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AdExchanger.com asked the following question:
“What has been the impact of the Invite Media acquisition by Google a year ago? Any surprises?”
A selection of responses from industry execs is below:
- Curt Viebranz, CEO, Ad Summos
- Rich Astley, MEC, Managing Partner, Digital Trading
- Joe Zawadzki, CEO, MediaMath
- Bill Wise, CEO, MediaBank
- Jed Nahum, Global Channel Director, Microsoft Advertising Exchange
- Megan Pagliuca, Vice President of Display Media, Merkle
- Mike Shehan, CEO, SpotXchange
- Martin Kelly, Co-Founder, Infectious Media
- Eric Wheeler, CEO, 33Across
- Mike Baker, CEO, DataXu
- Andrew Pancer, COO, Media6Degrees
Curt Viebranz, CEO, Ad Summos
“No real surprises here. I think it was a great pickup for Google at a very reasonable price. The combination has clearly driven significant growth in RTB over the past year. What is surprising is how little Google has done over the past year to unify its disparate ad offerings. Look for a lot more to happen there in the next twelve months. Everyone who is staking a claim to part of the value chain will be trying to figure out Google’s moves. The DSP marketplace is still incredibly crowded; one has to expect a shakeout there in the next twelve months. The pace of change in this ecosystem leads me to say that Google’s acquisition of Invite will look far less significant a year from now than it did a year ago.”
Rich Astley, MEC, Managing Partner, Digital Trading
“The biggest surprise to me is the fact a lot of people assumed the Invite acquisition would be the start of an industry wide spending spree on DSP technologies. Well, a year later and that just hasn’t happened. I think the reason for that is twofold: 1) The market has a lot more head-room for growth and consequently higher valuations in the long run and 2) I think its those technology platforms that can prove data driven media buying is a truly cross platform opportunity will prevail, and that’s still some time away yet.
What I think Google’s acquisition of Invite Media did ignite, was the start of the platform strategy. As the shift from relationship based sales to automated trading becomes a reality, the operating language for the marketplace has becomes strategically significant on the buy and sell side alike.”
“The acquisition validated the demand-side platform as a key integration layer for the rest of the digital marketing stack that Google has been promoting of late: Invite + DART + AdEx + display/video/mobile supply, etc. That’s obviously good overall, as the perceived complexity of the digital marketing landscape with all of those logos has threatened to overwhelm.
The key decision now has become which DSP marketing hub does one choose? It is no surprise that the Invite hub is working as an entry point for many, as google analytics is the standard entry-level product for many.
By the same token then, it’s no surprise that more sophisticated buyers who are interested primarily in branding metrics and less in CTR in the long tail are looking to a more sophisticated, more modular and independent hub to build on for the long-term.”
Bill Wise, CEO, MediaBank
“They’ve become more evil.”
Jed Nahum, Global Channel Director, Microsoft Advertising Exchange
- “The low price of the acquisition dimmed hopes of profitable exits for other DSPs and sent them scrambling into adjacent spaces (DMP, DCO) to create value for investors.”
- “The low fees that Invite is charging are also creating bottom line pressure for those same DSPs. The agencies never fled Invite like some in our industry imagined. Instead, they’ve used Invite as a hammer to keep prices down and commoditize the competitors.”
- “The pending integration of DFA and Invite is making competitors in two segments (DSPs and Ad Servers) very nervous. And, as the Google rewrite of the Invite code looms, what’s next? For example: will they integrate Teracent and AdMob functionality with Invite? Will they create a multi-channel buying engine? And, with broader scope, what will the applicability of the overall system they are building be to the offline brand marketing dollars we all are chasing?”
Megan Pagliuca, Vice President of Display Media, Merkle
“The purchase and the ongoing integration of the Invite & Doubleclick technology stack is a significant milestone in display’s evolution. In integrating the ad server with dominant market share and a DSP, marketers will have the ability to manage frequency and audience segmentation across guaranteed and non-guaranteed buys. The result will get marketers closer to dynamic allocation of spend to the right audiences & contexts, cost savings & a better user experience by preventing the inundation of excess frequencies and therefore display will deliver higher marketer ROI.
While DSPs like Mediamath & Turn have made leaps forward by enabling the capabilities to manage all buys through their platforms, only a few first movers will go through the change management required of people and processes that have been built around Doubleclick’s legacy functionality.
The next milestone in the evolution of display needs to be in measurement, only then will we get to the same spend levels as offline channels.”
Mike Shehan, CEO, SpotXchange
“Despite initial protests that the Invite acquisition by Google would bring unbalanced favor to Google’s other display-centric products (Doubleclick’s Ad Exchange and its DFA serving platform), the feedback we’ve heard in the market has been largely positive. By all accounts, Google has left Invite alone, allowing it to operate outside of its massive ecosystem and function as a standalone DSP. The human resources that Google has invested in Invite would seem to indicate that the health of the exchange segment will continue to be strengthened – as long as Google keeps the playing field level on the supply side.”
Martin Kelly, Co-Founder, Infectious Media
“The biggest thing that has struck us to date about the Invite purchase is really the signal that it sent out about the intentions of Google to own display from end to end. It’s breathtaking really that Google has now overtaken Yahoo in display in such a short space of time.
We do however believe that we’re still in ‘wait and see’ mode to understand the full implications of this deal. The Invite platform we see today is still largely the same technology that Google bought 12 months ago although there’s no doubt they’ve taken a much increased market share in the DSP space as a result of their new owner. In another twelve months it will be a totally different story with Invite retired, rebuilt as DFX, and representing the transactional adserver within the Doubleclick portfolio. That’s a lot of data to have access to.
That’s when the game really will be afoot.”
Eric Wheeler, CEO, 33Across
“Born from four smart co-founders, Invite media married their theories and code with some of the most seasoned minds in the online ad targeting and exchange business. The result: a giant leap forward in the exchange sector. Rather than entering the game with a better exchange, they thought why not enter above the fray and create something that can help the money flow more abundantly from the exchanges’ direct customers – agencies and clients. Good idea? Yeah. A year later, their theories, code and company have survived [and thrived] within an industry behemoth. The strong hand of Google behind the Invite Media brand helped them evolve into a driving force in the adoption of DSPs and exchange buying on a wholesale basis. Invite’s success in getting [understandably cautious] clients and agencies to invest in, and adopt their technology platform is no less than impressive.”
Mike Baker, CEO, DataXu
“‘Goo-Vite’ has had little impact on the DSP market, at least as far as our business is concerned. A year ago, Invite had already sort of commoditized the low-end ‘audience buying’ part of the DSP market. Their offering remains pretty much the same today. Meanwhile, the depth and range of functionality of leading DSPs has grown considerably in the last year. For example, DataXu has launched mobile, video and brand optimization capabilities, while also creating enterprise-class workflow (UI / UX) for agency customers. Having lived through acquisition by a big company myself, I can appreciate the how hard it is to keep innovating and nurturing a small product among a portfolio of giants like search, GDN and AdX, not to mention Google’s overarching challenge of catching up in social.”
Andrew Pancer, COO, Media6Degrees
“At Media6Degrees, the changes we have seen go beyond just Google/Invite. DSPs appear to be taking on more workflow management and reporting solutions for their clients while focusing less on being the single audience targeting solution for them. One year ago, my company was not working with any agency trading desks (ATDs) or DSPs. These companies only wanted to buy our data, not our solution. Now we provide our full targeting solution to them and they roll us up into their platform for reporting and analytic purposes.
We attribute this shift to several factors. First, getting performance from commodity data is incredibly hard. Companies developing their own proprietary data sets and technology typically outperform general targeting. This can be a huge boost for campaign performance. Second, the “myth” of duplication is finally being debunked. Limiting specific exchanges to specific vendors in an attempt to avoid duplication is a losing strategy. It negatively impacts campaign performance and scale. Duplication is typically a non-factor when vendors are left to their own devices, as different vendors use different data sets, algorithms and bidding strategies.
When Google acquired Invite, they sent a clear message to the market that they intend to simplify the display buying process. Competitors have taken notice and they are shifting strategies to help simplify the ecosystem in a manner that is inclusive of the best targeting strategies, rather than create new silos of media buying.”
By John Ebbert


