastic bags “, Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized.


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I’ll start this article with a confession; I’ve been wrong about Amazon (AMZN). Only so far, I hope, but I wrote several articles, including this one exactly 6 years ago, questioning the company’s sky-high valuation against meager earnings. So what has changed?
Well, not much besides a 679% return. For the full year of 2012, Amazon generated $2B in Free Cash Flow. Last year, it was $6B. Sure, a trebling of FCF sounds impressive, but not so much against a nearly 8-fold increase in the stock price. You could illustrate this in even starker contrast by saying AMZN has added $860B in market cap on a mere $4B increase in FCF.
This hardly sounds justified or sustainable, especially as FCF has gone negative over the first half of this year, when it was supposed to be supporting the valuation by now. Bulls explain this away by saying they are “investing” in things like infrastructure, both cloud and fulfillment, yet ignore that much of this is done with Capital Leases that are not always properly accounted for.
In Amazon’s financial statements, they lay out three separate definitions of Free Cash Flow. The headline number ignores these lease principal repayments, inflating it from $4.1 billion (a 24% decrease over the previous trailing twelve month period) to $10.4B (still only an 8% increase over the previous TTM).
Furthermore, the true FCF if these assets had been purchased with cash instead of leased looks even worse, as according to the latest quarterly report: “Free cash flow less finance lease principal repayments and assets acquired under capital leases decreased to $546 million for the trailing twelve months, compared with $1.4 billion for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2017.”
At the current valuation, investors could be paying as much as 1800x this measure of FCF, with the leading F actually standing for “Free”, not “Fake”, as I call the other misleading metrics.
So the vast majority of Amazon’s value lies in the (far) future, when they will have (presumably) increased their cash flow dramatically. Much of this is expected to come from Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud juggernaut that has (perhaps) justified a portion of this market cap increase.
AWS’ growth has indeed been impressive, racking (pun intended) up 50+% annual growth even as it has achieved massive scale. So admittedly I (and everybody else, including the rest of the industry) missed how truly important this would become to their business.
In fact, it is now so important that it constitutes 65% of their current operating income. This is not a typo, but rather due to the fact that it is covering vast (half a billion last quarter) losses in their international retail business.
However, even with all this growth and higher margins, at least relative to their other segments, AWS contributed “only” $1.6B in income last quarter. And mind you, this is Operating (not Net) Income, so it doesn’t account for all expenses, which obviously are sizeable when you have to replace servers every couple of years just to maintain the business, much less grow.
So using the “run rate” metric that cloud companies eagerly use to point out their no doubt endless growth, this is annualized “profit” of $6.5B. Never mind that this is more than all of Amazon has put up over the last year, but let’s say AWS constitutes half of AMZN’s current market cap value.
This would suggest that a stand alone AWS is trading at 75x earnings (again, Operating, not Net) and an eye-popping 20x sales. Maybe this is reasonable if it keeps growing at 50%, but this is unlikely from this now much larger base.
Especially as other deep pocketed competitors enter this area and likely drive down prices, as we’ve already seen from numerous price cuts. As I posted on another excellent article from one of my favorite authors, these are the net cash and free cash flow numbers from some of the other near trillion dollar companies looking to enter (or already in) this space:
Apple (AAPL): $147B
Google (GOOG): $110B
Microsoft (MSFT): $62B
Amazon (AMZN): -$10B
Even though I disagreed with him, I continue to respect him and it inspired me to write this article, so I thank him for the spirited discourse it spawned, which I hope will continue here.
Speaking of Apple, I will end with an illustration of how much growth and success is baked into Amazon’s current valuation. Apple has inarguably been the greatest large cap growth story in history, growing earnings at a 57% rate over a 5 year period from 2008-2013:
Source: Parsimony Investment Research
Amazon is projected to grow earnings at “only” a 46% rate over the next 5 years according to analysts, but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and say they can repeat Apple’s record performance and grow earnings at 57% from last year’s $3B in net income.
So this would result in earnings of $29B, which at the current market cap would translate to a P/E ratio of 34. But remember, AAPL finished with a P/E that dipped under 10 in 2013 at the end of their epic earnings run.
Even assuming Amazon can repeat this and still be growing fast enough to deserve a multiple double this, this would only account for $580B in market cap value. Obviously AMZN already sports a valuation $400B greater than this, so it bears repeating: Amazon will have to exceed the greatest growth story in history and still generate another $400B in value somewhere.
They hit a home run with AWS, but they basically have to replicate this feat several more times just to justify the current valuation, much less put up the 20% annual gains investors seem to expect from the stock. At the end of 5 years, this would lead to a market cap of $2.4T; at the end of a decade: $6T.
This is starting to constitute a major portion of the entire US economy. Yes, you could argue they’re taking over the world, but given their ongoing losses overseas and spotty record at actually coming to dominate entire industries at decent margins, I would argue they’re already priced for it and more. If they fail to achieve this daunting task, the stock could fail to keep up.
It might not fall off a cliff anytime soon, barring a recession or bear market, but we could see similar performance to Microsoft at the beginning of the decade, where the business did quite well yet the stock went nowhere. Or we could see a repeat of Cisco from back then, which was similarly valued at over half a trillion dollars on a couple billion in earnings.
So history says to beware the narrative of a company that is assumed to be taking over the world. It is often more difficult to achieve in practice than assumed, even with a genius like Jeff Bezos at the helm, since he has had his share of misfires as well. Remember the Fire Phone? No, me neither…and if he’s so smart and infallible, why has he been selling so many shares lately?


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The Beijing News reported that (reporter: Wang Ziyang), on August 27th, BESTORE, the casual snacks brand, launched a new brand LOGO on its 12th anniversary to fully upgrade the brand image. Yang Hongchun, founder and chairman of BESTORE, said this upgrade marks the beginning of BESTORE's comprehensive overseas market plan.
This time, the renewed LOGO of BESTORE is "the stamp of the Chinese character '良' meaning good", in which the symbol "√" is like the upside-down "store roof" and BESTORE hopes it can make consumers associate "one in a hundred ". The relevant person in charge of BESTORE said that the company has developed a detailed and complete plan, and these upgrades will be applied in the store decoration, advertising, signboards, product models, office supplies, clothing, packaging systems, displays, printed publications, etc.
At present, among the offline stores of BESTORE, Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Jiangxi and other places are already mature markets, while Chongqing, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanning, Guangzhou and others are currently at the exploration stage. As to the entry plan of Beijing, the first-line market of casual snacks consumption, Yang Hongchun, chairman of BESTORE, told the reporter of The Beijing News that before entering a new market, BESTORE will conduct long-term discussions on products, supply chains, teams and markets. It is not the case that BESTORE does not want to enter the Beijing market, but it needs to steadily advance the related work.
The upgrade of the brand image of BESTORE also pushed forward its plan in the international market. April this year, depending on a good consumption base in international markets, BESTORE has launched its overseas business plan. Up to now, BESTORE has brought more than 100 delicious snacks to 20 countries such as the United States, Australia, Britain, France, etc. Also, it can deliver small parcels within 30 kilograms directly to consumers through the cross-border logistics system from cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Tmall, JD.com, Amazon, etc.
The relevant person in charge of BESTORE said that in the future, BESTORE's global development strategy will be taken in two stages. In the present stage, it will target the 100 million overseas Chinese and international students as the main group and focus on Chinese-flavored snacks; Next stage, it will seek overseas partners and jointly develop products suitable for consumers' tastes in different countries, and meanwhile strive to enter large chain supermarkets, exploring and developing offline markets that account for 90% of overseas snack consumption.


