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Speaking in keynote addresses this morning before the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Associations' Wireless 2000 conference, executives from Compaq Computer, one of the world's largest computer makers, and Sun Microsystems, a manufacturer of high-end corporate server computers, said they believe mobile phones, palm-sized computers and other similar devices will outpace personal computers for Net access.
"These devices will add a lot of traffic to the Net," said Jane Zweig, a wireless industry analyst at Herschel Shosteck Associates. "(The PC makers) will have to reinvent their businesses ultimately."
Herschel Shosteck Associates predicts there will be 126 million handheld computers and personal digital assistants by 2003.
"I believe most of the population throughout the world will not be using personal computers to get on the Net in a few years," said Edward Zander, Sun's president and chief operating officer. "They will use wireless-type devices to get on the Internet."
The proclamations, although tough to swallow for long-time PC industry stalwarts, should not come as a complete surprise. After all, the mere fact that Compaq, Sun, Microsoft and others like them are on hand at the wireless industry's annual trade show should serve as an indication of the growth of mobile Internet technologies. In addition, analysts say mobile phone handset sales already outpace personal computer sales, and many estimates show that more than 500 million Internet-ready cell phones will be in use worldwide in two or three years.
As a result, the PC industry firms have moved aggressively toward wireless technologies. Earlier this week Microsoft announced several wireless initiatives, including an updated version of its wireless portal. But the PC makers also are embracing the wireless industry and the market for so-called Net access devices. Hewlett Packard, for example, now offers a handheld Computer, and IBM today unveiled new software to customize Web content and images for handhelds.
"I don't think there's any question that the world of personal computers is evolving to a world of Internet access devices," said Compaq chief executive Michael Capellas. "More and more of those Internet access devices are in fact using wireless."
Capellas is such a firm believer in wireless technologies that he personally is testing Compaq's new wireless home local area networking products. He also showed a Windows CE-based handheld enabled to display Web content converted to the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).
"I think we'll see wireless become the primary choice of high-speed connectivity," Capellas said.


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Established in 1971 Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, which has become the leader in collector car and automotive lifestyle events, returns to the Phoenix area for the 2020 Scottsdale Auction, taking place January 11-19 at WestWorld of Scottsdale. This auction is set to be one of the most spectacular yet, with a wide range of car collections to showcase.
For example, the auction is set to offer limited and early production supercars from the Scott Thomas Collection this year. The eight-vehicle collection includes a 2019 McLaren Senna and a 2005 Ford GT VIN 003.
“Some of the most exciting collections in the world have crossed the Barrett-Jackson block over the past five decades,” said Craig Jackson chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “As the collector car hobby has grown, our team has worked diligently to become the most trusted auction house to care for and sell prized collections, like Scott Thomas’. His collection reflects the demand for early-production and limited-production supercars, like the rare 2019 McLaren Senna and the 2005 Ford GT VIN 003. Both are sure to be highlights of our 2020 Scottsdale Auction.”
The Scott Thomas Collection boasts three race-inspired vehicles from British car manufacture McLaren. Leading the lineup is a 2019 McLaren Senna, which is one of only 500 manufactured and 120 units imported to the United States. It was designed as a track-focused, street-legal hypercar and is powered by a mid-mounted V8 engine that delivers 789 horsepower. A 2015 McLaren 650S Le Mans Edition is one of 50 produced worldwide with the iconic F1 GTR cues commemorating the 20th anniversary of McLaren’s 1995 Le Mans win. Also in attendance will be a 2016 McLaren 650S Sprint Race Car, a full-spec McLaren factory-built race car powered by a 3.8-liter V8 engine with a 7-speed automatic transmission.
The auction will also showcase a collection of professionally built Resto-Mods like a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible and a 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor Tribute Edition.
“Resto-Mods have become the ultimate expression of creativity, design, engineering and performance within the collector car hobby,” said Jackson. “We’re proud to have shined the spotlight on this unique segment of collector cars over a decade ago. Today, these professionally built Resto-Mods represent half of our top 50 sales across all our auctions in 2019. We couldn’t be more thrilled to continue fueling that demand with some of the very best examples in Scottsdale.” A trio of classic Corvettes, including a 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible, leads the lineup of professionally built Resto-Mods.
The event is also set to support the “RAD-era” with a selection of “totally rad” low-mileage and limited-production 1980s to 1990s vehicles, which has become a growing segment among car collectors. “Barrett-Jackson’s dockets continue to adapt with evolving collector car trends,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “Our Gen X and millennial buyers made up 44 percent of all our 1980s and 1990s vehicle auction sales in 2019. The demand for these cars will continue to grow, and we’re excited to lead this trend with some of the finest, low-mileage examples from this era.”
Regardless of the style, make, model or year, there is certain to be a wide range of all of these represented at this year’s Barrett-Jackson , in addition to all the other events and fanfare surrounding the auction itself. For more: Barrett-Jackson.com

domain: news


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Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s Starlink has launched a new service that will allow air travelers to stay connected while on a flight.
What Happened: Starlink on Tuesday announced “Starlink Aviation,” which, according to the company, will provide high-speed, low-latency, in-flight internet with connectivity across the globe.
The service will deliver up to 350 Mbps to each plane, allowing all passengers to access streaming-capable internet at the same time, Starlink said.
See Also: Elon Musk’s Starlink, Hard-Pressed For Funding Internet Services In Ukraine, Will Add Donate Option Soon. Here’s Why
Latency is as low as 20 milliseconds. So, passengers can engage in activities such as making video calls, online gaming, virtual private networks among others.
Starlink Aviation will have superior technology and is convenient to install as well, the company said. The installation kit includes Aero Terminal, power supply 2, wireless access points and harnesses.
While potential customers can begin reserving immediately, deliveries would start in 2023. Reservations can be made with a $5,000 deposit and the recurring service charge is aircraft-dependent, and would range from $12,500 to $25,000 per month. The one-time outgo for the hardware is $150,000.
Musk took to Twitter to flaunt the service.
Internet in airplanes will feel same as if you were accessing Internet at home! https://t.co/Mfl2ixYnJH
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 19, 2022
Why It’s Important: Starlink has been rapidly adding new services of late, having launched connectivity for recreational and maritime vehicles, in addition to powering residential homes and businesses.
Musk has been soliciting support for Starlink so that the service can be extended to remote and rural areas. Recently, the Tesla Inc. TSLA CEO said Starlink will soon get a donate option for this purpose.
Read Next: Elon Musk Says Starlink Still Far From Cashflow Positive: ‘Any Support Is Super Helpful’
Image and article originally from www.benzinga.com. Read the original article here.


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The Mercedes-Benz presented on Wednesday (5), the second day of press conferences of the Geneva Motor Show, the new Class V. The van hit the market to replace the Viano with a simple guideline: provide comfort to passengers.
Apple introduced on Monday (3) CarPlay. It is an integrated automotive interface to the iPhone, which will allow drivers to control various functions of the smartphone via a touch screen and / or voice controls.
Land Rover revealed on Monday (17) Discovery Special Edition XXV. As the name suggests, this is the series that celebrates the 25th anniversary of the utility, which, since its launch, has had more than 1 million units sold.


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LAS VEGAS -
Service and technology providers are coming to this year’s annual gathering hosted by the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers armed with products that Ken Shilson insisted are brand new and can help operators of all sizes immediately.
Shilson highlighted more than a dozen different companies are ready to launch a new solution during the 19th annual National Conference. The NABD president explained why these technology companies are coming to the Wynn/Encore in Las Vegas on May 23 to 25 with new tools ready for deployment.
“The profitability in the auto business in general is being squeezed, not just in buy-here, pay-here but in all segments,” Shilson said. “They’re having to pay more to get a better vehicle because of the competition. The cost of funds is going up. The cost of compliance is going up. Those cost increases can’t be passed on to the consumer. The consumer can’t absorb them.
“Their overhead is going up and the only way to control it is to become more efficient and implement more technology,” he continued. “Technology is the only way that they can control their operating costs going forward without having to add more operating expense.”
Shilson acknowledged that BHPH dealers are primed and ready to take back market share this year. But he added that will take additional sales volume to make that happen.
“You don’t want to increase your overhead to do it,” Shilson said. “Technology is absolutely critical going forward if they want to be successful and make money.”
During the conference’s general session, NABD is orchestrating what it’s dubbed a Technology Showcase, featuring three different participants.
First, Manheim will be presenting one of its mobile auction units to show its capability.
“They can bring the auction to you and make it more accessible and convenient to the end customer. I think it will really be something where people will have a wow factor,” Shilson said.
Next, Magnum Contact will explain the capabilities of its online chat feature; a tool NABD already leveraged for its website.
“We were getting a lot of hits but we didn’t know what people were looking for. We put in the chat feature, and I would say it’s been singularly the best thing we’ve done,” Shilson said. “The chat function has singularly accounted for more leads and business than any other marketing idea we’ve ever had. And it will do the same thing for the buy-here, pay-here industry if they get it implemented on their websites.”
Furthermore, Podium will be describing its online reputation management offerings and showing how operators can enhance their standing and reduce the impact of negative reviews as potential buyers travel the Internet.
“You want to turn negative feedback around as quickly as you possibly can. If you just have negative feedback out there, people tend to gravitate to it and then they shut you off,” Shilson said. “Podium changes the dynamics. They are able to increase the feedback, which makes the number of negative comments much smaller and less relevant.
Besides the three firms included in the Technology Showcase, Shilson mentioned 10 other companies set to deploy new technology during NABD 2017, including:
—Auto Master Systems
Also, Shilson mentioned special individual social media training is set to be offered by Auto Search Technologies. He indicated attendees can sit down with company experts and ask questions specific about their dealership and its social media endeavors.
Shilson emphasized that there has never been more technology discussion and offerings on tap for the National Conference than there is this year.
“It’s not the same old technology. It’s not the same stuff you’ve seen before and it’s repackaged,” Shilson said. “There’s some really cutting edge things that we’re going to show for the first time ever in the history of buy-here, pay-here.
“It’s important that dealers understand this is not just the same old song and dance. They’re really going to see some new things that will help them,” he went on to say.
And as an added bonus, operators who haven’t already finalized their plans for NABD 2017 can do so through what Shilson said is the “Suite Deal Program.” By calling NABD, attendees can secure accommodations at the Encore for a $200 discount off of the regular price without resort fees while stilling getting conference registration at the same price as previous early bird discounts.
“This is your way to attend and stay in luxury at the same time,” Shilson said.
NABD can be reached by calling (832) 767-4759.


