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Telemundo announced the launch of its new Deportes Telemundo App 2.0 for iOS and Android devices, a one-stop solution for sports fans offering the latest sports news, scores, statistics and analysis. The new mobile app now features the biggest soccer leagues in the world including La Liga Española, English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Liga Mexicana, UEFA Champions League and the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.
“Our Deportes Telemundo App 2.0 enhances many of the innovative features we had in the previous version with new customizable options. Sports fans can now enjoy personalized real-time news, statistics, and content engagement, anytime and anywhere,” said Jorge Hidalgo, Executive Vice President of Sports at Telemundo Media. “The addition of popular leagues such as La Liga, English Premier and the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers will appease to the enormous appetite for information our sports fans have when it comes to soccer.
The new app features best-in-class functionality and design and takes advantage of iPhone and Android capabilities including pinching, zooming, tilting, and scrolling. The “Deportes Telemundo 2.0 App” also contains exclusive content of Deportes Telemundo programs, including popular clips of sports-themed shows such as “Fútbol Estelar,” “Titulares Telemundo,” “Titulares y Más,” “Boxeo Telemundo,” “Ritmo Deportivo,” and more, with up-to-date news, photos and high-quality videos.
“The ‘Deportes Telemundo App 2.0’ is now more deeply integrated with Deportes Telemundo multi-screen programming and live events allowing users to interact with our talent and other fans in real-time,” said Peter Blacker, Executive Vice President of Digital Media at Telemundo Media. “In addition, the app now features a customized live-game experience with Deportes Telemundo branded alerts which include game-starts, plays, goals and finals, to name a few”.
Additional app highlights include:
-All new “my favorites” system allowing users to select their favorite soccer teams and receive customized game alerts and scores on their homepage and mobile devices.
-“In the Stands” customized Twitter integration for users to tweet and interact with Telemundo talent and other fans in real-time in addition to following the latest social buzz for their favorite teams.
-Up-to-the-minute match scores and stats from the most important leagues in the world including La Liga, English Premier, Serie A, Liga Mexicana, Champions League and the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers with the ability for users to add future events to the device’s calendar from the home page.
-Up-to-the-minute audio alerts informing users the latest information on their favorite Telemundo shows, teams, and matches.
Telemundo Móvil offers advertisers a compelling thematic platform to reach Hispanic consumers and sports fans of mobile content and mobile apps through a diverse set of customizable display ad units.


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The fourth episode for Telltale's The Walking Dead: A New Frontier releases tomorrow, letting us carry on Javier's adventure.
Telltale strikes again with another story-driven adventure game, this time in the vast world of Game of Thrones. Play as the members of House...
Minecraft Story Mode is coming to the Nintendo Switch, and if you pre-order the game now, you'll get 20% off!
Telltale have released a new trailer for Episode 3 of The Walking Dead: A New Frontier titled 'Above the Law'.
Telltale have announced that we will be getting a new trailer for Episode 3 of The Walking Dead: A New Frontier titled 'Above the Law' tomorrow.
Telltale have shown a new teaser trailer for A New Frontier Episode 3 at PAX East showcasing what Javier will be getting up to in the next episode.
Telltale have shown new screenshots for their upcoming Marvel game series, Guardians of the Galaxy showcasing the main characters that will feature in...
Telltale have released some new concept art for The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, showing off Richmond.

domain: news


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Microsoft's recent decision to rebrand the Windows Store to the Microsoft Store may have seen confusing for some due to the obvious clash with the company's online hardware store, also known as the Microsoft Store. The move is more than just a consolidation of brands, it seems, as the company is planning on actually bringing its entire hardware portfolio to the app store on Windows 10.
While this feature is not yet available to users, the folks at MSPoweruser noticed that alongside the fresh coat of paint to the Store, the new update also brought with it the option to purchase the many hardware devices the company is currently peddling on its online marketplace. The list of options includes Microsoft's own first-party offerings under the Surface line alongside third party products such as laptops, tablets, fitness trackers and other accessories.
As with software purchases on the Store, buying hardware will require authentication via Windows Hello, which will then lead you to an order page similar to how buying product from the online Microsoft Store currently works.
There's no word yet on when the feature will be made available to the public but since the groundwork has mostly been set, one would imagine we'll see it sooner rather than later, perhaps even as soon as next month with the launch of the Fall Creators Update.


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Texas Roadhouse expects higher food prices
- Staff Louisville Business First
Higher feed prices stemming from drought conditions in the Midwest are increasing costs for pork and beef producers and restaurants such as Louisville-based steakhouse chain Texas Roadhouse Inc.
As Bloomberg reported, lower crop production didn't stop U.S. farmers from turning their biggest profit ever. However, the lower production led to higher prices for food — a trend that is expected to continue.
The report noted that Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ: TXRH) CEO Kent Taylor said on a recent conference call with analysts that the company's food costs might rise 5 percent to 8 percent next year.
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Everyone knows that potatoes are not very healthy, and the phrase “potato diet”, it seems at least strange
The tuber has a negative effect on some aspects of health, but there are people who claim that have been able to lose weight with its help.
Experts told can I lose weight by eating one potato in the diet.
Many people know that the tuber is bad for health as it increases blood sugar levels and weight gain. There are people who say the opposite, because with the use of vegetable in the body receives nutrients, such as fiber and carbohydrates.
She potato diet became popular after an American actor was to only eat this vegetable during the week. After that, one athlete from Australia said that due to this diet lost 50 pounds.
The essence of the diet is that all meals should be made from potatoes. Throughout the term you need to eat all kind of dishes from vegetable and low-calorie dishes. After that, says the athlete, it significantly decreased the blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Experts say that perhaps this potato diet for some people, but don’t stick to it for weight loss.
Recall about sugar, oil and potatoes: nutritionists are concerned about the dangerous habits of Ukrainians.
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Nutritionists concerned about the dangerous eating habits of Ukrainians. Ukrainians in the daily diet eat few fruits and berries and lots of sugar, which leads to cardiovascular diseases.
This was stated by the President of the Association of nutritionists, Oleg Shvets, during the discussions on the diet of the Ukrainians.
“The diet of the Ukrainians today are dominated by potatoes — an average of 213 grams per day and allinoneruby bread — 280 grams per day, consumption of which nutritionists recommend to minimize. And only 20 percent of Ukrainians care about the amount of sugar in the daily diet, who eat average 90 grams instead of the recommended 25 g, the tolerable upper boundary — 50 g. Therefore, today in Ukraine the death rate from cardiovascular disease was 7 times higher than, for example, in France, ” — said Shvets.
As reported Politeka, it is important a variety of food: what are the dangers of eating the same food every day
Also Politeka wrote that there are 5 foods that brought in the list of hazardous unfairly


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Wendy's Co.'s third-quarter loss widened as the fast-food company paid off costs related to selling the Arby's chain.
Shares of Wendy's tumbled more than 5 percent in early trading to $5.20.
Wendy's lost nearly $4 million, or a penny per share, missing analysts' estimates. In the same period a year ago, when it was still attached to Arby's, the chain lost $909,000, which was break-even per share.
This quarter's loss was largely from costs related to selling Arby's in July, including expenses for cutting jobs and retaining other employees.
Earnings from continuing operations, excluding one-time costs from selling Arby's, came to 5 cents per share. Analysts polled by FactSet expected 4 cents per share.
Wendy's was combined with Arby's for nearly three years, and now has to prove to investors that it can do better on its own.
Though revenue missed analysts' expectations of $617 million, it still rose 2 percent to $611 million.
Wendy's has been reshaping its menu with new ingredients and preparation methods for its salads, hamburgers and the rest of its offerings in an effort to attract more customers. The Dave's Hot `N Juicy burgers, a revamped burger line launched in October, "has exceeded our expectations and will re-establish our leadership in the premium-quality hamburger category," CEO Emil Brolick said in a statement.
The company didn't break down how much of the revenue gain came from the new burgers.
Wendy's also tipped its hand on how it plans to price its menu items to attract the greatest number of customers in a weak economy. Later this month, Wendy's will introduce a new "W" cheeseburger line, which it describes as mid-tier. Prices for those burgers would be somewhere between the 99-cent "value" cheeseburger and the premium Dave's Hot `N Juicy burger, which can cost nearly $6 for the biggest size.
Wendy's has previously talked about taking a "barbell" approach to pricing: offering high-priced and low-priced items to appeal to customers at both the top and bottom. But the new mid-tier burger "fills a gap and gives consumers a way to trade up from 99 cents to a more indulgent cheeseburger," said spokesman Bob Bertini.
Brolick, who will be navigating his first earnings call as Wendy's CEO, is under pressure to re-energize a chain that has suffered lackluster sales and squeezed profit margins over the past few years. Investors will want to know how Brolick, CEO for less than two months, will steer the company compared with predecessor Roland Smith.
Wendy's has previously said it is focused on offering breakfast nationwide. It's the only major fast-food chain that doesn't, and breakfast is one of the few restaurant categories expected to grow over the next decade. Smith had also been interested in expanding Wendy's in more markets outside the U.S., a tack that a variety of companies are taking as the U.S. economy continues to struggle.
It's likely that Wendy's is also interested in expanding its snack and beverage offerings, high-margin items that have helped the much-larger McDonald's Corp. grow revenue throughout the recession and its aftermath.
Like other restaurants, Wendy's is facing a double challenge of higher costs for ingredients and recession-weary consumers who are cautious about spending money on eating out. Even so, the chain managed to improve profit margins at company-operated restaurants to 13.7 percent from 13.4 percent, helped by higher prices on some menu items and trimmed expenses. Brolick noted what he described as "exceptionally high beef costs." The price of feeder cattle is around $1.45 per pound, up from about $1.15 a year ago, according to FactSet.
Wendy's sold Arby's to a private-equity firm in July, saying it needed to concentrate on improving Wendy's rather than trying to revive Arby's. The Wendy's/Arby's Group lost money in seven of the 10 quarters where it reported results as a combined company.
Wendy's tapped Brolick, the chief operating officer of Yum Brands and a 12-year Wendy's veteran, for the CEO job in September. Ten days after Brolick started as Wendy's CEO, Yum announced it would sell Long John Silver's and A&W, the chains that Brolick led, saying they "no longer fit our long-term growth strategy."
Former CEO Smith stepped down after Wendy's announced it would move its headquarters back to Dublin, Ohio, after the breakup. Smith said at the time that he wanted to stay near family in Georgia.


