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Global Brandemic: And the winners are…
2020 has been a stinger hasn’t it?
Most businesses are still in free fall where this pandemic is concerned. The impact on companies both large and small will be long talked about.
But it hasn’t been bad for everyone! For some, this pandemic has seen their brands leap from unknown to everyday household names and tiny sectors of the economy suddenly become vital.
Don’t try to pretend you had heard of it before you started working from home. Now? Now the blue Zoom is etched into our retinas (metaphorically and literally) and aside from the 2 weeks where stories of spying and data breaches were circulating – it has pretty much single handed taken over as our new video communications tool of choice. The lack of glitchy drop-outs definitely helps but for a business that’s been around since 2013 they are considered to be the overnight success story of the corona virus. On July 15 the company announced Zoom for Home, a line of products designed around for those working from home. The first product, with software by Zoom and hardware by DTEN, is called DTEN ME. It consists of a 27-inch screen with three wide-angle cameras and eight microphones, with Zoom software preloaded on the device. It is expected to be available in August 2020.
OK not exactly a new business but Amazon are another brand that have been massively successful during the pandemic months. Let’s face it, if you were planning on starting a company a year ago that could capitalise on a potential global pandemic, it would probably look a lot like Amazon. From downloading books to occupy our new found ‘extra time’, to finding someone (anyone) who stocked toilet rolls – Amazon delivered (literally). When that box arrived, it smiled up at me with its distinctive yellow arrow and reassured me that the world outside was still operating and that it probably wasn’t going to end – at least not yet. Amazon have continued to grow even with issues around delivering in good time and they are predicted to emerge from the corona-crisis bigger and stronger than ever. That logo will be smiling for some time to come.
A slightly more surprising development of these uncertain times has been the success of plant-based foods. Food in general has been such a top topic of conversation. Due to the origins of the virus, never have we had more reason to think about what we eat or – more time on our hands to eat it! Chinese wet markets have been a hot topic, so it should come as no surprise that companies such as Beyond Meat have boomed in this environment. Although Beyond Meat has been in the Australian market since 2018, they have taken a strong marketing initiative during the pandemic to persuade consumers that plant-based foods are a great substitute to meat and it’s not necessary to switch to a full vegetarian diet but instead substitute veggie options a couple of times a week. The likes of Coles are already stocking Beyond Meat products and their distinctive logo is likely to become as recognisable as the ‘Australian Beef’ logo.
Takeaway delivery services
‘So, let me get this straight – you can order a single burger from McDonalds and have it delivered? Ha ha – that will never take off!”
In recent times it has felt a little like we had slipped into the fast lane on the highway towards the ultimate sedentary, sofa-isolated, dystopian future – too lazy now to even go out to get super-sized. Fast forward 6 months and delivering a pizza is an essential service! For many of us the contactless way in which food can get from takeaway chain to your dining table has elevated the humble delivery driver from bringer of our-once-a-week-treat to brown-bag legend, battling across the wasteland to drop packages of tastiness to the isolated hoards.
So while it has been tough times for many of us – some businesses are making serious headway. And it turns out you don’t need to be a creative agency to be creative! Whether it’s pivoting at the right time or just making sure you’re in the ‘right place at right time’ – in even the bleakest of times, good businesses just plough on.


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Genius Smart P2PE™ enhances security and simplifies compliance for retailers and restaurants
BOSTON, MA – October 10, 2017 – As threats of cybersecurity breaches and hacks continue to increase, retailers must arm themselves with technology that protects their customer data. Today, payments technology company Cayan announced its flagship Genius® Countertop payments solution is now validated by the PCI Security Standards Council as a certified point-to-point encryption solution. Dubbed Genius Smart P2PE, this certification delivers the highest level of security for merchants while also simplifying PCI-DSS compliance efforts and reducing costs.
“With fraudulent activity on the rise globally, merchants must take data security precautions to ensure the delicate chain of trust they have with their customers remains intact,” said Jordan McKee, principal analyst at 451 Research. “Cayan has recognized the criticality of strong data security for its clients and partners by achieving the distinction of PCI P2PE validation for its Genius solution. PCI certification represents adherence to stringent security protocols and stands out as the most widely-trusted accreditation that a payment solution can attain.”
In addition to the reduced risk of payment fraud, merchants will experience additional benefits, such as:
- A simplified and efficient PCI-DSS compliance process that reduces SAQ controls from 12 to 4 sections and from 329 questions that prove their compliance to just 33
- Encryption of data at Point of Interaction (POI) to reduce fraud risk
- In fraudulent circumstances, the P2PE Solution Provider, not the merchant, is held accountable for data loss and fines
“While Genius has always deployed state of the art encryption technology and tokenization of all transactions, achieving a PCI P2PE 2.0 certification allows us to ensure the highest level of security available at a time when retailers are most in need of enhanced protection,” said Ken Paull, CRO at Cayan.
Cayan’s Genius Customer Engagement Platform® is a cloud-based payment technology that integrates processing, payment acceptance and customer experience in one fully-scalable platform while keeping cardholder data off the POS. Genius Smart P2PE is currently available on Genius Countertop devices.
Cayan® is a technology company focused on transformative innovations in payments. From simple and reliable payment processing, to fully integrated, multichannel customer engagement platforms, Cayan is continuously developing new ways to unlock the power of payments. Cayan’s platforms include their Cayan® Unified Commerce Solution Suite™ and Genius® Platform – both are secure and scalable platforms that are fully configurable, tailored to a business’s unique needs and easy to implement. Headquartered in Boston, the company has multiple offices in the United States and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Cayan is one of the world’s fastest growing payment companies. For more information, visit www.cayan.com.

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Today's Must Read
New Drugs Boost Novartis (NVS) Amid Generic Competition
Focus on Electric Cars Aids Toyota (TM), High Debt Ails
Monday, April 27, 2020
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Intel (INTC), Novartis (NVS) and Toyota Motor (TM). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
Intel’s shares have underperformed the Zacks General Semiconductor industry over the past six months (+3.7% vs. +11.5%). The Zacks analyst believes that robust mix of high-performance second-generation Xeon Scalable processors and solid demand from Cloud service providers is expected to drive near-term growth.
The company is also making advancements in the IoT space, courtesy of product introductions and tie ups. Moreover, Intel is witnessing strong momentum for its first 10-nanometer (nm) mobile CPU.
Notably, the company has not provided 2020 guidance citing coronavirus crisis-induced business uncertainty. Further, declining PC total addressable market, higher expenses pertaining to 10-nm ramp up and constrained supply amid coronavirus outbreak in China remain concerns.
Shares of Novartis have gained +11% over the past year against the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry’s rise of +12.4%. The Zacks analyst believes that pipeline setbacks and generic competition for additional drugs are concerning.
Novartis has a strong oncology portfolio and a formidable generics business. The solid performance of key drugs like Cosentyx and Entresto, and contribution from gene therapy, Zolgensma, have boosted the performance in recent times and offset the impact of generic competition for legacy drugs. New launches like Piqray, Mayzent and Beovu should further boost sales.
The biosimilar portfolio also gains traction with new key approvals. The deep pipeline is encouraging as well. Novartis is also focusing on developing treatments for coronavirus and a positive outcome will boost the stock significantly. However, price erosion in the United States has adversely impacted the generics business.
Toyota’s shares have lost -13.3% over the past three months against the Zacks Foreign Automotive industry’s fall of -18.4%. The Zacks analyst believes that expanding portfolio of product lines is driving Toyota’s prospects.
In order to capitalize on the accelerated global shift to electric cars, the auto giant of Japan is focusing on developing electric and autonomous vehicles. Toyota is working on hydrogen fuel stations in collaboration with various partners. The company aims to achieve half its global sales from electric vehicles by 2025. However, anticipating a slowdown in India, China, Indonesia and Thailand, the company narrowed its annual vehicle sales target for fiscal 2020.
Moreover, coronavirus woes and high research and development expenses on advanced technologies for the development of EVs and driverless cars are also likely to dent near-term margins. Its high debt levels also remain a concern. As such, investors are recommended to wait for a better entry point.
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Union Pacific (UNP), Southern (SO) and Biogen (BIIB).
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GMO free you say? Genetically modified organisms. GMO’s were initially created to boost crop production as a solution to world hunger. More recently GMOs have been designed to make crops resistant to certain bugs or able to tolerate pesticides. There is a lot of debate about the pros and cons of GMOs, however, most people wish to know what they are buying.
In Canada, there is no law requiring that products containing genetically modified ingredients be labeled accordingly. In the E.U. that is the law. So we are importing flour from The Netherlands because we want to be able to assure our customers that they aren’t buying something they don’t want.
Commercial production of genetically modified (GM) crops has not yet occurred in the Netherlands. According to a report on biotechnology in the Netherlands issued by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in June 2013, “there are no genetically engineered (GE) crops under development that will be on the market in the next five years.” However, the Netherlands does import large quantities of GE crops and derived products. It also transships such imported crops and products to other European Union (EU) countries, or exports them to non-EU countries, using the requisite documentation and labeling required under EU law. Because cultivation of GE crops is not permitted, GE seed is not imported. Additionally, because GE products for consumers must be labeled, imported quantities of the products are small. The main imported GE crops and derived products are soybeans from Brazil and the United States and soybean meal from Brazil and Argentina. In accordance with EU legislation, the Netherlands has a Low Level Presence policy for unapproved GE varieties in feed. According to the USDA report, “the Dutch livestock sector depends on feed imports from third countries [that consist] mainly of GE soybean meal. The livestock sector does not include any GE animals nor do Dutch agricultural research institutes have them for research purposes.”