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IoT security standards must be tightened to prevent successful attacks
Forbes predicts that by 2025, we’ll have over 80 billion smart devices on the internet. Although IoT simplifies numerous tasks at work and home, there are a number of security risks that come with the technology. Anyone who purchases IoT appliances should be aware of these risks.
The information in this post is adapted from a number of sources, including a recent article from Tech World.
This week, a security flaw was detected within SmartThinQ, a technology endorsed by LG for automating communication within its range of home appliances and devices. This security flaw has reinforced the risks that come with remote IoT takeover, as attackers are progressively finding new methods of attacking smart devices.
The LG Security Flaw
SmartThinQ is a framework for communication between smart devices that allows them to be controlled by smartphone apps or voice assistants. SmartThinQ has been built into a range of LQ refrigerators, dishwashers, air purifiers, washing machines, dryers and robotic vacuums.
The weaknesses in this software, which were named ‘HomeHack’, were discovered by Check Point Software Technologies researchers and alerted to LG on the 31st of July. The weaknesses allowed a hacker to create a fake LG account and use this to take over the account of a legitimate user (meaning the hacker was able to control the user’s devices). This vulnerability highlights the risk that IoT devices could be used to remotely surveil/interfere with smart devices within homes and businesses.
LG responded quickly to Check Point’s detection – remotely updating what LG manager of smart development, Koonseok Lee, called “an advanced rooting process designed to detect security issues”. According to Lee, the patched and updated SmartThinQ kernel has been “smooth and issue-free” since then.
Although LG’s patching has been seemingly smooth, many IoT device makers are notoriously lax when it comes to their device security.
IoT Security Standards Are Developing
There is no denying that IoT devices are liable to physical, network, software and encryption attacks (read more about these attacks here). These vulnerabilities have inspired associations, groups, internet providers, companies and manufacturers worldwide to come together and define security standards for the gradual IoT shift. These security standards are based on smarter authentication, network frequency, firmware updates and consumer guarantees.
In the United States, a bipartisan group of senators have introduced a bill (the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017) aimed at securing internet-connected devices by setting industry-wide security standards. In Australia, we have the security guidelines set forth by the IoTA (Internet of Things Alliance) – the peak body representing IoT in Australia.
How Can You Protect Your Devices?
As security standards develop and vulnerabilities are discovered, there are some measures you can take to proactively protect the IoT devices on your network. Just some of these include:
- Secure your wireless network, ensuring you choose a strong password
- Give your Wifi a secure name and set it to not broadcast its identity
- Ensure your network is firewalled
- Check manufacturers’ websites for updates regarding device vulnerabilities
- Update your devices regularly
Or you can ask us to protect your network and we’ll deliver a safe, secure solution with built-in resilience against attack.
In other news, don’t forget that the KRACK Wifi vulnerability is leaving Wifi networks at risk – read more in our blog post Wifi Security Flaw Detected that Leaves Devices Vulnerable – Patch Your Wifi Soon.

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4th International Vitamin Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark 25-27th May, 2016
The 4th International Vitamin Conference was held recently between the 25-27th May, 2016 in Copenhagen, Denmark. ODIN’s Professor Kevin Cashman was an invited keynote speaker and spoke on the use of biomarkers such as modelling of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D to inform approaches to improving vitamin D status. ODIN’s Professor Mairead Kiely gave two plenary lectures, one on generating internationally comparable vitamin D intake data and a second short plenary on the global consensus recommendations on prevention and management of nutritional rickets. Professor Christian Mølgaard and Dr Jette Jakobsen spoke on vitamin D and health in school children and vitamin D in salmonids, respectively. ODIN partners Dr Ellen van Heuvel and Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer gave also oral presentations at the conference. ODIN researcher, Jelena Milešević and her colleagues at Eurofir gave poster presentations on the use of a specialized vitamin D food composition dataset for dietary assessments and predictive modelling and a second poster on vitamin D in ethnic and traditional foods in Europe.
19th Workshop on Vitamin D in Boston, MA, USA 29th-31st March, 2016
There were a significant number of ODIN oral and poster presentations at the 19th Vitamin D Workshop in Boston, MA recently. These included ODIN-related oral presentations by Professor Kiely, Professor Sempos and Professor Lips on vitamin D in a pregnancy cohort, vitamin D measurement standardization, and vitamin D and type II diabetes, respectively. ODIN’s Taryn Smith from the University of Surrey won the Trainee Travel Award to attend and give an oral presentation on the “Estimation of dietary requirement for vitamin D in UK adolescents aged 14-18 year: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.” There were 5 ODIN-related poster presentations by Professor Cashman, Dr. Smith, Dr. Adebayo and MS. Hauger.
One-day symposium - New Data on vitamin D from ODIN 3rd March, 2016 in Brussels
ODIN held a very successful one-day symposium in which new data from ODIN on vitamin D status, intakes and food-based strategies for increasing vitamin D in the diet with implications for public health policy and food innovation in Europe were discussed. An audience of more than 60 invited participants from EC regulatory bodies, EC food and health agencies and European food companies attended the event which was held at the European Commission’s DG Research and Innovation Champ de Mars Building in Brussels on Thursday 3rd March. Click here to see the full programme.
ODIN was represented at the 2nd EVIDAS conference on vitamin D in Warsaw, Poland in October 2015 in which several ODIN PIs gave plenary lectures including Professors Mairead Kiely, Chris Sempos and Christel Lamberg-Allardt. ODIN researcher Suvi Itkonen contributed a poster.
12th European Nutrition Conference (FENS)
A number of PIs from ODIN were invited to speak at the 12th European Nutrition Conference (FENS) in Berlin in October 2015 including Professors Kevin Cashman, Inge Tetens and Paul Finglas. ODIN scientists, Danijela Ristic-Medic and Mirjana Gurinovic contributed posters.
18th Workshop on Vitamin D (Delft, Netherlands)
ODIN would like to congratulate the VUMC team led by Dr Natasja van Schoor and Prof Paul Lips on hosting the 18th Workshop on Vitamin D at Delft earlier this year. The ODIN project was well-represented at the meeting, and our science was discussed in several plenary lectures from Profs Lips, Lamberg-Allardt, Kiely and Sempos, as well as posters from several ODIN scientists.
International Conference on Children’s Bone Health, Salzburg
ODIN co-ordinator, Professor Mairead Kiely, participated in a special symposium on the eradication of rickets at the International Conference on Children’s Bone Health in Salzburg in June 2015.


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Updated on December 10, 2021
Big box store giant Walmart is planning to buy the online retail startup Jet.com for $3 billion. Jet.com started last year as a would-be competitor to online giant Amazon. It featured a pricing model based on how much stuff one buys, as well as free two-day shipping.
Below is an infographic showing how much revenue various major US retailers brought in in 2015.
You will find more infographics at Statista
It’s no surprise Amazon’s estimated earnings dwarf everyone else on the list combined. In Amazon’s 20+ years of existence, they’ve grown from being a seller of books to one of the cornerstones of retail. They’ve also become one of the biggest tech companies.
However, Walmart still dwarfs even Amazon when its physical outlet earnings are factored in; in 2015, the company made a whopping $482 billion. While its online presence is so-so, Walmart’s presumably hoping buying an online upstart like Jet.com (and whatever expertise it might offer) will help it gain more Internet ground. Walmart also offers similar free shipping deals as Amazon, plus has the advantages of its existing physical locations. However, while Jet.com might offer some expertise, it never really gained any traction.
One factor against Walmart’s online hopes is that Amazon not only sells the same variety of stuff, it also has its own electronics and streaming media divisions. Amazon Echo, Fire TV, Amazon Prime Video, and more all are also major parts of Amazon’s business. People who don’t order much from Amazon (outside of birthdays and holidays) might still pay for a Fire TV box and Amazon Prime for video and music. Walmart does have Vudu, but it’s a digital video store. Thus, it’s more similar to rivals iTunes and Google Play, or even Amazon Prime’s digital video store.
Did you ever make use of Jet.com, or order anything online from Walmart?
“Walmart store exterior” by Walmart Corporate is licensed under CC BY 2.0 (Flickr / cropped from original)


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The Problem with Sunscreen is that People aren’t Using it Enough
New research reveals neglected sun protection practices. Leading dermatologist, Dr. Joshua Fox, comments on the long term damage of sunburn and the importance of daily use of sunscreen.
New Hyde Park, NY (PRWEB) July 16, 2009 — Most people know using sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. Yet research shows as many as 40 percent of people never use it–even when they go to the beach.
“This is a big part of why skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States,” said New York dermatologist Joshua Fox, M.D., founder and medical director of Advanced Dermatology, P.C. and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery. “But the importance of regular sunscreen use, especially for beachgoers in the summertime, can’t be stressed enough. What’s perceived as an uncomfortable but harmless sun burn today could very well become the cause of skin cancer in the future.”
Indeed, more than 100 million American each year experience some degree of sunburn from either not using sunscreen, or improperly applying it, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Yet even the mildest cases can have a significant impact, Dr. Fox stressed.
“Skin cancer is an insidious disease because it appears years after the damage has been done,” Dr. Fox added, “and I think that’s part of the reason people have such a hard time understanding why they need to use sunscreen now. They think, ‘Nothing is going to happen to me 20 years from now.’ But the truth is that something can.”
That “something,” said the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), is an estimated over 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 132,000 new cases of melanoma skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Melanoma, the most serious form, is responsible for roughly 8,500 skin cancer deaths each year. In fact, incidents of melanoma have risen drastically over the past decade, the AAD reported, with increased, unprotected sun exposure largely to blame.
To stress the importance of continued sunscreen education both within and outside the medical community, New Age Skin Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization of which Dr. Fox is President, conducted, and recently presented to the American Academy of Dermatology, the results of a study that focused on the before and after sun-protection habits of melanoma patients.
Although most patients in the study admitted to being aware of the dangers of sun exposure and importance of sun protection, few practiced applying and reapplying sunscreen, avoiding direct sun exposure and wearing protective clothing until after they were diagnosed with skin cancer.
According to the study, patients’ primary recommendation for preventing new skin cancer is an increase in education, with a focus on young people, explained New Age Skin Foundation Director Rao Saladi, M.D., adding that melanoma is often linked to too much sun exposure.
Complete results of the study, including participants’ comments, will be published in Melanoma Research. This supports previous research on skin cancer that found fewer than one-third of U.S. youths practice effective skin protection.
Focused on youths 11 to 18 years old, the survey revealed alarming trends that include:
- More than 68 percent not wearing sunglasses on sunny days.
- More than 79 percent not wearing protective clothing, such as long pants.
- More than 78 percent not avoiding direct sun exposure or staying in the shade.
- More than 69 percent not properly applying, or reapplying, sunscreen.
- More than 43 percent not using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more when at the beach or pool.
- Despite skin cancer’s devastating effects, young people–and even adults–seeking the perfect tan continue to spend time in the sun unprotected at an alarming rate. The reality is that there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Other risk factors for skin cancer include age and a family history of the disease. But long-term, unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays is the primary risk factor.
- “Even on a cloudy day, or in a shaded area, you should apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 of greater 30 minutes before you leave the house,” he added. “The sun’s ultraviolet rays have great reflective powers and can burn your skin on a cloudy day as well as on a sunny one. The risk is year-round.”
- Remembering to reapply sunscreen after swimming or vigorous activity that makes you perspire, is important too, Dr. Fox said. Other daily sun safety rules should include:
- Avoiding direct sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are the strongest.
- Covering the skin with loose, comfortable clothing made of tightly woven fabric.
- Applying generous amounts of sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher.
- Wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
- Wearing sunglasses with lenses that have 99 to 100 percent UV absorption.
- Avoiding other sources of UV light, like tanning beds and sun lamps that also damage the skin.
“When proper sun protective practices are followed consistently, skin cancer can largely be prevented,” Dr. Fox said. “We need to change habits and mindsets to help people see the necessity–and urgency–of protecting themselves against skin cancer.”


