text: The move is in line with an EU policy to begin charging industry for food safety regulatory services, a policy which member states are beginning to implement. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said this week it supported the seven key recommendations made in a review of how it regulates the meat industry. A a meeting the FSA board endorsed the principle that meat hygiene regulation should be aligned more closely with the regulation of the rest of the food chain.The board also adopted a a more risk and evidence-based approach to regulation, inspection and enforcement. The changes would require the FSA to work more closely with the European Commission and other member states, to gather evidence as a basis for future changes in the EU approach to meat hygiene regulation. The FSA's Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), which oversees the sector, will be reorganised to reflect the policy changes. The changes would include an audit and inspection regime, to ensure consumer protection is maintained. The aim will be to give the MHS more independence from the FSA. The board said it would make a decision on the proposal in the spring of 2008. The board also agreed to establish an advisory body to implement the agreed fee changes. They also approved a agreed that the FSA and MHS should work with the poultry sector to remove barriers to the greater use of plant inspection assistants on site. Deirdre Hutton, the FSA chair said the FSA and MHS would work to improve their working relationships with the relevant government departments to promote meat safety, and animal health and welfare across the food chain "Today marks a watershed in the regulation of meat hygiene," Hutton stated. "The delivery of a more proportionate risk-based approach to regulation poses a challenge to both the Meat Hygiene Service and the Food Standards Agency and will require commitment, innovation and strong leadership." The MHS is responsible for regulating about 1,500 slaughterhouses and meat cutting premises in Great Britain. It is also responsible for overseeing the welfare and health of about 800 million food animals and birds. The MHS has a annual budget of £33.3m. The MHS is in the process of reorganising to reduce costs, cut waste, and ensure it has greater input into the formulation of policy and legislation.


text:
Singapore tourism board to tab Indian market better this year
Mumbai, Feb 22 (UNI) Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has decided to take more initiatives in the Indian market now, after receiving an overwhelming response last year.
Making a presentation on 'New endeavours in Singapore for India', board's area director, western India, Rebecca Lim said, with nearly 5.83 lakh Indian visitors travelling to Singapore last year, India has become the fifth largest source market for Singapore.
Last year, STB had launched a new office in New Delhi as a part of its continuing effort to strengthen its position in the Indian market. This year will see more initiatives coming from STB in the Indian market, she said.
The potential of tourism sector in India is immense with increasing affluence among middle class and introduction of low cost carriers, Ms Lim said.
An estimated Singapore dollars eight billion are being invested into its famous resort island, Sentosa. It has already opened up a wide selection of beach bars, the Sentosa lounge and the 4-d animated theatre in recent months, she added.
The island city is investing around Singapore dollar 1.6 million to revitalise orchard road and make it one of the best shopping streets.
Singapore is positioned as the exchange capital of the world and already 1,500 Indian companies present there are well positioned to expand their business in China and other parts of Asia.
STB regional director for South Asia, West Asia and Africa, Kang Siew Kheng said, ''We have been seeing the evevolution of the Indian market since we stated our engagement more than a decade ago.
More Indians than ever are travelling. My immediate priority is to ensure that we keep communicating with our Indian visitors and our trade partners. We want to keep it up there in the top five nations of visitors coming to our shores.'' Singapore is also offering quality education to Indian students.
She said with the renowned universities like S P Jain already setting up campus and IIM-B and XLRI planning to set up base in Singapore ''we are carving out a niche in this segment in Asia and hope to attract more interested students from India into our city,'' Ms Kheng added.
UNI JM GK SB KN1700

domain: news


text:
Amazon Web Services announced the availability of R3 instances, the next generation of the tech giant's cornerstone Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) memory-optimized instances. More about Amazon's portfolio:
Available in five sizes, these cloud building blocks are powered by Intel Xeon Ivy Bridge E5-2670 v2 processors with solid state drive-backed storage, among other enhanced networking features.
Thus, the R3 instances are recommended for applications with high-memory and performance requirements.
Some of the well-known AWS customers already signed on with the R3 instances include Netflix and MongoDB.
It's been a busy time for the cloud giant, which is finding itself fighting off competitors increasingly these days.
similar moves by Google , AWS and Microsoft that it would be boasted in March while also touting that it slashing prices once again across all regions in the United States. met the Department of Defense's security requirements
But AWS customers should also be extra mindful these days as the Seattle-based corporation admitted that it too,
, was affected by the far-reaching and dangerous Heartbleed OpenSSL flaw. like many other online services Chart via the Amazon Web Services blog


text:
The public clearly wants CBD oil, AKA Cannabidiol. Retailers want to sell CBD oil. Doctors want to prescribe CBD oil. CBD oil does not have any psychoactive affects beyond a mild relaxing sensation. So why can’t we have it? Until we can, add Elixinol to the growing list of CBD producers being hit by class action lawsuits in the wake of the FDA crackdown.
Elixinol is hit with a class action lawsuit over the legality of CBD products
Elixinol is a Colorado company, and one of the better-known producers of CBD products, including capsules, tinctures, powders, personal care and hygiene products, and even pet products.
The complaint against Elixinol (subscription wall link), however, comes from California, where a resident there charges that she would not have purchased Elixinol products had she known that they were not legally allowed to be sold over the counter. This comes on the heels of the latest round of letters issued by the FDA, which warn that CBD products are not approved for sale over-the-counter as any kind of remedy.
The FDA does not approve over-the-counter CBD – period!
As we mentioned in our recent story on the Curaleaf lawsuit, the FDA seems to have a particularly sore spot for CBD oil sold under any kind of health benefit claim whatsoever. In the FDA’s own words: “not approved by FDA for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease.” There is only a narrow list of diseases approved for doctor-prescribed treatment with CBD.
The part that confuses people is that plain old cannabis flower plant, extracts, oil, edibles, you name it, is legal to trade in several US states now. So how is it that a part of a plant related to cannabis, which doesn’t even get you high, is so heavily prosecuted? The difference is in claiming a health benefit. Apparently as far as the FDA cares you can sell it by the truckload as long as you market it as “cool refreshing hemp, it’s what all the trendy kids smoke!” The minute you say “Maybe it will help your anxiety too” – BAM! Lawsuit!
Here’s the really ironic part, according to APNews: “CBD products made from marijuana may be sold at licensed cannabis dispensaries, but CBD pulled from pot’s non-intoxicating relative, hemp, is barred from being peddled at pot shops.”
In addition, the FDA objects on the grounds that CBD “is not approved as safe.” But CBD remains on the DEA’s schedule 1 controlled substance list, right alongside heroin or LSD, which makes it all but impossible for medical testing to clear it. The schedule 1 classification is a no-exit catch-22: Once your substance is on it, you have to prove it’s safe to remove it – which you can’t do because the substance is on it.
Dozens of lawsuits issued by now
Elixinol and Curaleaf can count themselves in company with the rest of the CBD companies getting sued. The list now includes Koi CBD in California, Bhang Corp of Florida, Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc of Colorado, CV Sciences Inc of California, and Infinite Product Co of California are just a few of the more recent class action lawsuits launched against CBD product companies.
Why bath bombs and dog treats?
Elixinol also sells pet treats with CBD. Again, we see this every time. From Elixinol’s own website, the CBD doggy biscuits are touted as: “…helping reduce inflammation, pain and other symptoms associated with common diseases and disorders.” There is a clear medical claim, and sure enough, that’s what the FDA objects to and what most of the class action lawsuits are about.
It doesn’t make sense that everyone is in such a hurry to give CBD to pets. Dogs and cats cannot talk, can not ask for CBD, and have no concept of what it is. If we have merely semi-conclusive evidence that CBD helps humans, we have absolutely zero evidence that it does anything for dogs, cats, birds, or unicorns. Why is everyone so determined to give CBD to their pets?
Ditto bath bombs: All results we have about CBD oil so far comes from taking it into your system somehow. With CBD bath bombs, you’re just soaking in it and maybe inhaling a tiny concentration of it from the steam if the bath water’s hot enough. Most of us feel a very light sensation from CBD when we vape it, so it’s hard to see where bathing in it is supposed to do anything.
We’re just pointing out: Companies that want to sell CBD, consumers who want it, and government agencies that want to regulate it, can all stand to take a big step back. Let’s handle this one thing at a time, and see if we can come to gradual agreements on the ways to apply it. Nobody on any side is making it easier on themselves with the way we’re handling it now.
Amazon currently shows over 5K hits for CBD products. Are we going to have this same fight over every one of them?
Elixinol LLC has filed answer claiming that, in a nutshell, FDA rulings do not have the force of law behind them. It is not illegal to sell CBD products per se, merely to make health benefit claims upon doing so. This is an expected and standard defense which almost any CBD company could use. Whether that argument carries in court remains to be seen.
Care to weigh in on the CBD product controversy?
We will attempt to be the cool head of moderation here in the comments or in our forum.


text: Catch Notes never quite caught on as much as Evernote did, but we'll bet its loyal users will still be upset to know it's shuttering on August 30th. An announcement posted on the company's website reveals that it's terminating its note-taking service, which includes its Android and iOS apps as well as its browser extensions. While the end of Catch Notes is nigh, it doesn't seem the company itself is closing up, as the same announcement talks about moving "in a different direction." Until we hear what the firm has in mind, those who've been using the service over the years can export their notes via Catch.com. You can then import the CVS or the ZIP file to other productivity tools like Evernote, OneNote, Simplenote or Springpad. There's less than 30 days to find a new service that tickles your fancy, but at least you won't have to start from scratch.