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By Yemisi Suleiman
Bold prints, razor-sharp tailoring and show-stopping dresses in figure-sculpting silhouettes reigned supreme as London’s finest fashionistas, fashion journalists, buyers and observers once more converged on the city’s capital for the 7th edition of the Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL).
This year, the annual event which had held at the London Olympia for three consecutive years moved to the Freemasons’ Hall in Central London. Freemason’s Hall is one of London’s Top 10 film locations and has featured in several Hollywood blockbusters; it has also played host to the London Fashion Show each year.
For two days, 11th and 12th August, it was a fashion carnival of some sort in the city as it played host to the international designers who traditionally flock to the AFWL. The City of London is currently home to many of the most exciting design talents from Africa and Europe.
Day One kicked off on an exciting note. The exhibition area and food section boomed with activity as people hurried to savour cuisines from different parts of Africa while sampling clothes and beautifully hand-crafted accessories at exhibition stands. Inside the main hall featured a set of collection by ‘Tour Nigeria’ designers, a segment sponsored by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) as a way of projecting and promoting Nigeria’s tourism industry through fashion. It featured solely Africa-inspired collections by some established Nigerian designers: Regalia, Kola Kuddus, Maufechi, Bijelly, Goodwin Green and more.
The highlight of Day One was the debut of Moremi Collection by Nigeria’s iconic designer, MonAmi. The collection projected royalty, portraying womanhood and power with celestial clothing; using capes made with some of the finest and quite colourful African prints.
From Tubo’s all-red see-through dresses, Signature Secrets’ studded kimonos and drapers to Mary Martins’ Victorian look, Day Two designers turned out collections that were interesting and beautiful; awash with trends that attendees will try next season.
For Soboye, it was a celebration of humanity. The London-based designer sent models down the runway in African print kimono with a fusion of African textile, Japanese and Indian fabrics, displaying all that celebrates humanity and world cultures.
Mary Martin returned this year with an exciting line of tulle, designed in Victorian style dresses and head wraps in exaggerated formations. A collection inspired by artefacts and royal queens of ancient Benin in Nigeria, with the queens hiding under the outfits.
One of AFWL favourite designers, Caesar’s Couture, after a spectacular performance last year, returned with a more dramatic catwalk show, sending male models down the runway in dapper wedding looks for today’s groom and the groomsmen. The designer brought this year’s event to a spectacular end as he took a bow with Nigeria’s R&B star, Timi Dakolo, who came on stage singing one of his greatest hits ‘Great Nation’ to the delight of the audience.
Organised by Ronke Ademiluyi, AFWL has witnessed the evolution of African fashion and culture with participating brands gaining global acceptance over the years. With Nigeria at the forefront of this year’s event, the show naturally had a large turnout of royal fathers, government personnel and major players in the industry.


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European Union data-protection reform proposals could undermine basic privacy rights globally, a growing chorus of critics say.
Despite privacy concerns and doubts over its usefulness, a plan to track passengers entering or leaving the European Union in a series of national databases is likely to become reality by the end of the year.
European Union lawmakers believe that micro-licensing could solve all user generated content problems (UCG) according to a European Commission document leaked on Monday.
The European Union will spend €1 billion on improving its digital services and high-speed broadband networks as part of a deal agreed on Wednesday.
The European Union is considering helping to fund a $185-million project to lay an undersea cable from Brazil to Europe.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande will discuss this week how Europe can keep email traffic away from U.S. servers.
European Union leaders have given themselves room for manoeuvre in implementing new data protection laws, while pledging to introduce them in a “timely” fashion.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that allegations the United States’ National Security Agency hacked her phone is relevant for every citizen that needs to trust digital communications.
Seven top E.U. judges ruled Thursday that a leading Internet news website was legally responsible for offensive views posted by readers in the comments section.
The Internet service and telco provider to all the European Union’s official institutions was subjected to a malware attack that “no single company or authority could withstand on its own” admitted the company’s secretary general on Thursday.
A European Parliament's consumer protection committee has voted to standardize smartphone connectors in a move to reduce waste. As a result Apple may have to adopt microUSB for charging the iPad and iPhone.
European politicians on Tuesday demanded the suspension of a wide-reaching data sharing agreement between the United States and the European Union following allegations that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) tapped into the international bank t...
European researchers using the European Union funded GEANT network will, from Wednesday, be able to access capacity of up to 2 terabits per second.
Removing mobile phone roaming charges in the European Union may prove more expensive for customers in the long run, a telecoms expert has warned.
E.U. politicians at both national and European level on Monday demanded that the United States answer allegations of spying on European Union embassies, while others called for asylum for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
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While we haven’t 100 percent confirmed it yet (update: we’ve confirmed with a source), what you see above is what we do very much believe to be a picture of Google’s latest social foray. Yes, it’s the artist formerly known as “Google Me”, then known as “Emerald Sea“, and now known as “Google +1“.
As you can see, it’s a toolbar that exists along the top of Google’s properties — in this case, Google News. There’s a Share button, a place for a Google account icon, and a Google username. Next to it is a numerical count — it’s not clear what this is for just yet. (Maybe a share count?) And next to that is an options menu.
Also note the big red “CONFIDENTIAL!” label. Yes, the person who shared this clearly wasn’t supposed to.
One other important thing to note: the “Loop” area in the left side toolbar links. This is exactly in-line with what we’ve reported so far about Google +1 — namely that a key part of it is based around “loops”, which seems to be Google’s word for “groups”. Loop is also what we’ve heard an iPhone app in testing is being called.
Finally, remember that we reported on a new Google toolbar area being tested out a few weeks ago. It appears that this is very much to make room for Google +1, which should launch early next year.
Below, find some clearer pictures of the area.
We’ve reached out to Google for comment on this image, but have yet to hear back. We’ll update if and when we do.
Update from Google (that was quick!):
“We’re always experimenting with new ways to improve our products, and we have already confirmed that we are focused on incorporating social elements across Google. But we have nothing new to announce at this time.”


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Cloud servers allocated to Tesla by Amazon were accessed by hackers and used for crypto-coin mining, according to a discovery by RedLock cybersecurity company.
In addition to using the processing power of the servers, the attackers allegedly had access to confidential company data, including vehicle telemetry.
The attack was identified by RedLock last month during a search for credentials from the Amazon Web Services ( AWS ) cloud provider that was left open.
A Tesla spokesman said the company was reported by RedLock and that consumer data was not leaked.
” The impact appears to be limited only to engineering test cars used internally, our initial investigation found no evidence that customer privacy or vehicle safety or safety has been compromised in any way, ” the company said.
According to RedLock itself, mining crypto-coins using servers would be a more profitable activity than any data that might be stored in them.
” The recent increase in cryptocurrency is has become much more lucrative for cybercriminals to steal the computing power of the organizations of their data,” said the director of RedLock, Gaurav Kumar,


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Bedz King is voluntarily recalling about 2,900 bunk beds, because the height of one of the posts is too high. Children’s clothing could get caught on that post, potentially choking them.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday that the bunk beds have a protruding corner post that exceeds the 5 millimeters allowed by industry standard.
No injuries have been reported.
The Bedz King bunk beds with a side ladder were sold from 2011 through 2013, for between $350 and $750.
Consumers should contact Bedz King for a free repair kit if they have the recalled item. The Arlington, Texas, company is also emailing buyers.


