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It has been a busy year at the ChinaEU office. Our lean international team has been working on many fronts and traveling around the world almost as much as a certain jolly fellow with a beard and a red suit. Looking back, we are very proud of what we accomplished and sincerely grateful for all your support!
Now it’s the time to be with our families and open presents at the tree. But first, we want to share this summary of our activities with our loyal readers as a little gift and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
EU-China Digital Tourism
WeChat launches its service in Europe
ChinaEU brings Chinese Internet Giant to Brussels
WeChat – China’s ‘super app’ developed by Tencent- holds its first presentation of its European roadshow at the Tangla Luxury Hotel in Brussels with the assistance of ChinaEU. Andrea Ghizzoni, Director of WeChat-Tencent Europe, brought attention on the opportunities that WeChat can bring to European businesses who want to tap into the Chinese middle class market. Around 40 representatives from tourism, hospitality and luxury industries across Europe participated in the workshop, including some famous names such as Jil Sander, LVMH, Marriott and Radisson Blu Balmoral. Following the event, ChinaEU has also signed an agreement with WeChat to promote its digital marketing solutions to European brands and tourism suppliers. Find out more here.
Ctrip endeavors to boost EU-China tourism
ChinaEU invited Ctrip to high-level meeting and workshop on EU-China Digital Tourism
Ms. Jane Sie Sun, CEO of Ctrip – China’s largest online travel platform – met with the President of the European Parliament Mr. Antonio Tajani. On her trip to Europe Ms. Sun talked about Europe as a top destination for Chinese tourists, Mr. Tajani congratulated Ms. Sun for her efforts in earmarking Europe as a priority destination for Chinese tourists. ChinaEU is proud to have made such meetings possible and contribute to the 2018 EU-China year of tourism.
On the same day, ChinaEU organized with the CEO of Ctrip a seminar with key members of the European Parliament on digital tools and their possibilities to attract more Chinese tourists during the 2018 EU-China Tourism year.
Amongst the attendees were Special Counselor at DG Grow Mr. Eric Philippart, MEP Ms. Elisabetta Gardini, Welcome Chinese President Mr Jacopo Sertoli, China Channel Co-Founder & WeChat expert Matthew Brennan. Apps such as Ctrip and WeChat and their ability to bring more Chinese tourists to Europe were discussed during the event. Mr. Philippart shared his opinion on visa liberalization. Check out the best moments of the event in this video.
ChinaEU speaks at the high-level conference on tourism
Luigi Gambardella, President of ChinaEU, delivered a speech on the potential of China and Digital
Tourism plays an important role in the EU because of its economic and employment potential. The high-level conference of tourism, organized under the wings of President of the European Parliament Mr. Tajani, was a testament to the EU’s commitment to tourism. Amongst the speakers were H.E. Yang Yanyi, Chinese Ambassador to the EU, and Mr. Zhu Xiaolu, Senior Vice-President of Ctrip. In 2018, the EU-China tourism year will bring huge opportunities to Europe. More coverage on this event on our newsletter!
ChinaEU at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation
ChinaEU was honored to be invited to the Belt & Road Forum
Mr. Luigi Gambardella, President of ChinaEU, and Ms. Claudia Vernotti, Director of ChinaEU, were honored to have been invited to the Belt and Road Forum, opened by President Xi Jinping. The event was attended by more than 130 countries, 70 international organizations, and 29 heads of state. President Xi delivered a strong message of inclusiveness: the Belt and Road initiative is open to all countries that are interested in it. Find out more here.
Asia and Europe Discuss Global Connectivity
ChinaEU spoke at the ASEM High-Level Forum.
ChinaEU at Global Innovator Conference
ChinaEU brought the future vision of 5G value chain up for discussion
ChinaEU at the World Internet Conference
ChinaEU spoke at China’s most prestigious conference on Internet
Once a year the Chinese government hosts the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen. This 4th edition attracted the biggest companies in the internet sector. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, Jack Ma, Chairman and Founder of Alibaba, and Pony Ma, Founder and CEO of Tencent, Baidu CEO Robin Li, JD.com Founder & CEO Liu Qiangdong, Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun, on top of executives of Facebook, Amazon, eBay, LinkedIn etc. were all present. ChinaEU was honored to be invited to the forum and Mr. Luigi Gambardella gave a spirited speech on cultural exchange and the internet. To check out more about ChinaEU at WIC, and see Chinese innovation for the future, go to our website!
The Digital Silk Road Roundtable in the Chinese Embassy in Rome
ChinaEU organized a high-level conference in the Chinese Embassy in Rome
Startups & Innovation Exchange
ChinaEU at Startup Olé
Director of ChinaEU Claudia Vernotti attended and spoke at Startup Olé
Director of ChinaEU, Ms. Claudia Vernotti, attended Startup Olé conference in Salamanca, Spain, and spoke in the discussion on ‘Partnering with Europe: Beyond the EU’. She talked about the opportunities for the European startup community to soft land in China and announced the set-up of a new network to connect the European and Chinese startup-ecosystems. Learn more on our website.
ChinaEU-Y-Intelligence startup roadshow in Lisbon
A collaboration between ChinaEU and Y-Intelligence to link Portuguese startups with China
ChinaEU, together with Y-Intelligence, co-organized a startup roadshow at Startup Lisboa, a major incubator in Portugal. Seven Portuguese projects met with a delegation of Chinese investors and companies including Fosun Group and Hengtong Group who are looking to expand their business in Europe
ChinaEU and niHUB went on an exploration of the Dutch startup ecosystem
Claudia Vernotti of ChinaEU and Lucas Rondez, Founder and CEO of niHUB, explored the Dutch startup ecosystem together in order to identify the opportunities for linking it to the Chinese startup ecosystem. They visited over 10 incubators, co-working spaces, innovation centers and venture capital firms. Read all about the visit on our website. ChinaEU and niHUB signed a partnership to work together to introduce innovative European projects to China.
European startups makes it to Fosun’s Global Innovation Competition
ChinaEU Director Claudia Vernotti awarded the prize to the finals of the Global Innovation Competition
Claudia Vernotti, Director of ChinaEU, was invited to deliver the final prizes to the winners of Protechting-InnoStar, Fosun’s Global Innovation Competition, in Ningbo. Three European projects, alumni of Fosun’s acceleration program in Portugal, were selected to join the competition together with other ten Chinese projects. The final winner was a Spanish insure-tech startup. Find out more on our website!
ChinaEU signs agreement with Italia Startup
ChinaEU is going to help Italian Startups in China
Italia Startup and ChinaEU have signed an MoU with the aim of building stronger links between the Italian and Chinese startup communities, in particular to support Italian startups to grasp the opportunities offered by the growing Chinese digital market. More info on the website of Italia Startup!
Roadshow of Italian Startups in Beijing
ChinaEU brought a selection of promising Italian startups to Beijing
ChinaEU brought seven Italian startups to the Y-Intelligence Community in the 898 InnoSpace in Beijing. At the roadshow, each startup pitched their innovative projects in areas such human-machine interaction, medical care, environmental sustainability, space science and technology to an audience of Chinese VCs.
ChinaEU hosts Shenzhen delegation
A delegation from the city of Shenzhen was given a tour of the Belgium Startup Ecosystem
ChinaEU hosted a Shenzhen delegation together with Shenzhen Representative Office in Europe and gave it a tour to the Belgium Startup Ecosystem. Three big players in the ecosystem were visited: Startups.be, the one-stop-shop for the Belgian startups aiming to scale up and go global, B.Central, brand-new co-working space and event organizer in the heart of Brussels, and ICAB, a top-tier co-working space, incubator and accelerator for ICT and engineering projects.
Regulatory Study & Exchange
ChinaEU holds session with Chinese digital economy experts
ChinaEU and Chinese experts shared notes on digital economy regulation
ChinaEU legal expert Christian Hocepied, together with ChinaEU President Luigi Gambardella, met with the Chinese experts of the EU-China subgroup on digital economy to discuss about digital regulation. The session was followed by a visit of ChinaEU and CIDF to KU Leuven Center for IT & IP law.
ChinaEU hosted a panel in this influential regulatory event for the 3rd consecutive year
ChinaEU attended the Digital Regulation Forum in London for the 3rd consecutive year and hosted a panel discussion to introduce the Chinese approach to digital regulation and give an overview on China’s prolific environment of digital services. Find out what experts such as Robert Pepper, Head of Global connectivity and Technology Policy of Facebook, Lise Fuhr, Director general of ETNO, Roslyn Layton, Advisor to Donald Trump, Tom Griffiths, Creative Strategy Director at London-based digital marketing agency Qumin, Zhao Shuyu, researcher at the Internet Law Center of the China Academy of ICT, Ji Bo, Chief Representative for CKGSB Europe had to say on our website!
Exchanging Best Practices on Data Regulation
ChinaEU takes CAC officials on a fact-finding mission in Europe
ChinaEU hosted a delegation from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on a fact-finding mission in the EU. The main goal was to investigate the General Data Protection Regulation and its implementation. Introduced by ChinaEU legal counselor Christian Hocepied, the closed-door seminar had high-level speakers including Ms. Erika Mann, former head of Facebook’s Brussels office and top lawyer at Covington & Burling in Brussels, Mr. Chris Gow, Head of EU Public Policy for Cisco and DIGITAL EUROPE Board Member, and Mr. Cedric Burton, legal expert of international law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. The CAC was mainly interested in the relations and disparities between the EU level and the Member State level. What did they find out, and what did we offer to them? Find out on our website!
ChinaEU spoke at the global platform on Internet governance
The Internet Governance Forum is the only global multi-stakeholder platform to discuss key aspects of Internet Governance. This year it engaged again a great number of prominent representatives from civil society, industry, the technical community and decision makers, amongst whom Commissioner Mariya Gabriel also attended. This year’s debate shed light on “Shape Your Digital Future! How technologies will impact every aspect of our future society?” An open forum hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China about the impact of China’s internet policies on digital future drew lots of interest from the audience. Luigi Gambardella had the honor to be invited as one of the panelists. He stressed the decisive role of Chinese corporations in the Chinese digital success story, and the key for him is policies favoring innovation. In the margin of IGF, Luigi also had the pleasure to catch up with Mr. Zhao Houlin, the Secretary General of ITU.


