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Australian mobile phone retailer Allphones has installed NFC-enabled promotional pillars at Sydney’s Allphones Arena, one of the largest stadiums in the country. “People can simply tap their phone to access exclusive offers from Allphones,” Andrew Davis (pictured), agency director of NFC platform provider Tapit, told NFC World.
- ABN Amro pilots wearable payments with select customers
- Danske Bank brings Apple Pay to customers in Northern Ireland
- Dankort gets lockscreen mobile payments and Touch ID support
- Punchh brings Apple Pay to restaurant loyalty program
- East London gets local currency built on the blockchain


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TRANS-Asia Shipping Corp Bhd (Tasco), scheduled to list on Bursa Malaysia main board on Dec 28, will bank on its extensive international network and quality services to stay put in the competitive logistics industry.
Managing director Lee Check Poh said: “We intend to synergise our sea, air and land services by servicing customers with a network that combines the shipping fleet of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) group,” he said, adding that manufacturers would prefer a “one stop solutions provider.”
According to Lee, automotive manufacturers look out for only total logistics solutions providers with strong international connection and networks when considering the outsourcing of logistics activities.
“Working synergistically with NYK group, our auto logistics division is able to provide a range of logistics solutions to meet these logistics challenges while considering each customer's specific business requirements,” he said.
NYK group is a comprehensive global logistics enterprise with over 379 logistics centres in 34 countries worldwide.
“Our company's objective is to meet the “constantly changing consumers' needs expeditiously and to pursue worldwide synergies in our business covering sea, air and land logistics services,” he said in an interview.
Lee said Tasco provided full logistics supply chain services such as customs brokerage, freight forwarding, transportation, warehousing-related activities and distribution, hence giving them a competitive advantage over other players.
It has six business divisions, namely the ocean, air, land, international freight, auto logistics and international network solutions.
The group's air division contributes 47% to the group's revenue, while ocean and land divisions contribute 29% and 15% respectively. Its international freight division contributes 7%.
Presently, Tasco has a Total Logistics Sales Division that serves as the cross divisional body and the sole customer point.
“We would like to help manufacturers maintain huge volume of parts at minimal inventory cost,” said Lee, adding that the group emphasises on quality control.
Lee said the group offers customised logistic solutions that includes integrated logistics solutions among different modes of transportation, total supply chain solutions, value-added services and door-to-door delivery services.
Tasco is currently eyeing new market segments in pharmaceutical, home appliances, constructions and chemicals industries for its project cargoes division, he said.
Its customer base consists of overseas multinationals such as Japanese, British and American companies from electronic, automobile, furniture and fast consumer goods industries.
“Our major customers are mainly international merchandisers who source product in Malaysia and market in Europe and North America,” said Lee, adding that international customers contribute 70% to 80% of the group's revenue.
He said: “We hope to achieve a double-digit revenue growth on a year-to-year basis.”
“The outlook for general cargo logistics industry is positive, seeing growth of electronic exports, improvement of infrastructure, Iskandar Development Region and rising outsourcing of logistics operations by manufacturers to save cost,” he added.
Tasco registered a net profit of RM12.41mil on revenue of RM354.86mil for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2006.
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In addition to recognizing the business start-ups, the event featured a networking reception and a keynote address delivered by 2011 RIT graduate Marty Strenczewilk, founder, president and CEO of Splyce, an electronic-sports franchise that launched from Venture Creations in 2016.
The graduating companies are:
Together, the four companies have introduced 21 new jobs into the economy.
“Venture Creations is a critical piece of RIT’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem,” said Ryne Raffaelle, RIT’s vice president for research and associate provost. “In addition to creating new jobs, some of these companies are engaging local and regional suppliers and have plans to expand their labor forces—locally. So, as we celebrate the graduation of these companies, let’s also think about the impact they will have on Rochester and the Finger Lakes Region through hiring, engagement of suppliers and as consumers. Not only is this a great day for Venture Creations and these four graduating companies, it is a great day for Rochester.”
Raffaelle also mentioned that each of the graduating companies includes at least one founder who is an RIT graduate, and all have engaged RIT students in their business’ development.
During his presentation, Strenczewilk offered words of wisdom to the representatives from the graduating companies and encouraged the entrepreneurs to find their purpose, trust their gut when making critical decisions, and hire great people who are awesome at their jobs. “The people that I work with inspire me to learn new things every day,” he said.
Strenczewilk also explained how being passionate about your business can translate into acquiring investors.
“I once had an investor tell me that he had no idea what my company did, but he believed in me,” he added. “I started my business in my basement in Rochester, N.Y. That is still possible today. At the end of the day, there are a lot of resources in Rochester, and they’re available if you choose to use them.”
As a unit, Venture Creations promotes regional economic development; 27 non-acquired companies from Venture Creations continue to run their businesses in New York state.
“RIT’s Venture Creations incubator proudly offers faculty, staff, students and community members the tools to transform their high-technology ideas into viable businesses,” said Richard Notargiacomo, incubator director. “By providing quality coaching, professional consulting and connections with industry professionals, Venture Creations creates an environment where new businesses can develop and thrive. Rochester is on a journey toward becoming an innovation hub, and Venture Creations is proud to be part of that blossoming ecosystem.”
Venture Creations was created in 2003 to provide services to incubating companies, facilitating the development and operation of these companies for the purpose of advancing the educational and research missions of RIT through the enhancement of faculty, student and staff involvement in high technology. It was also created to promote economic development and competitiveness in Monroe County and New York state by encouraging and facilitating the transfer of technology resources to the marketplace. Thirty-eight companies have graduated from the incubator and together have created 454 jobs.
Note: Video available for this story


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Standard Chartered introduces new Online User Interface, Mobile APP
The bank said investing in a new platform to take over from an award-winning one is a loud testimonial of the commitment to stay ahead of the curve in delivering the most innovative solution in online and mobile banking.
The new platform, which integrates both online and mobile, greets clients with a fresh look and feel and also unifies the user’s log in credentials.
Clients log on to both platforms with the same credentials used for online banking.
Speaking at the launch, Head Retail Banking Standard Chartered Bank Ghana and West Africa, Henry Baye said: “We are proud to launch this refreshed, clean, sophisticated yet simple to use Online Banking User Interface and the exciting new Standard Chartered Mobile App.”
“This new look and feel combined with a great web and mobile interaction will deliver an amazing experience to our clients. With these digital innovations, we are introducing solutions that make banking more convenient and a step towards making Standard Chartered the digital main bank for our clients.
“The new platforms will enable quicker and easier access to bank accounts. Clients can track and stay in control of their finances. Loan details viewing, funds transfers in real time, bill payments and account tracking activities are all available on mobile,” he said.
Overall, clients are expected to enjoy a consistent mobile and online banking experience: usernames and passwords, beneficiaries, standing instructions and bill payees are replicated across both channels.
Besides, paying bills is made easier as the revamp comes with an expanded list of utility companies, cable TV and internet providers.
“With the Mobile Application, the Bank’s customers can also set up beneficiaries to make transfers to and moreover, they can personalize their accounts by adding account nicknames or icons,” Mr Baye said.
Mr Kweku Bedu-Addo, Chief Executive and Managing Director Standard Chartered Ghana, urged the staff to be at the forefront of the digital agenda.
He tasked the frontline staff to in their meeting with clients to encourage them to adopt the new technology to make banking easier for them.
The online and mobile banking platform puts Standard Chartered at the forefront of digital banking technology in Africa.
In 2015, Global Finance named Standard Chartered the World’s Best Consumer Digital Bank and Best Regional Consumer Digital Bank for Africa and the Middle East.
Standard Chartered Mobile app is now available for download from AppStore and Google play.


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Sony Interactive Entertainment have announced the launch of PlayStation Productions, an in-house production studio that will work on adapting PlayStation’s extensive catalog of exclusives into films and TV shows. The studio will be helmed by Asad Qizilbash, with Chairman of Worldwide Studios at SIE Shawn Layden overseeing things, and the first slate of projects are already underway.
Having been reported exclusively by The Hollywood Reporter, Shawn Layden said to them: “We’ve got 25 years of game development experience and that’s created 25 years of great games, franchises and stories. We feel that now is a good time to look at other media opportunities across streaming or film or television to give our worlds life in another spectrum.”
Unlike other video game adaptations, production will be handled in-house instead of licensed out to other companies, which allows Sony to retain creative control over their projects. PlayStation Productions will also be partnered with Sony Pictures, which also means that the studio will have the time and resources needed to create the best adaptations possible.
Honestly, though PlayStation Productions was only announced today, it sounds like they’re making all the right moves. Having a video game company handle video game adaptations without the pressure of meeting strict deadlines and rushing projects sounds great. Fingers crossed it’ll actually lead to some quality films and programming.


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BMW launched a new digital tool this week that gives consumers access to data about the range, savings, and environmental impact that BMW ActiveE drivers experience across the country.
Read This Article
Following Mercedes-Benz’s performance division, AMG, BMW’s M division wants to make a unique sports car model of its own.
We get our First Look at the 2014 BMW 4 Series coupe.
BMW's vaunted 335i is now more…Swedish?