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Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has inaugurated the construction of the Karu Retail and Entertainment Center to boost economic activities in the area and around the corridors of Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony in Karu Local Government Area on Thursday, Sule said the N2 billion project located in Muhammadu International Market, Karu is being executed in collaboration with The Mall Company as part of of a public-private partnership agreement.
He explained that the project was a dream come true as it is in line with his administration’s development plan for the state, the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy Paper.
The governor said his administration had leveraged Karu’s proximity to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to attract several investments for the state’s socio-economic development, expressing optimism that the project would create Youth employment opportunities abound in the state.
He said, “We are going to build a world-class plinth bridge to connect the Center to the modern bus station, equipped with an electronic advertising platform which would generate additional revenue for the state.
“We strive to unlock the potential of Nasarawa and build a self-sufficient economy that empowers citizens to struggle. I therefore urge both private and public sector investors to take advantage of the business climate, as Nasarawa is no longer a civil service state but an investment destination.
Earlier, The Mall company’s managing director, Yahaya Yahaya, said the project would be completed within a year and would feature ShopRite as the retail anchor and a mix well balanced of indigenous and international food retail chain tenants.
He said: “The development of this modern retail and leisure park goes beyond the construction of a shopping mall, but provides an opportunity for the agricultural sector to grow as food would move from farm to farm. shelf and at the table.
“We will feature restaurants, electronics and gadget stores, fashion retailers, drugstores, an expansive amusement park and children’s play area, and other online tenants. On behalf of my company, I would like to thank the Nasarawa State Government and other stakeholders for the opportunity to be part of the development of the state. »
Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency Director General Ibrahim Abdullahi said the project is a historic partnership for the retail sector in the state, while stressing that Governor Sule was poised to revitalize the state’s economy through private sector involvement.
He encouraged investors from all over the world to take advantage of the conducive business environment created by the administration to invest in Nasarawa State.
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INTRO: Samsung might unveil the Galaxy Note 20 in an online event in August. That’s according to a report out of South Korea, which claims that the company might not schedule an ‘Unpacked’ conference for the launch of the next-gen Note flagships this year.
Samsung Might Launch Galaxy Note 20 Online
The company is apparently mulling the drastic step because of the coronavirus pandemic. If the report turns out to be accurate, it will mark the first time that a flagship Samsung phone will be launched online.
The South Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung typically launches its flagship smartphones at massive ‘Unpacked’ events in the US. While the Galaxy S-series devices are typically announced in February in San Francisco, the Galaxy Note lineup is unveiled in August in New York.
First Unpacked Event For Galaxy S20 Launch
The first ‘Unpacked’ event for the Galaxy S20 launch went ahead as planned earlier this year by Samsung. However, that was before the full extent of the pandemic became clear. Now, if we go by the latest report is here to move forward, the second Unpacked press conference this year might only be a digital event by Samsung.
The Galaxy Note 20 is still under development by the company and we don’t know much about it just yet. However, recent leaks suggest that the device might be powered by the Exynos 992 SoC. It might also have a triple-camera setup at the back, led by the company’s own 108MP Bright HM1 sensor. However, a recent report suggested that it might not get the 100x ‘Space Zoom’ seen in the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
The thing to be noticed is that the report is yet to be confirmed by Samsung company, so take this report with some uncertainty. Either way, there is no more info on the device for now, but we’ll hopefully get more details soon will keep posting for the same.


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The race is on for the next 200m shoppers living in the heartland
If you look at the portfolio, there are real businesses. LPs understand that. And the question right now is if the IPO market here recognises that.
With deals offered early, will shoppers buy on Cyber Monday?
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Shoppers Stop to cut down sale days by 40%
Currently, the retailer has nearly 70 days each season or about 140 days annually as sale period, which it will start shedding starting the autumnwinter sale in the next few weeks.
With no shoppers, Delhi traders may down shutters today
Confederation of All India Traders demands extension in the acceptance of high denomination currency notes to retailers as they are directly connected with consumers.
Shoppers Stop sees 11% decline in Q2
The country's largest lifestyle retail chain’s same-store sales, or sales excluding newly opened stores, increased 3.4% year-on-year on a consolidated basis.
In rural India, women now call Dr Smartphone
Startups complement existing healthcare networks with technology and innovative payment solutions
Chinese e-shoppers spend billions on Singles Day holiday
Witnessing a rare bright spot in cooling Chinese economy, 'Singles Day' holiday shopping in China emerged as the world's busiest day for e-commerce.
Nokia smartphones to make a comeback in 2017
Espoo, Finland-based HMD Global has signed a 10-year brand licensing contract with Nokia where it will create new Nokia branded phones, and will own Nokia's existing range of feature phones that are sold across the world.
Axis Bank launches a new credit card for online shoppers
Axis Bank Buzz credit card is a contactless enabled card designed to ensure a delightful experience for online shoppers with benefits like round the year.
How to pay through your smartphone
Once the UPI application is downloaded, the customer needs to create a unique payment id by adding his bank account details.
Non-smartphone users can also go cashless with Paytm
To use this service, as a first step, customers and merchants need to register their mobile numbers with Paytm and set their four digit Paytm PIN.
Online smartphone sales dip 18% in November on note ban, low demand
Flipkart, Snapdeal and Amazon said that cashless transactions have at least doubled over October, raising their proportion compared to that of cash purchases during the month.