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Kimpton’s Culinary & Cocktails Trend Forecast for 2020 predicts that adventurous, healthy ingredients and plant-based menus will rise to the top, and lower-alcohol drinks will be in high demand as dietary and lifestyle preferences continue to shift towards more healthful choices.
Plant-based menus are coming to a meeting near you. “Diners continue to be more educated, mindful and globally connected than ever before,” said Scott Gingerich, senior vice president of Kimpton’s more than 75 restaurants and bars. “This 2020 F&B Trends forecast has been able to pinpoint cult classics, such as last year’s Aperol Frosé, and to predict the next big thing in flavors and ingredients, like black garlic, s’chug and nutritional yeast for 2020.”
Here are some highlights of Kimpton’s trends forecast to keep on your radar when planning for next year’s meetings:
More plant-based takes on traditional meat dishes will predominate, including tartare, burgers and jerky and chips made from vegetables like eggplant, carrots, mushrooms and sweet potatoes. Chefs will also be blending more vegetables into pasta, pizza, breads and sauces.
Local collaborations, including partnerships with artists, distillers, farmers, purveyors and community members, will flourish.
Vegan desserts, such as and vegan chocolate peanut butter cheesecake and lemon tarts made with cashews and coconut, will be trending.
Levantine cuisine, including Israeli, Turkish and Lebanese, will be the most influential style for menus in 2020. Cross-cultural fusions, such as Mexican and Southeast Asian or American South and Japanese, will also be popular.
Spritzes will reign supreme, and Mezcal will dominate as the spirit of choice. Trending cocktail ingredients include grilled, roasted and fire-blasted fruits, as well as tea-infused spirits and syrups.


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Showing of 0 - 10 from 836 results
Blackberry - Total results - 836
Dec 24, 2015
Tech rewind: Times and technologies have moved on... And will continue to do soIf there’s anything we need to take from Moore's law, it is that technology is evolving at a far rapid pace. It is doubling its potential every two years.
Nov 14, 2015
BlackBerry updates its enterprise software portfolioBES12, that includes support for iOS, Android, Windows, and BlackBerry, now comes with support for Windows 10 devices.
Oct 26, 2015
BlackBerry India appoints Narendra Nayak as new MDBlackBerry India has a new Managing Director in Narendra Nayak, who comes with 30 plus years of experience in the information technology and telecom industry, spanning business and consumer technologies.
Oct 22, 2015
With top-notch security, BlackBerry Priv to be the most secure Android phone everPriv comes with BlackBerry’s Hardware Root of Trust -- a manufacturing process that injects cryptographic keys into the device hardware, providing a secure foundation for the entire platform.
Oct 19, 2015
What India needs to do to foster innovation businessesIndian-origin BlackBerry executive Sandeep Chennakeshu, who heads BlackBerry Technology Solutions, and is a named inventor on 73 patents weighs in from his deep innovation experience on what India needs to do to foster innovation.
Oct 19, 2015
How to prepare for IoT's unique and massive security challengesSandeep Chennakeshu, President of BlackBerry Technology Solutions, and the key strategist for BlackBerry's IoT play explains the security and business challenges that IoT brings and provides possible solutions.
Oct 16, 2015
When almost every technology company has an IoT strategy, is BlackBerry's IoT play any different?BlackBerry Technology Solutions President, Sandeep Chennakeshu, explains to Firstpost what is different about BlackBerry's IoT play and whether BlackBerry can shake off the historical precedent of being a leader in an arena...
Oct 16, 2015
Sandeep Chennakeshu explains BlackBerry's IoT strategySandeep Chennakeshu, President of BlackBerry Technology Solutions, who is a named inventor on 73 patents and the man guiding BlackBerry's IoT strategy, explains how BlackBerry plans to win in the IoT space.
Oct 12, 2015
Will BlackBerry Technology Solutions save BlackBerry?Sandeep Chennakeshu, President of BlackBerry Technology Solutions gives Firstpost an update on how far BTS has come in little over a year since inception.
Oct 09, 2015
BlackBerry to dump handset business if not profitable next year: CEO John ChenOn being asked about BlackBerry's hardware future, CEO John Chen said, "Sometime next year we have to make our device business profitable, otherwise I have to rethink what I do there."


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Apple Products’ Vulnerabilities Surge by Over 450%
- Security , Cybersecurity
- 13.04.2022 10:32 am
To maximize their financial opportunities, cybercriminals are continuously striving to exploit vulnerabilities that affect as many individuals as possible.
According to the findings by the Atlas VPN team, Apple product’s vulnerabilities surged by 467% in 2021 H2. Furthermore, Google and Microsoft products accumulated the most vulnerabilities in the second half of 2021.
Google accumulated 511 vulnerabilities in the second half of 2021. Google products such as the Android operating system and Chrome browser are used by billions of people worldwide. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in such products so that more users would be affected.
Microsoft products were second in terms of vulnerabilities with 428. Most of the vulnerabilities are found in Windows OS versions, Office tools, and the Microsoft Edge browser.
Apple software vulnerabilities surged by 467% in H2 2021 to 380 exploits. Cybercriminals find the most exploits on Safari browser and operating systems on various Apple products. Due to all Apple software being interchangeable and connected, one found vulnerability can usually affect all devices.
Oracle products accumulated 258 vulnerabilities in the second half of 2021. At the same time, the Chinese telecommunications equipment company Huawei gathered 201 vulnerabilities, almost an 814% increase compared to H1.
Cybersecurity writer at Atlas VPN Vilius Kardelis shares his thoughts on vulnerability threats:
“Products owned by tech giants such as Apple or Google are used by billions of people worldwide. That makes billions of users vulnerable to exploits found by cybercriminals. To stay away from such threats and keep your devices safe, people should always update their software to the latest version.”
Exploits that are simple to perform and can do the most harm to the victims are rated higher on the risk level.
National Vulnerability Database (NVD) evaluated 1,079 vulnerabilities with a risk level of 10 in the second half of 2021. NVD issued risk level 9 to 1,173 vulnerabilities. Risk level 8 vulnerabilities were the most common, with 2,582 recorded flaws. Following up, NVD evaluated 693 vulnerabilities at risk level 7.
An exploit, CVE-2021-30858, rated 8.8, targets iPhones and iPads with the 14.8 iOS version and Macs with macOS Big Sur 11.6. The vulnerability allows the threat actor to execute an arbitrary code, enabling the installation of malware or other actions on a vulnerable Apple device.
The most harmful vulnerability from 2021 was CVE-2021-44228, better known as the Apache Log4j vulnerability.
To read the full article, head over to:


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AWD was only a game Audi used to play, but these days all the big boys are into it. Latest to join the ‘realm of grip’ is BMW with their all new M5, the first ever AWD version of cars wearing those two iconic letters. So what’s the 2018 BMW M5 all about besides the drivetrain? Not that much really. It’s a good old German muscle flexing, accompanied by a 100 kilograms weight loss.
No downsizing for the 2018 BMW M5, it still carries a 4.4 liter V8 like the previous generation did. And like that previous generation, the new M5 pushes out 602 horsepower and 750 Nm. Well, only specials pushed out that number but that does make it somewhat disappointing. Good thing that traction now finds its way to the roads via xDrive and four slabs of rubber (275mm up front and at the back 285mm), or just 2 slabs due to a central transfer case with a multi-plate clutch.
Due to its new drivetrain, the 2018 BMW M5 leaves the previous generations far, far behind in terms of acceleration. The car can now hit a hundred in a mere 3.4 seconds and hits two-hundred in just 11.1 seconds. Still no Koenigsegg Regera with a 300 KPH in just 10 seconds, but a tiny bit quicker than the Mercedes-AMG E63 S.
Ceramics and a lightweight sport-exhaust are fitted standard on the €117,900 M5, but slap in a 19.5K and the brand will give you the matte red paint you see in the header. IF you’re one of the first 400 buyers.


