Utrecht University (UU) in the Netherlands thought it had nothing to be ashamed of when it accepted a €360,000 research grant from Philip Morris International (PMI) last September. The tobacco giant had agreed to fund a study on cigarette smuggling that had obvious public health importance, and the lead researcher, law professor John Vervaele, would enjoy complete […]

“Tell them I told you everything you needed to know, and that you can’t tell anyone.” That was Harrison Ford’s advice to Alden Ehrenreich, the man who would be Han, when they sat down for lunch in January of last year shortly before production began on Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ehrenreich, the 28-year-old actor best known […]

Business jets are typically regarded as an indulgence of the global elite, but a just-unveiled entrant to the sector shows there’s more to the industry. Starling Jet is billed as the world’s first hybrid-electric business aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing (like a helicopter). In addition to serving high-net worth individuals, the planes can be […]

Chinese payment provider LianLian International is joining RippleNet, the payment network that uses Ripple’s blockchain technology to facilitate cross-border transactions. Announced on Feb. 7, the news will see the Hong Kong-based LianLian International adopting Ripple’s xCurrent solution in an effort to bring same-day, cross-border transactions onto a blockchain for its existing customers. The product differs from Ripple’s xRapid solution, which, […]

The city of Berkeley, California is considering launching an initial coin offering (ICO) in a stated effort to reduce its dependence on federal funding. The ICO would raise funds by selling digital coins that would be backed by government municipal bonds, according to Business Insider, which spoke to a …

 When you’re trying to build a name for your company, there is a multitude of tactics to create an appealing brand, reach out to your customers and build a reputation for yourself in your industry. Graphic artists will tell you about how a high-quality logo and beautiful website design are the keys to business growth, […]

Sony Pictures Entertainment has let go three president-level executives — international channels head Andy Kaplan, chief TV marketing officer Sheraton Kalouria and home entertainment topper Man Jit Singh — as part of a broader effort to streamline its top management ranks. Keith Le Goy, Sony Pictures TV’s president of distribution, will take on oversight of home entertainment while Sony […]

Youngsters have probably been playing their way into cultural competence for at least tens of thousands of years. So why are signs of children largely absent from the archaeological record? A cartoon that Biblical scholar Kristine Garroway taped up in her college dorm helps to explain kids’ invisibility at ancient sites: Two men in business […]

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are opening higher Wednesday as trading stabilizes following three days of tumult. Industrial companies are rising and retailers and other consumer-focused companies are also up. European markets rose. After a slightly lower open, most stocks turned a higher within the first few minutes of trading, and winners outnumbered losers […]

The end of the year always brings with it a time to reflect on what we learned — and what surprised us — over the past 12 months. For the sales tech world, 2017 was a year packed with innovation and new ideas. As we embark on this new year, here’s a look at the […]