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Tesla fired an employee after he posted driverless technical reviews on YouTube
John Bernal, creator of AI Addict on YouTube.
With permission: AI Addict
Tesla has fired a former Autopilot employee named John Bernal after sharing honest video reviews on its YouTube channel, AI Addict, showing how the company’s Full Self Driving Beta system worked in various locations around Silicon Valley.
Following Bernal’s resignation, Tesla also cut off access to the FSD Beta system in the vehicle he personally owns, a 2021 Tesla Model 3, despite the fact that he had no security attacks in the software. He still has FSD, Tesla’s premium driver assistance software. Tesla’s technology does not make cars autonomous today.
The FSD Beta option can best be summarized as a set of new driver assistance features that are not complete or completely debugged. The boss among them is “auto steering on city streets”, which allows the car to navigate around in complex urban environments without the driver having to move the steering wheel. Customers must first have FSD, which costs $ 12,000 in advance or $ 199 per month in the United States, and then achieve and maintain a high level of driver safety, as determined by Tesla software that monitors their driving habits.
Although Tesla did not write details about why he was fired, Tesla and other Silicon Valley companies often promote a culture of loyalty. Internal criticism can be tolerated, but public criticism is seen as disloyal.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Bernal’s situation.
The origin of his channel
Bernal started working for Elon Musk’s manufacturer of electric vehicles as a computer annotation specialist in August 2020 at an office in San Mateo, California. He was fired in the second week of February this year, after moving into the role of test operator for advanced driver assistance systems, according to records he shared with CNBC.
As a lifelong car enthusiast who is proud to work at Tesla, Bernal placed an order to purchase a 2021 Model 3 with a long-range battery a few months after he started working there. He received the car on December 26, 2020.
He says he bought the car in part because Tesla offered employees free access to FSD – then worth $ 8,000 – as a benefit. Employees had to agree to give the company the right to collect internal and external vehicle data in exchange.
Surprised by what he saw as Tesla’s “potentially life-saving technology”, he launched the AI Addict channel on YouTube in February 2021 to show what the public version of FSD Beta could do.
Most of the AI Addict videos show Bernal driving around Silicon Valley with a friend in his Tesla, using the latest released versions of the FSD Beta software.
Bernal was not alone in sharing his experiences with Tesla’s experimental software. Tesla FSD Beta users like Dirty Tesla, Chuck Cook, Kim Paquette and many others are rushing to consider each new release on their channels.
“I still care about Tesla”
When the company fired Bernal last month, his written separation notice did not include the reason for the dismissal. It came after one of his videos depicted a drive in San Jose where his car overturned bollards while FSD Beta was engaged.
Bernal says just before he was fired, executives verbally said he “broke Tesla’s guidelines” and that his YouTube channel was a “conflict of interest”. They also admonished him for having sold goods with the words “full self-driving (beta)” on, and for having used FSD Beta in an unsafe way.
Bernal said he was always open about his YouTube channel, both with the leaders of Tesla and the public. His online resume on LinkedIn, for example, always listed his Tesla job right next to his YouTube channel name. Bernal said he had never seen a policy that prevented him from making car reviews in his own time using his own property.
A copy of Tesla’s social media policy, provided by a current employee, does not directly refer to public criticism of the company’s products. The policy states: “Tesla relies on the common sense and good judgment of its employees to engage in responsible social media activity.” It shows social networks including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, LinkedIn, WeChat and personal blogs, but does not specifically mention YouTube.
Bernal said he never revealed anything in his videos that Tesla had not released to the public. “The FSD Beta releases I demonstrated were end-user products,” he said.
But his videos sometimes showed problems with Tesla’s FSD Beta system.
In March 2021, for example, AI Addict released a video titled “FSD Beta 8.2 Oakland – Close Calls, Pedestrians, Bicycles!” which showed that his car experienced several “disconnections”. This is where FSD Beta demanded that Bernal take over control manually to avoid danger. 11 minutes and 58 seconds into the video, the Tesla FSD Beta system begins to roll into an intersection just as a vehicle is crossing in front of Bernal’s Model 3. He barely escaped hitting the other car.
That video has since received around a quarter of a million views.
After it was first run, Bernal told CNBC, “A leader of my autopilot team tried to dissuade me from posting any negative or critical content in the future involving FSD Beta. They held a video conference with me but never wrote anything in writing. “
According to an analysis of his channel by CNBC, about ten of the 60 videos he posted revealed errors in FSD Beta. Three of the videos focused on other Tesla topics and did not discuss FSD Beta, while another three focused on other automakers’ electric vehicles and were not Tesla-related at all.
Bernal shared screenshots and images indicating that his FSD Beta access was revoked by the company after it was terminated, even though he had not received a “strike” for unsafe driving or misuse of the system. In general, FSD Beta users are allowed multiple warnings before access is revoked.
Losing FSD Beta access in his own car has reduced his ability to make reviews of the system. However, he has gained access to other vehicles with FSD Beta enabled, and plans to continue his independent research and assessments.
Bernal knew he could attract attention by posting honest FSD Beta reviews. But as long as he was truthful, he said, and given his generally favorable view of the technology, he thought Tesla would allow it or at least formally tell him if he had to quit before he ever lost his dream job.
He told CNBC: “I still care about Tesla, vehicle safety and finding and fixing faults.”
Tesla boss Elon Musk recently branded himself as one “freedom of speech absolutist.” But his car company has a long history of asking customers and employees not to talk publicly about issues related to their cars or business.
For example, like many large companies, Tesla requires employees to sign an arbitration agreement that commits to resolving disputes with the company without public lawsuits. Employees or temps can legally challenge and sometimes be released from the mandatory arbitration and continue to have the day in court, but these cases have been rare.
Tesla also used to require customers to sign confidentiality agreements in exchange for service.
When FSD Beta first rolled out, as CNBC previously reported, the company asked drivers who signed up for the early access program to be selective or refrain from posting on social media.
Federal vehicle safety regulators were concerned that the practice could have a cooling effect and hide critical safety complaints from the agency. They started a study in the FSD Beta program as a result.
In September 2021, Musk said at a conference that the company should have no such restrictions at all. He said at the code conference during an interview with Kara Swisher that FSD Beta testers “did not really follow it anyway.”
Explanation: After this story was first run, Bernal said that his Tesla executives verbally confronted him with two other issues when they fired him, including selling goods and using FSD Beta in an inappropriate way on his YouTube channel.


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CHICO — After days of massive crowds, long lines and constant buying, shoppers seemed to ease up Saturday.
Many big-chain stores in Butte County, including Costco, Winco Foods, Target and Raley’s, reported having significantly fewer customers Saturday compared to the last week. Possibly a sign that shoppers have stocked up on their necessities, said East Avenue Raley’s team lead Ben Stoner.
“It’s been steadily going down all day,” Stoner said.
At the Safeway on West Sacramento Avenue, the store remained fairly mellow all day and paper towels were still available as of 3:30 p.m.
Costco Supervisor Jennifer, who declined to give her last name, called the store “dead” around 2 p.m. and said the morning rush was much less than previous days.
The Safeway on East Avenue faced its largest crowd from job applicants as they held a hiring fair.
Applicants filled out a pre-screening form and then asked to social distance themselves from the store while they waited to hear their name called on the intercom.
Raley’s and Safeway are hiring thousands of workers across California due to the coronavirus demand.
Safeway’s hiring event will continue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Saturday at 1366 East Ave.
Despite the drop-off in shoppers, many retailers still dealt with empty shelves of high-demand items and no way of knowing when new shipments would arrive.
Stoner said his Raley’s hasn’t received paper products or hand sanitizers since last weekend.
He hoped a shipment of both would come Saturday night.
Likewise, Winco Foods hasn’t stocked toilet paper, pasta or rice in two days. New items arrive at the store nightly but depend on their warehouse’s supply.
Winco employees were unable to confirm when the store would receive items not currently available. Safeway and Costco find themselves in a similar situation as workers are kept in the dark about shipments until they arrive in the morning.
All four stores mentioned above recommend calling before their opening hours for specific information on item availability.
Walmart restocks all items, including high-demand ones, every morning.
Shopping for seniors
Several grocery stores are adding designated times for senior-only shopping and those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
- Winco Foods will offer its hours from 6 to 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Target’s special hours are 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesdays.
- Walmart will host an hour-long senior shopping event starting at 7 a.m. Tuesdays.
- Costco’s designated hours will be 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Raley’s does not have senior hours but does offer “senior essential bags” available for a discounted price. Priced at $20 or $35, the bags contain a mix of fresh and pantry items. They can be picked up curbside or in the store.
Temporary hours moving forward
- Winco Foods: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Costco: 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
- Walmart: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Target: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Safeway: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Raley’s: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.


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Even after launching with Android Nougat, the stable Android 10 is now rolling out for the OnePlus 5 and 5T.
Last year, Walmart took on Amazon’s Fire Tablet with affordable Android tablets that included the Google Play Store. After first appearing on our radar last month, Walmart has officially launched a new pair of tablets dubbed the “Onn Pro” series. Here’s what they bring to the table.
Motorola’s Android 10 rollout doesn’t really inspire a lot of confidence.
Under Lenovo’s tutelage, Motorola’s software update efforts have been put on the backburner. The brand used to be the benchmark for timely software updates, but in the last three years that goodwill has been eroded as Motorola reneged on updates to phones like the Moto Z2 Force, the Moto E5 series, and more. Instead of delivering two platform updates and three years of security updates, Motorola now provides just one platform update and security updates “every other month.”
The Moto G7 Power won’t be far behind, hopefully
Lenovo-owned Motorola used to be king of the budget and mid-range Android handsets, but Nokia phones have overtaken them in recent year, in no small part due to HMD Global’s commitment to fast Android updates on even its cheapest phones. The Moto G7 came out a little over a year ago and wasn’t exactly the finest entry in the series. It’s now finally getting its Android 10 update, at least. Read More


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Actis exits GHL Bank
Actis has exited its majority stake in GHL Bank, a full-scale commercial bank in Ghana, to First National Bank Ghana, a 100% subsidiary of FirstRand Group. Actis took over the investment in 2019 when it took over the management of Abraaj Africa Fund III.
The transaction has received the required regulatory approvals from the Bank of Ghana and the South African Reserve Bank.
The fund invested in GHL Bank in 2016, and enabled the company to leverage its unique value proposition as the leading mortgage provider in Ghana to achieve the transition into a full-scale commercial bank focused on the retail sector. The original investment thesis was premised on GHL’s robust mortgage model, deep knowledge of the retail customer and the significant growth opportunities that exist within this segment of the Ghanaian banking industry.