text:
Wendy Natt, Jun 12, 09.
While Houston region auto sales are still well below 2008 levels, sales have been increasing for the past three months.
Steve Hawley, Jun 12, 09.
One writer predicts that the per capita car ownership rate will begin to fall as Americans buy fewer cars and begin living more sustainably.
Steve Hawley, Jun 11, 09.
AAA predicted the average national gas price would not top $2.50, but gas prices have already hit $2.55 before the start of summer.
Wendy Natt, Jun 11, 09.
Following weeks of workshops, City Council continues the budget drafting and negotiating process in three public Council meetings in June.
Wendy Natt, Jun 02, 09.
The June 2009 report summarized and provides charts on Houston's current economic trends, and data from preceding years.
Steve Hawley, Jun 01, 09.
83 percent of shoppers in downtown San Francisco get there without a car, and they spend more and visit more frequently than those who drive.
Steve Hawley, May 29, 09.
Wendy Natt, May 28, 09.
Regardless of income and economic circumstances, Americans are reevaluating what they need to live, and what they can live without.
Steve Hawley, May 26, 09.
Emissions fell 2.8 percent, primarily due to a steep drop in driving resulting from record gas prices and the recession.
Wendy Natt, May 15, 09.
A Houston Economic Indicators May 15 email update from the Greater Houston Partnership highlights inflation figures and new auto sales in the Houston region.
More Upcoming Events
More Livability News
The driving boom is over
7 reasons conservatives should embrace bikes
Superrich donors are making Dallas a twenty-first-century city


text:
NEW DELHI, Feb 3: Tracking weakness in base metals overseas and subdued spot demand, lead prices eased by 0.41 per cent to Rs 133.45 per kg in futures trade as speculators reduced their positions.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, lead for delivery in March fell 55 paise, or 0.41 per cent, to Rs 133.45 per kg in business turnover of nine lots.
Likewise, the metal for delivery in February shed 50 paise, or 0.38 per cent, to Rs 132.55 per kg in 109 lots.
Marketmen said the fall in lead futures prices was attributed to a subdued demand at domestic markets amid a weakening trend at the London Metal Exchange on slowing manufacturing in China, the world’s largest user of base metals. (AGENCIES)


text:
RALEIGH, N.C. — Women are making major strides in the business world, and North Carolina is a hot spot for their success.
What You Need To Know
- Five North Carolina towns ranked in the top 50 places where women are most successful
- Tiffiny Consoli is the owner of Pool Scouts of the Greater Triangle Area
- Only 6.5% of women work in male-dominated occupations
A study by SmartAsset ranked five towns in the top 50 places where women are most successful, including Cary, Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro.
Tiffiny Consoli is the owner of Pool Scouts of the Greater Triangle Area, a franchise pool servicing company. Consoli became the first woman to own a Pool Scouts franchise five years ago. She's since become one of the top earners in the company.
"I was looking for a business to own, to run, I was really interested in having my own business. The franchise model really worked for me," Consoli said.
Consoli grew up in Houston, Texas, spending time with her family at the beach and being part of a swim team.
"I chose this industry because I love the outdoors, and I wanted to be in a service industry," Consoli said.
Consoli falls into a unique category, where only 6.5% of women work in male-dominated industries, according to a 2020 report by the Institute For Women's Policy Research.
"It's a technical job, so I had to learn the technical aspects of the job and learn how to build relationships with employees and vendors that were mostly men," Consoli said.
Before opening Pool Scouts, Consoli spent time in Colorado, where she opened her first small plantscaping business with a friend. She then moved on to the sales industry and had the opportunity to open a new retail store in North Carolina.
"Really, all of the skills I think women have, in terms of building relationships and partnerships, are really important and will help them get through their business no matter what their business is in. It's really important to be able to work with people and ask for help when you need it," Consoli said.
Over the past two decades, the number of women entrepreneurs has risen 114%, according to the American Express State of Women Owned Business Report.
In 1988, President Ronald Regan signed the Women's Business Ownership Act that eliminated the requirement to have male cosigners for female entrepreneurs, and provided government support for female businesses. But women began entering the workforce long before that. Women filled the workforce during World War II, citing a period of financial independence for females.
Although women have made a name for themselves in the business world, they still face obstacles, including gender and wage discrimination.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 data showed women earn 82 cents for every dollar a male earns. That percentage is up from when women earned 57 cents per dollar earned by men in 1973.


text:
Beltrami & Company Criminal Law & Glasgow Solicitors Blog
For more information or advice on any of our posts please contact us on 0141 429 2262
UK businesses must ‘stamp out slave trade’
UK businesses will be required to disclose all their efforts to end slavery, under a Bill launched in Parliament.
The Transparency in Supply Chains Bill, drafted by the Centre for Social Justice and Labour MP Fiona MacTaggart, will demand that businesses investigate whether their supply chains are slave-free.
As part of landmark measures to raise awareness about the nature and scale of human trafficking, businesses will be encouraged to conduct an audit of their suppliers to check that they comply with anti-slavery laws.
An estimated 27 million people are enslaved worldwide and this latest legislation will prompt all UK businesses, with a turnover of over £100 million or more, to take responsibility to end this appalling abuse.
Employees working with suppliers should be trained to blow the whistle on questionable practice, and all information of the vital work being done to combat slavery should be published online as part of the business’s annual review.
The Bill, intended to foster cooperation and build a consensus on slavery, is expected to prompt a cultural change similar to that brought about by the environmental or fair trade movements.
The CSJ is conducting an 18 month review of slavery in the UK which will be published in the Autumn of 2012.
Get Expert Advice
Request a Callback


text:
Jun 13, 2012
AutoCon 2012 will be the largest event for the automotive industry with an unprecedented quality of speakers, workshops, and exhibition space
Jun 11, 2012
Best-selling author, speaker and strategist will give a keynote address as well as lead a panel workshop discussion at the AutoCon 2012 Conference.
Jun 07, 2012
Bountiful Mazda and Orem Mazda invite Salt Lake City shoppers to their used car tent event sale at the Orem Mazda location.
Jun 06, 2012
Brian Pasch and Marc McGurren among top rated speakers of the 2012 Innovative Dealer Summit Conference
May 22, 2012
Siwel Consulting in NYC offers IT help desk solutions to businesses throughout the US to help cut costs and resolve complex IT issues.
May 18, 2012
NJ hopes to revive its solar energy market by increasing the value of SRECS that have flooded the market since last summer.
May 16, 2012
Circle BMW Founder and President Thomas J. DeFelice, Jr., is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 finalist in New Jersey.
May 09, 2012
The acceleration of mobile traffic to dealer websites and the growth of mobile technology makes the mobile website design category a key element of success for dealers in 2012 and beyond.
May 08, 2012
Dumpster rental company in NYC highlights the dangers of the growing trend, dumpster diving by freegans looking to buck consumerism for sustainability.
May 08, 2012
Waste management company in NJ says that buying in bulk is good for the environment and can save consumers nearly $2,000 per year.


text:
On the occasion of the Made in France Première Vision trade show, the Comité Stratégique de Filière (CSF) for Fashion and Luxury signed a second-generation contract with the ministers of culture and industry for the period 2023-2027. Here is a look at the contract’s main strategic directions.
A sector that testifies to its dynamism and the good cohesion of its players. On Wednesday, March 29, the Comité Stratégique de Filière (CSF) Mode et Luxe, chaired by Guillaume de Seynes (Hermès), signed the second generation of the committee’s contract with Rima Abdul-Malak, Minister of Culture, and Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry.
Gathered at the Made in France trade show, held at the Carreau du Temple in Paris on March 29 and 30, the ministers praised the commitment of the CSF Fashion and Luxury and all stakeholders. “Few industries in France are as organized as you are, with major players who ensure that small ones can emerge”, said Roland Lescure.
The Fashion and Luxury sector is one of the first to carry this second generation of contract. In January 2019, the CSF had already signed a first strategic agreement with Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance and Franck Riester, Minister of Culture.
“This new contract is not a revolution, but the continuation of the previous contract in its ambitions and objectives, and especially its collective effort”, Frédérique Gérardin, the CSF Fashion and Luxury’s general delegate, explained to FashionNetwork. “Above all, this contract brings a new impetus, with new ministers involved and new personalities who have emerged on the side of the industry. We are facing challenges that are part of the long term.”
Twelve objectives in four main areas are set by the contract, which will cover the period 2023-2027, resulting from a co-construction between the ministries of culture and industry and the CSF Fashion and Luxury.
“These measures are concrete and pragmatic levers to develop and support our sectors in an environmentally sustainable framework”, said CSF President Guillaume de Seynes.
Training and attractiveness of technical professions
The first part of the contract deals with training. The Fashion and Luxury sector seeks to fill more than 10,000 technical positions throughout the country each year. The CSF therefore wants to promote the attractiveness of positions through new communication campaigns, including “With the industry, we have a future to make”. The initiative, launched by the OPCO 2i, is budgeted at around 250,000 euros.
The preservation, transmission and perpetuation of know-how is another lever of this axis. The sector contract wishes to experiment with a “fixed price” approach to better deal with the retirement of know-how trainers. Today, these are experts who are considered to be the keys to success. It is also a question of establishing training plans within the sector and between sectors, taking into account the challenges of digital technology and sustainable development. A budget of 300,000 euros has been set until next June.
Companies supported and relocated
Featured photo : © Twitter


