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IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig says there’s “replicating” of tax evasion with cryptocurrencies using nonfungible tokens (NFTs), CNBC reported on Wednesday (April 14), adding that the IRS is looking at the dark web for crime related to crypto or NFT transactions.
Rettig, speaking before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday (April 13), said the U.S. fails to collect around $1 trillion in taxes annually because of the new popularity of crypto. Cryptos are difficult for the agency to track and tax.
NFTs, he said, are just more of that same kind of issue for the IRS.
“So now we have these nonfungible tokens, which are essentially collectibles in the crypto world,” Rettig said, according to CNBC. “These are not visible items by design. The crypto world is not visible.”
Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio said he was working on a bill that would require more reporting and disclosure around crypto transactions. Rettig said it was important to have more of that.
NFTs have seen a surge in new popularity and value as of late, which CNBC writes will result in a new set of tax questions. NFTs accounted for more than $2 billion in sales in the first quarter in the platforms tracked by NonFungible.com, CNBC reported.
While buyers purchase NFTs with crypto, many U.S. NFT buyers haven’t been aware that they’re required to pay a capital gains tax when they’ve used appreciated crypto to make a purchase.
Those that see potential in NFTs to go beyond a temporary fad have begun looking at ways to integrate them more into the mainstream, including Circle, which recently rolled out a new service for NFT platforms and merchants, letting them accept credit card and crypto payments.


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At 51.1, the index registered its strongest growth in five months. September’s reading came in at 49.9.
Any result above 50 indicates expansion in the sector.
The positive reading is expected to alleviate fears of a “hard landing” as Chinese economic growth falls, according to HSBC’s China chief economist Hongbin Qu.
The manufacturing data should provide a “steady start” for the industry in the fourth quarter, he said. The strong data pushed up markets.
Hongbin Qu continued, “inflation components within the PMI results confirmed stable output-price growth and slower input-price inflation.”
However, analysts pointed to the slowing Eurozone economy as a risk to Chinese growth. As a major export market, a slowdown would cut demand for Chinese goods.
Meanwhile Japanese exports rose and imports shrank, which analysts expect to put the country’s trade balance into surplus in the third quarter.
Exports expanded by 3.3 per cent compared with August. Over the third quarter export volumes increased by 3.4 per cent on the previous three months. That compares with a 10 per cent drop in quarter two compared with quarter one.
Import volumes declined by almost one per cent, quarter on quarter.
“If this pattern is repeated for goods and services exports and imports, there will be a significant net trade contribution to third quarter GDP,” said Lombard Street Research’s Michael Taylor.
However, forecasts also suggest declining international demand may leave reconstruction as the main driver of demand into 2012.
“Concerns remain about the sustainability of Japan’s industrial and export recovery once capacity is restored,” continued Taylor.
“A slowing global economy will dampen export growth into 2012.”

domain: news


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What do Ceros, Evobot and Evokit have in common? They are all build-your-own robots designed by Tunisian startup Evocraft to help teach young people engineering skills.
Launched September 2018, Evocraft aims to increase knowledge among young people about technology and potential involvement in future scientific developments.
“Inspired by the new emerging STEM education methodology, our team worked hard to provide easy-to-use concepts and products that help kids learn robotics and software programming at an early age and through a learn-by-practice approach that focuses on trial and error,” co-founder Haythem Dabbabi told Disrupt Africa.
Evocraft has developed a host of robots that can be assembled and programmed, helping users learn the basic concepts of mechanics, electronics and software development.
“Our robots are basically created as different pieces of hardware that can be combined according to the imagination of the kids to build robots that can play music, dance, play football, or even solve a simple labyrinth on their own,” Dabbabi said.
He said technological development was speeding up, and artificial intelligence playing a large role in people’s lives, yet young people often still do not have the right set of skills for their studies or future jobs. Evocraft’s build-your-own robots are designed to change this, and though the startup is going up against international competitors such as mBlock and LEGO, Dabbabi said its prices and functions were targeted at its market.
“In order to compete with their offers we worked on improving many competitive advantages, like price, autonomy, rigidity, stability and the hackability in order to adapt them to the needs of our customers,” he said.
The self-funded Evocraft is growing from its own revenues and a handful of grants and prizes, making money from selling its robots and accessories, and conducting training. It has customers all over Tunisia, and is planning expansion.
“We’ve started working on Tunisia for now as a test market, but we aim to expand our business to the Mediterranean market. We’ve already started preparing for the creation of Evocraft in Algeria,” said Dabbabi.


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Cardano Launches Lace 1.0: The First Native Light Wallet Platform for the Cardano Network
Input Output Global (IOG), a development lab behind Cardano, has released Lace 1.0 – the first light wallet platform for the Cardano network. With Lace, users can send and receive Cardano digital assets, NFTs, and native tokens. Also, users can stake ADA directly from their wallet to contribute to the security of the network and receive rewards for their participation. Fiat-to-crypto on-ramps, a dApp store, in-wallet swaps, and staking enchantments are expected in future releases.
The launch of Lace 1.0 is a significant milestone for the Cardano network. It marks the first time that users can send and receive Cardano digital assets, NFTs, and native tokens using a native light wallet platform. Previously, users had to rely on third-party wallets to manage their Cardano assets. Now, they can do it directly from their Lace wallet, making it easier and more convenient to use.
According to the official announcement from IOG, Lace has been developed with the same academic rigor and robust engineering that the company is known for. It has also undergone community participation and beta testing to ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of Cardano users. As a result, the platform is fast, secure, and easy to use, making it an ideal choice for anyone who wants to explore the world of Web3.
With Lace 1.0, users can stake their ADA directly from their wallet to contribute to the security of the Cardano network and receive rewards for their participation. This is an important feature for anyone who wants to support the network and earn rewards at the same time. The platform also includes a new bundle transaction feature that allows users to send multiple assets to different addresses in one transaction with one transaction fee.
Hardware wallet integration is another key feature of Lace 1.0, providing added security for users’ digital assets. The platform also seamlessly connects to NFT marketplaces, dApps, and DeFi services with the DApp connector, making it easy to explore and participate in the Cardano ecosystem.
For those who want to get started with Lace 1.0, the process is straightforward. Users can simply head to the Lace website, lace.io, and click the ‘Add to browser’ button to add the Lace 1.0 extension to their Google Chrome browser. From there, they can start using the platform to manage their Cardano assets.
The launch of Lace 1.0 is just the first step for the platform. IOG has already announced plans for a DApp store, a desktop app, and digital identity solutions. In addition, fiat on/off ramps, in-wallet swaps, a richer staking experience with multi-delegation, and a portfolio view are all in the pipeline. This means that Lace is set to become an even more powerful and versatile platform in the coming months.
Overall, the launch of Lace 1.0 is a significant development for the Cardano network and the wider cryptocurrency community. It provides users with a powerful and easy-to-use platform for managing their Cardano assets, staking ADA, and participating in the Cardano ecosystem. With future enhancements and developments on the way, it’s clear that Lace is set to become a major player in the world of Web3.
- Cardano Whales Seem To Be On Radical Move To Accumulate ADA At Discount
- Cardano Whales Accumulate Over 150 Million ADA
- Cardano (ADA) Is Very Close To A Strong Breakout, Here’s Why?
- Bitcoin Dominance (BTC.D) Appears Bearish Signal, Is Mini Altcoin Season Coming?


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Two in five small business owners (40%) say they are taking legal action against customers not paying them on time and many bosses are foregoing their own salary in order to ensure their employees get paid on time – according to new research from Hitachi Capital Business Finance
One in five business owners (20%) are even not pay themselves because of unpaid invoices are affecting their cash flow. This number doubles for smaller ventures with less than 10 employees (40%).
At a time when Hitachi Capital Business Finance has found that three in five small businesses are affected by late payments (62%), the new data highlights the very human impact on business owners – and these issues have seen a marked increase since 2018. For example, there has been a 22% rise in the number of small businesses wasting time and money on and legal action to chase a late payment (rising from 31% to 40% since 2018), and a 14% increase in SME’s being unable to pay suppliers because of late customer payments (up from 31% to 36%).
The cashflow challenges that result from chasing late payment has forced more than one in three small businesses (35%) to seek short term-borrowing in order to make ends meet.
Gavin Wraith-Carter, Managing Director at Hitachi Capital Business Finance explains:
“It is disheartening that so many small business owners feel impeded because their customers are not paying on time and, for many, the wreaks havoc with their cashflow. The fact many small business owners are sacrificing their own salary also means they are literally taking their business worries home with them.”
“At Hitachi Capital Business Finance we are working hard to develop a range of flexible products that are designed to support small businesses through highs and lows so they can budget and plan with more confidence – and not let seasonal or unexpected surprises derail their business plans.”
The impact of late payment: Further findings
- Almost two in five business owners (38%) said that late payment placed a huge risk on their supply chain, while 31% further stated that because of this, their crucial relationships with suppliers, clients and customers was greatly affected.
- Sole traders were those most concerned with incurring bank charges as a result of short-term borrowing, with 44% reporting it as a concern.
- The oldest businesses (those trading for more than 35 years old) were the most worried about having to take on short-term loans to make ends meet (40%). They also reported the highest likelihood of pursuing legal action as a result of late payments (62%).
- Half of all SME’s working in medical & health services (50%) said late payment issues were harming their relationships with customers and suppliers. This comes at a time when BUPA has been in the spotlight for paying its clients late.This is 12% higher than the national average.
To discover more about the flexible payment plan visit