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Jennifer Lopez is rolling back the decades with her latest look which has sent her fans into overdrive!
The Jenny from the Block hitmaker, 51, shared modelling photos from her shoe collection and she appears to be all about the eighties.
Jennifer looked sensational in the snaps in which she’s rocking wild hair and boots to match.
In the first image, Jennifer is striking a sultry pose on a bed, wearing just her tousled locks, a white shirt, underwear, and snakeskin booties.
SHOP NOW: J-Lo just wore the most J-Lo face mask - here's where to shop it
WATCH: Jennifer Lopez shows off her dance moves and her stunning kitchen in her Hamptons home
In the second she’s showing off her washboard abs in a cropped top, ripped jeans, and white trainers while leaning back on a chaise lounge.
Jennifer encouraged her followers to check out the new styles from the JLO shoe collection for brand DSW and fans said she was the perfect person to showcase the footwear.
"Wow, you look beautiful," wrote one, while another simply commented: "Hair."
MORE: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez sell their Malibu beach house
RELATED: 30 celebrities wearing facemasks and where to shop the A-list face coverings
Jennifer has just released a new shoe collection
Others called her "stunning" and one went as far as to say: "How is this much hotness even possible?"
Jennifer has been working hard to stay healthy and in shape during the COVID-19 lockdown and has continued her workouts from her luxury Hamptons home, where she’s been quarantined with her 12-year-old twins, Emme and Max, and her fiancé, Alex Rodriguez.
She recently shared a beautiful beach selfie where she was soaking up the last of the summer sun in a bikini.
MORE: Marc Anthony shares photos inside beautiful ranch - and he's not alone
Jennifer works hard to stay in shape
Jennifer has previously documented how she stays in shape, crediting a healthy diet, plenty of dancing, and the occasional ten-day detox for her flawless physique and her positivity.
"I am 100 percent convinced that working out is part of what makes me so happy," she revealed in an interview in HELLO! "Dance has always been a huge part of my life and taking the time to move my body and do something that's so good for me is key to my happiness.
"And I really believe that when you take care of yourself and work to stay healthy, you're better able to take care of those you love. So working out is definitely a priority for me."
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The news that adam&eveDDB has dropped the digital designation from all its job titles came as no surprise last week. Despite the prevalence of the D word and the omnipresence of digital planners, digital strategists and digital marketers under every lamp post, nobody in the know ever doubted that the prefix would eventually become an anachronism.
Candy Crush creator King Digital Entertainment has teamed up with Twitter UK to launch the first global emoji campaign launched outside the US.
If regulators approve BT’s acquisition of mobile network EE later this month it will create a headache for the executives who must decide the future of two strong brands, however there is only one sensible outcome.
Huggies is launching a two-part strategy to appeal to a wider range of ages and increase penetration, as its owner Kimberly-Clark commits to investing in and growing its brands despite the pandemic.
We arm you with all the stats you need to prepare for the coming week and help you understand the big industry trends.
At the end of every week, I look at the key stories from this week, offering my view on what they mean for you and the industry. From the travails of the travel industry, to the challenge of maintaining momentum, it’s been a busy week. Here is my take.
Despite lockdowns easing and the threat of the pandemic receding in the UK, at least for now, 30% more marketers are planning to cut their budgets than increase them in the second half of the year.


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July 14, 2014 •
Top Stories •
Comments Off on Electronic voting system launched in Ghana
ICT software development group, Splash Technology, has launched an automatic electronic voting system in Ghana. The system has been dubbed “eVoteMinder”. The voting system is said to come with a full complement of technical and user support...


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New York, NY – July 4, 2012– In the wake of the EU Parliament’s vote against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) urge the countries that have negotiated and signed ACTA to continue their efforts to ratify the trade agreement. Trading partners Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, Republic of Korea, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States have all signed the agreement.
Today, the European Parliament voted to reject ACTA, a decision that was heavily influenced by misinformation and rumors, ultimately leaving EU businesses and citizens with one less weapon to fight against the growing problems of trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.
Other signatories must remain focused on the important issues that ACTA addresses and not allow similar, misleading reports to distract them from the efforts to protect innovators, creators, manufacturers and consumers from counterfeiting and piracy. “The international community has the opportunity to support an important treaty that improves intellectual property standards across multiple borders,” said Alan C. Drewsen, Executive Director of INTA. “Ratifying ACTA will send a strong signal to counterfeiters and pirates that their actions—which steal from legitimate businesses, destroy millions of jobs worldwide and deprive governments of tax revenue —will not be tolerated.”
“We believe three crucial steps need to be taken at this point,” said Jeffrey P. Hardy, Director of ICC-BASCAP. “First, the EU must iron out the handful of concerns that prevent the world’s largest exporter from participating in the most significant anti-counterfeiting treaty. Second, the signatories need to ratify ACTA. Third, the negotiating parties need to begin the process of expanding ACTA through cooperative meetings with other countries, particularly those with less stringent intellectual property enforcement.”
Recent studies suggest that more than two million legitimate jobs are destroyed by counterfeiting and piracy each year across the globe. It is estimated that the value of counterfeit and pirated goods could grow to $1.77 trillion by 2015. INTA and ICC-BASCAP believes that ACTA will help reverse this trend and will be an effective tool in protecting brand owners, creators, innovators and consumers from the harms of counterfeiting and piracy.
For more on ACTA, click here.
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a worldwide association of member companies and firms that support and advance trademarks and intellectual property as elements of fair and effective global commerce.
About ICC BASCAP
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the voice of world business, championing the global economy as a force for economic growth, job creation and prosperity. The drain on businesses and the global economy from counterfeit goods and piracy is of great concern to ICC member companies worldwide. Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) is an ICC initiative that unites the global business community across all product sectors to address issues associated with intellectual property (IP) theft and to petition for greater commitments by local, national and international officials in the enforcement and protection of IP rights. For more information, visit www.iccwbo.org/bascap.
For media inquiries, contact:
+33 1 49 53 28 22


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Concluding that companies on the Internet have not properly protected the privacy of consumers, the Federal Trade Commission has decided to ask Congress for authority to impose tough consumer privacy safeguards, government officials said today.
In an unannounced vote taken today, the commission approved a staff recommendation to seek legislation giving the agency such authority. The action comes after the recent completion of a survey by the commission that found that only about 20 percent of major companies on the Internet had adequate standards for protecting the privacy of Internet users.
The commission's decision comes as the agency has stepped up its investigation of major Internet companies over their use of consumer data. It represents a sharp departure from the agency's previous policy of relying almost entirely on the industry to police itself. But lawmakers said that the prospects were not strong for Congress to adopt legislation so late in the session.
The legislation sought by the commission would permit it to regulate the kinds of notice given to consumers about use of information regarding them, as well as whether consumers can block that use. It would allow the commission to establish rules for keeping the information secure from third parties. And it would authorize the commission to penalize companies that violate privacy rules.
Commission officials are preparing to brief members of Congress about the proposal on Monday. The commissioners are also planning to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday.
Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate who have been the most vocal advocates for privacy legislation said this week that the prospects for final passage of any privacy measure were not strong, since the Republicans have largely sided with industry and there are not enough legislative days remaining to pass a significant new measure.
''I would say the chances are virtually nil,'' said Representative Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, whose own privacy bill has stalled. ''The Republican leadership is committed to not doing privacy this year in any area.''
Nonetheless, a group of nine Democratic senators led by Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina and John D. Rockefeller 4th of West Virginia is preparing to introduce a measure next week that is similar to what the commission has sought. The legislation also contains measures that appeal to Internet companies, most notably a provision that pre-empts all state law on Internet privacy.
''For many, privacy concerns represent the only remaining obstacle impeding consumers' full embrace of the Internet's ample commercial opportunities,'' Mr. Hollings said today. ''Advances in technology have provided information gatherers the tools to seamlessly compile and enhance highly detailed personal histories of Internet users.
''Nonetheless, industry has to this point nearly unanimously opposed even a basic regulatory framework that would ensure the protection of consumer privacy on the Internet -- a basic framework that has been successfully adopted in other areas of our economy. My bill gives customers, not companies, control over their personal information on the Internet.''
A report accompanying the commission's proposal for legislation found that the industry had made significant progress in policing itself, but not enough. Robert Pitofsky, the chairman of the trade commission, has said recently that there is a big role for companies to monitor themselves, but that as the market develops, there may also be a need for government to play a role as well.