text:
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Debt-Collections Case – BEBdata Bankruptcy Statistics
Midland v. Aleida Johnson centers on a conflict between two federal laws—the bankruptcy code and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
WASHINGTON—Legislation to make the bankruptcy of a big bank more feasible is gaining steam on Capitol Hill, a development that could help the largest U.S. financial firms counter criticism that they remain “too big to fail” without a taxpayer bailout.
Changes to the bankruptcy code were included in a financial-services budget bill the House passed Thursday, along with other regulatory provisions such as congressional oversight of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s budget.
But unlike other provisions, the bankruptcy legislation has broad support. That gives it a chance to become law this year. Read More…
CHICAGO, IL, Aug 25, 2015 – More credit cards are being offered to subprime consumers, but delinquency rates remain low, according to the latest TransUnion, Industry Insights Report. The credit card delinquency rate (the ratio of borrowers 90 days or more delinquent on their general purpose credit cards) remained steady at 1.19% in Q2 2015. The delinquency rate was relatively unchanged read more
Together, subprime and deep subprime loans made up 19.7 percent of the market, compared with their 19.6 percent slice three years earlier, according to the source’s first-quarter State of the Automotive Finance Market report.
The Data Source defines the subprime risk category as credit scores of 501 through 600 and the deep subprime category as scores of 300 through 500.
“Over the last year, there has been a tremendous amount of conversation around the growth in subprime loans, and the concern over the automotive finance industry approaching a potential ‘bubble,’” the senior director of automotive finance, said in a statement on Monday.
Congratulations to our Joy Z for receiving the Helsley Award for Lifetime Achievement by Epicomm SW this weekend. This award has very special meaning to us as it was bestowed upon our President & CEO Ron Royall last year. Our founder, Bob Royall received the award in 1994! The award can only be won once and the winner is chosen by all previous recipients.
Congratulations to Joy Zehrbach, Vice President, Business Extension Bureau!
SHANGHAI — How much will a Chinese brand need to discount its cars to succeed in America?
Wu Song, general manager of aspiring U.S. entrant Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor Co., says he has that magic number: His cars will have to be priced 30 percent cheaper than rivals in the same segment.
If everything goes his way, Wu will be testing his bargain-basement pricing strategy with the U.S. launch of his company’s GS4 crossover sometime in 2017.
“We are confident. It could be popular in the market,” Wu told Automotive News at the Shanghai auto show. “Considering the low price, it should be competitive.”
The company’s top executive already is seeking U.S. dealers, importers and distributors.
Guangzhou Automobile, which goes by the abbreviation GAC, is the latest Chinese automaker floating plans to sell made-in-China cars in the U.S., following similar pronouncements by Great Wall Motor Co. and BYD Auto Co.
Skeptics often pooh-pooh such goals, noting the many Chinese brands that have pledged to be on sale in the U.S. in two or three years but still aren’t. But Wu’s comments shine a light on the pricing calculus they are working with.
With no true bargain brands left in the U.S. market, Chinese brands see room to make a pure price play. Read More.
On April 15 Tax Day, Americans paid about the same amount of income tax as total student loans outstanding. The St. Louis Federal Reserve on the same day published a report titled ‘Student Loan Delinquency: A Big Problem Getting Worse?’ The Fed has determined that of the $1.3 trillion in non-bankruptcy-dischargeable student loans, the delinquency rate for students in repayment is over 27 percent. With tuition at the University of California and other top schools growing faster than inflation, student loan defaults are skyrocketing. Read more.
There’s been a lot of hand-wringing in the press and financial circles lately that subprime automotive lending may have rebounded too fast or too far in recent years. And while it’s natural that all of us should remember key lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, today’s conditions in automotive subprime bear virtually no resemblance to the mortgage issues that precipitated that fateful bubble.
At Dealertrack, our view is that subprime lending today is at a healthy, rational level. We see this type of lending delivering a clear benefit to the economy in enabling more vehicles to be produced and sold and in giving borrowers an opportunity to rebuild their credit faster than nonborrowers.
Some recent media articles reflect a generally negative tone about subprime lending, often criticizing the interest rates that subprime borrowers must pay to get credit. This thinking also extends to some government regulators who argue that subprime lending is unfair and rates are too high or should be capped. Some of these same articles decry the addition of subprime lenders to the market, when in reality these new players will generally help increase competition and keep rates as low as possible for borrowers.
While our industry has seen subprime automotive lending standards ease in recent years, it’s in large part because the requirements were so restrictive in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Lenders today use far more rigorous underwriting standards than during the heyday of the credit boom a decade ago. Even the new entrants on the lending scene have access to more relevant data than before to help them make sound decisions.
The reality is that subprime loans continue to perform well for lenders, and delinquencies today remain well below precrisis levels. And while loans originating in 2010 and 2011 may perform slightly better than those originating in 2013 and 2014, it is because the older loans were established during the years of the most restrictive subprime lending conditions. Read more.
There’s a big misconception that private student loans can never be discharged in bankruptcy. People have repeated that statement so often they believe it to be a fact. The only problem is it’s not quite true.
Some private student loans are clearly eligible to be wiped away in a consumer bankruptcy. Even in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it takes only about 90 days to forgive the debt tax-free.
And while these special rules apply to private student loans that meet some criteria, all private students loans are no longer legally collectible once they have expired under the statute of limitations in your state… read more.


text:
15min.lt news portal said Misiūnas would head Maxima Grupė, replacing Robertas Čipkus who had been heading the company since last February.
Misiūnas told BNS he could not provide more information at this point. Earlier on Tuesday, he said he was leaving the post of vice-president of private SBA concern and SBA furniture group after serving a few months in the post.
According to the sources, an official announcement of Misiūnas’ new position should be made on Thursday.
Maxima Grupė, which is part of Vilniaus Prekyba (Vilnius Trade) group, operates the following retail chains: Maxima in the Baltic states, Aldik in Poland and T-Market in Bulgaria. The group’s consolidated turnover stood at 2.69 billion euros last year.
Nerijus Numavičius, a London-based businessman, is the main shareholder of Vilnius Prekyba.


text:
On February 13, the 15th edition of Rema Days will begin. Over 800 exhibitors from 26 countries and over 20,000 visitors will attend the event. Also, the brands belonging to the Iguana Group which is part of the Martes Sport Capital Group, will have their booth there.
Rema Days is one of the largest global trade fair events in the advertising industry. The event has been organized since 2005 attracting exhibitors and visitors from dozens of countries every year. It is a great opportunity to present business offer, get to know the latest solutions and trends in your industry, and to establish valuable business relations.
Iguana Group and the brands in its portfolio cannot miss such event! Get to know the latest collections of AquaWave, Bejo, Coolslide, Elbrus, Hi-Tec, Iguana, IQ and Magnum at Rema Days!
The fair will be held at PTAK WARSAW EXPO at Katowicka from 13 to 15 February.
Welcome: HALL E, booth: B26.
Martes Sport Group is comprised of companies manufacturing, distributing and retailing sports goods on the Central and Eastern European market, employing more than 3,000 people.


text:
samsung’s $2,000 foldable phone is breaking after a couple of days say reviewers
it’s only been a few days since reviewers received their samsung foldable smartphone and they are already having issues. journalists who received the phones to review before the public launch said the galaxy fold screen started flickering before turning completely black.
it’s not great news, especially considering the promises samsung have publicly made time and time again.according to previous reports, the screen can withstand being opened and closed 200,000 times, or 100 times a day for five years. samsung even released a video promoting the galaxy fold’s ability to do just that, again, again, and again.
remember bend gate? the 2014 controversy involving the iPhone 6 plus, where consumers alleged that the phone would bend in their pockets. well this is kind of like that, except there is still a chance that samsung could get a handle on it before regular consumers start receiving their own model, although public launch is pretty imminent…
multiple tech reporters have taken to twitter to raise concerns about the screen on the galaxy fold, posting photos of the screen progressively deteriorating. ‘the screen on my galaxy fold review unit is completely broken and unusable just two days in’, wrote bloomberg’s mark gurman. meanwhile, a video posted by CNBC tech editor steve kovach showed the left-hand side of the screen on the outlet’s review unit malfunctioning ‘after one day of use.’
a samsung spokesperson has since said in a statement that the reason why a few reviews have reported faults might be down to the removal of a top layer that is supposed to stay intact. ‘removing the protective layer or adding adhesives to the main display may cause damage,’ the spokesperson said. ‘we will ensure this information is clearly delivered to our customers.’
The phone comes with this protective layer/film. Samsung says you are not supposed to remove it. I removed it, not knowing you’re not supposed to (consumers won’t know either). It appeared removable in the left corner, so I took it off. I believe this contributed to the problem. pic.twitter.com/fU646D2zpY— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) April 17, 2019
the galaxy fold goes on sale april 26 in the US for $1,980, making it one of the most expensive phones anywhere.
September 20, 2023
September 25, 2019


text:
We are delighted to announce a compelling partnership between Steamax Envirocare and Bozzler Energy Pvt. Ltd., two industry companies in the field of energy solutions. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the quest for more sustainable and efficient heating systems. As a result, Steamax and Bozzler are set to deliver unparalleled products and services to customers.
A Remarkable Alliance
Steamax Envirocare has become the exclusive sales and service partner for Bozzler’s exceptional thermic fluid heaters in the north region. Bozzler Energy, a renowned thermic fluid heater manufacturer based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, brings years of expertise and a strong reputation for producing high-quality equipment.
As part of this groundbreaking partnership, Bozzler Energy will be the exclusive manufacturing partner for Steamax’s innovative biomass-fired Non-IBR boiler, BioCoil. BioCoil is a cutting-edge technology that utilizes biomass as a renewable and eco-friendly energy source. By leveraging Bozzler’s manufacturing expertise, Steamax can ensure the production of BioCoil adheres to the highest standards of quality and reliability.
Driving Innovation and Sustainability
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and the need for sustainable energy solutions, this partnership between Steamax Envirocare and Bozzler Energy is a significant step forward. By integrating BioCoil into their product offerings, Steamax aims to provide customers with a greener alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based boilers.
Thus, by leveraging each other’s strengths, we are set to provide customers in the northern region with high-quality products, exceptional service, and innovative solutions. Therefore, Steamax and Bozzler are paving the way for a greener and more efficient heating industry.
Feel free to reach out to Steamax for the Thermic Fluid Heater requirement. Contact us in case of any queries about thermic fluid heaters.


