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As we know, the federal government has implemented a package of changes to Australian insolvency and bankruptcy laws to provide relief from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
The package included a temporary insolvent trading ‘safe harbour’, which provides company directors with temporary relief from the risk of personal liability for insolvent trading between March 25 and September 25, 2020, provided certain conditions are met.
We also know that the Australian Taxation Office has implemented a series of measures to assist taxpayers, including automatic lodgement deferrals and payment deferrals on request. For example, the ATO previously announced an extension of the lodgement and payment date for 2019 income tax returns to June 5, 2020, (and June 30, 2020, for SMSF returns).
Following a joint submission by the professional bodies to the ATO and Treasury, on May 25, 2020, the ATO announced that if tax professionals were unable to meet the deferred due dates, late lodgement penalties will not be imposed provided that returns were lodged by June 30, 2020.
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In addition, some businesses affected by COVID-19 can apply to the ATO for payment deferrals up to September 14, 2020.
There are some who consider that the measures, together with other schemes such as JobKeeper and the cashflow boost, will lead to an influx of companies that are relying on COVID-19 relief measures to stay afloat.
Directors of companies that have sought deferrals from the ATO, or that are relying on any of the relief measures, should be wary, as the relief measures are not all-encompassing protections.
Subject to the specific deferrals granted by the ATO, companies are still expected to comply with their lodgement obligations, to pay their tax debts when they are due, and to comply with their directors’ duties, including the requirement to act in the best interests of the companies’ creditors. Importantly, for company directors, the ATO’s ability to recover unpaid tax liabilities under the Director Penalty Notice (DPN) regime has not changed.
What does this mean?
This means that company directors can be made personally liable to pay (as a penalty) outstanding amounts of Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) withholding, superannuation guarantee charge (SGC), GST, luxury car tax and wine equalisation tax. Moreover, many companies will face economic difficulties well beyond the six-month period during which the temporary insolvent trading ‘safe harbour’ applies. Unless this temporary measure is extended by the government, it will not provide relief for debts incurred after September 25.
Directors’ personal exposure under the voidable transaction regime also remains in place. Under this regime, where the company has made payments towards PAYG, SGC or GST debt in the six months before the company goes into liquidation, in certain circumstances the liquidator can require the ATO to repay those amounts to the company.
The ATO can then seek an indemnity from the directors, effectively making the directors personally liable to reimburse the ATO for the lost payments. A number of requirements must be established for this regime to apply. Importantly, it will only apply if the company was insolvent when the original payments were made to the ATO.
While the ATO has largely put a halt on its debt recovery actions, except for pursuing the more troublesome and risky taxpayers, it won’t last forever. Come the end of September, the current JobKeeper scheme and the temporary insolvent trading ‘safe harbour’ are scheduled to end. This will likely trigger lenders and creditors to pursue their debtors more aggressively, and no doubt the ATO will want to be at the front of the queue to protect the government’s revenue.
Our advice? Be informed
Our practical advice for company directors is to be aware of the issues which they are facing, including whether there will be any reprieve in the coming months, with the understanding that tax liabilities will need to be paid at some point in time.
Directors who are concerned about solvency once COVID-19 relief measures end should be taking steps now to address their concerns by speaking to their accountant or trusted adviser and, if necessary, an insolvency practitioner. Similarly, advisers who are concerned about companies and businesses facing economic distress should speak up now.
There may be an opportunity for directors to rely on the pre-existing safe harbour provisions, introduced in 2017, to develop and implement a turnaround plan. Directors should also be open to formal insolvency options, such as administration, which may offer an opportunity to turn the economic impact of COVID-19 into a positive change.
One thing is for sure, waiting for the ‘end’ of the economic impact of COVID-19 with your fingers crossed is the worst choice you can make.
This article was first published by Hall & Wilcox.


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The Ardennes Union of Nurserymen (UAP) is raising the alarm over a thorny issue in the Belgian festive season - Christmas tree sales.
"IKEA is ruining the market in Belgium and France and forcing the price of Christmas trees down," Jonathan Rigaux, the president of UAP, condemned in an interview given to Sudpresse newspapers on Friday.
Belgium is the third biggest producer-exporter of Christmas trees in Europe after Germany and Denmark, Rigaux observed, estimating that "85% of Belgian production is for export."
Times are hard for the profession, explains Rigaux. For the past two years, many nurserymen have worked for nothing as their production is seeing no profit. Sooner or later it will be necessary "to come round to adjusting prices because they are no longer sustainable in the long term," added Rigaux.
A major reason for this, according to Rigaux, is the giant Swedish low-cost home furnishings IKEA, who "is ruining the market in Belgium and France and forcing prices down."
"Out of the 64 nurserymen in the UAP, there is only one supplying IKEA, the remaining trees come from the east where Christmas trees are produced on a totally industrial scale. IKEA have been sold 400,000 of these trees, imagine the good that would do for our nurserymen if these 400,000 fir trees were sold by our producers," Rigaux pointed out.
"This really is a situation I deplore at a time when short supply chains have never been talked about so much," he determined.
The Brussels Times

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It sounds like an oxymoron, but the new Chevrolet Sonic is a really good General Motors subcompact and it's the only vehicle in that class currently built in the United States
General Motors will sell a small totally electric car beginning in 201
These cars all get high mileage and have earned the 'Top Safety Pick Award'
The latest version of the performance icon has a few fuel-saving tricks up its sleeve.
While most Chevrolets are fairly ordinary cars, a few make history and sell for huge sums of money.
In the past 6 years, giants like Exxon and Walmart have slid while tech companies have soared.
Here's a list of the best newspaper movies.
In total, the 'Pinnacle Portfolio' is the most valuable group of cars from one collection ever sold in a single auction.
Are robots catching up to humans? Yes. Should we be scared? Find out!
The median home price climbed to $236,400 in June, according to the National Association of Realtors. Here's what that will buy you across the United States.
Living by the water doesn't always have to set you back seven figures.
These are the cars that America loves the best, according to J.D. Power's latest APEAL survey.
These 10 power couples are each worth tens of billions of dollars, making Beyonce and Jay-Z look middle class in comparison.
|Canada is on the verge of a recession|
|Here's why women feel cold in the office|
|12 things you didn't know you could do with Gmail|
|Jon Stewart takes parting shots at Fox News|
|Puerto Rico just defaulted for the first time in its history|


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A retired doctor knocked a motorcyclist off his bike on a Perthshire road– then gave him CPR which may have saved his life.
The new Volkswagen Golf has been revealed with a lightly updated exterior design but big advancements inside.
Volkswagen has made the Golf R hot hatch even speedier.
Volkswagen's updated e-Golf has entered British showrooms and can now be bought with up to £10,000 off its list price under the new VW scrappage scheme.
A budding Romeo who put the foot down in a “moment of exuberance” after a Dundee date with a new flame went well has dodged jail, despite hitting almost 140 miles per hour.
A Montrose man could be facing jail after admitting one of the highest speeds recorded on the A92 dual carriageway in Angus.
Car and business owners in Newport are counting the cost of repairs after vandals brandishing BB guns ran riot through the town.


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Jade's Journey: Part II - a new chapter begins
While snow caused some headaches across the tri-state Wednesday morning, it meant more money for others.
One hero's reward, coming right up.
Charles Ramsey, who helped rescue the three Cleveland women held captive by Ariel Castro, will get free McDonald's from his local fast food favorite for the next year, a McDonald's spokeswoman said.
The big burger g...


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– WWE 2K14 will be released on October 29th, 2013, according to a report by IGN. While an earnings release notes that it will be released on all platforms, only XBox 360 & Playstation 3 are listed.
Take-Two is WWE’s new video game partner as they acquired the rights to the license following THQ’s bankruptcy. Details are slim regarding the upcoming release, other than The Rock being on the cover.
– Rey Mysterio commented on his return via Twitter:
“I wanna take this time to THANK all my 917.1K followers for the support! Should B back in the ring soon!619Luv?”
– Dolph Ziggler noted that he will not be on tonight’s RAW. He tweeted:
“no ziggs at #RAW ouch @WWE swags/del rio will surely entertain JK JK at least cenas there doing fresh material, i bet ;)”


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With a growing and loyal fan base, Hyde’s interpretation of fine art has toured all over the world and his artwork, including his limited edition prints, has sold out art shows worldwide.
To celebrate 10 years in the international art world, the Doug Hyde Collection, a licensed product range inspired by Hyde’s fine art collections, is being launched.
"We're delighted to be representing Doug as his fine art collection makes its licensing debut,” says Alicia Davenport, licensing director, DRi. “His work is charming, heart-warming and engaging, and its distinctive style will translate wonderfully to the extensive range of products that we have lined up.”
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DON'T SHARE NUISANCE.
Nokia to unveil new Lumia smartphone on Tuesday
Nokia is expected to bring in high-resolution photography from the Nokia 808 PureView to the new Lumia phone.
New Delhi: May has been a month of launches for the struggling Finnish mobile phone giant. In the first 10 days of the month Nokia announced the Nokia Asha 210, Nokia Asha 501 and the Nokia Lumia 928.
Now the company is setting the stage for its big launch of the month - a new Lumia device.
Nokia is teasing the new phone with a promo campaign on UK television that shows off a dual-LED flash and claims it will be "more than your eyes can see."
In all likelihood the phone will bring in the high-resolution photography from the Nokia 808 PureView to the new phone that is rumoured to be the Nokia EOS.
The product will unveiled at an invite-only event in London on Tuesday, May 14, that begins at 10AM (2:30PM IST).
IBNLive will bring you live updates from the big Nokia announcement. Follow us on Twitter for more.
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text: The race toward commercial production of a computer memory chip that can store more than 1 milion bits of information — four times as much as the best currently available chips can hold — is getting hotter. Several Japanese and U.S. companies described their latest entries recently at the International Solid State Circuits Conference held in New York. Smaller than a dime, AT&T’s dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip (left) allows individual memory cells to be accessed within 80 billionths of a second. IBM, which announced its first megabit DRAM chip last year (bottom, right), has a new one (top, right) that is smaller and operates twice as fast as the original model. Although the experimental IBM chips were fabricated on existing production lines, commercial production of the chips is at least a year away. Who will win the race is still unclear.