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The highly transmissible Omicron variant continues to drive a surge of infections across the country. According to the CDC’s COVID data tracker, the seven-day average for COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by more than 40% during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. And in light of this current wave, many medical experts are urging the public to reassess their trusty cloth masks from the past two years of the pandemic.
“I think the time is really here to retire the cloth mask,” Dr. Amy Edwards, an infectious disease expert with University Hospitals in Ohio, told Fox 8 in Cleveland. Similarly, Linsey Marr, a Virginia Tech researcher who studies how viruses transmit in the air, told NPR that cloth masks simply “are not going to cut it with Omicron.” Here’s why your cloth mask alone probably isn’t enough to fight against the latest COVID variants, and how you should mask up instead.
Why cloth masks aren’t enough
Dr. Sachin Nagrani, medical director for Heal, told Lifehacker that while cloth masks are still better than no masks at all, the time has come to switch to medical-grade surgical masks (the rectangular kind that you might picture on a surgeon) or respirators (the bulkier, cone-shaped ones like N95s).
“Earlier in the pandemic, we turned to cloth masks because of initial supply chain issues,” Nagrani says. “But now, surgical masks are readily available and superior in performance.”
Now that we’re two years into the pandemic, experts say it’s time to upgrade your cloth masks to surgical ones, N95s, or any similar high-filtration respirator.
Why surgical masks are more effective
Surgical masks are 95% effective at filtering out virus particles, compared to just 37% for cloth masks, according to this study published in August. As Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician at Stanford University, explained to NPR: “Medical-grade masks like N95, KN95, and KF94 respirators are all made out of material with an electrostatic charge,” which is the key factor that “actually prevents you from inhaling [virus] particles.”
Cloth masks can’t say the same.
How to find a high-quality mask
Doctors suggest wearing a hospital-grade isolation mask or respirator that fits snugly and does not allow air gaps around your face. We’ve previously covered how to buy high-quality, medical-grade masks. That guide is from last year, but it’s still useful in terms of finding authentic N95s.
Nagrani also reminds us that mask effectiveness is not just about the material, but about obtaining a proper seal. N95 and KN95 masks may be the most efficient in the fight against Omicron, but even they can’t protect against the “user error” of an exposed nose.
Likewise, Dr. Leana Wen of George Washington University told People that “a three-ply surgical mask is the minimum of what you should be wearing at this time, in the face of such a contagious variant that is airborne.” However, Wen adds that if you can’t find medical-grade options, you should combine cloth and disposable masks in the meantime. We’ve known for a while that doubling up is better than a solo cloth mask; but keep in mind that N95s and other high quality masks still provide the best filtration, and they remain your best bet for getting through this winter.
To stay safe, stay masked (and get vaccinated)
Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared on ABC news last week to continue to urge us to wear our masks, but also to remind everyone that getting vaccinated is the most important step you can take to stop the spread of the virus and to protect yourself and others. At the same time, experts like Marr report having “a lot of confidence in an N95 and similar types of respirators,” and that high-quality masks combined with full vaccination means “you can still go about a lot of your normal activities.” Nevertheless, Fauci says that “the idea of taking masks off, in [his] mind, is really not something we should even be considering.”
For more information about selecting the right mask for you, here’s the CDC’s full guide to masking up. In order to consider yourself fully vaccinated, make sure you get your booster if you haven’t already. And again, here’s our guide to finding and buying high-quality medical-grade masks. You can get through this winter, just like you did last year, but proper masking remains a bare minimum to staying safe.
The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans
Here are the cheapest plans available for Australia’s most popular NBN speed tier.


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This looks to be the year for immersive travel. Or so says Eric Grayson, founder and CEO of Discover 7 Travel, a luxury-travel concierge service.
“People want to do more than go to Paris and stay at the Ritz,” he says. “Instead, individuals are looking for travel that touches more of their senses.”
Read on for five experiential travel spots worth journeying to this year.


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Citro?n unveiled on Wednesday (12) the production of two special editions of the DS3 for the UK market. Both are the result of a partnership between the automaker with Benefit Cosmetics and are geared towards the female audience.
The charge for the Citro?n strategy, Julien Montarnal revealed to website Automotive News Europe that the new C4 Cactus will cost 13,950 euros at its launch in France, 4900 euros cheaper than the entry level compact C4 traditional.
Nissan has set the stage for presentation to the public of the next generation of Titan: the Detroit Motor Show 2015. The information was confirmed by Dan Bedore, a spokesman for the Japanese automaker, in an interview with Edmunds.


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The USDA Just Issued an Urgent Warning for 130,860 Pounds of Chicken
The agricultural authority is cautioning anyone who purchased the food not to consume it.
Finding something to cook for dinner after a long day can be a hassle for even the most avid meal preppers. Unfortunately, that sometimes arduous task just got a whole lot more frustrating, now that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a public health alert for approximately 130,860 pounds of chicken due to serious health concerns. Read on to find out if you should be tossing this product from your kitchen now.
RELATED: If You Bought This at Costco, Get Rid of It Immediately, FDA Says.
The chicken may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria.
On May 24, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for approximately 130,680 pounds of frozen fully-cooked, diced chicken due to potential listeria monocytogenes contamination. "The problem was discovered during routine FSIS inspection activities when inspection personnel observed products requiring recooking due to possible [listeria monocytogenes] contamination had been repackaged without being recooked," the FSIS notice states.
The products subject to the public health alert include 4-lb. bags labeled "Fully Cooked Chicken Meat ¾ Diced White" and "Fully Cooked Chicken Meat Dark/White ¾ Diced."
The white meat chicken subject to the alert can be identified by establishment number P-18237, pack dates of 1/25/2021 and 1/26/2021, and code 13530. The dark/white meat chicken subject to the alert bears establishment number P-45638, pack dates of March 23 and 24 (written as "24/Mar/2021" and "23/Mar/2021"), and code 16598.
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The products were distributed as part of a COVID-related food program.
The affected chicken, initially distributed by Houston-based Big Daddy Foods, Inc., was subsequently provided to Florida food banks as part of the USDA's Farmers to Families Food Box program, a now-defunct service that provided food to U.S. individuals in need of food assistance.
The chicken subject to the public health alert was distributed as part of this program between Feb. 25, 2021 and March 1, 2021, as well as between March 29, 2021 and April 8, 2021.
Consuming the affected chicken can cause serious illness.
Listeria can lead to listeriosis, an infection that can cause miscarriage or stillbirths in pregnant individuals, as well as causing potentially fatal infections in newborn babies. It has a higher likelihood of being fatal for the elderly or immunocompromised, as well.
Symptoms of listeriosis can include "fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms," the FSIS reports.
The service recommends that anyone in a high-risk group who has flu-like symptoms within two months after the consumption of a food that may have been contaminated with listeria contact their doctor and provide information about their consumption of the potentially affected food.
If you have the chicken at home, throw it away now.
If you have the affected chicken at home, the FSIS cautions against consuming it. Instead, the products should be disposed of immediately. If you're worried that you may have become ill due to the consumption of the chicken subject to the public health alert, contact a healthcare provider immediately.
To limit potential listeria contamination—which can occur even in foods that are properly refrigerated—in other foods, the FSIS recommends warming all ready-to-eat meals until they are "steaming hot."
RELATED: If You Bought This Heinz Product, Throw It Away Now, USDA Says.


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- Cabinet Office launches procurement for new PSN framework
- Researcher creates proof-of-concept worm for network-attached storage devices
- Obama signs Executive Order to bolster federal credit card security
- Known NFC spoofing techniques probably wouldn't work with Apple Pay
- Apple's iCloud targeted in man-in-the-middle attack in China
Symantec encryption - News, Features, and Slideshows
News about Symantec encryption
Symantec this week announced two new data encryption options, one that is file-based encryption for use with Dropbox, and the second that works as an extension to the Apple iOS mail client to encrypt and decrypt documents.
- Tourism Australia CMO Nick Baker resigns
- Focus on people, not social platforms: Klout CEO
- Why CMOs must embrace software and agility or risk a 'customerpocalypse'
- Aussie satisfaction in big data lags behind global results: Accenture
- Apple Pay hits U.S. stores Monday -- assuming buyers can find anywhere to use it


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At least that’s what the US Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) recently found when it assessed the power required to recharge a variety of popular electronic devices.
The Apple iPad, for example, consumes just 12 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year when fully recharged ever other day (which is unlikely, given its 10+ hour battery life).
Based on an average cost of 14.4p per kilowatt-hour for electricity in the UK, that means the iPad costs a mere £1.73 a year to recharge.
Laptops are obviously more power hungry when it comes to recharging, but a typical model that consumes 72 kilowatt each year has an annual recharge cost of £10.37.
Individual power consumption isn’t the issue here, though — it’s how much energy these devices these consumer en masse.
For example, the EPRI calculated that the number of iPads currently in use — 60 million have been sold since 2010, by some estimates — require around 580 gigawatt hours to recharge each year.
If the number of iPads in circulation triple over the next two years (which isn’t an unreasonable assumption, based on the sales so far), that means they consumer the equivalent of the output of two 250-megawatt power plants operating at a 50% capacity each year.