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Camp Verde AZ (April 9, 2013) – Verde Portal, an incubator business that will assist and develop new startups, has recently purchased the “Red Barn” or known by most locals as “Boler’s Bar,” located at 325 S. Main St. Camp Verde AZ 86322.
Verde Portal plans to keep the existing outside character of the historic building but change its image inside with a new identity and focus. The building will be split into offices, a gallery, and a wine tasting room. The new wine tasting room will be the anchor business that plans to link Camp Verde to the current Verde Valley Wine industry.
Camp Verde’s local art gallery, White Hills Gallery, has already made plans to slip in as the designated gallery and decorate the new wine bar into an arts area. The gallery plans to vacate its current location to make room for the Verde Brewing Company, and move across the street as soon as possible.
Verde Portal will utilize the space as a shared service opportunity for start-ups, including offering the necessary resources for businesses to share such as Computers, photo printers, 3D printers, Cameras, Internet, Classes, Office/Conference Rooms, Commercial Kitchen and more.
Verde Portal plans to sublet communal office space to local businesses in fields like Fashion design, Graphic design, Web Design, Marketing, Recreational and sporting, Arts, Music, Wine, Light manufacturing, Culinary arts, Food production and more. Interested companies are encouraged to contact Verde Portal at firstname.lastname@example.org for more information on how they can be a part of this new incubator.
Verde Portal intends to change the inside of the historic Boler’s building drastically by adding new lighting, fixing up the bar, and creating a more open feel. It has every intention to keep the face of the red building the same, including leaving the Bolers name, to honor the historic nature of this important building.
For more information about Verde Portal and the new building, visit www.VerdePortal.com.


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It may be small, but it could be mighty: MAC Cosmetics’ newest jewelbox — a Grand Central Station store which opened in August — is on track to generate close to $2 million in retail sales in its first 12 months, said industry sources.
The 430-square-foot unit could serve as a model for a new generation of MAC stores in highly visible places with little space, noted James Gager, senior vice president and creative director of MAC. “Grand Central Station is iconic to New York, but also is the epicenter for all kinds of consumers,” said Gager. “We wanted to carry the entire line, to make it easy for consumers to get anything they wanted — but it required some very creative thinking. In these kinds of spaces, you have to rely on a little theater and magic.”
That’s where Sheila Choi, vice president of MAC global store design, came in. “Our first move was to mirror the entire store — the walls, the ceiling, the floor,” she said, noting that challenges included a very low ceiling — 7 feet — and a support beam running parallel to the store. And she admits, “the storage is a glorified closet, which is smaller than any of our North American retail stores.”
Next, LED lighting was installed — rather than the typical fluorescents, which allowed for more usable shelf space. Large tables packed with tester units comprise the center of the store; at any given time, there are five to six makeup artists on the floor to assist customers with new products and looks.
While neither Gager nor Choi would discuss dollar volumes, they said the store is already ahead of plan by nearly 18 percent.
Products populating the store include the brand’s newly launched Zoom Fast Black Lash mascara, priced at $13 and designed for a dramatic look; Dazzleglass Creme, a soft gloss with vitamin E and aloe which is available in 10 shades, each for $18; and the 17-stockkeeping-unit Styleblack lineup, which includes lipsticks, lip glosses, eye shadows, nail polishes, a shading brush and eyeliners ranging from $12 to $23. Also new: an 11-sku collection designed with designing duo Dean and Dan Caten. Prices range from $14 for lipstick to $34 for a makeup brush. All products were created by Gager and Jennifer Balbier, senior vice president of product development for MAC.
“What he has done at Vuitton is really exceptional,” said @gameofthrones’ actress Gwendoline Christie on @mrkimjones’ final show for @louisvuitton. “He has rebooted luxury in terms of making it commercial, viable and contemporary. And most importantly artistic. He has never compromised his artistic vision for the sake of commodity.” (📷: @zefashioninsider)
After seeing a demand for men’s wear from its customers, British contemporary women’s wear label @ariesarise has added a men’s wear component and will launch a unisex collection with @mrporterlive. The 20-piece collection includes jackets, denim, logo T-shirts and more with deconstructed ‘90s vibes. Set to launch on January 18, you can shop the pieces on Aries’ website and on mrporter.com. #wwdfashion
“And so spending so much time with a character who thinks like that, inevitability you try and analyze yourself and go back and think about your own demons and dark chapters that you had in your life,” says @thedanielbruhl of his role in TNT’s “The Alienist.” The show, set in the Gilded Age of New York, also stars Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans. Head to WWD.com to read about how 39-year-old Brühl prepared for the role and why he thinks the show is so relevant to today #wwdeye ( 📷: @Eriktanner)
Now that Celine Dion’s collection has topped $10 million in sales, the pop superstar, fashion icon and newly-minted industry player is eyeing growth in Asia. Read the full report by @tiffanyap, link in bio. #wwdnews #celinedion
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
Among the familiar faces at @off____white’s show was a surprise figure: Japanese artist @takashipom, pictured here on Wednesday morning. Other show-goers included @jerrylorenzo, who spoke about his upcoming project: a @nike collaboration for back to school, with designs inspired by his childhood on the West Coast. Sitting in the front row were Future, Don Crawley, @miguel and more. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: Stephane Feugere)
According to @laurentsai, former “Terrace House: Aloha State” cast member, she didn’t know she was auditioning for the Japanese version of “Real World.” “I was telling a couple of my friends and someone’s like, ‘That sounds a lot like Terrace House.’ I was like, ’No it can’t be.’” Turns out, it was. But Tsai isn’t just a reality star — she’s an illustrator who has worked with Starbucks Japan and most recently, she’s dipping her toes into the fashion world. Head to WWD.com to read about her time on the show, modeling and her art. #wwdeye (📷: @danieldorsa)
More changes are coming to New York Fashion Week: Beginning with the spring 2019 collection, @alexanderwangny will move his New York show to June from September, adopting a biannual schedule with collections shown in June and December. Additionally, the @cfda is planning for an official summer/winter fashion season taking place as soon as June and December 2018. Read more about the upcoming changes on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @slovekinpics)


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This week, Microsoft and Warner Bros, signed an agreement to develop a new type of storage. This new kind of storage unveiled with a full copy of the original Superman movie of 1978 in a glass device with the following dimensions (75 x 75 x 2 mm).
In the 1978 Superman movie, the hero accesses messages left by his father stored in crystals stored in the Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic. Perhaps that is why Microsoft, in association with Warner Bros, chose this movie to demonstrate a new storage technology called »Silica Project», a reference to the raw material of glass.
This glass device it is made of ordinary quartz and contains 75,6 GB of data. Microsoft has revealed that it has been boiled, cooked and scraped to test its strength. The research project, Project Silica, is designed for data storage and preservation.
The division of the Microsoft firm specializing in computer research, also known as Microsoft Research is at the heart of this "new cold storage device" made of glass which is part of a large investment by the group for the development of a storage technology that in the future could be integrated into its Azure platform.
The company explained that they used infrared lasers to encode data. in "voxels«, A three-dimensional equivalent of the pixels on our usual screens. The data is stored in the glass and machine learning algorithms can decode the patterns to read the data.
Microsoft is still developing this technology and has recently published new work research about the Silica project. For now, the process developed by Microsoft is expensive and complex. However, the company's researchers are trying to speed it up and reduce the costs involved.
"Storing the entire 'Superman' film in glass and being able to read it successfully is an important milestone," Mark Russinovich, Microsoft Azure's chief technology officer, said in a statement. "I'm not saying that all the questions have been fully answered, but it seems that we are now in a phase where we are working on refinement and experimentation, rather than asking the question 'can we do it?'"
Vicky Colf, Chief Technology Officer, Warner Bros He said about the technology:
"If it works for us, we strongly believe it will be to the advantage of anyone who wants to preserve and archive content."
It's been a storage challenge for decades. Photos fade over time, books rot, and even CDs and hard drives are not the best places to store our digital memories. Research has tried to address this problem for at least five years And Microsoft is certainly not the first to develop glass disk storage.
Previous studies have shown that storage in glass offers interesting storage properties with thermal stability up to 1000 ° C, a practically unlimited life at a certain temperature (13.8 billion years at 190 ° C) and up to 360 TB / disk.
As a very stable and secure form of portable memory, lhe technology could be very useful for organizations with large files, such as national archives, museums and libraries, to store your information and archives. The technology was first experimentally demonstrated in 2013 when a digital copy of a 300 kb text file was successfully recorded in 5D.
Microsoft's strong support for this technology means companies could get serious about this new storage process for their most complex needs.
It should be noted that, as part of its strategy to permanently store its digital assets and maintain the digital content it produces, the entertainment company Warner Bros is currently creating multiple copies of these works for archival, some of them by converting a digital copy to analog film and dividing it into three color components to transfer each to black and white negatives that do not fade like color films.


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VNA Magazine just announced the release info about their newest issue #29. With Cleon Petersen as their cover artist, they picked his hometown of LA to celebrate the launch. The event will be held at Subliminal Projects, this Valentines Day, Saturday Feb. 14th, between 6-9pm.
This issue features an extensive report on Peterson and his violently bacchanalian work that echoes the brutality he sees in society. Other articles include a look into work of legendary street photographer, Ricky Powell and the co-founder of Alife clothing turned book designer, Tony Arcabascio, a peek at the nature-loving Jessica Albarn and a look at the latest street work from London, San Juan and Las Vegas. Plus, included is a retrospective on the work of Ron English and the low-brow lowdown Detroit kingpins Inner State Gallery.


