Apple Solution To Arabic iMessage Crash Glitch

A bug is causing iPhone devices to crash if a certain string of Arabic characters is received in a text message.



Apple has been forced to publish a temporary workaround for a bug which lets people crash iPhones using a text message.

A bug in Apple's operating system causes the device to crash if a certain string of Arabic characters is received in a message.

The problem arises due to a glitch in the way Arabic text is rendered in banner notifications.
Apple's software attempts to abbreviate the text with an ellipsis, which causes the system to crash and the phone to reboot.

Users then find they can no longer open the Messages app.On Friday, Apple published a new page on its support website offering a way to deal with the glitch while it tries to update its software to fix it.

The glitch was first reported on Reddit, causing some to start sending the message to contacts as a prank.

An Apple spokesman said: "We are aware of an iMessage issue caused by a specific series of unicode characters and we will make a fix available in a software update."

Apple's solution
:: Ask Siri to "read unread messages"
:: Use Siri to reply to the malicious message. After you reply, you'll be able to open Messages again
:: In Messages, swipe left to delete the entire thread. Or tap and hold the malicious message, tap More, and delete the message from the thread

Google gives first peek at Android M and new Cardboard VR kit

Google has shown off some of the functions of the next version of its Android mobile operating system.

It will give users greater control over their privacy settings and will also introduce a new smart wallet service called Android Pay.

The firm also unveiled a new photos and video storage app with "unlimited" free storage and an updated version of its Cardboard virtual reality headset.

But there was no new hardware from its Nest "internet of things" division.

"Google I/O lacked the headline announcements of recent years but nonetheless underlined the company's ecosystem advantage by virtue of the Android installed base, user knowledge, machine learning and highly integrated services," commented Geoff Blaber, from the tech consultancy CCS Insight.

Android Pay

The new mobile system, which is codenamed Android M, addresses concerns about third-party apps' access to smartphone and tablet data by making it easier for users to control the permissions given to each app.

In the future, apps will ask to be allowed access to location data, contacts, calendar, camera, microphone and other sensors the first time they need to use them, rather than at the point of installation.

In addition, users can later go into their settings and see what permissions each app is using and revoke the ones they are not happy with.

Android M will also allow fingerprints to be used as ID checks for purchases made through websites and in physical stores, where devices can be used in the place of payment cards via a new service called Android Pay.

Facebook buys British virtual reality start-up Surreal Vision

Facebook has bought an eight-month-old British start-up that recreates real-world scenarios in virtual reality.

Surreal Vision, which started life at Imperial College London, has been snapped up by Oculus VR, the company behind the Oculus Rift headset that was bought by Mark Zuckerberg’s social network for $2bn (£1.3bn) last year.

Surreal Vision has developed technology that allows users to interact in a computerised version of the real world. It aims to make this version is so real that it is impossible to distinguish between the two.

This could allow people to hold business meetings as if they are in the same room when in fact they are located in different countries - a process known as “telepresence”.

Surreal Vision’s founders - Richard Newcombe, Renato Salas-Moreno, and Steven Lovegrove - will all join Oculus, in Redmond, Washington state.

"We’re developing breakthrough techniques to capture, interpret, manage, analyse, and finally reproject in real-time a model of reality back to the user in a way that feels real, creating a new, mixed reality that brings together the virtual and real worlds," Surreal Vision said in a blog post.

Lenovo phone features virtual keyboard

                        

Chinese electronics giant Lenovo has unveiled a phone with a built-in laser projector that can be used to display a virtual keyboard or display.

The interactive display can replicate the phone's touch screen, a full-size computer keyboard or even piano keys.

The laser projector can also be used to beam images and videos onto walls.

The Smart Cast phone was unveiled at the company's Tech World conference in Beijing this week.

'Headline-grabbing'

The laser projector measures just 34mm by 26mm by 5mm and, said Lenovo, does not need focussing to project sharp images onto walls or other flat surfaces.