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Monday, April 9, 2012
Ignition Backed Splunk Moves Closer To IPO
One of the portfolio firms of Seattle-based venture investor Ignition Partners has moved a step closer to an IPO this morning, setting estimated IPO pricing. Splunk, a developer of software used for real time indexing by enterprise companies, which is based in San Francisco, said Monday morning in a filing that it expects to price its IPO at between $8.00 and $10.00 a share. Ignition holds a pre-IPO stake in Splunk worth 12.1 percent of the company. Splunk has applied to list on the NASDAQ Global Select Market as SPLK. Initial IPO pricing ranges are usually set shortly before actual pricing of a company before a debut on the markets--usually anything from days to a few months before an IPO pricing.


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10K ComBank Memos Go Astray
The Commonwealth Bank has admitted sending more than 650 incorrectly addressed internal e-mails to overseas addresses.
The e-mails contained data relating to approximately 10,000 customers and were received by the then US-based user of the cba.com domain, which has nothing to do with the Commonwealth Bank.
According to the bank, the cba.com domain name was first used by US-based financial services firm Cheslock Bakker & Associates until the 2016-17 period, after which it was used by a US cybersecurity company.
The bank claims its investigation found that the e-mails and their associated data had not been used and have since been permanently deleted from the domain owner’s servers.
“No customer data has been compromised as a result of this issue,” the bank said at the weekend. “We acknowledge however that customers want to be informed about data security and privacy issues and we have begun contacting affected customers.”
CBA has since acquired ownership of the cba.com domain name
The CBA catastrophe follows a similar incident by the rival National Australia Bank, which has admitted sending sent the details of some 60,000 customers to an e-mail address at nab.com rather than nab.com.au.


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Stocks in the News: Cisco, Merck, Texas Instruments
Cisco Systems (CSCO) is due to make a significant product announcement on Tuesday morning that it says "will forever change the Internet." Analysts believe it is a new networking technology.
Merck & Co. (MRK) and Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) said Tuesday they are uniting their animal health businesses. They'll jointly own the combined business, which will have the biggest share of about 29% in the $19 billion-a-year global market for medicines for pets and livestock.
Marsh & McLennan (MMC) has put its corporate investigations unit Kroll up for sale, with a price tag of around $1.3 billion, the Financial Times reported.
InterMune (ITMN) said Tuesday the Nasdaq halted trading of its common stock pending a review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the company's New Drug Application for pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Stage Stores (SSI) said Tuesday that its fourth-quarter net profit rose 9.9% to $27.9 million, or 72 cents a share, driven by inventory control and expense management as revenue for the quarter declined 5.3% to $431.7 million. Results also beat estimates of 66 cents a share. SSI also forecast higher earnings than expected.
Companies releasing quarterly earnings Tuesday: Kroger (KR), J. Crew (JCG) and Collective Brands (PSS).
Comerica (CMA) said it will offer $800 million in common shares with J.P. Morgan Securities as the book-running manager. Shares fell over 2% before the bell.
H&R Block (HRB) reported a higher third-quarter net income of $50.6 million, or 15 cents a share even as revenues decreased, and beat Wall Street estimates. Shares dropped over 2.5% in premarket trading.Texas Instruments (TXN) announced late Monday it narrowed its sales and earnings outlook for the first quarter. Shares were 1.6% lower ahead of the bell.
TiVo (TIVO) reported a wider fourth-quarter loss of $10.2 million, or 9 cents a share, due to greater costs and lower revenues, but the loss was less than what analysts had estimated. Shares were 1.6% lower ahead of the bell.
Ford Motor Co. (F) launched a made-for-India compact car Tuesday -- the four-door Figo, Italian for "cool" -- as it continues its push into fast-growing Asian markets.
Sony Corp. (SNE) said Tuesday it will start selling 3-D televisions in June, joining a competitive industry-wide push of the technology into consumers' homes.
General Growth Properties' (GGP) two major investors are joining Brookfield Asset Management in offering to inject a combined $6.5 billion in fresh funds into the shopping mall operator to help it emerge from bankruptcy protection. Shares jumped over 2% in premarket trading.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) on Monday night pulled out of the multibillion-dollar contest to replace the US Air Force's fleet of ageing refuelling tankers, saying proceeding with a bid would be a waste of resources after concluding that, under current rules, it could not win the competition. Shares were 1.2% lower.


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Mar 7, 2014
Geox says sales to rise this year after 7 percent fall in 2013
Mar 7, 2014
Italian casual shoemaker Geox said sales fell 7 percent to 754.2 million euros ($1 billion)in 2013, in line with company and analyst expectations, and said sales should rise in 2014 as it continues with a turnaround plan.
The company, which makes shoes with perforated soles intended to stay waterproof while allowing the feet to breathe, said it expected to post revenue of 800 million euros in 2014, and return to break-even at the operating profit level.
The company posted a net loss of 29.7 million euros last year down from 10 million euro profit in 2012.
Geox had said in November it expected sales for the full year to be 6.5-7.0 percent lower than the previous year's 807.62 million euros, after reporting a nine-month net loss.
The company unveiled an industrial plan in November, outlining plans to expand abroad and help to recover from losses incurred in Italy as the country's longest recession since World War Two stemmed the flow of shoppers to its stores.
The company said comparable sales rose 5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013
© Thomson Reuters 2023 All rights reserved.


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NEW YORK: Bitcoin and other digital currencies have, so far, not been formidable competition for cash, checks or credit cards as a payment method in the United States and other major economies, according to two economists at New York Federal Reserve.
Virtual currencies usually thrive as an alternative form of payment during times of suspicion around traditional forms of payment, they said in a blog post published on Friday.
Cryptocurrency rivals snap at Bitcoin's heels
For example, in 2015, as Greece struggled with its debt problem, Greek interest and trading in bitcoin jumped amid worries over capital controls and a possible exit from the euro zone, the New York Fed economists, Michael Lee and Antoine Martin said.
"Cryptocurrencies arguably solve the problem of making payments in a trust-less environment, but it is not obvious that this is a problem that needs solving, at least in the United States and other advanced economies," the post said.
Indeed, bitcoin, ethereum, ripple and other digital currencies, while they have grown in use and popularity, have notable drawbacks, the economists said.
With bitcoin, extreme volatility tends to undermine its function of storing value. This is unlike a traditional currency that is managed by a central bank, they said. Bitcoin transactions also consume a lot of electricity and it takes time to validate transactions, the economists said.
Bitcoin suffers dramatic price plunge in Asia
Right now, bitcoin transactions are estimated to use 48 terawatt hours of energy a year, an amount which could power 4.4 million US homes, according to Digiconomist, a blog about cryptocurrencies that Lee and Martin cited in their post.
Cash and other traditional payment methods also offer convenience, a formidable advantage relative to cryptocurrencies, the economists said.
"Fundamentally, we wonder whether a payment method designed to function where trust in institutions is completely absent can ever be as convenient as one where trust is required, but also already exists," Lee and Martin wrote.
Bitcoin has seen its value tumble as much as 70% from a record peak near $20,000 in mid-December.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2018.
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The Congress Wednesday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the large drugs haul in Gujarat and in the alleged bribery case involving e-commerce firm Amazon, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer the nation on these “very serious” issues of national security. “These issues are concerned with the country’s security and those involved in these issues are guilty of sedition and that is why the prime minister will have to answer the nation,” Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
His statement came a day after an official said the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 2,988.21 kg heroin worth crores of rupees from two containers at the Adani-operated Mundra port in Gujarat’s Kutch district and subsequently. Those involved in these cases are “traitors”, Surjewala said.
“Should this matter now not be investigated by a special commission of sitting judges of the Supreme Court and a special SIT be put at their disposal,” he said. He also rejected suggestions of seeking a CBI probe, saying, “How can CBI probe those who are its bosses?” He said the shocking revelations in the two cases have shaken the conscience of the country.
On the Amazon case, he said it has now come out that the e-commerce giant spent Rs 8,546 crore in “legal fees”, whereas India’s Law Ministry’s annual budget is only Rs 1,100 crore. “The so-called alleged bribery of Rs 8,546 crore was being given to whom in the Modi government? Who received the money? Was this money given to annihilate the trade and business of crores of small shopkeepers, MSMEs and traders so that e-commerce company like Amazon could take away their businesses and livelihood?” he asked.
Amid reports of Amazon probing bribery-related charges against some of its legal representatives in India, the US e-commerce giant has said it takes allegations of improper actions seriously and investigates them fully to take appropriate action. The Congress leader alleged this amount has not been given to a clerk and it is likely that this money is given to top people in this government.
“Will the prime minister of India raise and demand from his US counterpart that criminal action be initiated in the United States for alleged bribery against Amazon. Will the Prime Minister answer whether this is not a serious breach of national security?” he asked. Modi left for United States on an official visit this morning.
“The layers of corruption, the unpardonable conspiracy of pushing India’s youth into a cycle of drugs, the loss of crores of jobs the responsibility of Modi government is now writ large,” Surjewala said. He said the government has “totally failed” and these cases should be investigated by a sitting Supreme Court judge. Referring to the Gujarat drugs seizure, he said it was the world’s biggest drugs haul that happened at Adani Mundra Port.
He also alleged that same company whose drugs were seized imported 25,000 kg of the same types of drugs worth Rs 1.75 lakh crores in June 2021 through the Adani port, perhaps “the biggest ever in the history of the world”. Noting that according to the media reports Ashish Traders whose import-export licence was allegedly used for the trade received Rs 10 lakh as commission. “Who is the drugs cartel? Why is the drug cartel prospering right under the nose of Narendra Modi and (Home Minister) Amit Shah?” he asked.
“Is this not pushing India’s youth into the menace of drugs? Where are those drugs now? Is it not a breach of national security as these came from and are connected to the Taliban and Afghanistan. Why has Adani Mundra port not been investigated?” he asked. The Congress leader alleged that the Narcotics Control Bureau, the DRI, Enforcement Directorate, CBI, Intelligence Bureau, Home Ministry and everybody else has been “sleeping”.
This is not a Congress versus BJP issue, he said, adding it is the question of the youth of this country and also concerns the future of small businessmen and traders.