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Fortress Investment Group and TDR Capital are among the parties which have lodged indicative offers for the Bourne Leisure holiday camps, including Skegness, according to Sky News.
It is believed Fortress Investment Group owns Punch Taverns, and TDR Capital, one of the principal shareholders in Asda, have submitted 'indicative offers' for Butlin's in the last few days.
Sky News has reported that City sources said on Wednesday that other parties had bid for the business too, with bankers suggesting that another offer may have come from KSL Capital Partners, a prolific investor in UK leisure assets.
It was in November last year that US private equity giant Blackstone, which owns the majority of Butlin’s parent company, Bourne Leisure, had selected investment bankers to conduct an auction this year.
Blackstone appointed Rothschild last autumn to conduct the auction after concluding that Butlin's 'did not fit with the rest of the group'.
Butlin's was established in Skegness in 1936 by Billy Butlin, who - according to official history - "felt sorry for families staying in drab guest-houses with nothing much to do" during a trip to Barry Island.
He acquired a plot of land in Ingoldmells and opened the first resort.
Eventually there were nine sites across the UK, where one million were entertained holidaymakers each year with knobbly knees competitions and glamorous granny contests.
Staff at the resorts who also entertained visitors became known as Redcoats and were the inspiration for popular television sitcoms like Hi-de-Hi!.
Popularity waned with the growth of holiday abroad, but the three remaining resorts at Skegness, Minehead and Bognor Regis enjoyed a resurgence as the pandemic has fuelled a boom in staycations.
Lincolnshire World has regularly requested an update on the auction and has been told we will be informed when there is something to announce.
In the meantime it is business as usual as the resort in Skegness prepares for a busy Easter., especially with the return of day visitor passes.


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Microsoft claims thatcurrently available for Windows 10 users, but the company promises even more improvements in this regard with the upcoming Anniversary Update due in July.
Also known as Redstone, the Anniversary Update will feature improvements that will reduce the battery impact of Adobe Flash, as Microsoft is looking into ways to significantly cut the battery footprint of its operating system.
There are several changes that will be integrated into the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in this regard and one of them is “minimizing the impact of background activity and peripheral content like Flash advertisements,” according to a post published by Microsoft.
Flash security and battery footprint
Flash has often been criticized for its poor security, as it’s considered one of the most vulnerable pieces of software currently out there, not only on Windows, but also on other platforms, including Apple’s Mac OS X (). But in the past few years, studies have shown that it also dramatically impacts battery life on laptops, and it has been proved that on a MacBook Air you can get 2 extra hours of autonomy by simply dumping Flash.
Microsoft knows that this is one of the areas where it needs to focus a little bit more, so the Anniversary Update will come with many improvements in this regard.
“We continue to focus on power efficiency with regular updates to Windows 10, and the Windows 10 Anniversary Update will include even more power-saving improvements, using fewer CPU cycles, consuming less memory, and minimizing the impact of background activity and peripheral content like Flash advertisements,” the company explained.
The Windows 10 Anniversary Update will see daylight next month for both PC and mobile devices and it will boast a plethora of improvements, including not only Edge tweaks, but also changes aimed at the Start menu, Cortana, the Action Center, and many other apps integrated into the operating system.


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Strong business demand drives double-digit operating income growth.
REDMOND, Wash. — Apr. 19, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced quarterly revenue of $17.41 billion for the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2012, a 6% increase from the prior year period. Operating income was $6.37 billion, up 12% from the prior year period.
Net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $5.11 billion and $0.60 per share, compared with $5.23 billion and $0.61 per share, respectively, in the prior year period. Prior year net income and diluted earnings per share included a $461 million or $0.05 per share tax benefit primarily related to a tax settlement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“We’re driving toward exciting launches across the entire company, while delivering strong financial results,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. “With the upcoming release of new Windows 8 PCs and tablets, the next version of Office, and a wide array of products and services for the enterprise and consumers, we will be delivering exceptional value to all our customers in the year ahead.”
The Server & Tools business posted $4.57 billion in third-quarter revenue, a 14% increase from the prior year period, driven by double-digit revenue growth in SQL Server and more than 20% growth in System Center revenue.
The Microsoft Business Division reported $5.81 billion in third-quarter revenue, a 9% increase from the prior year period, reflecting the continued strength of Office 2010 with businesses and consumers. Dynamics posted an 11% revenue increase from the prior year period, with Dynamics CRM revenue growing more than 30%.
The Windows and Windows Live Division posted revenue of $4.62 billion, a 4% increase from the prior year period. Strong Windows 7 adoption continued with enterprise desktops on Windows 7 now up to 40% worldwide.
“We saw strong demand for our business desktop and infrastructure offerings,” said Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “Solid revenue growth and continued cost discipline drove double-digit operating income growth.”
The Online Services Division reported revenue of $707 million, a 6% increase from the prior year period, and operating loss improvement of approximately $300 million.
The Entertainment & Devices Division posted revenue of $1.62 billion, a decrease of 16% from the prior period due to a soft gaming console market. Xbox remained the top-selling console in the U.S. for the 15th consecutive month, and the company announced new television content partners and experiences for its 40 million Xbox LIVE members.
“We continue to execute well across our businesses, and we are seeing robust demand for our enterprise products and services,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “Our investments and offerings in the database platform and public, private, and hybrid cloud are helping our customers transform their operations to meet today’s evolving business demands.”
Microsoft is revising operating expense guidance downward and now offers a range of $28.3 billion to $28.7 billion for the full year ending June 30, 2012. Microsoft also offers preliminary fiscal year 2013 operating expense guidance of $30.3 billion to $30.9 billion, representing 6% to 8% growth from the mid-point of fiscal year 2012 guidance.
Peter Klein, chief financial officer, Frank Brod, chief accounting officer, and Bill Koefoed, general manager of Investor Relations, will host a conference call and webcast at 2:30 p.m. PDT (5:30 p.m. EDT) today to discuss details of the company’s performance for the quarter and certain forward-looking information. The session may be accessed at https://www.microsoft.com/investor/. The webcast will be available for replay through the close of business on Apr. 19, 2013.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.


text: if you're headquartered in a city as iconic as amsterdam, it's not exactly a stroke of genius to utilize it to get your message across. or is it? since its inception, apparel brand scotch & soda has been deliberately flaunting its roots, blending bits and pieces of the dutch capital into its identity and ad campaigns. but now, taking matters to a whole new level, the brand has become an unadulterated advocate, and lays bare cool, under-the-radar spots across town in a newly printed guide. aptly entitled the misguiding guide of amsterdam, it's a full-colour publication featuring interviews conducted by vogue netherlands features director fiona hering with a handful of local in-the-know creatives. these talks not only reveal a slew of information on their preferred and often off-the-beaten-track spots that only seasoned amsterdammers know about, but are also spiced up by compelling, urban-flavoured shots of lensman mounir raji and jan rothuizen's entertaining map drawings. the guide will be distributed through scotch & soda's global retail network, but can also be viewed on your smartphone after downloading the brand's app.


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We all already know it, but now it’s confirmed: nighttime smartphone use will ruin you the next day, reducing your productivity and focus after you wake up. Michigan State University business researcher Russell Johnson and his team produced a survey of American workers, asking how often they checked their phones after 9pm and how they felt at work. In short, they found correlation between late night smartphone use and performance.
The survey assessed “mental depletion/fatigue using a validated survey that participants completed the following morning” and noted focus and attention span.
“Smartphones are almost perfectly designed to disrupt sleep,” said Johnson. “Because they keep us mentally engaged late into the evening, they make it hard to detach from work so we can relax and fall asleep.”
Johnson asked managers as well as a broad sample of U.S. workers about their late night habits. It seems that using a smartphone can “zap” your energy more than watching TV or sitting in front of a computer. Because they are so close to your bedside and because they emit unrestful “blue light,” they are the worst culprits among everything keeping us from a good night’s sleep.
The associate professor concedes that we can’t always put down the phone, especially when our jobs are on the line.
“There may be times in which putting off work until the next day would have disastrous consequences and using your smartphone is well worth the negative effects on less important tasks the next day,” he said. “But on many other nights, more sleep may be your best bet.”
“An obvious recommendation is to set some boundaries regarding smartphone use, such as completely powering it down after a certain time (e.g., 10pm). Managers can also help in this regard by not sending emails late in the evening,” he said.


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[THE INVESTOR] Italian carmaker Ferrari plans to start its own second-hand car business in Korea -- the first by an international super car brand here.
According to industry sources on July 5, its Korean importer and distributor FMK Corp. recently set up a new business division and has started preparations for the business launch within the year.
With the robust growth of import car market in Korea, popular brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have already jumped into the soaring second-hand car market.
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
Industry watchers expect Ferrari’s entry into the market could affect sales of other super car brands with cheaper price tags and their pricing policy even for new cars. A Ferrari car is priced at about 400 million won (US$350,000) on average.
FMK, which was acquired by local chemicals giant Hyosung last year, plans to purchase all Ferrari cars put up for sale in the used car market and resell the cars at cheaper prices after a thorough inspection of some 190 categories.
Its service plan is also expected to include a guarantee program for 12 months. All the repair work will only use original parts. FMK will inspect the cars, including a car’s registration and ownership records and driving range.
FMK said it has started preparations to get the final approval from the carmaker’s Italian headquarters. The company also imports and distributes Maserati cars here.
“Our used-car service will enable us to offer Ferrari cars at more reasonable prices. It will be also be helpful in reducing the waiting time to receive a new vehicle that that takes almost one year,” said an FMK official.
Back in 2011, FMK tried to enter the second-hand car market with Ferrari but stopped the business the next year due to lukewarm market reaction. The company estimates about 200 Ferrari cars to be put up for sale annually.
By Jeong Tae-il and Lee Ji-yoon (email@example.com