text:
SHANGHAI -- China's auto sales grew 8.5% year-on-year last month, an industry group said Tuesday, moderating slightly from April as the economy slows down.
Sales in the world's biggest auto market reached 1.91 million vehicles in May, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said in a statement.
In April, auto sales rose 8.8% year-on-year to just over 2.0 million vehicles.
China's economy grew an annual 7.4% in the first quarter of this year, weaker than the 7.7% in the October-December period, but there have been signs of an uptick in the latest economic data.
But the industry group described the growth in the auto market as good.
Auto sales in the first five months of this year jumped an annual 9.0% to 9.84 million vehicles, it said.
For passenger cars alone, sales surged 13.9% on the year to 1.59 million in May and rose around 11% to 8.07 million for the January-May period, the group said.
General Motors (IW 500/5) set a May record for China, selling 276,109 vehicles, up 9.2% from the same month last year, according to the company.
China sales of Ford (IW 500/8) grew a whopping 32% in May to 93,323 vehicles, Ford said last week.
Foreign brand vehicles, which are manufactured in China through joint ventures for the mass market, command better brand recognition and perceptions of higher quality among Chinese consumers.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2014


text:
Baloian Farms Takes Home The People’s Choice Award For Their Squash Kits
At the fourth Annual Fresno Food Expo in California, Baloian Farms was the winner of the People’s Choice Award for their squash with seasoning kits.
The expo was held Thursday, July 24, and included exhibitors from more than 120 food and beverage companies from the San Joaquin Valley. In addition to the exhibitors, the Expo hosted more than 700 retail and foodservice buyers before a public taste testing open to more than 1,000 local consumers.
This was the fourth year of participation for Baloian Farms and they had two products featured in the New Product Showcase along with 42 other new food and beverage products from the region. Baloian, a fourth generation family farm, with year-round operations specializing in peppers and mixed vegetables grown in California and Mexico, showcased their new Sophia La Rosa sweet red onions and their Squash Sauté Kit with seasonings which won not only the People’s Choice Award with more than 1,000 votes, but was also a finalist for the Buyer’s Choice Award. Participants eligible for submission in this category were judged on innovation, presentation, and marketability.
Sales Manager Jeremy Lane stated, “We are very excited to have been recognized. Among so many great products in a variety of categories, it’s great to see our product shine and continue to gain recognition for the important role that fruits and vegetables play in the local food economy of California’s central valley.”
Richard Cowden, a member of the Baloian sales team took the lead at the Expo presenting the product in the Buyer’s Choice interview, meeting with buyers and interacting with consumers as he cooked up samples of the Squash Sauté Kits remarked, “Overall, the Fresno Food Expo was an incredible day for Baloian Farms. From sampling our products to consumers, to interacting with buyers, it was a great way to interact with food lovers close to home and highlight all that we do.”
Baloian Farms Squash Sauté Kit with Seasonings kits are available in two flavors including Parmesan with Herbs and Roasted Red Pepper. The kits contain three pieces of fresh squash and a premeasured season packet.
For more information, contact Jeremy Lane at [email protected]
Baloian Farms news release


text:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Two months after the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry went into effect in September 2021, 150 apparel brands and retailers had already signed this new binding agreement which expands the model pioneered by the Bangladesh Accord for protecting worker safety. The signatories include H&M, Zara, American Eagle Outfitters, Tommy Hilfiger, and Hanesbrands.
“The Accord is the most effective safety program ever created in the global apparel supply chain. It has generated a hundred thousand life-saving factory repairs and renovations across Bangladesh’s sprawling garment sector,” said Scott Nova, Executive Director of the Worker Rights Consortium. In the years prior to catastrophic death tolls at Tazreen Fashions and Rana Plaza in 2012 and 2013, 900 workers died in dozens of other garment factory disasters in Bangladesh. Since 2016 – just three years into the Accord’s implementation – there has not been a single death in an Accord-listed factory due to a safety issue covered by the program.
On November 24, 2012, hundreds were working overtime at Tazreen Fashions – where 5 out of 14 production lines were making Walmart apparel – when it caught fire. The building had no fire exits. A survivor, Sumi Abedin, said her manager locked the doors on her floor after the fire alarm sounded, claiming it was a false alarm. When smoke filled the floor minutes later, the manager was nowhere to be found. She survived with a broken leg after jumping from a third-floor window. That day 112 of her colleagues perished.
“On the anniversary of a horrific disaster facilitated by Walmart’s flawed safety monitoring system, the Worker Rights Consortium implores the retailer to stop ignoring the safety of workers in its supply chain and sign the International Accord,” said Nova.
In April 2011, during negotiations that ultimately led to the 2013 formation of the original Accord program, Walmart attempted to block the effort. Walmart claimed it was “not financially feasible” for it to pay better prices to suppliers to help pay for safety renovations like proper fire exits.
Contact: [email protected]
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-anniversary-of-bangladeshs-deadliest-garment-factory-fire-worker-rights-consortium-urges-walmart-and-other-laggard-retailers-to-join-acclaimed-safety-program-301431905.html
SOURCE Worker Rights Consortium


text:
On June 29, 2007, Apple launched its first phone on the American market: the iPhone. The enthusiasm of enthusiasts is palpable for this smart phone covered with a touch screen. In the mobile phone industry, however, we wonder if there is room for another model of cell phone.
At Newscast June 28, 2007, news anchor Bernard Derome presents the new phone on the eve of its launch in the United States.
” A combination of cell phone, walkman, camera and Internet browser, all in a sleek design that made Apple’s fortune. »
In his report, Jean-Hugues Roy describes the usual frenzy around a new gadget. He criticizes the culture of secrecy surrounding the mobile device, which retails for CA$550 to $650. The expert concludes: “You should never buy the first version of anything. »
Canadians will not be entitled to this first version of the iPhone. It’s more than a year after the feature phone will be launched in Canada. This time, it is the exclusive distribution rights of the Rogers company that arouses passions.
At Newscast July 4, 2008, the report by Vincent Maisonneuve reports a wave of discontent and a petition with more than 30,000 signatures. The protesters denounce the salty prices of Rogers and the packages deemed too restrictive.
The report is broadcast a week before the release of the iPhone in Canada. To calm things down, Rogers offered an additional package to its customers.
Fifteen years later, the iPhone is far from threatened. The device has invested well in the telephony market, in addition to revolutionizing our daily lives.


text:
Valentin Pletzer has shared a screenshot on Twitter showing the image icons in related search boxes. When you expand them, they load up and it looks just as a featured snippet. The tech bloggers are still not sure if it is a feature or a bug.
It looks like Google is trying to combine the featured snippets with searches.
These look like that of featured snippets that can be expanded but it lies in the related search box.
See the forum discussion at Twitter.


text:
Muse have announced that they will be playing a show this September 26 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium! Tickets are available 11 June at 10am here. For more details head here or the event’s Facebook page.
Edit: Ticket details are now available.
Priced at: SGD $228, $188, $168, $148, $128, $108, tickets will go on sale from June 11 at 10am through the ticketing hotline at +65 3158 7888 and online at www.sportshubtix.sg . MUSE is offering an exclusive fan club pre-sale on June 10. For more details, please visit http://muse.mu/user-area.htm .


text:
Edinburgh-based company Wolfson Microelectronics has announced a contract with Samsung.
A Wolfson audio chip is included in Samsung's soon to be released smartphones, Wave and Galaxy S.
The contract is a major boost to the firm which reported losses of £9m earlier this year.
The company, which makes microchips for mobile phones, TVs and gaming consoles employs about 370 people in 12 locations throughout the world.
Duncan Macadie, the firm's product line manager for audio hub solutions, said: "Wolfson is committed to delivering high definition audio solutions for the consumer electronics market, and these latest design wins with Samsung's high profile Wave and Galaxy S smartphones is testament to the strength of Wolfson's technology, expertise and support capabilities."


text:
TikTok has introduced Creator Next, a new monetization option, giving creators access to new and existing tools and rewarding them for their creativity.
Last week, TikTok introduced Creator Next, a new monetization opportunity giving eligible creators access to tools, rewards, and passes to the TikTok Creator Marketplace, in addition to the existing LIVE Gifts and Creators Fund.
As part of Creator Next, TikTok is also presenting two new features that allow its community to show their appreciation for their favorite creators with new features, namely Tips and Video Gifts.
The new Tips feature allows people to show gratitude to creators for their content directly, with creators receiving 100% of the tip value. The platform will be processing the payments with Stripe.
The second new feature introduced under the Creator Next program – Video Gifts – allows creators to collect Diamonds by going LIVE and posting videos. It represents a different way for users to interact and engage with their favorite content and creators.
To make it easier for creators to collaborate with brands on its platform, TikTok is also opening the TikTok Creator Marketplace (TTCM) to more creators.
After proving that creators’ sponsored recommendations on products and services can spark massive moments for brands worldwide, TikTok is now opening up TTCM to all eligible creators with 10K followers or more so that they can collaborate with brands on opportunities that fit their interests and creative style, opening up new ways to get paid.
Creator Next is adding the above new features in addition to the existing LIVE Gifts tool and the Creator Fund, opening up further opportunities for creators to be recognized and financially incentivized to keep producing their content passionately.
If you’re a creator and interested in finding more information about Creator Next, click here to see if you fit the eligibility requirements.
Featured image: TikTok
You might also like
More from TikTok
TikTok is partnering with Virtual Dining Concepts and Grubhub to sell, prepare, and deliver recipes that go viral on its …
Just ahead of the holiday season, TikTok is highlighting some of this year's most popular #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt products in a 2021 …
TikTok has published a new set of data-driven best practices based on thousands of ads, to help advertisers drive conversions …
According to reports, TikTok has developed a new business registration option that will help categorize business listings and add authority …


text:
Dear readers of the Calaveras Enterprise,
Community newspapers like ours have continued to operate as “essential businesses” in the new COVID economy, while our principal source of revenue from advertising has diminished as many of our normal customers have closed or substantially curtailed their operations.
We are inexpressibly grateful to the many loyal readers who have helped cushion the impact of those revenue losses with generous donations and to the loyal advertisers who have continued to use our advertising services to inform readers how their essential businesses are serving our community.
But we have also had to find new ways to increase revenues and streamline our operations to reduce costs while continuing to serve Calaveras with the quality of news reporting that our community deserves and only professional reporters and editors can provide. You will see some of those changes in the coming weeks.
The size of our pages will shrink slightly to help conserve newsprint costs without reducing our news coverage. Single-copy sales will no longer be made through newspaper racks around the county, but solely from the many local businesses throughout the county who will sell individual copies to their customers. That change was also influenced by the way everyone has reduced their willingness to handle purchases with cash and coins during the pandemic. A current list of the businesses selling the Enterprise will be available on our website and will be published in the paper as new businesses are added.
We have moved up our publication deadlines by almost a day each week so that our deliveries to the businesses who sell our newspapers and our deliveries to subscribers through the post office can take place during daylight hours. That change in deadlines means that it will be more important for readers to keep up with late-breaking news on our website (calaverasenterprise.com) throughout the week. We encourage readers to subscribe in order to gain access to all of the content on that website, but as we promised earlier this year, news on our website related to the pandemic or to the upcoming elections will not require a subscription.
Finally, the price of a single copy of the Enterprise will increase as a result of these changes, but we intend to keep our subscription prices the same at this time, which means that our subscribers will pay substantially less for each paper than those who only buy an occasional copy.
We invite your feedback on these changes and any others that you think might help us continue to provide Calaveras County with a community newspaper that provides honest and complete coverage of the news, collected and written by local reporters and editors and presented both in print and online. Feel free to email me directly at email@example.com, or you can reach our newsroom team at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Thank for your support of the Enterprise and our advertisers during this difficult period.