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A shipment of Argentine topfruit bound for the Russian market has been turned away amid mounting concern that Russia's economic problems could have serious repercussions for Argentina’s fruit producers in the coming season.
According to a report in Diario Río Negro, which cited the Argentine Chamber of Integrated Fruit Producers (Cafi) the consignment of around 700 tonnes of apples and pears from Río Negro and Neuquén was rejected upon arrival at the port of Vladivostok after the receiver defaulted on payment for shipping and port services.
One exporter told the newspaper that a growing number of importers were unable to honour their commitments following the latest decision by the Russian government to devalue the rouble by 5.4 per cent. The means that the currency has effectively lost 52 per cent of its value since the beginning of August.
“Importers with exporters in US dollars but are paid in roubles. It’s not difficult to see why they are in crisis,” the unnamed source said.
Marcelo Loyarte, manager of Cafi, warned that the worsening situation in Russia was having serious repercussions for fruit producers in Río Negro. “The devaluation has hit the region’s fruit industry hard, especially given that the dollar is pegged at ARS8.5 and our internal costs are rising continuously,” he said.
The raised expectations of Argentine shippers in the wake of Russia’s ban on EU agricultural products have all but evaporated. The Río Negro Valley exports around 90,000 tonnes of apples and pears to Russia a year and exporters fear that the potential loss of such an important market will hit them hard at what is already a precarious time for the industry.


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These days, luxury is about "services, experiences and conveniences," explains Brown. The rich "want something different."
A survey of 3,500 consumers released in November by Accenture, however, reveals that even the wealthy may not be spending as often as they'd like. Nearly 87 percent of Americans earning more than $150,000 said they'd be willing to spend more if they could find "better" products and services. Wealthy respondents, much more so than people in lower income brackets, lamented the lack of innovation in clothing, household appliances, housing, home furnishings and personal care over the past two years.
The wealthier the consumer, the more they feel that lack of innovation--along with a lack of satisfaction in the companies they buy from, says Nunes, who co-authored Accenture's study. With businesses in cost-cutting mode, "there's a feeling that 'Retailers don't care about me after I've left their store,'" Nunes says. "It [doesn't] feel like a relationship to the wealthy."
Creating relationships is what success in the luxury space is all about, says Jon Robbins, owner and COO of HiFi House, a 47-year-old family-owned stereo store that made the transition to the high-end luxury audio and video electronics market in the 1980s. "We needed to establish a niche," says Robbins, 44. Today, HiFi House has three locations and annual sales of more than $20 million.
One of HiFi House's hottest sellers is the 50-inch flat-panel plasma screen TV, which sells for about $10,000. The company custom-installs these TVs with DVD players and surround sound to create a home theater system. HiFi employees also teach owners how to use them.
An average HiFi sale is between $20,000 and $25,000, and the company sold 40 plasma TV packages in December alone. Upscale professionals looking to furnish million-dollar homes constitute a "significant percentage" of HiFi's business.
Robbins says his biggest challenge is finding employees with expertise in design and installation, as well as a flair for personalized customer service. It's no accident that most of the Broomall, Pennsylvania, firm's 75 employees have been with the company for 10 years or more. "This is their career," Robbins says. "You do the job right, and the dollars take care of themselves."
Hiring employees who view their jobs as careers is essential in the luxury business, says Gregory J. Furman, executive director of the Luxury Marketing Council in New York City. This means building a team from the start and offering great pay and incentives. "Your employees have to be strategic partners," he says.
You also have to think about whom you're trying to reach. Although the rich have been stereotyped as tireless shopaholics, the opposite seems to be true. When Accenture asked those earning more than $150,000 a year if they enjoy shopping when they don't have a specific purchase in mind, 80 percent said no. Says Nunes, "They tend to be very directed in their shopping in terms of how they can save time."
If your luxury service targets the very wealthy, be prepared to expand in ways you can't anticipate, Pericon warns. Her company is doing things she never imagined it would do, such as finding electricity for a remote island one of her clients had bought. The very rich "make the assumption that you'll do anything," she says.
Pericon keeps an extensive database of contacts ready for any situation: "In the luxury lifestyle, you have to have a lot of people you know you can call upon."
|Follow the Money|


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AP Business NewsBrief at 2:01 p.m. EST
(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) US economy shrinks 0.1 pct., 1st time in 3 1/2 yearsWASHINGTON (AP) _ The U.S. economy unexpectedly shrank from October through December, the first quarterly drop since 2009 and a reminder of the economy's vulnerability as automatic cuts in government spending loom. The Commerce Department said the economy shrank at an annual rate of 0.1 percent mainly because companies restocked at a slower rate and the government slashed defense spending. Those trends partly reflected uncertainty late last year about the fiscal cliff, which Congress averted in a deal reached Jan. 1.
New BlackBerrys coming to UK, Canada in next weekNEW YORK (AP) _ A new generation of more versatile BlackBerry smartphones is finally about to hit the market after excruciating delays allowed mobile devices made by Apple, Samsung and others to build commanding leads in a market that is redefining society. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. formally unveiled its long-awaited line-up of revamped smartphones and software Wednesday at simultaneous events held in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Dubai, Johannesburg, Jakarta and Delhi.
RIM changes name to BlackBerry, unveils 2 phonesNEW YORK (AP) _ After lengthy delays, Research In Motion Ltd. unveiled its first two phones with the new BlackBerry 10 system. The Q10 will have a physical keyboard, while the Z10 has only a touch-screen keyboard. RIM says it will also change its name to BlackBerry to maintain a single brand. It will have the ticker symbol "BBRY" on the Nasdaq Stock Market. RIM redesigned the BlackBerry system to embrace the multimedia, apps and touch-screen experience prevalent today. The question is whether there's time for the once-pioneering BlackBerry to catch up to Apple's trend-setting iPhone and devices running Google's Android system.
Suppliers, grocers turning to DNA testing on meatDUBLIN (AP) _ Ireland's surprise discovery this month of horsemeat traces in factory-produced burgers is boosting business for one trade: Forensics labs that use DNA fingerprinting to tell you what's on your plate. Horsemeat, which costs a fraction of beef, might not be bad for you to eat but it's definitely bad for sales of products that are labeled as beef.
APNewsBreak: EPA moves to ban some rodent poisonsWASHINGTON (AP) _ The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to ban the sale of a dozen rat and mouse poisons sold under the popular D-Con brand in an effort to protect children and pets. The agency said Wednesday it hopes to reduce the thousands of accidental exposures that occur every year from rodent-control products. Children and pets are at risk for exposure because the products typically are placed on floors.
Stocks edge lower after economy reportNEW YORK (AP) _ Stocks edged lower after a report that showed the U.S. economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter, putting the brakes on a January rally that has pushed stocks toward record levels. The Dow Jones industrial average fluctuated in the opening half hour of trading before drifting lower and falling 10 points to 13,944 as of 12:44 p.m. EST. The Standard & Poor's 500 fell 2 points to 1,506 The Nasdaq composite fell 1 point to 3,152.
Boeing focuses on 787 fix; 4Q profit tops estimateBoeing Co. said Wednesday that its top priority this year is fixing the battery problems that grounded its 787. The company made the pledge while reporting a fourth-quarter profit that topped Wall Street estimates, as rising profits from commercial jets offset a smaller profit from defense work.
US investigators ask Boeing for battery historyTOKYO (AP) _ U.S. investigators said Wednesday they asked Boeing Co. to provide a full operating history of lithium-ion batteries used in its grounded 787 Dreamliners as Japan's All Nippon Airways revealed it had repeatedly replaced the batteries even before overheating problems surfaced. National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said the agency made the request after becoming aware of battery problems at ANA that occurred before two recent incidents involving the planes batteries. Boeing has already collected some of the information, he said.
Chrysler's plan for new cars and trucksAn Alfa Romeo sports car and a Jeep Grand Cherokee update are two of the splashier models Chrysler plans to roll out by 2015. The No. 3 U.S. automaker unveiled its list of upcoming cars and truck on Wednesday. Others include: 2013
Chrysler profit jumps on higher salesDETROIT (AP) _ Just three years out of bankruptcy, Chrysler posted a $1.7 billion profit in 2012 and said it expects to earn more than $2 billion this year. Improving U.S. auto sales _ and better products at Chrysler _ were the big reasons for the vast improvement over 2011's profit of $183 million. Chrysler sold 2.2 million cars and trucks worldwide last year, up 18 percent.
(c) 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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In the eyes of Ford Motor Co., the 2012 Focus is no ordinary vehicle, so test driving the compact car should be no ordinary experience.
The Dearborn automaker has reportedly created a special test track “with elements of laser tag and the “Guitar Hero” video game” to give customers a one-of-a-kind experience.
Aug. 6, the Detroit News: “Under the ‘Start More Than a Car. Get More Than a Test Drive’ program, consumers can drive a Focus on a makeshift test course, where they’re rewarded with points for their driving skills and accuracy. Those skills are measured by lasers interacting between the car and ground targets. The driver gets instant feedback: the sound of a guitar chord or crowd cheering when points are scored.”
The test drive is another step some automakers are taking to try and standout from competitors.
Last month, Fiat SpA — the Italian automaker now controlling Chrysler Group LLC – announced it is touring the U.S. with a drive-in theater equipped with Fiat 500s to give customers a taste of the vehicle.
And earlier this week, Ford CEO Alan Mulally appeared as a guest on the “Late Show with David Letterman” to test drive the Focus with the comedian.
According to AutoWeek.com, Ford’s unique test drive launches on Aug. 22 in Chicago with stops in big cities across the country, including Los Angeles. It will hit more than 20 cities before wrapping up on Dec. 17.