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Volume of transfer of electric power through KEGOC networks in I half 2008 increased by 6.2 %
Almaty. August 1. Kazakhstan Today - In the first half of 2008 volume of transfer of electric power through networks of JSC Company KEGOC in comparison with the similar period of 2007 has increased by 6.2 % and has made 17.5 billion kWh, the agency reports referring to KEGOC press service. According to the press service, volume of technical production control services has made 38.3 billion kWh that is by 5.8 % higher of the parameter of the similar period of the last year. "Growth of volume of services is connected with an increase of volumes of manufacture of electric power by electric generating enterprises of the Republic, the press service explained. According to the press service of the company, volume of balancing services in the first half of 2008 has made 68.9 billion kWh. "In connection with introduction of the balancing electric energy market, according to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Electric Power Industry, since 2008 JSC Company KEGOC has been rendering services on organization of balancing of manufacture-consumption of electric energy.
Resourse: Kazakhstan Today


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Though Watch Dogs 2 wasn’t a surprise reveal like the first one some years ago, Ubisoft gave us an extended look at Watch Dogs 2.
Some details on Watch Dogs was released last week, touching up on some of our new protagonist Marcus’ abilities. The gameplay demo gave us another look at Marcus as he navigated the roof tops of San Francisco and infiltrated a corporate tower, using some of his new gadgets. We got to see how he uses his drone to survey targets, and how he can use his two-wheeled RC car to hack a corporate database. Additional details can be picked up on in the demo, such as how Marcus can hack a car that’s conveniently placed inside a building, and also ways in which you can incapacitate enemies via a wide spread hack that effects entire groups. The demo ended in a parkour escape, as Marcus showed off his athletic skills in making his way out of the building in style before descending down to San Fran’s streets below.
Watch Dogs 2 will release on November 15th 2016, and PS4 owners will have access to all add-on content 30 days early.


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Betsy Johnson, 27, started working for Boeing as an intern in 2006 while attending the University of Puget Sound in Washington. After graduating in 2007, she was selected to enter the company's BCFP (Business Career Foundation Program) in Philadelphia. Four years later, she decided it was time to leave her day job. Although her job offered her a steady paycheck, the opportunity to travel abroad, mentorship, and even a pension, she realized that working hard to climb the corporate ladder was getting her nowhere.
She ended up at Disney in a new position right after quitting Boeing, but she grew frustrated with legacy processes and systems. She lasted at Disney for two months before deciding that it was time to start her own company, SwimZip.
SwimZip sells UV 50 swimwear for babies, toddlers, and children. The idea came to Johnson after she was diagnosed with skin cancer. SwimZip is currently in its business development stage but is forecasting a profit for this year.
Editor's note: A previous version of this slide incorrectly stated that Betsy Johnson attended Washington State University. Johnson attended the University of Puget Sound.
The following startup founders decided to take the scenic route -- as opposed to the eight-lane highway -- toward business success. Here's what they were thinking.
|Stores are closing at an epic pace|
|High schooler sells $1 million in custom socks|
|Why everyone's laughing at this $400 juicer|
|Trump's new problem: Americans aren't shopping|
|New solar-powered device makes drinking water out of desert air|


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The Food & Drug Administration slapped Medela Inc. with a warning letter related to reports that the company’s breast pumps were smoking or catching fire.
The company had received 14 complaints about its Pump in Style Advanced electric breast pump that tell of the device’s motors and transformers failing during use, according to the FDA.
The FDA inspected the McHenry, Ill.-based company’s facility in the Fall of 2010 and found that it was falling short of the agency’s "current good manufacturing practice" requirements for medical devices, the warning letter said.
The company responded to the FDA on its observations made during the Fall inspection, but the agency subsequently determined that the company had failed to "adequately establish and maintain procedures for implementing corrective and preventive action," according to the warning letter. The agency determined that the company did not maintain sufficient records of complaints or establish a system to adequately evaluate the reported device failures. The agency also stated that the company failed to document all testing of the Pump in Style Advanced devices during its manufacture.
The FDA also alleged that the company failed to report two incidences of serious injuries caused by the use of the breast pump.
The FDA considers the breast feeding products medical devices because "they are intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or are intended to affect the structure or function of the body."


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EA's attempt to get back to the top of the virtual warfare world will be centered around controversy.
The Redwood City-based video game company released its controversial video game "Medal of Honor" overnight.
The game hits the shelves embattled in controversy over an earlier version that allowed gamers to play as the Taliban and shoot virtual representations of American soldiers.
The US military banned sales of the game on bases because of the Taliban flap. Military families criticized EA for the decision.
Eventually, EA reversed course and took away the Taliban title. Gamers can still play as the old representation but without the Taliban label.
The game is available on the PS3, the XBOX and Windows machines for $60.


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Tech, gaming and esports digital publisher By Gamers For Gamers (BGFG) is this month launching a full-service digital agency. AgencyGMR will provide creative, content and strategic services for brands in the tech, gaming and hardware industries, with plans to move into the wider consumer electronics market.
As an official TikTok partner, AgencyGMR aims to help brands reach new audiences across the globe via live commerce.
“We bring experience and credibility from our digital publishing arm. With our owned IP we know how to create content that resonates with gaming and hardware audiences,” says Craig Kirkcaldy, AgencyGMR’s Managing Director and COO of BGFG Group.
Roddy Burns, AgencyGMR’s Head of Partnerships, adds: “With a growing global audience of gamers and hardware enthusiasts, we have unparalleled strategic data and insight. We’re a recognised player within the sector and in our network, putting us in a great position to help brands create content that resonates.”
AgencyGMR also plans to host product experience workshops in its dedicated event space, providing brands with a physical hub to showcase their products. AgencyGMR is also working closely with SODA (School of Digital Arts) at Manchester Metropolitan University, and HOST Salford, to help develop the next generation of industry talent.
Made up of “passionate and experienced” gamers and tech lovers, BGFG aims to provides unbiased reviews, buyer’s guides, and answers to FAQs, designed to keep its global audience abreast of the latest tech and gaming trends. The company was founded in 2019 by brothers Andrew and Craig Kirkcaldy and William Blears, and benefited in 2021 from financial backing from Bill Holroyd – one of the original investors of global appliance firm, AO.com.


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Ford to Launch SYNC 3 in 2016 Escape, Fiesta
Back in December 2014, Ford announced the next generation of Ford SYNC for its future vehicles. Today, it was announced that SYNC 3 will make its much-anticipated launch this summer in both the 2016 Ford Escape and Fiesta.
SYNC 3 boasts a number of improvements over the previous generation system, including faster response and better ease-of-use.
“SYNC always has been about providing a safer way for our customers to connect their smartphones in order to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Company vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Customers continue to tell us they want this technology, and they want it to be fast and easy to use—like a smartphone. SYNC 3 delivers on that request.”
SYNC originally launched in 2007, and in the eight years since, it has become a fixture in more than 12 million vehicles around the world.
Among the various and sundry improvements with SYNC 3 are the new and improved AppLink 3.0—now with improved voice command—as well as Siri Eyes-Free integration, improved 911 assist, and over-the-air updating.
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.