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Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell join forces to fight breast cancer
In a beautiful throwback to the now iconic '90s campaign, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell pose in simple white tees, captured by Mario Testino. Created by Ralph Lauren after the death of one of his close friends to the disease, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer aims to raise funds through fashion, with at least 30 per cent of the profits from exclusive collections going towards breast cancer research.
Since Moss and Campbell first fronted the campaign, it's gone onto attract star talent of the highest calibre, from Claudia Schiffer to Twiggy, Sienna Miller to Elle Macpherson. "For the last 20 years Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has united us all - scientists, models, designers, mothers, photographers, retailers - as a powerful force against the disease," Campbell says in the release. "That's two decades of incredible support for cutting edge breast cancer research and it's vital that we don't stop now. With 2016's campaign, I'm honoured to stand with people across the UK united in our belief that, together, we will win this fight."
Buro 24/7 Selection


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AT&T’s Cricket Wireless strikes partnership with Acorns to bring investing to its subscribers
- Cricket Wireless and Acorns are teaming up to bring investing to more people.
- With the Acorns app pre-installed on new handsets, Cricket customers also receive monetary incentives to use the investment app.
Cricket Wireless has struck a deal with Acorns to pre-install the investment app on all new handsets sold by the AT&T brand.
The Acorns-Cricket partnership: Cricket customers who sign up for a new Acorns account and invest $5 will receive a $10 investment bonus in their Acorns Invest account.
- Following Acorns signup, Cricket will invest $1 into their customers’ Acorns accounts for every month their wireless service is paid.
- Acorns customers who switch to Cricket Wireless through the summer receive a $20 investment bonus.
“One of the top reasons people don’t invest in their future is lack of access,” said Acorns CEO, Noah Kerner. “Our collaboration with Cricket, and their commitment to financial wellness, will make it even easier for everyday Americans to save and invest every day.”
Acorns' partnership strategy: Cricket Wireless is the first exclusive wireless partner for Acorns Earn, a rewards program that enables customers to earn money when they shop.
- By tapping “Earn more money” on their home screens, Acorns customers can search more than 400 global brands that automatically invest into a subscriber’s Acorns account when they shop with that brand.
- The Cricket Wireless offers will be featured in the Acorns Earn section, and Acorns customers can switch or sign up for Cricket service from their app.
“Acorns makes it simple for people to invest. This micro-investment tool empowers people to invest little by little, even just spare change, and it really adds up to impact their future,” said John Dwyer, President of the AT&T Prepaid Portfolio (includes Cricket Wireless). “People across the country are still struggling to make ends meet, and for many, their ability to save was severely impacted during the pandemic. We hope this collaboration with Acorns will help our customers start saving again for the future.”
Cash back as an incentive: Digital investment services like Acorns and challenger banks continue to encourage their customers to swipe their cards. Cash back and targeted offers are one way these firms compete.
- Dosh, a popular incentive network that integrates with fintech brands like Venmo and Betterment, was bought by Cardlytics in a transaction worth $275 -- Cardlytics’ first acquisition in its 13-year history.
- Acorns competitor Stash uses its Stock-Back Card to reward its customers with fractional shares in the companies they shop at.
Telecom and financial services: Telecommunications companies are increasingly looking to banking and investing as value-added services to introduce to their customers.


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Indian Trade Minister Suresh Prabhu and few other government officials have recently shown interest in starting manufacturing unit for Apple iPhone and iPad in India.
India is a hub for smart phones and is one of the leading countries with people of maximum usage of smart phones. Many international mobile phone companies have manufacturing units set-up here.
India was keen to have one such manufacturing unit for Apple to produce its products here. But the plan could not be worked out and the reason behind was said to be the demands from the later side.
Apple wanted to have exemptions on excise duty along with other taxes and incentives. It said the parts it uses are genuine and expensive. They need to be imported from out of India so exemption to be given on them.
Indian government rejected the demands saying it can not change its taxes and policies for the sake of one company only, as it would be a violation of an integrated policy under Make-in-India.
Is Government Decision on Apple Manufacturing Unit is Correct?
We believe that Indian government and Apple Inc. need to sit together to come out with some solid decision. If Apple opens its manufacturing unit in India, it would be good for both. Apple wants to have exemption on taxes along with incentives, while Indian government does not want to change the policies for one company.
When someone from India buys an iPhone or Apple’s product, he has to pay 12% excise duty. This will cut to just 1% if Apple products are produced locally in the country. Also, Apple should also realize that India is one of the biggest countries of smart phones users. So, this is in favor of the Indian customers also if Apple manufacturing unit is set-up here.


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Kobo rolled out a new e-reader and three new tablets at an event in New York Tuesday evening. The company is also launching a digital newsstand and children’s ebookstore, and it partnered with read-it-later service Pocket.
The federal government outlined a revised punishment for Apple in the ebook pricing case Friday. It argued that Apple changed its in-app purchase rules to retaliate against Amazon. And it wants to make big changes in the way Apple does business in the iTunes Store.
On Friday afternoon, Apple and the federal government will meet in court to discuss Apple’s punishment in the ebook pricing case. Ahead of that conference, Apple argued for a stay, and the DOJ argued that the publishers have “banded together once again.”
Amazon, Kobo and Sony are petitioning the FCC to permanently exempt e-readers from laws requiring electronics to be accessible to the disabled. The companies say that if they were forced to comply with the law, the essential nature of e-readers would change.
Penguin reached a settlement with the federal government in the ebook pricing case back in December, but retailers have only just begun discounting its titles. Here’s a look at the discounts you can expect.
Ebook pricing strategies are changing fast as the market evolves and retailers and publishers amass more data. Here are some new tips.
Kobo said Tuesday that the $170 Aura HD e-reader now accounts for over a quarter of its device sales. And, the company said, 15 percent of its new customers are from the United States.
Kobo is now selling its e-readers directly through its website in the U.S. and Canada. Previously, customers had to go to third-party retailers to buy the devices.
Three independent bookstores have filed a class action suit against Amazon the big-six publishers, alleging that the proprietary DRM Amazon uses on ebooks creates a monopoly.
The long-delayed Bookish, a website backed by Hachette, Penguin and Simon & Schuster and designed to promote book discovery and sell books, launched Monday night and is designed to be a one-stop shop for readers looking for their next book.


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Houston Motor & Control focuses on customer service to power new business
Houston Motor & Control Inc. has once again nabbed a spot on the Houston Business Journal’s Fast 100 list.
The local distributor of electronic motors, starters and drives states on its website that it relies on open, available communication practices to fuel its business. For example, the company does not allow voice mail during office hours, and its customers can reach out to the company at any time of day or night.
Houston Motor & Control made HBJ’s Fast 100 list of the fastest-growing local companies in 2012. It ranked as the No. 32 fastest-growing company on the list with 124.8 percent revenue growth between 2009 and 2011, and it closed out 2011 with $7.7 million in revenue.
Over the next few weeks, the HBJ is taking a look at the full list of the company's on this year's Fast 100 list, which is ranked based on revenue growth from 2010 to 2012. When we’ve gone through them all, we’ll throw a party — the Sept. 6 Houston Fast 100 Awards — to reveal the revenue growth figures and list rankings. Be there.
Molly Ryan covers manufacturing, technology, the Port and logistics for the Houston Business Journal. For her breaking stories and industry insights, follow her on Twitter.
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WildBrain CPLG has been appointed exclusive licensing and merchandising representative for original Arabic kids' series “Mansour” on behalf of brand owner Creative Generation.
“Mansour,” an animated series for Arab children aged 6-12 that merges native customs, culture and heritage with a sense of adventure. Managed by Bidaya Media, seed funded by Mubadala Investment Company and produced in partnership with twofour52 and Cartoon Network Arabia, “Mansour” is the first original Arabic cartoon series to reach significant scale with 1.3 billion cumulative views.
“Mansour has quickly captured the imaginations of young audiences and established a wide fan base across the Middle East and North Africa,” says Neesha Krishna, managing director, MENA and South Asia, WildBrain CPLG. “There is significant potential for building a broad cross-category merchandise program for this popular Arab hero.”
“We are very happy to announce our collaboration with WildBrain CPLG, who have a proven successful track record in this industry and we are confident that by aligning our efforts and joining forces in this way, we will together elevate our already popular Mansour IP to even greater heights,” says Nabil El Jisr, chief executive officer, Bidaya Media.
WildBrain CPLG will handle all merchandising categories for the series, including publishing and promotions, on behalf of the brand’s right holder, Creative Generation.
WildBrain CPLG is exhibiting at Brand Licensing Europe. Be sure to register for Brand Licensing Europe here.