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There’s no doubt that APIs make companies and applications more efficient. They connect with increasingly demanding consumers and are a source of revenue as well. A recent report from Mulesoft showed, 50 percent of large companies (10,000 employees or more) are making more than 10 million dollars in annual revenue from APIs. With such a large revenue stream, don’t you wonder what’s the value of an API?Read More >>
Read More >>
While we enjoy a respite from work with the upcoming Holidays, there are still men and women in the military, nationwide and overseas, ensuring that our time off is safe and secure. So, this holiday season, we ask that you not forget the men and women risking their lives everyday.
A recent study conducted by the Ponemon Institute reported the average cost of a data breach for the affected company is now $3.5 million. Costs associated with the Target data breach that occurred in 2013 reached $148 million by the second quarter of 2014. With security breaching headlines making the news everyday, how can you protect your enterprise? Two words, Pen Testing.Read More >>
It may seem that all the emerging innovations from the tech sector won’t have an impact on businesses, but that is far from the truth. Any business can can take advantage of digital transformation. In a piece by Computer Weekly, three technologies were described as beneficial for the enterprise.Read More >>
The PC completely changed how we worked thirty years ago, today the cloud is equally transformative in our new digital world. With the convergence of the cloud and mobile devices, the cloud is giving us massive amounts of data and computing power never seen before.Read More >>


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Lanky Dragons' Den badass Peter Jones is edging closer to signing a deal to buy AIM-listed Expansys for a fraction of the price of some shares he placed on the market in 2010. The irascible tennis aficionado – Jones trained as a coach in his teens – launched an initial buy-out offer of £6.1m via PDJ Bidco in January, but upped …
So after posting losses in two out of the three full years since Jones took a seat on the board, it is little wonder that the Dragon wants to buy the whole business rather than uttering those fateful words, "I'm out".
There are two key skills an investor needs: Knowing when to invest and knowing when to get out. Only a fool continues to throw money into a business when there's no end in sight. I'm guessing Mr Jones believe there's still some worth in the business, and hence, a way to make his money back.
> I'm guessing Mr Jones believe there's still some worth in the business, and hence, a way to make his money back.
He's probably planning to do it all with RS232s....
I don't see what there is of value in Expansys, the brand isn't good and if I want a phone it's one of the last places I would think of trying.
Maybe 10 years ago it had some sort of purpose, but not in 2014.
Meh. I'd never heard of them before now.
- Dixons, UK's fifth 'emergency service', brushes off Brexit scare stories
- Amazon twangs its Elastic File System at on-premises filer rivals
- Red Hat Summit Oh, Red Hat. Contain yourself and your 'new innovations' talk
- Jury awards US$3 BEEELION to HPE in Oracle/Itanium lawsuit
- Can Ireland's grid green satisfy Facebook and Apple?


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Retail forex broker FXCM Group, LLC today announced that it has expanded its cryptocurrency offering with the addition of Bitcoin Cash (BCH/USD) and Ripple (XRP/USD).
After successfully launching crypto CFDs in 2018, FXCM has seen its retail clients continue to add cryptocurrencies to their portfolios. Having launched three other cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin) in the past 12 months, this marks the latest stage of growth for FXCM’s cryptocurrency offering.
Brendan Callan, CEO of FXCM Group, commented:
Having successfully launched three different cryptocurrencies in the past 12 months, our clients are asking us to improve the range of crypto CFDs they can access. The addition of Bitcoin Cash and Ripple marks the latest stage of growth for FXCM’s burgeoning cryptocurrency offering and is in direct response to increased demand from our clients.
Micronized CFD contracts allow FXCM traders to place trades in fractions, which lowers the minimum margin required to enter a position. In addition, profits are credited to a trader’s account instantly, rather than held in a crypto wallet or cold storage.


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Orkla has agreed to buy Czech processed food producer Hame in a deal that will give it a stronger foothold in Central Europe, the Norwegian food group said on December 11.
Orkla is buying Hame, one of the Czech Republic’s leading food companies, from Luxembourg-based private equity holding company Decapterus for €175mn on a debt-free basis. The purchase price will be funded through Orkla's existing credit facilities.
The acquisition will help Orkla double its turnover in Central Europe, where it already owns Vitana - a processed food producer on the Czech and Slovak markets - Felix in Austria and Orkla Foods Romania.
“With this transaction Orkla becomes one of the leading FMCG players in attractive markets in Central Europe,” CEO Peter Ruzicka said in a statement on the company’s website.
Hame, headquartered in the southeastern town of Kunovice, employs nearly 2,400 and has ten production plants. It closed 2014 with gross sales of CZK4.9bn (€181mn) and a net profit of CZK234mn.
Orkla is a leading supplier of branded consumer goods and concept solutions to the grocery, out-of-home and bakery markets in the Nordics, the Baltics and selected markets in Central Europe and India. Orkla, which is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, had a turnover of NOK30bn (€3.1bn) in 2014.
Reports in the Czech media earlier this year suggested that other potential bidders for Hame included a fund controlled by Czech billionaire Finance Minister Andrej Babis and China’s CEFC.
Czech-based energy holding EPH announced on June 21 that it has agreed to buy two combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power stations in the UK for £318mn. The Slovak-founded ... more
Slovakia has made not offered the European Commission a pledge to take part in the migrant quota scheme, Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested to parliament on June 15. The statement comes shortly ... more
A joint EU mandate to discuss the operating rules that would apply to Russia's planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is not necessary, Angela Merkel said on June 15. Russian state-controlled ... more


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Punters 'confuse' netbooks with notebooks
Bad news for vendors, not users
Guess what: ordinary folk don't know the difference between netbooks and notebooks, at least as far as the functionality of the two types of laptop go.
That's the conclusion of a survey carried out in the US by local market watcher NPD. Almost 600 people took part in the online survey, though how many of them own netbooks, NPD didn't reveal. However, some 60 per cent of the netbook-owning adults that it questioned said they believed that, pre-purchase, they thought the netbook they we about to buy would do as much as a notebook would.
We're not in the least bit surprised. The clear shift away from netbooks with small solid-state drives and Linux toward models with hard drives and Windows XP, shows a preference - either on the part of vendors or punters - for netbooks with more notebook-like specs. Ditto the appearance of more machines with screens bigger than 10in.
The question is - and it's one NPD doesn't appear to have posed - is whether that acquisition of ever more notebook-like features is what convinced consumers that netbooks are just small notebooks, or whether vendors have simply moved in response to consumer demand: buyers think netbooks are notebooks, have generally purchased machines with more notebook-like specifications, and vendors have adjusted their product mix accordingly.
Is that a problem for anyone other than Linux advocates? It's hard to say. NPD stated last night that "only" 58 per cent of folk who bought a netbook rather than a notebook were "very satisfied" with their little laptop.
The conclusion implied by NPD is that the remaining 42 per cent of netbooks buyers regretted their purchase. But it's not so clear cut. It's the way of market research that people responding to the survey will have been offered five or more choices, with 'very satisfied' at the top, descending to something like 'very disappointed' at the bottom.
So that 42 per cent of respondents run the gamut from 'why did I buy this effing thing' to 'yeah, it's OK', taking in the ever-present 'don't know' in between. That means far fewer folk regretted their netbook purchase than NPD's numbers would seem to show.
And, as the researcher admitted, 70 per cent of netbook owners said they planned on buying a netbook from the outset, which certainly doesn't imply a legion of consumers ill-advisedly switching from a new notebook to a new netbook at the last minute.
Around 65 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds who'd bought a netbook said they were disappointed with its performance, NPD said, but that suggests to us that these were folk out to buy a laptop on the cheap - that's essentially the university student age band, after all.
They're also users more likely to be after machines capable of churning through hefty multimedia files and so been disappointed by the Atom processor's number crunching ability and the lack of an optical drive. Caveat emptor. Certainly all the netbooks Register Hardware has tested have shown themselves to have entirely sufficient processing power for email, browsing, media playback, office apps and even low-grade Photoshop work.
Which is, of course, why vendors do need to watch out.
As NPD VP Stephen Baker warned: "There is a serious risk of cannibalisation in the notebook market that could cause a real threat to netbooks’ success. Retailers and manufacturers can’t put too much emphasis on PC-like capabilities and general features that could convince consumers that a netbook is a replacement for a notebook."
Yes, but the threat is not to "netbooks' success" but to suppliers. Like it or not, netbooks are effectively little notebooks, especially given the aforementioned shift to Windows XP and notebook-size 160GB HDDs.
Only AMD has felt able to admit these two types of machine are both sides of one coin.
We've seen Intel and retailers recently telling punters that netbooks are for media consumption, notebooks are for media creation. There's a sense in these communications of the door being closed after the horse has left the building.
And if that's because vendors have been pushing notebook-spec netbooks rather than reacting to consumer demand, they have only themselves to blame.
If it was consumers who demanded notebook-like netbooks, then that shows there's no confusion at all, and punters are (generally) buying the smaller machines because they like the size and the price, and find they have sufficient performance for their needs.
We're sure college kids and some other might have bought netbooks for inappropriate uses, but many folk, we'd say, are finding them to be exactly what they need. And NPD's numbers don't give us any reason to think otherwise. ®


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By Sulaimon Salau
The Indigenous Content Agenda of the Federal Government is yielding positive results as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that over 100 million Subscribers’ Identity Modules (SIMs) have been produced locally within a year. NCC’s Head of Financing and Stakeholders Engagement Team, Aderonke Sola-Ogunsola, who disclosed this at this year’s AFRICANXT in Lagos, said that Nigeria could serve as a manufacturer of SIM in West Africa through the Nigeria Telecommunications Indigenous Content of the NCC.
Sola-Ogunsola said that over 100 million SIMs had been ordered by various telecommunications companies, putting an end to the importation of SIM and the attainment of a fully digital economy in Nigeria. She recalled that at the 2022 Indigenous Content Expo in Lagos, the Federal Government banned the importation of SIMs.
According to her, Nigeria Telecommunications Indigenous Content is to encourage innovation among the youth and to promote the digital economy.
“There is the need to ensure that individuals, businesses, and the nation harness derivable benefits and the opportunities offered by the emergent digital culture to improve quality of life, grow businesses and leapfrog the national economy. This remains the overarching objective of government policies, plans and strategies,” she said.
The Head, Digital Skills and Services, NCC, Freda Bruce-Bennett, said that Nigeria was rapidly becoming a digital economy, adding that out of seven tech unicorns in Africa, five were Nigerian companies, namely Andela, Flutterwave, Interswitch, Jumia, and Opay.
According to her, NCC is working with tertiary institutions and the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) on how youths could build their capacity.
Head, Spectrum Administration, NCC Abraham Oshadami, noted that the digital economy could not exist without needed infrastructure. “Globally, infrastructure is the bedrock for adequate broadband penetration,” he said. Oshadami also said that Nigeria had taken the lead by providing wireless resources because there were policies to deploy the infrastructure and make them work.