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Following the introduction of the digital lending regulatory framework in August 2022, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has approved the operation of 106 digital lenders in Nigeria.
Out of the 106, 65 received full approval, while the other 41 were given conditional approval, according to a list released by FCCPC on Wednesday (Jan. 25, 2022). This decision was reached by the Inter-Agency on Joint Task Force on Digital Lending Apps following their investigations.
Recall FCCPC has continued to crack down on predatory loan apps to protect the right of consumers in Nigeria. Last August, the commission ordered Nigerian fintechs to stop providing payment or transaction services to digital money lenders under its investigation.
Earlier in March 2022, FCCPC closed down and froze the bank accounts of six other predatory loan operators—GoCash, Okash, EasyCredit, Kashkash, Speedy Choice and Easy Moni. The commission also ordered Apple and Google to take down these companies' apps from their platforms. "Google has been very supportive, including providing their expert knowledge and experience in advising about what works best in achieving laudable regulatory objectives," Babatunde Irukera, CEO of FCCPC, said in November 2022.
In the same month, Google announced that effective from January 2023 loan apps operating in Nigeria and Kenya will be required by Google to provide their operating licence in these countries or they will be removed from Google Playstore.
List of approved digital lenders in Nigeria
The aforementioned predatory loan operators that the FCCPC has closed down previously did not make the list.
However, notable Nigerian fintech companies like Sycamore, Trade Depot, Fairmoney, Pivo Africa, Payhippo and Carbon are among the digital lenders that received full approval. Meanwhile, Umba, a Nigerian digital bank that raised $15 million in Series A last year received conditional approval.
Find the list of the approved digital lenders in Nigeria, according to FCCPC below:


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Farmington business to focus on customizable drinks, snacks in a drive-thru location
Pop Drinks offers 50 to 60 "flavor shots" for drinks like soda, energy drinks
- The Pop Drinks is located at 2700 E. 20th St. in Farmington with hours from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
- The Graffs took over the northeast corner of the Hutton Drive and East 20th Street intersection in July and the couple has been working since September to open this business.
- Using teas, energy drinks along with Coke and Pepsi soda products as a base, the employees at Pop Drinks used about 50 to 60 “flavor shots” like cherry, mango and vanilla to create customized drinks.
FARMINGTON — Devin and Lisa Graff were busy Saturday morning adding the finishing touches to their new Farmington business, which is seeking to become a modern soda shop by offering a variety of customizable drinks and snacks.
The Pop Drinks location for Farmington has been in development for about a year. The business takes over a lot which previously housed a used car dealership at 2700 E. 20th St. in Farmington, according to Co-Owner Devin Graff.
The business is aiming for a soft opening on Feb. 3 with a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5.
Normal business hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. with Sunday hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The couple own and operate a Sweet Rolled Tacos shop in St. George, Utah. It sells rolled ice cream that is served in a taco shell-shaped waffle cone.
It was Lisa Graff idea to open a soda shop in Farmington. She had lived there about eight years ago.
The owners debated creating their own business and brand for the soda shop but learned of the Pop Drinks brand from a friend who Devin went to school with.
The Graffs took over the northeast corner of the Hutton Drive and East 20th Street intersection in July and the couple has been working since September to open this business.
“It’s been a lot of work but it’s really, really gratifying,” Devin Graff said.
Customizable drinks along with movie theater style popcorn and cookies are the main focus of the Pop Drinks menu.
“It's a soda and sweet shop. That's got something for everybody,” Devin Graff said. “We've got the sweets with cookies that are so good. And then we have salty with fresh movie theater popcorn, pretzel bites, and a variety of drinks.”
Using teas and energy drinks along with Coke and Pepsi soda products as a base, the employees at Pop Drinks use about 50 to 60 “flavor shots” — like cherry, mango and vanilla — to create customized drinks.
Items like fresh limes and lemons, purees like peach and strawberry along with creams like coconut and vanilla can be added to make a unique drink.
Devin shared two of his favorite items on the menu.
The Palms is a Diet Coke with fresh limes and coconut cream while the Pink Me Up is a Monster energy drink with pineapple flavoring, strawberry puree and coconut cream.
The business also sells a variety of cookies and popcorn for customers seeking a quick snack without getting out of their vehicle.
Pop Drinks will employ about 16 people with a manager and a mix of part-time and full-time employees.
Joshua Kellogg covers breaking news for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Samsung is trying not to be outdone by rumors of a supposed Apple-built “smart watch”; therefore, one of the company’s executive announced that Samsung is in present attempting to conquer the wearable computing field, but did not succeed in divulging any information regarding the declared gadget.
In other words, all that was made public was that Samsung is currently developing a wristwatch which has been prepared since a while ago, according to the executive vice president, Lee Young Hee. The VP also stated that they have been working hard for developing this device, as well as other products planned for the future. In addition to confirming the rumors concerning the watch, there have been no comments with reference to what features the device might have, the cost, or the time it is intended to be released on the market.
Samsung disclosed the information about this watch in response to the rumors related to the future Apple wristwatch-like device that is supposed to perform similar functions to the iPhone and iPad.
Redesigning the Mobile Phone into Something Wearable
In regards to the watch expected from Apple, rumors point to a device made of curved glass and metal that wirelessly connects to the iPhone. When it comes to the operations that the watch will be able to perform, it is said that they will be facile, the device being able to control elementary functions, such as message reading and call dismissal. In addition to the basic features, like letting users make calls, seeing the identity of incoming callers and checking map coordinates, it would also house a pedometer for counting steps and sensors for monitoring health-related data.
Even though, the company’s plans are not public, there are certain rumors announcing that Apple’s purpose is to release the wristwatch device as soon as this year.
According to the Citigroup Inc. analyst Oliver Chen, the global watch industry will generate more than $60 billion in sales in 2013. The companies that will be the first to sell devices that multitask might be able to lock users into their platform, boosting sales of phones, tablets and TVs.
In accordance with what Marshal Cohen, an analyst at NPD Group in Port Washington, New York declared the race is on to redesign the mobile phone into something that people wear. Additionally, he predicted that there is going to be a formidable competition coming from many different directions, such as device makers, accessory makers, even fashion designers.


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Maxi Model Agency, the organisers of Change Ur Style fashion show has outdoored four (4) ambassadors for the
maiden edition of its forthcoming event.
The ambassadors are Fiifi Coleman (Actor), Vicky Zugah (Actress), Kisa Gbekle (Actress) and Abena Moet
(Radio Personality, Okay FM).
Change Ur Style (CUS) an event slated for May 2019, is a unique platform that seeks to promote locally manufactured fashion products like fabrics, designs, and styles as well as the fashion and beauty industry players.
It ultimately seeks to deepen the national agenda of Ghana first.
The ambassadors expressed their excitement and commitment as they are keen and passionate about the eventâ€™s objectives and concept.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Maxi Model Agency, Michael Cofie, Change Ur Style will have an online store called CUS App and will be available on google play for android and App store for IOS.
“I wish to call upon corporate bodies, organisations and individuals to come on board to support the initiative to drive a national agenda,” he said.
The launch of Change Ur style is scheduled for September, 2018.
The main programme which will be held in May next year, will take place at the West Hills Mall in Accra for two days.
By: Kwame Dadzie/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
The post Fiifi Coleman, Vicky Zugah, others ambassadors for CUS fashion show appeared first on Citi Newsroom.


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shares jumped 17.7 %, adding $3.09, to $20.60 on Tuesday after the company said second-quarter revenue grew 33.5% to $34.6 million, up from $25.9 million for the same quarter one year ago. Guidance for the full year is $182 million to $192 million.
It narrowed its loss to $1.8 million, or 8 cents a share, compared with a loss in the second quarter of 2005 of $3.1 million, or 30 cents a share.
"iRobot reported another strong quarter, with sustained growth and product momentum throughout the first half of 2006," Colin Angle, co-founder and CEO of the company, said in a statement. "The increased acceptance of our robots and iRobot's ability to effectively execute on its plans are key drivers behind the company's success."
plummeted 16.4 % on Tuesday after falling short of the Street's second-quarter earnings forecast. The wireless communications product company earned $12.6 million, or 10 cents a share, vs. $13 million, or 11 cents a share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, Powerwave made $17.5 million, or 13 cents a share. On that basis, the company missed the Thomson First Call average by a penny. Sales grew to $232.4 million from $186.3 million, but fell short of analysts' projection of $247.2 million. Shares fell $1.30 to $6.64.
also slipped on Tuesday, falling 1.7% after an analyst cut his price target to $28 from $35 on the stock. Benjamin Schachter of UBS noted that "we believe that Ebay's multiples have come down more precipitously because of increased concern about the core marketplace business."
"Until investors see declining growth in the core business stabilize, newer initiatives are not likely to have a meaningful impact on the stock," he noted Monday. UBS does and seeks to do business with the companies it covers.
The price-target haircut was further bad news for eBay, which reported
uninspiring guidance for the third quarter in a row on July 19. For its second quarter, net income dropped to $249.9 million, or 17 cents per share, from $291.6 million, or 21 cents, a year earlier. Sales grew 30% to $1.41 billion. On an adjusted basis, excluding certain costs including stock-based compensation, the company's earnings were 24 cents a share, matching the Thomson Financial estimate.
For the third quarter, eBay said it expects to earn 22 or 23 cents a share for the third quarter on sales of $1.36 billion to $1.43 billion. Analysts had hoped for earnings of 24 cents a share on revenue of $1.43 billion, according to Thomson First Call. eBay shares fell 42 cents to $23.65 in recent trading.
And the sentiment on eBay likely influenced others in the Internet sector, such as online retailer
, which shed 3.5 % of its value in recent trading. Shares lost 95 cents to $25.94.
, on the other hand, jumped 16 % after the software company reported better-than-expected second-quarter results. The company made $2.8 million, or 10 cents a share, compared with $4.6 million, or 16 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, the company earned $7.3 million, or 25 cents a share, compared with the Street's estimate of 16 cents. Revenue grew 20% over a year ago to $55.6 million, beating analysts' target of $52.6 million. Altiris also said that its board authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of its stock. Shares gained $2.76 to $20.02.
The hammer fell on other tech stocks on Tuesday, sending
, down 44 cents to $17.56,
, off 4 cents to $24.02,
, also down 4 cents to $2.10,
, down 15 cents to $4.20,
, off 9 cents to $21.59,
, off 23 cents to $17.65,
Sirius Satellite Radio
, down 7 cents to $4.13,
, off 27 cents to $15.49,
, losing $1.39 to $66.57,
, down 24 cents to $14.73 and
, also off 24 cents to $26.90.