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Kalmar Zero Emission RTG with battery pack: better flexibility and no emissions
Recent advances in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology have enabled the full electrification of cargo-handling equipment of all kinds. Now it’s the turn of the rubber-tyred gantry crane (RTG), a terminal workhorse that is used in hundreds of container terminals around the world. Equipped with a battery pack, Kalmar Zero Emission RTGs running on cable or busbar systems can now complete stack changes and power auxiliary functions without any diesel or emissions.
A ubiquitous sight at container terminals all around the world, the roots of the Kalmar RTG can be traced as far back as 1967 – two years before man first set foot on the moon – with the unveiling of Valmet’s brand new Mobile Gantry Crane. Fast forward over half a century and it’s an understatement to say that things have moved on somewhat.
Eco-efficient technologies for more sustainable cargo handling
Driven by the urgent need to combat climate change, governments and local and regional authorities around the globe are rolling out regulations and initiatives to support the adoption of eco-efficient technologies. Kalmar’s expertise in electrifying larger yard cranes stems back to the 1970s, and over the years we have invested heavily in developing electric, diesel-electric and hybrid solutions for heavy cargo-handling equipment.
“We have worked for decades to improve the eco-efficiency of cargo handling. Kalmar introduced the world’s first main’s powered RTG in 2002, and since then, we have brought to market various energy saving diesel-electric, hybrid and electrically powered machines to help customers reduce the environmental impact of their operations,” says Marko Rasinen, Product Manager, RTG at Kalmar.
Eco-efficiency is an important focus area for Kalmar’s R&D efforts in general. Last year, Kalmar announced its target to offer its full portfolio as electrically powered options, and today, over 50 percent of Kalmar’s cargo handling equipment is already available with electric power sources.
No diesel, no emissions, full mobility
“Traditionally, eRTGs have been equipped with a small diesel generator to power the crane’s auxiliary functions when not connected to the grid via a cable reel or busbar system – for example when moving between stacks or to a service area for maintenance,” Rasinen explains.
With the introduction of Li-ion battery technology the diesel generator can now be completely eliminated, meaning that the eRTG will maintain the mobility of a traditionally powered RTG. This makes the crane a fully zero-emission solution. With a fully charged battery, the new Kalmar Zero Emission RTG with a battery pack can travel up to 1,5 kilometres between stacks.
With a fully charged battery, the new Kalmar Zero Emission RTG with a battery pack can travel up to 1,5 kilometres between stacks.
“As well as enabling a significant reduction in a terminal’s fuel costs, there are time and cost gains from a maintenance perspective too,” Rasinen highlights. “Battery packs are practically maintenance free, i.e. they require considerably less maintenance compared to traditional generator sets. For example, they eliminate the need for things like regular oil and filter changes. There’s also no need for refueling, which means improved availability.”
Finally, as well as eliminating atmospheric emissions at source, the lack of a diesel-powered generator means that eRTGs powered by Li-ion packs are also quieter. This is an important consideration in light of the increasingly strict noise-emission regulations that many terminals are now subject to, given that they are more often than not located in or close to urban population centres.
Towards a more sustainable future for cargo handling
“With a battery equipped eRTG, customers can optimise their terminal throughput by concentrating several eRTGs in one stack during peak periods, as an example. Many terminals will benefit from this kind of eco-efficient flexibility,” Rasinen points out.
RTG technology has come a long way since it was first introduced in the 1960s. With the introduction of a truly zero-emission solution, Kalmar continues to pave the way towards a more sustainable future for the cargo-handling industry.


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Recent news that hundreds of thousands of litres of illicit drink seized across dozens of countries by international police authorities reminds us that the battle to beat the counterfeiters remains a hard one to win, says Ian Lancaster, general secretary of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA). However, drink manufacturers and distributors have an effective anti-counterfeiting weapon in holograms which is an important authentication device for government tax stamps.
Interpol and Europol’s recent Operation Opson IV across 47 countries saw nearly 275,000 litres of counterfeit drinks seized, most of which was illicit alcohol. In the UK, officers discovered a fake brand-name vodka plant and recovered 20,000 empty bottles ready for filling and hundreds of empty five-litre anti-freeze containers used to make the counterfeit alcohol.
The illicit trade in beer, wine and spirits, through smuggling and counterfeiting, costs treasuries billions of dollars a year in lost revenue. And the cost is not just a financial one - the damage done to a company’s brand reputation, loss of sales and market capitalisation due to brand piracy is virtually incalculable.
All this activity has encouraged the drive by global governments and law enforcement agencies to find better solutions for protecting alcohol tax-raising stamps against the indelible mark of the counterfeiter – a role now being filled by holographic technology.
Holographic tax stamps are becoming an effective authentication device, now specified in government tenders and commercial bidding opportunities. Today, there is no better opportunity for governments to act decisively to boost excise revenue from growing alcohol sales in the face of the toughest global economic recession for decades by continuing to use the technology as an integral part of their strategies.
Holography is also seen as a complementary technology by the majority of potential buyers of forensic markers and highly covert products schemes while the market for holography on tax stamps will continue to grow – both as an additional security for tax stamps not currently carrying holograms and for new schemes.
The growth in alcohol consumption (worldwide, people 15 and older consumed 6.2 litres of alcohol per person in 2010, according to a recent World Health Organization [WHO] report) is a massive opportunity for resourceful counterfeiters ready and willing to take advantage of regional markets where governments and security agencies either lack the wherewithal to tackle the problem or existing resources are over stretched. It’s in these volatile regions - aiding the authorities in stemming the trade in illicit goods - where one possible future for holograms for tax stamps lies.
But there are other challenges on the road ahead. One of the most important will be the extent to which holograms can continue to maintain their position in light of the growing demand for so-called ‘digital’ tax stamps. The audit trail for taxed products is a critical component of tax stamp schemes, and digital technology is now being deployed to mark stamps with unique codes and store this on a database which can be interrogated in real time by in-field tax inspectors, and which also provides data on products marked which tax authorities can correlate with revenues received.
Such systems are aimed at fiscal recovery and not authentication, and hence do not obviate the need for robust physical security features on tax stamps such as holograms. Tax stamps serve two purposes. One is to provide a record of payment of tax. The other is to provide evidence that the stamp, and hence the product to which it is affixed, is genuine.
Digital systems are just the latest delivery vehicle for serialisation that enables products to be traced and traced, hence fulfilling the first purpose. The physical integrity of the stamp – protected with holograms, security print, taggants etc – fulfils the second. It is to be hoped that tax authorities, in a quest to reduce costs, do not confuse the roles of the two.
Note to editors
The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) - www.ihma.org - is made up of more than 90 of the world's leading hologram companies. IHMA members are the leading producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world. IHMA member companies actively cooperate to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards.
Issued on behalf of the IHMA by Mitchell Halton Watson Ltd. For further details contact Andy Bruce on +44 (0) 191 233 1300 or email email@example.com


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Most consumers understand the consequences of returned payments and want their bank to pay important transactions -- even if it results in an overdraft. That's assuming, however, the same fee will be charged regardless of whether the transaction is paid.
That's according to a new study of overdraft payment services by the Independent Community Bankers of America, or ICBA, a trade group in Washington, D.C. The study was based on a survey of 3,000 consumers representing a random sampling of the U.S. banking population, according to ICBA.
Slightly more than 85 percent of those surveyed said they wanted their financial institution to pay at least one important transaction, such as a mortgage, rent, car loan or credit card payment or utility bill, regardless of the overdraft.
That preference wasn't due to ignorance of how these programs operate. Rather, consumers who incur overdrafts were found to be among the most knowledgeable about alternative services, yet they still preferred the overdraft program to other options, the study found.
Overdraft fees at the 14 largest U.S. banks -- a category that doesn't include community banks -- range from $33 to $37 with $35 being typical, according to a recent survey by the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group in Washington, D.C.
The ICBA survey also found that most consumers avoided overdrafts, frequent account monitoring didn't deter overdrafts by those who incurred them, and consumers who used overdraft services were more likely to take out payday loans. Nearly 20 percent of those who'd paid an overdraft fee in the past 12 months had taken out a payday loan as well.
Viveca Ware, ICBA senior vice president of regulatory policy, said in an ICBA statement that banks keeping their customers informed of overdraft services was "in everyone's best interest."
Consumers can avoid overdraft charges by opting out of bank overdraft programs, keeping a cash cushion in the checking account, not setting up automatic withdrawals, and linking the checking account to a savings account or credit line.
Follow me on Twitter: @marciegeff.


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Microsoft shares fell 3.7 per cent on Wednesday, after the company reported disappointing results for the fiscal second quarter, but analysts were bullish about the outlook for the company in the current fiscal year.
“We believe that the company’s fiscal second half results are likely to be more in line with the consensus and the expectation of analysts, and we are expecting a net increase in revenue in fiscal year 2017,” said Doug Creutz, chief financial officer for the research firm BMO Capital Markets.
“This will be a significant positive step in the company moving forward.”
Analysts had expected a net decline in revenue of $2.7 billion in the fiscal year, but that was revised down to $2 billion.
“As we said at the start of the quarter, we think this quarter was one of the strongest quarters for Microsoft and we expect that to continue into the second half of the fiscal,” said Michael Nathanson, an analyst at Jefferies.
“The fact that the year-to-date profit was below expectations and that revenue is well below the $2B EPS expectation is significant, and Microsoft has a very good shot at achieving its goal of becoming a $50 billion company.”
Microsoft’s share price also rose 2.5 per cent, to $42.20.
Analysts are now expecting the company to post a net profit of $1.4 billion for fiscal 2017, bringing its total revenue for the year to $40.6 billion.
Microsoft’s latest earnings report came two days after it was forced to issue a public apology for a software flaw that led to hackers stealing personal data from nearly 200 million customers.
The company said in a statement that it has already begun work to fix the flaw, but it has not yet completed the software fixes.
Microsoft is expected to report an earnings release later this month, but for now the company has not released a full financial statement.