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Published on October 26th, 2012 | by Dean Carr
Beer duty to be debated in parliament
Parliament are to review the future of the beer duty escalator at the end of the month. A debate in Commons, taking place on the 1 November, will respond to a motion for the review of beer duty taxation.
Crucially, the timing of the debate offers the prospect of a revised beer duty rate in time for the budget of 2013.
What is the beer duty escalator?
Beer duty is automatically increased by 2% above inflation every year, a policy known as the beer duty escalator. Introduced under Brown’s Labour government in 2008, the beer duty escalator is currently fixed until 2014/15.
The impact of taxation
Tax on beer has increased by over 40% since the year of the policy’s introduction, 2008. Over a third of the price of an average pint covers taxes: mainly Excise Duty (beer duty) and VAT.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has argued that further increases in beer duty will make it even more difficult for struggling pubs to survive and damage the long term growth of the brewing industry.
Opposition to the beer duty escalator
Along with the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), CAMRA is calling for the Chancellor to abandon the unfair beer duty escalator in the next Budget.
Resistance to the beer duty escalator has been supported by indignant backbenchers from all parties, some of whom chair parliamentary groups in support of pubs and the brewing industry. The parliamentary debate, meanwhile, has been mandated after a government e-petition calling on the abandonment of the beer duty escalator. On 20 September 2012, this e-petition exceeded the 100,000 signatures needed to trigger a Parliamentary debate. The petition is only the 12th Government e-petition – out of over 16,000 submitted – to have ever reached this vital figure.
CAMRA are urging people to petition their local MPs to attend the debate.


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SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple Inc. (>> Apple Inc.) on Monday unveiled new laptop and desktop computers, as well as the latest version of its desktop operating system.
At the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, the company announced a new line of Macbook Air laptop computers that it promised would have "all day battery life" and faster Wi-Fi capabilities. Phil Schiller, Apple's marketing chief, said the new laptops would begin shipping to customers immediately.
Mr. Schiller also previewed a new version of the Mac Pro desktop computer, promising faster speeds and a size about one-eighth that of previous models. The computer, which will be assembled in the U.S., will be released later this year, he said, without giving specifics.
"Can't innovate anymore my a--," Mr. Schiller said, seeming to refer to recent criticism Apple has faced over its pace of new releases.
Earlier in the keynote address, Craig Federighi, who runs Apple's Mac and mobile software groups, unveiled new Mac operating system software, dubbed "Mavericks" in reference to a surfing spot in Northern California. It includes new ways to handle multiple windows and screens, as well as new power-optimization features.
Mr. Federighi also announced a password retrieval application called iCloud Keychain that will work across Apple products to help users login to websites.
Mr. Federighi said the software would be available in the fall.
Mr. Federighi also announced Apple's iBooks application would be available on Mac computers for the first time. The company has 1.8 million books available for download in its digital bookstore, he said.
"Now your books are available on whatever device you choose to read them on," said Mr. Federighi.
Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook earlier announced the company's app store now has 900,000 apps available and has paid $10 billion to app developers since the app store was opened more than five years ago, about half of that in the past year alone. Google Inc.'s (>> Google Inc) Play store has about 975,000 apps.
Write to Greg Bensinger at [email protected] and
Jessica E. Lessin at [email protected]


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Local videographer Kyle Victory just put out an “artistic adventure” video for Persimmon Cafe, the small sandwich-and-soup shop that opened a couple of years ago inside the old College Laundry.
The video shows a young group of friends picking up a Persimmon lunch to take to the beach for a day of surfing. "Persimmon asked me to create something that was not an advertisement for the cafe, but a celebration of Charleston culture and lifestyle," Victory says. "I literally just borrowed an old Volvo, called up a few of my pals and asked if I could film them doing what they do best — chillin', surfing and of course, eating some of the most delicious sandwiches on the peninsula. Persimmon and I hope that people watch it and feel inspired to stop being stagnant, grab some paninis and go explore the beautiful city we live in."
We like this kind of advertising: It’s stylish, happy, and subtle, and will make you want to grab a Persimmon sandwich for yourself the next time you’re out and about.
Victory also works as a graphic designer and artist — you can see that work on her website as well.


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The ghost of having one of its investors embroiled in a scandal just before showtime has returned to haunt Shark Tank Vietnam, the Vietnamese adaptation of the American business-related reality television series, in its upcoming third season.
Shark Tank Vietnam debuted in 2017 and its third season is scheduled to be on air next month.
Every episode shows aspiring entrepreneurs making business presentations to a panel of investors, or “sharks,” who decide whether to invest in their company as business partners.
The investors include main and guest sharks, with the latter not featured in all episodes of a season.
In an announcement late Monday, the producers of Shark Tank Vietnam said they had made changes to the investor panel, with one guest shark, Pham Van Tam, chairman of Asanzo Vietnam, no longer participating in the show.
“The other sharks remain in the investor panel as earlier announced,” the producers said on the show’s Facebook page.
The Asanzo chairman lost his Shark Tank seat a few days after an exposé by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper unearthed the firm's shady practice in stating the country of origin of its electronic products, including TVs, air conditioners and home appliances.
The Tuoi Tre articles provided evidence of Asanzo Vietnam’s selling finished products imported from China and devices assembled from Chinese parts under the guise of ‘Made in Vietnam’ goods.
Shark Tank Vietnam will be aired on national television VTV. The broadcaster said on Monday that it would temporarily suspend airing episodes with the presence of the Asanzo chairman.
As the program has already finished filming, it remains unclear how it will be edited so that shark Tam will not be seen in any of the third season’s episodes.
The case of Tam is eerily similar to what happened to another guest shark of Shark Tank Vietnam in the first season in 2017.
In October that year, Hoang Khai, the owner of the Vietnamese popular silk brand Khaisilk, asked to withdraw from the show, shortly after a headline-grabbing scandal over the company’s product labeling unfolded.
It was discovered that the ‘premium’ Khaisilk scarves, marketed as being made from Vietnamese silk by local craft villages, were all sourced from China.
The Chinese products would have their ‘Made in China’ label replaced with a ‘Made in Vietnam’ one before being put on sale.
Hoang Khai withdrew from the show just less than a month before the first episode was aired.


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Apax Partners, other PEs in talks to buy CSS
A clutch of private equity funds, including Apax Partners and Kedaara Capital, are in early stages of discussions to acquire US-headquartered IT and services (ITES) company CSS Corp.
Post $110 million funding, Unacademy is now worth $510 million
Unacademy said it would utilise the money to increase the number of competitiv...
Whatfix raises $32 million from Sequoia, others
Whatfix, founded in 2014, will use the money for product development and to expand into geogr...
Jet-setting billionaire Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty had it all. Then Carson Block came along
Shetty founded NMC in 1975 after moving to Abu Dhabi from his native India. He created Finablr two years ago to consolidate his financial brands before listing it on the London Stock Exchange in 2019.
White Owl Brewery launches country's first strong craft beer Spike
In October, the Mumbai-based brewer had raised Rs 40 crore in its second round of funding led by existing investors IIFL India Private Equity Fund to expand geographic footprint to cash in on the rising popularity of craft beer. Javed Murad, founder of White Owl, had told ET that the funds will be used to widen its product portfolio and newer formats.
These seven consumer brand startups have made it to Anthill Ventures' ‘Urban-i’ programme
The programme will invest between $50 – 100K at the beginning of the programme and provide an opportunity to raise up to $1M upon completion of the programme.
Creating value for 1.3 billion people through public-private partnership: Report
The investment community is an intrinsic part of this network and has so far invested more than $42 billion across 2100 startups in 2019. A positive consequence of this is the digital economy being built, aided by startups.
T-Hub wins Startup India, DPIIT’s bid to lead a program for 30 incubators
Five applications were shortlisted for this bid, and T-Hub was selected based on its rich and successful experience of running various programs for its key stakeholders, such as startups, corporates, government and ecosystem enablers.
New ventures help office-goers sail through commuting chaos
Startups focus on carpools, buses and corporate services to make ride to work peaceful.
Share market update: Mining stocks down; Sandur Manganese slips 6%
The NSE Nifty50 index was trading 19.90 points down at 12,093.55.
Falcon Edge raises $300 million India dedicated fund
As a part of the deal made with its Limited Partners the portfolio companies that Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI) backs will have to have a core team technology presence in Abu Dhabi, people in the know said.
Hiring services firm Passion Connect buys Basil Advisors
With the acquisition, Passion Connect will help Blume Venture’s portfolio companies recruit for a wider range of value-added services including executive search, international hiring and ex-founder hiring.
Venture Highway raises Rs 560 crore for second fund
The maiden fund, whose corpus has not been disclosed, was anchored by Sood and Neeraj Arora, the former chief business officer at VOIP platform WhatsApp.
China’s startups on the ropes after virus freezes funding
A backlash against China’s tech champions in 2019 had begun damping a decade or more of go-go optimism and investment that fueled one of the fastest and largest creations of wealth the world has seen.
Yap mops up Rs 10 crore in angel funding
Among others who participated in the startup’s maiden funding round are Vikram Chachra, founding partner of early-stage venture capital firm 8i Ventures, Abhishant Pant, founder of The FinTech MeetUp and Peifu Hsieh, cofounder of fintech startup Karbon.
Copyright © 2020 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service