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Minister of Industry and Construction Production of Turkmenistan Baymyrat Annamammedov and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov discussed measures on intensification of industrial cooperation between the countries in a meeting on Tuesday in Tashkent.
The sides also exchanged views on creation of complete value added chains with involvement of production capacities located in the territories of the two countries, the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan said in its press release.
Proposals on expanding cooperation in industry in new promising areas, identified on the basis of competitive advantages of the economies of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, have been put forward during the meeting.
The officials highlighted the tangible growth of economic partnership indicators between the two countries and spoke in favor of the intensification of joint efforts for their further increase.
According to the meeting participants, the Turkmen-Uzbek trade turnover has grown five times in the last four years, and the increase of mutual trade in 2021 amounted to 65% compared to the previous year. A range of trade contracts signed as a result of summit events in September 2021 is at the practical implementation stage.
The sides additionally considered mechanisms for strengthening inter-regional cooperation, agreeing to strengthen the coordination of regional administrations of the two countries to develop new projects of industrial cooperation and trade contracts.
They expressed mutual readiness to organize visits of delegations of ministries and departments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to exchange experience in the field of food security.
Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover with Turkmenistan in the first three months of 2022 amounted to $186.8 million.


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Daily Archive: December 9, 2020
Interview, Part 2: Dan Leese of Hotaling & Co.
In the second part of our interview, Hotaling & Co. president and CEO Dan Leese discusses other whiskies in the portfolio, as well as Hotaling’s positioning in gin and its national sales footprint. Continue reading →Posted in News on December 9, 2020
Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Countdown Marches On
Wine Spectator’s countdown of the top 10 wines of the year continues, with two more winners to be unveiled today, taking another step toward Friday’s announcement of the Wine of the Year. Continue reading →Posted in News on December 9, 2020
News Briefs for December 9, 2020
•Last night, the U.K. announced that it will suspend the November 2020 retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods—part of the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and European nations over aircraft subsidies—effective January 1. Continue reading →Posted in News on December 9, 2020


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Kia Canada: Sales 7616 new vehicles in July
7502 Kia Canada sales in August
Kia Canada Inc. has sold 7,775 vehicles in June
• The Award-Winning subcompact Kia Rio ranks first with a gain of 41.4% in sales volume this month.
• Three main lines of vehicles recorded over 1,000 units sold during the month.
• The all-new 2014 models continue to appeal to Canadians.
Kia Canada Inc. recorded sales of 7,616 vehicles new in July 2013, against 7,683 in the same month in 2012.
Starting the second half of 2013, the month of July continues to show excellent results thanks to the all-new 2014 models have emerged during the first half of the year.
Three models have contributed to the majority way Kia sales recording over 1,000 units sold during the month. Available in five-door hatchback and a sedan, the subcompact Rio elue best small car by 2013 Motoring TV and winner of a design award Red Dot, led the way thanks to a sales volume of 1,793 units , which represents an increase of 41.4% compared to last year. July has contributed to increase the volume of sales of the Rio range since the beginning of the year, surpassing the number of units sold 10,000 with 10,251 vehicles registered, an increase of 27.5% over twelve months. The new Sorento SUV built in 2014 in Georgia, which was put on the market in the first quarter of 2013, recorded sales of 1,438 units on a national scale.
The volume of sales of the new Forte sedan 2014 also proved earlier in 2013 totaled 1,071 units, which represents an increase of 6% over the previous year. The new urban utility vehicle Rondo, winner of a design award Red Dot, has sold 750 copies in July, an increase of 51% compared to the same month in 2012.
"Our range of 2014 models recently placed on the market has taken off, to increase considerably the volume of sales for Kia Canada for 90 days, stated Robert Staffieri, Director of Marketing Kia Canada Inc. We anticipate that this momentum will continue as the month of August marks the beginning of a new campaign titled the event "Zero compromise", which is designed to inform all Canadians that they can have everything they desire in a car without pay more money. "
In July, Kia Canada launches its third annual campaign to Drive Change day to be celebrated on August 21 to promote positive change in the communities across Canada. Shaw Media and VAT, national media partners for this initiative Kia, collectively support the day Kia Drive Change and challenges all Canadians, as well as Kia dealers, their employees and their associates to engage in their communities in order to 'make a difference there. This year, Kia Canada has chosen to focus its efforts on road safety by offering its support MADD Canada, a longtime associate. As a proud sponsor of MADD Canada, Kia Canada has asked all Canadians to commit to not driving while intoxicated and thus ensure to the security of our roads by registering on the Canadian site www.CarteDeLespoir . ca. Although Kia Canada focuses on the safety of roads, it also encourages all initiatives that have beneficial effects on Canadian communities, whether small or large. Visit www.DominerLeChangementAvecKia.ca site and get involved.
Incentive programs in August 2013
Kia Canada is pleased to announce the new event "Zero compromise" in August. The main lines of vehicles like Sorento, Forte Rondo and 2014 will be headliners of this advertising campaign, subject to a range of 0% financing up to 84 months. To complete sales models 2014 message liquidation models 2013 will diffuse to maintain the momentum selling models Optima, Soul and remaining Rio 2013. Certain conditions apply. See dealer for complete details.
SOURCE KIA Canada Inc.
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Greystone Graphics prepares to sell printing presses after shutdown
- Michelle Renner, Staff Writer
Greystone Graphics Inc., which shut down last month, plans to sell its five printing presses and other equipment during the next week.
The Kansas City, Kan., company closed its doors on Feb. 4 after searching for a merger partner for some time. Printing jobs were evaporating or going overseas, especially to China, Greystone General Manager Jim Lloyd said.
The company employed about 40 when it closed, Lloyd said. It had about 110 workers in 2002, when Coleridge Fine Arts of Dublin bought out the printer at 101 Greystone Ave. Greystone leased the 115,000-square-foot facility.
Lloyd is wrapping things up by collecting receivables and arranging for the sale of equipment, he said. Customers are being referred to other companies, including Quest Graphics in St. Louis and Spangler Graphics in Kansas City, Kan., which ranked No. 3 on the Kansas City Business Journal’s 2011 list of top area commercial printers, with $16 million in revenue last year.
Greystone didn’t appear on the most recent list, but a year earlier, it had ranked No. 4, with $15.8 million in 2009 revenue and 90 employees.
Quest and Spangler also hired some former Greystone employees, Lloyd said.
Greystone was a full-service commercial printer with sheet-fed printing, as well as web presses for larger jobs. It provided inserts, direct mail, advertising brochures, catalogs, point-of-purchase materials, publications, financial documentation, benefit statements, and greeting and trading cards, according to the company website. Hallmark Cards Inc. had certified the company as a “preferred vendor;” at its peak, Greystone operated 24 hours a day.
Michelle Renner writes for the Kansas City Business Journal. Contact her at email@example.com or 816-777-2207.
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The Nebraska Cannabis Association announced itself last week as the first state-wide association dedicated to lobbying cannabis policies, offering advice on matters of regulatory concern and helping entrepreneurs.
John Cartier, president and chief executive officer of the Nebraska Cannabis Association John Cartier, president and chief executive officer of Nebraska Cannabis Association, stated that Nebraska is one of only two states that have not legalized cannabis in any form.
But that may soon change, Cartier added.
“It is not too far-fetched to think that some sort of legalization will be in place before the end of this decade, and with several ballot initiatives scheduled for 2022, it could be in as early as January 2023,” he said.
Two ballot initiatives to legalize medical marijuana were filed with Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office. A petition to legalize all marijuana usage is still on file.
Both sides want to put the legalization issue to be a vote at the next election.
The group of businesses and individuals stated that if legalization is granted it will strive to establish an “strong, well-regulated cannabis market” within the Legislature and other state-governing bodies. It is Find out more on The North Plate Telegraph]
The article Nebraska Cannabis Association launches as the state’s first lobbying organization for marijuana-related businesses was first published on Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news.


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A popular PAX Prime panel will debut in Boston to discuss legal issues in gaming. In a year when the Supreme Court considers that annoying California Game Law, this panel is more relevant than it ever has been. The panel will discuss the Supreme Court case involving sales of violent games to minors, lawsuits aimed at various publishers (Activision, EA, and others) and a number of legal issues facing publishers and indie developers this year. The panel will also offer a question and answer session aimed at legal issues related to independent developers.
Panelists include Dan Rosenthal (Contributing Editor, GamePolitics.com), Tom Buscaglia (Director, IGDA), Greg Boyd (Attorney, Davis & Gilbert), Ross Dannenberg (Partner, Banner Witcoff), and Seth Krauss (Executive VP and General Counsel, Take-Two Interactive).
The Legal Issues in Gaming panel will take place at the Naga Theatre on Friday, March 11, from 1:30pm – 2:30pm. PAX East runs from March 11 – 13 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, which is conveniently located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts. For more information on PAX East, check out east.paxsite.com.