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>> It's not often that a designer graces the cover of a magazine, but in celebration of a decade since its launch, 10 magazine wrangled ten "fashion gods" for ten separate covers — each photographed by the lensman of their choice. Helmut Lang sent in a passport photo, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana commissioned Terry Richardson, Vivienne Westwood had Juergen Teller capture her, Ralph Lauren was snapped by Bruce Weber, and Karl Lagerfeld submitted a self-portrait. Alber Elbaz, Azzedine Alaia, Donatella Versace, John Galliano, and Tom Ford round out the rest of the designers featured.
“These are some of the faces that have made our industry and it is an honour to be celebrating them. 10 magazine has a history of celebrating the best creative talent in the world and we are honoured that these icons of fashion agreed to be our cover stars,” said Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou, the magazine's founder and editor-in-chief (who is also creative director and fashion director at Harper's Bazaar UK).


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Battery packs are the most expensive item on electric cars such as the Tesla Roadster and the Nissan Leaf. The cost either makes electric cars too expensive for most people, or it prompts automakers to use small battery packs, which limits the range of the cars.
To reduce battery costs and improve their performance, Wuhe founder Yu-Guo Guo, a professor of chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, has developed new, low-cost ways to improve the properties of lithium-iron phosphate, one of the leading lithium-ion battery electrode materials, and other promising electrode materials.
Ordinarily, the conductivity of lithium-iron phosphate is too low to be useful. The conductivity can be increased by milling it into extremely fine nanoscale powders—as companies such as A123 Systems do. Because the particles are small, electrons or lithium ions—both of which are necessary to create current—can move in and out of them quickly. But this powder is difficult to work with, which raises manufacturing costs.
Guo’s solution has been to incorporate iron-phosphate nanoparticles, which are easier to pack closely, and are less likely become airborne, but retain high conductivity. He isn’t giving precise details, but he says the technology is based on some of his earlier published work. In one example of that work, he embedded the nanoparticles in larger particles made of porous carbon. The carbon conducts electricity well, and the pores host electrolyte materials that conduct lithium ions well.
Guo says the materials are only 10 to 20 percent more expensive to make than bulk lithium-iron phosphate. But they can deliver about twice as much power as the bulk material, and make twice as much of the energy in lithium-iron phosphate available, roughly doubling the energy storage capacity. Per watt-hour, the materials cost the same as other lithium-iron-phosphate electrode materials, he says. But since the material is easier to work with, it will cut the cost of incorporating the materials into battery cells.
Wuhe, which Guo founded at the end of last year, already has the capacity to produce 300 metric tons of electrode material a year, enough for about 30 million standard lithium-ion battery cells. It also makes battery cells, with the first application being electric bicycles. It can currently make enough cells for roughly 500 electric cars a year.
Jeff Dahn, professor of physics and chemistry at Dalhousie University, says that, based on the company’s performance figures, the iron-phosphate batteries will be "very useful" and could perform better than the batteries used now in the electric Chevrolet Volt. And he predicts Wuhe will find a market.


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Microsoft has confirmed that it is no longer reimbursing its employees for mobile data unless the handset is running Windows Mobile.
Users of iPhone, BlackBerry and other smartphones will now have to pay for their own data, even if the phone is being used for work. The company said that it had introduced the measure as part of cost-cutting procedures, which included the first job cuts in Microsoft's history.
The move has led to some reported unrest on Microsoft campuses, particularly from iPhone users.
Nevertheless, it cannot have come as much of a surprise. When Microsoft launched the Zune it set up an iPod amnesty bin in its headquarters where Apple users could dump their 'outdated' technology, although few did.
Such brand loyalty also extends to the home, it seems. In an interview with Vogue, Melissa Gates admitted to wanting an iPhone for herself and iPods for the children but said that they were banned from the house by her husband Bill.
Employers paying for staff mobile phone use is still fairly rare in the US but is more common in Europe. Microsoft did not say whether the changes would be applied worldwide.
A nuclear strike has been considered, but Bruce Willis is nowhere in sight
Spray-on antenna could enable seamless integration of antennas with everyday objects
Parker Solar Probe, TESS and GOLD missions will deliver exciting data, claims NASA
But deep learning pulls ahead for complex tasks


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On November 17, federal judge Ronald Whyte issued a preliminary injunction, saying Sun Microsystems Inc. was likely to prevail in its case against Microsoft. Sun sued Microsoft in October of 1997, charging that the software giant violated copyright infringement and unfair competition laws when it distributed a flavour of Java that was not compatible with Sun's version of the language.
In his ruling last month, Whyte gave the company 90 days to stop shipping software and development tools that contain a non-compliant version of Java. Microsoft responded by releasing Java products in early December that it said complied with the ruling.
Sun created Java with the hopes that it would be able to run across many different platforms, and the company claims Microsoft's "polluted" version thwarted that mission.
Microsoft will follow its filing with a brief explaining in detail why it thinks Whyte's November ruling was flawed. Meanwhile, the ruling stays in place unless the higher court lifts it.
Take me to the DoJ/Microsoft page.


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The Fiat 500 Was Canada’s 46th-Best-Selling Vehicle
In March 2013, Behind The Tucson; Ahead Of The Impreza
Ford Canada’s highest monthly F-Series total since last summer kept all rivals far behind the top-ranked vehicle line in March 2013. Seven out of every hundred vehicles sold in Canada in March was some kind of F-Series pickup.
Combined, Canada’s five best-selling vehicles accounted for 22% of the new vehicles sold in March. The top 20 were responsible for just under half of the industry’s volume, as you can see by clicking the accompanying chart.
Overall, there were five Fords in Canada’s top 30 last month to go along with nine more vehicles from General Motors (four) and Chrysler Canada (five). One German car, the Volkswagen Jetta, posted a 55% year-over-year increase. The next-best-selling German-brand vehicle, BMW’s 3-Series, ranked 31st. That leaves ten Japanese cars from Honda (three), Mazda (two), Toyota (three), and Nissan (two) plus four Hyundais and one Kia.
Missing from February’s version of this post? Just one vehicle, the Kia Sorento, which ranked 32nd and was replaced here by the Chrysler 200. Compared with March of last year, the Nissan Versa, Kia Forte, and Nissan Altima were knocked out of the top 30. The Kia Rio, Nissan Sentra, and Honda Accord weren’t in the top 30 a year ago, but they were last month.
You can always find historical monthly and yearly sales figures for any vehicle by selecting a make and model at GCBC’s Sales Stats page. GoodCarBadCar already published March’s lists of Canada’s best-selling trucks, SUVs, and passenger cars. What you see below are all those vehicles, including minivans, thrown into one pot – the 30 best-selling vehicles in Canada in March 2013.
Source: Manufacturers & ANDC Red font indicates year-over-year declining sales * Hyundai Canada separates the Santa Fe from the Santa Fe XL, of which the company sold its first 88 copies in March. Combined, Santa Fe sales equal 2341 (up 25.7%) in March and 5799 (up 20.6%) year-to-date.