A video showing the Smart Cast in action shows how twisting the mounting for the device's lens turns it from a standard wall projector into "surface mode" that beams the display on to a table top.

'Buy button' to be added to Google search results

                             

Google has confirmed that it is to introduce a "buy button" to its search results imminently.

The button would give Google Search users the option to purchase without needing to visit a separate website.

The company's chief business officer, Omid Kordestani, said he wanted to reduce "friction" for users so they buy more things online.

Google faces significant competition from Amazon, where many people now begin their search to buy products.

Revenue earner

"There's going to be a buy button. It's going to be imminent," said Mr Kordestani on stage at the Code Conference in California on Wednesday.

The change would make it easier for shoppers to buy products featured in its shopping ads that appear alongside search results.

Mr Kordestani also noted that about nine out of 10 purchases are still made offline.

He added that the number of location-based searches to help users find something close to them had doubled in the past year.

Getting users to buy products as a result of searching is a key revenue earner for Google which currently charges retailers a premium to appear in a prominent position on the results page following a relevant search query.

Google is expected to make a series of significant announcements today at its I/O developers conference in San Francisco at 09:30 local time (17:30 BST) from where the BBC's North America technology correspondent will be providing coverage.

Periscope: Four ways it's shaking up media

It's May 2, and in London, the Duchess of Cambridge has entered St. Mary's hospital to give birth to her second child. CNN Royal Correspondent Max Foster is waiting just outside in a crowded press area. He can't do much on TV until the baby is born. Instead, he turns to his phone -- clamped to a mini-tripod perched atop a trash bin -- and chats with thousands of royal fans via livestreaming app Periscope.

One million users joined Periscope in its first 10 days on the iPhone app store. Today, the Twitter-owned platform is two months old and has just launched a version for Android. And, like any new social media platform, it's at the center of multiple legal and ethical controversies. Here's how Periscope is shaking things up:

Access

The whole concept of Periscope is to virtually pick you up and plop you somewhere you would never be if it weren't for the app. Via Periscope, you could get a front-row seat to Wills and Kate leaving St. Mary's with newborn Princess Charlotte. During his live stream from the hospital, Foster even used the app to tip off viewers when something important was about to happen so they could get to their TVs and watch in high-def.

"There was a point where I was getting an update; I was basically told that Prince William was going to come out of the hospital," said Foster. "I said, OK, I've got an update coming up in a moment, I can't tell you what it is, but turn on CNN and you'll be able to see it. And I think people did, because then they came back to me saying: 'Thanks for the tipoff.' "

The Freddie Gray protests against police in Baltimore also showed how valuable Periscope can be for watching news as it unfolds. Guardian journalist Paul Lewis spoke to people in the streets via Periscope, giving them an unfiltered platform to share directly with his audience what they thought of the situation. Unencumbered by large TV cameras, Lewis was able to livestream as he moved around the city, bringing viewers powerful images like a community housing project going up in flames.

On a lighter note, you can also use Periscope to accompany a celebrity to Friday night drinks or go behind the scenes on a TV show. Ellen DeGeneres, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Hardwick and Tyra Banks are among celebs who use Periscope to connect with their fans. Other celebs like Madonna use Meerkat, a similar live-streaming app. So if you've ever wanted to see what it's like to walk out from backstage onto the set of a late night talk show, you can on Periscope.

One thing about Periscope: It's not a passive medium. Viewers aren't just watching; they're totally involved in the broadcast.

Tax evasion: EU-Switzerland sign deal 'to end banking secrecy'

The EU and Switzerland have signed an agreement that is intended to clamp down on tax evasion, the European Commission has said.

From 2018, EU residents will be prevented from hiding undeclared income in Swiss banks.

The EU and Switzerland will exchange information on the bank accounts which their respective citizens hold.

The EU Commission said it was a "deterrent" against hiding income abroad.