text:
This past year, I chopped my cable lineup down to a mere shadow of its former self. As I looked at the lineup, I realized that what I was getting back wasn’t worth the $60 or $80 a month I was paying for it. But I’ve been hanging on to the meager local package ever since. Now might be the time to cut the last cord: the digital over-the-air TV tuner for Xbox One is now available.
Microsoft announced this week that the device, provided by Hauppauge, is available for purchase online and through Microsoft stores.
The tuner, when coupled with an HDTV antenna, will pull in any local HD channels. What the tuner provides that just the HDTV antenna doesn’t is access to the Xbox One’s TV features. Up to 30 minutes of live TV can be paused, TV channels can be snapped, and features like OneGuide and Kinect navigation can be used. On top of that, TV streaming is available on the Xbox One Smartglass app on smartphones and tablets, as well as the upcoming Windows 10, meaning that even if someone is playing an Xbox game in the next room, someone can watch TV and change channels.
If you already have an HD antenna, you can pick up the device on its own for $59.99, but there’s a combo package available as well that includes an antenna and the device. The included antenna is the Mohu Leaf 50 antenna, which looks to retail for $70 on its own, making the combo pack a pretty good deal for a first-time buyer. Mohu also provides a site that will show you, by punching in your address, what channels you should be able to receive using the device.
The Xbox has some pretty cool TV functionality, and this device might just be the best way to take advantage of it, especially if they go ahead with the rumored TV recording capability we’ve heard about.


text:
Coin backers will be happy to know that the iOS app is now available for download. That may not mean much since no one actually has a Coin just yet, but it does allow you to register for the public beta. As stated earlier this week, Coin apologized for the delay on getting things done and is now offering a widespread public beta for any backers who are interested is testing one out.
To sign up, you simply need to download the free Coin app, login or register a new account, then opt-in to the beta program. As it stands now, cards are set to ship in November — not the greatest news since they were supposed to be here already — but stuff happens. The beta is limited to 15,000 users who will be able to updgrade to a first generation device free of charge when they become available. When you get your Coin you'll be able to use the app for adding cards, checking your account details and more.


text:
Netflix is bringing an exhibit to Los Angeles that’s “going to blow up your Instafeed!”
From the team that brought you your last LOL, WTF, and ugly cry, a new exhibit is inviting consumers into the world of Netflix.
“Because You Watched” is a limited two-day experience where guests can step into visual installations based on some of their favorite Netflix originals, including Stranger Things, The Crown, Mindhunter, GLOW, Ozark and more. The exhibit will help guests discover their next binge based on the shows they love.
Attendees will be able to up their swag game and take home exclusive Netflix merchandise based on popular Netflix shows and characters. Free tickets (while supplies last) are available now at Because You Watched. The tickets are available for different time slots throughout the weekend on a first come first serve basis.
“Because You Watched” Netflix exhibit experience (limited-time only) is Friday Evening, June 15, 2018, from 5:30 – 7, and Saturday, June 16, 2018, and Sunday, June 17, 2018, with times posted with tickets, based on availability, at Raleigh Studios Hollywood, Stage 1, 5300 Melrose Ave E, Los Angeles, CA 90038.


text:
Sure, as of Thursday, you could still get a last-minute ticket to attend next week’s North American Bitcoin Conference, to be held in Miami. That will be $1,000, if you please.
But if you expect to pay with Bitcoin – or with any other cryptocurrency, for that matter – prepare to be bit-crushed. The conference organizers said on the event’s site that it’s just too slow and pricey to accept at the last minute.
We have, and always will, accept cryptocurrencies for our conferences, up to fourteen days before the event. However, due to the manual inputting of data in our ticketing platforms when paid in cryptocurrencies, we decided to shut down bitcoin payments for last minute sales due to print deadlines.
The organizers blamed “network congestion and manual processing” for the decision. In other words, the fees are painful, and network congestion is gumming everything up. They said that they hope next year brings “more unity in the community about scaling” and that “global adoption becomes reality.”
As Bitcoin.com has reported and Redditors confirm, transaction fees have risen to $30-$60/per transaction at certain times of the day. The fees have skyrocketed from what was a few cents per transaction a few years back.
Moe Levin, the conference organizer, told Bitcoin.com that the organizers are “scrambling” to get bitcoin cash or a digital asset with cheaper fees integrated into the ticketing system. At this point, ticket service operators like Eventbrite or others just haven’t managed to integrate cryptocurrencies yet, he said.
We wish this was easier, but no ticketing options exist which can handle large volumes of ticket sales, and transaction fees on the Bitcoin blockchain exceed $30 at certain times of the day.
The conference certainly isn’t the only merchant that’s been forced to rethink cryptocurrency payments.
In December, the popular video game purchasing platform Steam announced that it would no longer accept bitcoin, also because of volatility and prohibitive fees.
Then, last week, Microsoft temporarily stopped accepting cryptocurrencies as payment for online games and apps, citing the high fees and unpredictability. It had begun to accept cryptocurrency as payment back in 2014.
Microsoft quickly reversed the decision to ban cryptocurrency payments from customers’ digital wallets though (a block which it had instituted twice in the past, in 2015 and 2016). The company told news.com.au on Wednesday that bitcoin was back on the table following its work to make sure customers could use cryptocurrency for smaller amounts:
We’ve restored bitcoin as a payment option in our store after working with our provider to ensure lower bitcoin amounts would be redeemable by customers.


text:
Smartphone usage set to rocket to 1.7 billion by 2014
Tuesday 27 April 2010
The number of smartphones in use globally is expected to hit 1.7 billion by 2014, driven by an explosion in purchases in emerging markets.
Analysys Mason has forecast that use of the devices, including the iPhone, Blackberry and Google's Nexus One, will grow at an annual rate of 32 per cent between 2010 and 2014 and will account for 26 per cent of all handsets in four years' time.
A report by the telecoms consultancy said that more than 50 per cent of this growth in handsets will come from the developing markets of Asia-Pacific, notably China and India, and Central and Latin American states such as Brazil.
The report is likely to intensify the battle raging between some of the biggest beasts in the technology jungle, such as Microsoft, Symbian and Google, to ensure that their own operating systems are used on as many devices as possible. Jim Morrish, the principal analyst at Analysys Mason, said: "Smartphone markets in the developed world will continue to be fiercely competitive, but key handset manufacturers such as Nokia and Samsung are lining up to tap a new opportunity in emerging markets." He said that handset manufacturers should contribute to lower-cost handsets in emerging markets, such as by reducing manufacturing costs and increasing device standardisation. Mr Morrish added that market participants who can extend the "smartphone experience" to less expensive handsets would be at an advantage.
He said: "The ingredients of a successful mobile data proposition in emerging markets will be different to those in developed markets, and I don't think that an iPhone will be one of them. In the medium term, [Google's] Android, [Samsung's] Bada and the Symbian operating system-based devices will dominate these new markets."
The report said growth in the smart phone market over the next four years would be driven by demand for consumer rather than business devices. Mr Morrish said: "Ultimately, business handsets currently represent a little under 10 per cent of all handsets in the market, so although we expect that in excess of 40 per cent of business handsets will be smartphones by 2014, the sheer number of residential subscriptions dictate that residential users will drive smartphone market growth."
- 1 Katie Hopkins attacked me on Twitter — so I reported her to the police for inciting racial hatred
- 2 I might be an MP, but that doesn't stop me fighting sexism with my breasts
- 3 Google April Fools': company unveils backwards search engine and huggable digital assistant
- 4 April Fools' Day 2015: The best hoax news stories from around the internet
- 5 Gamers confess the worst things they've done in The Sims
University of Cambridge: Remains of 1,300 scholars are found under building
April Fools' Day 2015: The best hoax news stories from around the internet
April Fools' Day 2015 live: The best pranks and fake stories from around the world
Turkey power cut: Prime Minister says nationwide blackout could be caused by terrorists
Jeremy Clarkson 'could be given minder' ahead of a potential Top Gear return
Ukip supporters are 55 or older, white and socially conservative, finds British Social Attitudes Report
Street preacher quoting from the Bible fined for calling homosexuality an 'abomination'
Katie Hopkins attacked me on Twitter — so I reported her to the police for inciting racial hatred
Woman filmed launching racist tirade against men on the Tube for speaking in 'own lingo'
The West has it totally wrong on Lee Kuan Yew
David Cameron calls Labour 'hopeless, sneering socialists' while announcing 7-day NHS plans
iJobs Money & Business
£20000 per annum + commission: SThree: Sthree have an exciting opportunity for...
£18000 - £32000 per annum: Recruitment Genius: A Telesales Executive is requir...
£45000 - £50000 per annum + benefits : Ashdown Group: A highly successful, glo...
£50,000 - £55,000: Neil Pavier: Are you a professionally qualified commercial ...