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The Shelby Cobra was a truly legendary car, which took the standard muscle car formula of “big engine in a small car” and took it to its logical extreme, thanks to a puny British roadster infused with the beating heart of a Ford big-block V8 (or small block for the weak). The story has continued today, with various companies offering kit cars. My brother Matt was out and about on Sunday morning and came across this Cobra kit car sitting on the side of the street. He’s become quite a reliable car spotter out in L.A.–and he’s clearly not afraid of the egg-fryingly hot temperatures out there (unlike me, who is happy to sit in air conditioning the entire day). Thanks for the pickup, Matt!
Spotted by: Matthew R. Davis
-Albert S. Davis


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Say bye-bye to Bulmer Italic. Penn’s official typeface has been retired as part of a project to create a unified image for the University in print and on the Web.
The centerpiece of the project is a new University logo, which got its first wide exposure on the new Penn Web site unveiled Aug. 26 as one of two key elements in an overall branding strategy for Penn. The other is the Web site itself, which is designed to give outside visitors a glimpse of what attending Penn would look like.
Deutsch, Inc., a New York advertising firm headed by Donny Deutsch (W’79), worked pro bono on the branding project, which included sruveys of students, faculty and staff and a telephone survey of more than 1,000 adults nationwide.
The telephone survey revealed much confusion about Penn. “Many Americans are not aware that Penn is in the Ivy League,” said Vice President for University Communications Lori Doyle.
In a presentation to the Trustees, Doyle identified the goal of the campaign as establishing a “clear brand identity” for Penn, one that conveys the message that Penn is “the Ivy League university that stands for the pursuit of intellectual and practical knowledge.”
Along with its use on the Web, the new logo is also available for use right now in stationery, business cards and other printed documents.
“New software [from Creative Communications] will make ordering business cards and letterhead easier,” Doyle said.
The logos replace graphics dating to the late 1970s and stationery designs created in 1986.
You can order new stationery and business cards via the Creative Communications Web site at www.upenn.edu/stationery.
Originally published on September 5, 2002


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Google recently announced or rather quietly updated the YouTube help page many years ago that all existing annotations that were created before editing annotations will be removed from the videos early next year.
In May 2017, Google broke an annotation adjustment because of the fact that the creators reported an excessive amount of annotations for uploading videos. These color blocks have made browsing a hindrance and, frankly, strenuous – the videos looked disorganized and the pop-ups disturbed.
However, these annotations were a good method for video creators who promoted their other content or favorite products or something else they wanted to share with their viewers.
To respond to these needs less distracting, Google introduced the cards and end-screens still in use in 2016. Cards are more cleanly designed pop-ups, which are displayed in the top corner of the designated places of the video. Tap it to open a menu of other links, videos, polls, and more.
Alternatively, end-screens are a fairly straightforward interface option: users can choose to display a screen at the end of the video that can contain basically everything they want to highlight – channels, products, and even more links.
Both of these functions also work on a mobile platform, unlike annotations, and create seven times more clicks on the platform. On the contrary, the annotations were much more closed than they were exhausted, so when all are removed by 15 January next year, it is unlikely that someone will be broken by heart. – AFP Relaxnews


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Directors of Aaron’s Inc. (NYSE: AAN) have boosted the quarterly dividend to 30 cents per share, a 10% increase over the previous dividend of 27.5 cents per share.
Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) has denied Vintage Capital’s request for a 30-day exclusivity period to complete due diligence on the private equity firm’s $13-per-share buyout offer, but stopped short of rejecting the offer itself.
Bassett Furniture Inds. (NASDAQ: BSET) said its board of directors has approved a special dividend of 35 cents per share.
Mattress producer Purple Innovation, a rapidly-growing start-up that sells its products online, has signed a definitive merger agreement that will make it a public company.
Furniture and bedding sales were up 4.11 percent in the third quarter to $25.42 billion, according to the proprietary industry sales model developed by Impact Consulting, parent company of Home Furnishings Business.
Havertys (NYSE: HVT) said third-quarter profits tumbled more than 23% to $5.98 million or 28 cents per share due largely to disruptions from Hurricane Irma.
Consumer spending on furniture totaled $109.7 billion in the first quarter of 2017, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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Canada’s auto industry at risk if GM closes Oshawa plant: Dias
Unifor leader calls on Trudeau to work with Trump to keep manufacturing jobs from shifting south.
Analysts fear auto industry returning to bad habits of the past
Pent-up demand is ebbing, with sales predicted to grow at the slowest pace since the financial crisis.
US auto parts price fixing probe reverberates across industry
Thirty-four individuals have been charged and 27 companies have pleaded guilty, agreeing to pay more than $2.3 billion in fines.
Cars made in Mexico may look identical, but safety depends on their final destination
Cars destined for Latin American markets are often produced without antilock braking systems, electronic stability control, or more than two air bags.
PLANT print issue: Canada’s eroding auto industry
Without more investment, it will run out of gas.
US auto industry about to go on hiring spree to meet rising demand
As capacity continues to improve, auto and parts companies will add floor space and spent million on new equipment.
Action Plan to streamline Canada/US trade
The Action Plan on Regulatory Co-operation announced Dec. 7 aims to do away with the “tyranny of small differences” between Canada and US trade regulations.
Missing the boat
Several months of weak global car sales ended in September with the strongest year-over-year increase since May and Scotia Economics is forecasting sales this year will top 56 million units, a 5-million unit improvement over 2009.


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US podcast services Stitcher and Wondery have joined forces to expand into the UK in a move aimed at disrupting the growing digital audio market.
Advertisers in the UK will be able to buy premium ad inventory locally and globally from the joint venture, Podfront UK.
The move will add a fourth major player to the UK podcast market, alongside Dax (Global’s digital audio exchange), Acast and Audioboom.
Podfront will be led by Ruth Fitzsimons. She joined from Audioboom, where she was senior vice-president of international operations and content partnerships.
As managing director of Podfront, Fitzsimons is tasked with building a sales, content and marketing team that will grow the Stitcher and Wondery networks.
As well as monetising existing podcasts in the UK, Podfront plans to bring UK-based brands into the US market and expand to more European countries.
While the podcast market is still small in the UK compared with other digital audio, it is growing rapidly. The number of weekly podcast listeners has almost doubled in five years to 5.9 million in 2018 (according to Ofcom) and last week Global reported that three-quarters of advertisers are planning to spend more on podcasts specifically.
The UK ranks third in listening across Stitcher’s network of of 250 podcasts, according to its sales arm, Midroll. Shows on Stitcher include Freakonomics, WTF with Marc Maron and Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations, while Wondery produces Dirty John and Dr Death.
Erik Diehn, chief executive of Stitcher, said: "Stitcher has been at the forefront of podcast creation and monetisation for over a decade in the US, and we have the breadth and depth of listener-provided data and resources to help brands and advertisers in the UK tap into this growing audience.
"By partnering with Wondery in this endeavour, we bring together our networks and combined expertise to continue this momentum within the European market."


