Top Headlines - part 72
Luxury Retail: Focus On Outlets
BUSINESS June 19, 2011 | 4:21 PM
- Luxury retailers to open outlet stores instead of rolling out department stores
- Saks to open up to five outlet stores in coming years
- Outlet stores help retailers lift sales during a recession
Luxury retailers are opting to open lower-end outlets instead of launching additional luxury department stores, reducing risks associated with lowered luxury sales during economic downturns.
Luxury department store executives feel that that shift to developing outlet stores will not deter from the level of exclusivity associated with the stores' brands. Shoppers who frequent outlet stores are significantly different from those at the luxury department stores, so there is little risk of reducing sales potential for full-service lines by opening additional outlet stores.
Read more »Happy 100 Years Parks Canada!
WORLD June 19, 2011 | 2:24 PM
- Canada’s national parks have grown from one park in Banff, Alberta, in 1886, to 36 national parks and 6 park reserves
- Parks Canada is in the midst of a 5-year, $90-million plan to reintroduce native species and plants to certain sites, and treat polluted water
- Parks Canada has launched Explora GPS, mobile apps and other solutions to teach visitors about park sites and outdoor survival skills
Having celebrated its 100th birthday a month ago on May 19, 2011, Parks Canada will continue its mandate of presenting and protecting “nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural landscapes” for the benefit of current and future generations.
With a total area of 9.9 million square kilometers, Canada is known for its beautiful scenery. Parks Canada, the first official national parks system in the world, oversees the gravesites of ex prime ministers, 167 historical sites, 42 national parks and 4 marine conservation areas.
Read more »IMF Latest Victim in Wave of Cyber Attacks
BUSINESS June 19, 2011 | 11:08 AM
- Phishing was used to gain access to systems and data
- Suspect assumed to be an IMF state member due to sophistication of breach
- Chain of cyber assaults may threaten global economic security
An internal International Monetary Fund (IMF) investigation, prompted after suspicious file transfers, revealed that an internal desktop computer had been used to access Fund systems and that documents and emails had been lost.
The hackers appear to have used spear phishing to infiltrate the Fund’s cyber stronghold. This pirating tactic is used to gain access to an institution’s computer system by sending emails that appear to come from trusted sources. Recipients who take the bait unwittingly grant hackers access that can be used to disrupt operations or raid unauthorized data.
Read more »Royal Canin Introduces New Products to Dog Food Line
BUSINESS June 17, 2011 | 11:24 AM
- Royal Canin launches supplements to reward pets and increase energy
- Supplements can replace unhealthy human snacks pet owners give dogs
- Royal Canin added feline supplements to its line in May
Two new nutritional support products, Energy and EDUC, have been added to Royal Canin's offerings for dog food. EDUC, a treat primarily used to reward dogs, is a low-calorie healthy snack, while the Energy product provides bursts of energy for adult dogs.
Although pet owners often use human food, such as sausage, cheese or ham, to reward their pets, these foods are not nutritious for domestic animals. Thirty-three units of EDUC can replace 20 grams of cheese, while 54 units of EDUC can be used in lieu of 20 grams of ham, according to Royal Canin. A bag of EDUC has about 70 units , and each unit has only about three calories.
Read more »WindMade Labels Seek Consumer Backing
BUSINESS June 16, 2011 | 6:33 PM
- WindMade logo to advertise companies who support wind energy
- Standard for logo is at least 25% of energy from wind energy
- WindMade believes customers will help support cause
WindMade, a proposed standard for companies using wind energy, was first introduced at the World Economic Forum in Davos this past January and presented its two-month public consultation period on Global Wind Day, June 15.
The goal of WindMade is to use market-driven enthusiasm for global causes to entice more businesses to use wind energy. Eventually, the goal is to have a WindMade logo on products from companies who are wind energy supportive.
Read more »iPhone Tops Flickr’s Most Popular Camera List
BUSINESS June 16, 2011 | 6:03 PM
- iPhone 4 most-used camera for photos uploaded to Flickr
- Studies show smartphones overtaking cameras as preferred device to document events
- iPhone 4 likely most popular camera because of Flickr’s unreliable device detection service
The iPhone 4 has emerged as the most-popular camera on Flickr, according to statistics released by the photo sharing website.
Released under a year ago, the iPhone 4’s 5-megapixel camera tops popular digital SLR and point-and-shoot models, pushing Nikon’s “prosumer” D90 into second spot and dropping three of Canon’s top performers - the EOS 5D Mark II, the EOS Digital Rebel XSi and the Canon EOS Rebel T1i - further down the list.
Read more »Sector Snapshot: Australia Oil & Gas
BUSINESS June 15, 2011 | 5:37 PM
- Australia is world's 18th largest producer of natural gas
- Australia is 7th largest exporter of LNG globally
- Australia is also the third-largest LNG exporter in Asia-Pacific
The oil and gas industry is a major contributor to the Australian economy with total revenue of nearly $7 billion in 2010.
Australia’s biggest export in the industry is liquefied natural gas (LNG). Australia is the 18th largest producer of natural gas in the world and the seventh largest exporter of LNG. It is also the third-largest LNG exporter in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia’s LNG industry is forecast to continue its strong growth, with exports expected to rise at an annual rate of nearly 3.5% between 2010 and 2015.
Read more »Start-Up Lytro to Shift Instant Camera Focus
BUSINESS June 15, 2011 | 2:05 PM
- Lytro to release new point-and-shoot camera that will refocus images after capture
- Light field camera captures more light and image detail
- Analysts say overabundance of players in the digital camera market could be a challenge
Start-up technology company Lytro is promising to revolutionize instant photography with a new camera that lets people refocus images after capturing the moment.
The Silicon Valley based group has made major advances in light field camera technology, which opens the door to various new possibilities. A new range of lenses and sensors based on this technology make the new camera unique in the world of digital photography.
Read more »Citigroup Added to the List of Latest Cyber Attack Victims
WORLD June 15, 2011 | 12:03 PM
- Hackers accessed account information for 200,000 Citigroup customers in North America
- Attack on Sony PlayStation exposed over 100 million user accounts
- Sony Pictures security breach touched more than 1 million user accounts
- Classified data from the Canadian government was stolen at the start of the year
The account details for nearly 200,000 Citigroup customers – or close to 1% of the bank’s total client base – in North America were exposed in the latest cyber attack.
During a routine check, Citigroup realized that hackers were able to access the bank’s online account services and view customer account numbers, names and contact details (email, etc). While hackers were able to see pertinent information, they were unable to access birth dates, social security numbers, card security codes or card expiry dates.
Read more »US May Reduce Security Checks For Low-Risk Passengers
WORLD June 15, 2011 | 9:06 AM
- Reduced security checks may be available for low-risk passengers; High-risk passengers would have to undergo extensive screening
- Strict security discouraging to travelers; $85 billion loss from fewer trips
- No date is set for the launch of the new speedier airport screening measures
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that travelers who are a low security risk may be able to get through airport security faster.
The new measures proposed include a line set aside for travelers who are low risk and a special program that allows passengers to be screened faster. However, these changes would require authorities to identify passengers who they feel pose a greater risk, which would mean more extensive screening for those selected.
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