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FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES, May 24, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — Nicholls Auction Marketing Group, Inc., (www.nichollsauction.com) announces the auction of a 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home on 20± acres with a large barn, outbuildings, fencing and more in Culpeper County, VA, on Wednesday, May 26 according to John Nicholls, president of the company.
“We have been contracted to market and sell this property which will make a wonderful primary residency or investment property,” said Nicholls. “Take advantage of this rare opportunity to own or invest in property that will meet your current or future needs!!”
“The auction’s location, address and property highlights follow below,” said Tony Wilson, Nicholls Auction Marketing Group auction coordinator.
Wed., May 26 – 10:00 am – 23240 Cedar Mountain Drive, Rapidan, VA 22733
4 BR/2.5 BA Home on 20+ Acres w/Large Barn, Outbuildings, Fencing & More!
• Move-in ready 4 BR/2.5 BA tri-level home on 20.46± acres — 3,200± sf. — 2 story 88’x50′ barn — 12’x16′ shed w/8′ shed off — Entire property is board fenced w/2 cross fences — Spring fed pond — Property is in a conservation easement!
• For more highlights and details, visit www.nichollsauction.com.
The property is conveniently located only 2 miles from Rt. 15, 3.5 miles from Rt. 522, 7 miles from Culpeper & Rt. 29, and a short drive to Fredericksburg & Charlottesville noted Wilson.
The real estate auctions are open to the public. Brokers are reminded that pre-registration is required for compensation.
For more information, call Tony Wilson at 540/748-1359 or visit www.nichollsauction.com.
Nicholls Auction Marketing Group, Inc., with over 50 years of auction superiority and over 200 years of combined experience, has been synonymous with excellence and successfully marketing and selling thousands of properties.
# # #
Nicholls Auction Marketing Group, Inc., is a professional accelerated marketing firm specializing in the promotion and sale of real estate via the auction method of marketing. Headquartered in Fredericksburg, VA, NAMG has been serving the needs of the Mid-Atlantic region since 1968. The Nicholls team comprises world and state champion auctioneers, an award winning marketing staff, and sales percentages unmatched in the industry. For more information about Nicholls Auction Marketing Group, Inc., visit www.nichollsauction.com or call 540-898-0971.
Nicholls Auction Marketing Group
email us here
23240 Cedar Mountain Drive, Rapidan, VA 22733


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While the first months of isolation were particularly difficult for the domestic auto industry, the sector managed to look up. According to data published by the National Federation of Merchants, Fenalco, in collaboration with the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia, Andi, car sales are steadily rising, approaching last year’s levels.
It is enough to compare the very poor data for April (217 units sold), May (8,920) and June (11,961) with the October (20,858), but especially those of November (22,330) that the difference to 2019 monthly sales is starting to drop below two digits, with a difference of just 6.7%.
A great achievement when you consider that the industry has hit these figures not including the Bogota International Motor Show, which took place from November 4 to 16 and that according to historical tradition, it tends to double its sales this month compared to last year’s sales, as we remember that this is a biennial event.
However, while forecasts show continued recovery, the industry still cannot be trusted. After all, the 161,537 units sold so far this year still pale in comparison to the 232,659 units registered for the same period last year. The challenge is even greater when we consider that more than 30,000 vehicles were sold in December last year.
However, the industry remains optimistic and the best-selling vehicle list shows clear trend towards vehicles manufactured in Colombiawhich are more pocket friendly. In this sense, we present below the top ten best-selling cars in Colombia in 2020:
1. Chevrolet Onix (7571 units)
2. Renault Duster (7 275 pieces)
3. Renault Kwid (6.301)
4. Renault Stepway (5.594)
5. Renault Logan (5.560)
6. Renault Sandero (5.152)
7. Kia Picanto (4,629)
8. Chevrolet Beat (4,557)
9. Mazda CX-30 (4,381)
10. Mazda 2 (3,747)
The overall list is very similar to the November ranking, which is organized as follows:
1. Renault Kwid (1.164)
2. Renault Duster (1073)
3. Renault Logan (967)
4. Mazda CX-30 (907)
5. Chevrolet Onix (841)
6. Renault Stepway (762)
7. Renault Sandero (642)
8. Chevrolet Beat (579)
9. Kia Picanto (525)
10. Volkswagen Gol (473)
Other data from the Andi and Fenalco report showed that the five brands preferred by Colombians so far in 2020 These are Renault (34 938), Chevrolet (28 605), Mazda (13 447), Nissan (12 337) and Kia (10 873).
Additionally, it was shown that the preferred segments within the country These are cars with 72,126 units sold, followed by SUVs with 56,518. Behind them are the pick-ups from 11219 and trucks from 6666.
It finally shows it the public transport and freight sectors are also slowly recovering. In Colombia, 6,112 trucks, 2,933 taxis, 2,164 buses, 672 vans and 448 minibuses were sold this year.
Also read: “I am proud of this year’s results”: President Duque wraps up the fight against drug trafficking


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In late March, Daniel Zhang unveiled what was called the “most significant” overhaul in the 24-year history of Alibaba, one of China’s premier tech conglomerates, splitting the company into six separate units that would help them to seek investors from the public.
Now, Mr. Zhang, the tech giant’s chairman and chief executive, has been removed from his post and will leave Alibaba’s board of directors, and two of the company’s co-founders have moved into senior roles.
Alibaba announced on Tuesday that Mr. Zhang, 51, would step down from his top job in September. Instead, he would only serve as general manager of Alibaba’s cloud computing division, a post he assumed in March when he unveiled the restructuring. Alibaba announced plans to spin off its cloud division in May, pending a public listing.
Joseph Tsai, 59 years old, an Alibaba veteran with roots in the company’s founding, will rise from executive vice president to president. Joining Mr. Tsai is another Alibaba co-founder, Eddie Yongming Wu, who will succeed Mr. Zhang as general director.
“It’s like the oldest of the old guard,” said Duncan Clark, chairman of investment advisory firm BDA China in Beijing. “The trusted team, the old guard, have regained control.”
The reshuffle comes at a critical time for Alibaba. The company was the most high-profile target of a Beijing crackdown on the power of China’s biggest tech companies. Its stock price has fallen since its 2020 peak.
Alibaba founder, billionaire Jack Ma, was thrust out of the public eye in 2020 after criticizing Chinese regulators for stifling innovation at Ant Group, Alibaba’s fintech sister company. After his remarks, Chinese officials suspended plans to sell shares of Ant Group in an initial public offering. In 2021, Chinese antitrust regulators fined Alibaba $2.8 billion for blocking merchants from selling their products on other shopping platforms.
Mr. Ma, a popular figure in China and long the face of the company, made a high-profile return to China earlier this year just as Alibaba announced its restructuring, which was seen in part as a response to tougher regulations from Beijing.
On Saturday, Ma made an appearance at a math competition sponsored by an Alibaba research division, according to a post on the institute’s blog. Although he no longer holds an official position at Alibaba, Mr. Ma remains one of its largest shareholders, with 4.5% of the company in 2021, according to company filings.
In a letter to employees on Tuesday, Mr. Zhang said it was time for him to devote his full attention to spinoff projects. He also spoke about the need for a clear separation between his roles at Alibaba and the cloud division.
Mr. Tsai, the new chairman, has a relationship with Mr. Ma that some former employees have described as inseparable. The two met in 1999, when Alibaba was still a free online portal, and Mr. Tsai joined the company that year. He helped Mr. Ma secure early investments from Goldman Sachs and SoftBank, and oversaw the company’s 2014 New York IPO, then the largest in history.
Executive vice president of Alibaba since 2013, Mr. Tsai is the principal owner of the Brooklyn Nets, the team of the National Basketball Association.
The rise of Mr. Wu, a longtime executive in Alibaba’s e-commerce division, told analysts that Alibaba would continue to prioritize online shopping as a central pillar of its business.
Mr Wu, who is in his late 40s, helped lead Alibaba’s transformation from an e-commerce giant to a mobile juggernaut, turning the digital payment app Alipay into one of the payment methods default across China. He will continue to serve as chairman of Taobao and Tmall, Alibaba’s two national e-commerce businesses.
Mr. Zhang told investors that Alibaba would become less centralized and more efficient by splitting its components. But Alibaba also recently announced the creation of a high-level committee to make decisions on distributing money to new business groups, which some analysts took as a sign that the company was still keep the power in the hands of a few key people.
Mr. Zhang succeeded Mr. Ma as chairman of Alibaba in 2019. Then a rising star in the company, he was the architect of Singles Day, Alibaba’s most successful business event. Known for his attention to detail and problem-solving abilities, Mr. Zhang was widely seen as a complement to Mr. Ma, who was known within the company for his visionary prowess.
Alibaba stands for online shopping in China. But the company has since expanded into a range of businesses from digital payments to delivery services to entertainment. In recent years, it has expanded its e-commerce division and served the AI boom with its cloud computing unit.
Jacob Cooke, chief executive of e-commerce consultancy WPIC, said bringing back Tsai, who has significant investments around the world, was a logical choice for Alibaba given its recent international focus.
Alibaba invested $1.6 billion in its Southeast Asian e-commerce business last year, according to corporate records in Singapore provided by research firm VentureCap Insights. And last week it announced plans to launch a local version of its e-commerce division, Tmall, in Europe.