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Digital media and marketing professionals are bullish on video ad spending, find Adap.tv and Digiday in their latest semi-annual “State of the Video Industry” report released today. Brands reported an average 65% increase in spending this year over last, with agencies upping their expenditures by 83%. And the dollars should keep coming: roughly 9 in 10 brand and agency respondents plan to increase video ad spending next year. So where’s that money coming from?
TV is the likely answer, and the study results bear that out. 31% of brands said they would pull from broadcast TV (up from 19% last year), while 10% said they would draw from their cable budgets (down from 13% last year).
Interestingly, though, the most common response from brands was that video budgets would be incremental: 33% said their spending wouldn’t come at the expense of any other category. That’s up from 26% stating the same last year.
Display remains on the hook this year, too, with 30% of brands saying they’d shift funding from there to online video, relatively unchanged from last year’s 32% anticipating such a shift. But concerns about display cannibalization ramping up seem to not have materialized for the time being.
Print (19%, down from 29% last year) appears to be relatively safe this time around, while direct response (6%, from 3%) and search (5%, from 0%) may see some budget cuts in favor of online video.
Expanding the respondent base to brands and agencies changes the picture significantly. Broadcast budgets are likely to be targeted by 21% this year, significantly fewer than the 31% who responded that way in 2010. By contrast, 11% plan to shift money out of cable, up from 3% in 2010.
Some other striking differences emerge from the expanded sample base: just 3% this year say they will draw from their online display budgets, a dramatic change from 2010’s 26%. Meanwhile, 26% will pull from search (a marked increase from 3%), and a significant 42% will move money out of their out-of-home (OOH) budgets in favor of video (also up from just 3% in 2010).
In tandem, these results suggest that agencies are much more likely than brands to tap into cable, search, and OOH budgets, and much less likely to cannibalize online display. Given that 16% of agencies and brands combined say that video ad spend will be incremental, the results also indicate that agencies are less likely than brands to be giving new dollars to video.
So how about those broadcast budgets – slated to be the target for 21% of brands and agencies? It turns out that last year, a majority 58% of agencies and brands borrowed from their broadcast budgets to fund some video spending. Specifically, 45% said they pulled 1-10% of their broadcast dollars for video, 9% drew 11-20% of the budgets, and 4% more than 20%.
- Three-quarters of brands buy video ad inventory from an ad network this year, up from 61% in 2011. Fewer (68% vs. 78%) are buying directly from a publisher.
- Agencies are as likely to buy video ad inventory direct from a publisher (86%) as they are from an ad network (85%).
- Programmatic buying has grown markedly over the past 2 years. 28% of brands and 34% of agencies are now buying from an exchange, up from 11% and 19%, respectively. Similarly, 21% of brands and 36% of agencies are buying from a DSP, from 11% and 19%, respectively.
About the Data: For two weeks in late September and early October 2013, Adap.tv and Digiday polled its opted-in base of leading digital media and marketing pros for their impressions of changes in online video buying and selling. Owing to the acquisition of Adap.tv by AOL, access included a very large pool of seasoned advertisers, making the survey the most extensive yet with more than 900 participants.
Participants were offered the incentive of full study results and being entered in a drawing to attend a Digiday Summit or their choice of e-tablet (one recipient each). Agency and Trading Desk participants constituted 43 percent of participants (390), followed by 25 percent video publishers (227), 19 percent advertisers (171), and 14 percent Ad Networks, DSPs and SSPs (128).


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Strove Raises Funding From Japanese VC
The South African employee wellness startup is an activity-based mobile rewards application that empowers organizations to inspire their employees to live healthy and active life, combatting inactivity, burnout, and chronic stress.
Strove has secured an undisclosed amount of funding from Japanese VC firm Lifetime Ventures to help it build out its platform.
The platform uses activity-tracking and gamification to incentivise workforces to be their best selves, with rewards coming from over a dozen partner brands, such as Old Khaki, Poetry, Bootlegger Coffee, Mugg & Bean, Dis-Chem, Vida e Caffè, Engen. In July of last year, Strove closed a ZAR4 million (US$277,000) seed funding round, and it launched in the UK in April. It has now raised a new funding round from Japanese VC fund Lifetime Ventures to speed up software development to further develop its holistic wellness platform.
Chris Bruchhausen, Strove Founder said: “We are excited to have closed our funding round in a challenging funding environment. This raise allows us to further develop our product and service offering as we strive towards our mission of improving the holistic well-being of employees around the world.”
Strove is planning a substantial upgrade to its mental health offering, with richer content, cognitive behaviour therapy courses, and an in-app coaching feature. Other updates include launching more activity tracking integrations, incorporating a recommendation engine to help personalise well-being guidance and continuous usability upgrades.
Koshu Kunii, general partner of Lifetime Ventures said: “COVID-19 has highlighted deteriorating employee wellbeing and a strong need for holistic wellbeing programmes. We see a global corporate future where most companies provide group-based employee wellbeing programmes as part of holistic employee benefits to support employees from the prevention phase. With strong C-level and execution to date, we know Strove will be a leading player in this market.”


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Here, we explain why Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are unavailable, as well as how to fix it. This is the longest period of time we’ve ever seen when social media sites have been unavailable. Facebook, Whatsapp, and Instagram all fell down at the same time on Monday evening. Facebook, Whatsapp, and Instagram are unavailable to many people throughout the world. Facebook owns all of these applications, and they all use the same server infrastructure.
Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp are unavailable at this time.
This problem has been addressed on Facebook’s website and we are expecting that it will be remedied shortly. The DNS error is also shown in the message. It’s called the domain name system (DNS) and it helps consumers go from the URL to their target website.
Several major websites have been down for several hours at various periods. As of today, this lawsuit applies to all Facebook-owned social media services, including Instagram and WhatsApp.
There must be a problem with social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Akamai Technologies Inc. suffered the same fate in July, affecting a large number of websites. Whatsapp’s official Twitter account stated that all three social media platforms were experiencing technical difficulties and were unavailable at the time of this writing. We’ve included the tweet in the next paragraphs.
Downtime for Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp
Server issues are the most prevalent cause of this kind of disruption. Over a billion people utilize these three platforms, which necessitates high-memory servers. There may be a problem with Facebook’s servers that has caused this outage.
Facebook has more than 41 million users in India, according to the most current data. In India alone, WhatsApp has more than 53 million users while Instagram has more than 21 million. Apps that need social network accounts to log in are also affected by the outage of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
What to do when Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp are unavailable?
You have no choice but to accept it. These social media sites will soon be up and running thanks to the efforts of the top engineers in the world.
You may pass the time by watching a few movies or web series. We’re crossing our fingers that you’ll be able to log in to all of your online accounts shortly.
Also check: JEE Main Counseling Registration
Also check: Cowin Vaccine Certificate Verification


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The book world is crying foul over Amazon.com’s quest to control an array of new domain names.
The Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers argue that allowing Amazon to own such Web addresses as “.book,” “.author,” and “.read” would crush competition.
Troubled chain Barnes & Noble also opposes Amazon’s request, citing the Internet giant’s firm grip on the industry. Barnes & Noble says Amazon controls about 60 percent of the e-book market and 25 percent of the physical-book market.
Granting Amazon exclusive use of the addresses, known as top-level domain names, “would stifle competition in the bookselling and publishing industries, which are critical to the future of copyrighted expression in the United States,” the chain said in a letter to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN.
ICANN, a nonprofit overseeing Web domain names, last year began a process to expand the Internet’s addressing system well beyond the now common “.com” or “.edu.” It received about 1,930 proposals for 1,400 different suffixes, with Google, Microsoft and Apple also submitting applications.
Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. is seeking dozens of new top-level domains, including “.app,” “.joy” and “.kindle,” according to ICANN’s website.
Amazon, which did not return an e-mail seeking comment Monday, gave no details about its plans for the new names.
Authors Guild President Scott Turow wrote to ICANN urging it not to sell the exclusive domain rights for generic book-industry terms. The concern is Amazon would buy the names for its own use and not provide access to other book sellers.
“Placing such generic domains in private hands is plainly anticompetitive, allowing already dominant, well-capitalized companies to expand and entrench their market power,” Turow said in his letter.
“The potential for abuse seems limitless.”


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On Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 9 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET, Google is hosting the Google Marketing Live. Google will unveil the latest Ads, Analytics and Platforms innovations at Google Marketing Live.
Advertiser watching Google Marketing Live get a first look at new features and tools that help to grow the business. Also advertisers will gain access to the latest insights and trends that are shaping the future of the industry.
Advertisers can register for the keynote live stream here. Google will also make a recording available after the live stream for advertisers in other time zones.


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17 December 2021
Joint press release: Travel and tourism stakeholders call on European governments to avoid holiday travel chaos
European travel is on hold again due to the erratic and reckless decisions of governments to reintroduce travel restrictions on vaccinated travellers despite scientific evidence that they have no impact on the spread of the Omicron variant in Europe.
17 December 2021
Travel Tomorrow - No rest for European hospitality: Businesses in the sector again seriously affected by Covid-19 restrictions ahead of the holiday season
Read now the opinion piece by HOTREC Director General, Marie Audren, published today on Travel Tomorrow.
16 December 2021
Digital Markets Act: Hotrec congratulates European Parliament for landmark report and substantial improvements
HOTREC warmly welcomes yesterday’s (15 December) vote on the Digital Markets Act by the European Parliament. The report adopted in plenary confirms the choices made by the Internal Market Committee (IMCO), which introduce several crucial key solutions for hospitality establishments.
3 December 2021
HOTREC General Assembly in Lyon: European hospitality calls for urgent support
On 2-3 December 2021, HOTREC welcomed national associations and prominent speakers in Lyon for its 83rd General Assembly. Delegates voiced their grave concerns for the sector’s viability and urged policymakers to ramp up support actions.
30 November 2021
Food distribution sector calls on EU to exempt medium-sized businesses from costly NIS 2 cybersecurity obligations
The signatories of this statement call on EU institutions to exempt from the NIS 2 Directive all medium sized food distribution companies, or ensure that only such companies supplying a critical share of the population be covered.
22 November 2021
Coordinated measures across Europe only viable way to fight the virus and safeguard tourism businesses: HOTREC issues joint position paper
Following the worsening of the epidemiological situation in Europe, on 22 November 2021, HOTREC joined other stakeholders in the travel and tourism community in urging the Institutions and the Member States to align and coordinate travel restrictions ahead of the coming festive season.