text:
The US government is set to make yet another two-week extension to its license targeted at Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, allowing it to continue doing business with US companies for a short while, according to Reuters.
The two-week period is far shorter than the prior 90-day extension and a longer extension is currently under negotiation but has not yet been finalized due to regulatory barriers, said a source who was briefed on the matter.
After including Huawei on a trade blacklist in May citing national security concerns, the US Commerce Department has barred it from conducting business with American companies. The Chinese tech giant was previously given a 90-day extension to purchase some American-made goods and minimize the disruption the ban may incur on Huawei’s supply chain and consumers.
Huawei founder and CEO, Ren Zhengfei, had recently stated that the company is no longer reliant on US-made components and that the US government should make decisions to cater to the interests of American companies, not Huawei.
“When the Associated Press came here, we allowed them to take pictures of every one of our circuit boards. There is not a single US component or chip on them now,” said Ren on November 6 to German media TAZ. “Adding us to the Entity List has not harmed us, but it has harmed US companies. They can keep us on the list or remove us as they like. But they should make that decision based on the interests of US companies. They don’t need to take us into account.”
The extension is set to be announced on Monday when the earlier reprieve expires, according to the Reuters’ sources.
A spokesman for Huawei, the world’s biggest maker of telecom network equipment, said the company does not comment on rumors and speculation.


text:
Inflation remains on the top of minds of investors as they continue to mull the latest September ‘s consumer price index figures. If you recall, the reading came in hotter than expected at 8.2% on-year from September, while annual core inflation rose from 6.3% in August to 6.6% in September, the highest yearly increase in 40 years.
Meantime, market participants continue to digest the slew of earnings reports at the start of a new corporate earnings season for clues on how inflation and interest rate hikes have eaten into top and bottom lines. So what are the implications of these reports coming out of the US?
Plus - back home, the Monetary Authority of Singapore has undertaken its fifth round of monetary tightening since last October to mitigate the impact of rising imported inflation. But how effective will this be?
On Market View, Prime Time's finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked key developments of the week with Julian Wee, Investment Strategist at Credit Suisse.
Market View: IReitGlobal acquires portfolio in France; China woos Jamie Dimon, Elon Musk; Malaysia and Indonesia delay trade talks with EU over issues surrounding palm oil producers; Senate to vote on US debt ceiling deal
Culture Club: The return of Legacy GLOWHARD Festival 2023, showcasing the best of Singapore's music scene


text: ByJohn S. McClenahen Five of the 10 elements that make up the Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators (LEI) advanced in April. And that was enough to produce a tenth-of-a-percentage-point increase in the closely watched index after two consecutive months of declines. The index of leading indicators now stands at 110.6 (1996=100). "This is consistent with real GDP growth continuing to fluctuate around a 2% to 2.5% average annual rate," says the New York-based business research organization. While several economic forecasts for 2003 fall within that range, the first half of the year has been under-performing it. According to the U.S. Commerce Department's initial estimate, the U.S. economy grew at just a 1.6% inflation-adjusted annual rate during the first calendar quarter of this year. And the economy is probably growing at less than a 2% annual rate in the current quarter. "While we expect the LEI may continue to rise in May as consumer confidence and stock prices are moving higher, we don't think it will be enough to call it a full-fledged recovery," says Gerald D. Cohen, a senior economist at Merrill Lynch & Co., New York. In April, the five advancing elements of the leading index were consumer expectations, real money supply, stock prices, the interest rate spread and building permits. Four elements declined: vendor performance, initial unemployment claims, average weekly manufacturing hours and manufacturers' new orders for nondefense capital goods. Manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials were unchanged between March and April. The index of leading indicators suggests what the U.S. will be like about six months ahead.


text:
@Fashion Hearts Technology
Picture the scene: It’s Fashion Week. Next season’s key looks are about to parade up and down the runway. Obscure techno music is blasting out of the speakers.
Press are closely watching and celebrities are sitting pretty in the front row. Photographers are patiently poised at the end of the catwalk, and backstage the models are receiving their last minute touch-ups. But today it’s not only the professionals taking the pictures. Everyone in the room has a Smartphone of choice firmly in their grasp, getting ready to take the first snap and send it spiralling out into the worldwide webosphere.
Once upon a time, before the days of digital cameras, iPads, and any other fancy gadgets, fashion fans would have to wait until the next month’s glossies hit the news stands to catch a glimpse of the latest catwalk collections, after all the images had been printed and show reports had been perfected. Just imagine the first London Fashion Week in 1984 – no online galleries, no Twitpics and certainly no Facebook albums. In 2012, every spectator has turned into a reporter. Catwalk shows are no longer exclusive events, no sooner than a model's stiletto-wearing foot makes its first step out onto the catwalk is a picture sent out via Instagram into the blogosphere for instant sharing. Many brands have now caught on to the technology craze and are cleverly making the most of it.
One of the biggest tools labels are lapping up is Twitter – a social networking site which has proven instrumental for brands attempting to reach the masses. It’s quick, easy and, best of all, free. But can a brand really sell its collection in just 140 characters? Probably not, but using the medium to link to other content and host images are key ways of widening their previously limited reach.
For Spring/Summer 2012, British luxury label Burberry launched their first ever ‘Tweetwalk’, sharing pictures of their collection instantly via Twitpic to 790,000 followers on the social media site, quickly sending #Burberry trending worldwide.Even the lucky show attendees had their phones ready, snapping up images of the outfits that the world would see minutes later in digital form. Diane Von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger and Rebecca Minkoff all adopted the innovative idea during New York Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012, using it as a way to push key pieces for the season.
Following the Twitter hysteria, Burberry then made select pieces from the collection available to buy online straight after the show, dissolving the need for waiting lists or trend reports – fashion aficionados didn’t need journalists to get a piece of the action, they just needed a credit card.
Burberry is now one of the biggest digital fashion powerhouses. It is one of the first brands to favour online campaigns over print, with 60 per cent of their annual marketing budget invested in digital media according to the Financial Times. This is nearly three times the average for a fashion brand. They have grasped the idea of using social media. With Twitter growing at a rate of 11 new accounts per second, according to Twopchart, building that strong online presence is vital.
Burberry hasn’t stopped at Twitter, becoming one of the first high fashion brands to present their collection on Pinterest – a photo sharing website where images rule supreme. For Autumn/Winter 2012 Burberry used the platform to show off their latest catwalk looks for maximum exposure with minimum effort. Like Twitter, followers repost their content to their followers, who then repost it to their followers, and so on. You get the idea, but whether followers can afford to buy into the brand or just aspire to it is another matter.
Tumblr is another technological stone that fashion brands have not left unturned. The trendy microblogging and social networking site combines the best of both worlds, encouraging people to share images and content they like with the click of a button, skyrocketing their cyber-popularity without even realising it. It’s almost too perfect for the image-centric fashion industry, as it mainly works on re-blogging images.
Alexander McQueen is one of the biggest high fashion labels to utilise Tumblr, promoting their McQ brand, a more youthful, lower priced and toned down version of the McQueen line. Using Tumblr they have essentially created a McQ microsite; each element echoing the brand, from the gothic font to the grainy campaign images. Their overhauled Tumblr page sleekly acts as another online portal for the label, posing a textbook example of how these free forms of digital media can be used to commercial advantage. Research conducted by comScore in 2011 showed half of Tumblr users are aged 25 or under – a group you wouldn’t exactly expect to have a spare £500 to spend on a ‘more affordable’ handbag.
Some major labels have combined all the essential elements for online success – imagery, words and digital innovation – by using YouTube. Louis Vuitton, Prada, YSL and Jimmy Choo have all embraced the power of the viral video, using the video-sharing platform to stream campaigns, behind-the-scenes titbits and new season’s look books with ease.
One mid-market label has truly used the video-sharing site to its full commercial advantage. French Connection launched their own YouTube store ‘YouTique’ in September 2010, allowing users to view campaign footage and simultaneously shop the looks from product categories posted next to the main video. It facilitates a well-needed connection between watching and wearing.
Even though many of us may just be Facebook fans of our favourite fashion house, or we may reblog a picture from a couture show purely because we like the look of the dress, we’re unconsciously promoting and sharing fashion on a scale like no other, giving brands the mass exposure they crave. Catwalk shows live on, but wide-spread technology has well and truly knocked the elitism out of them, with designers embracing rather than rejecting media like a pair of last season’s kitten heels. It really brings a whole new meaning to the term geek chic.


text:
A warm welcome to a cold February!
This week we have some updates on Yahoo Groups, and a couple of shutdowns.
We recently passed the deadline for the shutdown of Yahoo Groups, but as of me writing this it seems that the “get my data” services are still functional. Currently Archive Team’s own Tracker reports 2.76 TB of data to have been saved. The “Save Yahoo Groups” team (aka Yahoo Groups Fandom Rescue Project, aka Yahoo Gedden) hasn’t fully tallied up their data yet, but have counted the number of groups they’ve downloaded so far to be about 84,655 and the number of groups they are still retrieving from to be about 38,000 for a total of 123K groups! We did a more detailed report on the situation earlier this week which you can read here.
We are saddened to announce that the Duelyst servers will be shutting down permanently on February 27th, 2020 at 3:00 PM PST. Saying goodbye to any game is never easy, and it’s always hardest when you love the game as much as we all love Duelyst. We’re incredibly proud of the effort our developers have put in on Duelyst over the years, and even more proud of the amazing community of friends and gamers that have enjoyed Duelyst.
We want to thank all of you for being a part of the Duelyst family, and for making our time working on Duelyst the amazing adventure it has been.
As a final thank you, the prices of in-game items have been lowered significantly and refunds are being offered for recent in-game currency purchases.
Seeing as the game requires a server connection it will be as good as dead. There is already discussion on fan revivals/sequels on the r/duelyst subreddit
for anyone interested.
Finally, the goth social network Vampire Freaks was shut down two days ago, on February 1st. The site’s shutdown had been announced months ago, so it likely didn’t come as a surprise to much of the community. A portion of the diaspora of users seem to have migrated to the Discord Server of r/goth
for anyone who might be looking to find a few old friends.
Stay tuned for next week’s summary, where we’ll hopefully see each other again same time next week at EST 9 AM!