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💳 Hey Moni Maker
Today, in 1926, Alan Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" was published in London. Yeah, freaking Winnie lives well, especially when the bear market wakes up and starts breaking the dreams of investors, long-time traders and hodlers with its mighty paws.
Winnie, we loved you as a kid, but now we're shorting on you. Somehow. Digest!
On the VISA card, I see the NFT
1/ I’m incredibly excited for @VisaNews to partner with @Micah_Johnson3 to build a new program focused on how we can help creators leverage NFTs to participate in digital commerce https://t.co/uH0X4kneTV— Cuy Sheffield (@cuysheffield) October 13, 2021
As Decrypt reports, Visa launched an NFT-centric program in partnership with noted crypto artist Micah Johnson, the creator of the NFT character Aku. Together, Visa and Johnson aim to help creators and small business owners better understand how NFTs work, and how they can use blockchain networks and cryptocurrency to create and sell digital work.
Visa will put out an open call for creators who want to take part in the initiative and choose an initial class of creators to take part in the project. The firm will sponsor and consult with the group, as well as “look to foster meaningful relationships” between the participating creators and Visa’s payment partners.
“We believe that we are at the beginning of a digital renaissance in the world of art and content creation—a flourishing ecosystem of artists, musicians, writers, photographers, and curators building communities at the intersection of culture and commerce,” tweeted Cuy Sheffield, Visa vice president and head of crypto.
Well! These guys from VISA have bought CryptoPunk recently. We know that’s a great marketing step!
So it’s fascinating to watch how FTX connects with sports, Binance connects with football and now VISA connects with NFTs. We can’t troll here. Wish luck to them all!
The best place for Bitcoin mining? The USA!
As Bloomberg reports, the USA became the epicentre of Bitcoin mining. China is outplayed, of course.
Russia and Crypto. To Ban or not to Ban. Ban ban
According to an Oct. 12 report from local news agency Interfax, Alexey Moiseev, the deputy finance minister of the Russian Federation, said he believes Russian citizens will continue to be allowed to buy and use cryptocurrencies outside the country on foreign exchanges without the threat of legal action at home. Crypto payments in the country are currently banned, but Russians have been allowed to purchase and trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC).
Okay. Mr Moiseev said he BELIEVES SO. No official statements. Everything can happen.
Whose ass is Polygon breathing in
Yield Duck is trolling, speaking about the market and trolling again. What can be better?
Press: Is Fantom the Loch Ness Monster? Whose ass is Polygon breathing in? Throwing Stablecoins at Snowball, Liquid Driver, and....Digest, Digest, thrown in!
Your Bitcoin is poop. Ether is good!
That's probably what Buterin wanted to answer in the recent The Stakeborg Talks podcast. But no! He only conceded that ETH can flip BTC in price and generally as a way to save value.
Question of the day: is Buterin a dickhead or a prophet? Answer here!
Do you read our Degen Digest?
Ok, bro. No time to explain; we are busy crypto businessmen. So! If you still don’t read our #DegenStuff digests, you miss projects’ news, alphas, whitelists and IDOs and...so on! The info you can make money on, got it?
BItcoin Dominance is the percentage of capitalization of bitcoin to the rest of the crypto market.
And more you can find in our Glossary!
Meme of the Day
And you...buy Bitcoin! (it's a good time!)


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) - EBay (EBAY) said a $6 billion repatriation of the company's foreign earnings doesn't mean the company is about to announce a large U.S. based acquisition. The company did say having that cash parked in the U.S. will help its financial flexibility in growing divisions such as PayPal and could be utilized for deals when an opportunity emerges.
"Just to be clear: we are not announcing any large U.S. based acquisition," eBay CFO Robert Swan said in an earnings call with analysts after first quarter results were released.
Swan's comments clarify speculation that eBay may be in the process of a large acquisition after repatriating $6 billion in foreign profits, creating a $3 billion tax charge against the company's first quarter earnings. Swan also said the repatriation doesn't mean eBay will finance share buybacks with foreign earnings.
EBay bought back $1.8 billion in stock in the first quarter as part of a planned $5 billion annual buy back.
Increased U.S. cash will give eBay the flexibility to continue investing in its fast-growing businesses such as PayPal, Bill Me Later and StubHub, while also providing room for the company to map out strategic acquisitions or growth plans. It also reflect eBay's belief that growth opportunities lie in the U.S. and not abroad, where the company had historically kept its foreign earnings.
"Our historical election was no longer valid so that accounted for the accounting change," Swan said. EBay left open the prospect that the increased U.S. cash could be used for an acquisition, with CEO John Donahoe acknowledging a heavy amount tech-sector M&A in 2014.
"We are executing our growth plans, capitalizing on the synergies in our portfolio and aggressively executing our $5.0 billion share buyback program," Donahoe said in a statement released with earnings. CFO Swan also confirmed that the $3 billion non-cash charge would turn to a cash hit if eBay does repatriate the funds.
"When we bring that money back, we'll actually have to write a check," Swan said.
First Quarter Earnings
In first quarter earnings, eBay beat a conservative guidance after it settled a very public two-and-a-half-month battle with billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn. However, the company's tax-related charge may cloud strong first quarter operational performance at the e-commerce giant.
EBay reported a non-GAAP profit of 70 cents a share on revenue of $4.3 billion, beating core earnings forecasts. GAAP earnings were clouded by what eBay said was a "discrete tax charge" of about $3 billion on the repatriation of $6 billion in foreign profits.
On a GAAP basis, the company lost $1.82 a share for the quarter. That charge, a surprise to consensus, may have surprised some investors and analysts. eBay shares were falling more than 3% in after-hours trading.
In January, eBay said in January that it expected first-quarter net revenue in the range of $4.15 billion to $4.25 billion. San Jose-based eBay said it expected GAAP earnings in the range of 51 cents to 53 cents a share and non-GAAP earnings in the range of 65 cents to 67 cents a share, including a 1- to 2-cent dilution for the Braintree acquisition, which it completed in December.
Analysts had assumed at the time that the guidance would be easy to beat. According to Thomson Reuters, consensus estimates expect eBay to report earnings of 67 cents a share on revenue of $4.228 billion. Excluding the tax-related repatriation charge, eBay did beat earnings.
Better than expected core earnings mean eBay has set a foundation to continue to post growth across its key Marketplaces, Enterprise and Payments divisions. Enabled commerce volume increased 24% in the first quarter to $24 billion, while mobile ECV increased 70% to $11 billion.
PayPal net payment volumes grew 27%, causing revenue to rise to $1.8 billion. The payment platform also added 5.8 million new users, or a 16% increase. eBay's Marketplaces division reported a 12% uptich in gross merchandise volumes and revenue of $2.2 billion. The company's eBay Enterprise division reported 16% gross merchandise sales growth, with revenue for the quarter rising to $269 million.
Second Quarter Guidance, Looming Activists
For the second quarter, eBay forecast new revenue in the range of $4.325-to-$4.425 billion and GAAP EPS of between 51 cents-to-53 cents. For the full-year, eBay now forecasts between $18 billion to $18.5 billion in revenue and $2.95-to-$3 in non-GAAP EPS.
On a conference call, CFO Swan said eBay's capital expenditure would end the year at between 7%-to-9% of revenue, up from the 5% figure posted in the first quarter. An election to repatriate a greater portion of foreign earnings going forward will increase eBay's tax rate by 1% to between 20%-to-21%.
Whether or not eBay's earnings results or full-year guidance can move the company beyond tussles with its investors is to be seen. Carl Icahn had no comment on eBay's earnings on Twitter, after quickly providing a positive reaction on Twitter to Apple (AAPL) and Herbalife's (HLF) earnings.
Icahn wasn't immediately available for comment.
-- Written by Antoine Gara, with Laurie Kulikowski in New York.


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It is one of the very big names in the American automotive industry. Chrysler has come a long way, and after narrowly avoiding bankruptcy, the company is now owned by European giant Stellantis. On the other hand, it has lost none of its ambition, and plans to launch fully into the electric car market. The company has a target in mind, the current number 1 in the sector: Tesla.
But how does Chrysler intend to go about it, since it currently has no electric car to dethrone the firm of Elon Musk? Its strategy can be summed up in one word: Airflow. Clearly, this corresponds to vehicles that would offer a range of nearly 650 km, an autonomous driving system, and digital technologies described as revolutionary by the company.
Chrysler attacks Tesla on its fundamentals
What considerably rejuvenate its image and recover the young and urban public currently seduced by Tesla cars. Quoted by ElectrekChristine Feuell, the company’s general manager, goes into detail about her method:
Everyone is going after Tesla. But I think Chrysler is the only brand that has the ability to do that, because we’re going to focus on the electric car offering, the design themes, and where you’ve seen the Airflow design. It’s very aerodynamic and contemporary, with well-thought-out technology that helps make the driving experience easier, better and safer. And I think we have a real chance to go up against Tesla.
On the strength of its new ambitions, Chrysler hopes to offer a full range of electric cars by 2028. Moreover, some analysts believe in this method, like Daniel Ives, an expert at Wedbush Securities.
He clarifies: “Thehe Chrysler brand has always been ambitious, yet affordable. Demographically, it is aimed at an audience under 40, which is a prime target for electric vehicles and has been for Tesla. He adds that Chrysler has no interest in dragging on the road because its rivals are already ahead in this sector.
In its ambition, the manufacturer will be able to count on its parent company Stellantis which forged a very large partnership with Samsung last year. The South Korean company will thus supply batteries for all of the group’s electric vehicles.
For its part, Tesla continues to accelerate. During the third quarter of 2022, the company led by Elon Musk produced 365,923, an increase of 54% compared to the same period last year, and a new record.