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Worldline & SnapSwap sign money app deal
Written by Chris Lemmon
Worldline is to partner FinTech firm SnapSwap on its mobile payment application Gloneta, which combines mobile messenger chat with instant cross-currency transactions via blockchain technology.
Through Gloneta, same currency transfers are free of charge, with foreign currencies offered at reportedly competitive rates. The blockchain technology allows for the instant transfer of money without a bank, at zero or very low cost.
The new partnership between SnapSwap and Worldline will allow app users to safely link their credit card to Gloneta. To send money, users can charge their wallet in the app by transferring money from their bank to their own Gloneta IBAN account.
Denis Kiselev, founder and CEO of SnapSwap, noted: “Worldline’s expertise in electronic payments and its unique risk management solutions will help us to expand the Gloneta offering beyond a peer-to-peer platform. We will continue building Gloneta in a way that delivers real value to our customers and at the same time let them have fun and enjoy the experience.”
Gloneta will be available on iOS and Android devices in all EU countries from August 2016 and will support the Euro, British Pound and US Dollar.


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Following the launch of the highly successful hull 088 MARS in 2014, the Brazilian shipyard MCP Yachts has now launched her sister ship – the second MCP 106 Limited Edition PARADISO, also known as hull 089. The brand new superyacht PARADISO has been entirely designed by the yard’s in-house design team.
Boasting an eye-catching metallic copper-coloured hull and crisp white superstructure, PARADISO can sleep up to 11 guests in maximum comfort. There is a full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck, and four lovely guest staterooms, all positioned on the lower deck. The vessel will also sleep a crew of up to 6.


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Sales of Virginia Wines Hit New Record
We're not too surprised by the latest wine news out of Virginia, already one of the booming wine regions in the U.S.: new numbers show that wine sales out of Virginia have hit an all-time new high, up 5 percent from 2012.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced that wineries in Virginia sold more than 511,000 cases of wine for the last year ending June 30, up from 485,000 cases from the year before, reports the Virginia Gazette. More notably, wine sales to out-of-state distributors have grown by 60 percent. And topping off the sundae of really good news, the American Wine Consumer Coalition gave the state an A-plus for its "friendliness" and wine laws, particularly its Sunday wine sales and BYOB rules.
All the good news has many wine connoisseurs, like at Forbes, wondering whether Virginia is the "Napa Valley of the East Coast." "Virginia terroir is fertile with potential... Arguably, the local wines are already world-class in taste," writes Katie Kelly Bell for Forbes. Yeah, we'd have to agree.


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About 50 percent of game developers believe that the Nintendo Switch will outsell Nintendo’s previous game console, the Wii U, according to the fifth annual State of the Industry survey by the Game Developers Conference.
That’s a bit of a low bar, considering the Wii U only sold about 13 million units, said Simon Carless, the executive vice president at event company UBM and the producer of the GDC, which will be held in San Francisco from February 27 to March 3.
Still, the results show that game developers are positive about the prospects for the Switch. About 14 percent felt the platform would sell less than the Wii U, and 37 percent were unsure.
Nintendo says the main selling point of the Switch is the ability to switch back and forth between a portable mode and a docked home console. About 48 percent of developers said that they thought that might resonate with the public, but it didn’t seem to be world-changing. Only 19 percent said they felt the Switch is the right product for the right time. Additionally, 11 percent said people would not be interested in the Switch, and 23 percent said they didn’t know.
“The sentiment is not like, ‘Oh my god! The Switch is genius,'” Carless said.
Meanwhile, developers are not that excited about mid-cycle console refreshes, such as the Sony PlayStation Pro and Microsoft’s upcoming Project Scorpio. Only 18 percent viewed the refreshes as good for the industry. About 5 percent viewed it negatively, 36 percent were neutral, and 41 percent didn’t care or were unsure, the survey found.
“It seems like these mid-cycle refreshes are getting a lukewarm response,” Carless said.
Right now, only 3 percent of developers are making games for the Switch. Meanwhile, 27 percent are making games for the Sony PlayStation 4, 22 percent are making games for Xbox One/Scorpio, 38 percent are making games for smartphones and tablets, and 53 percent are making games for PCs/Macs.
As for virtual reality, 61 percent of developers aren’t making games for VR platforms. Of those developing for VR, 24 percent are making games for the HTC Vive, and 23 percent are making games for the Oculus Rift. That’s a significant turnaround as Oculus had 19 percent a year ago and the Vive only had 6 percent.
Meanwhile, 13 percent are developing games for the PlayStation VR. And 13 percent are also making games for the Samsung Gear VR, 6 percent are making games for Microsoft HoloLens, and 0.58 percent are making games for CastAR.
Projecting into the future, when asked which VR/AR platform they expected the game after the project they’re working on now would be released on, 40 percent of respondents said they were planning to support HTC Vive for their next title. By comparison, 37 percent said their next game would release on Oculus Rift, and 26 percent said PlayStation VR.
When surveyed about general interest level in each of the major VR/AR headsets, survey respondents once again gave HTC Vive the lead. When asked to mark down the VR/AR platforms of most interest to them as developers, 45 percent indicated HTC Vive, 30 percent indicated Oculus Rift, and 29 percent marked PlayStation VR. Microsoft’s upcoming HoloLens augmented reality platform came in fourth with 24 percent of respondents.
Only about one in 10 gamemakers is working on a platform-exclusive VR/AR game, mainly for the Vive.
Half of respondents said they weren’t involved in VR/AR game development while 39 percent said that their next project would not be exclusive to a single VR/AR platform. Roughly 11 percent of survey respondents said that their next game would be exclusive to one VR/AR platform or device.
Of those developers working on an platform-exclusive VR/AR title, 33 percent said their next project would be a platform-exclusive VR/AR game for HTC Vive, making it the most popular VR system for exclusives. By comparison, 24 percent were working on a platform-exclusive VR/AR title for Oculus Rift, and 15 percent for PlayStation VR.
As for mobile, Android finally surpassed iOS in terms of developer interest. About 54 percent are making games for Android while 51 percent are making games for iOS. Around 6 percent are making games for Windows Phone.
The GDC said 4,500 people participated in the survey. About 27,000 people are expected to attend the GDC. The event has more than 300 exhibits, 600 speakers, and 500 sessions.


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Cyprus wines “constantly improving” says OIV official
Jean-Marie Aurand, Director General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) co-chaired the 9th Cyprus Wine Competition, together with Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister Nicos Kouyialis.
During the process, 29 local wineries submitted 132 samples that were judged by six foreign jurors and one local.
Aurand and Kouyialis also extolled the virtues of the local wines, saying that “the progress achieved in Cypriot viticulture in recent years and the improvement in the quality of Cypriot wines was significant.”
In an extremely competitive environment where 43% of wines produced globally are exported, the particular characteristics of Cypriot indigenous varieties can make the difference for local wine production and strengthen our presence in the global wine map which would in turn greatly benefit our economy, Kouyialis said.
He also referred to the close cooperation Cyprus has with OIV which is the body responsible for the institutional framework of world wine production.
A decision was taken that during 2016 a specialised wine fair for sommeliers and journalists will take place in Paris.
During this year’s competition, held at the Columbia Venue Centre, another change was that sweet wines now have a separate category, different from the dry and semisweet varieties, “as this has great importance for us, mainly because it also includes the famous Commandaria,” explained Limassol Mayor and competition host Andreas Christou.
He added that wine writers also visited the island and were given tours of the “Wine Routes” to visit local wineries and promote the island abroad