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Looking ahead, the company said it was looking for adjusted third-quarter earnings between 37 cents and 40 cents per share. Wall Street had on average expected about 40 cents, according to Reuters.
HP also lowered the upper end of its full-year guidance: It said that it expected adjusted fiscal year earnings between $1.59 and $1.65 per share — it had previously said it was looking for $1.69 on the high side of its expectations.
Still, Wall Street had only on average expected full-year earnings of $1.59 per share, according to Reuters.
"This quarter we delivered strong results and solid progress towards our long term strategy," Dion Weisler, HP's president and CEO, said in a news release. "We achieved our operational objectives, unleashed truly amazing innovations, and grew in strategic areas of our business, despite tough market conditions. I'm confident in our ability to execute and remain committed to our plan for growth."
Within its individual segments, HP reported that its personal systems net revenue fell about 10 percent year-over-year to $6.99 billion. Wall Street had expected that segment to see $7.06 billion, according to StreetAccount. That discrepancy was attributable to desktop revenue of $2.4 billion compared to an expected $2.52 billion.
Still, HP said it outperformed the personal systems market to gain an overall 19.4 percent share. Within the commercial space, HP said it had achieved an all-time-high market-share of 24.6 percent.
For its printing business, HP said it saw $4.64 billion in net revenue. That compares to $4.74 billion anticipated by Wall Street, according to StreetAccount.
Revenues for every individual component of HP's personal systems and printing businesses — from notebooks and workstations to printing supplies and consumer hardware — fell on a year-over-year basis.
"I will not be completely satisfied with the company performance until we return to sustained growth," Weisler said on the company's earnings webcast.


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Qualcomm X60 Modem Will Enable Faster, Slimmer 5G Phones
Qualcomm today announced its third-generation 5G modem, the Snapdragon X60. The chip supports new types of 5G carrier aggregation compared to the X55 it replaces, including across TDD and FDD bands, and across mmWave and sub-6 bands. These new aggregation options will enable more carriers to offer faster 5G data speeds, including doubling potential sub-6 peak speeds. The chip also supports native voice calls over 5G (VoNR). Support for VoNR and the new aggregation options will help carriers transition from 5G NSA (non-stand-alone) to more advanced 5G SA (stand-alone) networks. The X60 is made using a cutting-edge 5nm manufacturing process, producing a smaller, more power-efficient modem chip. The X60 will sample to device makers this quarter. Alongside the X60, Qualcomm is also introducing a new mmWave antenna module (QTM535) that's narrower than the company's existing antenna modules, enabling slimmer phones that support mmWave 5G.
Nov 30, 2021
Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the company's flagship chipset to power 2022's top-end phones. The chip is the successor to the Snapdragon 888, but uses the new single-digit + generation naming scheme the company recently announced.
Aug 10, 2022
Samsung has announced its newest generation of foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4. Both have similar designs and features compared to their predecessors, with a slew of small updates and refinements across the board.
Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.
Nov 15, 2022
Qualcomm has announced its newest top-end chip, intended to power most flagship-level Android phones in 2023. As expected, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more powerful and power-efficient across the board (compared to Gen 1), but the most impressive improvements and new features involve AI.
Dec 1, 2021
Qualcomm will make a big push to bring high-speed mmWave 5G to more affordable phones in 2022, according to comments made by CEO Cristiano Amon during a Q&A session at the company's Snapdragon Summit event in Hawaii today. For a phone to support mmWave 5G, multiple specialty antenna modules need to be added, which can raise a phone's price by $50 – 100.


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With a tough 2015 target for reducing exhaust emissions looming, ferry companies are facing testing times. Jason Gregory explores how shipping companies are upping their games to ensure profitability.
We listened to the views of our members last year about the location of the FSDF Annual Lunch, and this year we decided to once again choose the North of England.
As part of their employee development programme for the business, Cold Move's participation in the FSDF Pathway Qualification Programme recently resulted in 29 of their staff receiving a national qualification in Warehousing and Storage Operations that is accredited by both City and Guilds and Skills for Logistics.
The horsemeat scandal spurred British consumers to discard nearly 18m packets of processed food, a new survey commissioned by the kitchenware manufacturer Tefal has revealed.
Thanks to ACS&T, pupils at Kingswinford High School in Dudley will be able to continue enjoying their school meals despite maintenance work on the school’s electrical system meaning freezers would be switched off.
Anyone involved with the supply chain industry can now register to have leading pallet racking specialist RediRack’s popular ‘Rack iT’ publication emailed directly to their in-box.
High-profile food appeals with Tesco and Sainsbury’s helped FareShare feed more people than ever last year.
New figures from Kantar Worldpanel reveal organic sales through supermarkets have increased steadily for the past three months.
Shire Business Group provides UK SMEs with a complete range of commercial services for funding, development and protection through its specialist divisions.
Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Aldi and the big four multiples are among the retailers that have signed up to challenging new targets aimed at cutting food waste in the supply chain and at home.
Farmers supplying Tesco have become the first in the world to use a new online tool to help producers slash their carbon emissions - and those of the food and drink giants they supply.


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Privacy in the Digital Age
In the wake of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica’s data compromise, as well as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you may have noticed a flood of updated privacy policies surging your inbox or notifications popping up whenever you open an app or website.
Countries in the E.U. are now subject to the new G.D.P.R., which is based on the ideas that companies should ask for permission to collect users’ data and they should only be collecting the information necessary to perform the service they provide. These ethos’ main concerns are on the behalf of consumers and their privacy, in a world where data privacy laws were almost nonexistent. Though these laws were in place for countries in the E.U., because so many companies are global, users in the United States and across the world are now under these privacy protections as well.
But, as digital advertisers use data about users’ online habits to deliver relevant and engaging ads, one may view these policies as bad news for marketers or those trying to reach a specific audience. However, concerns for privacy and increased regulation spell only good consequences for everyone.
Brands, companies, agencies – everyone should be reassured by this news, as privacy makes consumers happy, which is, after all, a main objective. Consumers are the foundation of marketing. Therefore, transparency and trust are all aspects that marketers should strive for in gaining consumer trust.
You also may have seen a few advertisements on Facebook or television coming from Facebook itself. These spots remind us that “We Came Here for the Friends,” a campaign to show that the social media magnet is increasing its efforts to eradicate “fake news’, spam accounts, and clickbait. The ads also reassure that the company is trying its best to protect users’ privacy.
Yes, we all want to reach the perfect audience at the perfect time in the perfect place, which does require some crucial information to make that happen. But making that happen should never be at the cost of invading privacy or turning off audiences.


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One Danish ticket retailer Billetlugen, which sells tickets for AC/DC's Denmark show, reportedly has a system failure after 30,000 tickets sold out within 46 minutes.
AC/DC fans were left scrambling to buy tickets to the rockers' sold-out Denmark show online - after one retailer's website crashed due to the massive demand. The "Highway to Hell" hitmakers are set to play their highly-anticipated concert in Horsens on June 5.
According to Blabbermouth.net, internet traffic to one Danish ticket retailer, Billetlugen, was so heavy the site ground to a halt on Friday, January 29. All 30,000 tickets sold out within 46 minutes of going on sale.
Aside from massive demand of AC/DC's ticket, the group recently planned to pay tribute for their former lead singer Bon Scott who died on February 19, 1980 at the age of 33. Current frontman of the band Brian Johnson shared, "We're trying to think of something to do that's not morbid. We hate it when people try to use the anniversary as a sensation-seeking thing, so we want it to be respectful."