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This week Microsoft enhances Kubernetes features and Red Hat integrations; Amazon launches Keyspaces for Apache Cassandra; a PAAY LLC database exposes 2.5 million credit card transactions online; Microsoft patches a security flaw in Microsoft Teams; and a hacker group is targeting businesses on the Revive ad-server platform. Let's see what's going on.
Microsoft Enhances Kubernetes Features and Red Hat Integrations
Microsoft launched two updates for Azure this week that may help the cloud platform better serve businesses with different types of applications. Specifically, the container-based update is to the Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), a managed implementation of Kubernetes, and is Microsoft hosted. It makes it now possible for AKS to run both standard Linux containers, and Windows software containers as well.
With these new capabilities, Microsoft will be able to expand the market for its Kubernetes service by marketing to businesses building Windows-based containerized apps. It may also be a benefit for existing AKS customers as well, since they will now be able to manage both their Linux and Windows workloads with one set of tools.
In addition to the AKS update, Microsoft also released an update for Azure Arc. This product permits businesses to run Azure services on competitors’ clouds and hardware on-premises. The update previewed by Microsoft displayed integrations that will let customers run Azure services on an infrastructure powered by Red Hat's OpenShift distribution of Kubernetes, and the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system.
Amazon launches Keyspaces for Apache Cassandra
This week Amazon announced that its service Keyspaces for Apache Cassandra is now publicly available. It initially previewed the service at its "re:Invent 2019" conference, where it was called the Amazon Managed Cassandra Service. Keyspaces for Apache Cassandra is a cloud database that is compatible with the existing open-source Cassandra database.
Most notably, it supports the same developer tools, application code, and Apache 2.0 licensed drivers as already used by customers operating Cassandra workloads. The best feature of the Keyspaces service is that it lets customers migrate their on-premises Cassandra workloads to its cloud, where they're much easier to maintain.
PAAY LLC Database Exposes 2.5 Million Credit Card Transactions Online
New York mobile payments solutions provider PAAY LLC recently discovered that one of their databases containing 2.5 million credit card transactions was exposed online. The database had credit card numbers and expiration dates but didn't include the name of the owner of the card or the card verification values.
It has been estimated that the data was online for about three weeks before it was taken down after Techcrunch contacted PAAY LLC. While they admitted that it was their database that was exposed, they say it did not contain credit card numbers. They also say that an error was made during an upgrade process that left the database exposed without a password.
Some say this is another instance of a company failing to secure a cloud-hosted database correctly. What's more, the list of companies who have exposed data in such a way is quite long. This year the numbers are a bit lower, due to the fact that security awareness has improved around this issue.
Robert Prigge, CEO of Jumio Corp., suggested that, instead of passwords, banks should look to artificial intelligence coupled with biometrics as a better way to secure and confirm identity.
Microsoft Patches a Security Flaw in Microsoft Teams
A vulnerability in Microsoft Teams was initially noticed by CyberArk Software Inc., which revealed its findings in a report. This security flaw might have allowed hackers to hijack user accounts by posting a malicious image to a chat channel. This week, Microsoft updated the collaboration service to ensure that this doesn't happen.
Microsoft Teams has an authentication feature that ensures that users have permission to view images shared with them in a chat channel. Once the user's rights are verified, they are assigned a unique authentication token. The concern was the token could be used for other things beyond images. For example, it could have been used by a hacker to hijack the user's credentials. More than this, the vulnerability made it possible for hackers to read victims' messages, as well as send messages to others on their behalf.
To exploit the vulnerability, hackers would first have needed to enter a Microsoft Teams chat channel run by the business to be targeted. By compromising a weakly protected user account or by enticing a worker using a phishing email scam, a smart attacker could have been successful, according to CyberArk.
Based on their findings, it would have been possible for a hacker to carry out such an attack before the patch was put in place.
Businesses on the Revive Ad-Serving Platform Targeted by a Hacking Group
According to an attack reported today by security researcher Eliya Stein from Confiant Inc., businesses using Revive ad servers are being targeted by a group dubbed Tag Barnacle. Revive Adserver is a popular open-source platform for companies who don't want to use hosted services like Google LLC.
Confiant found sixty compromised Revive ad servers that serve approximately 360 websites. While that's not an unusually large number, one of the compromised ad servers had nevertheless served 1.25 million malicious ad impressions in a single day. Businesses that use Revive are usually small online advertising firms and may not even be aware they've been compromised.
Experts advise keeping browsers updated and using antivirus solutions. Digital site owners should look for browser-malware protection solutions. Protection that provides insight into client-side malware on their site would be beneficial.
That's a Wrap
That's the news for MSPs this week in summary. I hope this has been helpful. MSP360 is your resource for MSP news. Stay home, stay safe and healthy, and remember to check back next week for more highlights.


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A fireplace mantel is more than just ornamentation. When it comes to design, the choice is often ladened with sentiment.
"The purchase of a home hearkens back to some emotional things," said Bill Maybrook, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Concord Development Corp., a Palatine-based builder. "The expression `hearth and home' is not to be taken lightly."
Concord Development includes fireplaces in its production homes that sell for $110,000 to $280,000, said Maybrook, also president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago. Buyers choose wooden mantles from 11 styles, ranging from Victorian to contemporary, stained pine to oak.
Still, not all builders include such amenities as standard. Wheaton-based Smykal & Associates does not install fireplaces in its $150,000 homes, said Peggy Taheri, vice president of sales and marketing. But even with an added cost of $3,500 to $4,500-for the foundation, fire box, chimney and mantel-most first-time choose fireplaces as an option.
"I'm very surprised when people opt not to take one," Taheri said. "You can always re-do things like air conditioning or floors."
The choice of design and materials broadens for buyers spending $200,000 to $300,000 on a home, Taheri said. The mantel's wood, for example, can be painted, stained or coated with a faux marble finish.
"A fireplace is ever-welcoming," said Chicago designer Joan Blutter of Blutter/Shiff Design Associates. "It isn't only the warmth of the heat. It's also the warmth of the aesthetics."
The mantel becomes a room's focal point, whether for the artwork or mirrors overhead or the objects that rest on the surface itself, Blutter said. Rather than an after-thought, the mantel should reflect the rest of the room's decor.
"It doesn't have to match exactly," she said. "It's just got to conform."
One popular trend is to build a wall system around the fireplace, replete with bookshelves and stereo cabinets, with a mantel to match, Blutter said.
If money is no object, mantels of just about any material, from the stucco-like Drivet to tumbled marble stones, can be custom-made.
Decorators Supply Corp. of Chicago, for one, specializes in hand-carved wooden mantels from $850 to more than twice that sum.
Marble lovers, particularly those with a penchant for local history, should take note of the priciest mantel presently in stock at Salvage One Architect Artifacts on the Near South Side.
Made of white marble and inlaid with green marble, the mantel once belonged to Julian Rumsey, the single-term Chicago mayor who served during the Civil War, said Beau Kimball, general manager. It sells for $27,000.
Salvage One has some 800 fireplaces in stock, including hundreds of antiques and reproductions. These days, buyers are straying from prefabricated fire boxes and fake logs to a more realistic look, Kimball said.
Many buyers come to Salvage One because they didn't like any of the options available with the purchase of their new home. So they purchased the optional fireplace and want to replace the mantel.
"We have a lot of customers who come in here and say, `I have my choice: This one or that one. I hate them both,' " Kimball said.


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T-Mobile USA has announced it’s planning on taking a leaf out of Apple’s book by opening up its development platform. The end result? A T-Mobile-a-like of the iPhone App Store, according to a report on Moconews, which will let developers submit their apps designed for T-Mobile phones in return for a share of the revenue generated when users download it.
What’s interesting about this deal is that T-Mobile is aiming to make the app store work across all its devices, from the whizz-bang smartphone to the does-what-it-says-on-the-tin lower end feature phone. Or, to put it another way, whether your device is Windows Mobile, Symbian, Java, or what have you, the apps will work regardless.
There’s no specifics from T-Mo about this but we can only hope it’s true. I guess the most interesting thing about this is why more operators haven’t tried to do it before – surely the ideal situation is that mobile users don’t have a clue what operating system they’re using, because every service and piece of software will just work painlessly.