"This new transparency should not only improve member states' ability to track down and tackle tax evaders, but it should also act as a deterrent against hiding income and assets abroad to evade taxes" the EU Commission said.

The Commission is also negotiating similar agreements with Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco.

EU commissioner Pierre Moscovici said that the agreed automatic exchange of information was "another blow against tax evaders and (represents) another leap towards fairer taxation in Europe".

It follows an agreement for "strengthened transparency" made between EU member states last year.

Google Play revamps its Android apps' age ratings

Later this week, Google Play will revamp the way it rates apps.

The Android store will abandon the low/medium/high maturity classifications it has used until now and switch to a system run by an outside body.

As increasing numbers of youngsters are left alone to play with smartphones and tablets, the move will allow Google to show it takes its responsibilities seriously.

But there remains the potential for confusion - and controversy.

So why make the change?

Google says it wants to reassure parents that apps are properly labelled by bringing in the experts rather than relying on developers to self-certify their products, as had been the case until now.

Rather than use its own proprietary classifications, it will offer parents and children labels similar to those already used to provide guidance about the suitability of boxed video games for different age groups, which should be relatively familiar.

Selling your Android phone? Don't. It keeps your data.

If you recently sold your old Android phone, chances are your text messages, emails, pictures and Facebook key are still in there, even if you wiped its memory clean.

A new study by computer researchers at the University of Cambridge shows that "factory reset" -- at least on Android devices -- doesn't actually erase everything.

Sometimes it doesn't even come close.

The used smartphone market is huge and about 630 million phones out there are susceptible to this problem, according to the study. Wall Street analysts expect the market will keep blowing up in sizeuntil at least 2018.

Researchers tested 21 phones made by Google (GOOGL, Tech30), HTC, LG, Motorola (MSI) and Samsung (SSNLF). In every case, they were able to recover text messages, Google account credentials and conversations on messaging apps. A few emails remained on the device 80% of the time.

Also, the special app "tokens" that let you access your Facebook (FB, Tech30) and other social media accounts remained on the device.

And sometimes, devices don't properly wipe the special part of your phone that stores all your pictures and videos -- at all.

The devices affected by this include the HTC One, HTC Sensation XE, Motorola Razr I, Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy S Plus and others.

Researchers said the Google Nexus 4 performed the best -- but it still had issues.

Each phone had a different set of problems. For example, the HTC One didn't wipe its internal SD card (where pictures are stored) by erasing it through the phone's "settings" section, even though that's what HTC says you should do. Instead, you have to go through the "recovery" section.

Part of the blame lies with Google, which makes the Android software that runs all these phones. But the phone makers are also at fault, because of bad design and terribly slow upgrades and software updates, researchers told CNNMoney.

If you're determined to sell your old phone, there's no way to be sure your data is completely gone.

This is the thinnest TV ever

In the future, commuters will be shuttled around in self-driving cars, and couch potatoes will be able to peel their TVs off of walls.

LG Display (LPL)showed off its newest, thinnest-ever TV panel at a press event in South Korea Tuesday. The 55-inch display is about as thin as a DVD and weighs less than a 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is 4.5 pounds, or 2 kilograms. It can be hung on a wall using a special magnetic mat.

Amazing as it is, the ultra thin TV is only a proof of concept for now -- you won't find it in a Best Buy near you anytime soon. But it shows the potential of OLED, the technology that makes it possible to make high definition displays flexible, thin and lightweight.

At the press event, the head of LG Display's OLED group told reporters the company would increase its OLED production this year.

OLED displays are made from sheets of organic (carbon-based) materials which emit their own light. As a result, manufacturers can eliminate the layer of fluorescent backlighting found in traditional displays, such as LCD screens.

LG and Samsung sell several OLED TV models already, but they cost thousands of dollars, and aren't nearly as thin. It might take another five years for the prices to come down in order for larger OLED displays to be commercially viable, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The real benefit of OLED technology will most likely be realized within wearables, digital cameras, smartwatches, tablets and mobile devices. The malleable technology provides more saturated colors, higher contrast and greater brightness than LCD displays.