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Monday, December 29, 1997
Price (12/26/97): $14 5/8
HOW DID IT DOUBLE?
In 1994, coming off its second bankruptcy in two years, Cherokee decided to go virtual. Instead of designing and manufacturing its popular Cherokee branded clothes, it would simply license its name to others who would do the dirty work. At the top of its licensee hit list? Dayton Hudson's (NYSE: DH) money engine Target Stores.
Cherokee's near triple in the last year shows that this strategy has paid off. Inventories were cleared out during the first quarter of FY96 (ended August 1995). By the second quarter of FY97, sales and earnings comparisons started looking unbelievably attractive. New deals and stronger-than-expected clothing sales have pushed royalties ever higher, up 90% in the latest quarter. That was good for a tripling of earnings to $0.21 per share.
Sales of Cherokee branded clothes have hit a bulls-eye for Target, beating that company's own expectations by $50 million last year. So that retailer inked a new deal that extends into 2004. On September 30, Zellers Inc., Canada's leading discount department store chain, also licensed the brand through January 2003, guaranteeing Cherokee a minimum of $10 million. Catalog retailer Brylane, whose catalogs include Lane Bryant, King Size, Lerner, and Chadwick's of Boston, has also recently a signed deal that extends through June 2002.
These long-term contracts seem designed to help management raise financing. On November 11, Chair/CEO Robert Margolis said the company had retained Libra Investments (a major stockholder) "to act as its financial advisor in connection with a possible sale or leveraged recapitalization." The stock rose to a high around $15 on the news.
Based in Van Nuys, California, Cherokee had just 12 employees as of May 31. Its main business is licensing the Cherokee name, which is associated with casual, contemporary, moderately priced apparel. Rather than making deals with wholesalers, which is more common, Cherokee has gone directly to retailers.
Licenses are offered on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis in multiple categories. The Zellers pact is an exclusive agreement covering all categories of apparel, fashion accessories, cosmetics, and home and recreational products. The new deal with Target is similar, offering greater exclusivity and broadening the discounter's Cherokee offerings to include men's and boys apparel. Retailers design and manufacture the merchandise, but Cherokee gets final approval.
Cherokee has contracts with other U.S. retailers such as Pamida, Caldor, and Brylane. It has also signed pacts with some Pacific Rim companies, with royalties expected to kick in next fiscal year. To broaden its stable of brands, Cherokee recently bought the trademarks of Sideout Sports, a firm associated with California beach volleyball and known for quality activewear.
Royalties on non-exclusive retail licenses begin at 3% of net sales, but fall with rising sales volume. Under the new Target deal, Cherokee will be paid a minimum of $9 million in the first two years and $10.5 million in each of the ensuing four years.
Target accounted for 68% of revenue during FY98. The latest proxy shows Cherokee shares concentrated in just a few hands, including CEO Margolis (29%), other insiders (10.6%), Value Partners (27.2%), and Cowen & Co. (5.1%).
12-month sales: $9.8 million
12-month income: $7.9 million
12-month EPS: $0.96
Profit Margin: 80.6%
Market Cap: $122.1 million
Cash: $9.4 million
Current Assets: $10.3 million
Current Liabilities: $0.2 million
Long-Term Debt: N/A
HOW COULD YOU HAVE FOUND THIS DOUBLE?
Until recently, retailers have enjoyed a strong year. But even an investor set on finding undiscovered plays in the clothing biz might have had a hard time uncovering Cherokee. The Peter Lynch method of checking stores to see what's selling might have worked.
The old rising margins screen, though, would have worked well. Quarterly comparisons between the new licensor and the old manufacturer made Cherokee look like it had lost its footing... until the November quarter of 1996. Sales were up 17%, with earnings per share up more than five-fold.
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
First Call shows no earnings estimates, but a late October profile of Cherokee in The Wall Street Journal's California edition noted that analyst Robert Lushman of Amroc Securities rated the company a "buy," with a 12-month target of $19 a share. That didn't include the Zellers or revised Target agreements.
Based on the company's eye-popping 80% profit margins and the minimum royalty payments from the Zeller and Target deals alone, Cherokee should deliver two years of at least $1.05 per share in earnings followed by three years of at least $1.20. Each additional million in revenue could add another dime per share in earnings. Guesstimating, the forward PE is around 13.
These exclusive licenses will constrain Cherokee from hustling up royalties from new sources in the U.S. and Canada, but downside protection is worth something to an investor, and upside surprises are always possible.
These earnings estimates and price targets, though, must now be revised given the recently announced cash dividend of $5.50 per share payable on or shortly after January 15 to stockholders of record at the close of business January 2. That dividend will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of Cherokee's earnings for the new fiscal year ending January 31 (perhaps $1 per share).
The rest of the dividend will qualify as a return of capital, meaning that new investors won't pay any taxes on that portion of the dividend. For long-term holders with a cost basis below, say, $4.50 per share, profits would be taxed as a capital gain.
The company has raised $48 million in cash for the dividend by assigning its rights under the Target deal to a new limited liability corporation, which has pledged the agreement as collateral for the loan. These transactions will allow Cherokee to reward its current shareholders with a fat check while allowing them to maintain ownership of the company.
The result will be a huge decline in reported earnings for the next six years and an imminent fall in the company's market price to adjust for the cash payout. In theory, this transaction should be a non-event for current shareholders, although the new financing obligations will cut into the future stream of income, making Cherokee a bit less attractive in the future, on balance.
The question is how much additional income Cherokee will enjoy from strong sales under current licenses and from potential new deals. In short, how strong are its brands, its partners, and the retailing biz in general? This one should be worth watching, though, just for the education.
-- Louis Corrigan
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(01 Aug 2022, Pasay City, Philippines) SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of Southeast Asia’s leading integrated real estate developers, announced a 21% increase in the company’s consolidated net profit to PHP 14.1 billion in the first half of 2022 compared to PHP 11.6 billion in the first half of 2021. This is supported by a 13% increase in consolidated revenues to PHP 46.3 billion compared to PHP 41.1 billion during the same period examined. Consolidated operating income grew by 33% to PHP21.4 billion in 2022 from PHP16.1 billion in 2021.
“Growth in domestic demand over the past period has kept SM Prime’s financial growth stable, as reflected in our first half 2022 results. We are optimistic that despite the global economic downturn, the local economy will continue to benefit continued growth in remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFW), the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, as well as increased travel and local tour activity” , said SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim.
SM Prime’s Philippine mall revenue, which accounts for 44% of the company’s consolidated revenue, jumped 92% to PHP20.6 billion in the first six months of 2022 from PHP10.7 billion. in the first six months of 2021. The increase is due to the 80% growth in shopping center rental income to PHP 18.6 billion in 2022 from PHP 10.3 billion in 2021. Given the quarantine more relaxed community in major key areas of the Philippines during the reporting period, SM Prime cinemas, event ticket sales and other revenue increased from PHP 0.5 billion to PHP 2.0 billion. SM Prime’s mall sales in China reached RMB 0.39 billion in the first half of 2022, almost the same level as in 2021.
SM Prime’s residential business group, led by SM Development Corp. (SMDC), recorded revenue of PHP 18.2 billion in the first half of 2022, down 25% from PHP 24.5 billion in the first half of 2021. The decline in revenue was partly due sales canceled following the expiration of Bayanihan Act, which granted a reprieve to unit buyers at the height of the pandemic, affecting the entire industry. The economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic also contributed to the drop in income.
SMDC reservation sales increased 49% in unit sales to 12,327 this year from 8,269 last year. This translates to an 8% increase in booking sales to PHP59.4 billion from January to June 2022, compared to PHP55.1 billion in the same period last year.
SM Prime’s other key businesses, which include offices, hotels and convention centers, saw revenue growth of 49% to PHP 4.5 billion in the first half of 2022 from PHP 3.0 billion. PHP in the first half of 2021. The company’s office business segment recorded revenue of PHP 2.8 billion, up 14% from the same period last year, while segment revenue hotel and convention center business was PHP 1.7 billion, up 205% from the first half of last year.
SM Prime remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable cities, thereby enriching the quality of life for millions of people.
For more information, please contact:
Vice President, Investor Relations
SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Such. : +632 8862 7940
This document may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements relating to known and unknown risks; uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from expected future results; the performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements; our overall future business, financial condition and results of operations, including, but not limited to, our financial condition or cash flows; our goals or estimates of future performance or operating results; and changes in the regulatory environment, including, but not limited to, policies, rulings and rulings by governmental or regulatory authorities. Although: (1) SM Prime Holdings, Inc. has extensive experience; and (2) forward-looking statements may be reasonable, nothing herein should be construed as a commitment by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. as we cannot guarantee future events, performance or events due to various risks and uncertainties.


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Cebuanos can relive the fun and excitement at the Pasko sa Fuente, as it finally opens to the public after a two-year hiatus – particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For years, Cebuanos visited the Fuente Osmeña Circle to witness and take part in the festivities. Not to mention the bustling food strip within the nature park.
Unfortunately, the iconic Christmas destination didn’t have its usual festivities in 2020 and 2021, as the city struggled with the pandemic and the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.
In 2020, several health protocols were put in place, such as social distancing, which made organizing and attending the annual events difficult. As a result, they were put to a halt to minimize the spread of the virus.
All kinds of social gatherings were prohibited. During the traditional Christmas tree lighting, only a couple of government officials were present.
To make matters worse, Typhoon Odette wrecked numerous homes, properties, and tourist attractions, just weeks before Christmas in 2021.
Some establishments were able to get back on their feet and operate in full swing, but the night market in Fuente wasn’t one of them. More importantly, it was devastating to see the iconic Tree of Hope toppled over.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia claims that the Christmas tree is a symbol of the city’s resilience, as it now stands in time for this year’s Christmas celebration.
Thankfully, the city has been recording extremely low cases of the virus since the start of 2022. Many establishments have reopened, ushering in the return of this popular hangout spot for the Christmas season.
WHAT TO DO AT PASKO SA FUENTE
The Fuente Osmeña Circle is a great hangout spot for early morning outdoor activities, but when night time comes, the dazzling Christmas setups bring a more vibrant ambiance.
Aisles of white arches with lights wrapped around them are stationed at both entrances of the nature park. These beautiful walkways are the perfect way to start off your visit before taking part in the festivities.
The Christmas tree towers above dozens of high-rise buildings in downtown Cebu, standing almost as tall as the Crown Regency. Once the sun goes down, it lights up in different colors and patterns, adding to its impressive facade.
They change the design of the tree every year. In 2022, they took inspiration from gingerbread houses. Like the previous iterations, they included the image of the Sto. Niño, the patron saint of the island of Cebu.
Despite the tree taking up a large space, the park remains spacious enough to do many activities. You can expect a ton of kids playing, families having picnics, couples dating, and friends just loitering around.
There are a couple of stalls around the park selling a variety of toys and gift items as well.
Part of the festivities are the exciting performances of local artists and those who want to show off their talents on stage. They even have a K-pop dance competition, as well as some live band performances and pageants.
The Pasko sa Fuente is also a celebration of Cebuano food culture. The park has its own food strip, with vendors selling all kinds of delectable snacks, treats, and desserts. Take note that this will only run until the end of December.
The most common Cebu street food dishes are Filipino barbecue favorites like pork skewers, grilled chicken, hotdogs, and more, all roasted on top of a piping-hot charcoal grill.
These are best paired with puso (hanging rice), which is a staple among those who want a budget-friendly yet sufficient meal. Cebuanos love this combination so much that they can order tons of puso to pair with their barbecues.
If you want some light snacks, there are vendors selling roasted peanuts, tempura, and takoyaki.
Cebuanos can finally relive the fun and excitement they get to experience whenever they visit or pass by Fuente during Christmas time. The iconic nature park is perfect for those who want to celebrate the season with friends, family, and loved ones.
Together with many other Cebuanos, you can visit the night market and have a jolly good time. Don’t forget to take a photo of the giant Tree of Hope when you drop by!
If you’re looking for a chill hangout spot this Christmas season, Pasko sa Fuente has a lot to offer. It definitely looks like the annual celebration is here to stay, with Cebu City embracing the new normal.
HOW TO GET THERE
Fuente Osmeña Circle, Cebu City
5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
(Only until December 30)
You can ride any kind of jeepney that will pass by Fuente or Jones. Both entrances to the park are located across from B. Rodriguez street and the Casino Filipino. Traffic enforcers are present if you need assistance in crossing the street.