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The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 is updated for the first time, bringing blood-oxygen metrics and more
The latest addition to the Galaxy Watch series has only been on the market for 2 days. However, Samsung is already supporting very early adopters with a new firmware update for the premium wearable. It is one that switches the promised blood oxygen tracking spec on.
Furthermore, the Watch3 can now also monitor VO2Max, a vital component of aerobic fitness. Therefore, users involved in this kind of training or who are considering it can now build up a baseline on this device, and keep an eye on their progress from there.
The 80MB update also enables the second-gen Galaxy Watch to score sleep patterns, as well as "advanced running analytics". This OTA can be downloaded via the OEM's Wearable app, and should become available across all regions where the product is sold, except for Algeria, Angola, Canada, France, Iran, Japan, Libya, South Africa, and Thailand.


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In a country where Monsanto has control over 95% of cotton seed, and where the most hated bio-tech company of the century has caused a massive 291,000 suicides with its poisonous pesticides and fertilizers, GMOs and extortionist business practices, a tiny Himalayan state has done the unthinkable.
The journey wasn’t easy. There were farmers’ protests, dissent and resistance. There were worries of production falling, due to the heavy costs involved in the transition. The farmers were barely sustaining themselves, so questions were raised about feasibility of using indigenous technologies — like pheromone traps to control fruit flies, bio-pesticides, and bio-fertilizers — and natural alternatives — like compost and manure made from dung, decayed leaves, and dry grasses.
Though the challenges looked insurmountable, the government involved the local people in its vision. They included organic farming as a subject in the school curriculum; initiating compulsory training on organic farming and its advantages as part of capacity building; and started to spread awareness on the why, what and how of the vision. The state’s need to thrive on sustainable farming without destroying its unique diverse flora, fauna and wildlife habitat ultimately convinced its people to embrace the change.
Khorlo Bhutia, Secretary of the State for Agriculture, remarked:
“We were convinced, if we went organic, there will be a value addition that we can offer to both farmers and the consumers of our products. We have a terrain that cannot make us self-sufficient in food production. So we decided to focus on what we can grow in Sikkim and give them the value of being organic.
Today, the demand for Sikkim’s organic produce has soared. Farmers in the state are already earning 20% more than they earned earlier. Environmental activist Kavita Kuruganti told Catch News the Sikkim story exemplifies that organic farming is not a ‘do nothing’ farming, as generally perceived; it is about intensification and synergizing all ecosystems to function at one place.
“At a farm level, what you’re trying to do is balance cropping and manage the soil ecosystem. When you intensify organic farming, evidence shows that yields will go up 35 to 40%. Intensification is what is needed in cultivating the beneficial soil microorganisms and increasing the micro climate for them. Taking care of the micro climate for soil organisms helps absorb carbon in the atmosphere. You have a farm level solution to global warming right there.
“What happens ordinarily in organic is that a retailer deals with small quantities from a wide range of farmers. The supply chain is broken and disorganized. This adds to the cost of produce. When a state is 100% organic, then the costs that go into segregating, packaging, labeling, and differential pricing, are saved. When everything is organic, the price automatically falls.”
Thanks to Sikkim’s transition to an organic state, sustainable farming has led to subsistence of agriculture, environmental protection, bio-diversity conservation, growth of Eco-tourism, lower pollution, and better soil health resulting in better agricultural products.


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Registration is now open for the 2016 edition of leading computer graphics conference and exhibit SIGGRAPH. This year’s event, running under the tagline “Render the Possibilities,” will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center from July 24-28. Last year’s SIGGRAPH attracted over 15,000 attendees from the U.S. and 70 other countries, including China, Japan and the U.K., and more than 1,500 speakers, contributors and exhibitors.
A number of first-time exhibitors have been announced for 2016. Domestic companies include Intervoke Technologies, Pixel Plow, Puget Systems and Yost Labs. International newcomers include Binary Alchemy (Germany), ftrack (Sweden), HoloDigilog Human Media Research Center (Korea), Live2D Inc. (Japan), Presence Pictures (Singapore), Simlens (China), Skolkovo Foundation (Russia) and Umbra (Finland).
This year, the conference organizers are also launching a character design contest, “Spirit of SIGGRAPH.” Artists and designers are challenged to create an original character design that embodies the excitement and energy of the event. The character design should also reflect the creative and inventive spirit of the CG and interactive fields. The winning design’s creator will receive a complimentary, full conference registration for SIGGRAPH 2016 and social media exposure. Entries are open until April 15.
And, of course, attendees will once again be treated to the Computer Animation Festival, which has featured several films over the years that went on to receive Oscar nominations and wins — including this year’s Best Animated Short winner, Bear Story.


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Largest Car Wash: CARSTAR sets world record (Video)
MILFORD, OH, USA -- More than 140 CARSTAR stores throughout the United States and Canada washed 4,918 cars in eight hours - setting the new world record for Largest Car Wash - Multiple Venues.
Photo: The event at CARSTAR Collision Care of Milford, Ohio, which played host to the national record-breaking attempt, honored Charleigh, a four-year-old girl Make-A-Wish participant from Batavia, Ohio. She was crowned Queen of the Car Wash. PRNewsFoto/CARSTAR, Bruce Crippen (enlarge photo)
The previous Guinness world record for the most cars washed in eight hours at multiple venues was 4,105 and was achieved by CARSTAR during the Soaps It Up! National Car Wash Fundraiser event.
Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the largest collection of soaps: it belongs to Carol Vaughan (UK) who has collected 1,331 individual bars of soap.
CARSTAR donated 100 percent of the ticket sales to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and Cystic Fibrosis in Canada. More than $67,000 was raised through the event.
"Congratulations to CARSTAR for establishing a new Guinness World Record and continuing its wonderful support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation," said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and CEO.
"The community spirit of more than 140 CARSTAR stores uniting to help fulfill children's wishes makes this effort all the more special."
CARSTAR stores in Canada have been conducting the "Soaps It Up!" Car Wash for the past eight years. This is the third time the program has been done in the United States.


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Famed dreamer and sushi master Jiro Ono is worried about the future of sushi. According to the AFP, Ono recently told the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan that he can't "imagine at all that sushi in the future will be made of the same materials we use today" thanks to overfishing. Ono — who owns the three Michelin-starred Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo — adds that he told his younger employees "three years ago sushi materials will totally change in five years" and that his prediction is now "becoming a reality."
Ono is particularly worried about the supply of high-quality domestic tuna. Japanese sushi dealers have started to source bluefin varieties from the Atlantic due to the short supply and high demand for tuna thanks to a "global sushi boom." This boom is also causing the local Japanese sushi industry to depend more heavily on farmed fish.
Ono's eldest son Yoshikazu Ono also warns that it isn't just tuna supplies that are in danger: Sushi in the future may not feature "prized shellfish" such as abalone which take at least five years to mature. Currently fisherman "catch them all together (before some are ready), pushing the stock to deplete."
So, moral of the story: The world needs to stop overfishing, because without high quality fish, the sushi of the future may look something like this.


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PUBG Corp has filed a lawsuit against Fortnite developer Epic Games. The suit was filed against Epic Games Korea via the Seoul Central District Court back in January, as PUBG Corp asked the court to determine whether Fortnite Battle Royale was infringing on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
If you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you won’t remember that PUBG rose to prominence over the summer of 2017, amassing a concurrent player count of more than 3.2 million at its peak. Fortnite was first released last July, but was limited to its PvE mode, Save the World, before Fortnite Battle Royale was released in September, which in turn shot to fame.
Fortnite and PUBG are the giants of the genre, but what’s the best battle royale game?
While Brendan ‘PlayerUnknown’ Greene has acknowledged that he didn’t invent the battle royale genre, he has previously addressed the issue of PUBG clones. In a press release issued in September, Chang Han Kim, vice president of PUBG publisher Bluehole, said that the company was worried that Fortnite was copying PUBG, stating that Bluehole was “concerned that Fortnite may be replicating the experience for which PUBG is known.”
Kim also states that Bluehole “had an ongoing relationship with Epic Games throughout PUBG’s development as they are the creators of UE4, the engine we licensed for the game.”
The Korea Times reports that the lawsuit was filed in January, with a spokesperson stating that the suit was filed “to protect [Bluehole’s] copyright.
Epic is currently in the process of bringing Fortnite to Korea. The company signed a deal with online game publisher Neowiz Games in January, which should see their game brought to Korean gaming cafes and PC rooms within the next few weeks.


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How you do a transaction with government usually will depend on how much the government is going to spend. The larger the expenditure, the more you must open up your business and the more competitive the purchasing process will be.
Robert Fenn, director of the Northeast Ohio Procurement Technical Assistance Subcenter (PTAC) in Painesville, said all government entities conduct business basically the same way, and he used the federal process as an example.
For purchases less than $3,000, federal agencies can make direct one-to-one purchases, which the federal government calls micropurchases.
A (federal) government agency buyer could call you up if you sell furniture, say, and could buy up to $3,000 worth of desks and pay you with a (prepaid) credit card, Mr. Fenn said.
For purchases between $3,000 and $25,000, the General Services Administration, the government's primary civilian purchaser, would contact registered firms in a given product category inviting them to bid on a planned purchase.
For purchases of more than $25,000, the federal government publicly advertises for bids at fbo .gov and accepts the best, lowest bid that is announced publicly.
The process at the city of Cleveland is similar, with three similar classes of purchases, starting with purchases of less than $1,000 being posted on a bid board in Cleveland City Hall.