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Only months ago the swansong to Australian-made performance cars was beginning to leave owner-investors dancing all the way to the bank, but now it seems potential buyers of the HSV GTS R W1 have changed their tune as used examples grow but sales stall.
HSV production stopped at 275 examples of the GTS R W1 for local buyers who quickly snapped them up – except the final example retained by the brand and the press vehicle that sold at auction for an undisclosed sum – at $169,900 plus on-road costs.
As reported by MOTOR, in August last year the first known GTS R W1 available for public auction passed in at Manheim Melbourne for $257,500 after falling well shy of the $300K expected selling price.
In September last year, however, it was reported that a white GTS R W1 sold for $280,000 at the Grays Online auction house, while this was followed in March 2018 when the hammer fell at $269,000 for a red example at Lloyds Auction Queensland.
More recently, however, the number of W1 examples on sale – complete with a 474kW/815Nm, LS9 6.2-litre supercharged V8 and six-speed manual – has soared to 17 at the time of publication, with only one missing an official sticker price (‘enquire within’ is the word).
The claimed combined value of the fittest, finest HSV finale totals 4.34 million with an average price of $271,250 – almost a neat $100K over the recommended retail pricetag.
But now even the cheapest example, painted white and with 17km on the odometer, isn’t selling despite being priced at $229,999 for a total decrease of around $50K versus the GTS R W1 examples that actually sold at auction late last year.
With a further five examples priced at $240,000 or less, another six vehicles priced between $270,000 and $280,000, and a quartet topping out at $300,000, it would seem that the market is saturated enough to create a buyer’s market. The question now is how long it will take the top HSV to fall below $200K?
History plays a guide here. The Porsche Cayman GT4 launched locally from $190K and very soon examples were moving to $250K-plus. But they have now numbered below the original retail price with few kilometres as the numbers on the market increase, and hype decreases.
Perhaps the best indicator for potential HSV owners, though, is FPV. With a 351kW power output that was never again touched, 2014’s GT F 351 cost $77,990 plus on-road costs new and just 550 were produced.
Although not in the same league as the demonstrably pricier and more powerful GTS R W1, they nonetheless remain the most expensive FPVs on the used market – with 10 examples online at the time of publication, the most expensive with 49km showing for $110,000 and the cheapest with 61,000km on the clock for $86,000.
The average? $102,688 or around 30 per cent above the purchase price. Equate that to a GTS R W1 and the result comes out at … $220K. Maybe that’s where the HSV will stay, then.


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Litecoin is worth today,. 2017 Goldman Sachs has clinched an i.Litecoin Leads Altcoin Retreat as SegWit Optimism Grips Bitcoin Again.Bitcoin is down about 14% in 2017. Bitcoin is getting demolished,. erasing more than 30% of its value.The value of bitcoin dropped on various exchanges between 11 and 20.The Worst Way to Buy Bitcoin. or 105% more than the underlying bitcoin is worth,. filings show it created only 31,400 shares in 2017 in the days leading up to.Elsewhere, 2016 has seen massive progress in the direction of privacy and fungibility.
Altcoin 2017 Forecast: Litecoin (LTC. other than Bitcoin worth watching in 2017 are: Litecoin. predict Litecoin could gain ground in 2017,.The trial of Ryan Kennedy, the controversial founder of the now-defunct dogecoin exchange Moolah, began in a UK court this week.Every platform accepting bitcoin could implement different policies for deciding which coins are clean or dirty.Two Bitcoin Exchanges Were Hacked in South Korea in 2017, Importance of Wallet Security.That means that everyone needs to know when they make a trade whether the bitcoins they will be receiving are dirty or clean, because that impacts whether they are getting a fair trade and whether they will be able to spend them or cash them out through the typical avenues.
Bitcoin Price Rises Higher Than Gold, But Its Value Is
Since the beginning of the year, the value of the cryptocurrency has surged as it gains.
Bitcoin Value Climbs Ahead of Midnight Fork - moneymorning.comBloomberg Terminal Execution and Order Management Data and Content Financial Data Management Integration and Distribution Bloomberg Tradebook.
Bitcoin has existed for less than a decade, but it has achieved amazing popularity across the globe, and its value has risen along with its use.Most transactions today in bitcoin go onto the permanent public ledger, available for anyone to scrutinize.Still, 2017 is likely to see improved performance, reduced computational requirements, and quite possibly improvements to the cryptographic protocols.
BITCOIN FUTURE FORECAST TO 2017 - hyipnews
Cryptocurrency — Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, LitecoinBloomberg London About Careers Diversity and Inclusion Philanthropy and Engagement Sustainability Tech.So fungibility has been damaged, though not yet enough that people feel like they need to consult blacklist services before accepting bitcoins.
But the second-most popular cryptocurrency is gaining market share fast.
Monero is a cryptocurrency with a core focus of fungibility, and its greatest strength is perhaps its philosophy, which holds that fungibility is strongest when everybody is forced to use private transactions.Between regulatory hurdles, heists and its all-too-common use in online crime.Moolah Exchange Founder Denies Fraud Charges in First Court Hearing.
Two Bitcoin Exchanges Were Hacked in South Korea in 2017More than just a paper, successful tumbling operations have been submitted over the live bitcoin network.
Bitcoin value soars to new record over $2,200 - UPI.com
The progress that Zcash has made so far is a huge benefit to the cryptocurrency ecosystem.Further, 2016 saw the introduction of the MimbleWimble protocol, which would allow historic transactions to be removed entirely from the blockchain.The problem is not that the merchants are rejecting bitcoins associated with unfavorable activities, the problem is the effect that it has on everyone else.Litecoin Price Up 60% in Anticipation of BitStamp Listing. ago that many in the cryptocurrency community had pronounced Litecoin dead. June 19, 2017.
You can't hold a bitcoin, but the web currency's value hasThe bitcoins worth the most money would then be the bitcoins accepted.
Litecoin Price Up 60% in Anticipation of BitStamp Listing
A hard fork in early 2017 will introduce RingCT into Monero, further enhancing the privacy and fungibility of the cryptocurrency.


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Peter Vardy could have a new addition to its CarStore network up and running by December if planners give a proposed development in Dundee the go-ahead this week.
Around 100 jobs could be created if councillors in Dundee pass the plans for a site formerly occupied by the Valentines card factory at the city’s Dunsinane Industrial Estate
Mike Galloway, director of city development, is recommending approval of the plans subject to certain planning conditions, the Dundee Evening Telegraph reported.
Galloway said the proposals were for a mixed-use development providing a car sales and display showroom with a large vehicle storage, repair and servicing area, as well as office facilities.
The 300-car facility will also include an indoor cafe and two children’s zones.
Galloway said: “The proposed development is not unlike the existing Mercedes Benz or Audi car dealerships located to the east of the site.”
“On balance the proposed development, like the existing car dealerships to the east of the application site, complements the land-use designation of Dunsinane Industrial Estate by the Dundee Local Development Plan.”
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WeWork’s Chief Technology Officer Shiva Rajaraman has decided to step aside from his designation. He will remain in office for three months transition period, reported by Business Insider.
Shiva Rajaraman joined WeWork in 2017 and lead the technology team, with various responsibilities including engineering, product management, design, and analytics.
Before joining WeWork in 2017, Rajaraman also shortly worked with Apple and he recalled his experience there as “Not the perfect place for me.” Rajaraman has served Spotify as well where he was designated with the responsibility of VP Products.
He spent 8 years at Google and left as Director of Product Management in 2014.
In the past, Rajaraman has worked briefly with Twitter as Senior Product Manager to develop its commerce offerings in 2010.
In order to formally inform the company about the news, the new co-CEOs Artie Minson and Sebastian Gunningham wrote an email about his departure. The email praised Rajaraman’s efforts,
“During his time at WeWork, Shiva built a world-class Technology team and helped deliver digital products and services that create an amazing experience for our members,”
It further states that Sebastian Gunningham will be supervising the central technology systems of WeWork.
Ralf Wenzel, who joined WeWork in the result of SoftBank’s acquisition, has been assigned the portfolio of Chief of Products and Experience Officer. Wenzel is also a Managing Partner and CEO of TechHub at Softbank.
Why is WeWork stumbling?
WeWork started in 2010, aiming to build shared coworking space to make a life, not just living. It has over 800 locations around the world now.
Recently, WeWork has been stumbling since its announcement of going into an IPO. The company’s IPO prospectus went wrong when the company lost $900 million in the first six months of 2019.
In the meantime, WeWork faced another blow due to the departure of co-founder and CEO Adam Neumann after it shelved plans for the IPO. WeWork was left with $7.5 billion from its previous value of $47 billion.
Amid this crisis of IPO, WeWork was looking for debt financing options as well. Consequently, the Japanese venture capitalist, SoftBank, decided to take charge of WeWork. They have acquired 70 percent or more control of WeWork at an $8 billion valuation.
Recently, WeWork terminated 2000+ employees, as a result of the overhaul by the new incumbent executive.
READ: WeWork’s Chairman Marcelo Claure terminates 13 people for abusing vendor policies
READ: WeWork to lay-off 2,000 employees; amid IPO crisis
READ: SoftBank to take charge of WeWork
READ: The WeWork fiasco of 2019, explained in 30 seconds ↗
Featured image: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty