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The Amazing Amazon and the Dark Knight Detective are forced to operate in a world of Celtic mythology. One of them finds it easier than another, for reasons that should probably be obvious… Your Major Spoilers review of The Brave and The Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman #2 awaits!
Diamond Select Toys has announced the upcoming release of the Justice League Animated Wonder Woman Resin Bust that will look great sitting on the shelf next to your other JLA statues.
With the Justice League movie just around the corner, fans are starting to get excited about adorning their Nerd Room of Doom with figures, toys, and statues based on the movie. Fortunately, Diamond Select Toys has you covered ass the company announced the upcoming release of the DC Gallery Justice League Movie PVC Diorama collection.
After the success of Wonder Woman, it should come as no surprise that companies are looking to expand their product offerings. Sideshow Collectibles has several Wonder Woman statues already, but the new Super Powers Wonder Woman may have hit the sweet spot between a dazzling looking statue and price point.
During the San Diego Comic Con, we learned that Grant Morrison was working on Wonder Woman Earth One Vol. 2, but last night during DC’s Meet the Publisher’s panel, Morrison shared art from the volume.
I finally got to see Wonder Woman this week, and suddenly had the craving for some classic Silver Age Wonder Woman madness. Did you guys hear the one about the superheroes who got turned into a grove of trees? Your Major Spoilers (Retro) Review of Justice League Of America #9 awaits!
Wonder Woman stars Lucy Davis, Eugene Brave Rock, Caitlin Dechelle, Samantha Jo & Michaela Facchinello Kick Off Press Preview On July 31st
Bruce Wayne has retired from crime fighting, and the 70s have firmly taken hold in Gotham City. But Ra’s Al Ghul cares not for the passage of years. Fortunately, neither does a certain Amazon princess… Your Major Spoilers review of Batman ’66 Meet Wonder Woman ’77 #6 awaits!
Here is some good news to start your week – Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics have teamed for a Wonder Woman/Conan crossover mini-series, and the companies have hired Gail Simone and Aaron Loprestri to make it happen.


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SMEs embrace mobile banking
Small business is rapidly embracing mobile banking, driving sharp recent growth in digital transaction values, according to new research.
The Melbourne-based Market Intelligence Strategy Centre Global (MISC) says the more than six million Australian customers using tablets or mobile phones for banking now account for about 40 per cent of all digital banking logons and 9.6 per cent of digital banking by dollar value.
Most of the activity was concentrated around small value transactions, mainly bill payments or person-to-person transfers, with the number "now growing rapidly in size each quarter", MISC said.
But a significant feature of MISC's findings is the eager acceptance of mobile banking by the small business sector, where the transaction values are naturally much higher.
MISC says more than one million small businesses have taken up mobile banking in the past 15 months alone, bringing with them larger transactions including payrolls and tax payments.
The take-up has been influenced by a string of mobile banking initiatives in the small business space coupled with advancements in online security.
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Celebrity American chef to kick-off unique dining series
Celebrity chefs working out of high-concept pop-ups are coming to Edmonton as Travis Petersen of The Nomad Cook launches a new dining series.
Starting March 6 with Brooklyn chef Sylvia Barban of LaRina Pastificio and Vino and Aita restaurants, the series — Nomad Dinner Club — is designed to capitalize on Edmontonians’ penchant for unique dining experiences, according to Petersen.
“People in Edmonton love their food and the pop-up concept,” says Petersen, who has hosted recent pop-ups here with restaurants including Northern Chicken. “They are a big thing in Edmonton.”
Other chefs on tap for the dining series include American chef Katsuji Tanabe, a Top Chef veteran with restaurants in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. MasterChef competitor Derek Fox – a Los Angeles drummer — is another celebrity cook on his way north for the series.
Petersen, who lived in Edmonton and Calgary from 2010 to 2015 and worked in the oil patch, is not a trained chef. But after he was laid off from his job as a business development manager for a British oil company, he decided to pursue his dream of cooking for a living, inspired by his experience as a contestant in the 2015 MasterChef Canada competition, which is geared towards amateur cooks.
After living in his birthplace of Vancouver for the last year or so, Petersen decided to come back to Edmonton because he considers it a great culinary city with plenty of room for growth in the food sector.
“You have to give the big three credit – Toronto Montreal and Vancouver — they are so multicultural, but I think Edmonton is the next best Canadian culinary city. Chefs own their restaurants in Edmonton and they have control. It’s a special city for its food and it doesn’t get the recognition.”
The location of the pop-ups has yet to be released, but Petersen has partnered with local designer Leah Wright of Vignettes YEG to create the pop-up spaces for each dinner.
“I’m looking forward to working with them because I think they’ll bring the missing element to our series,” says Petersen. “The second you walk in we’ll get you into another place mentally, before you eat. You will eat with your eyes before you ever taste anything. You’ll walk out and say, ‘wow, that was so cool.’”
He decided to bring in American celebrity chefs because he thinks Edmontonians will enjoy the opportunity to sample food by restaurant chefs they wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to visit.
“It’s much more than a pop-pup dinner. It’s a full-on experience,” says Petersen.
Petersen is selling the pop-up series as a members-only package with four pop-up meals included. The price for the series is $1,200 per person, but people can split the package among friends. Though he acknowledges the ticket price seems steep, it includes a five-course meal, alcohol and exclusive door prizes, plus lots of face time with the celebrity chefs, and a photo booth.
“We want it to be a membership in a club that will surprise people with its benefits and exclusivity,” he says.
Follow me on Twitter @eatmywordsblog.


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It is not currently clear what the cause is. The 73-year-old was in Mexico City attending the World Business Forum (WBF), a business conference.
An unnamed source from the WBF said that Mr Wozniak fainted on Wednesday afternoon at the event, according to the mytechgist website.
The nwes has contacted representatives of Mr Wozniak for comment.
Better known in the tech world as Woz, Mr Wozniak is a Silicon Valley veteran who co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs in 1976 and invented the first Apple computer.
Apple went on to become the most valuable company in the world.
The computing pioneer signed a letter in March alongside Elon Musk calling for a pause in the development of the most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) models.
- AI could make scams harder to spot – Wozniak
He called for the regulation of AI when he spoke to the mytechgist in May 2023, fearing the technology would be harnessed by “bad actors”.
He said: “AI is so intelligent it’s open to the bad players, the ones that want to trick you about who they are.”
But he sounded a note of scepticism that regulators would get it right: “I think the forces that drive for money usually win out, which is sort of sad.”


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Canon U.S.A. Announces New Customer Support Center in Albuquerque
Upcoming Facility Provides Additional U.S.-Based Customer Service; Creates Job Opportunities in New Mexico
MELVILLE, N.Y., October 7, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today that Canon Information Technology Services, Inc. (CITS), its wholly owned subsidiary, will open a customer support center at 4041 Jefferson Plaza NE in Albuquerque, N.M. This center will provide additional customer service support and technical capabilities for Canon customers.
The 33,682-square-foot Albuquerque center will support small office and consumer imaging products, including digital cameras, camcorders, printers, and copiers. The new location will also support Canon's growing professional printing, cinema, and eCommerce customers. It is anticipated that the support center will create at least 150 call center positions over a three-year period. Hiring is expected to commence in early 2014, with operations anticipated to begin in April 2014.
"Expanding our support centers illustrates our continuing commitment to providing 100 percent U.S.-based customer service," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. "We chose Albuquerque specifically because the area has a reduced exposure to weather-related disruptions, the ability to service multiple time zones, and an educated workforce, a large percentage of which has bilingual capabilities, all of which will help us serve our customers better."
"We thank Canon, an internationally-renowned company, for choosing Albuquerque for the site of their new tech services center and creating jobs for New Mexicans," said Governor Susana Martinez. "In addition to having a skilled workforce, our recently improved tax climate and incentives make New Mexico a great place for companies like Canon to operate and succeed. I also commend Mayor Berry and his leadership in creating a business-friendly city and for his partnership in recruiting Canon here."
"Canon ITS and Albuquerque are a great match for each other and we are very pleased they are joining our community," said Mayor Richard J. Berry. "Like Albuquerque, Canon has a strong commitment to diversity and to providing a 'work environment that is technology driven and people-oriented.' It's no surprise they're ranked among Fortune's 'Most Admired Companies in America.' I'm pleased I was able to work with the executive team from Canon for the last few months to make this project a win-win for all of us."
"Bernalillo County is pleased to be part of the partnership that attracted Canon and its 150 new jobs to Central New Mexico," said Commission Vice-Chair Debbie O'Malley. "I know there are many qualified, talented New Mexicans who are excited about filling those positions and joining in Canon's long tradition of excellence."
Steve Maestas, Chairman of Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc., praised the collaborative effort that successfully landed the project. "The community and state prosper when we are aligned, working together with a single purpose. Canon is an internationally respected leader whose expansion to Albuquerque is important to our goal of attracting the world's finest companies."
Canon ITS headquarters is located in Chesapeake, Va. For more information about Canon U.S.A. customer service and support, please visit: www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With approximately $40 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents registered in 2012† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2013. In 2012, Canon U.S.A. has received the PCMag.com Readers' Choice Award for Service and Reliability in the digital camera and printer categories for the ninth consecutive year, and for camcorders for the past two years. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.
For media inquiries, please contact email@example.com.
† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.