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supporting, developing and representing community groups,
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
Kirkcaldy launches pilot project to help businesses after lockdown
Kirkcaldy businesses are the first in Scotland to trade online using the shopping platform ShopAppy. The site gives shoppers a way to shop local during lockdown and beyond to help support the local economy and to encourage people to buy from local independent businesses.
This is a pilot project, supported financially by Fife Council and ShopAppy Kirkcaldy, and is currently only open to Kirkcaldy businesses - who are being given the chance to participate free of charge in the scheme for six months. Afterwards, businesses can still participate in the scheme for the equivalent of just £5 a week. This initiative is currently being delivered by the newly formed Love Oor Lang Toun community group, and is supported by Greener Kirkcaldy and Fife Council.


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“Going Public,” the groundbreaking streaming series that allows viewers to invest in featured startups while they watch, today announced a new promotional agreement with Dow Jones & Company, home to leading publications including Barron’s, MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal and Mansion Global. Season 2 of the show will stream exclusively on a dedicated custom content partner page on MarketWatch later this year.
“Going Public” is a first-of-its-kind streaming series where viewers follow the capital-raising journeys of companies who have crossed their Series A funding stage. Season 1 of “Going Public” made history in 2022 by allowing viewers to seamlessly invest in featured startups from their phones, tablets, and laptops. The inaugural season streamed on Entrepreneur.com and was viewed more than 12 million times, averaging 1.2 million viewers per episode. The four featured companies raised millions from a mix of retail and institutional viewers during the 10-week season.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to collaborate with Dow Jones as the next phase of our development,” said Darren Marble, executive producer of the series. “We’ve created a new category at the intersection of finance and entertainment, and the team at Dow Jones is fundamentally aligned with our mission to enrich the financial education landscape with an innovative approach.”
“With an engaged audience of active investors, MarketWatch is the ideal destination for the ‘Going Public’ series,” said Jeff Warford, client partner of financial services at Dow Jones. “The entrepreneurs and businesses featured make for a very entertaining experience, with the added bonus of being able to invest directly.”
“Dow Jones’s unmatched audience is a great fit for a series that allows viewers to invest while they watch,” said Todd Goldberg, executive producer of the series.
With production already underway, the next season of Going Public will bring a star-studded cast and stream exclusively on a dedicated custom content partner page on MarketWatch later this year. To learn more, visit www.goingpublic.com.
About Going Public
Going Public is a groundbreaking series that follows the stories of founders on their capital-raising journey. For the first time ever, viewers can Click-to-Invest and buy shares in featured companies while they watch. The companies featured in the Going Public series have engaged Dalmore Group LLC (Dalmore) to serve as broker-dealer of record for their Securities Offerings. Dalmore is registered with the SEC and is a member of FINRA (www.finra.org) and SIPC (www.sipc.org).


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For a while now, it’s been the same chip makers in the mobile space. TI and Qualcomm have been there forever, and Samsung has been putting their own chips in
Micromax and eyeSight partner up to create what seems to be a new type of smartphone. Although, their Android A85 Superfone boasts ordinary specs for today’s standard. This devices offers a
Ever since Siri’s iconic entrance into Apple’s deck of playing cards, there have been a plethora of software entrants vying to usurp Siri’s place of double power: public recognition and
A new e-reader is on its way to China thanks to Qualcomm and Hanvon. The Hanvon C-18 e-reader boasts itself to be the thinnest and lightest e-reader on the market.
At CES2012 T-Mobile outlined plans to continue expansion on “America’s Largest 4G Network” along with new devices, rate plans and services. They spoke of two new devices, the first(the 2nd
The folks over at CNET have gotten their hands on the 4G LTE Sprint Galaxy Nexus… and it’s as real as real can be. There’s not a whole lot to
Verizon Wireless and In Motion Technology announced a new 4G LTE hotspot, that they’re hoping will be popular with consumers. Taking advantage of In Motion’s onBoard system, this new device
The device above is the Pantech Element, a waterproof LTE tablet for AT&T. It’s packing an 8-inch 1024 x 768 display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, Honeycomb, and of course LTE connectivity.
A camera that runs Android?! That’s right! No more hassle with taking a picture, uploading it to your PC and then sharing it with the world. With the Polaroid SC1630
Are you an Android gamer who lives in the LA area and want to win $10,000 AND/OR a trip to Korea? You will have the chance to compete in this tournament
It doesn’t need to be stated that Android tablets are becoming increasingly popular. They’re stylish, they’re sexy (most of the time), and they’re more convenient than hauling a several pound
Today at CES, Nik Software announced their new Snapseed for Android tablets running Android 4.0. Snapseed is a new software that will bring new photography tools to Android tablet
Slacker, one of our favorite Android radio apps, is getting an overhaul today at CES. The new update has been optimized for tablets and features superior graphics and album
Tired of being tied down by wires when it comes to your external storage? So are Seagate and Verizon, as they have announced a brand new LTE enabled wireless
Qualcomm announced at CES that their new line of Snapdragon processors are powering the Smart TVs at CES, and they’re bringing in to full web browsing and access to the


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Tesco has launched a partnership with rapid delivery start-up Gorillas in a move which will mean customers can get products from the supermarket in 10 minutes.
The UK’s largest supermarket chain said the ultra-fast delivery pilot starts at midday on Thursday from its store in Thornton Heath, South London.
It is the latest move from a UK supermarket group into the rapid delivery sector amid continued high demand for shopping to be taken directly to customers doors.
Tesco products will be available for customers to purchase from the Gorillas app within a selected area.
The partnership will see Gorillas set up micro-fulfilment sites at five large Tesco stores, where they will pick, pack and deliver to customers.
It said the first site, in Thornton Heath, will use excess warehouse space at the back of the store and stock around 2,000 products.
Jason Tarry, Tesco UK & Republic of Ireland chief executive officer, said: “The idea that we can reach our customers in just 10 minutes is really exciting.
“We are committed to being easily the most convenient choice for our customers, enabling them to shop whenever and however they want.
“This pilot with Gorillas will help customers get their products right away, supporting those looking to buy food for tonight or last-minute forgotten items.”
Tesco has already expanded into rapid grocery delivery with its own Whoosh service, which can delivery shopping with 60 minutes.
It said this service has expanded to around 50 Express stores and now expects to reach 100 stores by the end of the year.
German firm Gorillas is among a flurry of venture capital-backed start-ups rapidly growing in the on-demand delivery market.
The company confirmed last week that it secured a one billion dollar (£730 million) funding package, with backers including takeaway delivery firm Delivery Hero.
Adrian Frenzel, chief operating officer at Gorillas, said: “We’re thrilled to be announcing this first-of-its-kind commercial and real estate partnership with Tesco.
“As a fast-paced company at the forefront of the on-demand grocery industry, we are always looking for ways to innovate, and this co-location partnership will bring unprecedented value to our customers in the UK who will now have the possibility to be delivered the best of Tesco within minutes thanks to Gorillas.”


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When it comes to food safety in meat, catching pathogens and other issues at the source is of the utmost importance. Still it’s something that food producers wrestle with on a daily basis, while food safety agencies search for ways to improve conditions. This week the USDA is encouraging such advancements, by awarding scientists at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL), Kansas State University, and ten other schools a $25 million research grant to work on improving food safety conditions by reducing the risk of E. coli during beef processing.
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the grant to a research team consisting of 48 scientists, led by UNL veterinary scientist Jim Keen. Over the course of the next five years, Keen and his team will undertake seven related projects with the united goal of better understanding how non-O157 type Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria infect cattle and move through the beef production process, hopefully leading to a better understanding of how to prevent that bacteria from entering the nation’s food supply in the first place.
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This is the largest grant that the University of Nebraska has ever received from the USDA – and one of the most significant, as the issues it tackles hit close to home for many Nebraskans. “This research has enormous ramifications here in Nebraska and across the nation,” said UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman in a statement from the school. “Beef is big business in the state, and the industry prides itself on delivering a safe product to consumers. This project will help ensure the safety of beef products, through the research conducted at participating institutions, the transfer of this knowledge to collaborators in the beef industry and educational programs for consumers.”