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Mobile agency Fetch wins eBay's media and creative business
Fetch, the mobile marketing agency, has been appointed by the global online marketplace eBay to manage all of its mobile media and creative campaigns across Europe.
EBay: appoints Fetch to its European mobile media and creative campaigns
The agency won the brief following a competitive pitch against eight undisclosed agencies and its work with eBay will launch later this year, with a campaign geared towards the Christmas trading season.
Fetch claims that mobile already accounts for a considerable amount of eBay's business, and will play a significant role in its Christmas media strategy.
James Connelly, managing director for Fetch, said: "We have long considered eBay to be one of the most innovative brands in the mobile space, so, as an agency that’s passionate about innovation, we're extremely excited about working with them.
"We've been using eBay as a best-in-class case study for years, and we're looking forward to helping eBay strengthen its mobile offering, and engage with consumers across multiple platforms."
The eBay win follows a run of new business wins by the agency, including Square Enix and Bloom FM.
Earlier this year, Fetch hired Bigmouthmedia founder Steve Leach in the newly created role of chairman.
In September, eBay redesigned its logo for the first time in 17 years.
This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk
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China’s economic slowdown is posing serious risks to Japan’s economy. Japan is heavily dependent on China for trade and investment, and a slowdown in China’s growth could significantly impact the Japanese economy.
China is Japan’s largest trading partner, accounting for about 20% of Japan’s total exports and imports in 2022. China is also a major source of investment for Japan, with Chinese companies investing heavily in Japanese infrastructure and manufacturing sectors in recent years.
As China’s economy slows, Japanese companies will likely see a decline in demand from Chinese consumers and businesses. This could lead to lower sales and profits for Japanese companies, ultimately to job losses and a recession in the Japanese economy.
In addition to the direct impact of China’s slowdown on trade and investment, there are indirect risks to the Japanese economy. For example, a slowdown in China’s economy could lead to a decline in global economic growth. This could have a negative impact on the Japanese economy, which is already struggling with slow growth and an aging population.
The Japanese government is aware of the risks posed by China’s economic slowdown and is taking steps to mitigate them. For example, the government is promoting investment in new industries, such as artificial intelligence and robotics. The government is also working to reduce Japan’s reliance on China for trade and investment.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Japanese government’s efforts will be enough to offset the risks posed by China’s economic slowdown. The Japanese economy is already facing a number of challenges, and a slowdown in China’s economy could have a devastating impact.


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Cathi Volante and her 13 -year-old daughter, Ashley have been watching “Cupcake Wars” together since it first aired four years ago.
“It’s our thing, our time together,” said Volante.
But not only was the Food Network show a way for mom and daughter to bond, it was the inspiration for Couture Cupcake Café & Espresso Bar, the cupcake bakery Volante launched in Kildeer in 2012, which was so successful that two weeks ago, she opened a second location in Wilmette.
“The demand was there, especially in this area,” said Volante, who lives in Kildeer with her husband, Don, Ashley and their two other children. “More and more customers would e-mail us and ask, ‘When are you coming to the North Shore?’”
Prior to opening Couture Cupcake Café, Volante spent 20 years working in marketing and public relations in the fashion and retail industries. The owner of her firm V2 Public Relations, Volante did Walmart’s PR for 11 years.
Ashley said that every Sunday for years, her mom would make cupcakes, tweaking old family recipes.
“They were the best thing ever,” Ashley said. “I kept telling her she should open up a cupcake bakery.”
Considering her daughter’s idea, Volante began selling cupcakes around the neighborhood to see if there was a market for her products. She said people would always ask her where they could buy more.
With 2,000 people at the grand opening of the Kildeer location, Volante said the bakery was a success right away.
“I think the reason it was such a hit is that we filled a need our community desperately longed for,” she said. “There really was nothing like it. To get really good cupcakes, you had to drive downtown.”
Speaking of really good cupcakes, Couture Cupcake Café offers over 200 cupcake flavors that rotate more than once per day. Flavors include Cookie Dough, which has a whole cookie baked into the cupcake; PB XXL, which has a Reese’s peanut buttercup baked in the cupcake and one on top; S’mores, which is stuffed with a marshmallow filling, with graham crackers and Hershey bars on top; and Heavenly Swine, a buttermilk cake filled with applewood smoked bacon and a maple buttercream frosting.
“What sets us apart is that we use the finest ingredients we can find,” said Volante. “We use real butter, we scrape our own Madagascar vanilla beans, all of our chocolates are French and Belgian, and we use all natural organic ingredients – the best we can find.”
With more than 30 employees, six who are certified pastry chefs, everything is baked in the Kildeer location, with batches of cupcakes brought to Wilmette multiple times per day.
Mike Fruin and his two daughters, Eleanor and Clare came into the bakery to buy cupcakes for their mom, Bridget’s birthday.
“This will fit really nicely in the neighborhood,” said Fruin, whose purchases included S’mores and cookie dough cupcakes. “I think a lot of people will come here for dessert after dinner.”
“I’m working across the street today and I’ve been staring at this place, thinking it’s probably more than just your average grocery store cupcake,” said Elizabeth Bolger of Glenview. “I was right. It’s really delicious. It’s bigger, fresher and more generous on the frosting.”
Couture Cupcake Café also serves a menu of coffee drinks and a full line of smoothies. Additionally, the bakery has a large catering business, offering high-end and themed cakes for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs and other special occasions.
“People appreciate the freshness,” Volante said. “Our brides know their cake was baked on their actual wedding day.”
“My mom’s teaching me everything,” Ashley said. “I want to run the business with her when I grow up.”
Couture Cupcake Café & Espresso Bar
1157 Wilmette Ave.Website: www.Couturecupcakecafe.com
Phone: (847) 728-0509


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Stake in Mortal Kombat company sold for peanuts for tax writeoff
Creditors of the video-game company behind the Mortal Kombat
series are suing Sumner Redstone and board members after Redstone, Midway’s former majority owner, sold the company in a “fraudulent transfer,” the Chicago Tribune
reports. Creditors say the media mogul sold his 87% stake for just $100,000...


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has yet to release an official statement, it's being reported in a Korean newspaper that the company has now sold 20 million Galaxy S4
devices in the past two months since launch. If true, it would be an impressive feat and represent a doubling of sales since just over a month ago when Samsung announced
it had shipped 10 million handsets.
The Galaxy S4 is clearly the most popular Android handset out there right now, but is it the most popular smartphone? Based strictly from the sales figures, the answer would be no, as that distinction still belongs to the iPhone.
Specifically, it took the Galaxy S4 68 days to reach the 20 million shipment milestone, which is faster than its predecessor. However, as The Verge points out
via sales data from Strategy Analystics, both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 have been selling at a slightly faster clip than the Galaxy S4.
The numbers are so close that all it really amounts to are bragging rights for either camp. Even if it's not the fastest selling smartphone ever, the Galaxy S4 is right up there