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Is Apple charging into electric car market?
Apple is the latest technology company aiming to get into the car business.
The Cupertino, Calif., technology giant has created a team of employees to explore an Apple-branded electric car, the Wall Street Journal reported late Friday.
Apple would join archrival Google and upstart automotive company Tesla Motors in launching development of a high-tech, battery-powered vehicle.
Like Google, smartphone and computer company Apple has lots of cash to take on the likes of car behemoths General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.
Apple ended 2014 with $178 billion in cash and marketable securities.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean Apple will dump billions into the enormously complicated and expensive auto manufacturing business.
It could supply software to increasingly automated and computerized vehicles made by others, as analysts predict Google will seek to do. Or, as Apple has with other products, it could develop a design and outsource the manufacturing to contractors.
The Journal, citing anonymous sources, reported that Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook approved an automotive project a year ago and placed it under the care of Apple VP Steve Zadesky, a former Ford Motor Co. engineer.
Cook authorized Zadesky to create a team of 1,000 workers, according to the Journal’s unnamed sources. Apple hired Johann Jungwirth, a former Mercedes-Benz executive, last September, the Journal reported.
Apple executives have met with auto manufacturers in Austria, according to the Journal, including with Magna Steyr, based in Graz and a subsidiary of Canadian Magna International.
Magna Steyr has built or helped develop vehicles for Mercedes and BMW, and introduced a plug-in electric vehicle of its own design at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
Apple representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
The company has already made automotive headway with its CarPlay, an in-dash feature that uses Apple’s Siri voice control and iPhones to enable drivers to make calls, read and send text messages, use Apple maps and listen to music.
Apple calls it “the best iPhone experience on four wheels,” and says the feature will be offered by most of the world’s auto manufacturers, among them Ford, Honda, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Volkswagen.
Google has been working on its Auto Android, a similar product.
Some analysts can’t see Apple building cars.
“It doesn’t sound plausible to me,” said Egil Juliussen, automotive technology analyst at IHS Automotive. “The profit margin in the auto industry is not great. A 10% margin is considered very good. But technology companies expect 20%.”
Still, the automotive industry is being increasingly pulled to California and Silicon Valley, said Thilo Koslowski, vice president and automotive practice leader at Gartner Inc.
Most major automakers have opened research offices in the technology Mecca. Tesla Motors -- the most important new American car company in almost a century -- is based in Palo Alto and builds cars at a factory in nearby Fremont.
Ride-hailing company Uber announced last week that it would open a robotics research center in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh that “will focus on the development of key long-term technologies that advance Uber’s mission of bringing safe, reliable transportation to everyone, everywhere.”
That fueled speculation the San Francisco company wants to invest in self-driving cars.
Google announced last May that it would test about 200 self-driving two-seat cars that run on electric power -- most with no steering wheel or pedals.
The cars, resembling gumdrops, aren’t necessarily a signal that Google wants to become an automaker. The company hopes to develop self-driving software that will “improve road safety and help people who can’t drive,” it wrote on its blog.
Analysts have predicted that the company will seek to profit from selling the software to automakers, rather than taking on an auto manufacturing operation.
There’s no doubt Apple could produce a car if it chose to, Koslowski said.
“The barriers to building an electric vehicle are much lower than they use to be,” he said. “You can buy a lot of the components these days, almost off the shelf. It is much easier to do than starting from scratch and developing an internal combustion vehicle.”
But he agreed that it would be difficult for Apple to wring the same profits from cars as it has enjoyed from computers, phones and tablets.
“They might decide to just license complete systems, such as a battery-based power train, to existing auto manufacturers,” Koslowski said. “They could co-brand. They could collaborate on production. They have a lot of options.”
Analysts have predicted that the rapid application of computing power to transportation will open the industry to new entrants.
It would be surprising not to see tech giants like Google or Amazon -- or ride-hailing upstarts such as Uber -- investing in the automotive industry, wrote Adam Jonas, an auto analyst with Morgan Stanley Research, in a note to investors last year.
This is creating competition for the old-line automakers from places they never expected, Koslowski said.
“This is much deeper and broader than putting an entertainment system in the car,” he said.
Some of the automakers won’t be up to the test, Koslowski said.
“It is no longer just about mechanical engineering,” Koslowski said. “It is about understanding bits and bytes.”
Times staff writer Andrea Chang contributed to this report.


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Burger King has parachuted in a US WPP Group agency chief, John Valentine, to lead a six-month, brand-strategy review ahead of a “relaunch” in the UK.
Valentine is the chairman and founder of VML, which is Burger King’s interactive agency of record in the US. He takes up his role this week and will report to the company’s president, Andre Lacroix, and global chief marketing officer and executive vice-president Chris Clouser.
Clouser says: “We are building momentum in the US market and we believe we will be equally successful in relaunching the Burger King brand in the UK.”
However, Burger King’s UK headquarters is playing down the significance of Valentine’s arrival. A spokesman says the company has already started its relaunch in the UK by focusing on its “hero” products such as the Whopper.
He adds that there are no plans to review advertising or to make any changes to the UK marketing department. Last August, however, Lowe’s tenure on the Burger King account – which it has held since 1997 – was threatened after the company arranged exploratory talks with other agencies (MW August 2, 2001). Lowe eventually retained the business.


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Completing 70 years, Mondelez India is celebrating the feat by releasing limited edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Vintage Tin Packs reports F&B News. This tin box priced at Rs.544 has four Cadbury chocolate bar in covers from the years 1907, 1923, 1961 and 1999. “We look back on our history in India fondly, and it is a huge honour to commemorate this special milestone,” said Anil Viswanathan, director, marketing (chocolates), Mondelez India at the tin pack launch.
Vintage Packs To Mark 70 Years
“We thank our teams as well as all our consumers who have supported us over the years and invite everyone to join us in our journey ahead. To celebrate this journey, we are thrilled to launch this beautiful Cadbury Dairy Milk Vintage Box. Consumers can take a trip down the memory lane with these retro pack designs and relive their favourite Cadbury Dairy Milk memories,” he added.
At the launch of the vintage tin packs, Abhishek Ahluwalia, head, e-commerce, Mondelez India, said, “These days, consumers are not just looking at products and services, but at experiences that can create long-lasting memories. We are excited to launch yet another exclusive e-commerce proposition. On its 70th anniversary, Mondelez India, wishes to connect with the consumers on an emotional level with the help of its limited edition vintage pack. This is our way to thank the consumers who have played such a significant role in Mondelez’s journey.”
He also said that “the vintage pack is a symbol of its seven decades of consumer love and adulation and the positive leaps it has taken to become India’s favourite chocolate brand. We are committed to building on the legacy we’ve created in the last 70 years with the promise of bringing more moments of joy in the times to come.” The packs are all available online on Cadbury Gifting website, Amazon, Flipkart and Paytm.
Images: Cadbury Gifting
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New Z-laser CEO starts work
28 September 2012Tweet
Stefan Randak is now the new chief executive officer at the German manufacturer of laser modules and laser projection systems, Z-laser.
Starting this month, Randak has years of experience in national and international business in the automotive industry and other sectors. The outgoing founder and managing director, Kurt-Michael Zimmermann said: ‘With the nomination of Stefan Randak, the company becomes younger and will get a new structure, which is necessary because of the fast and successful growth of the company.’
Zimmermann will stay on as the company’s exclusive owner and chairman.