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MIAMI, 22 MARCH 2010 - Google has stopped censoring results in China, acting on a decision it made in January.
On Monday, Google stopped censoring Google Search, Google News and Google Images on Google.cn, according to a blog post from Chief Legal Officer David Drummond.
"Users visiting Google.cn are now being redirected to Google.com.hk, where we are offering uncensored search in simplified Chinese, specifically designed for users in mainland China and delivered via our servers in Hong Kong," he wrote.
As expected, the Chinese government didn't entertain allowing Google to continue operating an uncensored Google.cn. The Hong Kong work-around is "entirely legal," he said.
"We very much hope that the Chinese government respects our decision, though we are well aware that it could at any time block access to our services," Drummond wrote.
Google has set up a Web page where people can monitor the status of its services in China.
It's highly unlikely that the Chinese government will look the other way and allow access to Google.cn, said Joseph Fewsmith, a Boston University professor or international relations and political science.
"I'm surprised Google thought there was room to negotiate on that [censorship] point," Fewsmith said.
Google continues research and development work in China and maintains a sales team in the country. "All these decisions have been driven and implemented by our executives in the United States, and ... none of our employees in China can, or should, be held responsible for them," Drummond wrote.
On Jan. 12, Google shocked the world when it announced that it would stop censoring results in its China search engine, Google.cn, because the company had been the victim of hacking attacks originating in China.
Through the attacks, hackers stole Google intellectual property and broke into the Gmail accounts of China human rights activists, the company said. At the time, Google said it would seek talks with the Chinese government over ways it could operate Google.cn legally without censoring, although experts said the chances of that happening were at best slim.
If no middle ground was reached, Google said it would be willing to close Google.cn and shutter its offices and operations in China, a drastic move considering China is one of the biggest and fastest-growing Internet and telecommunications markets in the world.
Google has declined repeated requests in recent weeks to discuss its China impasse, and it is not clear how much present and future revenue the company would forgo by exiting China's search market. Analysys International expects China's search market to reach 10 billion yuan (US$1.46 billion) this year.
The impact on Google would be larger if it also stops providing online services like Gmail and Picasa, which it monetizes via online advertising, and its Android mobile operating system, which it licenses to mobile carriers, handset makers and PC vendors.
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Device Rental Program
Kenzen, makers of smart PPE that monitors the heat health of workers in hot and humid conditions, has announced a new rental program for its wearable devices. The rental program is being launched to help companies of all sizes across many industries protect workers and maintain productivity during the 2021 summer working season.
Kenzen sells its solution as a three-part system that includes wearable worker monitors; a worker alert app; a manager app for on-site supervisors to predict and prevent heat stress of individuals on the job; and a data analytics dashboard for corporate environmental health and safety leaders to track patterns and make improvements to their heat safety programs.
To allow companies of all sizes to quickly deploy the new technology for real-time heat stress management, Kenzen is offering rental packages of 10, 20 and 50 devices. The Kenzen kit includes devices, armbands, device chargers, apps available for both iOS and Android phones, and packaging for easy returns at the end of the rental period.
Packages can be rented for a four-month period online at https://store.kenzen.com, where training videos provide instructions for use and deployment. Kenzen also provides a snapshot of worker risk levels and alerts after the rental period, which can be used by companies to enhance their heat intervention techniques, such as locations of shaded areas, hydration stations and ice baths, and PPE clothing selections. https://store.kenzen.com


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Not getting into the festive spirit: Councils slash spending on Christmas lights and street decorations
Hard-up councils across England are being forced to pull the plug on decorative Christmas street lights in a bid to save cash over the festive season.
And some towns will be completely in the dark over Christmas because local retailers have been unable to stump up enough cash to help pay for the annual attraction.
A survey has revealed that 38 per cent of villages in England are going without community Christmas decorations this year because of a lack of local authority funds.
Lights fantastic: Shoppers in London's Oxford Street enjoy the Christmas lights - but many local authorities are struggling to finance street decorations this year
And even towns and cities that are going ahead with a display are cutting back on their 'switch-on' events, drafting in local dignitaries rather than celebrities to turn the lights on.
According to the Observer newspaper, Chichester in West Sussex will be without any Christmas lights after local businesses failed to match the £15,000 set aside by the council to fund the decorations.
And authorities in Cheltenham have also cut the service this year in a bid to save money. Last year the council spent £33,000 decorating the town in the run-up to Christmas.
The cuts have been supported by watchdog Taxpayers' Alliance, which suggested that decorations should not be a priority for councils struggling to pay for essential services.
Campaign manager Robert Oxley said: 'It's not about being Scrooge, but being sensible with your budgets.
Crowd pleaser: Thousands of spectators turned up to watch Christmas lights being switched on in the centre of Manchester earlier this month
'You get some local authorities spending tens or even a hundred thousand pounds of taxpayers' cash on a huge switch on when they are cutting back on essential services.
'In times when savings have to be found, it would seem sensible not to spend a fortune on fairy lights.
'Everyone wants to enjoy Christmas and lights in town centres are often part of the festivities, but that doesn't mean taxpayers should be left footing million pound bills just for decorations.'
But some retailers have condemned the move, arguing that Christmas lights attract thousands of shoppers who may go elsewhere to see an extravagant display switched on by a major star.
Birmingham City Council - which drew in thousands of shoppers when it hired pop band JLS to switch on its Christmas lights in 2009 - received a raft of complaints from local businesses this year after it slashed its budget for the event - and had its lights switched on by a group of tap-dancing turkeys and Darth Vader.
Full of festive cheer: Officials in Bath hired actor John Cleese to turn on the town's Christmas lights this year
'We do not believe it is low-key - we believe it is different,' a council spokesman said.
'We're very much pushing the real meaning of Christmas and the traditional elements. It's a different take more directed at families.'
In contrast, town officials in Manchester spent £50,000 to light up the city centre this year.
'In the current financial climate it is more important than ever to attract shoppers and other visitors to our city centre,' councillor Pat Karney said.
The National Association Of Local Councils said that authorities were working hard to provide festive street spectacles, despite budgetary constraints.
'We know that many local councils are looking to continue Christmas lighting for their community as it brings social and economic benefots for the area,' a spokesman said.
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Google to launch a foldable Pixel smartphone next year
Google is reportedly planning to launch three Pixel smartphones in the fall next year. While two are believed to be Pixel 6 series smartphone, the third one is expected to be the foldable Pixel smartphone.
Google recently revealed its budget Pixel 4a smartphone while confirming that Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 smartphones will arrive in fall this year. Then today, the company accidentally revealed the launch date for the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 smartphones. Now, a report says that Google will launch a foldable Pixel smartphone in 2021.
A new document reviewed by 9To5Google talks about the Pixel smartphones that Google is planning to launch next year. The document, that lists the builds of the Android mobile operating system that Google has used since the Pixel 2, not only includes details about the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 smartphones but it also contains details about the unannounced Pixel smartphones.
As per the report by the publication, the document mentions the Google Pixel 5a, which is codenamed Barbette. In addition to that, the document also mentions three other devices with their codenames, which includes Raven, Oriole and Passport. While Raven and Oriole are believed to be the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 XL smartphones, Passport in the document is explicitly being referred to as being ‘foldable'. Additionally, the document says that the three phones will arrive in Q4 of 2021.
Notably, this is not the first time that we have been hearing reports of Google working on a foldable display smartphone. The reports of Google working on a foldable Pixel smartphone first surfaced last year. At the time, Pixel head at the time, Mario Queiroz in a statement to CNET has said that the company was prototyping a model. However, it didn't see a clear use case at the time. However, in light of the recent developments, it is safe to assume that Google sees a use case now and hence it is working towards launching a foldable Pixel phone next year.
Follow HT Tech for the latest tech news and reviews , also keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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One year ago there were two dedicated UK job search apps. Both of these were job aggregators, including Allthetopbananas.com.
No Job Board, Rec Con or Corp had grasped the opportunity to engage with iPhone candidates.
Our recent review of the situation shows a different story today. As of the 14th June 2010 there are 32 iPhone apps providing UK job search services.
How does the space break down, who is making use of the rapidly growing potential that is Mobile Recruiting?
Breakdown of UK job search iPhone Apps
‘Other’ was made up mainly of aggregation services.
Since March 2010 there has been a 45% growth in the number of applications, whilst very few apps were released in 2009.
The current mix of Mobile Recruiting apps shows only 25% focus on vertical sectors, while the other 75% compete to support job seekers from any industry.
If the current growth trend continues we should expect circa 60 iPhone apps providing UK job searches by the end of the year.
However, our inside information suggests that the current growth trend will increase; we estimate that by Jan 2011 there will be closer to 100 UK Mobile Recruiting applications.
As we supply 50% of today’s UK iPhone Recruiting apps, I can share that there has been significant growth in downloads during the last 3 months and high activity of searches. The job seeker is ready for Mobile Recruiting – is the industry?


text: On display recently at LA fashion show was a new range of T-shirts, mens' work shirts and children's shorts, trousers and skirts made by Crocs. Colorado-based Crocs are poised to launch a plastic-inspired clothing range including shirts, shorts and skirts containing the closed-cell resin, Croslite TM soft, spongy foam resin. The resin is blended with natural fibres called Croslite rt (rt stands for relaxed technology) and spun into a yarn to create a breathable fabric which is resistant to harsh chemicals and heat, ensuring longevity after exposure to sun, UV light and sweat. Croslite rt is marketed as ideal outdoor clothing. The company will release a range of male and children’s clothing which go on sale in the US , later this year. Plans to sell overseas will follow in 2008. For children, Crocs will create a full line of shorts, pants and skirts. The children's bottoms feature an adjustable waist and roll-up cuffs to ensure growing kids can use their clothes longer. The range of female attire will also follow but the company have restricted their range to male and children so far. When available women's shirts will be equipped with "wire friendly" portals in the chest pocket to facilitate the use of earphones. In the last four months, strong sales have increased the value of Crocs' stocks which have more than doubled since the beginning of May (2007), when it was trading at just under $30 (US). Finacial experts are predicting Crocs (shoe) sales will rise from $354m (£178m) in 2006 to $820m in 2007. The company has ramped up its production capacity to 5m pairs of shoes per month and investers appear to approve the company's diversity into general apparel.