text:
One of the more interesting technology previews to come out of this year’s show was a “neural sensing” set of wireless earbuds from French startup Wisear that give new meaning to “hands-free.” Dubbed Perceive, the prototype earphones incorporate patented artificial intelligence (AI) technology that enables the wearer to play music or answer calls on a connected smartphone by simply clenching facial muscles. No tapping. No speaking.
Tiny electrodes embedded in the earbuds record brain, eye, and facial activity and those signals are decoded and transformed by an AI processor into intuitive controls or “natural extensions of our mind.” Ultimately, the company says the earphones will add eye and brain activity to its arsenal of control modes with eye control targeted for the end of 2023 and brain control in 2024.
“With our next-generation earphones and upcoming devices, we want to become the keyboard and mouse of the digital experiences of the future — empowered by AR/VR and the metaverse,” explained Wisear CEO and co-founder Yacine Achiakh. “This revolution will not happen until we can totally reinvent the way humans interact with their machines, in the most natural way possible — hands-free, high speed, accessible for all and at all times, without the limitations we are already experiencing with text, click and voice.”
The goal is to make the technology available to millions of people by integrating it into everyday devices and the company hopes to bring its first neural interface-equipped device to market in 2024. On its website, the company writes: “Five years from now, we believe most of our everyday devices will be equipped with biosensing solutions, and we plan to become the neural-interface solution that is used in any device to read, process, and interpret your bioelectrical-activity to make your life easier.”
More information is available at wisear.io. For those wondering about the real-world benefits of voice/hands-free wireless earbuds, Wisear created this product explainer:
In this video, Wisear CEO Yacine Achiakh demonstrates a prototype of the Perceive neural sensing earphones.


text:
2017 was a hot one for cryptocurrency investors. Can 2018 top 2017’s 3,300% increase in market cap? Will cryptocurrency keep outpacing stocks (with an average 7% increase, inclusive of dividend reinvestment and when adjusted for inflation)? What’s next?
There are no guarantees in the cryptocurrency world, but here is what experts are predicting for the remainder of 2018:
1. The value of Bitcoin will be slashed in half
Since February, Bitcoin has dropped to around $6,000 per coin, which is less than half of where it started out the year (at $14,156 per coin). Experts believe Bitcoin values will halve once again in 2018 for a few possible reasons:
- Bitcoin’s slow transaction-processing
- Investors are cautious, because of increased regulation in the US and South Korea
- Institutional investors with deep pockets increase skepticism around cryptocurrency investing
2. Lower aggregate crypto market cap
Institutional investor trading didn’t hit the digital currency market hard until the end of last year because they didn’t want anything to do with a decentralized market. That meant retail investors were the biggest consumers, but lacked the means to bet against digital currencies (short selling). However, by mid-December 2017, and continuing through the spring of 2018, access to institutional investors has increased. Now, Wall Street investors can place upside and downside bets on cryptocurrency. This creates a fairer market (where institutional investors can make money to the downside, just as retail investors pushed virtual currencies to the upside) and as a result, the crypto market cap is expected to decline.
3. Stricter regulations
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a statement in December 2017 stating that cryptocurrency investors should be wary, due to the unregulated nature of cryptocurrency trading, as well as the fact that significant trading occurs outside US borders. This makes it virtually impossible for the SEC to intervene on behalf of investors in case of fraud.
The IRS has begun going after cryptocurrency tax evaders. The passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December eliminated a lucrative loophole of “like-kind exchanges,” meaning that all
virtual currency capital gains and losses must be reported on federal income-tax returns.
Government officials are not in favor of the anonymity associated with digital currency trading, or its unregulated and decentralized status. The US may follow South Korea’s lead in requiring all banks to verify individuals’ identities before allowing their bank accounts to be linked to any cryptocurrency exchanges, and prevent any additional capital from being added to a decentralized crypto wallet.
4. Bitcoin will be surpassed in market cap
Bitcoin is the largest digital currency, but emotional trading, wild fluctuations in value, and other influences open the doors for another virtual token to surpass bitcoin in market cap, at least briefly.
The likeliest candidate is Ethereum, which has held to a comfortable #2 place behind bitcoin for nearly a year. The Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, the largest open-source blockchain initiative in the world, is growing – currently over 500 organizations who have adopted its customizable smart contracts technology. Since Ethereum’s blockchain technology is applicable in various currency and non-currency situations (as opposed to bitcoin, which is currency only), Ethereum may be in the position to surpass bitcoin, eliminating the $70 billion in market cap it currently trails bitcoin.
5. A crypto-merger
Currently, there are around 1,600 investable cryptocurrencies; of these, only around 500 have a market cap greater than $10 million, and only 91 tallied trading volume over $10 million within a 24-hour period.
This means that the investable cryptocurrency space is crowded, and not all of these currencies are very liquid. There are only two ways to fix the clog: remove certain digital currencies from exchanges, or create cryptocurrency mergers.
And that’s a whole new can of worms. Even though it *should* be as easy as making computer codes compatible between two blockchains and their virtual tokens, crypto developers are prone to adding proprietary tweaks that can be incompatible with other networks and/or tokens.
If smaller cryptocurrencies want to play with the big dogs, or if up-and-comers want to surpass bitcoin and Ethereum, the only likely way is through mergers.
In January 2018, rumors began circulating about a potential merger between bitcoin rival Litecoin and privacy coin Monero. This merger didn’t happen, but it is a sign that mergers are needed, and will be happening, the crypto space. Most likely, the first notable merger will occur by the end of 2018.
6. Introduction of a bitcoin ETF
The NYSE and CBOE are eager to bring a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) to market; however, Dalia Blass, the SEC’s director of the division of investment management, is requiring fund managers to answer 31 questions pertaining to the specifics of how ETFs will store and safeguard cryptocurrencies and protect investors’ interests.
If government regulations come into play, the SEC will likely allow a bitcoin ETF to hit the market later in 2018. It’s important to note that a bitcoin ETF wouldn’t track bitcoin prices; instead, it would be based on bitcoin futures, which are currently trading on the CBOE and CME platforms. It also remains to be seen whether a bitcoin ETF would follow the CBOE or CME.
7. Cryptocurrency bans in major countries
A few smaller countries have already banned cryptocurrencies: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, and Nepal. Cryptocurrencies are still legal but frowned upon in China and Venezuela.
Britain appears to be next in line to impose severe restrictions or outright bans on cryptocurrency, due to the digital currency market’s hype and volatility. British banks have banned the use of credit cards for bitcoin purchases the Treasury Committee of the UK Parliament has begun investigating how cryptocurrencies affecting UK consumers, investors, and businesses. Emotional retail investors would experience a significant hit to their confidence if a major market like Britain should place a ban on cryptocurrencies.
With that said…
Predictions are just that. Predictions. They are not guarantees. There are most definitely some risks involved with cryptocurrency investing, including the fundamental metrics that determine an asset’s valuation. There is virtually nothing that accurately predicts the long-term value of any digital currencies.
Another big issue is blockchain technology itself. A cryptocurrency’s ledger – a digital, distributed, and decentralized technology – works well within the confines of small-scale projects. However, since blockchain is largely untested in real-world applications and until it becomes viable in big-business applications, no businesses will be willing to dive in headfirst.
As more regulations and real-world applications make blockchain technology more appealing to other industries, things may shift; but at this stage, cryptocurrency investing is still best suited for the thrill-seekers who are willing to risk it all.


text:
Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced its fourth-quarter earnings report on Monday and the results for earnings per share and revenue both beat analysts’ estimates.
The California-based company reported fourth-quarter earning per share of $0.63, against the consensus of $0.61, and revenue of $1.99 billion, better than the Street’s projection of $1.91 billion.
The strong earning report thanks to the improvement of its flagship Barbie business and Hot Wheels toys. The Barbie’s sales grew 1 percent in the fourth quarter.
The company had been making improvement for its toy Barbie since last year. The toymaker launched Barbie in various forms, with different skin tones, outfits, and hairstyles last year. Last week, it also introduced Barbie in three unique body shapes – curvy, tall, petite – to attract younger girls.
Mattel’s shares soared as much as 12.13 percent to $30 at 12:18 p.m. in New York. Mattel had dropped 1.5 percent this year and 12 percent in 2015. The valuation for Mattel was lower than Hasbro after that.
The company had been struggling in recent years. It lost market share to Lego and Hasbro. But Barbie’s latest sales increase may mark a turnaround for the company. The company named board member Chris Sinclair as Chief Executive Officer about a year ago. The new CEO leaded the company to focus back on the Barbie business.
“Interest in Barbie among moms and girls is improving,” Richard Dickson, Mattel’s chief operating officer, said during a call with analysts on Monday.
“2016 will have its challenges, particularly on the top line, but we do expect to make additional good progress on all fronts,” Sinclair said on the conference call. “I’m pleased with the progress to date.”