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TechWeek digs into Wikileaks files to find a British supplier is implicated in selling to repressive regimes for significant sums
Wikileaks has released a fresh trove of files on the surveillance industry, raising concerns about an “unchecked” market where Western companies are selling Trojans and other spying kit to repressive regimes for vast sums of money.
Companies that have previously faced scrutiny from human rights bodies, including British supplier Gamma International, exploit seller VUPEN and Italian organisation HackingTeam, featured heavily in the leaks.
Privacy and security experts told TechWeekEurope the Wikileaks SpyFiles show “studies of, installations in and trips to highly repressive countries” by surveillance suppliers, who are doing business “unchecked”.
British surveillance seller in repressive nations
Gamma was shown to be selling its FinSpy kit, which includes Trojans for infecting mobile and desktop machines, for hundreds of thousands of pounds, working closely with a reseller called Dreamlab. FinSpy support, for instance, cost over €255,000 (£215,000) for one year, according to the document.
The global trade of surveillance technology is estimated to be worth up to $5 billion a year.
Gamma and Dreamlab salespeople appear to have travelled to a number of nations with poor reputations when it comes to human rights too, including Qatar, UAE, Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea.
One file details a Gamma and Dreamlab FinFly ISP project seemingly for the Turkmenistan government. “The System(s) to be deployed in this project can only INFECT international traffic of ADSL, dial-up and the fixed IP-Address broadband subscribers in Turkmen Telecom network and Mobile Subscribers using a Notebook / PC as the terminal to access the Internet via the Gateways between the Mobile Network Provider TMCell and Turkmen Telecom,” the file read.
Citizen Lab said the document was consistent with its discovery of a FinSpy command and control server on a Turkmenistan government network.
FinFly appears to have several modes of operation, one of which is infecting updates to popular software, including OpenOffice and the Winamp media player, Citizen Lab’s Bill Marczak told TechWeekEurope. It appears FinFly sends out spy kit masquerading as an installer for almost any executable imaginable, from Google Chrome to flash players.
“One thing that particularly struck me, especially from the Turkmenistan infection proxy docs, is that there was a very deliberate consulting and study process, involving members of Gamma and DreamLab on the ground in country,” Marczak said.
“This is a country whose president was elected in 2007 in polls described as ‘blatantly falsified’, and again in 2012 with 97 percent of the vote.
“I wonder, what did these Gamma and DreamLab people think they were doing in Turkmenistan? What did they think this was going to be used for? If you don’t draw a line at Turkmenistan, where do you draw it?”
Marczak was also concerned about where VUPEN could be selling its zero-day exploits, given one leak showed it was willing to sell to NATO, ASEAN, and AZNUS partner countries, including the UAE and Morocco. Both countries have been implicated in using malicious software and hacking techniques to watch over citizens.
Global surveillance boom
Calls are now emerging from the privacy community to fix regulation that lets Western companies sell such digital spy kits to apparently repressive regimes.
Many privacy advocates also want more transparency from governments and industry players. Gamma, Dreamlab and VUPEN had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Privacy International, which worked on the FinSpy documents with Wikileaks, is taking the UK government to court after the HMRC refused to release information about Gamma export practices.
“The documents released [by Wikileaks] highlight the surveillance industry that continues to grow unchecked around the world. The documents reveal just how involved surveillance contractors are with the purchasing governments, refuting company denials that they don’t know how their technology is being used,” Eric King, head of research at Privacy International, told TechWeek.
“The companies are selling surveillance as a consultancy service, directly assisting repressive regimes in their targeting of pro democracy activists and human rights defenders.”
Along with the revelations of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, the leaks have shown mass surveillance is carried out globally, with vendors benefitting greatly from the boom in digital interception.


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It was yet another weekend atop the weekend box office for Disney
's Frozen II
, which has now topped $900 million globally, well on its way to becoming the studio's sixth 2019 release to top the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. Meanwhile, while Focus Features
saw Dark Waters
finish just outside the top five in its nationwide expansion this weekend, Stx
's release of Playmobil
failed to make the top ten, delivering the third worst opening ever for a film debuting in over 2,000 locations.
At the top of the box office is Frozen II
, dipping -59.7% with an estimated $34.7 million for a domestic cume totaling $337.6 million, making it the seventh highest grossing release of the year so far domestically. For some perspective, it wasn't until the original film's 61st day in release that it topped $337 million domestically, before going on to gross over $400 million after 57 weeks in release.
In addition to the domestic performance,


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Get involved! Send photos, video, news & views. Text SWINDON NEWS to 80360 or email us
Golf clothing store pitching for a new town base
12:20pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News
A CLOTHING store which has been in full swing in Old Town for nearly three years is to close its doors.
Urban 18, which sells men’s designer lifestyle and golf clothing, is leaving its rented premises in Victoria Road after a new landlord bought the unit.
The business, which is holding a clearance sale this week before it closes on Saturday, will still operate online and from its premises in Cirencester, and will be opening a new store in Swindon shortly.
Daniel John, director and owner of Urban 18, said: “Someone else has taken over the ownership of the premises and they want to use it for themselves.
“It is just one of those things – we can’t do anything about it. We are just happy that we have had a good three years here.
“We will carry on with what we’re doing in Cirencester and online, and we will be opening somewhere else in Swindon.
“The company is still staying as it is. Our online business is really good and we are keeping the Cirencester store. We are actively looking for somewhere else in Swindon. We will let everyone know when we have sorted something.”
The clearance sale, which lasts until 5.30pm on Saturday, includes stock from the store’s autumn and winter collection.
Brands at the store include Hugo Boss, J.Lindeberg, Lyle & Scott, Original Penguin and Oakley.
“There is a demand for the business in Swindon. We have got a fantastic and loyal customer base up here,” he said.
“Myself and my business partner, Nick Hovey, would like to thank all of our customers for their loyalty over the past three years.”
The store opened in Victoria Road on May 1, 2010.
“We have changed massively since we arrived. We do more fashion wear and changed the remit of the company into doing lifestyle. The brands have really changed,” he said.
The store has helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity since it opened in 2010 and Daniel said they would continue to help good causes.
He said they also hope to continue to be involved with the Old Town Christmas Lights.
For more information about Urban 18 visit www.urban18.co.uk


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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s total trade in November 2017 surged by 14.8 per cent to RM157.05 billion compared with the corresponding month of last year, said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
In a statement yesterday, MITI said the main contributor to the growth was trade with Asean, China, US, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), South Korea, Japan, the European Union and Taiwan.
“During the period, exports increased by 14.4 per cent to RM83.5 billion, the highest monthly export value ever recorded after the RM82.62 billion registered in March 2017 while imports rose by 15.2 per cent to RM73.55 billion.
“Trade surplus amounted to RM9.95 billion, the 241st consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997,” it said.
Meanwhile, on a month-on-month basis, it said, total trade, exports and imports rose by 1.9 per cent, 1.5 per cent and 2.4per cent respectively.
MITI said total trade for the first eleven months of 2017 amounted to RM1.622 trillion, a 20.8 per cent growth compared with the same period in 2016, with exports totalling RM856.05 billion, an increase of 20.4 per cent and imports at RM766.07 billion, a 21.2 per cent growth.
It said the trade surplus was recorded at RM89.98 billion, up 13.6 per cent compared to the corresponding period a year ago.
Exports of manufactured goods in November 2017 increased by 18.2 per cent or RM10.63 billion to RM68.98 billion, accounting for 82.6 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports, it said.
The increase was mainly on account of higher exports of electrical and electronic (E&E) products and chemicals and chemical products, collectively contributing 55 per cent to total manufactured exports, it said.
MITI said the export of mining goods was marginally lower by 0.9 per cent to RM7.04 billion, constituting 8.4 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports. It was mainly due to lower exports of metalliferous ores and metal scrap as well as crude petroleum.
It said exports of agricultural goods decreased by 2.5 per cent to RM6.73 billion, with a share of 8.1 per cent of total exports due mainly to lower exports of palm oil by 2.1 per cent, on account of lower average unit value and volume.
Meanwhile, MITI said, trade with Asean grew by 21.9 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM44.22 billion in November 2017, accounting for 28.2per cent of Malaysia’s total trade.
It said exports increased by 18.3 per cent to RM24.72 billion with all main sectors posted double-digit growth. Strong export performance were seen for E&E products which increased by 30.3 per cent or RM1.96 billion.
Imports from Asean surged by 26.7 per cent to RM19.5 billion, it said.
The ministry said that trade with Free Trade Agreement partners in November 2017 rose by 15.9 per cent y-o-y to RM101.59 billion and accounted for 64.7 per cent of Malaysia’s total trade, with exports amounting to RM53.67 billion, up by 14.2 per cent, while imports grew by 18 per cent to RM47.92 billion. — Bernama
Source: Borneo Post Online


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Tourism up in Iceland
Tourism in Iceland is up 17 per cent, compared to the same time last year, according to Iceland’s tourist board.
A total of 64,275 tourists visited Iceland in July, a record number.
“There are many reasons for the increase,” says Magnus Oddsson, managing director of the tourist board. “Most likely is the ISK 600 million (about $100 million) the government has spent over the past two years marketing Iceland as a tourist destination.”
In total, there have been 30,000 more tourists visiting Iceland this year than at the same time last year.