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Dutch government further restricts export of Dutch chip machines to China. ASML is allowed to export less advanced chip machines to China.
This writes Foreign Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher in a letter to the House of Representatives. The minister called it a matter of national security in conversation with De Telegraaf. The move is not a surprise. The United States pressured the Dutch government to restrict deliveries.
Schreinemacher states that she wants to prevent Dutch equipment from being used for military applications. In addition, she argues that the Netherlands wants to reduce its strategic dependence on China.
Advanced old machines
The new restrictions come on top of the already existing ban that stipulates that state-of-the-art chip machines are not allowed to go to China. Now some of the older chip machines will also come under the licensing requirement. As a result, ASML can no langer export these to China anymore either.
“The additional national export control measures concern very specific technologies in the semiconductor production cycle in which the Netherlands has a unique and leading position, such as the most advanced Deep Ultra Violet (DUV) immersion lithography and deposition,” Schreinemacher writes.
The cabinet wants to try to get the new export restriction in place before summer.
ASML does not expect major impact
ASML has previously commented on the measure. Indeed, there has been international talk for some time about a possible export ban on the machines. The U.S., in particular, exerted pressure to counter a technological advance by China. During a visit by Prime Minister Rutte to President Biden, the issue was still on the agenda.
When ASML presented its financial results in late January, it was clear that the company has no reasons to worry about sales performance in 2023. Worldwide demand for the machines is high, and the order book for this year is full.
Commenting on the new decision, ASML said it will take time until the restrictions are legislated and take effect. “Based on today’s announcement, our expectation of the Dutch government’s licensing policy and the current market situation, we do not expect these measures to have a material effect on our financial outlook we have published for 2023 or on our longer-term scenarios as announced during our Investor Day in November last year,” ASML said.
In addition, ASML stressed that the additional restrictions do not apply to all lithography tools. Only what is referred to as “most advanced” are affected. “While ASML has not received additional information on the exact definition of ‘most advanced,’ ASML interprets this to mean ‘critical immersion’ which ASML defined in our Capital Markets Day as the TWINSCAN NXT:2000i and subsequent immersion systems.”
Finally, the statement explicitly cites that EUV tool sales have already been limited since 2019.


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Caterpillar Inc.'s (CAT) shares dipped 1% following its announcement of a 12% decline in global retail sales for the three months ending Nov 2013, with sales dropping in all regions. The drop hovers dangerously close to the year’s lowest drop of 13% that was registered in February. With this, the construction and mining equipment behemoth completed a year of declining sales.
Prior to this, Caterpillar had witnessed a 20-month stretch of negative sales from Sep 2008 to Apr 2010 due to the global recession. In May 2010, the company reverted to sales growth and there was no looking back as sales picked up on strong equipment demand both domestically as well as in the emerging markets.
However, sales started declining since Dec 2012, affected by tougher year-earlier comparisons, rising inventories of unsold equipment, weak economic conditions, and slowing down of the Chinese economy, which had otherwise been the main driver of construction and mining demand.
As mentioned earlier, so far in 2013, Caterpillar had fared the worst in February with a decline of 13%. Since then, the narrower decline of 7% in May sparked some hopes, but it was short-lived as the sales graph again started trending downward and dipped to 12% decline in October and November.
In November, North America, Caterpillar’s largest market in terms of geography, which had registered growth in September, disappointed with a 2% dip. Sales in Latin America dropped 8% in November. The region had enjoyed a 10-month stint of growth, which abruptly ended in Jul 2013. Growth rate escalated to 28% in April this year as demand for construction and infrastructure projects spurred equipment demand in Brazil, with preparations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in full swing.
Asia dragged down overall results with a 24% decline and sales in Europe, Africa, the Middle East (:EAME) were at its worst in 2013 with a 16% drop. Sales in the region had dipped in single digits till June. Sales in ROW (Rest of the World) dipped 17%.
Reciprocating & Turbine Engine Retail sales dipped 5% year over year globally. Sales to the industrial markets increased 20% and the petroleum market increased 1%. On the contrary, sales to transportation and electric power markets plunged 17%.
Caterpillar's performancein the first nine months of 2013 has been disappointing as revenues dipped 17% year over year to $41.2 billion, primarily due to reduced mining demand and decline in inventory.
Even though sales in the fourth quarter are expected to be slightly higher than in the third quarter, earnings per share may be lower due to higher costs resulting from seasonal spending patterns. The company also expects another substantial decline in dealer inventories in the fourth quarter. Caterpillar has trimmed its fiscal 2013 guidance for three quarters in a row. For fiscal 2013, Caterpillar now projects sales of $55 billion and earnings of $5.50 per share in 2013.
The recovery in the U.S. construction sector is expected to provide a much needed boost to Caterpillar’s revenues. However, declining backlog, recent weakness in the emerging markets, and negative impact of the European debt crisis could weigh on Caterpillar’s growth and operating performance over the next several quarters. In such a scenario, Caterpillar is looking to curtail costs and get rid of some hindrances by resorting to temporary layoffs, and shutting down or shifting operations.
Caterpillar currently retains a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Some better-ranked stocks in the retail sector include Kubota Corporation (KUBTY), H&E Equipment Services Inc. (HEES) and Alamo Group, Inc. (ALG). While Kubota carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Alamo Group and H&E Equipment Services hold a Zacks Rank #2(Buy).


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Performance enthusiast are always looking for a way to go faster, and Corsair obliges with its CMK16GX4M2F4600C19 dual-channel memory kit. We test it!
Corsair's new memory kit has many GBs, many MHz, costs many dollars, and gives you many bragging rights. It's not the fastest out there, though.
Though these new memory modules might not be as fast as the company’s recently announced Vengeance LPX kits, they are the fastest kits the company has to offer in 4x8GB capacities.
Now that DDR4 memory has been available, we're finally starting to see various vendors reveal their 128 GB memory kits.
As the first consumer DDR4 kit available at 128GB, Corsair’s latest Vengeance LPX sets the trend for future 16GB-per-DIMM capacities.


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Compared to prices for concert tickets, home furniture or travel, tech prices have a habit of coming down — and fast — sometimes in just a few short months. See which categories are most likely to drop.
WASHINGTON — A new study finds that babies as young as six months are already smartphone and tablet savvy. Presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, the study of 370 children ages six months to 4 years,…
New technology that puts onstage action right into the laps of patrons could soon change the face of opera.
The face of the family computer is changing quickly — tablets continue to flourish as PC sales continue to decline.
Parents need to put their foot down when it comes to electronics in the bedroom.


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Lidl Ireland have announced a €1 million contract with Waterford-based Solar Energy Provider, Enerpower
The company has been appointed to install solar panels on a further 10 Lidl store projects over the next 12 months. Lidl Ireland said this means they will now be the largest rooftop solar array owner in the country. That is more than 3,300,000 kwh provided by solar energy at the end of the year
By the end of 2020, Lidl said they have invested almost €4 million in solar panel infrastructure across their store and distribution centre network. Through photovoltaic solar panels on 22 Lidl stores and the retailer’s Newbridge regional distribution centre, enough energy will be generated to power more than 950 Irish homes each year
Lidl previously partnered with Enerpower on the installation of Ireland’s largest ever installation of solar panels at the retailer’s 58,000m2 Newbridge regional distribution centre. Through the new contract with Enerpower and the existing PV solar panel array across Lidl’s store and distribution centre network, Lidl will have invested €4 million in solar energy by the end of 2020.
Fergus Sharkey, head of business for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, said:
“SEAI commend Lidl, a member of SEAI’s Large Industry Energy Network and a previous winner of an SEAI Energy Award, for their work in reducing its carbon intensity to date and for their continued ambition with this initiative.
“For Ireland to meet our national energy objectives, large energy users need to be innovative and forward thinking to reduce energy demand and increase renewable energy usage.
He said he hopes Lidl can inspire other companies and individuals to address their own energy consumption and climate impact.
Owen Power, managing director of Enerpower commented saying “Lidl Ireland is a remarkable partner of ours, making significant strides towards more sustainable operations across their retail store and distribution centre network.
“We are delighted to be working with Lidl again to grow and enhance their solar energy capabilities, reducing their carbon footprint, generating significant cost savings and contributing positively to Ireland’s sustainability agenda.”