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Today's Git vulnerability affects those using the Git client on case-insensitive file-systems. On case-insensitive platforms like Windows and OS X, committing to .Git/config could overwrite the user's .git/config and could lead to arbitrary code execution. Fortunately with most Phoronix readers out there running Linux, this isn't an issue thanks to case-sensitive file-systems.
Ubuntu 15.04 Alpha 1 For Its Various Flavors
While Ubuntu itself no longer puts out alpha/beta releases in favor of just testing out the daily Live ISOs, the various Ubuntu flavors still participating in the traditional release process have done their first alpha releases this afternoon for Ubuntu 15.04.
Robolinux 7.7.1 LXDE Runs Windows Apps with Stealth VM
Robolinux 7.7.1, a fast and easy-to-use Linux distribution based on Debian has just received a new desktop environment, LXDE, making this the third second flavor of the distribution.
Jolla's Sailfish OS Update 10 Is Now Available
The tenth update to Jolla's Sailfish mobile operating system is now available. This update is version 22.214.171.124 and is codenamed Vaarainjärvi.
This latest update to Jolla's Sailfish OS includes the device lock now supporting alpha-numeric codes, copy-paste support between Android and native Sailfish apps, Mail app improvements, new overlays for maps, search improvements, unification to the accounts framework, new MMS settings, UI improvements, and an assortment of other improvements.


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A Bend-based volunteer organization will host a live launch event for the public at SOSBend.com today until 3pm with the goal of helping local businesses that have been dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. SOSBend.com allows people to purchase store credit from local businesses currently closed or minimally operating and redeem it at a later time.
Hosted by local broadcast personality Megan Sinclair, the live launch party will include visits from State Treasurer Tobias Read, Mayor Sally Russell, Secretary of State candidates Jamie McLeod Skinner & Mark Hass, merchants impacted by the closure and special guests.
To view the YouTube page, please click here: youtube.com.
“We must act now to help the local businesses that make our community special stay afloat,” said Matt Abrams, an organizer of Main Street SOS, the volunteer group behind the effort. “People are desperate to do something but they feel overwhelmed when it comes to where to go or what to do. SOSBend.com is our attempt to answer the question: how can I help?”
The community-focused financing platform partnered closely with the Bend Chamber of Commerce, Oregon Community Foundation, Visit Bend, the City of Bend and a cross-section of civic organizations and businesses. SOSBend.com provides a trusted, secure way for customers to continue to spend at their favorite establishments, while immediately delivering funds to local businesses at no additional cost.
“I think there’s a perception out there that there is a lot of help coming from the federal government and that is simply not true,” said Carrie Douglass, owner of Haven, a co-working space in Bend. “SOSBend.com can help fill the gap we are all facing. By purchasing future credit, people can shore up the businesses that make Bend unique in the immediate term — and ensure they’ll be there when we start to reopen.”
According to the US Census Bureau, Deschutes County alone is home to almost 200,000 people and 7,000 businesses. Many provide services to the 2.5 million tourists who visit the area annually. Travel restrictions aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19 have dramatically impacted tourism, further amplifying the economic impact on Central Oregon. SOSBend.com is designed to reach those visitors, making it easy for them to preserve a favorite vacation destination.
Main Street SOS is initially launching in Bend. Depending upon demand, the team intends to share the technology and best practices for free with any interested towns or communities.
“At first we just wanted to help the neighbors we know are hurting,” said Gavin Burke, who started Main Street SOS with Abrams. “But it was obvious from the beginning that other towns and cities were facing the same urgent problems. We’ve fielded inquiries across the state and a far afield as India. We want to share this with everyone. After all, we are all in this together.”
We all have our part to play in keeping our town and local businesses afloat in this crisis,” said Abrams. “Go to SOSBend.com and continue to spend at these much-loved businesses to ensure we continue to have a vibrant town when the economy reopens.”
About Main Street SOS
Main Street SOS started as a volunteer team of developers, startup executives, students and writers who either live locally or who have strong community ties. It quickly evolved to offer solutions that address the uniquely urgent economic needs of small and medium-sized businesses and the communities they serve around the world.
Main Street SOS encourages anyone who is interested in contributing time, funds or resources to get in touch by emailing Matt Abrams at email@example.com.


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Michigan Beer Industry Brews Up $10.5 Billion Yearly BusinessMichigan is already strong and primed for more growth in the beer industry.
Lager Law: Attorneys' Guild Forms For Craft Brewers, DistillersIndustry officials say there are roughly 4,200 U.S. breweries operating today — an all-time high that surpasses even pre-Prohibition levels.
Beer With Baby On Label Gets Official Approval In MichiganA brewery's beer featuring a baby on the label now has official approval in Michigan.
Atwater Brewery Introduces 3 New Beers, Redesigned Labels“Atwater Brewery. Born in Detroit. Raised Everywhere.”
Best Fall Craft Beers In DetroitFall in the Motor City is a great time for a top seasonal brew.
Bottoms Up! Schoolcraft College Offers Classes On Brewing, DistillationA college is metro Detroit is teaching students how to make beer.
Beer Festival Gets Frothy In Ypsilanti's Riverside Park This WeekendThe annual Beer Festival kicks off this weekend in Ypsilanti Riverside Park in the historic Depot Town.
Best Craft Beer Shops In DetroitMetro Detroit is home to a hub of fine craft beer shops with plenty of styles to choose from.
A Nod To Prohibition As National Beer Day Recognized Around CountryIt's National Beer Day -- a day that marked the end of prohibition in 1933.
Belly Up, Baby! Michigan-Made Beer Considered Contraband In New HampshireBabies and bottles normally get along just fine, unless a picture of that baby happens to be plastered to the front of a bottle of beer.
Central Michigan University Launches Beer-Making ProgramThe undergraduate program is specifically aimed at providing a "hands-on education focused on craft beer."
Report: Michigan 10th In Country With Nearly 70,000 Beer-Related JobsA report showed the state's overall beer sector generates more than 64,000 jobs, with nearly 5,000 in the distributing sector, putting Michigan at 10th in the nation regarding beer-related jobs.


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$11.43 Million in Online Gaming Revenues in AprilPublished on 2014-05-15 17:14:00
New Jersey's Division of Online Gaming Enforcement released April's online gaming numbers earlier this week.
According to the report, the companies currently allowed to operate online gaming sites in the state generated approximately $11.43 million in revenues in the month of April, down from $11.9 million in March.
Here is the breakdown of total Internet gross revenues by company in April:
Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, $4,116,560
Caesars Interactive Entertainment, $3,055,432
Golden Nugget Atlantic City, $575,914
Tropicana Casino and Resort, $2,145,103
Trump Plaza Associates, $926,278
Trump Taj Mahal Associates, $609,450
Total - $11,428,737
Here are the online poker revenues numbers by company:
Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, $1,390,897
Caesars Interactive Entertainment, $1,151,690
Golden Nugget Atlantic City, -
Tropicana Casino and Resort, -
Trump Plaza Associates, -
Trump Taj Mahal Associates, $49,252
The online poker numbers for both the Borgata and Caesars were down substantially from the month before (the Borgata brought in $1,642,314 in online poker revenues in March, while Caesars brought in $1,468,035).
Companies are finding it challenging to gain a foothold in the new legal online gaming markets in the United States, which has resulted in some dramatically decreased projections for online gaming revenue generation in Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware.
Source: NJ.gov - Monthly Internet Gross Revenue Report for April
Filed Under: Poker Room News


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U.S. News Thought the 2020 Kia Sportage Was the Best SUV Under $25K
There has been a shift in the auto industry, and sport utility vehicles like the 2020 Kia Sportage are now outselling sedans two-to-one. Industry experts report the trend shows no signs of stopping and will continue to grow in the coming years.
An automotive analyst from IHS Markit told the New York Times, “SUVs made up 47.4 percent of US sales in 2019. By 2025, we see the light-truck segment that includes SUVs, vans, and pickups to make up 78 percent of sales compared to 72 percent now.”
This shift has caused huge competition among auto manufacturers eager to give consumers what they want. Big changes are being made in production to meet the growing SUV demand. U.S. News took a look at all the current model SUVs and found that the 2020 Kia Sportage offered the best value. Price aside, the popular vehicle has a lot going for it.
Why consumers love driving an SUV
Sport utility vehicles are the hottest segment in the automobile industry right now, with sales steadily increasing across America. Ford has been phasing out their sedan production in an effort to replace 75 percent of its vehicle lineup with crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks by the end of 2020. General Motors discontinued production on six of their sedans to make room for SUVs. Luxury carmakers are also moving into the market, with Ferrari, Mercedes, and Maserati now offering SUVs.
America’s newfound love affair with SUVs reflects today’s changing lifestyles. The all-wheel-drive vehicles are appealing to both baby boomers and millennials alike. The larger cargo-carrying capacity, higher viewing area from the windshield, and generous room for passengers provide an enjoyable ride. Known for being easier to get in and out of than traditional four-door cars, SUVs make a practical choice for everyday driving.
The Kia Sportage is the best SUV under $25K
U.S. News took a look at all of the SUVs on the market priced under $25,000, saying that “most models in either the compact or subcompact class are close in terms of pricing, equipment, and capabilities, which makes choosing the best of the bunch challenging.”
After a thorough review and test-driving each SUV, the 2020 Kia Sportage came out on top. It ranked No. 1 as the Best SUV Under $25,000 and No. 3 overall in the Compact SUV category.
Receiving an overall score of 8.5 out of 10 from U.S. News, the 2020 Kia Sportage has an MSRP of $23,990. The attributes of the top-rated SUV include a spacious interior, a well-appointed cabin, and a quality easy-to-use infotainment system. Advanced safety features new for this year are a forward collision warning, driver condition monitor, and a pedestrian detection system that is now standard.
The Sportage offers superior handling and performance capabilities, allowing for a comfortable ride. The class-leading warranty adds to the value of the vehicle, providing 5-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
How other Kia vehicles compare
The 2020 Sportage isn’t the only Kia that made the U.S. News list. The 2020 Kia Niro ranked No. 10, achieving an overall score of 7.6 out of 10 with an MSRP of $24,590.
The subcompact SUV is the only hybrid model that made it into the top 10. Unlike others in its class, the Niro is front-wheel drive and a lot slower than the competition. Fuel efficiency is impressive at 52 mpg city and 49 mpg highway. A plug-in hybrid that offers better fuel economy is available but has a higher price tag.
The 2020 Kia Niro received some new trim levels and added several new features and styling modifications to this year’s model. The infotainment system offers intuitive interaction, and the cabin is somewhat spacious.