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Shoppers were lucky this week, finding deals galore for St. Paddy's Day feasts. Green cabbage, onions, carrots, and potatoes were displayed alongside corned beef. Avocados, green bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, asparagus, Granny Smith apples, and white seedless grapes were well advertised and added to the celebration of all things green.
Total ad numbers this week were 289,962, a 5% increase from last week's total of 276,658. The total for the same week last year was 2% higher than for this year. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 148,815 (51% of all ads), onions and potatoes 25,569 (9%), vegetables 111,630 (38%), herbs 1,716, ornamentals 1,818, and hemp 414. The number of ads for organic produce was 38,521, 13% of total ads.
The following are the prices of major advertised items (3,000 plus ads) this week, compared to the same week last year. Significant increases in price for fruit this week included strawberries (1 lb.) at 15%, blackberries at 14%, apple juice at 13%, and raspberries at 10%. Significant decreases included avocados at 31%, tangerines (3 lb. bag) at 29%, and seedless grapes (white at 20%, black at 19%). There were no changes in price for onions and potatoes this week. Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included only green cabbage at 12%. There were no significant decreases.
Click here to read the full report.


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in association with
Blackwood Plant Hire
Once again Dunfermline Car Club Are proud to announce the DCC Stages held at the Royal Highland Show Ground, Ingliston, near Edinburgh. The event will be held on the
25th April 2015.
Last year the event was fully subscribed within 10 days of the entries opening.
Regulations are available to download here and the Entries will open at 8:00pm on the
11th March 2015.
New STRC Main Sponsor
The Scottish Tarmack Rally Championship has announced the name of its new sponsor for 2015 . . . Blackwood Plant Hire comes on board to ensure the 2015 Championship will be the best yet.
Based in the Central Belt, Blackwood Plant Hire is one the leading plant hire companies in the country. Managing Director Tom Blackwood said: “We’re really, really excited about the 2015 season. Personally, I love Tarmac rallying. Although, I’ve never been behind the wheel myself, I’ve been in the passenger seat and it’s an incredible experience.
TIM Finch Rallysport
Dunfermline car club and the Scottish Tarmack Rally championship are proud to announce another co-sponsor for the 2015 season.
Tim Finch Rallysport will join this ever growing and popular championship and with that will bring along a range of Rally and motoring parts/accessories and services.
Tim has also confirmed this morning he will give any registered driver/co-driver or crew a full 15% discount on any product he has available, this could range from helmets/Head restraint systems to rally car hire/support.


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With how advanced technology has come in just the last few years, consumers are paying more attention to safety features than what a vehicle’s infotainment system has to offer.
In a recent survey released by Harris Interactive, features such as blind-spot warning and backup cameras draw more interest from car buyers than satellite radio and voice-activated infotainment features. This is probably not a huge surprise, as most drivers don’t want to have to fuss around with new infotainment features, while a backup cameras and blind-spot alert work without any hassle.
Not to mention how frustrated some owners have become with the new forms of technology – ahem, Ford SYNC. Features such as a backup camera and pedestrian alerts are used more commonly in day-to-day driving, and has a more tangible effect than streaming radio. In fact, most consumers prefer to just dock their smartphones than have to deal with integrated systems like Ford’s SYNC.
[Source: USA Today]


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Promotions.com became the latest online company to take a hatchet to its employee base, laying off 13 percent of its 180-person staff this week.
One of the victims of the company's downsizing, Jane Weber, the former vice president of Promotions.com Direct, said this is just a sign of the times.
“Since April, the market has caused us to pull in our belts and stop spending on marketing. We were cutting our budget as other people were cutting their budgets,” she said.
The layoffs were the result of the company's streamlining from three divisions to two. Promotions.com Direct was dissolved into Webstakes.com, which will now offer all of the defunct division's services. The other surviving division is Promotions.com Custom Solutions.
“They were trying to accomplish a couple of goals to improve their business models and become profitable at the same time as the revenue started to shrink. So they did what companies do and looked to decrease their overhead,” Weber said. “We had three divisions that were all supposed to thrive, two of which were very similar, so they merged the two departments and only needed one head.”
Promotions.com, New York, refused to comment on the layoffs. The company did issue a release, however, stating that the reorganization would generate an annual operating cost savings of $3 million to $3.5 million.
At press time, PRMO was trading at 1 23/32, down from its 52-week high of 35. “Companies are under a lot of pressure right now, not just ours,” Weber said. “When you're in a really rapid growth phase, you go into a lot of new areas. When it slows down, you have to decide if you belong in those areas.”
Promotions.com is an online sweepstakes promotion company that integrates sweepstakes, contests and similar promotional events with direct marketing tools and a proprietary membership database of more than 6 million consumers.


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Kudos to inspiring young social entrepreneur Suraya Shivji, grade 12, who created an altruistic app to raise money to help African orphans become self-sufficient.
Shivji taught herself to program iPhone gaming apps and get them posted on Apple’s app store. She is now using them, along with a crowd-funding campaign she began this year on her website, Rizikitoto, as a source of revenue for the needy orphans.
The website has generated about $1,300 for the children at a Ugandan orphanage, Bright Futures Home, with money from each app designated for a particular child. The orphanage program is further supported by Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit group that seeks to close the gender gap in technology and engineering.
For details, see this Mercury News article on Shivji: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27165578/q-rizikitotos-suraya-shivji-17-crowd-funds-african


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- SoftBank Group, the Japanese tech conglomerate with investments in Uber, WeWork, and Slack, is reportedly close to announcing another Vision Fund.
- The announcement could come as early as this week according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news citing people familiar with the situation.
- Two of the first Vision Fund's investors, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Mubadala Investment Co., are reportedly expected to back the new investment vehicle.
- SoftBank's first Vision Fund raised $100 billion in order to invest in frontier and enterprise technologies, consumer businesses, and transportation and logistics companies.
- Visit the Markets Insider homepage for more stories.
The Japanese conglomerate could reveal the new fund as early as this week, but the company is still working out details with investors, according to a Bloomberg report.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Mubadala Investment Co. — both of which backed the first Vision Fund — are expected to invest in the second investment vehicle, according to the report.
While the size of the fund is still unconfirmed, Saudi Arabia PIF contributed $45 billion to the first Vision Fund, and has suggested in the past that it invest the same amount in second fund. Other investors in the first Vision Fund are also expected to return for the new investment vehicle, according to the report.
SoftBank could chip in as much $50 billion this time around, a big jump from the $28 billion the company put into the first Vision Fund, according to Bloomberg. The company hopes to close the fund by March 2020, and began working with Goldman Sachs, Centricus, and Cantor Fitzgerald in July to begin putting together the fund, according to Bloomberg.
In June, Masayoshi Son, the founder of SoftBank, said the first Vision Fund invested $64.2 billion in 71 companies generating a return of 62%. SoftBank's initial Vision Fund invested in disruptive startups like Uber, WeWork, Slack, DoorDash, and China's Didi Chuxing.
SoftBank's primarily operates in the telecommunications space, offering mobile plans, cloud, and network services.
Shares of SoftBank, which trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, are up 49% year-to-date, outperforming the broader Japanese stock market by 44%.
Now read more markets coverage from Markets Insider and Business Insider:


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Soon, electric cars in California will be able to benefit from a new HOV sticker that will allow driving in the state's carpool lanes with no carpool evidence in tow.
Yes, we all know California is pushing EV adoption hardcore. The state has forever been at the advent of supporting new technology and pushing electric vehicle adoption forth like none other. Now, it's upping its ante on electric vehicle adoption even further. Beginning after the new year, some electric car owners will able to acquire a brand-new PURPLE sticker, which will allow them to access CA's carpool (HOV) lanes even as a lone commuter.
Related HOV Sticker News:
This new purple decal is set to go in effect on January 1, 2019 and remain valid until January 1, 2023. This actually gives commuters one extra year on top of previous legislation that allows current white, green, and red stickers to remain intact through January 1, 2022.
Not only are we happy that the U.S. state of California is establishing this newfound sticker, but we also hope it will invoke other states (preferably not only of the CARB variety) to issue similar incentives. We can only wish and cross our fingers that the status of EVs and the push for electric car adoption will leak to multiple states throughout the U.S. and beyond.
It's important to note that you can't attain this new and advantageous purple sticker unless you have a new plug-in vehicle and/or have never applied for and used a different color sticker for that car in the past.
If you live in California or have ever visited its major cities, you're more than likely well aware that traffic is a significant issue that's getting exponentially worse. This is a necessary step to push EV adoption and something that should be easy for other states to get on the bill. Whether or not other states can get it passed is the question.
Source: Green Car Reports


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Twitter users’ data containing private emails and linked phone numbers have reportedly been up for sale.
Cybercrime intelligence firm Hudson Rock highlighted a “credible threat” via Twitter on Dec. 24
Someone is supposedly selling a private database containing contact information of 400 million Twitter user accounts.
It also reached out to the hacker via Telegram and noted that they are actively waiting for a buyer there.
If found true, the breach could be a significant cause for concern for crypto Twitter users
However, some users have highlighted that such a large-scale breach is hard to believe
The current amount of active monthly users reportedly sits at around 450 million.
The purported hacker still has a post up on Breached advertising the database to buyers.
If Musk pays the fee, the hacker says they will delete the data and it will not be sold to anyone else
The bug essentially allowed hackers to scrape private info which they then compiled into databases to sell on the dark web.


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The United States and China exchanged the first salvos in what could become a protracted trade war, slapping tariffs on $34 billion worth of each others’ goods and giving no sign of willingness to start talks aimed at a reaching a truce. Duties on a range of Chinese goods imported into the United States took effect on Friday and were immediately countered by measures from China, with Beijing accusing the United States of triggering the “largest-scale trade war”.
The escalating fight between the world’s two biggest economies meant that it could “take economic and political pain to get these two parties to the (negotiating) table”, said Scott Kennedy, head of China studies at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
President Donald Trump is already threatening additional rounds of tariffs, possibly targeting more than $500 billion worth of Chinese goods — roughly the total amount of US imports from China last year.
It will take weeks or months for the US Trade Representative to review and possibly activate any new rounds of punishment.
“The key questions during that time are what will happen to financial markets, how will US voters react and will China’s economy start to wobble,” Kennedy said in a telephone interview.
Erin Ennis, Senior Vice-President of the US China Business Council, said there was a danger the two sides will dig in on trade sanctions without a clear strategy for resuming negotiations.
While US companies doing business in China agree with Trump’s complaint about Chinese intellectual property practices, Ennis said they do not see tariffs pushing China into submission.
China’s commerce ministry said it was forced to retaliate, meaning imported US goods including cars, soybeans, and lobsters also faced 25 per cent tariffs.
Some of Trump’s fellow Republicans in the US Congress lashed out at his actions.
“Tariffs not only hurt our farmers, ranchers and airplane manufacturers, but they also harm every American consumer We should be working with our allies to isolate China rather than escalate a trade war,” said Senator Jerry Moran, who represents the agriculture-heavy state of Kansas.
China’s soymeal futures fell more than 2 per cent before recovering most of those losses amid initial market confusion over whether Beijing had actually implemented the tariffs, which it later confirmed it had.
Friday’s long-expected China tariff volley fuelled fear that a prolonged and escalating battle would hurt global trade, investment and growth, while also damaging US farm exports and potentially driving up food prices in China.
For example, US-based audio company Sonos Inc noted in an initial public offering its performance “may be materially harmed” by trade restrictions.
“Trade war is never a solution,” Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said at a news briefing with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in Sofia before a summit with 16 central and eastern European countries.
“China would never start a trade war but if any party resorts to an increase of tariffs, then China will take measures in response to protect development interests,” he said.
There was no sign of renewed negotiations between US and Chinese officials in the run-up, business sources in Washington and Beijing said.
The dispute has roiled financial markets including stocks, currencies and the global trade of commodities from soybeans to coal in recent weeks. China lodged a case with the World Trade Organisation against the United States.
White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Kevin Hassett said in an interview on Fox Business Network on Friday Trump is “going to deliver better (trade) deals”. He said, for now, “he’s called the bluff of other countries that have basically been abusing” US companies and workers.
Importers of American retail goods hit by higher Chinese duties were reluctant to pass the costs on to consumers for now.
An analysis of more than four dozen targeted US products showed that prices were little changed. The products, sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms, ranged from pet food to mixed nuts and whiskey.
Ford Motor Co said that, for now, it will not hike prices of imported Ford and higher-margin luxury Lincoln models in China.
However, German automaker BMW said it is unable to “completely absorb” new Chinese tariff on imported US-made models and will raise prices. — Reuters
Michael Martina & David Lawder


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Canadian Solar violated section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, in their importation of shingled solar modules from China. The Commission is seeking information/comments relating to the public interest concerning the trade remedy imposed should a final affirmative determination be made. Find out all the details, and how to submit your comments.
Find out what the latest trade developments are from China no longer issuing GSP certificates of origin for exports to Canada to large residential washing machines U.S. period 4 quota opening on Nov. 7th, we've detailed these and much more for you here.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic created a “unique global trade environment” in 2020 and left a a profound impact on global economic activities and international trade, the U.S. International Trade said in its annual trade overview published this week.
Importers of large residential washing machines seeking to avoid the higher level of safeguard tariffs imposed to protect U.S. producers are reminded that the third quota period for 2021 begins on August 7.
U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation earlier this week aiming to make it easier for businesses that believe they are victims of intellectual property theft to block imports made with their trade secrets.
Find out what the latest trade developments are from CBSA workers holding strike votes over pay and 'toxic workplace culture' - to a ruling where #importers must file protests with CBP in order to preserve their ability to obtain duty refunds in connection with exclusions from Section301 tariffs, we've detailed these and much more for you here.
$4 billion!? Yes, a year-long review shows nearly $4B worth of tires from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are being dumped in the U.S. at prices below their fair value. Find out all the details on the new antidumping duty rates that may come into effect in July 2021.
The U.S. International Trade Commission yesterday launched an investigation of certain televisions and remote controls from Samsung, LG Electronics, and more than a dozen other companies that are alleged to infringe the patents of U.S. manufacturer Roku, Inc.