Ryanair profit rises as softer approach widens customer base

Ryanair said full-year earnings jumped 66pc as Europe’s biggest discount carrier ramped up winter capacity and sought to lure a new generation of passengers with a softer approach to customer service.

Profit after tax in the year through March rose to €867m ($948m), Ryanair said in a statement on Tuesday. That’s €247m higher than the top end of predictions made the previous year. For fiscal 2016, the airline predicted profit of €940m to €970m.

Ryanair, which raised its guidance for 2015 earnings five times, is targeting major European airports and looking to tempt passengers away from network airlines such as Deutsche Lufthansa and Air France-KLM Group. With low-cost carriers approaching the end of a what chief executive Michael O’Leary has described as a “land grab” for market share, the Irish airline is extending efforts to broaden its customer appeal into a third year.

LG Watch Urbane review: Android's best Apple Watch rival

The LG Watch Urbane is probably the first smartwatch to take the need for high-end style seriously, but does it pull it off?

Wearable technology has long been criticised for its lack of style; many of the early attempts at smartwatches seemed to take more inspiration fromKnight Rider and Dick Tracy than Tag Heuer or Rolex. But amid growing pressure to extend the appeal of wrist-worn devices beyond sci-fi fanatics and 90s detective cartoon enthusiasts, wearable technology makers have finally started paying attention to fashion.

The industry received a massive boost this year when Apple launched itslong-awaited Watch – a device that some analysts predict will sell 36 million units in its first 12 months. Notably, Apple pitched the Watch as a fashion item rather than simply a gadget, with former supermodel Christy Turlington Burns figuring prominently in the company's promotional activities.

Now other smartwatch makers are being forced to up their game, and ensure that they put as much care into the design of their devices as the functionality. So far, LG has been the most successful on this front, developing first the G Watch R, with a large circular face and sporty design, and now the Watch Urbane, made from luxury materials and with a high-end price tag to match.

With its metal body and stitched leather strap, the LG Watch Urbane clearly hopes to be to Android users what the Apple Watch is to iPhone users. It has a premium feel and, thanks to the latest Android Wear software release, it is has many of the same features as the Apple Watch – including hands-free actions, always-on apps, WiFi support and an emoji recogniser.

However, unlike the Apple Watch, the LG Watch Urbane is bold and distinctive. It immitates traditional watch design and bears more than a passing resemblance to some Michael Kors products – a brand that divides critics. This is not a safe crowdpleaser, it is a distinctive fashion item that customers will either love or loathe.

Internet used by 3.2 billion people in 2015

Nearly half of the global population will be using the internet by the end of this year, according to a new report.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations body, predicts that 3.2 billion people will be online. The population currently stands at 7.2 billion.

About 2 billion of those will be in the developing world, the report added.

But just 89 million will be in countries such as Somalia and Nepal.

These are part of a group of nations described as "least developed countries" by the United Nations, with a combined population of 940 million.

Mobile

There will also be more than 7 billion mobile device subscriptions, the ITU said.

It found that 78 out of 100 people in the US and Europe already use mobile broadband, and 69% of the world has 3G coverage - but only 29% of rural areas are served.

Africa lags behind with just 17.4% mobile broadband penetration.

By the end of the year 80% of households in developed countries and 34% of those in developing countries will have internet access in some form, the report continued.

The study focused on the growth of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector over the past 15 years.

In the year 2000 there were just 400 million internet users worldwide, it said - an eighth of the current figure.

"Over the past 15 years the ICT revolution has driven global development in an unprecedented way," said Brahima Sanou, director of the ITU telecommunication development bureau.

"ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society."

Amazon's sales reporting change could raise tax bill

Amazon, the global online retailer, is changing the way it records sales in a move that could see it paying more tax.