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Bungie, the famed developers of the Halo franchise, is hard at work on their new game Destiny. GameVerb notes that Bungie is now competing against its very own creation Halo - more specifically 343 Industries' Reclaimer Trilogy (Halo 4-6). Knowing how successful Bungie has been in the past and the fact Destiny will be multi-platform and most likely next-gen, Destiny's sales numbers are likely to outpace upcoming Halo titles easily.
Combined with yearly Call of Duty releases and Respawn Entertainment's unannounced IP, could Halo survive being only a first-party title? And more importantly, are first-party titles going to struggle in the years to come?


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The Guardian just came out with this article exposing the sad reality of quinoa farmers in the Andes: that high demand among vegan/vegetarians in the Global North for quinoa has forced up prices to the point that most Peruvians (and others) cannot afford it, and quinoa monocultures are forcing out the diversified farm systems around Lima.
While this isn’t a shocker (the NY times was on it, I believe in this article, a while back), perhaps we should have more clearly seen this coming. With explosive demand for a product like that, it’s pretty much inevitable that the demand grow far faster than the supply could increase, pushing prices up. Yet I also don’t think the answer is blaming vegetarians in the US who mostly are just trying to pursue what they believe is the healthy and sustainable alternative. I’m not speaking out in favor of uninformed idealism (international development is a minefield of that stuff); to me, this issue is emblematic of the broken connection between us and the food we eat. The connection is so broken that we are only learning, years later, that our favorite new protein-packed grain is actually hurting a whole community of people and their environment. The sad reality is that we are often in the dark about the effects of our behaviors. If we’re looking for somebody or something to blame, it’s not vegetarians but an industrialized food system that has turned food into a commodity to be engineered, processed, and packaged, and made the link between us and our food increasingly tenuous.
As a student of economics and international development, I’m also left wondering what this means for rural farmers. I’m not sure I’m fully ready to write off export-driven growth, considering how important that has been to economic growth historically. But how can we envision a system in which farmers are able to be productive enough to generate incomes to educate their children, and sustainable enough to not destroy the environment? My inkling is that the answer is a lot more complicated than simply saying “to export” or “not to export.” This article presents an interesting contradictory view on the potential role of quinoa exports, and this one contradicts that. But I think that’ll have to be a topic for another post.
In the meantime, perhaps we can agree that the easiest answer for us probably isn’t trying to start a big quinoa farm in our backyard, but to more often seek out the local foods whose ramifications we can better understand.
Side note: While the article mentions soy as well, it’s my understanding that the soy that vegetarians eat is probably doing their own health a lot more harm that it’s doing to the environment, considering that most soy production goes to factory farm animal feed.


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The FedEx Rockin Taco Festival will be making its debut at Covington’s new festival venue, Covington Plaza. The event will take place June 25th from 5-11 pm, the 26th from 12-11 pm and the 27th from 12-9 pm.
Located along Covington’s riverbank behind the River Center, Covington Plaza looks to be one of the area’s upcoming hot spots for festivals and events.
“We are excited to be the first festival at Covington Plaza and what a great event to kick off the summer.” said Kerry Schall, Festival Liaison. “We will be celebrating America’s love of tacos. We are encouraging our food vendors to be extremely creative when planning their ‘Taco-Inspired’ menus. I can’t wait to see what they dream up.”
In addition to a mouthwatering food lineup, there will be free live entertainment all weekend long, featuring authentic Latin music and dance. Admission is free.
“Our whole vision for the Riverfront Commons trails and the Covington Plaza space was to redesign our riverfront in a way that reconnects us with the defining geographic feature that – over 200 years ago – literally set the creation of Covington in motion. A three-day festival featuring tacos and Latin music – with the Cincinnati skyline and the Ohio River as a backdrop – will showcase what a cool space this is.” said Mayor Joe Meyer.
Food vendors include Glier’s Goetta, Latin Taste Grill, Fatheads, Wicked Hickory, Texas Joe, Drifter’s Shack and more. Fittingly, there will be a wide variety of beverages including frozen margaritas.
Post expires at 3:22pm on Wednesday July 21st, 2021


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White Ferrari FXX K captioned Right behind the Red One
A white Ferrari FXX K was captioned at an unknown location standing behind a red model.
There is no any information nor about the image’s author either about where the photo was taken. Though, it will be enough to say that taking pictures was not allowed. The author of the photo managed to caption a quick picture by a smartphone. That is why the quality is really far from stellar.
The production of the vehicle under consideration is caped at only 40 vehicles. The Ferrari FXX K is considered to be one of the most exclusive track-spec vehicles ever. Catching two of the cars in the same image is definitely a success! All produced vehicles have been already sold. The price for one car is €2.5 million. The automaker assures that the FXX K is rather a standalone offering than a hardcore LaFerrari.
Specially organised for the offering race events will kick off in the end of spring. The company has stated earlier that 10 or even 15 units will be ready by then. Pay attention, product marketing director made a hint on “Evo”, a higher specification variant. He hinted that it will be available in several years.


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Automakers that manufacture motorcycles and luxury vehicles have already announced a slash in price of their models, thanks to the reduced tax slab from the proposed Goods and Service Tax (GST) starting from July 1 in India. However, under the new tax regime, the future of hybrid vehicles is a bit hazy.
Also read: Honeymoon period over for hybrid cars in India; GST to impose steep levies
The Narendra Modi government has levied the highest tax rate on hybrid vehicles in the new GST structure. Hybrid vehicles will attract total levies of a steep 43 percent under GST (28 percent tax and 15 percent cess). This means hybrid vehicles are set to be costlier and two models from India's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, will bear the brunt of the decision.
Maruti Suzuki sells Ciaz sedan and Ertiga MPV with mild-hybrid powertrain and both models are set to be costlier by around Rs 1.5 lakh, reports India.com. It needs to be noted that the government had also removed the subsidy on Mild Hybrid vehicles given under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles India scheme (FAME) in April. Both the decision will force Maruti Suzuki to increase the price of the Ciaz and Ertiga models.
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz hybrid models are currently retailed from Rs 7.88 lakh to Rs 9.56 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The model is in neck and neck completion with Honda City in terms of sales. A steep price hike may dent the reception of Ciaz over Honda City.
On the other hand, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga hybrid models are priced between Rs 7.68 lakh and Rs 9.38 lakh. The MPV has been considered as an affordable choice for bigger families over pricier Tata Hexa and Toyota Innova Crysta. Even with the price hike, Ertiga will retain its affordable MPV tag against bigger rivals.


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NEW YORK — Consolidation among kids advertisers and increased kids ad inventory in the market have given media buyers an edge in negotiations going into this year’s kids upfront.
The confidence buyers feel is manifesting itself in the lateness of this year’s kids upfront. In the last few years, the market has moved right after the Super Bowl in late January. This year, major money won’t begin flowing until April, buyers say.
Recent consolidation among toy manufacturers has left few players remaining in the market. As a result, network sellers have less leverage. Just a few years ago, a kids network salesperson could threaten a waffling toy manufacturer with being completely locked out of the network. With less than handful of major toy companies left, the threat of being shut out is far less likely.
Also, the Family Channel’s conversion in August into kids network Fox Family Channel brings another full-time kids player into the marketplace. Fox Family’s entrance is providing buyers with tons of additional kids inventory and another network to play off the others in negotiations.
“People’s budgets change constantly,” said Jon Mandel, senior VP for Grey Advertising, and one of the biggest kids buyers. “And who knows about the cereal business because of El Nino. Is there going to be enough wheat? Is there going to be enough grain?”
Several kids ad executives said that Mandel, who buys for kid heavyweights Hasbro toys and Kraft General Foods cereals, is himself one of the main factors holding up the upfront.
“Some people feel that they don’t have the marketplace intelligence of Jon Mandel, so they’re waiting for him to establish the marketplace and follow on his coattails,” one marketplace exec says.
Big bucks in waiting
While the lion’s share of upfront money remains to be spent, some pockets of business have taken place.
“We’ve done business with both new and returning advertisers,” said Jed Petrick, senior VP of ad sales for the WB. “People see us as having the most upside.”
Kids leader Nickelodeon is largely sitting out this year’s upfront. The Viacom-owned network successfully sold advertisers on two-year deals last year, so most kids advertisers have already spent 30% to 50% of their budgets on the “Rugrats” network.
However, Nick is not totally idle during the upfront. The network is trying to convince advertisers to add another year onto their two-year deals. Also, Nick is adding an additional half-hour each night in primetime, which sells at top rates.
Buyers said that the WB will likely snare cost-per-thousand (CPM) increases this year, but Fox Children’s Network and ABC may not be so lucky. Cartoon Network is still growing rapidly, so the Turner network probably won’t have to accept CPM decreases.
Small buyers wait, too
One kids ad exec said he was puzzled about why some of the small kids advertisers haven’t moved into the market to beat big buyers like Mandel and John Muszynski, executive VP of Leo Burnett’s Starcom unit, to the punch.
“I’m surprised that more little players haven’t jumped in and taken advantage of the stall,” he said.