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"It's hard to comment at this early stage, but it could be very bad news for outsourcing opportunities. Any major company considering outsourcing its application development could be up for increased costs."
Bob Burns, managing director, BCC Advertising Systems"Services, which is a high-margin area and is currently not taxed, could present a downside because that is where most are getting their margins from. Not lowering the top tax rate does nothing to help Australia attract skilled workers."
Bruce McCabe, senior industry analyst, Gartner Group"We're likely to see a decrease in the cost of PC components as the 22 per cent wholesale tax will be reduced to 10 per cent. That will presumably stimulate demand from end users who will also have more change in their pockets flowing through from the tax cuts. "There may well, however, be a slow-down three to four months immediately after the tax is introduced."
Graeme Penn, general manager of research, IDC"I think it will boil down to the consumer and how much they want to spend."
Alex Vassallo, manager of Meghead
"For business, the issue will be the collection of the GST and how that fits around them. The very small end are protected in that if they have under $250,000 in turnover, they can elect to tend their GST on a cash basis."
Greg Hayes, small business spokesperson, Australian Society of CPAs"As an assembler, I believe it will be very good for the IT industry, providing a level playing field by making it more difficult for small businesses to evade sales tax. Avoiding wholesale sales tax on components will be more difficult."
Peter Lai, vice president Asia-Pacific, Edge Computers"There may be an inflationary effect initially, but in Canada and New Zealand, that was temporary and caused by artificial price increases. We've got two years to sort it out.
"While the proposed plan is for the GST to be paid every quarter instead of current sales tax paid every month, this could represent a real improvement in cash flow."
Maree Lowe, director Anabelle Bits
"We have stores in New Zealand, and as a result of the introduction of the GST, the issues of sales tax fraud are nowhere near as severe. The GST will not eliminate fraud, but it will make it harder to abuse, and should cut out those resellers who seem to operate outside the tax net."
Tony Gattari, Harvey Norman general manager, computers and communications"From a developer's point of view, any extra cost generated by a GST would be passed on to the end user.
"Developers operating in the $100,000 product range may have more capacity to negotiate prices than those developing and selling packages up to, say, $500.
"The lower price end of the market may be more price sensitive."
Chris Yeoh, managing director, Illumin8 (software developer)"We wouldn't revise our budgets up or down. I think it will have a very minimal impact, especially in networking, communications and e-commerce, which is such a strategic way for companies to derive cost savings."
David Shein, managing director, Com Tech"If the GST means we can compete more fairly with retailers who seem to lose the sales tax component of their systems, it could be a good thing. If I have to employ any extra staff to administer the new tax system, the benefit to my business may be lost."
Tony Prince, managing director, comPlus Computers"The upside is once and for all the Government will be cleaning up this industry."
Ross Whitelaw, general manager of Leading Edge Computers"This will be the final nail in the coffin for tax cheats and will eliminate the black economy."
Ron Harris, managing director, Harris Technology"We're unsure what the impact will be on the service component of our business, which is the most critical area for us."
Johnathon Fisk, CEO, Senteq


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WILMINGTON, DE – The Chemours Co. has begun the commercial startup of its new titanium dioxide (TiO2) line at its Altamira plant in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
Chemours reached mechanical completion of the line in December 2015. The company has now begun to run the new line using the Chemours chloride process, producing Ti-Pure™ TiO2 pigment for customer qualification.
Production on the new line is expected to ramp up steadily with full nameplate capacity of 200,000 metric tons per year being achieved over a few years. As this happens, Chemours will balance utilization across its other facilities to align with customers’ needs.
“The commercial startup of Altamira will help us achieve the near-term cost reduction objectives and future growth in our five-point transformation plan,” said Mark Vergnano, President and CEO. “We will leverage the facility’s low-cost capability to supply the high-quality products that our customers expect from our global manufacturing network.”
With facility scale, proprietary process and know-how, and an ability to use a wide variety of ore feedstocks, the company anticipates that it will reduce overall costs of TiO2 manufacturing by about $20 million annually. In addition to the Altamira plant, Chemours also manufactures TiO2 products at sites in Mississippi, Tennessee and Taiwan.


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The region’s major business associations and their top leaders gathered June 27th for a press conference to rally in support of the Port of Charleston, the cruise industry and Carnival Cruise lines and the overall need to focus on growing and developing the region’s economy in response to the law suit filed last week against Carnival.
The groups present included:
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
Charleston Regional Development Alliance
Charleston Restaurant Association
Charleston Trident Home Builders Association
Trident CEO Council
Maritime Association of South Carolina
Mt. Pleasant Business Association
Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce
World Trade Center Charleston
All of the organizations today, represent thousands of members who are committed to supporting the Charleston area by creating a business environment and quality of life that advance the wealth and well-being of all Lowcountry citizens. The cruise industry has been part of our working waterfront for decades, bringing jobs and business to the area.
The lawsuit filed by the Coastal Conservation League is a direct attack on Carnival Cruise Lines and their ability to conduct business in the Port of Charleston. The cruise industry has a $37 million annual economic impact on the Charleston region by supporting hundreds of maritime jobs, including harbor pilots, stevedores and longshoremen. In addition, local businesses such as food suppliers, florists, office supply, healthcare, and more provide goods and services to the cruise industry.
“Is any community prosperous enough to turn its back on jobs and one of its top economic platforms?” said Ron Jones, Chairman of the Charleston Metro Chamber. “The Charleston Metro Chamber is committed to supporting our region, the lifestyle, jobs and businesses of our residents. Imagine the message this lawsuit against a private customer of the Port is sending to other businesses who may consider moving to our area?”
“The Port of Charleston is a critical statewide asset and a key economic engine for the Charleston region and for South Carolina,” said David Ginn, president & CEO of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance. “This lawsuit against one of the Port’s customers sends the wrong message to businesses worldwide. We must have a port that is healthy in order for our region to remain globally competitive.”
“The Port of Charleston and Carnival Cruise Lines provide numerous employment opportunities to our region. Our Port has a significant economic impact on not only our region, but the entire state of South Carolina. This lawsuit impedes on the well-being of our state, puts up another roadblock for our businesses trying to come out of an economical valley, and implies that South Carolina is not a business friendly state,” said Elaine M. Morgan, CEO, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce.
“This lawsuit is wrong and sends the wrong message to business around the world about our region. We are not, in fact a place that doesn’t want business. We are instead a community that welcomes new business and new jobs and opportunities for all,” said David Maybank III, Chairman, World Trade Center Charleston.
"During the otherwise dark days of 2009, Carnival selected Charleston for a new weekly cruise service. While some few may see it differently, we on the waterfront view the magnificent Fantasy as a White Knight. We're glad to have Carnival, and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship,” said John Hassel, President, Maritime Association of South Carolina.
“We believe that the Port of Charleston is the single most important asset in our region. It is the engine that drives business to our region and to the entire state of South Carolina. The lawsuit not only sends a negative message to any business or industry that is considering relocating here, but also has a serious impact on existing industry and the lives of people that it supports.” said Will Russell, Chairman of the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce.
“In this economy, job creation is our number one priority. Having Carnival as part of our community is necessary to reduce unemployment through their support of local businesses by bringing thousands of visitors to our great region. It is unfortunate that the CCL continues their policies of valuing their own self-interest, under the guise of saving our quality of life, over job creation for the middle class,” said Phillip Ford, Executive Vice President, Charleston Trident Homebuilders Association.
“There are legitimate concerns that should be addressed; however targeting the cruise line is only a diversionary tactic that is meant to drive away one of the top cruise lines in the industry. The opposition’s tactic to file a lawsuit against the cruise line, instead of the Ports Authority has damaged our port’s reputation in the international shipping community. It seeks to drive away other shipping industries that would call on our ports, further diminishing our ranking as an international port destination on the East Coast,” said Shawna Harris, president, Mt. Pleasant Business Association.
- For background information on the lawsuit filed against Carnival, take a look at the Charleston Regional Business Journal's post on the issue from earlier this month.


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A new Halo game is headed to Xbox One in 2014, Microsoft revealed at its E3 2013 press conference today.
Bonnie Ross, general manager of 343 Industries, took to the stage to reveal that the next installment will take "full advantage" of Microsoft's next-gen console, highlighting cloud features. For the first time in series history, she said, the next Halo game will run at 60 frames-per-second. You can check out the cinematic trailer, which appeared to include a gigantic Promethean enemy, that aired during the event below.
The most recent installment, Halo 4, was released for Xbox 360 in November 2012. Developer 343 Industries picked up development for the sci-fi first-person shooter and began the new three-part Reclaimer Trilogy. Halo 5 will be the second entry, picking up where Halo 4 left off.
In This StoryStream
- WTB physical DS2 for PC in US
- Polygon Off-Topic Weekender: We broke 1K! (8-9 March)
- Prepare for Titanfall (Xbox One)
- More Pokémon Discussions: Redux
- Getting a PS4
- I feel PC is a better investment than a console
- Anime, Cartoons, Comics! Plight Vol. 2, No. 5: The where I yet again break the rules
- PD Users: Defined at Last! (Humour)
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- Battlefield 4 forum?


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PPG has named Miller Auto Parts & Supply Company, Inc., as its 2010 Platinum Distributor of the Year. The award was announced at PPG’s annual Platinum Distributor Conference, February 24 – 27, at Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Florida. Charlie Lightner, president of the Huntingdon, Pennsylvania-based distributor, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
“I am extremely elated and very proud of our entire organization and thank PPG for this award,” said Lightner. “I attribute our success to our two general managers, Jamey Robertson and Jim McGonigle, and our 250 employees. They’re very knowledgeable and we get tremendous support from everyone at PPG. This is wonderful recognition for everyone’s efforts.”
Bob Wenzinger, director of the PPG Platinum Distributor program, presented the award to Lightner.
“This is a much deserved honor for Charlie Lightner and the hard-working team at Miller Auto Parts & Supply,” said Wenzinger. “They do an exceptional job for their customers, who benefit from the company’s technical expertise and outstanding knowledge of our products. The phenomenal growth they’ve been able to achieve reflects their commitment to being the best at what they do.”