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Toyota unveiled Friday the 2014 Corolla sedan, sporting a "bolder, more aggressive" design as well as upgraded interior and newer technologies.
Driving home from work earlier this month, Chrysler dealer David Kelleher was struck by a pang of guilt when he stopped at a red light behind a Dodge Caliber, a compact criticized for stodgy styling and inferior quality before it was killed off last year.
For the first time in more than a decade, the biggest U.S. automakers had a majority of category winners in a survey of vehicle quality, taking or tying in 12 of 21 segments.
Detroit's boom-and-bust history was built on a dependence on big, fuel-thirsty vehicles. Now, with freshly stocked showrooms of new cars and more-efficient trucks, U.S. automakers are gaining ground on their Asian competitors with the best lineup in a generation.
A transport truck with deficient brakes and a driver with a poor record were the deciding factors in the horrific crash on Michigan's I-75 that took the lives of two Windsor-Essex children and a Michigan man, allege lawyers representing the local victims' family.
Chrysler Group says it's recalling roughly 119,500 sedans from the 2011 and 2012 model years because their airbag warning lights are illuminating for no reason.
Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus, dethroned by BMW and Mercedes as the U.S. luxury sales leader, aims to remake itself with models more like performance cars and less like family cars, leading to a new IS sport sedan intended to lure entry-level drivers who would otherwise buy German.
Tesla Motors Inc. is introducing its first lease-style financing program for the Model S sedan as the electric-car maker led by billionaire Elon Musk seeks to build on the company's first quarterly profit.
General Motors Co.'s new Cadillac CTS, the sedan that helped revive the luxury brand when it debuted more than a decade ago, will weigh less, go faster and be more fuel-efficient as the company pushes to compete against Audi and BMW.
Toyota Motor Corp., after reporting a slower sales pace in February, is boosting its U.S. auto market outlook on improving consumer confidence, a better economy and demand for Camry sedans and Prius hybrids.
General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Impala sedan, long relegated to the rental car lot, is making a surprising U-turn back to relevance thanks to a racy redesign that borrows from sports car stablemates Camaro and Corvette.
ell, they can't all be homeruns, all the time, now can they?
Ford Motor Co.'s painstaking attention to quality is behind a lengthy wait for customers who've purchased the all-new 2013 Lincoln MKZ sedan, according to the automaker.
Nissan Versa Note: Replacing the carry-over Versa hatchback and joining the new-for-2012 Versa sedan is this all-new model. The Note shares the same 107-horsepower 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine as the sedan, along with its five-speed manual transmission, or optional continuously variable unit. The Note's adjustable storage area can be raised to create a hidden spot for smaller gear. Four different trim levels will be offered.
Chrysler Group may be on a sales winning streak in the U.S. and Canada, but its vehicles continue to struggle in the annual Consumer Reports ratings of best and worst vehicles.
2014 Mercedes-Benz E-class: A whole new series of sedans, coupes convertibles, wagons and high-performance AMG models bearing the E-class designation will arrive at dealers this spring. Available engines include a 190-horsepower four-cylinder turbo-diesel, a 302-horsepower 3.5-litre V6 (standard in all-wheel-drive 4MATIC sedans and wagons) and a 402-horsepower 5.5-litre V8.
It has been years in the making, but General Motors finally pushed the reset button on one of its most endearing brands. But will car shoppers warm to the Impala, or is all the attention on smaller mid-sized cars?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it will investigate problems with stalling or surging engines in nearly 725,000 Ford cars and SUVs.
As General Motors announced Canadian pricing for the 2014 Chevrolet Impala Monday, the union representing hourly workers at the Oshawa plant that makes the car expressed high hopes for sales of the full-size sedan.
When Chrysler Group launches the next generation minivan sometime in 2015, it will likely feature the latest in the automaker's pow-ertrain technology - a nine-speed automatic transmission.


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Vietnam-US Trade Hits US$111.56 billion in 2021
|Containers being loaded and unloaded at the Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau, March 30, 2021. Photo: VnExpress|
According to the General Department of Customs, the impressive figure made the US the second trade partner having import-export turnover with Vietnam reaching the $100 billion mark after China.
Last year Vietnam's exports to the US rose 25% to nearly $96.3 billion, accounting for 28.6 US$111.56 billion in 2021 of the country's total exports, Viet Nam News said.
Among Vietnam's major export items to the US were machinery, equipment and parts with $17.82 billion, up 46%; textiles and garments ($16,1 billion, up 15%); computers, electronics, and components ($12.76 billion; up 23%); handsets and parts ($9.69 billion, up 10.3%); footwear ($7.42 billion, up 18%); and wood and wooden products ($8.8 billion, up 23%).
Last year, the country imported nearly $15.27 billion worth of goods from the US, mainly computers, electronics and components as well as machinery, equipment and parts.
Bui Huy Son, Counselor of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US, said that the two-way turnover, which exceeded $100 billion for the first time in 2021, was a very important achievement, especially given the pandemic, as well as the disruptions and disturbances in the supply chain and logistics activities.
|Workers of Hung Viet Co in Hung Yen province make garment products for export. Photo: VNA|
Along with that, the active and flexible activities of two business communities continued to expand trade and investment activities, such as the resumption of direct flights between Vietnam and the US, and the fact that Vietnamese businesses were increasing investment in the US to continue to expand their presence sustainably in the market.
Looking at import and export activities, not only had the total two-way turnover reached a record level, but it was also worth mentioning that export activities from both directions had good growth rates, Son said, adding that the import and export goods between the two sides were very complimentary.
To accelerate bilateral trade, Son called for continuous efforts from both sides, first of all in terms of the policy. The two sides should continue to maintain a dialogue channel, sharing information, and further enhancing mutual understanding so that they could detect and coordinate on problems favorably.
At the same time, businesses also needed to seize opportunities, especially opportunities from the strong recovery of the US economy, since different forecasts assessed a relatively high growth rate for the US economy in 2022.
He also suggested businesses closely observe market developments, ensure the requirements of legal traceability, storage, information about documents, and invoices for the origin of goods, so that they could coordinate and provide information when there were requests for investigation and verification by US agencies.
|Vietnam-US Trade Hits US$111.56 billion in 2021. Photo: Vietnamnet|
VnExpress cited Marie Damour, Chargé d’Affaires at the US embassy in Hanoi, as saying that the two countries have cooperated in various areas like healthcare, education, energy, and technology.
The US is now the 11th biggest foreign investor in Vietnam with nearly $10 billion.
Vietnamese automaker VinFast recently announced plans to invest over $200 million in the U.S.’s California state to manufacture electric vehicles, potentially creating over 1,000 jobs there.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said the impact of Covid has opened up new business opportunities for both Vietnamese and American firms to develop new supply chains, establish standby supply systems in various locations to ensure sustainability and continuity./.
Located in the heart of Hanoi, a United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Southeast Asia Regional Office will be to coordinate Covid-19 ...
Vietnam and the United States will increase bilateral defence cooperation, with priority to be given to addressing wartime legacy, improving law enforcement capacity at sea, ...
Vietnam-US cooperataion in dealing with war consequences has contributed to promoting solidarity and mutual trust between the two countries,


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Amazon board under fire
Some say it's too small, too insensitive to shareholders
Published 10:00 pm, Monday, April 9, 2001
Has Amazon.com outgrown its board of directors?
Some experts say the largest online retailer needs to add to its current five-member board and increase the diversity and range of talents of the group.
No one is suggesting that Amazon's board is lacking talent; the intimate group includes some of the West Coast's most successful and powerful names in the investment community.
But some boardroom consultants and educators wonder whether there are enough members to fill basic board responsibilities.
Amazon watchers say the board is more appropriate to a start-up technology company than a major retailer of Amazon's stature.
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"It is kind of an odd situation," said Ralph Ward, publisher of the Boardroom Insider, an online newsletter.
"When companies hit the jackpot like Amazon, they generally outgrow that kind of board, they find they need more expertise, more governance, and just more people."
The Amazon board came under scrutiny this week as questions continue to surface about the company's direction and financial viability.
Questions prompted in part by a negative report from an analyst in February were further inflamed by reports that the Securities and Exchange Commission may be investigating company Chairman Jeff Bezos for possible insider trading. A rebuffed group of security analysts in New York fanned the flames, sending letters to the board that have gone unanswered. Finally there came a flood of class-action lawsuits filed by shareholders who claimed that the company misled them.
Others wonder whether Amazon's board has abdicated too much of its power to Bezos, the company's charismatic founder, chief executive, and board chairman.
Gary Lutin, an investment banker and member of the New York Society of Security Analysts, sent a letter last week to John Doerr, one of Amazon's most prominent board members, asking him to take an active role in making sure shareholders are being given full and accurate information by the company.
"I hope you will accept the opportunity ... to show that you and the other Amazon directors take a serious view of your duties to assure the reliability of information required by investors," Lutin wrote.
He isn't holding his breath for an answer.
"This company has not demonstrated viability or credibility," Lutin said.
"Can this board correct that? I'd like to hear their plans."
To that end, Lutin's group has scheduled two Amazom.com forums in New York during the next few weeks to find out what shareholders want to know about candidates for Amazon's board of directors, and what the candidates have to say in response.
Although most Americans wouldn't think of casting a vote for a governor or senator without knowing their stands on various issues, shareholders routinely cast their ballots with only scant information about board candidates.
Lutin said as far as he knows, candidate forums such as he has planned are unprecedented.
"There is a genuine need for this kind of procedural enhancement that has nothing to do with Amazon," Lutin said.
But he added: "Amazon directors have so far refused to respond to legitimate investment inquiries. That does not demonstrate respect or sensitivity to shareholder interests."
Amazon's relatively small board of directors includes Bezos; Patricia Stonesifer, the president of the Gates Library Foundation; Scott Cook, co-founder of Intuit; and Thomas Alberg, a principal in the Madrona Investment Group.
Among the best known to Wall Street of the company's current directors is Doerr, a general partner in Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers. He is considered to be one of the first investors to recognize the potential of the Internet. Doerr is also on the board of Drugstore.com, Intuit and several other companies.
According to Amazon spokeswoman Patty Smith, board members have no set terms; they serve until their successors have been elected and qualified. Amazon board members don't receive cash compensation for their service.
The board's makeup may change soon. Amazon's annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for next month. The company hasn't released its proxy statement yet, but it could include the name of at least one new board candidate.
But Smith declined comment on any plans to add members to the Amazon board, saying only that the information will be contained in the proxy statement, which will be made public "shortly." She said she couldn't give a specific date.
Bezos was not available yesterday to comment on the company's board. Other board members didn't return phone calls. Smith said board members don't take calls related to Amazon.com business.
"They typically don't do that," she said.
That's not atypical as policy. But Amazon's board is, especially for a company that has grown to dominate a market segment. But size isn't the only concern.
"Five or six is kind of small, but it isn't improper," said Dennis Murphy, dean of the College of Business and Economics at Western Washington University. Two other Seattle companies, Nordstrom and Starbucks, each have nine board members. Microsoft Corp., which has been criticized in the past for perhaps having a board that is too small, has seven. The Boeing Co. has 12.
Murphy said a concern with such a small board is the ability to have an audit committee. The committee, made up of directors who are separate from the company management, is responsible for selecting an outside accounting firm and adopting accounting regulations.
Amazon's audit committee has just two members, Alberg and Stonesifer.
"It is a rather substantial responsibility," Murphy said.
"The audit committee is responsible for corporate safety and soundness."
The board's only other committee, the compensation committee, also has two members, Stonesifer and Doerr.
Another troubling point for some Amazon watchers is the control the company chairman could potentially exert over the board. Bezos, who owns more than 30 percent of the company's stock, fills many roles as chairman, chief executive and president. Shaking up the board could be difficult.
"Bezos naturally needs to be on the board," Murphy said. "What shareholders would probably want to see is a combination of others who have the ability to stand up to such a charismatic president, if that was required."
The board also seems to lack a broad range of talents. Most of the members have strong backgrounds and experience in venture capital and investment companies.
But, since the departure of former Amazon President JoeGalli, the board is thin on retail experience. Stonesifer is on Kinko's board. But the company's other directors are mainly on technology and dot-com company boards.
"Board members can bring business to your company," Murphy said. "In this case, it would be helpful if there was some retail, of course."
Ward, the publisher of Boardroom Insider, has no qualms about the brain power of Amazon's board.
"Obviously we aren't going to catch John Doerr sleeping," Ward said.
"But the board does seem too small, too inbred and too clubby to give the independent insight a company like Amazon needs now."