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Teenager told he's too young to buy wine gums is VIP at 99p Stores launch tomorrow
THE teenager who was told he was too young to buy wine gums from the 99p Store in Wisbech is the company s VIP at its latest store launch. Jaz Bhogal, 15, of Leverington, will cut the ribbon at the company s new Huntingdon store tomorrow (Tuesday). Last w
THE teenager who was told he was too young to buy wine gums from the 99p Store in Wisbech is the company's VIP at its latest store launch.
Jaz Bhogal, 15, of Leverington, will cut the ribbon at the company's new Huntingdon store tomorrow (Tuesday).
Last week Jaz made national headlines after we exclusively revealed he was told he needed ID to buy a packet of wine gums from the company's Wisbech store.
Graham Barnes, 99p Store spokesman, said: "We are absolutely delighted that Jaz will be a VIP for the day - that's a Very Important Pennysaver.
"We look forward to seeing him at the Huntingdon launch where he will cut the ribbon."
Jaz will cut the ribbon alongside Mandy Mullane, who won a competition to cut the ribbon and take part in a 99-second trolley dash.
- 1 Recap: Main road through Wisbech town centre shut after serious crash
- 2 Breakup and burglary! Couple's chaos after £101m win on Euromillions
- 3 Man, 28, and boy, 15, arrested after major A1101 crash in Wisbech
- 4 Inside Wisbech's new 'Get Out' escape room
- 5 Village road closing for five weeks for temporary barrier installation
- 6 Middlesbrough couple found in Cambs with drugs worth around £37,000
- 7 Knife-wielding teen jailed after week-long crime spree in Wisbech
- 8 Princess Anne waves from Range Rover after landing in Wisbech
- 9 Boys, 13 and 17 killed in horror BMW crash near A47 in Peterborough
- 10 Lorry breaks down on A47 near Wisbech
Mandy, from Little Stukeley near Huntingdon, won the competition after coming up with two nine-word slogans. The competition was the same held in Wisbech earlier this year before the store opened.
Mr Barnes said: "When we asked her (Mandy) if Jaz could cut the ribbon with her she said it was fine. She had heard about the story on television."
Jaz has also been given his nine-voucher to spend - on condition that one of the items is a packet of wine gums.
Mr Barnes said: "I'm sure he'll spend it wisely.


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You are here
Australians still shopping, but need to spend more
[SYDNEY] Australian retail sales grew for the tenth straight month in March while demand for household goods lifted spending for the first quarter as a whole, though the gains fell short of what optimists had hoped for.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cited the need to support consumer demand as one reason it cut interest rates to an all-time low of 2.0 per cent on Tuesday.
A sustained pick up in spending is desperately needed to offset the deepening drag from weak export prices and a downturn in mining investment.
Wednesday's data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics went only some way to meeting requirements.
Retail sales rose 0.3 per cent in March from February, while analysts had looked for a rise of 0.4 per cent. Annual growth of 4.5 per cent was solid but short of its long-term average.
Inflation-adjusted sales for first quarter also missed forecasts with a rise of 0.7 per cent, partly due to a swing higher in goods prices. "Neither is particularly weak, but sales growth is not showing the sort of convincing strength the RBA would be looking for," said Matthew Hassan, an economist at Westpac.
The central bank will be able to expand on its thinking when releasing updated forecasts for economic growth on Friday. So far, markets see scant chance of another policy easing in the next couple of months and imply around a 40 percent chance of a move by Christmas.
Among the retail sectors faring best in the first quarter were clothing, restaurants and household goods.
Sales in the latter were up 9.5 per cent for the year amid a rush to furnish new homes or renovate existing ones.
That trend has a while to run given approvals to build new homes have shot to record highs led by an historic shift toward apartment living.
Sales of new homes jumped 4.4 per cent in March to their highest since early 2010, according to a survey of major builders by the Housing Industry Association (HIA). "Lower lending rates will provide added support to residential construction activity, which is emerging as a key area of growth mitigating the effects of the downturn in mining investment and construction," said HIA economist Diwa Hopkins.


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LAST UPDATED : 26 Sep 2016, 01:34 IST
- Indian digital classified industry will triple by 2020, Google-KPMG report says
CHENNAI: Highlighting the growth opportunity for the digital classifieds industry in India, Google and KPMG have released a report, ‘Digital Classifieds in India 2020’. The report projects that by 2020 the size of the digital classifieds industry is expected to grow 3X to US$1.2 billion. The report outlines that the next phase of growth of digital classifieds will be driven by the rapid growth of e-services, real estate and automobiles. However, horizontal classifieds will still continue to lead with about 30% market share of total digital classifieds in 2020. Google search trends reveal that local searches across these categories have grown by 4X in the last four years, led by non-metros like Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kochi, Coimbatore, Indore and Jaipur. Real estate and e-services are expected to increase by 4X and 7X, respectively, by 2020. Within the e-services classifieds, vertical dining, auto rentals, relocation services and home services like beauty services, repair, tutoring, personal trainers are the most popular segments. Online jobs market is set to double by 2020 with 63% consumers accessing e-classified. Bengaluru, Mumbai, NCR and Hyderabad are the top ranked cities for online job searches and with ‘Sarkari Naukri’ as one of the top searched Indic terms. The report further highlights that the digitally savvy consumer is happy to pay for value added services. For instance, 59% of used goods buyers are willing to pay for quality verification of goods or home delivery, 43% of job portal users are willing to pay for auto application for jobs and 40% of consumers searching for real estate are ready to invest more for legal verification and property check. Sharing insights from the reports, Nitin Bawankule, industry director, Google India, said, “The ecosystem is ripe for the emergence of digital classifieds. Spurred by the smartphone penetration, online users are expected to grow to a whopping 650 million by 2020; and with every second consumer willing to pay for value added services, the digital classified segment is expected to touch $1.2 billion by 2020.” Talking about the challenges and growth opportunities for the industry, Sreedhar Prasad, partner – e-commerce and startups, KPMG India, said, “As the digital classified segment undergoes a rapid transformation, it is facing a few challenges like unverified listings and low customer loyalty. However, it is expected that there will be convergence of online businesses since the end customer is the same, thus a high possibility of e-tailing, e-services and digital classifieds coming together as a strong one stop value proposition in the coming years. This would further enhance revenue streams, monetizing possibilities and reduce overall cost of customer acquisition.”
- Like Indian sign painters, Google doodlers too try to make art from everyday things: Ryan Germick
The fruit games doodles for Rio Olympics are still fresh in most of our minds — bananas racing strawberries even as papayas beat kiwis in badminton. Ryan Germick, the 36-year-old head of Google’s Doodle team in Mountview California, says the brief was to bring a smile to every user’s face. In India to announce a doodling competition for children as well as attend a wedding in Kerala, Germick spoke to Shobita Dhar about why he loves Uncle Pai and Satyajit Ray.
- Google Photos for iOS gets ‘Motion Stills’ live photo editing feature
Google launched its Motion Stills app for iOS back in June. The app uses video stabilization to freeze the background into a still photo, enabling users to create sweeping cinematic pans. It also helps to remove shakiness for creating smooth GIFs from Live Photos. And now, Google has added the same feature to its Photos app for iOS, through an update.
- Google invites Indian startups to attend its third 'Launchpad Accelerator' programme
US tech giant Google on Thursday asked for applications to attend the next session of its "Launchpad Accelerator programme" through which startups can utilise Googles mentorship and product access to scale business and capitalise on local markets, while also tapping into new global opportunities.
- Google partners with Box to provide cloud document storage
Alphabet's Google and online storage company Box Inc on Wednesday announced a partnership that will enable Box's corporate customers to integrate Google's suite of word processing, spreadsheets and other productivity tools, known as Google Docs.