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Google searches for a GDPR edge
From Friday, the EU's new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be in effect and European citizens will have greater control and oversight over how their data is used. The most obvious manifestation of this to date? A deluge of emails, pop-ups and other messages from sites and services about updated privacy policies.
But plenty of businesses are also struggling with similarly turgid terms and conditions.
There's no doubt GDPR has the potential to be a long-term boon to European businesses. It will also place Europe ahead of the rest of the world in terms of data protection and it will force European firms to innovate in relation to users' privacy. But, in the short term, there's a feeling that Google is using its market dominance to ensure its continued dominance. So just how pushy is Google getting with digital publishers?
Well, it is insisting that the publisher is a co-controller of any data used to serve personalised ads.
That means websites must obtain end users' consent to use and store cookies, to collect and share personal data - including IP addresses - that allow for the personalisation of ads. As a result, websites are going to have to start telling you which advertisers can access your information on their sites, what those advertisers are doing with that data, and keep a record of users' privacy settings. Expect more pop up messages. Lots of them.
There are other problems. Because the programmatic advertising supply chain is both murky and dynamic, website owners can't tell who's bidding on their inventory.
There isn't always a comprehensive list of advertisers that can appear on their pages. So publishers have no way of informing users who might be using their IP addresses to serve personalised ads. Any publisher that accepts responsibility for gathering the consent to serve ads is also opening themselves up to considerable risk. If they fail to obtain consent on Google's behalf, they can be fined 4pc of their annual turnover.
Google has also ruffled feathers by not yet signing up to the Interactive Advertising Bureau's GDPR framework. This framework is far from perfect, and hasn't had much overt support from publishers, but it is an attempt at an independent standardised approach to safeguarding users' online security.
Google's absence leaves it dead in the water and leaves publishers without any a unified approach to managing consent. Google has said it is working with IAB Europe to support the framework, but hasn't said whether it would register as a vendor.
Publishers haven't been shy in voicing their irritation to Google. Late last month, four major publisher trade groups boasting a joint membership of about 4,000 newspapers and magazines, wrote to Google. They didn't hold back.
They accused Google of brinkmanship, saying it was waiting to the last minute to announce its GDPR plans, giving publishers little time to assess the legality or fairness of their proposals. They accused Google of looking after number one, saying Google was more concerned with protecting its business model rather than helping publishers to comply with the letter and spirit of the law.
They also said Google is potentially overstepping the mark by claiming it's a co-controller of the data it receives from publishers or collects on publisher pages. "Claiming such broad rights over all data in the ecosystem", the letter says, "without full disclosure and without providing publishers the option for Google to act as a processor for certain types of data, appears to be an intentional abuse of your market power."
This is fighting talk from the publisher trade groups. But time is running out. The big question is come next Friday, will they have softened their cough? Will they have reluctantly been forced to agree to Google's terms? Do they have any choice?
Sunday Indo Business


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CPN Residence Co Ltd, a residential developer under listed company Central Pattana Plc, aims to achieve total revenue of Bt10 billion in 2022 with plans to launch up to 25 new residential projects from 2018-22, the company’s managing director, Kree Dejchai, said at a press conference yesterday.
Three new projects worth Bt2 billion were launched this year in Nakhon Ratchasima province worth Bt800 million, under the Escent brand. They were completely sold out last week. One project, worth Bt580 million, under the Escent Ville brand will be launched next week in Chiang Rai province, while another, worth Bt900 million, will be launched in Chiang Mai on December 2-3, he said.
The company plans to launch up to four projects worth Bt2 billion next year. This will drive up its estimated total revenue in 2019 to Bt3.5 billion, up from the estimated Bt3 billion in 2018. The four new projects will be located close to Central Shopping Centre in Bangkok. One of the projects will offer single detached houses, while the other three will be condominium projects, he said.
Kree said the company will start the transfer of its three condominium projects launched last year in Rayong, the first project in Chiang Mai, and in Khon Kaen to its customers within the first half of next year.
This is the first time CPN Residence Co Ltd will be booking revenue after being established in 2015.
“Our business strategy is to launch new projects located close to Central Shopping Centre nationwide and that is the key to our success in the three condo projects worth Bt3 billion that were sold out last year,” he said.
“When we launched our three projects last year in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Rayong, we had to answer serious questions such as how to sell our condominium projects at a time when there was an oversupply of in the provinces.
But we were successful in selling all of them within five months of their launch, thanks to most of them being located close to a shopping mall. This created value for the condominium projects,” Kree said.
He added that the demand to buy residences in the provinces is still seeing strong growth, depending on the location and product design.
“Most of our customers are people who stay around the Muang district. It will serve people who send their family members to study and work in Muang district. We also allow customers to buy only two units per person. This is one way of ensuring real demand and avoid speculative purchases.
As a result we are confident that we can transfer all of our residences worth Bt3 billion in Rayong, Chiang Mai, and Khon Kaen province,” he said.


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The Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone has announced it will trial an assistance program from July 15, 2017, to help the Zone's enterprises mitigate the harmful effects of trade. Read Full Story
The European Parliament has approved a package of additional trade concessions for Ukraine, designed to increase trade flows and foster the country's economic development. Read Full Story
China's State Council has reportedly supported plans to further the liberalization of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, to support the Mainland's ongoing Belt and Road initiative. Read Full Story
Saudi Arabia is hoping to lure Japanese firms to invest in the country with tax breaks to be offered in new free trade zones. Read Full Story
Foreign investment restrictions on manufacturing and certain services are to be eased at the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone this year. Read Full Story
Hong Kong's Chief Executive, CY Leung, has explained how the territory aims to boost growth opportunities, including through the use of tax breaks. Read Full Story
On November 18, China launched an international tax service hotline at the 12366 Shanghai international tax service center, which was set up in January this year with the aim of assisting Chinese businesses to conform to international tax standards. Read Full Story
Jebel Ali Free Zone, a free trade zone in the United Arab Emirates, announced that it has launched a new office block. Read Full Story
The regulators of the Dubai International Financial Center and the Abu Dhabi Global Market have agreed to support each other on enforcing international financial market regulations. Read Full Story
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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - School districts in California and New Mexico are trying to ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos as a snack because they say it is a health hazard to students.
School officials say the concern is their nutritional value, or lack thereof.
Each bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos contains 26 grams of fat and a quarter of the mount of salt that is recommended for the day.
On top of the artificial coloring and flavoring, some experts say the Cheetos are hyperpalatable, or highly addictive.
One school district in Illinois, which used to sell about 150,000 bags each year, has already taken the snack off its menu.
Frito Lay, which makes and sells Cheetos, says it is committed to responsible and ethical practices, which includes not marketing our products to children ages 12 and under.
While Flamin Hot Cheetos are under fire in schools, kids cant get enough of them. Some even took the liberty to post a YouTube video featuring kids rapping about their love of the snack .
This video has been viewed over 3.3 million times and there are Facebook fan pages dedicated to the snack.


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Let's take a momentary detour from our usual travels around the world of supermarket retailing to consider the plight of that quintessential fast-food vendor, McDonald's Corp., to see if there's any similarity between the cures it's taking for sluggish business and those supermarkets are considering. McDonald's is a vast company with some 31,000 stores worldwide. It got to that size by pursuing rapid growth centered on opening big numbers of stores each year. Last year alone, it opened more than 1,000. Now McDonald's is facing some fundamental problems, most of them far worse than those of supermarkets. Chief among them is that its product offer is little more than a one-note tune, and when that tune goes out of fashion, there's little sound and less music. Indeed, a survey issued last week by the NPD Group shows that of a key client demographic, 18-to-34-year-olds with kids, 48% say they will spend less on fast food. McDonald's faces other proliferating problems, too, including that its brand is viewed in some places in the world as a stalking horse for U.S. culture, which means some overseas growth must be put on hiatus.
In reaction, McDonald's announced plans last week to reduce its annual capital-spending budget from $1.9 billion to $1.2 billion and to trim the number of outlets to be opened this year to 360. That's still big money, but clearly a move toward risk aversion. McDonald's is contemplating changes in core product line, too: its menu.
By comparison, then, supermarkets have a fairly benign slate of difficulties set in front of them, but, as you'll see on Page 1, the capital-spending cure McDonald's is taking is also prevailing at many supermarket chains. And that makes a lot of sense. After all, any retailer that sees a weak economic marketplace dotted with too many stores that sometimes produce a declining return on investment would decide to pull back on new-store development.
As is reported in this week's news feature, each of the Big Three traditional supermarket retailers -- Kroger, Albertsons and Safeway -- is backing off new-store endeavors in favor of fill-in projects, such as remodeling. And that's true of many other supermarket operators as well. And, just as McDonald's is seeking menu changes, supermarkets are looking at tweaking the product offer by considering larger departments in perishables and nonfood, plus the addition of fuel centers.
One executive quoted in this week's news feature pointed out that the return on a remodel is realized far more quickly than it is from an entirely new location: "An enlargement is a more productive investment than a new store. An enlargement will produce a return right away, whereas a new store will have a maturation factor that will have to come into play."
The new caution about capital spending also means companies in a position to do so are likely to grow by incremental consolidation instead of large-scale acquisition. There's plenty of real estate around to make that possible. Kroger acquired two independents last week and, with Eagle Food Centers' second Chapter 11 filing, there may be much more.