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Corporate, investment banking to be boosted
Updated: 2011-12-10 09:20
By Yu Ran (China Daily)
SHANGHAI - China is set to play a major role in the growth of the investment banking market in Asia. The nation will become the continent's largest wholesale banking market by 2015, when Asia itself is expected to be the world's largest market for corporate and investment banking (CIB).
That's the conclusion of a report released by McKinsey & Co on Thursday.
By 2010, risk-adjusted CIB revenues in Asia had already reached nearly $442 billion, equal to just below one-third of the global total. That figure will achieve a revenue pool of about $790 billion, increasing the percentage to 45 percent, by 2015.
At present, China accounts for 50 percent of Asia's CIB revenues, and is expected to account for 60 percent in five years' time.
"Asia, especially China, will become the largest and fastest-growing region in the wholesale banking universe by 2015 and the dynamics of the game will change with more players entering, customers becoming more knowledgeable and demanding, and cross-regional business becoming more important," said Xu Jun, an associate partner at McKinsey's Shanghai office.
The report showed that while large companies with comparatively advanced product needs will continue to be the largest CIB customer segment with $326 billion in post-risk revenues, medium-sized companies will achieve rapid growth as smaller-scale private enterprises expand.
"We hope that we will have the opportunity to buy financial products and participate in the investment banking services offered by foreign banks, because at present my company mostly deals with local banks," said Wu Shengneng, senior management officer at Kangnai Group Co Ltd, a medium-sized enterprise in Zhejiang province that's a leading shoemaker. The Mc-Kinsey report also predicts that Asia's capital market and investment banking sector have the potential to offer opportunities worth $158 billion by 2015, nearly twice as much as at present.
"The regional focus of foreign banks will naturally shift from developed Asia to China and India by providing more customer-oriented products, not only focusing on the expansion of the customer groups," said Emmanuel Pitsilis, senior partner and head of the Asia Corporate and Investment Banking Division at McKinsey.
However, the problem for foreign banks at present is that there are still certain regional restrictions governing the introduction of financial products and their ability to expand the customer market as they want.
"For foreign financial institutions who would like to benefit from Asia's fast-growing CIB market, regulation and more intense competition will be the biggest challenges," said Pitsilis.
"Although we're quite interested in utilizing the opportunities provided by foreign banks, we are unsure whether the government will offer potential assistance and guidelines to help us step into the global investment market," said Wu.
According to the report, the majority of global banks need to focus on a strategy of becoming more localized, improving risk-control management for enterprises and increasing cooperation with local banks.
Time for financial sector reform 2011-12-01 08:17
BOC, SMBC sign memo on yuan business 2011-11-25 11:19
Bank of China, SMBC sign memo on yuan-related business 2011-11-24 21:06
Banks react differently to WMP rule 2011-11-18 10:02
- Soft landing predicted for Chinese housing market
- Govts test new models to ensure food safety
- 'Prudent' path for China's economic policies
- Climate negotiations down to the wire
- Sino-US poultry dispute is making feathers fly
- Passenger car sales slow in Nov
- China gives tax break to micro-sized business
- China unlikely to join GPA in '11


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A promotions whiz, Mr. Askew joined the country's No. 3 brewer last October. In less than a year, he's launched searches for secondary creative and promotions shops to support Interpublic Group of Cos.' Foote, Cone & Belding Worldwide, Chicago, and Omnicom Group's Integer Group-the marketing services agency he started in 1993. Just days on the job, he pulled FCB ads in favor of Integer work until FCB gave him something he liked. He's helped guide the launch of Coors' alternative malt beverage-Vibe-and is trying to boost sales, especially for Coors Light, which recently supplanted Miller Lite as the country's No. 3 brew despite soft corporate sales. He also recently signed a sweeping and innovative marketing alliance with Walt Disney Co.'s Mirimax Films, which follows a deal with the National Football League.
"With marketing, you get to use science, art, math, writing, psychology and sociology, and you get to combine that with street smarts," he said. "You don't get bored."
Growing up, Mr. Askew wanted to be a painter or artist until college suggested otherwise. He took an aptitude test that advised he go into advertising, law or the clergy. The unifying factor was that he liked selling people on abstract concepts. He's been doing it since his junior year at Texas Tech, when he landed a summer internship at then Tracy Locke Partnership in Dallas. He spent two summers and seven years at TLP, now part of Omnicom, before migrating to PepsiCo's Frito-Lay where he spent nine years, the last 18 months as VP-marketing.
Friends with Coors President-CEO Leo Kiely, Mr. Askew and three partners in 1993 started Integer in Lakewood, Colo. Charter client Coors was its focus for its first 18 months before it solicited other clients. In eight years, it had grown from Coors' in-house agency to more than $600 million in billings, 15 offices and more than 750 employees that Omnicom bought in the late 1990s. Mr. Askew stayed on as CEO till joining Coors in October and replacing VP-Marketing Bill Weintraub.
"Ron has a vision where he is taking this brand," one Texas distributor said.
Mike Sweeney, Integer's group president, is an Askew fan. "He's thoughtful and cerebral, but don't misconstrue that as a lack of passion," Mr. Sweeney said of his old boss and current paymaster. "He's just incredibly bright and incredibly quick to pinpoint an insight within a discussion."
A native of Dallas, Mr. Askew has lived in Colorado since 1995. He has been fighting wildfires since May 2001-his way of giving back to the community. When a fire erupts, Mr. Askew and his two-man truck speed to the front lines to help protect homes and property from wildfires.
Name: Ron Askew
Now: Chief Marketing Officer, Coors Brewing Co.
Challenge: Staying in touch with the culture of young adults, his biggest market


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Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud in talks for deal at CityCenterDC
Buried in a Wall Street Journal article from late last week was a tidbit about the CityCenterDC development that I've been hearing chatter on for a while: that celebrity chef Daniel Boulud — of Daniel and Cafe Boulud fame in New York — is bringing a restaurant to the 10-acre D.C. project.
While there's still nothing confirmed yet, it does seem that the possibility of a Daniel Boulud restaurant in D.C. is inching toward reality. Boulud's spokeswoman told me via email today that Boulud's Dinex Group is in negotiations for a CityCenter location.
A deal has not been signed and a concept has not been finalized, however, she added. Boulud, whose Daniel in New York has been one of the city's top restaurants for two decades, has expanded his empire to other U.S. cities, including Palm Beach, Fla., Miami and Las Vegas, but never to D.C. Dinex has nine different concepts that could be on deck for CityCenter.
I also reached out to Hines Interests LP, one of the developers of the CityCenter project. Howard Riker, managing director for the company, told me it was as yet "inappropriate" to discuss the deal.
Rebecca Cooper covers retail, restaurants, tourism and the arts.
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Google & Facebook vs Everyone Else
Everyone knows Facebook and Google are dominating the industry and that the digital duopoly isn’t the healthiest state of affairs. But there are other networks who are taking on the two digital giants and want a piece of the action.
Even with Facebook and Google under various regulatory microscopes and their secret weapon - our data - no longer such a secret, the two giants of tech and their walled gardens feel like facts of life for digital marketers. Everyone knows a digital duopoly isn’t the healthiest state of affairs, and many advertisers are nervous about inappropriate content and measurement discrepances - Unilever CMCO Keith Weed calls digital media ‘murky’. Then again, the big two have unmactchable audiences, which is why last year GroupM estimated that Facebook and Google took an estimated 84% of digital media investment outside China.
At Tug Life IV conference earlier this year, Adidas affiliate expert Jelle Oskam called Facebook and Google’s hegemony “an undesirable status quo for advertisers,” adding that “it’s pretty strange that not just Adidas but many, many brands in the world spend 50-75% of their advertising budget on just these two dominant players and they give all their data to these companies - or not just give it, they take it.”
Oskam said the situation was the inspiration for Adidas’ investment in affiliate marketing through its Odyssey scheme. “If you want to have an alternative, you have to come up with some other good ideas, and that’s true for the display industry, the affiliate industry or influencers,” he said. “You have to prove you can deliver the same quality traffic as Google or Facebook.”
Many other players are attempting to do just that, from fellow tech giants to old media, while regulators too are weighing their options. Are any of them muscular enough to make a dent in a dominant pair whose products wrap around so many aspects of our professional and everyday lives? And if they are, will the market necessarily be better off? We’ll see, but for the first time in a while, the two giants look just slightly vulnerable. These are the runners and riders:
Other digital giants
Amazon made more than $2bn from advertising in Q1. That’s still relatively small compared to $31bn for Google and $12bn for Facebook in the same period, but Amazon is the fastest grower and its ace card is that, unlike Google and Facebook, it knows what we end up buying. It is a search competitor to Google too; nearly half of product searches started on Amazon in 2017. And as Martin Sorrell put it in a piece for Wired last year, “few people have made money by betting against Amazon.”
Oath, meanwhile, can now sell inventory across properties including HuffPost, AOL, Yahoo, Engadget and others. And even Apple is said to have plans for a new ad platform serving app ads.
Other social networks
Snap is another relatively small ad rival that’s expected to grow fast - to more than $1bn in the US in 2018, according to eMarketer, and along with Pinterest and others it is talking to Apple about an ad network serving Apple devices. Facebook’s Instagram, too, takes a growing chunk of the ad market - $5.5bn in the US this year, eMarketer expects. Twitter, meanwhile, is looking for publishers to sign up for its Twitter Timeline ads.
Wherever you look, you see publishers building alliances to reassert the value of their content. The Guardian, The Telegraph, and News UK will be pooling their digital advertising inventory as the Ozone Project from this autumn, offering brand safety and nearly 40m readers. In Germany and Portugal, there are log-in alliances involving media owners and brands, to collect browsing data in the way Facebook and Google do. News Corp and partners launched News IQ last December to package up a US audience of 140m for advertisers, while Vox Media and NBCUniversal have Concert, which rolls together sport and entertainment publications including The Ringer, NBC Sports, Quartz, PopSugar, Rolling Stone and New York Media.
Even as representatives of Facebook troop earnestly before the Senate and the House of Commons in the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, there’s still debate about what form regulation could take, as well as a recognition that we definitely need some. Do we tax them, make them share data, prevent them from buying competitors, attempt to break them up or somehow deploy them for the public good? GDPR is already forcing better data housekeeping in Europe, and within hours of the new laws taking effect, privacy campaigners had filed suits against Facebook in Austria, Belgium and Germany, and against Google in France, accusing them of “coercing” users into accepting their data collection policies.