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With its focus on olive oil, grains, nuts, vegetables and fish, the Mediterranean diet can be good for both the body — and wallet.
So even though the dietary eating pattern has been around for centuries, these health-focused yet recessionary times could bring it more success.
“It's a good diet in a bad economy,” said Ron Tanner, vice president for communications and education at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, New York.
It's affordable because it consists mostly of pasta, rice and beans. Meat is used minimally.
“Meat is used almost as an accent, not as a main ingredient,” Tanner said.
As part of its sponsorship of the inaugural Mediterranean Food Month this month, food think-tank Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust, Boston, is promoting a variety of Mediterranean recipes that can be prepared for as little as $6.66 for a family of four.
The Mediterranean way of eating recommends making olive oil the primary source of dietary fat; food from plant sources; low to moderate consumption of fish and poultry weekly; and low to moderate amounts of cheese and yogurt daily.
“Mediterranean foods are neither time-consuming nor expensive to prepare,” noted Sara Baer-Sinnott, Oldways' executive vice president. “You can take some shrimp and peas and put it over pasta for a healthy meal.”
Healthy indeed. More and more studies show that people who eat a Mediterranean diet have lower rates of heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer's disease.
Italian researchers recently reported, for instance, that people who adhered strictly to a Mediterranean diet experienced 9% fewer deaths than those who did not, a 9% drop in death from cardiovascular disease, a 13% reduction in cases of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and a 6% drop in cancer.
The health advantages of the Mediterranean diet are being promoted as part of Mediterranean Food Month.
Throughout the month, Oldways will promote the new Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, which was recently updated to reflect the latest science emphasizing the role of foods from plant sources as the core of healthy eating. All plant foods including fruit, grains, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, herbs and spices are now listed together, rather than separately.
“The point was to emphasize plant foods in terms of healthfulness in the Mediterranean Diet,” said Baer-Sinnott.
Oldways distributed free Mediterranean Diet kits to supermarkets' registered dietitians, deli managers and other store personnel. Kits were also given to health professionals. The kit includes ways to promote Mediterranean foods, such as via store tours, olive oil tastings and meal ideas.
Oldways is also using social media like blogs and Twitter to spread the word about the benefits of Mediterranean foods, along with easy and affordable Mediterranean recipes and ingredients.
Another aspect of Mediterranean Month is a consumer recipe contest. Those who submit a recipe that uses at least two Mediterranean Diet ingredients could win a copy of “The Oldways Table,” a book that contains Mediterranean recipes and information. Winners will also get various Mediterranean products.
Mediterranean Month comes at a time when some retailers are paying closer attention to the region's foods.
West Point Market in Akron, Ohio, reports good sales with Mediterranean items sold under the Peloponnese brand, including tapenade; baba ghanoush; whole roasted peppers; grape leaves; and tahini, a nutty condiment used in salad dressings, hummus and other spreads.
“We carry a combination of fresh items in our deli as well as shelf-stable items,” noted Rick Vernon, West Point's chief executive officer.
Jungle Jim's International Market, Fairfield, Ohio, has a 32-foot Mediterranean section featuring about 200 products. Ziyad is one of the more popular brands.
The best-selling items are tahini, chick peas, spices, nuts, grains and pickle items.
“We also have frozen heat-and-eat meals,” said Bret Vitek, Jungle Jim's International Foods manager.
Likewise, retailers are beginning to promote foods from more sub-regions in the Mediterranean — packaging that states products were made in the Abruzzo or Sicily areas of Italy are common.
Whereas 15 years ago, Mediterranean foods in the U.S. were mostly from Italy and Spain, today foods also come from neighboring countries, including Greece, Morocco, Syria and Malta, said NASFT's Tanner.
One of the finalists of NASFT's 2009 “Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation” awards, for instance, is authentic harissa, a Moroccan hot sauce, from a company called Alili Morocco.
Upscale retailer Balducci's, Bethesda, Md., promotes the fact that its Zoe Diva Arbequina extra-virgin olive oil is made from 100 Arbequina olives from Arbeca, Spain. It sells for $12.99 for 33 ounces.
“The Arbequina olive has a low yield but produces a high-quality oil that is internationally lauded and coveted,” Balducci's states in promotional materials. “This is made even more evident by the fact that these olives are so small they must be picked by hand.”
Another specialty olive oil at Balducci's is made from cornicabra olives from Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, selling for $13.49 for 33 ounces.
“American consumers have been so exposed to the Med Diet that they're beginning to see the intricacies of it and try products from the different regions,” said Tanner.
To help consumers locate products that fit within the Mediterranean Diet, more than 200 products from about 20 companies carry the Med Mark on their packaging. The stamp-size symbol is found on a variety of products, including olive oil, hummus, cheese and olives.
To be eligible for the Med Mark, foods cannot have more than 8% of total calories from saturated fat, or more than 480 milligrams of sodium for individual foods and 4 grams of added sugar. Products also cannot contain any added trans fats.
Lucini Italia Co., a Miami-based company that produces Italian olive oil, vinegar pasta sauce and other items, is among the companies using the Med Mark. Company President David Neuman told SN he uses the symbol to indicate to consumers that his company's products can be part of a healthy diet.
Lindsay Olives, Lafayette, Calif., carries the Med Mark symbol on all its olives, according to Kate Hart, Lindsay's consumer marketing manager.
Hart said the symbol is a quick way for consumers to identify healthy products.
The Med Mark isn't the only way shoppers can learn about which products fit in the diet. That's because Mediterranean-themed cooking classes are popping up at retailers around the country. Jungle Jim's recently had a cooking class that included Basil and Sun-dried Tomato Spirals; Grilled Flank Steak with Citrus Herb Marinade served with Chunky Mojo Relish; and Strawberry and Field Greens Salad with Pecans and Feta.
Likewise, last year, Minneapolis-based Byerly's had a sold-out cooking seminar called “Summer Mediterranean.” The menu included Pan Seared Tuna Steaks with Capers & Oregano; and Greek Hand Pies with Greens, Dill, Mint, and Feta.
Private labels are also taking on a Mediterranean flair. Take Harris Teeter, Matthews, N.C., which has a variety of such offerings under its H.T. Traders line. They include extra virgin olive oils, bronze-die-cut pastas, slow-cooked pasta sauces, and classical brochettes and tapenades.
“We studied classical Mediterranean cooking and developed our own recipes based on time-honored traditional flavors and methods, but we made them simple for you to bring home and blend into your menu planning,” Harris Teeter writes in promotional materials.
The Mediterranean Diet isn't really a diet; it's more of a lifestyle approach filled with fruit, vegetables, fish, beans, nuts and whole grains. Studies show that people who follow this diet have lower rates of heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer's disease.
“It's an exciting time,” said Sara Baer-Sinnott, executive vice president of Oldways. “It seems that new studies come out every week or month in support of the Mediterranean Diet.”
Following a Mediterranean diet means enjoying the following foods:• Healthy fats like those found in olive oil, nuts, avocados and fish.
• Lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans.
• Lean protein sources like fish and poultry.
• Yogurt and cheese in small portions.
• Wine in moderation.
SOURCE: The Mediterranean Foods Alliance/Oldways


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Mobile carriers have long had a difficult relationship with Skype. The VoIP service has been seen simply as a threat to the networks’ income from voice calls. Now at least some of them have agreed to share revenue.
Luxembourg-based Mach is to deliver direct-carrier billing for Skype Credit, the fee which users pay to make calls to regular cellphone or landline numbers. The service which allows subscribers to buy credit directly from their cellphone bills was launched in Russia Tuesday and will be rolled out in Canada and the U.S. next month, reports GigaOM.


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Windows 8 isn’t very far in our past, but the tech industry is already abuzz about the next big Microsoft release. Although it’s only rumors at this point, it appears Windows Blue will be the next major operating system released by Microsoft.
And if these rumors are true, then Windows Blue will change the way the world thinks about Windows. Here are some of the features that Microsoft has apparently planned for Windows Blue:
Windows Blue Features
-A cheaper price: Apple charges $20 to $25 for every update to its Mac OS. Since Microsoft appears to be emulating Apple’s most successful features, Windows Blue would theoretically offer a similar pricing plan. We all appreciate paying less money for the same product.
-Major updates to the OS throughout the year (like Mac OS, Android, iOS, and other major operating systems made by Microsoft competitors): Even the biggest Microsoft fan will admit upgrading to a new operating system can be a jolting experience. You have to update drivers, find new versions of the programs you installed, and basically build your PC from scratch. With Windows Blue, Microsoft plans to offer regular updates throughout the year. This might seem unfamiliar to Microsoft fans, but it should reduce the big ‘jump’ consumers have to make every time Microsoft updates to a new version of Windows. Instead of having to retrain employees and upgrade all your programs, Windows Blue aims to simplify the upgrading process on a level that we’ve never seen before.
-Similar programming architecture for Windows tablets, Windows phones, and PCs (i.e. a standardized SDK): This would encourage app development and program development on the OS. One of the biggest problems facing Windows 8 has been attracting app developers. There is so much money to be made in Android and iOS development that all the good app developers can’t be bothered to invest in developing a Windows app. Microsoft pays higher royalty rates than Google or Apple, but it’s still having trouble populating its app store. If it can unify the SDK more tightly across its existing properties – like Xbox, Windows Phone, and PCs – then the potential number of users downloading apps from the Windows Store will dramatically increase, which means more money for programmers.
What does all this mean for you, the average Windows user?
Windows Blue will change the face of Windows – if it actually exists. The frequent updates will keep Microsoft at the cutting edge of technology and prevent users from feeling alienated every time a new OS comes out (after all, how many people have actually bothered to upgrade to Windows 8 yet?).
The biggest challenge facing Windows Blue will be its marketing. Microsoft will need to convince users – many of whom just upgraded to a new OS called Windows 8 – that they should invest in the Windows Blue subscription idea. If Microsoft can nail its marketing, which won’t be easy, then Windows Blue could catch on due to its:
-More frequent upgrades
-More useful apps
-Better cross-platform capabilities
-Less fragmentation across operating systems
If Windows Blue doesn’t work out, then Microsoft could look pretty silly.


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At a glance.
- WordFly data breach impacts clients in the arts.
- Wawa reaches settlement for 2019 cyberattack.
- New PhaaS platform boasts 24/7 customer service.
WordFly data breach impacts clients in the arts.
SecurityWeek reports digital marketing firm WordFly suffered a data breach that has taken all of its services offline for the past two weeks. According to WordFly’s most recent status update, a system disruption was first detected on July 10, and within hours all services hosted internally, including its backup services, were shut down. Only July 14 it was discovered the intruder exfiltrated data including user names, email, and other imported info, but WordFly claims the attacker deleted the data the following day. “We have no evidence to suggest, before the bad actor deleted the data, that the data was leaked over the dark web and/or sent to any other public facing domain/disseminated elsewhere,” WordFly said. As we previously noted, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute confirmed last Friday that it was impacted in the attack on WordFly, which the institute employs for email newsletter distribution. As well, Global News reports that the data of three Toronto-based arts companies were also compromised. The Canadian Opera Company, Toronto Sympathy Orchestra, and Canadian Stage have emailed subscribers to notify them of the breach. “WordFly has confirmed that they are not aware of the data being publicly distributed and/or misused and we have been assured that the incident has been contained,” reads an email Canadian Stage.
Wawa reaches settlement for 2019 cyberattack.
US convenience store chain Wawa has agreed to pay $8 million in a settlement with six states for a 2019 malware attack in which threat actors stole the credit and debit card information linked to 34 million payment transactions. NJ Advance Media reports that the state of New Jersey will be given approximately $2.5 million while the remainder will be divided between Pennsylvania, Florida, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Wawa in April agreed to pay $12 million to settle a class action lawsuit tied to the attack. The malware stemmed from a malicious email opened by an employee, allowing the attackers to steal payment card data from point-of-sale terminals at Wawa stores and gas pumps. The chain, which operates over eight hundred stores, has admitted no wrongdoing, but as part of the settlement has pledged to improve protections for customer data. Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin stated, “This settlement is as important for the strengthened cyber security measures it requires as for the dollars Wawa must pay. This settlement should serve as a message to the industry that we are serious about holding businesses accountable when they fail to protect consumers’ sensitive personal information.”
New PhaaS platform boasts 24/7 customer service.
IronNet details a new phishing-as-a-service platform cleverly dubbed Robin Banks that peddles pre-made phishing kits to cybercriminals who wish to steal financial information of residents of the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Researchers discovered in mid-June that a new Robin Banks SMS/email campaign was targeting not only financial details tied to Citibank, but also credentials linked to Microsoft accounts. This indicates that the platform could be leveraged not just for financial fraud, but also to obtain access to corporate networks. Single pages on Robin Banks, which include future updates and around-the-clock customer assistance, run for $50/month, while full access costs users $200/month. While phishing-as-a-service platforms are nothing new, Robin Banks stands out for its focus on 24/7 support, and for regular updates that include bug fixes and new features.
Erich Kron, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, commented on the maturation of the criminal-to-criminal market: “This is an example of how far cybercrime and email phishing has evolved. No longer are these just individuals trying to decide how to scam people, but instead dedicated, mature services are now offering templates and the ability to send mass phishing emails for a very low cost. This maturing of the cybercrime market is a key reason why organizations simply can’t ignore the threat of email phishing. Instead, user education and training, designed to help users spot and report email phishing, needs to be a key point of any modern cyber security program.”