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ASHEVILLE — Four years ago, then-N.C. Department of Commerce official Ray Denny was in Hong Kong on a business trip when he heard a familiar accent.
After a little conversation, Denny, now vice president for economic development at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, found that he had overheard a couple of men from Caldwell County looking to source furniture from Asia to be sold in the United States.
The men were surprised to run into a fellow North Carolinian so far from home, but statistics indicate that they probably shouldn’t have been. Furniture companies, many of them based in the Tar Heel state, have ramped up furniture imports so dramatically during this decade that the number of workers making furniture in North Carolina fell by nearly a third.
But things are just fine. Move along folks. Nothing to see here. Certainly not any jobs.


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The Statler’s $255 million redevelopment has nearly been completed as stakeholders held a soft opening and ribbon-cutting Tuesday. The hotel portion of the mixed-use development, a Curio Collection by Hilton, is now hosting guests in its 159 rooms.
The 1956-era development has a storied past, with celebrities like Elvis Presley and Tina Turner and, more recently, as an empty hotel ripe for redevelopment. The original Statler had been renamed the Dallas Grand Hotel before closing in 2001.
“I hope the city is proud of this, and I think they will be,” says Mehrdad Moayedi, president and CEO of Centurion American Development Group. “Just the fact that we finished and made it across the finish line, and we delivered what we were supposed to deliver—it means a lot.” Farmers Branch-based Centurion bought the project, which overlooks Main Street Gardens, in 2014.
Residents have been living in the Statler’s 219 available multifamily units for about two months. About half the units have been leased, Moayedi says. The 33,000-square-foot event space is available for rent. Two of the five food concepts, Overeasy and Bourbon & Banter, are now open.
“The qualitative effects of having this area re-energized and reinvigorated is very important,” City Councilman Philip Kingston says. “When people wander around downtown and see empty buildings—which they used to—you don’t want to be there. It repels investment.”
The final three food concepts by Dallas-based Epic F&B—Scout, Waterproof, and Fine China—will open by the end of the year.


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Last Updated on January 19, 2024
There\’s nothing new about curating the news and aggregating content, but it goes without saying that content discovery has drastically changed in the past decade. Now consumers expect a frictionless delivery and readily-available news content in return for their interest, and China’s most addictive news app, Toutiao, has gone far beyond that concept.
Toutiao may not be a name familiar in the West, but it’s quickly grown into one of China’s most important platforms. It has over 120 million daily users, who spend an average of 74 minutes on it every day, which is more than the average Facebook and WeChat user. The incredible success of this smartphone app has grown to be known as one of the next generation of Chinese tech giants, challenging the tech trinity of Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent.
What is Toutiao?
Toutiao literally translates to “headline news” and is the number 1 intelligent content distribution platform in China. It allows individuals and media organizations to create their own official accounts for self-publishing and its user base has increased tremendously. Over 85% of its audience are under the age of 30 and the majority are male. It’s a product of Bytedance, a company known for short video platforms like Douyin and Xigua Video.
Toutiao uses AI to aggregate and recommend news stories and the app’s machine-learning algorithms monitor users’ reading habits and offer customized feed including articles, videos and ads. Facebook and Twitter also utilize machine learning to refine recommendations, but the disadvantage of these platforms is that they are more dependent on social connections and include a large selection of mainstream media. In comparison, Toutiao has more than 1.2 million registered content publishers on the platform from businesses and media outlets to bloggers writing about an extremely diversified selection of content.
How does Toutiao work?
Toutiao initially showcases general content to a first-time user and then uses machine learning to learn about the reader’s learning habits and interests based on how the reader engages with the app. As the reader starts to use the platform more frequently, Toutiao adapts to the users’ interests and provides the most relevant content. What really makes the app unique is that it goes a step further to provide the reader with the most personalized news experience.
It learns and understands by tracking user behavior from start to finish including what users click on, where they stop viewing content, the type of story they read, the time of day and even the physical location of the user.
Toutiao vs WeChat
Toutiao has the most powerful recommendation algorithms, which allows it to easily find and match marketers and readers. With the high penetration rate, Toutiao helps marketers target their potential customers and get a ton of content exposure. WeChat on the other hand is undoubtedly the number 1 platform in China and has attracted the most content contributors in comparison to any other platform. The philosophy behind the WeChat official account is still based on social networking where readers can only discover content either by following the creator or from sharing a post. Toutiao is steadily reforming the marketing and advertising industry, and choosing an alternative platform outside of WeChat can provide more flexibility to a marketing strategy.
How does brands benefit for it?
As one of the thriving tech giants, Toutiao has a dynamic ecosystem that covers short-videos to content creation and curation platforms. Unlike WeChat users, content consumption is the primary focus of Toutiao users. The app has no additional features such as chat messaging to distract users from viewing new content. Brands interested in using the platform would now have access to Toutiao’s 700 million registered users that are constantly using the app to devour new and tailored made content. Placing advertisements on the platform or releasing advertorials can have exceptional effects on a brands’ business.
Toutiao runs one of the best short video platforms in China, considering it is well integrated with Douyin. Douyin is a platform that has a majority user base of young Chinese consumers and it allows users to watch and produce entertaining and often funny videos. Toutiao is able to aggregate these videos all in one place to give brands a wide selection of tools to get creative and increase brand awareness on the platform. Geo-targeting on Toutiao can also give brands the upper hand if they want to utilize the app to the fullest.
Brands can launch a campaign across multiple cities and provinces throughout China and bring more sales with less costs considering that Chinese consumers who live in the same place have similar consumption habits. This is very valuable for O2O marketing and brands looking to get creative with their marketing campaign.
One of the biggest benefit that brands can get from Toutiao is through its targeted in-feed ads. The company claims they have cracked the code to keeping users interested, which proves to be working thus far. Toutiao sources content and distributes hundreds of thousands of news articles on a daily basis. Since the prime focus of the app is to create individualized content, it is very easy for brands to identify and cater to their audiences’ interests because this part is already taken care of by Toutiao. Brands that take full advantage of what this platform has to offer can definitely receive an impressive ROI. The ecosystem that Toutiao provides just might be the right breakthrough that brands need in order to set foot in the Chinese market.
- 2019 Top Platforms For Social Media Marketing in China
- Toutiao:China’s most popular news app
- Why You Should Know China’s Toutiao
- what you need to know about Toutiao
- The rise of Toutiao


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Nicki Darzinkas, group marketing and communications director of the Rover Group, has quit the company.
Darzinkas, who joined the troubled car company as a graduate over ten years ago, does not have a job to go to.
Working in the central organisation of the company, Darzinkas reported to Rover Group board director of global sales and marketing Henrik Heitmann. Darzinkas was in charge of implementing the company’s communications and advertising across Rover’s 120 markets.
She was a major influence behind last year’s hiring of WCRS to create a European advertising campaign for the R25 and R45.
However, in recent months Darzinkas’ role in the company has been diminished. At the time of leaving, she handled only the communications and marketing for Land Rover.
Rover Marque director John Parkinson is overseeing Darzinkas’ role while the company looks for a replacement.
Her departure adds to a long list of exits from the Rover Group marketing department in the last ten months.
Last year, the group lost board sales and marketing director Tom Purves, who went to the US as chairman and chief executive of BMW.
Less than a month later, Rover group marketing director Martin Runnacles left to join marketing company Qudos. Darzinkas had reported directly to Runnacles.
Dieter Laxy, drafted in by BMW in Germany to oversee sales and marketing of both BMW and Rover, resigned after just six weeks to work for Volvo as global marketing director.