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London Fashion Week focuses on sustainability
As the 100 different catwalk shows, presentations and events play out, the British Fashion Council has released Mintel data that shows that consumer spending on womenswear rose 5.5% to £30.9 billion in 2018, with womenswear now accounting for 51% of the total clothing market (menswear accounts for 26%). It also found that consumer spending on fashion is forecast to rise 25% to £76 billion over the next five years.
Against this economic background, LFW will focus on sustainable practices and the Positive Fashion initiative brought about via a partnership with BBC Earth and the designer Amy Powney, which explores the impact the fashion industry has on the planet and emphasizes opportunities for sustainable fashion choices. This edition also marks the second consecutive fur-free fashion week for the UK capital.
Highlights include Vivienne Westwood's return to the London catwalks on Sunday, as well as Burberry's second collection under Riccardo Tisci, which debuted the same day. A cohort of British brands such as Erdem, JW Anderson, Christopher Kane, Simone Rocha, Roksanda, Emilia Wickstead, Peter Pilotto and Mary Katrantzou are also showcasing their latest collections. On February 19, the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design -- which honors creativity, sustainability and community practices -- will be presented to Bethany Williams by the Duchess of Cornwall.
With all this activity, it is not surprising that LFW expects to serve up 20,000 cups of Lavazza espresso, or that the Toni&Guy and Label.M hair and makeup teams will get through 7,014 different products backstage.
Cover photo by © DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP


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Trucking’s Top 10 deliver the pumpkins and spice this Halloween
Putting on a happy if not crooked, toothy face on the logistical nightmare before Christmas, Jack O’ Lanterns costumes and all the rest of the festoonery still made it from warehouses to retailers and to Moms in time for this year’s Halloween. Truckers delivered the pumpkins as well, by the ton. According to Truckload Shipping farmers plant more than 50,000 acres of pumpkins each year across all states in the U.S. This year, trucks will have delivered an estimated 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins to the kitchens, porches and squirrels of America.
Monsters of the road, America’s top 10 trucking companies
Trucking’s delivering the spice as well apparently. When fall temperatures cool, cooking in the kitchen resumes, and the packaged spice category is at the center of it all. Retailers, note the Retail Dieticians Business Alliance, find the 12 weeks prior to Thanksgiving is the strongest period of retail spice sales, according to data by Nielsen Retail Measurement Services. Dollar sales of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, sage, ginger, thyme, rosemary and allspice – were a collective $121 million in packaged form in the period ending by Thanksgiving. That’s a lot of spice.
With all due respect to the apple, trucking is as American as pumpkin pie, and fleets delivered every item listed on the recipe this year including the whipped cream. Although the entire trucking industry contributed to the Boogie-Woogie of the season, some real giants remained dominate this shipping season.
Bringing the goods at the top of the supply chain
Each year, Supply Chain counts down the Top 10 trucking companies. There are an estimated 1.2 million companies in the U.S. trucking industry. That’s a long list, but at the top are these 10 monsters:
- 1. UPS, Inc. – 500,000 employees
- 2. Fed Ex – 425,00 employees
- 3. XPO Logistics – 100,000 employees
- 4. J.B. Hunt Transportation – 120,000 employees
- 5. Knight-Swift – 28,000 employees
- 6. YRC Worldwide – 19,000 employees
- 7. Schneider – 40,000 carriers
- 8. Landstar System – 10,000 drivers
- 9. Old Dominion – 21,000 drivers
- 10. TFI International – 10,000 drivers
Most consumers know the top two, but the others should be familiar to most of those in the industry by now, some of these giants have been at the top of the beanstalk for decades but that is not surprising considering the attention these company’s must be paying to the details in their operations.
Giants but of the nimble variety
Looking across the websites and corporate presentations of these giants, they attribute their growth, longevity and sustained financial success to three fundamental things they invest in: people, processes and technology. Safety and attention to operating details are also keeping drivers and regulators in the driver’s seat where they belong. That’s the jack that has been keeping them nimble.
Regardless, when it comes to bringing the pumpkins and spice, every Halloween is a party these guys are invited to. It’s been a scary year, full of goblins and bugs ,but trucking continues to make this Halloween season less frightening and more fun for us all.


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Greener World Media President Moves to CEO
Company hires ex-TechWeb SVP as president, chief strategist.
Greener World Media, a company focused on the greening of mainstream business, has named former TechWeb senior vice president Eric Faurot as president and chief strategist. In this role, Faurot will be responsible for setting and implementing the company’s strategy and to work on developing new products as well as expanding existing products such as its flagship GreenBiz.com and the GreenBiz Executive Network, the ompany says.
In association with the move, Greener World Media co-founder and former president Pete May will become CEO. “In our small and nimble organization, I have been playing president, CEO, CFO, COO and CRO,” May tells FOLIO:. “Bringing Eric on board allows me to focus more on doing what I do well: managing the operations and finances of the company, and staying in the field with customers."
With a strong market segment for sustainable business practices, May says Faurot will help Greener World Media “accelerate our growth across a range of activities, from events and social media, to peer knowledge, research and paid content.”
As senior vice president and board member at United Business Media’s TechWeb, Faurot grew the live event division of CMP Medica from a $38 million business to $63 million by expanding events including Interop and Web 2.0, Greener World says. Before TechWeb, Farout served as vice president at Miller Freeman.
In 2009, Greener World Media generated $1.5 million in revenue. Through the first quarter of 2010, revenue jumped 73 percent compared to the same period last year.


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JJB Sports staff reap pounds 4.5m
Tuesday 25 November 1997
The senior staff, which include area managers, buyers and warehouse managers, were granted the options over JJB shares when the retailer came to the market in 1994. The shares, which started trading at the equivalent of 77p three years ago, closed at 604p last Friday, a rise of 684 per cent though they edged down to 593.25p yesterday. The current market value of the shares under option is pounds 5.15m, with a gain of pounds 4.5m.
In its three years on the market JJB has grown its turnover from pounds 60.5m to pounds 130m while profits have risen from pounds 7.6m to pounds 20.3m
David Whelan, chairman of JJB said: "I believe that no business can grow at this rate without significant input of time and effort by its staff and I am delighted that so many of our senior staff are benefiting from the company's success over the last three years."
Mr Whelan said he was confident that a significant number of the shares would be retained by the staff though some kind of "spending spree" is expected.
JJB had 123 stores at the time of flotation. It opens its 200th outlet next month. The company has benefited from the surge in popularity in branded sportswear with clothing and trainers from companies such as Adidas, Nike and Reebok.
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And the winner is...
The Best of Kettering has announced the winner of the Kettering Business of the Year 2020 Awards.
Local Restaurant Billionaires received 450 reviews during the campaign, winning the coveted accolade of Business of the Year in Kettering 2020.
The Business of the Year Awards are organised by thebestof, a marketing organisation committed to raising the profile of local, independent businesses serving Kettering and the surrounding areas.
During the campaign, local people were encouraged to show their support for their favourite local business by leaving a review of the service they received from the business. The Awards operate at a Local level to recognise and award the Business of the Year in their Town, and at a National Level to recognise the overall UK Business of the Year.
At a national level, Billionaires won the Award of Best restaurant in their category, fighting off competition from businesses across the country.
Stuart Pate comments, “We congratulate all our local businesses who took part in the Kettering Business of the Year Awards. While national news can sometimes focus on what’s going wrong with local high streets, we feel it’s important to acknowledge small businesses for their contribution to the local economy and their role in the community, that can often get forgotten'.
'Local people have given their feedback on the businesses after using their services. On behalf of the businesses, I’d like to thank every person who took the time to leave a review. By doing so they publicly acknowledged the difference that these businesses make to our area.”
“Billionaires is a very worthy winner. The number and quality of the reviews they received are a real testament to their ongoing commitment to deliver excellent service and a positive customer experience.’
The final word goes to Drew from Billionaires, “This has been an amazing start to our business in Kettering, we have won 3 Awards and this has been built on the recommendations from our customers. It’s a great feeling to have such a reaction from so many people, thanks to all of them”