text:
Netease, China's second-biggest gaming company, will allocate more money and focus on overseas markets as competition intensifies in the domestic market. Chinese regulators extend regulation storm from education to online games.
"Overseas market will contribute 50% of our gaming revenue in the future, largely increase from only 10% now," said Hu Zhipeng, vice president at NetEase.
To achieve the goal, Hu said the company actively seeks cooperation with global partners that enable it to adapt more popular intellectual property (IP) into games.
"We are developing new game titles based on the popular franchise of "Lord of the Kings" and "Harry Potter," Hu added.
Meanwhile, NetEase is developing a new genre that combines traditional Chinese culture with a global trendy game style. "Nakra: Bladepoint show good example of how attractive a new game genre can be when combining traditional Chinese culture with battle royale game style that most western gamers are familiar with," Hu explained.
Developed by NetEase's 24 Entertainment studio and published by NetEase Games Montreal, Naraka: Bladepoint is a multiplayer action game in the battle royale format, widely used in many trendy games such as PlayerUnknown's battleground. It features a movement system that allows players to climb, hang, and even parkour on buildings of the mysterious Eastern realm of Morus.
Released on August 12, Naraka: Bladepoint ranked the top on Steam's weekly list of top ten sellers for the second week of August. In August, the game pulled in an average player count of 53,529, peaking at 119,022 concurrent players, according to Steam Charts.
NetEase has so far not been as aggressive as Tencent for international expansion. The latter has expanded its game empire via the aggressive acquisition of major gaming companies like "League of Legends" maker Riot Games and taking stakes in many other studios.
On the other hand, NetEase has relied more on self-development and acquired minority stakes in companies worldwide such as Niantic, making "Pokemon Go."
NetEase began its overseas venture in 2015 and made its first critical shot after launching turn-based fantasy strategy game Onmyoji in Japan. Its battle royale title "Knives out" consistently ranks in the top 5 highest-grossing games on the country's Apple App Store. Then, games like identity V, NetEase's first survival horror game with mysterious storylines, the multiplayer online role-playing game "Revelation Online" helped NetEase gain popularity and cemented its position in the overseas market.
In June 2020, NetEase Games launched a Tokyo-based game studio called Sakura Studio. The Japanese game studio focuses on developing next-generation console games. The move is critical for NetEase Games, which has traditionally been focused on online PC and mobile games in the Chinese market. NetEase began publishing Blizzard's game titles in 2009 with a licensing agreement for Diablo, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.
Before establishing the Japanese studio, NetEase has opened a new game studio in Montreal, where NetEase's premier video game production center is in Canada. In addition, NetEase has invested in Quantic Dream in France, "Dead by Daylight" game creator Behaviour Interactive in Montreal, and Improbable in the United Kingdom, giving special attention to console game development.
Like Tencent, NetEase made heavy investments in the esports business and hosted gaming championship events for additional growth. Call of the Abyss, the annual championship event for its horror game "Identity V," went viral in Japan and became one of the country's major e-sport events with one of the highest number of online viewers.
Top Clans, a comprehensive championship event covering multiple games, has become one of the most significant e-sport events in Southeast Asia.
NetEase shifted its focus to the overseas market for the next chapter of growth as game companies struggle with the more challenging Chinese market amid increasing scrutiny of online games in China.
On August 3, Economic Information Daily, a newspaper affiliated with China's official news agency Xinhua, published online gaming" spiritual opium." It accused online games of harming the health of minors.
The article marked a signal that gaming could be the subsequent targeting of Chinese regulators following education.
The article triggered fear and massive selloff for shares of China's foremost gaming companies, including NetEase and Tencent. Shares of both Tencent and NetEase plummet, wiping out hundreds of billions of dollars off the stock market capitalization.
Shortly after Economic Information Daily published the article, another state-backed media, Securities Times, cited a source from Chinese regulators, reported that China should stop offering favorable tax policies to the gaming industry as the industry has become more sophisticated. Some of the firms have competitive advantages to compete globally.
Securities Times argues that some big gaming firms should undertake more social responsibilities to protect minors from being addicted to online games and give back some profit to benefit society.
"Government should no longer offer favorable policies to game industry when the whole industry has become so large and the firms has gained competitive advantage and high profitability. The tax treatment should be same as other industries, government should offer more favorable policies to sector that mostly benefit people's livelihood," the newspaper said.


text:
Apart from Apple, only a handful of companies in the industry have worked on magnetic wireless charging solutions. But that will change soon, with Realme working on a similar technology called MagDart.
The new technology will bring the magnetic charging MagSafe experience to Android phones and will be debuted sometime next week.
While Realme started as a sub-brand of Chinese smartphone maker Oppo, the company made it big by selling many smartphones in the Indian market. Now, it is worked on its own magnetic charger, whose renders were leaked today.
Having said that, Oppo is also working on its own wireless charging solution. You can take a look at the renders of the Oppo wireless charger below:
As of now, nothing else except the renders has surfaced on the internet. Looking at the leaked renders, we can clearly see that the charger is slim and will feature USB Type-C connectivity at one of the plastic ends. A LED indicator is present on the other edge of the charger.No other details such as tech specs, or dimensions are available right now.
Nonetheless, Realme has already told us that the new charger will be 440% faster than Apple’s magnetic charger.
If we do the calculation, it should be somewhere around 81W. No other wireless charging technology has been able to achieve this to date. The Realme charger is obviously bigger in size compared to Oppo’s and also features a fan.
Thereby, we expect the Oppo charger to deliver speeds somewhere around the Apple MagSafe’s 15W output.


text: PS Business Parks beat Wall Street expectations for fourth-quarter funds from operations. The Glendale real estate investment trust, which specializes in commercial properties, reported funds from operations $41.6 million ($1.21 a share) for the quarter ending Dec. 31, compared to $41.9 million ($1.26) for the same period a year ago. Revenue dropped 2.2 percent to $91.5 million. Funds from operation, which takes net income and adds back items such as depreciation and amortization, is a key metric in the REIT industry. The company reported net income of $120 million ($3.04). Analysts on average expected funds from operations of $1.14 on revenue of $90.6 million. The company announced results after market close on Tuesday. Shares closed Wednesday up 78 cents or nearly 1 percent to $82.48 on the New York Stock Exchange. Growth in the e-commerce and mobile commerce businesses led United Online Inc.to meet revenue estimates in the fourth quarter while beating earnings per share forecasts. The Woodland Hills Internet service provider and social media site operator reported on Wednesday net income of $6.6 million (46 cents a share) for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a net loss of $55.5 million ($4.11) in the same period a year earlier. Revenue fell 13 percent to $54.4 million. Analysts on average expected net income of 32 cents on revenue of $54.4 million, according to Thomson Financial Network. Chief Executive Francis Lobo attributed the quarterly results to growth in e-commerce, mobile commerce and the mobile broadband business that expanded in the quarter across the Sprint 4G network. “With our new management team and strategic plans in place, we are well positioned for a strong 2015 in which we are forecasting growth in both revenue and adjusted operating income,” Lobo said in a prepared statement. Shares closed down 18 cents, or just more than 1 percent, to $13.78 on the Nasdaq exchange. North Hollywood commercial printing company Harman Press announced Wednesday its acquisition of A&I Photographic and Digital, a photo lab and printing company in Burbank. Terms of the deal between Harman and A&I Photographic were not disclosed. A&I will move its operations from its location at 257 S. Lake St. to the Harman building on Vineland Avenue. The photo firm was founded more than 30 years ago and was bought from its original owners in 2004 by brothers Baret and Vic Lepejian. The company provides museum and gallery printing, imaging services for professional photographers and print-on-demand photo books. Harman President Phillip Goldner said the acquisition adds talented staff and new resources to the company’s portfolio. “We look forward to expanding our range of digital media production while continuing to deliver the quality products and services that A&I’s loyal clients have always enjoyed,” Goldner said in a prepared statement.


text:
The blockchain industry is keen to sell the idea that its technology is a good way of solving problems in the bunker industry. There remain impediments to its adoption, though, such as availability of resources.
Blockchain middlemen claim their technology can bring efficiency gains and greater transparency to the bunker fuel industry
ability to gather data and foster trust is one of the main advantages of the move towards the use of blockchain technology in shipping, particularly in the bunker industry.
“At the very least, for now it’s about collecting data and ensuring that it’s verifiable,” said Deanna MacDonald, chief executive of Blockchain Labs for Open Collaboration, the technology and governance specialist.
Speaking at Sibcon 2018, she noted that the industry places trust in the paperwork it handles without being able to verify the information contained is accurate.
“On the one hand, it is about getting data which is very pragmatic and fundamental. On the other, it’s about making sure that it can be trusted. From there, we can start to talk about what we can do with that data,” Ms MacDonald said, suggesting that this included creating new business models and applications.
Digitalisation in the bunker industry is one of the ways to improve the efficiency of manpower in Singapore while also improving safety, said Claritec chief executive Wong Hong Lee.
The application of blockchain should start on the operational side, with functions such as safety and auditing, said Mr Wong.
For example, he suggested it could be used in relation to reporting on the high seas, where incident accounts can be taken soon after the event, thereby avoiding the concern that people’s accounts of events have been changed along the way, since use of the technology precludes that.
“Once you have your safety audits on a blockchain, the next vetting will be easier because the information there is original [not changed],” said Mr Wong.
Safety and proof of origin were other points highlighted by Ms MacDonald. “If you trust the proof of origin, because it is tamper-proof — or at least tamper-evident — then you are able to make better decisions.”
She cited the bunker industry as an instance where such transparency is not available at present. For example, there are hardly any systems to determine the fuel source or for sulphur compliance in future ahead of 2020.
She pointed out that it has been almost impossible to trace where the current fuel contamination crisis has come from because there is no proof of origin or chain of custody on that information as it passes through the bunker supply chain.
“So the way you create decision support systems is not just about the data but being able to trust it and you trust it because you know the source,” Ms MacDonald said.
She conceded that there are challenges to fully embracing digitalisation in the industry as levels of development and digital competence can vary greatly.
“It’s not that the entire industry necessarily has technology; some of them have computers on board the bunker barges, some don’t. Some use phones. Others may not even have smartphones,” she said.
“The point of the education in technical literacy is massively important in this phase because you’re in an industry where it’s not necessarily a given that people even know what a basic level of technology is or that they have the connections or the speeds to make it work.”