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CINCINNATI -- In a “bold move,” Kroger will phase out plastic bags and transition to reusable bags by 2025, according to CEO Rodney McMullen.
The Cincinnati-based grocery chain announced the switch Thursday, saying the move “will better protect our planet for future generations."
Kroger-owned QFC in Seattle will be the first to make the transition; plastic bags are expected to be eliminated there by 2019.
Kroger Executive Vice President Mike Donnelly said the decision aligns with the company’s commitment to making a positive social impact.
"We listen very closely to our customers and our communities, and we agree with their growing concerns," Donnelly said in a news release.
McMullen said the move to nix plastic correlates with the company’s “Zero Hunger | Zero Waste commitment” -- a goal to divert waste from landfills and donate food to hungry families.
The grocery chain has also been redesigned milk jugs in an effort to use less plastic, CNN reported. It started using the new container in about half of its dairy products last year.


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NEW YORK (AFP) - The Dow on Tuesday edged to its fourth straight record close following a choppy session and a deluge of mixed US economic data.
At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 17,842.87, up 6.97 points (0.04 per cent).
The broad-based S&P 500 retreated slightly from Monday's record, dropping 1.82 (0.09 per cent) to 2,067.59, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index added 3.36 (0.07 per cent) at 4,758.25.
The Commerce Department unexpectedly raised its estimate for third-quarter US economic growth to 3.9 per cent from 3.5 per cent.
Analysts had projected a downward revision to the initial estimate.
But the Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell to 88.7 in November from 94.1 in October.
US home prices rose 4.9 per cent in September from a year ago as price gains continued to slow.
"Investors are basically saying two steps forward, one step backward and the trajectory is still higher," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at S&P Capital IQ.


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|Posted by email@example.com on March 30, 2017 at 10:45 PM|
Sixty percent of all people in the United States were covered by some type of life insurance in 2015, according to LIMRA’s 2016 Insurance Barometer Study. Other findings from the study include:
Thirty-four percent of Americans say they are likely to purchase a life insurance policy within the next year.
Sixty-six percent of consumers say they are at least somewhat likely to recommend ownership of life insurance to others, an increase of 11 percentage points over last year. Nearly 9 in 10 consumers (86 percent) agree that most people need life insurance.
Fifty-one percent of Millennials and 30 percent of people overall are very or extremely likely to consider wearing an activity tracker and share those results with a life insurance company in return for financial rewards for healthy behaviors; the number more than doubles (to 65 percent) when considering consumers who already use an activity tracker.
For additional information contact us at IGoQuote.


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Brazil does not export pork meat to the Chinese market, which with production of 40 million tonnes per year is the largest in the world.China seeking external suppliers
“Although it is the world’s largest producer of pork, demand is growing fast and China is seeking external suppliers,” said the executive director of the Union of the Pork Product Industry of Rio Grande do Sul, Rogério Kerber.
The Chinese mission will remain in Brazil for 10 days and will visit the states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Goiás. The mission will visit refrigeration facilities, pig farms, production areas and the laboratory system and waste checking facilities.
In 2008, China rose from third to first in the ranking of the countries importing agri-business products from Brazil. Click here for the free Pig Progress newsletter


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Since November of 2020, congestion at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has been creating a bottleneck which is having on effect on cargo owners and ultimately retail prices. High import levels are driving the congestion and an easing of volumes is not in sight.
Late last year, GLDPartners Mobility Solutions completed a Statewide Mobility Strategy for the State of New Mexico and since that time quite a lot has happened toward advancing the State as a US leader in mobility.
GLDPartners will be participating in a Mobility Roundtable in New Mexico this coming Thursday and Friday. Our firm recently completed the New Mexico Mobility Strategy business plan recommendations for the State last year, and this forum is an important event to help guide and advance New Mexico's objectives to support the industry to flourish throughout the State. The proposed strategy included elements pertaining to policy and regulation, infrastructure, testing and development, and economic development. The Strategy focuses on autonomy and advanced clean propulsion system technologies.
In the Journal of Commerce this week, Ari Ashe wrote an article "Inland ports gaining popularity despite volume slowdown". The article makes reference to beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) using inland ports on the US East Coast, in Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. GLDPartners is working on several strategic new inland ports.
There is little doubt that battery swapping will be a meaningful element of the EV landscape in the future. It remains to be seen what the balance between work/home charging vs. field swapping looks like in 15 or 20 years. There's a strong likelihood that swapping batteries will be a part of the EV industry structure.
The US semiconductor industry has long been the global semiconductor leader. They have consistently accounted for 45% to 50% of global revenues. But now, more semiconductors are being manufactured in East Asia than anywhere else in the world. The WSJ’s Asa Fitch and Luis Santiago recently wrote that East Asian countries now dominate semiconductor manufacturing [...]
Two class leaders Daimler Trucks and Waymo join-up. Daimler has gotten very serious about leading the next generation of automated long-haul trucking via their Torc Robotics acquisition last year and now this with Waymo. We've had the opportunity to work with both Daimler and Waymo over the past few years and understand this to be a very powerful combination.
Global Logistics Development Partners | GLDPartners and GLDPartners Mobility Solutions is working at the very dynamic intersection of supply chain efficiency, logistics hub development and mobility technology, and we are witnessing tremendous opportunity in the development of far more efficient and successful logistics hubs. Increasing acceptance of autonomous vehicles is opening up opportunities to sell additional mobility services, with autonomous logistics one of the big winners
GLDPartners is pleased to announce that Dennis Lombardi has joined the firm as Maritime Logistics Associate. Dennis will lead seaport projects in the GLDPartners Ports and Intermodal Practice in the US and in other markets.
The expanded structure substantially deepens Mobileye’s ability to provide a complete service to the business model that is banking on people not always owning a vehicle. As it stands today, Intel may be alone it an ability to provide a full package including: hardware, sensors, software, integration and large-scale services.


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Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) is taking online groceries to the next level and opening a new front in its escalating war with Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN).
The nation’s largest grocer is testing a new organic grocery service through its Denver-area subsidiary King Soopers. Internet Retailer reported that Kroger has added a feature called KingSoopers.com/Live Naturally to the King Soopers site. Live Naturally is an online store that looks a lot like Amazon.com.
It serves as a showcase for Kroger’s organic offerings, including its highly successful Simple Truth private label as well as a wide variety of products not found in a typical King Soopers store. The idea behind Live Naturally is to use the ecommerce and fulfillment platforms that Kroger acquired when it bought vitamin retailer Vitacost.com last year.
The system combines Vitacost’s fulfillment solutions with the click and pull application Kroger got when it bought out the Harris Teeter supermarket chain last year. Click and pull allows a customer to order an item online and pick it up at the grocery store. The system is being tested in Denver because King Soopers has been testing both click and pull and a delivery service called Home Shop in the region for a few years. Denver is also one of the markets where Kroger tests out new services before expanding them nationwide.
Kroger apparently has no plans to roll out Live Naturally nationwide. Instead, it will test the service in Denver and then slowly move it to other cities if it works out.
The Endless Aisle
One advantage to Live Naturally is that it will allow Kroger to offer a far wider selection of organic products without increasing shelf space or store stocking costs. Using the technology, specific items can be shipped directly to the store for the customer to pick up.
Kroger is hoping to develop what it calls the endless aisle online—a giant selection of items designed to increase the inventory that it can sell without incurring additional store costs. Internet Retailer reported that Live Naturally will offer around 36,000 natural and organic products.
One way this can be done is to stock specific products in just one or two stores in a market; for example, in upscale neighborhoods where people are more likely to buy organic. If somebody in another part of town orders something like quinoa pasta, it can simply be shipped to his or her neighborhood store.
This system is also being deployed to head off Amazon, which is now offering some private label brands online, and Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), which is testing similar capabilities. Another reason for the experiment is to try to reach one of the harder demographics to sell to: millennials.
Kroger is hoping to reach more millennial shoppers that do not respond to some of its traditional marketing methods such as newspaper inserts and TV advertising. Since a lot of younger people do not read newspapers or watch broadcast TV, it is safe to assume they are not seeing Kroger ads.
By placing a wide variety of merchandise for sale at Live Naturally, Kroger is hoping that persons searching for organic items, such as brown rice, will find them through search engines. That way a 30-year-old mother looking for organic baby food will be more likely to find it and peruse some of Kroger’s other deals.
Kroger also needs to establish itself as a viable organic grocer in the eyes of younger shoppers that might think of it as their mom and dad’s grocery store. One way to do that is to become the go-to place for organic foods.
This shows a very sophisticated grasp of ecommerce on Kroger’s part. It also demonstrates how this chain has become America’s biggest grocer and will probably stay that way for the foreseeable future.
Kroger Needs Revenue Growth
There is another reason why Kroger is making such an aggressive foray into e-commerce. The grocery giant needs some revenue growth, which has been slowing after remarkable increases in recent years.
Kroger reported a pitiful year to year revenue growth rate of .27% on April 30, 2015. As recently as January 2015 it had reported a rate of 8.55%. The mega grocer needs to take some serious action to generate new revenue growth. Live Naturally could help it do that because it targets two fast-growing segments: organics and ecommerce.
The best known organic grocer, Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM), reported a year to year revenue growth rate of 9.78% on March 31, 2015, according to Ycharts. Another organic grocer, the much smaller discounter Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ: SFM), reported a revenue growth rate of 18.67% on March 31, 2015. Kroger’s web sales also grew by 7% in 2014.
Live Naturally is also a direct shot at both Whole Foods and Sprouts, which compete directly with King Soopers in the red hot Denver grocery market. Kroger is trying to develop a strategy to counter the fast-growing organics and to head off potential competition from Amazon.
Kroger is once again demonstrating why it is not only the nation’s largest grocer but one of the nation’s most sophisticated retailers. Amazon is going to have a hard time competing with this giant in the grocery business.
Disclosure: Your friendly neighborhood blogger is a longtime King Soopers customer and Kroger stockholder who conducts retail sales through Amazon.com.