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2014 HONDA VEZEL
Honda's small new SUV, teased as a concept and revealed in leaked images earlier this month, has finally made its production debut at this week's Tokyo Motor Show.
Destined for a Japanese debut late next year, the Vezel will be offered with small petrol and diesel engines. And, while not confirmed, both front- and all-wheel-drive options are expected.
In Japan, powertrains will include the 87kW/144Nm 1.5 petrol four-cylinder found in the new Jazz, along with a 100kW/170Nm petrol-electric hybrid, again similar to the system used in the new Jazz Hybrid.
The new SUV has kept much of its concept styling, including a largely identical profile and rear-end design.
The front-end has also changed little, with only a simplified headlight internal design and a slightly narrower grill frame.
More details on the Vezel will be revealed on December 19, when the new compact SUV goes on sale in Japan.
- Interested in buying HONDA ? Visit our HONDA showroom for more information.


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The UK retail arm of womenswear brand Arrogant Cat has gone into administration due to cashflow problems after a drop in trade.
Arrogant Cat, which launched in 2001, operates three stores in London and employs 12 members of staff. Star-studded clients include celebrities Katie Price, Misha Barton, Alexa Chung and Pussy Cat Doll band member Kimberley Wyatt.
Arrogant Cat also wholesales at independents including Boudoir Boutique in Liverpool and is available on Asos. The wholesale arm is not affected by the administration. Arrogant Cat’s Hong Kong store and franchises in Denmark, Kuwait and Dubai are also unaffected.
Jason Baker and Geoff Rowley, partners at FRP Advisory were appointed joint administrators yesterday. FRP Advisory wants to finalise a sale within the next two weeks as a going concern.
Baker said: “There are currently no plans for any redundancies and the business will continue operating as normal.
“Arrogant Cat was forced into administration as a result of cashflow problems caused in part by the recession and a drop in trade. However it is a strong brand, has a loyal clientele and excellent trading locations; we are very hopeful of selling the business as a going-concern.”


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Like the three years before it, 2023 proved to be an eventful and unpredictable year.
Conflicts in Gaza and the Ukraine led the headlines, while feel-good pop culture stories like “Barbie-heimer” and the massive Taylor Swift and Beyonce tours have drawn consumers back to movie theaters and concert venues in force.
The initial shock of the COVID pandemic is in our rearview mirror, although variants of the virus are still circulating and remain a concern to many, along with seasonal viruses like RSV and flu.
On the economic front, concerns with inflation and supply shortages lessened and the Federal Reserve raised rates aggressively through the first half of the year, in an effort to keep the economy on a smooth glidepath.
Looking forward, economists anticipate a softer labor market in 2024 which coupled with moderating inflation should allow the Fed to begin cutting rates later in the year.
Whereas consumers are finally feeling closer to “normal,” anticipated volatility in U.S. presidential and congressional elections, geo-political turmoil, and a still-fragile economy will keep shoppers on edge, and cautious.
“More news suggests a slowdown on consumer spending after the holiday season,” says John Patton, Senior Payments Advisor at Co-op. “I anticipate a bigger pullback as we move forward into 2024.”
Co-op’s SmartGrowth experts have polished up their crystal balls, and are ready to share their thoughts on the year ahead! Here are Co-op’s five spending predictions for 2024:
Credit card spending growth to continue:
According to the Federal Reserve’s G-19 Consumer Credit Report, credit card balances nationwide grew by 1.45% from September to October, the only loan type to show growth for the month. Credit card lending was up by more than 19% year over year for the third quarter of 2023, with credit unions capturing 6.4% balance share, representing solid growth from their 5% share a decade ago.
“Looking at Co-op’s client credit union portfolio balance data, credit balances grew by 15% to nearly $82 billion in 2023,” says Ryan Prentice, Director, SmartGrowth Consulting Services at Co-op. “Members were more willing to pull out their credit cards for holiday shopping this season, and we expect this trend to continue well into 2024.”
eCommerce to dominate, fueled by embedded payments:
According to Pew Research, online shopping has continued to grow in popularity, accounting for 14.9% of all retail sales through the first three quarters of 2023. eCommerce tends to surge during the busy holiday shopping season, with online purchases accounting for 16.3% of all sales in the fourth quarter of 2022, for example.
2023 proved to be no exception, with more than 1 in 4 consumers shopping exclusively online on Black Friday. Moreover, eCommerce is becoming ingrained in the shopping habits of U.S. consumers, particularly as payments become increasingly embedded in the online activities that households engage in every day.
Whether you are shopping your Pinterest board, playing online games, engaging with social media or ordering a Venti latte from your car, the ability to pay for such services fully within the digital experience is now expected. Increasingly, such embedded online shopping experiences are reducing the need—or desire—for consumers to spend time driving to the store and pulling out their credit or debit card at the point of sale.
Faster payments to gain traction:
Now that FedNow has become a reality, 2024 will be a pivotal point in the widespread adoption of faster payments.
Although only about 3% of financial institutions have signed for FedNow to date, expect that number to increase in 2024 as more banks and credit unions get comfortable with the service. According to Fed officials, many of those institutions that have adopted the service are taking a cautious approach, allowing their customers or members to accept payments through FedNow, but not initiate instant payments.
According to Jon Budd, CEO of Juniper Payments, a PSCU company in a recent episode of PYMTS TV, the use cases for FedNow and other faster payments methods such as The Clearing House’s RTP® Network are poised to expand in 2024, but for long-term success to take hold, “a lot is going to rely on further education to consumers and businesses.”
Budd identifies several opportunities that are “low-hanging fruit” for faster payments, including payouts to gig economy workers like ridesharing and delivery drivers. He also cites real-time auto loan disbursements as a compelling scenario that will help both auto dealers and lenders.
“This is where the market for instant payments is going to go first because that is what is going to drive new business.”
BNPL brings opportunity for credit unions:
One of the biggest trends of 2023 was the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) plans, especially among younger generations.
Over the five day Black Friday to Cyber Monday period, BNPL represented 7.2% of all online sales, an increase of 25% over the same period last year, according to Adobe. Moreover, BNPL seems to be contributing to the declining popularity of store credit cards.
The BNPL arena remains a bit of the Wild West, as new providers like Klarna and Affirm are to this point less regulated than traditional lenders, and use credit risk models that rely less on traditional credit checks.
“As Affirm and other BNPL offerings continue to gain in popularity among merchants and consumers, banks and credit unions will be forced to play catch-up,” Patton says. “The credit risk models of incumbent financial institutions make it harder for them to offer BNPL without requiring a bureau pull, which these providers don’t require.
“Yet, I believe more issuers will deploy installment payment services with a bureau check as part of the process to manage credit risk (per the CFPB’s rules around ability to pay). As delinquencies increase, merchants’ profits will suffer, and new rules will be imposed, helping to level the playing field among providers, merchants and financial institutions.”
Card delinquencies on the rise:
Speaking of delinquencies, 2023 already saw an increase in cardholders struggling to make their minimum monthly payments. We expect this to continue in 2024.
Public data from both Discover and Capital One show that charge offs and delinquency rates rose in the latest quarter. As of November, Discover reported a charge off rate of 4.7% and delinquencies of 3.8%, both markedly higher than the 2.4% posted in each category in November 2022.
Similarly, Capital One reported a 30-day delinquency rate of 3.7% as of the end of the third quarter, up significantly over the third quarter of 2022.
These delinquency trends reflect an increase since the start of the pandemic, and credit unions should act now to address any credit weaknesses in their portfolios.
“According to PSCU, July 2023 delinquency rates were above the July 2019 pre-pandemic level by 29 basis points,” says Prentice. “This is a canary in the coal mine, and credit unions need to keep a careful eye on their credit portfolios as we enter 2024 to ensure their members aren’t struggling to keep up with their obligations.”
Where Credit Unions Should Focus in 2024
Embedded payments is a trend to watch, and credit unions need to get in the game. Empower your members to easily set up your cards in their favorite subscription services, retailer apps and online shopping sites, by deploying digital card issuance at account opening. Also, ensure your credit and debit cards stay top of wallet by enabling digital provisioning into leading wallet apps, like Google Pay™, Apple Pay®, Samsung Pay™, Fitbit Pay™ and Garmin Pay™.
Credit spending will continue to rise in 2024, so it’s time to optimize your loyalty programs with the rewards that your members value most. Analyze your member spending data, and incent your members to continue using your cards within their preferred merchant categories.
Lastly, be there to help those members who may have spent beyond their means during the busy holiday shopping season. Consider offering a low-rate balance transfer offer or short-term skip-a-pay program to help alleviate stress this time of year. And make sure those who are struggling the most with their financial wellness are getting the counseling and support they need.
New Year, New You, With SmartGrowth:
2024 is here, and there’s no better time to optimize your credit union’s payment portfolio! SmartGrowth is available to support you as you kick off the New Year in style. Co-op’s SmartGrowth Consultants will help you dig deep into your spending data, unearthing new opportunities for growth and profitability. Contact us to learn more.


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Source: Taiwantrade | Updated: 09 June 2011
A team from NCU and NCTU researching optical fiber recently developed a chipset capable of zipping through a 40GB Blu-ray Disc in just one second (or 40Gbps).
The optical fiber chipset is roughly 80 times faster than the conventional USB which offers a data transfer rate just under 0.5Gbps.
At 0.5cm by 0.5cm the new chipset is also the world’s smallest of its kind.
The team is in the process of obtaining multiple patents from Japan, the U.S., EU, and China.
The annual market value of USB is close to USD$10 billion. This new optical fiber connector could well be Taiwan’s answer to the next big optical revolution.
Please click on optical fiber for related products on Taiwantrade.