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Washington DC and many gadflies in the tech industry live in a make-believe world when it comes to big tech companies.
In this fantasy world, the tech industry is completely dominated by four big companies: Alphabet (the holding company of Google), Amazon, Apple and Facebook. Some people have also started to include Microsoft in the mix, given that they’re the second most valuable company in the world – and big is bad, from that perspective.
These companies have stifled innovation, reduced opportunity, hurt consumers and hurt society. The only way to limit their harm is to expand the definition of antitrust to suit the specific circumstances of these companies, then use these new antitrust violations to impose fines and behavioral remedies, and to unwind acquisitions. past. To that end, a congressional subcommittee last week pushed six separate tech antitrust bills through the markup, paving the way for one or more of them to become law.
This week’s events should offer a cold splash of reality to defenders from this perspective.
On Monday, a district judge dismissed antitrust complaints that the FTC and 48 state attorneys general had filed against Facebook. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, in a notice mingled with overwhelming sarcasm, didn’t just dismiss the FTC’s complaint about a technicality or rule of law – it undermined the cornerstone of the argument by ruling that the FTC did not prove that Facebook had a monopoly or market power.
“The FTC complaint says next to nothing concrete on the key question of Facebook’s real and current power in a properly defined antitrust product market,” the file said. “It’s almost as if the agency expects the court to simply wink at the conventional wisdom that Facebook is a monopoly.”
On Wednesday, the tech industry saw five companies debuting on public stock markets. One of them, Chinese ride-sharing giant Didi, is worth nearly $ 70 billion. Two others, Taboola and Integral Ad Science, are competing in the online advertising industry, one of the markets reportedly ruined by Alphabet (in particular) and Facebook.
More generally, this year has seen the most dynamic IPO market in years, and investors continue to accumulate in start-ups at an all-time high.
It doesn’t look like a wasteland of stifled innovations and shattered dreams.
Meanwhile, the general public does not see technological power as a particularly pressing issue. In one investigation funded by a tech industry group, 44% of respondents ranked tech industry regulations as the lowest priority on a list of five options, behind the economy, public health, climate change and infrastructure. Yes, 53% of those polled thought that legislation was a good idea. But that doesn’t mean the public wants Congress and the courts to point the antitrust canon at these giants.
As I wrote four years ago, antitrust is the wrong approach here.
None of these companies have a monopoly in relevant markets defined in any meaningful way – you have to really stretch and tighten market definitions so that their dominance is clearly visible. The real state of the tech industry is an all-out trade war between the Big Five, an ever-changing landscape of rivalry and gossip – think of the European Great Powers before WWI – with many well-funded competitors of all sizes. waiting to seize any opportunity and fill any loophole they leave open.
- Google dominates search and Facebook is by far the biggest social media company. But the main source of their income is online advertising, and they vie hard for every dollar of online advertising available, with Amazon quickly coming behind. And yet, there’s still enough space for TikTok, Twitter, Snap, and a dozen smaller ad tech competitors to build long-lasting and successful ad-supported businesses.
- Amazon, Microsoft and Google are locked in a three-way war for supremacy in cloud computing infrastructure. And yet, there are dozens of companies providing successful cloud services on or alongside these platforms, including Snowflake, which debuted last year and is now worth over $ 70 billion, and Zoom. , which went public in 2019, and is worth almost $ 115. billion.
To be perfectly clear: yes, it is in the public interest to more strictly regulate these tech giants.
For example, Google’s Facebook and YouTube wield enormous influence over public discourse and politics by allowing disinformation to spread almost unchecked.
Amazon and Apple control extremely valuable markets that touch hundreds of millions of people, and can use that control to pit suppliers against each other and extract arguably onerous fees.
Union advocates allege Amazon illegally interfered in a recent attempt to organize in Alabama, and many workers complained about working conditions in warehouses and delivery vehicles.
All companies have used acquisitions to enter adjacent markets and, arguably, to stifle potential competitors before they get too big – a tactic also used by companies outside of the Big Five, like Oracle in recent years and Salesforce more recently.
Many of their founders are now 100 billionaires, a prime example of the rampant income inequality that many progressives say needs to be brought under control.
But all of these activities can be addressed with targeted regulations or stricter enforcement of existing laws. Antitrust is a brutal instrument intended to remedy the major market distortions created by genuine monopolies. Being tall, in and of itself, is not illegal. Applying antitrust law to these companies is misguided, flawed, and will not have the desired effect of significantly restricting their power.
But hey, it’s great for avocados.


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Fell on Wall Street on Monday after Bloomberg reported that the US Federal Trade Commission had examined the company’s tactics around its processor sales.
Last year, Trump stopped Broadcom’s bid to acquire Qualcomm.
The federal agency is looking for an indication that Broadcom has passed competition laws on the sale of data network switches and Wi-Fi chips, the report said.
Broadcom refused to comment.
Earlier, it was reported that Broadcom, together with other technology companies in the US, would stop working with Chinese technology company Wavi, in the shadow of a presidential order issued by Trump last weekend.
Broadcom plunged sharply in the shadow of an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission
Earlier, it was reported that Broadcom, along with other technology companies in the United States, would stop working with Chinese technology company Wavi
best deals for you:


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The two biggest value opportunities in new technology
We're entering a new age courtesy of technology. Personalisation and automation is the name of the game and it's going to be life-changing. But with technology currently on-the-nose for investors, are there value opportunities in this growth sector?
David Winborne, Senior Portfolio Manager at Impax Asset Management, believes there are some revolutionary transitions occurring and now is the time to invest.
He sees two extraordinary opportunities at present - personalised medicines being one and the transition to electric vehicles being the second - but argues investors need to be selective in their approach.
For example, Impax are less interested in electric car manufacturers due to the difficulty of predicting the winners or losers in the future.
"We do know that demand for electric vehicle architecture and autonomous driving solutions will go up over that period. And so we think that investing in those companies that provide some of those solutions to whichever car company dominates that era is probably the most prudent approach."
In this edition of Expert Insights, David discusses the two biggest opportunities in the current market and why, along with a company playing to one of these opportunities.
Where in the market are you currently finding the most value?
David Winborne: Probably one of the most exciting transitions out there is the transition towards personalised medicine. And essentially what we mean by that, is if you were to wind the clock back 10 or 15 years ago, we were certainly living in an era of what we'll call the blockbuster drugs.
In other words, there would be a big drug that would be launched by the major pharmaceutical companies, the Merck's (NASDAQ: MRK), the Eli Lilly's (NASDAQ: LLY), which were sold to the tens of billions of dollars of revenue. We believe we're entering the era of personalised medicine.
And really, what's enabled this transition towards personalised medicine has been that the cost of mapping the human genome, in other words, getting our own DNA records, has shrunk from several hundred thousand dollars 15 years ago to several hundred today. You can send off your saliva sample in the post and get your DNA history as a result of that.
And what that has done is it's really revolutionised the way that drugs are getting discovered these days. So one of our key pockets of exposure that we have is, really, the personalised medical value chain in terms of some of the companies that enable more efficacious discovery of promising drug molecules or the manufacturer of what are called biomolecular drugs, which is the way that drugs are increasingly getting made, away from the chemical-based compounds of paracetamol and aspirin.
So that's been one really interesting area, the second area which I think has been really interesting as well, is really the shift towards electric vehicles, which has happened as I mentioned, far quicker than we could have expected. And we have some really interesting exposures in there, companies that are involved, really, in two key technologies within the car.
The first is green technology. So it's essentially electric vehicle architecture. And the second one is safe technology. And what this means these days is companies that make autonomous driving type solutions. And there's a huge potential to see road deaths decline substantially as a result of that, so that's one of the key areas we look at.
And I guess in terms of impacts, the approach to capturing opportunities like the sustainable transition tools, electric cars, we aren't so interested in the car manufacturers themselves, because essentially it's a very rapidly evolving industry and we don't frankly know which car company's going to dominate the electric vehicle paradigm in 5 or 10 years time.
But we do know that demand for electric vehicle architecture and autonomous driving solutions will go up over that period. And so we think that investing in those companies that provide some of those solutions to whichever car company dominates that era is probably the most prudent approach.
Can you tell us about a stock that is generating strong returns while contributing to the fund's sustainability objectives?
Probably a good one to highlight, actually, is within that auto component space, which is a really interesting trend at the moment. The company that we have exposure to within that space is called Active. It's a US company that has really evolved over the last 10 or 20 years.
Where, 10 or 20 years ago it was a maker of components for combustion engine cars, and now it has really pivoted its business towards some of those future car-type trends. I mentioned the green trends, I mentioned the safe trends, and also the connected trends. Essentially the car is becoming the next connected consumer device. You can see how Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is increasingly interested in that area.
So this company, Active, provides solutions to all of those different areas. It's got incredibly high barriers to entry. Frankly, making autonomous driving solutions is incredibly complicated and it's still under fast evolution at the moment. But why this is such an interesting area, is essentially this company increasingly provides more content per vehicle as the years go by.
So if we have the global auto market, which is probably this year not going to grow because of the European production issues as a result of the Ukraine war situation, Active will probably grow 8-10% of that consistently over the next few years. So this very consistent growth above market is incredibly attractive for us, so we think those kinds of stocks are really well placed for the longer term.
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David Kahan, CEO of Birkenstock USA announced the news in a letter dated July 5th, 2016 sent to several retail partners of the trademark. As of January 1st 2017, it will no longer be possible to find Birkenstock sandals on the Amazon.com website. Not only will Birkenstock USA withdraw its products from the website but the company also directed its official retailers to withdraw the products of the trademark.
What are the reasons for this decision?
According to David Kahan, CEO of Birkenstock USA, Amazon is an “open marketplace” where Birkenstock experienced unacceptable business practices that would have jeopardized its trademark. Moreover, it would not be possible for the company to resolve the matter by policing either internally or in collaboration with Amazon.
According to the company, there seem to be too many counterfeits of its shoes from China. It is thus be possible to buy counterfeit sandals at a much lower price than the retail price of Birkenstock sandals.
While several other companies had the same problems and have parterned with Amazon to solve them, this is not the case for Birkenstock. Indeed, it would imply that the company would sell its entire catalog to Amazon, which would lead to some loss of control over its products. The company preferred to no longer sell its products through Amazon.com and stop battling counterfeit on a case-by-case basis.
Counterfeiting in the US
In the US, trafficking in counterfeit goods or services is punishable by the Trademark Counterfeiting Act, 18 USC § 2320. An individual can be fined two million dollars or be imprisoned for ten years while a corporation can be fined five million dollars.
However, in respect of the infringement of intellectual property rights, there is no specialized court in that disputes are brought before ordinary federal courts (the Federal District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal which sit below the United States Supreme Court).
The amount of counterfeits made in the US is estimated to be relatively low. In contrast, the US is dealing increasingly with cases of infringement of the intellectual property rights of their nationals committed abroad (such as China, Russia, Chile, Egypt, Thailand, etc.).
What are the possible consequences of the withdrawal of Birkenstock US?
The company Birkenstock took a risk by leaving the Amazon website. Indeed, many companies rely on Amazon to expand and maintain their business. To sell products on Amazon generally increases sales thanks to the numerous Internet users who order every day on the website.
But for several years now, Chinese counterfeit persists and grows on the website. More and more trademarks are affected, ranging from world-renowned trademarks to small-scale jewelry designers. It is also very difficult to determine on the website which products are fake or legitimate products of the trademark. In 2015, Chinese sellers have increased their sales on the website. While there are not only counterfeit products, criticism towards Amazon is consistnt, both from sellers and buyers, urging the company to fight harder against such practices.
Amazon.com denies selling counterfeit products on its website and explains that there are guarantees for buyers who can be reimbursed or get another product.
Yet Birkenstock USA will leave the Amazon ship on the 1st of January, 2017. It will be interesting to see how a company can survive without relying on the widest and best known online marketplaces. A matter to be followed.