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Like it or not, the SUV has become the dominant automotive species in the early 21st century. The combination of station wagon cargo capacity and umpire's chair driving position are what the public wants and what the public buys. And we have the Range Rover to thank for all of this—it was the first in class.
Last month, Jaguar Land Rover—which counts the Range Rover among its models—announced that it would be adding an electric option for every new vehicle in its line up. As of today, at least two have broken cover. Last week, the Range Rover Sport P400e ran into the open. Today, the car maker revealed the Range Rover P400e.
Both SUVs use the same powertrain. Under the hood, you'll find a 296hp (221kW) 2.0L four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine that sends its power and torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Inside the transmission, there's also a 114hp (85kW) electric motor fed by a 13.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted underneath the luggage area at the back. Charging is via an onboard 7kW charger.
Jaguar Land Rover says that the P400e has a electric-only range of 31 miles (51km). And since it's a Range Rover, whether or not you've actually got 31 miles of roads to cover shouldn't matter; the company prides itself on retaining off-road ability that few owners will ever use.Inside, both Range Rover and Range Rover Sport get a tech update in the cabin, using the infotainment system recently introduced in the Velar. If you just want the interior goodies and don't care about having a hybrid EV, the new cabins will be available from the 2018 model year.
Unfortunately, we have to wait a little longer for the PHEV P400es. By the time they debut in the 2019 model year, there will be quite a few JLR EVs from which to choose as, by then, the battery EV Jaguar I-Pace will also be on sale.
Listing image by Jaguar Land Rover


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Meet the 10 richest Chinese billionaires, who have a combined fortune of $225 billion
ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images
China is home to more than 10% of the world's billionaires — and a whopping 94% of them are self-made, according to a new report from Wealth-X.
Over the last several years, China's billionaire population has grown rapidly thanks to robust developments in tech, retail, and real estate. The average Chinese billionaire has a net worth of $2.7 billion.
But since so many Chinese billionaires are relatively new to the 10-figure club, according to Wealth-X, "most are still in the wealth-creation rather than the wealth-preservation stage," and have far less liquid cash than their American and European counterparts.
Below, meet the 10 richest Chinese billionaires, whose fortunes range from $14 billion to over $41 billion.
Net worth: $14.1 billion
Company: Founder, China Pacific Construction Group
Net worth: $15 billion
Company: Advisor, Tencent Holdings
Jun LeiChinaFotoPress/Getty Images
Net worth: $15.1 billion
Company: Chairman, Xiaomi
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
- The world's richest people are abandoning London, Rome, and Paris for an unexpected destination
- These are the 50 richest people in the world right now
- In each of the top 10 richest places in the world, residents have a combined wealth of at least $1 trillion


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According to Bloomberg, Myanmar’s military is planning to introduce its own digital currency in the region to bolster its economic prosperity.
As sources report, a top spokesperson at the State Administration Council shared that the country is currently evaluating how to move forward with the digital currency launch.
Myanmar mulls over launching its own digital currency
In a bid to strengthen the economic prospects of the country, the military of Myanmar is considering launching its own digital currency, which will be aimed at supporting domestic payments.
The Deputy Minister of Information Major General Zaw Min Tun further stated that the Junta is undecided whether they should collaborate with local companies to launch its digital currency initiative.
“We are undecided whether we should do it as a joint venture with local companies or by the government alone.”
However, Major General Min Tun later opined that the digital currency launch will actively help in stimulating financial activities in the country.
“A digital currency will help improve financial activities in Myanmar.” Min Tun later added
According to the estimates outlined by the World Bank, Myanmar’s economy shrank by 18% in the fiscal year ending in September 2021. The World Bank report also predicted that the nation will experience only 1% of growth in the fiscal year ending in September this year.
The bank further concluded that the region’s economic prospects could have been better if it wouldn’t have experienced such stark circumstances involving a military coup and encountering the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier in December, the National Unity Government (NUG) had officially recognized Tether as the official currency of the region to make domestic payments more simple and compact. NUG had reiterated similar sentiments earlier, stating that Tether as the official currency, will help speed up the general trading, services, and payments in the country.
Myanmar is not the only nation that is actively contemplating the launch of its independent digital currency. Earlier, leading nations such as China and India have already started exploring digital currencies to strengthen their financial services and have laid out comprehensive plans to establish digital currency infrastructure in their respective regions.
Featuring a summary of the most important daily stories in the world of crypto, DeFi, NFTs and more.


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Apple will release a new iPhone model this year to replace its iPhone 13 mini, which is due to be discontinued. It would be the Max version with a large screen of 6.7 inches. Production is not going according to plan.
A recent report suggests that Apple’s next Keynote on the iPhone 14 will be held in Cupertino, California, on September 13. Although most smartphones would be available soon after the event ended, it is now known that one version could delay the release.
In a tweet for his Super Followers, the renowned analyst Ross Young announced that screens for the iPhone 14 Max have been delayed significantly, which could lead to delays in the launch date.
iPhone 14 Max production lags
The analyst, who is often extremely knowledgeable, says that Apple’s supply chain information indicates that panel shipments are “significantly ahead of schedule.” If vendors don’t keep up with the pace, Apple could delay the release of the iPhone 14 Pro Max this fall. Apple has had major production issues in the past.
A recent incident in Shanghai saw chaos at an Apple factory. Workers protested and tried to flee, even trying to leave the factory to go home. Protest movements have had a significant impact on production speed and have extended delivery times for Apple products to consumers. It took 7-9 weeks for a new 16-inch MacBook Pro to be delivered.
These delays caused the MacBook Air with an M2 Chip and Pro with an MacBook Air to be delayed for over a month before they could finally be ordered. We know that Apple does everything to ensure its suppliers have enough panels for its smartphones. The American giant has recently formed a partnership with China’s BOE. It can always count upon Samsung Display and LG Display. Apple expects to order approximately 90 million panels this year for its iPhone 14s.


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Minneapolis parking app will change Sunday
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (FOX 9) - Starting Sunday, Minneapolis will be using a new app to pay for on-street parking.
The new app, designed by Flowbird, allows customers to pay for parking without using a pay station. Minneapolis says some of the information users have in the current app will transfer over, but they will need to create a new password and update their payment information.
Fleet accounts will also be available for accounts with multiple users.
Also starting April 16, the MPLS Parking app will no longer work for municipal off-street parking. Customers who used the app for reservations or zone parking will need to refer to MPLSparking.com for options.


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Last week saw the fourteenth in the longest and most aggressive series of Base Rate rises since the 1980’s, with a 6-3 vote to cement the biggest fall in household wealth since 1945.
‘Lower for Longer’ has been replaced by ‘Higher for the Horizon’ as inflation has outpaced earnings growth for 20 consecutive months curtailing consumer cravings. The UK was the first advanced economy to raise rates but the last to leave double digit inflation rates behind.
Mr Sunak’s pledge to halve inflation in the MPC’s hands, a rise was inevitable but economic commentators of all stripes appear united on the risk of overdoing it, UK Plc cooling rather than chilled, ‘X’ (formally Twitter) polled 76% respondents favouring no increase. Bizarrely 24 hours before last week’s quarter point rise both mortgage approvals and consumer credit jumped.
The inflation conundrum leaves policy makers in search of a new theory. Inflation is omni-present until shoppers say ‘no’, reportedly 60% consumer basket products have inflation greater than 5%, war and weather have replaced traditional expectations and are set to keep prices higher, so Governor Bailey’s interest rates are less effective here.
California Dreaming’ – ‘On such an interesting day!’
Mr Sunak may be holidaying in the ‘Golden State’ but he must be mindful of the 1967 hit – ‘leaves are brown, and the sky is grey’ – Voters rarely reward you for making them poorer. With 1.3 million fixed rate mortgage deals expiring in 2023, add in the first falls in house prices since 2012 we are soon to become the land of the lodger!
Coupled with a stealthy 40% increase in higher rate taxpayers and an additional £6.6 billion raised from interest on your rainy-day funds, the forthcoming General election may well be fought against a backdrop of uninspiring growth and household incomes clamoring to catch up could well see candidate’s ‘pretend to pray’ as they prioritise fiscal creditability over electioneering giveaways.
Mrs Cossey’s Real World Economics – Exceedingly Good Cakes
Inflation bites, there are now an estimated 10 baked beans less per branded can, Greggonomics fuels a nation with a planned 94 further locations to grab a steak bake, whilst festive ‘Pigs in Blankets’ are at risk with a new round of October EU Border controls looming and the latest supply chain threat, no HGV Mechanics.
Tax still tops the list of dullest conversations, so good news that solar installations are at a 7yr high and ‘Dogger Bank’, the world’s largest wind farm is set to power 6 million UK homes by 2026. With VW putting the brakes on electric vehicles, and motorway charging points without power, its boomtime for the second-hand car market as those favouring net zero drive towards the 2030 EV deadline.
Despite the cost-of-living crisis, holidays remain a top priority. The rise of workcation’s sees Italy zoom in as the preferred destination. With 800,000 Brits abroad in Spain, the UK is exporting inflation with property prices up 8%, a Place in the Sun beckons. That said, it is rumoured that Bognor may be Britian’s Barcelona by 2050 unless the Mayor of London gets to extend the ULEZ scheme nationally.
And finally, with cost input inflation subsiding exceedingly pleasing to hear no planned rises in Mrs Cossey’s favourite – French Fancies!
The opinion expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisations with which the author is affiliated.