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As awareness grows close to the risks the world-wide-web poses to young children, far more providers have entered the fray with alternatives to overcome the numerous threats. One of those people businesses is SuperAwesome, which has developed an comprehensive system to assist models produce “safe” content material to kids. The London-primarily based startup promises some massive-name purchasers, such as Mattel, LEGO, NBC Common, and Hasbro, with touchpoints achieving 500 million small children globally.
SuperAwesome has beforehand lifted all around $41 million, which includes a $13 million tranche past February, and today it verified rumors that surfaced previous month that it has nabbed Microsoft as a backer via its M12 venture fund. Neither organization confirmed how a great deal M12 invested, but it is the fund’s 1st area investment decision right after M12 opened its inaugural European office in the heart of London. M12 has further places of work in Seattle, San Francisco, Tel Aviv, and Bengaluru.
Child’s engage in
As young children have more and more developed up with electronic products — alternatively than Television set — as their main variety of amusement it has turn into extra challenging for little one-targeted information businesses and advertisers to arrive at their viewers. A variety of principles and laws have also arrive into put through the a long time to reduce internet websites and cellular apps from accumulating “personal information” from youngsters, such as the Children’s On the net Privateness Protection Act (COPPA) in the U.S. and GDPR in Europe. Therefore, corporations are not just morally obliged to preserve children’s privacy, but they are lawfully obliged, way too.
All the major tech businesses have confronted the heat in current several years about inadequate protections for children on their respective platforms. When YouTube launched a little ones-concentrated app 5 years in the past, it confronted speedy condemnation more than its use of ads and its inclusion of some really grown-up videos. Facebook has also battled to cleanse up its many apps, and has progressively turned to AI to assist make Instagram a extra pleasant spot for absolutely everyone (not just young children). Somewhere else, Amazon provides mothers and fathers FreeTime, which allows them manage the amount of money of time their youngsters commit on their Fireplace tablets — a different membership-based mostly Amazon FreeTime Unrestricted provider also unlocks a slate of whitelisted kid-pleasant articles, which includes apps, publications, video games, web-sites, and movies.
It is crystal clear that there is a rising appetite to make greater protections into electronic products and services, and it’s from that backdrop that SuperAwesome is searching to carve its specialized niche by developing the infrastructure to empower what it calls a “zero-facts Net.” From the child’s standpoint, SuperAwesome’s technology makes sure that they are not tracked online, even though from its business enterprise clients’ perspective it aids them remain compliant with guidelines.
“In 2013 we begun as a handful of people in a place, largely being turned down by investors,” SuperAwesome cofounder and CEO Dylan Collins mentioned. “Today our kidtech platform enables more than 12 billion kid-secure transactions each month, ranging from promoting and movie to group and parental consent.”
From ads to consent
SuperAwesome’s product lineup include AwesomeAds, which enable businesses to serve contextual advertisements not dependent on personal details Kidfluencer, which is effectively kid-secure influencer internet marketing and written content generation for YouTube Young children Web Solutions, which is a toolkit that developers can use to make verifiable parental consent (VPC) capabilities into their applications and PopJam, a social community for small children it acquired from Mind Candy again in 2015.
It’s also really worth noting right here that the SuperAwesome logo has also emerged as a form of “seal of approval” that brands plaster on their digital products and solutions to show that they have been made with small children in mind.
Other firms that guarantee to aid protect children online like Swiss startup Privately, which develops the again stop for app makers to integrate different digital wellbeing features into their individual software program, whilst London-centered SafeToNet has built a safeguarding assistant designed to avoid bullying, abuse, and sexting. Israel’s L1ght is also working in a identical sphere.
M12’s economic stake in SuperAwesome would make a excellent deal of feeling for Microsoft from a strategic viewpoint too, supplied that Microsoft alone has to comply with different parental consent regulations in markets about the environment, although it also presents digital identity administration software package to its have consumers.
“Dylan has cultivated a mission-driven crew focused to preserving the online safer for young ones – a essential precedence for digital-to start with generations, with much more than 175,000 youngsters coming on the net just about every working day,” pointed out M12’s world-wide head Nagraj Kashyap, in a site write-up. “Given Microsoft’s footprint in the identification administration place, we’re also fired up to discover options for partnership with SuperAwesome.”


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CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) — Thanks to the silicon chip shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, new cars are in very short supply, and that’s even driving prices of new cars through the roof. At times, it seems like the car market is mirroring the housing market, with people willing to pay premium prices for something that might not even fit their needs.
Nic Downey, sales and leasing consulting at White River Subaru in White River, Vermont, joined Adrienne on “Morning in America” to discuss the auto market and whether it’s possible to get a deal on new wheels.
Downey did not have great news. After saying that the car shortage looked to be stretching into 2023, he described the current buying process. “It’s really about putting your name on the vehicle that you want, which becomes difficult when you can’t take a test drive,” he said.
“About 95% of our people are going through the order process, in which we describe the vehicle they’re going to get and have them test drive something used that’s as close as possible to the one they want, then we take their order and kind of fall on the sword as we beg for the patience and wait for the vehicle to come in.”
And forget about haggling over the price of your new car. If you don’t like what’s available, there are dozens of people in line behind you who are more than willing to pay for it.
Downey estimated that his dealership had a total inventory of two new vehicles on the lot at the moment, out of a usual stock much larger, and said that the next delivery the dealership was expecting was already 95% sold.
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Fiserv's earlier offer, which valued the group at about 70 million pounds, drew criticism from Monitise's investors led by Cavendish Asset Management, for being too low
"I have taken majority stake in the company and together we plan to invest over Rs 500 crore in the next three years,” said Vivek Oberoi
Yelp said it would enter a long-term strategic partnership in which it would integrate online ordering from restaurants on Grubhub's site.
"This transaction will enable the strengthening of Qualys' technology stack and commercial presence in India," said Philippe Courtot, chairman and CEO, Qualys, Inc.
Madison Media has acquired a controlling stake in Bengaluru-based marketing agency HiveMinds Innovative Market Solutions for an undisclosed amount.
BookMyShow had forayed into audio entertainment with Jukebox, which offers users free music downloads through music credits which are earned at the time of booking movie tickets.
eBay has closed the sale of its India business eBay.in to India's largest e-commerce marketplace Flipkart, nearly four months after the sale announcement.
Payouts are being made to ensure that Freecharge employees don't quit the firm while Axis Bank takes over the company.
Public announcement on the fate of the one of the largest e-commerce merger, orchestrated by Snapdeal’s largest investor SoftBank, could be made today.
Axis Bank is paying Rs 385 crore to acquire 100% stake in FreeCharge, a steep markdown from Rs 2,400 crore that Snapdeal parent Jasper Infotech paid to acquire the company in 2015
DAN had acquired a majority interest in Merkle last year, and India will be the first country in the Asia-Pacific region, where it will be launched.
The proposed deal will value FreeCharge at Rs 385-Rs 390 cr, a steep plunge from the Rs 2,400 cr that Jasper Infotech paid to acquire the company in 2015.
Axis Bank is in final stages of acquiring FreeCharge, the digital payments platform owned by troubled e-commerce marketplace Snapdeal in a $60 million deal
KKR will fold WebMD's websites, including WebMD.com and Medscape.com, into its Internet Brands unit, which houses sites such as DentalPlans.com and AllAboutCounseling.com.
Yatra has acquired corporate travel services provider Air Travel Bureau in an estimated cash-and debt deal of $22.5-27.5 million
The Swiss firm PARX is a Salesforce Platinum partner with a strong presence in the DACH region on Germany, Austria and Switzerland with about 80 people across various locations in the region.
NSO has come under international scrutiny in recent months amid allegations the Mexican government has used NSO's Pegasus mobile spyware to target private citizens.


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Thistle Johor Bahru has been chosen as the Top 25 Trendiest Hotel by TripAdvisor in its 2012 Travellers’ Choice awards!
We’re delighted for our Johor Bahru to have been chosen as the Top 25 Trendiest Hotel! Now in its tenth year, the annual TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards honour the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travellers.
TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travellers around the world.
“We at Thistle Johor Bahru opened our doors in July 2009 and had our heart set on setting a new standard of hospitality service benchmark at the city of Johor Bahru which I’ve called my home for the past 3 years. This international and independent recognition by Tripadvisor’s readers is indeed a testament which the Thistle team and I can truly be proud of as it shows we are on the right track,” said Philip Skitch, general manager Thistle Johor Bahru.
This award is a great honour for any hotel so make sure you convince yourself of Thistle Johor Bahru’s trendiness by treating yourself with an exciting trip to Malaysia!


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It’s been a pretty tumultuous week for both UK citizens and those across the pond.
If you’ve struggled to keep up with anything and everything that’s taken place in the tech world, fear not as our weekly roundup is here to keep you in the loop.
Google Plans A New Ad Blocker
A new ad blocking feature for Google Chrome users was announced this week.
The tech giant is looking to improve its user experience by blocking ads that fall below the ‘Better Ads Standards’ implemented by the Coalition for Better Ads.
The industry-specific group which includes Unilever and P&G was developed last year in a bid to set a standard for global digital advertising.
Pop-up ads, auto-play videos with sound, full-screen scroll over ads and large stick ads will all be banned by Chrome following the installation of the ad blocker.
With a huge rise in the use of ad blockers which are being used by those who are hoping to ban all advertisements, this attempt by Google could see the relationship between user and advertiser improving for the better.
Facebook To Launch A Teen Messaging App
Following criticism from both parents and officials alike, Facebook is looking to tighten teen security by launching ‘Talk’, a messaging service aimed specifically at 13 year olds and above.
The app, which would be linked to its parent app, Messenger, would have a higher level security, with features aimed at preventing online stalking and grooming. Alongside this, parents would also have greater control over who their children talk to and when.
With the Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, having criticised the social media platform, it must be a relief to parents worldwide that their children’s safety is being prioritised.
Instagram Endorses Pride Month
With Pride Month 2017 well underway, Instagram is using its new story feature to endorse the event across the platform.
Using stickers and rainbow themed added features, users are able to customise their personal stories, which in turn will link to #pride2017.
All of the features have been created by LGBTQ artists and each are credited to the creators themselves, while also being enjoyed by the masses.
Facebook And Twitter Face Criticism For Fake News
Sorry folks, but if I would have relied on the Fake News of CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, washpost or nytimes, I would have had ZERO chance winning WH
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 6 June 2017
A study of 1,000 British users recently saw both Facebook and Twitter come under heavy scrutiny for their handling of fake news.
Just 7 per cent of those who partook in the survey felt as though the social media platforms were doing enough to combat the spread of false information.
Alongside this, 70 per cent wanted both Facebook and Twitter to do more to prevent false news being included on their timelines, and 45 per cent admitted that they often struggle to differentiate between what’s real and what’s false.
With fake news becoming an increasing issue for 21st century media, it appears as though users are fed up of being misled by sites claiming to have accurate information spamming their timelines.
Let’s hope an algorithmic change can put an end to the constant stream of madness!
If you’d like to read more about what’s going on in the world of digital, take a look at a few of our other blogs below.