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JOPLIN, Mo. — The City of Joplin will hold the annual Auction of Surplus Items on Saturday, September 18, beginning at 9 a.m.
Numerous items will be sold during the Auction, including vehicles, equipment, office furniture, computers, tools, bicycles, and various miscellaneous items.
The Auction will be held in the Street Maintenance Barn located northwest of the Public Works Center, 1301 West 2nd Street. Parking will be available at the Center’s parking lot.
The merchandise will be available to the public for viewing from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, September 17, and from 8 to 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 18, prior to the start of the auction.
Click here for the list of auction items from the City of Joplin’s website.


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The Glass protecting the screen of the smartphone Samsung Galaxy S8 is very fragile, so we have to handle the device very carefully; Western press says concerning user complaints. On the other hand, Galaxy S9 is supposed to overcome this issue and will come up with a strong glass, next year.
According to tech reviewers, the glass belonging to his phone, Galaxy S8, cracked as a result of low-energy collisions in smartphone keyboard with plastic housing. So, Samsung is working on its high-quality polycarbonate plastic housing for the upcoming Galaxy S9.
In turn, the publication TechRadar, explore the drop-tests, Samsung’s flagship calls “the most fragile smartphone of all.” Thus, in one test, the drop device contrived covered with cracks on all sides after one stroke. Next Galaxy S9 will take care of these difficulties befalling in the phone.
According to experts of the company SquareTrade, the indicator “Lom Uche STI” said that the Galaxy S8 was at the level of 76 points out of 100, and the Galaxy S8 Plus – 77 points. For comparison – the level of iPhone 7 was estimated at 50 points out of 100, and Galaxy S9 is highly expected to break the records of these phones with attaining highest points among them.
Samsung smartphones in the US fell to a critical level
Flagships of the previous generation of Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge fell in the Russian retail doubled in comparison with the price set at the start of sales. Thus, in March 2016 the gadget appeared in the windows of stores at the cost of 60 thousand rubles, but now many shops reduced prices for “outdated” model up to 30 thousand rubles or even lower.
Prices for the ex-leaders of traditionally are falling on the eve of and after the release of new models of smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ and upcoming S9 and S9+and other mobile devices. Also, the retail price has influenced by fluctuations of the ruble, and which has recently been strengthened significantly.
As for performance, Galaxy S6, S7 and S7 Edge have not disappointed us. After the upgrade to Android 7.0, I compared it with the fresh Galaxy A7 2017. So 80% of the S6 performance is still bright. This is true both for ordinary tasks (such as start-up the phone book or settings), and to work with third-party applications (games, social networks, browsers, instant messengers). If we compare it with galaxy S8/S8+, Performance of the phone is greatly influenced and are very much likable by the customers, and same is praying for the upcoming S9 to get launch with highly classified performance.
I have passed through many of the most complex models of smartphones. Some become my primary device for a week or two. But every time I gave the test to flagship smartphones and get back to my battered Galaxy S6. And I do not feel slighted. Yes, there is no moisture protection. Yes, there is Always-on display. But in the daily operation, you do not notice. The smartphone does not freeze, does not slow down, do not eat the battery for no reason. That’s not annoying. When you launch the camera, it continues to enjoy excellent image quality under almost any conditions. The flagship is the flagship of even two years after the debut. The margin of safety at the Galaxy S6 turned out decent. Maybe after the release of Galaxy S9 fans would live without any issues – who knows?


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LBCC nets $300,000 for program to help small businesses
Long Beach City College has netted $300,000 for a trade program that helps small businesses export their goods.
The Center for International Trade Development program out of Long Beach City College has received the Market Development Cooperator Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The grant will allow the CITD to offer 60 small to medium-sized businesses training and the opportunity to participate in one or two of the three trade missions planned through 2016.
Cesar Arellanes, director of the CITD, said he is happy to receive a grant that continues their work with small businesses.
“With it, our efforts over the last two years would be over and companies would have to start from scratch,” he said. “We see this grant as a way to increase California’s manufacturing by exporting U.S. goods.”
The program has been instrumental in bringing local cosmetic businesses to the international market. The office has facilitated more than $73 million in export sales since 2005 and helped to create more than 1,200 local jobs.
— Karen Robes Meeks


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Audi Hungaria plans to introduce an aluminum recycling system that will reuse the aluminum from its plant to fabricate more end products for its cars.
The carmaker said in a press release on Friday that the project, called Aluminum Closed Loop, will launch in 2021 to help the company save resources and reduce its carbon footprint. Under this project, the aluminum waste from production would be returned to equipment manufacturers, who, in turn, will use the scrap aluminum to make original quality coils for Audi’s vehicles and return the finished product to the carmaker.
Audi’s Hungarian operation uses around 38,000mt of aluminum in its manufacturing process every year, the company noted and said that it manages to send that material for recycling. Next year though, the production of secondary aluminum through the closed-loop system will help the carmaker achieve a net energy saving of 95pc compared with the production of primary aluminum for the same product.
The company noted that the system would ensure that the product quality remains intact and is environmentally sustainable.


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Want a little retro with your fast food this fall? Here’s a rumor you might find offensive. ComicBook.com reports that a site has called Nightmarish nostalgia seems to have the inside scoop on McDonald’s bringing back its beloved Halloween Happy Meal buckets.
The YouTube video below is from 1990, but at least it shows you what the buckets might look like.
What exactly are these buckets, you may ask? Back in 1986, McDonald’s began offering its Happy Meal kids meal in cute little Halloween-themed buckets that could double as a kiddie bucket. The three original designs were named McPunk’n, McBoo and McGoblin, but they all looked like lanterns, just with different faces. A few years later, a white ghost design and a green witch design were added. But according to ComicBook.com, the buckets haven’t been available since 2016, so it’s a fun retro twist.
Halloween fans sure hope this is a treat and not a trick. A McDonald’s representative was not immediately available to confirm or comment on the report. But the trusty snack-news Instagram account markie_devo posted what appears to be an advertisement for the new promotion.
Nightmare Nostalgia shared what appears to be a leaked page from McDonald’s events calendar, listing the Halloween buckets as arriving on October 18th and running through Halloween, October 31st. But without confirmation, we can’t say for sure that it’s happening, just as Linus could never guarantee the arrival of the Great Pumpkin.
We can tell that some nostalgic types would love to see that happen. There is a lot of longing for these buckets on social media.
“But I need to know if @McDonalds bringing back the Halloween buckets because I need them all,” said one Twitter user.
We’ll update if McDonald’s responds.