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This is the email we received from our Vet informing us of the Recall Treats from China.
Please Only Buy Treats Made In USA - Better Safe Than Sorry!
Illness Possibly Linked to Chicken Jerky Treat Consumption Got a comment?
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recently notified us that several veterinarians in Canada have reported dogs with Fanconi syndrome-like disease that may be associated with the consumption of chicken jerky treats manufactured in China. This mirrors the incidents reported in the United States in 2007 that were investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Once we heard about the reports, we immediately informed more than 19,000 AVMA members who have opted in to receive email alerts about animal and public health issues. We consider this type of outreach a valuable member service. If you would like to receive similar notifications, we urge you to sign up for our newsletters and alerts by going to My AVMA and clicking on the "Subscribe to receive veterinary newsletters and updates" link. While you're there, you will also see a full list of the other member newsletters and AVMA alerts that may be of interest to you.
The AVMA has not received any recent reports from U.S. veterinarians about potential toxicities from chicken jerky treats, and we cannot determine at this time whether this problem has recurred or is ongoing in the U.S., or if it is isolated to Canada. There have been no recalls of any chicken jerky treat products associated with the Canadian complaints, and we are unaware of the brand names of the products involved. We are staying on top of the issue, however, and are posting updates as information emerges.
Please remain vigilant and report to the FDA any cases of Fanconi syndrome-like disease that may be associated with the consumption of chicken jerky treats. And be sure to check our website and our blog on a regular basis to stay informed about veterinary news and what's happening at your AVMA.
In closing, I would like to thank Dr. Larry Kornegay for his dedicated service this past year as your 2010-11 AVMA president. Larry remains a tireless advocate for the profession, and I look forward to his continued involvement this year as he serves as our immediate past president. Thanks, Larry.


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Jewellers see no sparkle in sales this Dhanteras
Dhanteras is considered to be an auspicious day for buying gold, silver and other valuables and is largely celebrated in northern and western parts of India.
Jewellers use virtual reality to give unique experience to customers
Kalyanaraman added they were gaining new customers via the online space ...
Tete-a-tete with Kalyan Jewellers
Watch the exclusive interview of TS Kalyanaraman, Ramesh Kalyanaraman and Rajesh Kalyanaraman of Kalyan Jew...
Kalyan Jewellers acquires online jewellery company Candere
The first strategic move of its kind on the part of Kalyan Jewellers will augment the presence of the chain in the growing online jewellery segment in India.
Public listing of Kalyan Jewellers soon, says ED Rajesh Kalyanaraman
In an exclusive chat with ET Now, Rajesh Kalyanaraman, executive director, Kalyan Jewellers, says the initial public offering of company can be expected soon.
Warburg to invest additional Rs 500 crore in Kalyan Jewellers
The deal is expected to be signed this week and a formal announcement is due shortly, multiple people with direct knowledge of the process told ET.
Warburg Pincus announces Rs 500 crore investment in Kalyan Jewellers
The second round of investment comes at a time when Kalyan Jewellers is looking to grow its distribution network exponentially in India
$45 billion golden battle has just begun & Modi is leading the charge
India is the world's second-biggest buyer of the precious metal and consumption is recovering.
Kalyan Jewellers' growth plan gets Rs 1,700 crore push from Warburg Pincus
The jewellery manufacturer and distributor will raise the number of stores it operates to 200 & will enter Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Singapore and Malaysia.
Kalyan Jewellers to invest Rs 500 cr to open 15 stores in 2017
The company said it is also looking to augment its reach with investment in digital foray and relaunch of its purchase advance scheme, compliant with the prevailing regulations.
Kalyan Jewellers to invest Rs 900 crore for expansion
The two showrooms, to come up in Velacherry and Anna Nagar, would take the total number of outlets in city to five with total investments of Rs 430 crore till date, the company said.
Kalyan Jewellers on expansion mode; eyes Rs 13,000 cr biz
The jewellery major has earmarked Rs 900 crore for its expansion plans and is entering Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh markets.
CCI nod to HP Inc-Samsung pact, 2 other deals
In a tweet, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said that it has approved the "acquisition of printer business of Samsung by HP Inc".
Kalyan Jewellers to spend Rs 20 crore to build 2000 homes for poor
Kalyan Jewellers has committed Rs 20 crore towards the initiative as part of its endeavour to support the communities with which it operates its business, it said.
Kalyan Jewellers to make foray in West Bengal
The Camac Street showroom of Kalyan Jewellers will be housed in the heritage building and will be spread over 10,000 sq. feet.


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In advance of the release of the latest Avengers movie, Hot Toys has been putting out some fine hero replicas, including this stealth-suited Stark.
His latest statement, in a Washington Post op-ed, warns of a wave of legislation pending across the US that could discriminate against the LGBT community.
Samsung has a dizzying array of flagship smartphones. CNET's Marguerite Reardon helps you break down your options.
Walk-in customers won't be able to walk out with Apple's new smartwatch. But there will be pampering of those shopping for the 18-karat gold Edition gadget.
The SnapPower Charger USB-equipped coverplate requires absolutely no electrical skill to install and still leaves your regular plugs open for use.
Joining the ranks of big donors like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the Apple CEO says he intends to become a major philanthropist.
With Google's mix-and-match Project Ara handsets, the time is ripe for wacky add-ons to truly customize your phone.
McLaren follows up its previous powerful sports cars with the 570S Coupe, a new model meant for the daily commute as much as for the track.
The automaker's vision: "partially automated driving in 2015, highly automated driving in 2020 and fully automated driving in 2030."
The T-Mobile-owned prepaid brand is touting its new plan over those offered by Boost and Cricket, though there are a couple of catches.


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RENO, NV - Coffee is a luxury that many people count on to get them through their day, but shop owners in Reno say this year's drought in Brazil has brought up the cost of coffee roughly 50%. According to Bloomberg Business Week, the country accounts for about one third of the world's coffee supply, and with a shortage in high-grade beans that means a hit to consumers' wallets. Businesses in Reno have had to increase drink prices anywhere from 25 to 50 cents across the board. April Warne, owner of Espresso To Go, says it was hard for her to raise her prices.
"You have to be able to stay in the market, stay competitive and make a profit. So it's tough," she says.
Paul Martin, owner of Bibo Coffee Company, says he's had to get creative to keep his prices affordable for customers.
"My wife just a started a gelato business to help bring up our bottom line a little bit for the business aspect," he says.
Espresso To Go held off on raising prices for about seven years before the burden became too much to bear.
"Unfortunately, every item we use has raised in price and so you can only do that for so long until it's not profitable and not a good business choice," says Warne.
Yet, the higher prices don't seem to be deterring customers.
"Paying three dollars, three fifty, for a coffee plus a tip seemed outrageous to some people. It's not that big of a deal anymore. People are willing to pay that much now, so I don't know why 50 cents or a dollar more should be that big of a deal," says Ryan McElhinney.
Although they're willing to pay a little more for their caffeine fix, coffee shop owners say the dip in the economy has caused some customers to be a bit more conservative with their spending.
"When the recession hit we certainly saw different buying patterns. People might come 3 days a week instead of 5 days a week," says Martin.
Either way, consumers say they'll deal with the increase if it means keeping dollars in the local economy.


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“Alexa, start my day.” Smart speakers are beginning to change our daily routines and have become one of the most rapidly adopted tech products since the smartphone. Companies including Google, Amazon, and Apple are all carving out their place in the smart speaker market as users are growing at a compound growth rate of approximately 48 percent annually. According to RBC, almost 41% of homes in the US have at least one smart speaker device. Once you’re an owner, it appears their popularity is contagious: more than half of all smart-speaker-equipped homes report owning multiple speakers placed in various rooms, according to Strategy Analytics. You can listen to what you want with the ease of voice command – no buttons, no wires, no clicking, no scrolling, and best of all, no hassle.
Smart speaker convenience creates a unique opportunity for listeners to listen to the radio more than they did before. Recent research released by iHeart suggests that 70% of smart speaker users in the US report using their device to listen to the radio. On top of this, Jacobs Media studied that a substantial portion of AM/FM radio listeners have increased their consumption of radio after bringing a smart speaker into their home. Study after study continuously establishes a strong correlation between the increase of radio listenership and smart speaker audience growth that is hard to ignore.
Finally, smart speakers are not only functionally efficient, they are also aesthetically pleasing. These modern designs of luxury pivot radio, an almost 100-year-old medium, into the 21st century with power and ease. Americans are still choosing to listen to the traditional media format of AM/FM radio, but they appreciate the sleek design smart speakers offer. Turning on the radio is as easy as turning on the lights with a smart speaker and it’s easy to remember voice activated commands and controls, which create seamless transitions for the bustle of busy lifestyles. And keep in mind, that since smart speakers are fairly new, it’s safe to assume that radio consumption rates will continue to rise as smart speakers’ popularity grows.