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Monitoring systems provider AVI Infosys has launched an Android NFC loyalty and payments app aimed at retailers in Dubai. The app will “help retail businesses keep their customers loyal and connected,” the company says.
- Bank of England ponders own digital currency
- Fibank to launch HCE mobile payments
- LG smart watch to offer NFC payments
- Barclays to allow Twitter payments
- Morgan Stanley joins Apple Pay


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In the dynamic arena of fintech, Trust Bank Singapore stands out as a pioneering entity, marking a significant shift in the digital banking landscape under the leadership of banking veteran Dwaipayan Sadhu, commonly referred to as Dwai.
Within a span of less than two years, Trust Bank has carved a distinct identity, positioning itself as a trendsetter in Singapore with its unique ecosystem offering, and illustrating a blueprint for its own path in digital banking.
This journey, marked by strategic partnerships, unconventional offerings, and an unwavering focus towards customer satisfaction, encapsulates the essence of Trust Bank’s ascent since launching. Chief Executive Officer Dwai walks us through the evolution of Trust Bank in Singapore.
The Genesis of a Digital Banking Powerhouse
At the heart of Trust Bank’s inception is a synergistic collaboration between Standard Chartered and NTUC, with a shareholding distribution of 60% and 40% respectively. Since its launch under the auspices of these massive entities in September 2022, Trust Bank has witnessed remarkable growth, rapidly becoming a pacesetter of innovation in the Singapore digital banking sector.
Dwaipayan Sadhu, CEO of Trust Bank Singapore
Dwai reflects on this journey, which he says is a testament to the bank’s strategic vision and execution prowess, stating,
“We are now one of the world’s fastest-growing digital banks.”
And the proof is in the numbers. Within a short span of a little more than a year, Trust Bank Singapore celebrates how its customer base which comprises 12% of the Singapore population made over 2.1 million transactions since inception, registering total savings of more than S$6 million when using their no-foreign exchange (FX) fee Trust cards, when compared with conventional credit cards that charge FX fees.
Innovation, Transparency, and Ecosystem Integration
According to its CEO, Trust Bank’s success narrative is built on three foundational pillars: innovation, transparency, and ecosystem integration. These elements collectively define the bank’s unique market proposition and its appeal to the Singaporean populace.
Dwai elucidates on the ecosystem approach, emphasising the integration with NTUC,
“Trust is integrated into each part of this ecosystem… providing huge amounts of savings and real value for Singapore residents.”
This seamless integration with NTUC’s widespread ecosystem offers unparalleled advantages to Trust Bank’s customers, reinforcing the value proposition. The digital-native bank shares that within a year of its inception, its over 600,000 customer base has collectively saved upwards of S$16 million through FairPrice e-vouchers, earned over 1.4 billion Linkpoints loyalty rewards, and used more than 2.2 million digital coupons with its extensive range of ecosystem partners across Singapore.
Trust CEO Dwaipayan Sadhu, often known as Dwai
Transparency and simplicity are other core tenets that have resonated deeply with Trust Bank’s clientele, Dwai claims, in contrast with the service offering of several of its branchless bank competition.
The bank has challenged the norms of traditional banking products by offering clear, straightforward solutions that empower customers. Dwai passionately speaks about this, stating,
“Simplicity and transparency[…] have also been very well regarded and very well received by the clients.”
This approach has enabled Trust Bank to differentiate itself in a competitive market, fostering a strong relationship with its customers.
Trust Bank Singapore Redefines Customer Experience in Digital Banking
A pivotal aspect of Trust Bank’s strategy is its focus on redefining the customer experience, setting new benchmarks in the process. The bank has streamlined the customer onboarding process to less than three minutes, a feat it says is unmatched in the industry.
“This is market-leading not just in Singapore… but anywhere in the world,”
Dwai notes, highlighting the service delivery efficiency that Trust Bank brings to the table. Moreover, the bank has leveraged customer referrals effectively, with over 70% of new clients being referred by existing customers, showcasing the trust and satisfaction among its user base.
Strategic Partnerships and Future Aspirations of Trust Bank Singapore
Looking ahead, Trust Bank continues to prioritise its partnership with NTUC, aiming to deepen this collaboration to enhance its offerings and deliver more value to its customers.
Dwai envisions this partnership as a cornerstone of Trust Bank’s strategy, intending to “further enhance the services that we offer the client and bring real savings to clients.”
This focus on strategic partnerships underscores Trust Bank’s commitment to growth and service enhancement, as it progresses on its upward trajectory.
Dwai points out Trust Bank’s significant growth curve already, achieving a 12% market share within a year of its inception, thereby positioning itself as one of the fastest expanding digital banks globally.
Dwai is proud that the bank continues to engage its customers effectively, with an 85% card activation rate and over 2 million digital coupons redeemed within the Trust ecosystem.
In its inaugural year, Trust Bank garnered a number of accolades, being named the best digital retail bank in Singapore and Southeast Asia by The Digital Banker and achieving the highest rating for a banking app in the Singapore Apple App Store.
In the short term, Trust Bank is set on establishing itself as a major player in Singapore’s banking industry, aspiring to become the fourth-largest retail bank in customer numbers by the end of 2024.
Dwai articulates this ambition, stating,
“We feel that on the back of our very strong client growth, we have a real credible chance to become the fourth local bank in Singapore.”
A Digibanking Legacy of Innovation and Customer Centricity
As Trust Bank looks to the future, it remains committed to driving innovation and enhancing the banking experience for its customers. Dwai shares his vision for the bank,
“We want to[…] bring real innovation to the market[…] and hopefully, clients will continue to see the difference.”
This commitment to innovation, coupled with the aspiration to become an integral part of Singapore’s banking landscape, signifies Trust Bank’s ambition to redefine banking in the digital age.
Trust Bank Singapore, under Dwai’s leadership, epitomises the evolution of digital banking, characterised by strategic foresight, innovative solutions, and a deep commitment to customer satisfaction.
With over 700,000 customers and close to S$2 billion in deposits, Trust Bank is well on its path toward realising its ambition of becoming the fourth-largest retail bank in Singapore by the end of 2024.
Featured image credit: Edited from Trust Bank Singapore
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New DS game from Treasure
Sega's highly respected Treasure development studio are working on a brand new Nintendo DS game, we can reveal today. The title promises to be an interactive take on popular Japanese anime and manga Bleach. A 2D fighting game is apparently the order of the day, boasting a unique anime style. The title will be called: Bleach - Blue Sky of Destiny at launch, which will come in Japan next January. Unsurprisingly, there are at the moment no plans for Sega to release the game in North America or Europe, as Bleach is very much a Japanese phenomenon.
We're promised a wireless multiplayer mode for up to four players, and more news should be made available by Sega as release nears. Treasure have in the past worked on such titles as Gunstar Heroes, Ikaruga and Wario World, and are regarded as one of the jewels in Sega's development crown. We'll keep you posted on all the latest DS excitement as we get it. More from us soon, then.
- Thomas Was Alone gets a release date for PS4 and Wii U
- New Warframe update adds space-flight to the gameplay with Archwing mode
- New poll indicates that people believe online gaming is “the least welcoming space” for women
- CD Projekt RED releases The Trail, the opening cinematic from The Witcher 3
- New Project CARS trailer pulls up to the starting grid
- Far Cry 4 dev says linear games will suffer in the new world of gameplay video sharing
- Almost 1,100 developers, students and journalists sign the new #gamediversity petition embracing diversity in games
- Felicia Day breaks her silence about #Gamergate, is almost immediately doxxed
- Ubisoft announces PC specs for Assassin's Creed: Unity and they're killer