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Just being around green products can make us behave more altruistically, a new study to be published in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science has found.
But buying those same products can have the opposite effect. Researchers found that buying green can lead people into less altruistic behaviour, and even make them more likely to steal and lie than after buying conventional products. Buying products that claim to be made with low environmental impact can set up “moral credentials” in people’s minds that give license to selfish or questionable behavior.
“This was not done to point the finger at consumers who buy green products. The message is bigger,” says Nina Mazar, a marketing professor at University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and a self-admitted green consumer. “At the end of the day, if we do one moral thing, IT doesn’t necessarily mean we will be morally better in other things as well.”
Mazar, along with her co-author Chen-Bo Zhong, an assistant professor of organizational behaviour at the Rotman School, conducted three experiments. The first found that people perceived green consumers to be more cooperative, altruistic and ethical than those who purchased conventional products. The second experiment showed that participants merely exposed to products from a green store shared more money in a subsequent experimental game, but those who actually made purchases in that store shared less. The final experiment revealed that participants who bought items in the green store showed evidence of lying and stealing money in a subsequent lab game.
But are people conscious of this moral green washing going on when they buy green products and, more importantly, the license they might feel to break ethical standards? Professors Mazar and Zhong don't know – and look forward to exploring that in further research.
The complete study is available at: http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/newthinking/greenproducts.pdf .
For the latest thinking on business, management and economics from the Rotman School of Management, visit http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/NewThinking .
The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto is redesigning business education for the 21st century with a curriculum based on Integrative Thinking. Located in the world’s most diverse city, the Rotman School fosters a new way to think that enables the design of creative business solutions. The School is currently raising $200 million to ensure Canada has the world-class business school it deserves.Ken McGuffin
Ken McGuffin | EurekAlert!
Rutgers-led innovation could spur faster, cheaper, nano-based manufacturing
14.02.2018 | Rutgers University
New study from the University of Halle: How climate change alters plant growth
12.01.2018 | Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
For the first time, a team of researchers at the Max-Planck Institute (MPI) for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, has succeeded in making an integrated circuit (IC) from just a monolayer of a semiconducting polymer via a bottom-up, self-assembly approach.
In the self-assembly process, the semiconducting polymer arranges itself into an ordered monolayer in a transistor. The transistors are binary switches used...
Breakthrough provides a new concept of the design of molecular motors, sensors and electricity generators at nanoscale
Researchers from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (IOCB Prague), Institute of Physics of the CAS (IP CAS) and Palacký University...
For photographers and scientists, lenses are lifesavers. They reflect and refract light, making possible the imaging systems that drive discovery through the microscope and preserve history through cameras.
But today's glass-based lenses are bulky and resist miniaturization. Next-generation technologies, such as ultrathin cameras or tiny microscopes, require...
Scientists from the University of Zurich have succeeded for the first time in tracking individual stem cells and their neuronal progeny over months within the intact adult brain. This study sheds light on how new neurons are produced throughout life.
The generation of new nerve cells was once thought to taper off at the end of embryonic development. However, recent research has shown that the adult brain...
Theoretical physicists propose to use negative interference to control heat flow in quantum devices. Study published in Physical Review Letters
Quantum computer parts are sensitive and need to be cooled to very low temperatures. Their tiny size makes them particularly susceptible to a temperature...
15.02.2018 | Event News
13.02.2018 | Event News
12.02.2018 | Event News
19.02.2018 | Information Technology
19.02.2018 | Ecology, The Environment and Conservation
19.02.2018 | Life Sciences


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NEW YORK — Barnes & Noble CEO and director William Lynch has resigned, effective immediately, and the company has restructured its leadership team as a result.
The company has appointed Michael P. Huseby as CEO of Nook Media and president of Barnes & Noble. Max J. Roberts, CEO of Barnes & Noble College will continue to lead the digital education strategy and report to Huseby, as will the executive management team of Nook Media. Huseby and Mitchell Klipper, CEO of the Barnes & Noble Retail Group, will report directly to Leonard Riggio, executive chairman of Barnes & Noble.
The company has also promoted Allen Lindstrom, VP and the company’s corporate controller, to CFO of Barnes & Noble. He will report to Huseby. Kanuj Malhotra, VP of corporate development, has been promoted to CFO of Nook Media.
“We thank William Lynch for helping transform Barnes & Noble into a leading digital content provider and for leading in the development of our award-winning line of Nook products,” said Riggio. “As the bookselling industry continues to undergo significant transformation, we believe that Michael, Mitchell and Max are the right executives to lead us into the future.”
Riggio added that the company is in the process of reviewing its current strategic plan and will provide an update when appropriate.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve as CEO of this terrific company throughout the last three years,” said Lynch. “There is a great executive team and board in place at Barnes & Noble, and I look forward to the many innovations the company will be bringing to its millions of physical and digital media customers in the future.”
Huseby joined Barnes & Noble as CFO in March 2012, and has led the company’s financial organization since that time. Prior to joining Barnes & Noble, he had a distinguished career in the media communications industry having most recently served as EVP and CFO of Cablevision Systems Corporation, a leading telecommunications and media company. Huseby also served in leadership positions at Charter Communications, the fourth largest cable operator in the U.S., as well as AT&T Broadband, a provider of cable television services.
Lindstrom joined Barnes & Noble in November 2007 as VP, corporate controller. Prior to joining Barnes & Noble, he was CFO at Liberty Travel.
Malhotra joined Nook Media in May 2012 and in his role as VP of corporate development has been responsible for developing strategic priorities for growth and profitability. He was previously SVP and CFO at Affinion International.


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RailTel Posts Its Highest Ever Consolidated Income Of Rs 1,628 Crore in FY 21-22
RailTel has announced its highest ever consolidated income of Rs 1,628 crore in its latest board meeting. This is a growth of 15 per cent over consolidated income of Rs 1,411 crore in FY 20-21.
With this, RailTel has posted a profit before tax amounting to Rs 281 crore and profit after tax of Rs 209 crore during the FY 21-22 on consolidated basis.
The company registered a revenue from operation of Rs 466 crore. In Q4 which is 11 per cent increase over preceding quarter and 8 per cent higher on Year-on-Year basis.
Talking about the future prospects of the company, RailTel Chairman and Managing Director Aruna Singh said, “We currently have a very healthy order book of around Rs 5,800 crore and we have been winning multi-crore orders consistently through competitive biddings as well."
She further said, "We are focused on getting more business and with covid situation slowly normalising and expecting ease of semiconductor chip shortage, a guidance of 20 per cent growth in the topline is what we are aiming at for FY'23. We are also determined on delivering these orders on time to ensure customer satisfaction.”
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Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) April 07, 2014
RewardStream, a referral marketing software provider and the leading authority on referral marketing, today released new insights into the effectiveness of referral marketing in the financial services sector. Referral programs that run on the Spark™ refer-a-friend platform are acquiring new deposit account holders for banks and credit unions at a cost per acquisition (CPA) between $140-$170; less than half the cost of traditional marketing channels used for customer acquisition.
Referral marketing, or “refer-a-friend” as it is commonly called, uses rewards to encourage customer referrals through a structured program. Rewards are paid to both the referring customer as well as the new customer only when they are verified, making the cost of the initiative largely variable based on success. Details of the program results can be found in the whitepaper published on the RewardStream website (http://rewardstream.com/refer-a-friend-resources/)
“Financial services providers have amongst the highest CPA of any B2C industry, ranging between $300-$400 per new deposit account through marketing channels which are becoming increasingly less effective,” said James Christensen, CEO of RewardStream. “The concept is brilliant in its simplicity; pay your customers to find new customers. Our clients get new customers at a much lower cost and the customer is rewarded for their trust and advocacy; it’s a win-win.”
RewardStream’s proprietary refer-a-friend software, Spark™, has been customized for financial institutions and facilitates, tracks and rewards referrals across a broad spectrum of channels including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail as well as in in-person referrals via word of mouth. RewardStream compliments its software with referral marketing insight and best practices developed over more than a decade of running referral programs for some of the world’s largest brands.
RewardStream was founded in 1999 and is a leading provider of referral platform solutions, operating in 39 counties globally. We focus on helping businesses grow their revenues by turning customer recommendations into a channel for acquiring new customers. RewardStream has processed over 20 million referrals and acquired millions of new customers for some of the world’s largest brands. For more information please visit http://www.rewardstream.com.


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The web-based Google Chrome OS was shown for the first time this week, where the company gave a brief demo of the operating system. Here's our visual tour of Google's nascent operating system.
Google's Chrome OS is designed purely to run web-based applications, rather than software installed on a system's hard drive. At Thursday's Chrome OS event, Google claimed the new operating system's boot-up speed is a lightning-fast 7 seconds. The Chrome OS will not be available to consumers until 2010 around the Christmas season, according to Google.
Pre-Installed Chrome Coming Soon
The Chrome OS will only work with solid state drives, according to Google. Sundar Pichai, Google's vice president of product management, says that the company is working with a number of hardware manufacturers who will sell netbooks with the OS pre-installed.
NEXT: main screen and notification panels >>


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iToolab WatsGo V7.0.0 Released! You Can Download and Transfer WhatsApp Backup from Google Drive to iPhone/Android Now
NEW YORK, N.Y., Jan. 6, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- iToolab Co Ltd (iToolab) is an innovative high-tech company to help users to solve smartphone issues. As iTooolab WatsGo has debuted for months, which has been trusted by millions of users around the world. Now, the new version V7.0.0 of iToolab WatsGo enables users to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone using Google Drive. This is undoubtedly a big leap for WhatsApp data transfer. And this will motivate excitedly most of iToolab users.