Transactions carried out in European markets were previously recorded in Luxembourg, with which Amazon had a low-tax agreement.

Now sales made through subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy will be registered in those countries, the retailer has said.

Amazon had received heavy criticism for its tax avoidance policies.

"More than two years ago, we began the process of establishing local country branches of Amazon EU Sarl, our primary retail operating company in Europe," the company said in a statement.

"As of 1 May, Amazon EU Sarl is recording retail sales made to customers through these branches in the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy.

"Previously, these retail sales were recorded in Luxembourg."

Amazon added that it was "working on opening a branch for France".

In recent years, the European Union has intensified its investigations into the tax deals negotiated by global companies with countries such as Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

It suspects that such deals amount to illegal state aid and distort competition.

Last year, the European Commission - the EU's executive arm - launched a formal investigation into Amazon's tax arrangements with Luxembourg.

And the EU is also looking into tech giant Apple's tax dealings in Ireland, coffee-shop chain Starbucks' dealings in the Netherlands, and Italian carmaker Fiat's agreement with Luxembourg.

China cuts import taxes to boost consumer demand

China will cut import taxes on consumer goods by more than 50% on average in a bid to boost consumer spending.

High tariffs for imported goods have prompted some Chinese consumers to shop abroad or through agents.

By lowering the fees, China may hope to bring some of that consumer spending home.

The government is particularly keen to promote domestic demand as the country is growing at its slowest rate since 2009.

The tariff reduction is an "important measure to create stable growth and push forward structural reform", said the Ministry of Finance.

From 1 June tariffs for Western-style clothing will be reduced to 7-10% from 14-23%.

Taxes on ankle-high boots and sports shoes will be halved to 12%. Import tariffs on skincare products will fall from 5% to 2%.

However, its not just import taxes that drive up the prices of imported consumer goods in China. VAT and other taxes also play a part.

Analysts say consumers in China pay around 20% more for luxury goods than those in Europe.

Google Says It 'Messed Up' Over Race Slur

Google has suspended its Map Maker tool indefinitely after users typing a racist slur were shown the White House.



Google has apologised saying it "messed up" after a search for a racial slur on its maps service pointed users to the White House.

People searching for "n**** house" were shown the residence of Barack Obama, the first black President of the US.

It was flagged up on Wednesday and Google fixed the issue within hours.

But users have pointed out that hundreds of other derogatory terms entered into the search bar can see users directed to specific points on the map.

In a new blog post, the search company said it was "deeply upset" by the problem and was working to overhaul how some of its search algorithms work.

It said: "This week, we heard about a failure in our system - loud and clear.

Will London's mayor put the brakes on Uber?

It is the new technology superpower, promising to transform the way we travel and much else, and London is one of its most important bases. But now the car service Uber is at the centre of a major political battle, and the new Conservative government has a tricky choice to make.

London's mayor Boris Johnson, who has until recently been seen by taxi drivers as far too kind to Uber, is now backing new laws which could put a stop to its growth. The newly elected MP for Uxbridge is pushing for the inclusion in next week's Queen's Speech of a proposal to cap the number of minicab licences in London.

In the last year, the regulator Transport for London says the number of private hire vehicle licences has risen from 52,000 to 77,000, and most of that increase is made up of new Uber drivers. Another 1,200 private hire drivers are swelling that total every month, according to the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), which lobbies for the traditional black cab drivers.

The LTDA applauds Johnson for tackling what it says is becoming a pollution problem affecting the lives of all Londoners. Its chief executive Steve McNamara says the capital is suffering growing congestion as an increasingly desperate pack of Uber drivers move constantly from one resident parking space to another as they wait for a customer.

Uber, of course, sees it very differently. The Californian firm is lobbying hard against what it believes is simple protectionism. It cites the average speed of Uber cars through London, up by 9% since it arrived in 2012, as proof that it is not responsible for congestion. And it says further growth in its network is needed so that it can launch its UberPool service here, allowing several customers to share the same car, cutting congestion and costs.