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April 28, 2019 By Lisa
In line with a report from advertising and expertise consulting agency Jon Peddie Analysis, an estimated 20 million laptop players might change from their trusted computer systems to consoles by 2022, based on a report.
The report means that low-end customers (outlined as these whose variations value lower than $ 1,000) are the most certainly to modify to consoles. However as TV screens enhance, as consoles develop into extra highly effective, and increasingly more titles can be found solely on consoles, mid-range and high-end PC gamers may start to modify over.
Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Analysis, commented on the event of the PC market: "The PC market continues to say no, as a result of the innovation that existed previously, that allowed to speed up issues and d & # 39; Incorporate new sensible issues, has nearly stopped. Product launch occasions are 4 years, "he mentioned.
However he was not completely pessimistic about the way forward for . "This isn’t a panic and the GPU market continues to be producing unimaginable quantity. Nonetheless, we anticipate that a number of the forces concerned will direct a few of this exercise to tv screens and associated gaming companies, "he mentioned.
Ted Pollak, Video games Analyst at Jon Peddie, emphasised the significance of personalization in the way forward for laptop . He described "the last word PC utilization mannequin" as "an ergonomic gaming / computing surroundings that features the selection and customization of the person". He additionally identified that those that left the sport on PC might be absorbed into different classes with the same configuration, resembling a TV display screen that broadcasts a cloud-based gaming system.
Though this looks like unhealthy information for PC players, the very fact is that video games aren’t going anyplace. Whereas the rise of cell gaming has siphoned desktop gaming customers, new avenues resembling cloud gaming and the supply of highly effective gaming laptops have led extra folks to a gaming expertise. recreation much like that of desktop computer systems.
As well as, because the consoles develop into extra highly effective and at last assist the keyboard and mouse, the space between "console" and "PC" decreases nonetheless. If solely console producers made their merchandise simpler to restore and improve with new , PC players might extra simply change to a console.


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Prime Bank has introduced a digital loan disbursement system for garment workers which is the first of its kind in the banking industry of Bangladesh.
The test launching of the credit disbursement was done in collaboration with Swiss contact and the British Fin-tech AGAM International, early on September 2021 for a number of selected factories.
Upon successful completion of the experimental scheme, the bank intends to rollout the product nationwide, said a press release.
The groundbreaking product has been named ‘Prime Agrim’ that assesses customers’ credit eligibility and completes disbursement digitally. Discarding the hassles of various documents submission, all steps from loan application to assessing credit worthiness and sanctioning, will be digitally executed, saving time and energy.


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May. 22, 2023 By Ethan Marshall
Cord Meyer Development Company will present seven car shows from the Queens Classic Car Club throughout the summer at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center. Shows will run every other Tuesday from May 30 to Aug. 22, from 5 to 9:00 p.m. There is no registration required.
In addition to getting to see all sorts of cars, various bands will be on hand to provide live music, including Zocial on May 30, Chicken Head Rocks on June 13, Lisa Polizzi Band on June 27, Damaged Goods Band on July 11, T Minus Ten on July 25, Contraband on Aug. 8 and The Second Street Band on Aug. 22.
According to Queens Classic Car Club President James Pringle, the organization started in 2011, with many of the original members consisting of civil service members. They began having the car shows at the Bay Terrace during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cord Meyer Development Vice President and Bay Terrace Project Lead Joe Forgione said that Cord Meyer was looking for creative ways to use the outdoor space of the shopping center during that time. The company felt that hosting a car show like this would bring people to the shopping center and potentially help the tenants there. After attending one of the car club’s shows on the South Shore, he felt it would be perfect for the community.
The event is free and open to the public. All money raised from those who pay to take part in the 50/50 raffles will go to St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Cord Meyer Development will match the amount raised and submit a donation of its own.
“There’s no cover fee to come in,” Pringle said. “We just ask people to donate to St. Mary’s. They have been one of the main recipients of our donations. We always like to give back to the kids.”
According to car show co-organizer Jackie DeLuca, some past shows have seen as many as 250 cars take part. She is proud of the amount of money raised for St. Mary’s each year. The expectation is for at least 150 cars to show up for the first show.
“The music and the cars go hand-in-hand, and the shopping center is a huge help,” DeLuca said. “You may have a car guy who wants to go and bring his wife and kids, who have zero interest in the cars. But between the music, stores and going out to eat, it all ties together for the ultimate experience.”
Cord Meyer intends to upgrade the shopping center over the next few years to better accommodate public events. This includes public seating, public dining areas, adding contemporary façade work and event space. Forgione said some of these projects may begin as early as this year.
“To have some permanent pockets for this type of activity would be great,” Forgione said. “The growing trend for shopping centers across the country is to become a live, work, play environment.” To learn more about the Queens Classic Car Club, visit their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Cord Meyer Corner
In the early decades of the 20th century, Cord Meyer Development’s largest commercial undertaking was the 1931 construction of the award-winning Seminole Garage on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills. This multi-faceted, one-story garage had a building footprint of over 53,000 square feet with parking for 200 cars. Cord Meyer has continued to value parking in the communities it serves as today’s Bay Terrace Shopping Center boasts over 1,600 free parking spaces, though most days only 50% to 60% are taken. As a result, numerous opportunities exist for creative use of the underutilized space.


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Within 18 months of signing a 15-year lease, WeWork has closed its Northbridge operations.…
Reinforcing the economic recovery trend, goods and services tax collection surpassed the Rs 1-trillion mark for the second consecutive month in November, according to the official data. Although slightly lower than the previous month, the robust mop-up could be attributed to the festival season demand, experts said, cautioning that this might not be sustainable in the coming months.
GST collection stood at Rs 1.049 trillion in November, as against Rs 1.051 trillion in October, the data released by the finance ministry on Tuesday showed. This is also the third straight month when GST collection rose year-on-year (YoY), indicating the reinstatement of normalcy in economic activity after months of disruption caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.
The November collection was 1.42 per cent higher than that in the same month a year ago, down from 10.25 per cent YoY growth in October and 3.87 per cent in September. These collections mostly account for transactions done in October, and hence represent the impact of the festival season. The lower e-way bill generation in November, at 55.3 million compared to 64.1 million in October, suggests that the December GST mop-up may be lower.
“The trends regarding the sustainability of demand
In the post-earnings call in October, Vodafone Idea managing director Ravinder Takkar had said the company would not shy away from taking the first step in raising tariffs. Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal had also said last week that there was an urgent need to increase rates.
The latest move, even if it is symbolic, is the first rate hike after the one announced end of 2019.
The Voda Idea share price rose 2.45 per cent to close at Rs 10.05 on BSE. On the news of tariff hike by Voda Idea, even Bharti Airtel’s stock went up 3.5 per cent to close at Rs 479 on Tuesday.
The tariff hike of Rs 50 has been effected under Vodafone Idea’s RED family pack plans which currently cost Rs 598 and Rs 749, respectively. However, the rates for the
Reputability is everything when it comes to financial decisions and investment.
You can think of your reputation as a form of currency; businesses without a solid reputation will quickly find their cash flow dwindling.
No matter the size of your company, you should be making a point to be thinking about your presence online. As we increasingly live our lives online, we have to ensure that the first impression counts while remembering that last impressions are forever.
Registering a .BOND domain name could be the first step towards your digital success.
If you are a financial institution, such as a bank, a trust, an insurance company a brokerage firm, or and investment dealer, then you are engaged in the business of dealing with financial and monetary transactions encompassing a broad range of business operations within the financial services sector.
Making decisions about domain extensions and cybersecurity typically aren’t part of the daily business. However, that doesn’t mean that they are any less important for long-term success.
An important aspect of a proactive branding strategy and establishing a trustworthy online presence is your domain name. But the name itself is only part of the deal; you also have to determine which


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Dr. Chanda Featured in Marie Claire
Dr. Chanda is honored to have been featured in Marie Claire magazine for their article, “15 Women to Watch in the CBD Industry.” She joins other female doctors, scientists, venture capitalists, and marketing pros in the effort to promote the many benefits of CBD. In the article, Dr. Chanda touches on CBD’s impact on female entrepreneurship,
“Hemp CBD is a great way for women to enter this market, as it generally offers a less stigmatizing and expensive way to be a part of the rapidly growing industry.”
Read the article in its entirety here!
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Did you get tired of the Flappy Bird clones that came in dozens in the past months? Well, it looks like Swing Copters was also getting the same treatment. Dozens of clones were made that urged Google to act on it. Almost all of the clones have now been removed.
As if it is tradition, each game that the Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen puts up on Google Play is bound to get tons of clones.
Seemingly, the success and departure of Flappy Bird had left small developers turning into copycats with a hope that the Vietnamese developer might act out again and take off his latest game leaving their clones with an opportunity to cash in on it.
This led to his latest game, Swing Copters being welcomed to the store by a flood of clones. This was apparently done by the developers who saw the anticipation people had for the upcoming game by Nguyen. As a result, their copies were up and running on Google Play even before the real thing hit the floor.
You would see all the weird (and sometimes lame) titles like Swinging Copters, Copters Swing, Swing Copters 2, and so on. In fact, even now there is one weird game titled ‘Obama Copter.’
However, the real game by GEARS Studio is now on top of the list and enjoying the prominent position that it should on the store.
That being said, have you tried out Swing Copters yet? I am sure it is going to have a touch of Flappy Bird in it. if you haven’t, you may download it from Google Play now.