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Are you interested in a new way of traveling?
Consider renting an RV and getting on the road with your family this summer.
RV owner Karin Stiles has owned a 2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie for about six months and has traveled all over California.
“We are three hours from anywhere we want to go: Redwoods, Yosemite, the beach,” Stiles said.
When she isn’t on the road herself, Stiles rents her RV out to anyone who is interested.
You don’t need to be an experienced RV’er; all you need is a driver’s license and a car that can tow your home away from home.
Stiles’ RV sleeps four people and has a full kitchen and bathroom. She charges $145 a night to rent out her RV through RVshare.
There are thousands of RVs to choose from.
RVshare’s CEO says Memorial Day was the largest booking day of all time for the company.
“We have over 100K RVs on the platform and thousands of them available in California, and what we saw is people flocking to RVs, our business more than tripled over last summer and we are continuing to see very robust growth this year as well,” RVshare CEO Jon Gray said.
Renting an RV is a great way to get outdoors and explore your own backyard.


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The merger has been speculated as an eventual outcome ever since the time Zomato invested in Blinkit. In fact, ET had reported in 2020 about the two companies possibly striking a deal to come together.
Zomato and Blinkit founder Albinder Dhindsa did not respond to ET's queries.
Also Read | Grofers, Zomato and the big online grocery battle
Meanwhile, in an exchange filing on Tuesday, Zomato said it would grant a loan of up to $150 million to Grofers India Pvt Ltd, Blinkit’s Indian entity. Interest will be charged at 12% annually, with a tenure of not more than a year.
The proposed share-swap deal would result in Blinkit's largest investor, SoftBank Vision Fund, getting a stake in the food delivery firm. Tiger Global, which is an existing investor in Zomato, would increase its stake.
Interestingly, SoftBank took a major bet on Zomato’s rival, Swiggy, last year with an investment of $450 million. The Japanese group is expected to corner a 4-5% stake in Zomato as part of the deal, the people said.
In an interaction with ET in October last year, Zomato founder and chief executive Deepinder Goyal had called the investment in Blinkit “a strategic bet”. “We'll see whether it makes sense for us to merge at some point or not. But right now it's too early to say anything,” Goyal had said.
Zomato said the investment was in line with its stated intent of investing up to $400 million in the quick-commerce segment in India. The food tech major also added that it would be acquiring a 16.66% stake in food robotics company Mukunda Foods.
The talks for Blinkit’s sale come at a time when the company continues to face tough competition in the quick-commerce space, and has been struggling to gain market share. Swiggy last year announced that it would be investing $700 million in its Instamart service, while Mumbai-based Zepto has built a war chest of $160 million. Dunzo has also raised $240 million from Reliance Retail to focus on this category, with Ola running pilots.
Further, market volatility due to the ongoing geopolitical conflict coupled with a crash in the share price of Zomato and other tech firms has come as a double whammy for Blinkit.
ET reported on November 18 that Zomato was looking to invest $500 million in Blinkit, which has not happened yet. Due to market volatility, Zomato’s investors and shareholders wanted to renegotiate the terms of the investment, people aware of the discussion said.
With aspirations to scale in a heavily contested quick-commerce space, Blinkit has also been burning $6-8 million a month at least, the above-mentioned people said. Blinkit has shut close to 40 warehouses and dark stores to streamline cash, as funding opportunities dry up for the quick-commerce entity.
At present, Blinkit has an on-ground workforce of 30,000 and opened 450 new warehouses and dark stores to scale its quick commerce plans.
“It is interesting that Zomato is going out and making these investment bets, while there is still more money to be made by investing in their core operations (considering the large base),” said Ajay Garg, managing director of Equirus Capital, an investment bank. “When Info Edge (Zomato’s investor) started making investments in new age companies, it was profitable. With the current meltdown in public markets, there is pressure on these (tech) stocks to show some performance. Investment strategy can act as a short-term distraction for investors, but with current market conditions, it has to show profitability first.”
Shares of Zomato fell 3.4% to close at Rs 76.60 on the BSE Tuesday.
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- SoftBank, Others Look to Pare FirstCry Stake
Japan’s SoftBank and NewQuest Capital Partners are among investors seeking to sell shares of IPO-bound FirstCry in the secondary market, valuing the omnichannel baby products retailer in the range of $3.5-4 billion, according to several people in the know.Nitish Quits NDA, Joins Hands with RJD to form Govt
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar parted ways with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the second time in eight years and resigned as CM on Tuesday, turning the clock back as he joined forces with the opposition alliance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Left parties to stake a claim to form the next government.
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Realme has today unveiled its flagship smartphone in India. After introducing the Realme X2 Pro late last year, its first flagship in India, the young smartphone maker has unveiled its second flagship quite early this year. The new phone is dubbed as Realme X50 Pro 5G, and that’s exactly what it’s being called in China. We saw the X50 launched late last year in China. But the Pro variant has first come to India, while it is also scheduled to be unveiled in Barcelona at MWC 2020 event.
Realme X50 Pro – Specifications
Sporting a 6.44-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, it has a Full-HD+ resolution and corning gorilla glass 5 protection. It weighs 207 grams and is being offered with Realme UI based on Android 10 out of the box. It is powered by Qualcomm’s most powerful chipset, the Snapdragon 865 SoC. It is will be available in various RAM ad storage configurations.
There is a total of three RAM variants, 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB, while the storage will be made available in two variants, i.e, 128GB and 256GB. Speaking about the battery details, it will be offering a massive 65W fast charging technology packed inside a 4200mAh capacity battery. The 10V/6.5A charging brick will be made available inside the retail unit. This USB Type-C port enabled smartphone will get charged super fast.
Moving on to the camera department, it will be housing a quadruple rear camera setup and a dual selfie camera setup. First talking about the rear setup, it is lead by a 64MP sensor, which is capable of 20X zoom. The second leading in command is the 8MP lens, which is ultra-wide and macro in nature. The 12MP telephoto lens is the third in the commandment. For the portrait captures, it has a B&W portrait sensor. Speaking about the selfie camera setup, it has a 32MP Sony IMX616 sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens working together for the selfie shots.
Now coming to the connectivity features, it claims to be India’s first 5G network-enabled smartphone. Offering support of 5G network bands which are not yet operational in India, or many countries. But when operational, this handset will support them not just in India but across many nations. This could be a future-ready handset.
The audio experience is accompanied by dual speaker support offering a super linear range. There are certifications like Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, which makes sure you have a quality sound output. There is a multi-function NFC feature, which supports Google Pay service. As far as the biometric security is concerned, it has an in-display fingerprint sensor. It has dual Wi-FI and Wi-Fi 6 support for fast connectivity.
Realme X50 Pro – Price & Availability
The all-new flagship smartphone is priced at Rs 37,999 for 6GB + 128GB, while Rs 39,999 for 8GB + 128GB. The 12GB + 256GB model will go on sale for Rs 44,999. Realme says its all-new X50 Pro will be available in two colours including Moss Green and Rust Red. The first sale of the phone will start from 6 PM today on Flipkart and Realme online store.