McDonald's faces worker pressure as shareholders meet

                     

Fast food giant McDonald's is facing pressure from both workers and investors, who are increasingly unhappy with the firm's business strategy.

Hundreds of fast food workers and supporters converged in front of McDonald's corporate headquarters on Thursday morning before the company's annual shareholder meeting.

They demanded the fast food giant raise wages to $15 per hour, from $9.

Separately, investors voted to change how board members are elected.

They are unhappy with the firm's slumping sales.

McDonald's - the once invincible-seeming US corporate food giant whose arches are seen across the globe - is struggling, as health-conscious consumers eschew its food in the US and workers stage day-long protests against the company.

That has made this shareholder meeting - the first since British-born chief executive Steve Easterbrook took over the firm in January - a crucial focus of both worker angst and investor frustration.

McDonald's banned media from attending the event, and has sought to dismiss both worker complaints and investor efforts to change the management of the firm.

Airbus chief says future investment at risk if UK leaves Europe

The head of Airbus in the UK has said the aerospace and defence giant would reconisder future investment in the UK were it to leave the European Union.

Paul Kahn, president of Airbus UK, has used a speech in London to make a strong stand in favour of Britain’s EU membership.

“The UK has to have the right competitive environment for investment compared to other countries,” he said.

“Now is the time for industry to speak out and to remind people of examples of success; and we recognise the responsibility to have to be at the forefront of this debate”

Airbus employs 16,000 people in the UK and has annual revenues of more than £6bn.

“If Britain were to leave the EU, would we suddenly close our factory in Broughton? No. With the barriers to entry that exist; and the need for people with skill, passion and commitment, demanded by this type of advanced manufacturing. It would be impossible for us to start making our wings somewhere else for a number of years," he said.

“I believe that it is vital for a company such as Airbus to come out, and make a stand in favour of Britain remaining in the European Union.”

“With a referendum perhaps less than 18 months away…Now is the time for industry to speak out and to remind people of examples of success; and we recognise the responsibility to have to be at the forefront of this debate," he continued.

Mr Kahn’s comments follow those of Sir Mike Rake at last night’s CBI annual dinner, where he called on British industry to speak out on the need for the UK to remain in a reformed Europe.

Marc Bolland, chief executive of Marks & Spencer, used the retailer's results to say that Europe is “important", but said he would need to see what any reforms are “before making a decision.”

Meanwhile Carol Fairweather, chief financial officer of Burberry, said it was a “proudly British company...but we are also a global business and we always have a global outlook.”

Developers 'uninterested' in tweaking iOS and Android apps for Windows

Developers are said to be reluctant to modify iPhone and Android apps for Windows Phone over doubts over app quality and how easy the process will be

Microsoft's plan to make its new version of Windows a mobile hit by letting it accept tweaked Apple and Android apps has met an obstacle: some of the software developers the company needs to woo just aren't interested.

Windows phones accounted for just 3 per cent of global smartphone sales last year, compared with about 81 per cent for devices with Google's Android system and 15 per cent for Apple and its iOS system, according to research firm IDC. One reason is that Windows doesn't run as many or as attractive apps as its rivals.

To boost sales of its phones and new operating system, Microsoft said last month that it would provide tools to software developers to make it easier to design apps for Windows based on apps that run on Android or Apple. But because so few people use a Windows phone, most developers remain focused on the more popular systems and don't see a need to develop apps for Windows. They also said they doubt how easy the new tools will be to use.

"Windows phone will have to gain a significant share of the market before this becomes something that saves us time and/or money," said Sean Orelli, a director at app development firm Fuzz Productions in New York, which makes apps related to Citibank, the New York Post, and Conde Nast, among others.

For Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, there's a lot at stake this summer as it rolls out Windows 10, the first operating system designed to run on PCs, tablets and phones. If developers don't embrace the new platform, it will seriously damage the prospects of the new operating system, which Microsoft hopes will power one billion devices in two or three years.

Interviews with more than a dozen developers found just one planning to move an app from Apple or Android to Microsoft. That's King.com, which ported its popular Candy Crush Saga game from iOS to Windows 10 "with very few code modifications" and will be installed automatically with upgrades to Windows 10, according to Microsoft. King.com confirmed the move but declined to comment further.

Eight developers said they aren't planning to develop for Windows 10 at all. Four who already have Windows apps said they would continue to do so.

Gucci Takes On Alibaba Over Chinese Fakes

                             

Leading fashion brands including Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) have accused Alibaba Group of continuing to profit from the sale of counterfeit designer goods.

The Chinese e-commerce giant previously pledged to combat the trade in fakes.

However the latest lawsuit from France's Kering, the holding company of brands including Gucci and YSL, indicates that Alibaba has failed to convince luxury goods manufacturers that they have done anywhere near enough to keep counterfeit products off its online sales platforms.

According to the wording of this new lawsuit filed in the US federal court in Manhattan, Alibaba has "knowingly" encouraged, assisted, and profited from the sale of counterfeits.

It accuses Alibaba of permitting merchants on its platforms even if they openly say they sell unlicensed copies.

The 144-page complaint says Alibaba's computer algorithms were "intentionally designed" to offer counterfeits when consumers search for genuine brand names. It argues that that when the term "knockoff" - meaning fake - was typed into a search, Alibaba's system added "handbag".

Alibaba insists the complaint from Kering has "no basis" and has vowed to fight the action.

In an official statement the company responded: "We continue to work in partnership with numerous brands to help them protect their intellectual property, and we have a strong track record of doing so.

"Unfortunately, Kering Group has chosen the path of wasteful litigation instead of the path of constructive cooperation."

Alibaba’s defence is that it has 2,000 employees dedicated to anti-counterfeiting and consumer protection work and spent around £1bn in this area in 2013-14.

Inflation Below Zero For First Time In 55 Years (UK)

                            

The British economy has entered into negative inflation for the first time since 1960, according to today's figures from the ONS.

UK's annual rate of consumer price inflation (CPI)  fell to -0.1% down from 0% previously.  It is the first time that the CPI figures have been in negative territory since official records for the CPI index began in 1996.

However, according to the ONS, comparable estimates going back further indicate that is the first time consumer prices have showed deflation since 1960. 

Responding to the latest figures, Chancellor George Osborne told Sky News that this was not "damaging deflation" and insisted that though the government would remain vigilant to any risks that might arise and was "well equipped to deal with them if they did".

Bank of England governor Mark Carney warned last week that the central bank believed inflation could enter negative territory - albeit briefly.

Hackers Dip Into Accounts Using Starbucks App

                        

Hackers are using the Starbucks smartphone app to take money from customer credit cards, bank accounts and PayPal accounts.

The app lets people pay for drinks and food using their mobile phone if their account is linked to an online payment service.

But hackers have found a way to get into the app and take advantage of the cash auto-reload function and online gift cards that many customers use.

The hackers can then transfer customer funds to themselves.

Starbucks has acknowledged the problem but said there is no flaw in the app, and weak passwords could be to blame.

However it says customers will not be held responsible for any charges they did not make.

The issue - which has seen up to hundreds of dollars syphoned from accounts - appears to be confined the US.

Customers affected received repeated emails telling them that there was a financial problem, but they were unable to stop the transfers.

Starbucks said in a statement: "If a customer believes their account has been subject to fraudulent activity, they are encouraged to contact both Starbucks and their financial institution immediately.

"Customers are not responsible for charges or transfers they did not make. If a customer's Starbucks Card is registered, their account balance is protected."

Consumer rights experts recommend changing the password for the app, and disabling the auto-reload feature.