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Microsoft has apparently become the Rodney Dangerfield of the computing world: it can’t get no respect. No matter how hard it tries. According to Jason Notte of TheStreet.com, Microsoft last 18 months of advertising has amounted to zilch. Basically $470 million spent with little to nothing to show for it.
Microsoft’s various campaigns to reestablish it’s brand identity have included “I’m a PC,” “Laptop Hunter,” and “Kylie” (the cute four-year old girl who’s a photo-editing wizard). And we probably don’t need to bring up the Seinfeld debacle that seemed more about selling shoes than computers.
According to Microsoft’s vice president of consumer marketing, Brad Brooks, all this effort is about “going out and building brand loyalty and pride around the brand.” But it’s interesting that despite all its efforts, and all its money, Microsoft can’t seem to make any headway. Might it be the lack of a legitimate competitor for Microsoft? Coke has Pepsi, Ford has General Motors, even Apple has Microsoft. But when your product comes, pretty much by default, on 90% of the PCs in the market, brand loyalty is a tough sell. After all, what real choice is there?
It may only be a side note here in North America, but over in the U.K HP is shaking up its netbook lineup. Normally this isn’t something that would make headline news, but it underscores an interesting new trend. HP is dropping the Mini 2133, the only Linux netbook still in its fleet. Customers will still be able to purchase Microsoft versions of the Mini 1000’s and install Linux on their own, but will now be forced to pay the Microsoft tax.
Tech journalists and enthusiasts alike have been fascinated by Linux’s rise in popularity thanks to low cost PCs, but clearly the mainstream consumer still favors the familiar blue and green of Windows XP. Another unknown is what impact Windows 7 will have on Linux netbooks sales in the future. If the price of the starter edition is the same, or less than XP, we can’t help but wonder if the free OS will have what it takes to compete. Clearly Microsoft is taking the netbook threat seriously, but only time will tell who will win the war.
Will Linux survive in the netbook and low cost PC market? Hit the jump and let us know what you think.
The Registerreports that there's good news and bad news for the many Windows XP users who took a pass on Windows Vista and decided to wait for Windows 7.
The good news? Windows XP users will be eligible for Windows 7 upgrade pricing.
The bad news? Windows XP users will need to do a clean install of Windows 7.
El Reg quotes a Microsoft rep thus:
I can confirm that customers will be able to purchase upgrade media and an upgrade license to move from Windows XP to Windows 7 - however, they will need to do a clean installation of Windows 7.
This requires the user to back up their data, install Windows 7, re-install the programs and restore their data. For PCs running Windows Vista customers have the option of an in-place upgrade of Windows 7 keeping their data and programs intact or to perform a clean install of Windows 7.
For those of you in the XP to Windows 7 camp, does the need to do a clean install bother you, or were you planning a clean install anyway? Join us after the jump for your chance to be heard.
It seems like just yesterday that Microsoft reluctantly introduced us to the world of User Account Control (UAC). Many disgruntled reviewers claimed that the UAC present in Windows Vista was too intrusive. It caused a lot of frustration when trying to install programs that needed administrator credentials. Apple even made a commercial that illustrated how people felt about the constant nagging of UAC in Windows Vista.
Fast forward to Windows 7 Beta 1, Microsoft now gives full control over the number of prompts you receive. The problem is any malware can defeat UAC by sending a few Visual Basic scripts to activate the slider and turn off UAC. Once UAC is off, the computer can be restarted and the malware can be launched with full administrator credentials and expose the computer to more malware and exploits.
Redmond usually releases security patches once a month, on Patch Tuesday, but Microsoft's security experts are worried enough about a newly reported vulnerability in the Server service to post an "out-of-band" security update, MS08-067, yesterday for all versions of Windows from Windows 2000 SP4 through Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 pre-beta. Microsoft hasn't issued a security update between Patch Tuesday releases since April 2007, so this is a significant security issue.
Although all supported versions of Windows are vulnerable, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 versions are especially vulnerable to this flaw, which can permit remote code execution via a specially crafted RFC request.
To find out what makes this vulnerability so critical, and to learn how to get the update, join us after the jump.
Just as we nerds have overhyped some technologies, we've also overlooked some even better alternatives. PC World has put on its thinking cap and posted its picks for the ten most overrated technology products and services - and alternatives that deserve a closer look.
So, How Would You Rate These Contenders?
Ultra-portable laptops versus mini-laptops
Microsoft Zune versus Apple iPod Touch
Windows XP versus Windows Vista
To discover which ones get the overrated razz, and which ones deserve some unexpected love, join us after the break.
As we told you last week, Microsoft rolled out two new security programs, Microsoft Active Protections Program and Microsoft Exploitability Index, during the Black Hat USA 2008 Conference. Unfortunately for Microsoft, the same conference saw a presentation by security experts Mark Dowd and Alexander Sotirov that renders these and other protections for Windows Vista, including its much-touted Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Protection (DEP) features, effectively null and void.
How did they do it? The full presentation (available here in PDF format) is quite technical, but here's the short version. according to SC Magazine:
In explaining the problem, the researchers said that most memory protection mechanisms are based on two things: detecting corruption and stopping common exploit patterns, and attempts to reinforce these are integral to Vista. But in many cases, some of the built-in protection mechanisms in Vista are not enabled by default for compatibility reasons.
“At the desktop level, compromises had to be made because of compatibility issues. Exploiters have a lot more control over browsers,” Sotirov said.
And in many cases, third-party applications are not compiled to use the Vista memory protections. For example, Java and Flash are not compiled using the critical protection called ASLR.
What can be done? My take: Microsoft needs to rethink the balance of compatibility versus protection, do a better job of informing users of what's protected and what's not, and get third-party application vendors to take advantage of the protection features in Vista. What about ordinary users like us? Watch out for compromised legitimate websites, and, as always, as our own Will Smith says, think before you click.
What's your take on Vista and other browser security issues? See us after the jump for your chance to sound off.
Windows Update will itself be updated, starting in late July, according to Windows Update product manager Michelle Haven, in a recent TechNet post. This update changes both the WU clients used by Windows XP and Vista-based machines as well as the back-end infrastructure, and as a result, scans for updates and update installations are faster. That's the good news. But, will the update cause problems for Windows XP users who need to perform a repair installation? And, what about users who don't want Microsoft making any changes to their system?
For more light on these questions, join me after the break.
The dreaded day has come and gone. June 30th 2008 marked the first milestone in Microsoft’s plan to euthanize our beloved OS. Windows XP leaves us with more of a bang than a whimper, and considerably more street credibility than it afforded at launch. Here at Maximum PC we want to take you down the nostalgic path of Windows XP one last time. A path lovingly paved for us over the years with hundreds of patches and countless upgrades.
Hit the jump and step inside for one last farewell to an old friend and to see why the future doesn’t look so bad.


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The app was launched in last year and it has gradually moved from its initial regions of operation to 21 more countries this week.
Twitter’s leaner version of the app, Twitter Lite, is now available in over 45 countries, the company has announced.
The app was launched in last year, and since then, it has gradually moved from its initial regions of operation to 21 more countries this week.
Twitter Lite is now available in newer countries including India, Argentina, Ghana, Turkey, Ukraine, Yemen, and Zimbabwe, taking the total count to over 45 countries.
The app is available in Google Play Store.
The light version weighs just 3MB and saves data. It supports slower 2G or 3G networks and loads data quickly.
There’s a Bookmarks feature which allows you to go back to a particular tweet when you have sufficient data. Other features include Night Mode, Threaded Tweets, and the newly added Push Notifications.


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As more and more tips come in regarding the T-Mobile G2 it gets harder and harder to sift through and decipher what is true and what is not. So all information as of new should be taken as nothing more than a rumor. Here is what a tipster told The Boy Genius Report.
All of the specs that CellphoneSignal reported are very wrong and the launch date could not be more off. The device is a fully touch handset and as much as we would like, does not have a physical full QWERTY keyboard. Yes there is a trackball at the bottom; they simply could not let it go. The launch of the device has been delayed from late February to April due to uncontrollable software issues.
The T-Mobile G2 will actually be launched on another global carrier with a different name, as T-Mobile G1, G2 and G3 are trademarks of T-mobile. The tipster did not see the G3, yes there apparently is a G3 and it is reportedly coming not long after the G2. We hate to drown you with more rumors, but we felt that we should give you the most reliable rumor out there right now.