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The record is made with a system developed by an Instructables employee. Deep in Autodesk’s Pier 9 lair, I listened to a few of her printed and laser cut records.
Going “all in” with Google’s online services does not mean that Android is the only option for your tablet. The following will show just how much attention Google has given to to Apple’s own iPad.
What’s on menu this weekend? How about Paul Walker, future of work in age of anxiety, rise and fall of demand media, the Made in USA premium and why we need bubbles. Plus much more.
A display makes all the difference in the world for the Fitbit Force. For most people, this is the activity tracker to get.
Nanotechnology, the study and application of extremely small things, is having a big impact. Recent discoveries of new forms of carbon will revolutionize the way we engineer new technologies, impacting areas of next-generation energy storage, high-performance electronics and multifunctional materials.
For a limited-time, Sweden-based music company, Spotify, will offer a free ad-supported version of its service on mobile devices that, until now, was available only on desktop and laptop computers.
WSJ reporter Hannah Karp says Spotify has struck deals with the labels but mobile users will only be able to play a limited number of songs on-demand with recommendations based on user input, similar to Pandora.
Techcrunch learned that on-demand access will be less restricted if users listen to previously created playlists or collections, and estimated that Spotify might consider plays of songs people are already interested in as “less valuable” than on-demand access to unfamiliar songs. They also note that competition from startups like Rdio, Slacker, and Deezer makes a free mobile option by Spotify even more relevant and timely.
A new study by Edison Research found that 53% of Americans listen to internet radio: 39% personal radio (i.e. Pandora), 27% streaming live radio (TuneIn) and 18% on demand music (Spotify).
According to the survey, 32% of listeners were listening to “a lot” more online radio than they did a year ago, and 83% of smartphone owners say they are listening online.
Spotify, Pandora and TuneIn recently joined forces to form what they’re calling The Streaming Audio Task Force.
As people spend less time on desktop computers, it’s more difficult for Spotify to intice them to buy mobile access. Techcrunch reports, “With no way to try out Spotify on mobile, the company had no way to upsell them to paid plans.”
As reported by Karp, major record labels like Sony, Universal, and Warner are eager to increase the company’s subscriber base and percentage of free users who convert to the paid version, but these deals could also supply the labels with significant ad revenue.
According to a Techcrunch source, the free-tier launch could confuse users at first because some songs may be unavailable. “They’ll blame Spotify” says Techcrunch, “but sadly, they should really be blaming the labels, as they’re the ones too stingy to realize a simple user experience creates the delight that keeps users coming back, and maybe even opening their wallets.”
The source said that Spotify will launch the free mobile tier on December 11th at a press event in New York.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Zapier’s goal: Make it easy for small businesses without a ton of tech expertise to knit together their app suite of choice.
Disney shut down its virtual mobile operator more than five years ago, but now it’s taking another swipe at a branded mobile service, partnering with little-known MVNO Zact.
AT&T introduced new Mobile Share Value plans and changes to its Next plans that could save many customers money.
Managed DNS provider Dyn is trying to grow after raising $38 million last year. To manage that growth it has hired its first chief financial officer, Tim O’Toole.
America is known as the land of entrepreneurship, home to entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos, Steve Case, Larry Page, Mark Zuckerberg and the late Steve Jobs.
Today’s tech-entrepreneurs are finding exciting opportunities in media analytics and enhancements, enterprise web/mobile solutions, Internet publishing, survey software and auctions, game development and security.
Though angel investors write 16x more checks than venture capitalists, VC’s write the biggest checks to seed stage companies. Even so, 38% of startups are funded by family and friends, second only to personal savings and credit.
Crowdfunding is the fastest growing source of startup funding; it combines entrepreneurship and philanthropy, opens up new markets and motivates investors.
Forbescontributor and CEO of Crowdfunder, Drew Hendricks, says:
Sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo provide the perfect platform for businesses to locate funds for a new startup. Crowdfunding has exploded in popularity in the past year, getting attention from both investors and businesses alike. But all of this popularity also means an increase in competition, which means unless your business can catch the attention of the matches, it will likely join the large number of projects that go unfunded on these sites each month.
The most successful campaigns seem to come with a good story. While most entrepreneurs are inclined to highlight the product and hide in the background, on crowdfunding sites, the entrepreneur is the story. It’s important you share what led you to create your concept and the passion you have for seeing that concept to fruition.
Hendricks offers these four tips for funding a startup:
- Consider your niche.
- Find a grant.
- Enter a contest.
- Crowdfund your idea.
Unlike in the donation model, investment crowdfunding makes individuals owners or shareholders who have a potential for financial return. Businesses seeking capital sell ownership stakes online in the form of equity or debt.
President and CEO of Safeguard Scientifics, Steven Zarrilli, says “emerging growth companies that nonchalantly foray into the deal process without thoroughly understanding what they want from a financial partner―or what an investor expects from them―stagnate the actual funding process.”
Rather than sign with the first interested VC, today’s entrepreneurs “weigh a number of options when choosing an investor, namely operational expertise, the extent of their network, access to customers, financial partners and industry expertise,” writes Zarrilli for the Huffington Post.
He cites three ways successful entrepreneurs close deals faster:
- Create a well-articulated plan.
- Approach valuation with rationale and reasonable expectations.
- Properly evaluate and assess management capability.
Crowdfunding sites like Crowdfunder, Rockethub, Crowdrise, Somolend, appbackr, AngelList, Invested.in and Quirky offer a variety or models and services tailored to a startup’s particular needs and objectives.
Startup Funding – An infographic by the team at Fundable
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
The company will make it easier for governments in Europe, the Americas and Asia to inspect its source code for hidden backdoors. Microsoft will also apply encryption across its systems and, it says, step up legal challenges against gag orders.
On this week’s Structure Show a look at Google’s cloud prospects; how Netflix is engineering a way around last year’s Chrismas Eve snafu, and why startups should use Amazon’s cloud services — but stick with the basics.
Looking for a job in tech? Each week we highlight some of the most interesting positions posted to Gigaom’s job board. Check out the latest gigs at tech companies across the country.
Bluetooth is getting a software update that will make it friendlier for connected devices including room for IPv6 support and the ability to act as a hub, instead of only as a peripheral.


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For the past couple of weeks leading up to Valentine's, workers at Milonga Flowers, a medium-sized flower company outside Bogotá, have been waking up at 5 a.m. Workers arrive at the flower plantations at 6 a.m. and go back home at 6 p.m. (if they are lucky), when it is already dark. "Valentine's day is the highest season of the year," said German Lacouture, owner of Milonga. "At that time, we need to hire more workers and increase the production to fulfill the demand".
When you buy a Valentine's rose bouquet online or at the corner deli, there is an 80 percent chance that it comes from Colombia or Ecuador. We tend to be conscious of our organic vegetables and drinking fair trade coffee. Yet, are you asking yourself if the roses you are buying were produced in a sustainable, ecological way and under fair conditions? And most importantly, how can you tell?
One way to find out if your flowers are "ethical" is to see if the bouquet carries the label of certification programs like Fair Trade USA, the Rainforest Alliance or the Florverde Sustainable Flowers brand.
These programs demand that flower farms that carry their logo meet minimum labor requirements such as paying workers for overtime and giving them safe conditions in which to carry out their task.
A worker measures a rose stem at the Milonga Flower farm near Bogota. (Photo: Carolina Garcia)
Flowers without such labels do not necessarily come from farms where workers are exploited. But advocates of certification programs argue that their labels can provide customers some guarantees of fair labor conditions, because auditors for these labels are constantly monitoring farms.
"The big problem in the industry was that women [who cut and trim the flowers] were allowed to go into greenhouses immediately after they were sprayed with pesticides," said Paul Rice, the CEO and President of the Fair Trade USA certification program. "The result was very high levels of cancer, particularly cervical cancer in the industry and also lots of birth defects," Rice said.
According to Rice, farms which want their flowers to be certified by his brand must set aside 10 percent of earnings for a development fund which gives workers the opportunity to implement community projects. One farm in Ecuador recently used this fund to buy washing machines for female employees who were previously spending most of their Sundays washing their families' clothes by a local river.
In Colombia, the local flower industry has come up with a scheme that is similar to the Fair Trade program, called Florverde Sustainable Flowers. This label does not oblige its member companies to set aside funds for community projects. But it does demand companies to restrict the use of pesticides that have been deemed too dangerous for the health of their workers. Farms that want their flowers to carry the Florverde green flower logo must also make sure that no one is working with pesticides for long amounts of time.
"Here, fumigators rotate every four months and they take blood tests before and after [each] rotation," said Hernando Sanabria, a supervisor at Milonga Farms a company which joined the Florverde program three years ago.


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News — BeChangeMaker
BeChangeMaker: Iranian entrepreneurs promote mental health among intercultural families
Parian Hatami took part in BeChangeMaker 2022 with her World Familytech education technology project.
19 May 2023
BeChangeMaker: Ugandan entrepreneurs design digital marketplace for small farmers
Saben Foods, whose project aims to provide effective and sustainable supply chains for small farmers, took part in BeChangeMaker 2022.
3 May 2023
Apply for BeChangeMaker 2023
Accelerate your business idea and become a successful social entrepreneur with our global social entrepreneurship acceleration programme.
15 March 2023
Happy Pads from Ethiopia win BeChangeMaker 2022
The team from Ethiopia focus on sustainable sanitary products for women and girls and are the winner of this year’s programme.
30 September 2022
Fifteen teams selected for next round of BeChangeMaker 2022
The social entrepreneurs will work on the BeChangeMaker programme towards a second pitch to determine this year's top five teams.
10 August 2022
BeChangeMaker 2022 kicks off with selection of Top 30 teams
Teams from 20 countries will start their online training for social entrepreneurship to take their businesses to the next level.
28 June 2022
BeChangeMaker 2021 finalists create documentary series on diversity, equity, and inclusion
Black And Brown in the Middle are tackling misrepresentation of minorities in mainstream media by highlighting authentic stories around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
30 May 2022
BeChangeMaker Africa 2022 launches
WorldSkills social entrepreneur programme launches African 2022 edition. Applications are open until 1 August.
24 May 2022
#SkillsSustain: Upcycling jeans to save the oceans
Two social entrepreneurs from Spain are creating exclusive pieces with donated denim to reduce pollution.
29 April 2022
#SkillsSustain: Fighting deforestation one briquette at a time
A social enterprise in Ivory Coast is using coconut waste to produce cleaner energy.
27 April 2022


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(Source: Inside Retail Asia | 13 December 2016)
Apple Korea is going head on to Samsung on its home turf, on target to sell 2.9 million iPhones in South Korea this year, giving it a market share of about 15 per cent.
At the end of last month it had sold 2.6 million iPhones, and is forecasting improved results for the year. Its operating profit has reached more than KRW800 billion (US$684 million) on revenue of KRW3 trillion, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Sales of iPhones account for more than 75 per cent of Apple’s revenue in Korea, sources say. It launched the iPhone 7 in October with the opportunity to take share from market leader Samsung after its Galaxy Note 7 debacle.
On top of that, the Cupertino-based tech company is building its first flagship retail store in Seoul, expected to be completed next November, right across the street from Samsung’s headquarters.
Apple’s market share in Korea peaked at 33 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2014 following the launch of the iPhone 6, according to Counterpoint. Samsung and LG now have a combined market share of more than 80 per cent. LG had a 19 per cent market share in the second quarter of this year.
South Korea and Japan, where the iPhone had more than a 50 per share for the three-month period ending October 30, are rare growth markets in Asia for Apple. Its iPhone shipments in China plunged 31 per cent to 7.5 million units in the third quarter, with market share falling to 6.2 from 10.3 per cent, according to Strategy Analytics.
Apple reportedly reduced orders from component suppliers for its iPhone 7 models early this month because of demand being weaker than expected in many markets, including China.
Read more: https://insideretail.asia/2016/12/13/apple-korea-carves-out-15pc-market-share/#daily