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Does your suncream pass the safety test?
by SEAN POULTER, Daily Mail
Britain has around 2,000 deaths a year from skin cancer.
This is more than Australia, where a 20-year sun awareness campaign has cut the annnual toll to 1,000.
The Government and health groups are trying to raise awareness in this country and encouraging the use of lotions.
But according to tests published by the Consumers' Association, three big brands - Boots Soltan, Superdrug Solait and the Simple range - did not keep out ultraviolet B rays as well as was claimed on the packaging.
UVB rays burn the outer skin and can trigger cancer.
Several products, including the Simple brand, failed to offer the claimed protection against ultraviolet A, which penetrates beneath the skin and is linked to long-term DNA cell damage and cancer.
The study also looked at products for children and found that one from Superdrug and another from Sainsbury's were not as good as claimed.
The brands all questioned the validity of the results and the reliability of the equipment used in the Consumers' Associatioon's tests.
However, the results appear to confirm concerns about suncream standards identified by the Trading Standards Institute last week.
The institute said seven of eight sunscreens designed for children, which it tested, did not offer the protection claimed. Suncreams have two standards for protection.
The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) relates to keeping out UVB rays.
In theory, an SPF rating of 15 should allow wearers to stay in the sun 15 times longer without burning. Then there is the UVA star rating, where the highest figure of five offers the best protection.
A Boots Soltan product claiming n SPF of 15 scored only ten, according to Which?. A Simple brand product with a 15 rating managed only nine.
Malcolm Coles, editor of the Consumers' Association magazine s Which? magazine, said: 'One product's SPF 15 doesn't necessari l y e q u a l another's, so you could get burned even if you followed all the instructions on the label. The SPF on the label should reflect the lower end of the range, so people aren't putting themselves at risk.
'Manufacturers need to work on more robust test methods to ensure we're getting the protection we're promised.'
The institute is calling on the Government to back a change in the law to bring in a tough policing regime for suncreams, as is the case in the U.S. and Australia.
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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Passwords to electronics such as iPhones and tablets could soon be a thing of the past.
Fingerprints or iris scans to access computers is said to be easier to use and much more secure. But even as technology improves, so do opportunities for hackers.
For example, the creation of a synthetic fingerprint -- and just like that, there's access to someone else's iPad.
Early versions of iPhones that used fingerprint technology were also susceptible to hacking and there's no shortage of YouTube tutorials to show how it's done.
"If someone can replicate that fingerprint, then they've got it all," said Paul Viollis, chief executive officer of Risk Control Strategies.
It's called biometrics -- the use of fingerprints, iris scans and other personal physical identification that is more and more becoming the norm for increased measures of security.
Violis is a a security expert who says it has to become the standard.
"Biometrics puts an end to human error," Violis explained. "You didn't turn your computer off, you forgot to log in, you left your password readily available. No one is getting into that desktop, no one is going to breech that information unless it's the person that's authorized."
And biometric systems are stepping up to meet the demand.
Jason Chaikin, President of Vkansee Technology, has developed a fingerprint recognition that offers an even more detailed identification pattern.
"We see more than 150 features, micro features, inside the fingerprint -- giving so much more information to accurately identify a person," Chaikin said.
At NYU Langone Medical Center, they use the vein patterns in a patient's hand for identification.
"The palm print means you never have to worry that anybody else is working on your account or impersonating you," said patient Dale Burg.
Burg's identity is confirmed through this scan, and backed up with a picture on file. There's no clipboards or paperwork, and there's an added benefit for this medical institution as well.
"Think about the people that come into the hospital who are unconscious, who can't identify themselves, who don't have any ID on them," said Dr. Neica Goldberg with NYU Langone Medical Center. "If they've been to the NYU system we can take their vein pattern and know who they are."
Security experts stressed that even with the new technology, the best way to protect your personal advices is with a tiered approach – biometrics for general access, and passwords for other personal accounts that could be protected.


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Recession 2020, corona virus has made me ask this question from the experts, is 2020 going to be next big recession year for the world?
As you have seen many factories have been closed and people are loosing their jobs because there is no business and customers are focusing to save themselves from novel virus.
Investors have stopped investing in the market, real estate or even stock exchange.
Blame game of china is on, china is blaming that virus was transfered to china from US to slow down their economy as experts were saying China is to become next big economy beating America.
Chinese officials say that they have recovered from it and life is coming back on track as many industries are reopening.
Now the think which is itching me inside;
What will happen to those who are on daily wages in country like ours Pakistan? There are people who do not get any job daily and complete their needs on the earning of last week.
Major effected will be the people who are on daily wages.
In the war of these rich people poor people will suffer alot on which economies are dependant.
Here is the thing I have been seeing on social media;
- This news is spreading faster than the epidemic of corona, is this some media campaign to settle the trade war between 2 major economies of the world (China and US)?
- Or is it some kind of strategy of big companies to acquire companies and go for mergers so that no one ever could rule the market except these giants?
- May be it is some kind of panic being created by pharma companies to increase the sales of their products like masks, sanitizors, soaps or medicines etc.
Please share what do you think on the current state of the world in the comment box below.
UN Chief says;
“More than ever, governments must cooperate to revitalise economies, expand public investment, promote trade and ensure that people and communities affected by the disease are supported,”


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In the four weeks since marijuana has been legalized, dozens of Montrealers have tried to buy the drug from a neighbourhood florist. They’ve made these attempts in spite of several red flags. For one thing, the shop is clearly no newcomer to the community. It’s been in business for decades. For another, cannabis can only be legally purchased in Quebec through government-run stores.For people looking to get their hands on weed, though, those facts are overridden by their faith in search engines and the name of the store itself.
“People started to call and come in or ask for pot and oil and this and that,” Pia Teichmann, owner of The Flower Pot, told CTVNews.ca.
“Because I’m not a marijuana person, I had no idea initially what this was all about.”
When the calls and walk-ins from confused marijuana-seekers mounted, Teichmann and her staff were able to piece together what had happened. As Teichmann explained it, people had gone online and searched for nearby places to buy marijuana.
Search engine algorithms presumably twigged to the word ‘pot’ in the store’s name and offered it up as a suggestion. Teichmann estimated that her store has received nearly 40 inquiries about the marijuana plants they don’t actually have. Most, she says, are understanding once they realize their mistake. One man even said he’d return to the store another time to buy some flowers.
Sometimes, the 73-year-old Teichmann will be asked if she knows where the nearest legal SDQC store is. (For the record, she doesn’t.) One of her delivery drivers told her she should try marijuana for herself, although she doesn’t seem interested. “I’m too old for that,” she said. Teichmann, who bought The Flower Pot with her husband in 1976, said the apparent high demand for marijuana – even from a store that doesn’t sell it – has taught her an interesting lesson. “It’s probably much more profitable to sell pot than it is working with flowers,” she said.
Ironically, some prospective customers might have had about as much luck finding marijuana at The Flower Pot as they would have at the actual cannabis stores. SDQC shops have stopped opening their doors on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays due to persistent supply issues.


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The news of Medusa hackers leaking the PhilHealth data on the dark web after refusing to pay the ransom demand has become a source of national concern. Scam Watch Pilipinas is urging the public to be more vigilant online and start practicing cyber hygiene to fend off any form of online scams whether it’s related to the PhilHealth incident or not.
Scam Watch Pilipinas is introducing a new attitude to practice cyber hygiene called MAGHANDA (Be Prepared):
- Change and use strong, unique passwords: Regularly change and always employ complex passwords for all your accounts and applications: Banking and Financial, E-Commerce, Email, Social Media, Entertainment and others.
- Secure your accounts: Always Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible for an additional layer of security.
- Keep your apps and software up-to-date: Regularly update your computer, smartphone, and other devices, as well as the apps and software you use. These updates often contain security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could exploit.
- Install a reliable antivirus software and firewall: These tools can provide additional protection by detecting and blocking malicious software.
Scam Watch Pilipinas is also reiterating the other four attitudes needed to prevent netizens from becoming a victim of cyber fraud released last month:
- MAGDAMOT (Be stingy). Never give or lend money online especially to people you don’t know, or you just met. Majority of messages in emails, SMS or social media that asks for money is a form of scam. The best way not be a victim of fraud is to be stingy online.
- MAGDUDA (Be suspicious). Always be suspicious and never immediately trust “too good to be true offers” in messages, emails, and social media. Double check and always verify authenticity of the sender before giving out personal information.
- MANG-ISNOB (Be a snob). Ignore messages in SMS, emails and social media with threats or warning coming from banking, financial and e-commerce institutions especially if you know that you have no pending business or transaction with them. Always save the number of you family, friends, colleagues in your address book so you can ignore callers and SMS with unknown numbers.
- MAGSUMBONG (Report). Always report incidents of scam to the Inter-Agency Response Center (I-ARC) Hotline 1326. dditional I-ARC numbers are also available: 0947-714-7105 (SMART), 0966-976-5971 (Globe), and 0991-481-4225 (DITO). Or you can go www.scamwatchpilipinas.com to connect to the I-ARC hotlines using your mobile phone.
Incorporating these habits into our daily digital lives can create a formidable first line of defense against scams.