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The landscape of America’s roadways is undergoing a monumental transformation, and Prologis, the world’s largest owner of warehouses, is at the forefront of this change. With a keen focus on electric vehicles (EVs), Prologis is set to build one of Southern California’s largest electric vehicle charging stations, designed to serve commercial trucks. This ambitious project, situated near the bustling ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, represents a crucial step towards supporting the growing adoption of commercial electric vehicles.
Prologis’ executive, Henrik Holland, recently announced a groundbreaking partnership, although specific details remain under wraps. However, insiders suggest that the deal involves Danish shipping giant Maersk and will utilize a property on Denker Avenue in Torrance, California, located just over 10 miles from the major ports. This state-of-the-art charging facility is expected to accommodate up to 120 trucks simultaneously, making it one of the country’s largest dedicated charging depots for commercial vehicles, according to a report in Business Insider.
The Prologis-Maersk collaboration is just one example of a rapidly expanding trend in the EV charging sector. The transition to electric commercial vehicles necessitates a comprehensive network of large charging facilities, capable of powering numerous vehicles simultaneously. This shift has captured the attention of real estate investors, existing property owners, and EV-charging businesses, all eager to tap into the potential of this emerging asset class.
According to John O’Leary, the CEO of Daimler Truck North America, an estimated $52 billion of investment in charging infrastructure is required to support the growth of electric commercial vehicles by 2032. This figure accounts for necessary electrical transmission upgrades and increased energy generation, not the costs of acquiring or leasing the real estate for charging equipment installation.
Henrik Holland envisions a substantial portion of Prologis’ vast logistics and warehouse properties incorporating EV charging capacity in the near future, suggesting that “20 to 30 percent” of their 1.2 billion square feet of properties will follow suit. As the logistics transportation industry undergoes this significant shift, opportunities for innovation and investment abound.
Government regulations play a pivotal role in accelerating the transition to electric commercial vehicles. California, for instance, recently adopted regulations aiming to eliminate the sale of diesel- or gas-powered trucks by 2036 and mandate zero emissions for all commercial vehicles registered in the state by 2042. Similar mandates at major ports are set to take effect as early as 2024.
These regulations are poised to electrify over a million trucks and vans in California alone, significantly impacting the logistics industry’s landscape. As California often sets the tone for nationwide policies, these rules are expected to propel the transition to electric and hydrogen-powered trucks and vans across the United States.
With strict deadlines approaching and a surge in demand for charging infrastructure, investor confidence in the EV charging sector is on the rise. As a result, real estate investors may seize opportunities to acquire properties and transform them into electrified charging sites. The potential for investors to generate revenue from land leases, electricity sales, and additional services has become increasingly appealing.
Electric charging sites are no longer exclusive to industrial outdoor storage (IOS) properties. Companies like Gage Zero are actively converting IOS sites into charging locations across multiple states. This innovative approach to repurposing existing properties aligns with the growing demand for electric fleet charging.
Tesla’s anticipated expansion of its heavy-duty electric truck, the Semi, is poised to further ignite the EV charging industry. Charging sites designed for longer-distance routes, such as the one Chateau Energy Solutions is planning in California’s Inland Empire, could play a pivotal role in facilitating the widespread adoption of electric commercial vehicles.
Despite the growing interest and investment in EV charging infrastructure, the availability of sufficient electrical power remains a significant challenge. Property owners and investors often encounter a “chicken-and-egg” scenario: tenants are hesitant to commit without adequate electrical capacity, while utilities are unwilling to invest in upgrades without a proven demand.


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BlockChain Innovations Corp is pleased to announce that it has acquired The Games Company (“TGC”).
The Games Company (TGC) is pleased to announce the launch of its new RGS into Rank with a strategic distribution deal with Bede Gaming.
Bede Gaming has significantly expanded its content portfolio after entering a partnership with The Games Company.
The Games Company is pleased to announce the launch of its in-house content as part of a strategic distribution deal with William Hill via NYX Gaming Group.
Black Cow Technology has struck a long-term deal to licence its Open Gaming Architecture (OGA) software to The Games Company.


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Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock price rallied more than 41% since the start of this year. Before the rally, the stock price had lost close to 40% of value during the final quarter of last year. It shares are only up 2% compared to the year-ago period.
The stock price is currently trading around $220, down slightly from an all-time high of $233 a share that it had hit during the final quarter of last year.
The upside momentum is supported by improving sentiments for iPhone products and services revenue. This is evident from the strong demand for iPhone 11.
Digitimes sources said, “Pre-orders for iPhone 11 are strong in Taiwan thanks to the device pricing and local promotional campaigns. Demand for the iPhone 11 Pro 256GB and iPhone Pro Max accounted for 70% of pre-orders with the remainder going to the iPhone 11.”
On the other hand, Apple’s strategy of diversifying its revenue base is working. The company generated record services revenue of $11.5 billion in the latest quarter. In addition, its wearables, home, and accessories revenue stood at $5.5B, higher from the consensus estimate for $4.82 billion.
“This was our biggest June quarter ever. The revenue growth is driven by all-time record revenue from Services, accelerating growth from wearables and strong performance from iPad and Mac. The significant improvement in iPhone trends adding to revenue growth,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
Its cash generation potential remains strong enough to cover cash returns and investments in growth opportunities. It generated $11.6 billion in operating cash flow compared to dividend payments of $3.6 billion.
Moreover, Apple’s strategy of reducing outstanding shares has also been offering support to share price, dividends, and earnings per share. The company has repurchased 88 million shares in the latest quarter.
It expects fourth-quarter revenue to stand in the range of $64 billion. Overall, the prospects for revenue diversification along with expectations from iPhone 11 are likely to add to Apple stock price upside momentum. Therefore, the stock is well set to hit a new all-time high.


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Apple has been a leader in consumer electronics design for as long as most people can remember. The company has been a pioneer in so many key segments, from desktops and notebook computers to tablets and smartphones. Where that last category is concerned, however, Apple has taken a curious turn in recent years. There’s no question that iPhones are gorgeous devices, but Apple’s decision to recycle the same iPhone design for three consecutive years has left many people scratching their heads.
In 2017, Apple will give fans the completely redesigned iPhone they’ve been waiting for. The iPhone 8 is going to feature a stunning design, according to the leaks we’ve seen so far, but there’s one problem area in particular that many users are unhappy about. It’s far too soon to say exactly how this new design might work, or even if it’s accurate, but it really might not be as bad as people think.
If recent rumors pan out, the iPhone 8’s nearly bezel-less screen isn’t actually nearly bezel-less all the way around. Instead, there may be a large area near the top of the display that’s cut out in order to make room for things like the speaker, camera, and sensors.
Ever since the first day this gross display design emerged, I wrote about how Apple might implement it in a way that actually isn’t gross at all. Here’s a quick snippet from the most recent time I explained the solution:
In terms of usability, a design like this would only make sense if the top portions of the screen were off-limits to the majority of the phone’s UI, reserved only for status bar items like signal strength and battery life. Then the background up there would always be black, and you wouldn’t be left with photos and other graphics that have a big chunk cut out of them. Of course, this would only work if Apple decides not to make the iPhone 8 in light colors, since the bezels on the face of the handset would need to be black.
In other words, the usable portion of the display would end beneath the cutout where the speaker, camera, and sensors are located. Then the top portion of the screen on either side of the cutout would only display status info with a background that remains black at all times. The barrier here is obviously silver, gold, and rose gold iPhones, which have white faces. It’s certainly plausible, though, that Apple will only release a black iPhone 8 — remember Jony Ive’s dream of an iPhone that looks like a single sheet of glass? — leaving the color options for the iPhones 7s and 7s Plus.
Long story short, if the iPhone looks like this, it will be embarrassingly bad:
But, if the iPhone looks like this, it will be fantastic:
The image above was posted on Twitter by budding graphic designer Benjamin Geskin, and it envisions the implementation that I and other industry watchers have been pondering for weeks. Geskin has focused much of his attention of late on Apple’s unreleased iPhone 8, and he was among the first people to suggest that the iPhone’s display would have a cutout at the top for the speaker, camera, and sensors.
In the end, the bottom line is that it’s far too soon to panic. While it’s true that Apple has made some bizarre design choices of late across several of its product lines, this particular move could end up being just fine.


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Federal Government efforts to discourage importation of vehicles through neighbouring countries may remain a mirage, as importers appear to have taken solace in the range of incentives offered by the Port of Cotonou in the Benin Republic.
It was gathered that the Autonomous Port of Cotonou has recently slashed its transit vehicle charges from CFA399,920 (N257,000) to CFA290,000 (N186,000) effective from July 1, 2017.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s import duty on imported vehicles remains astronomically high at 35 per cent, and another 35 per cent surcharge amounting to a total of 70 per cent on a cargo.
Experts have described this as one of the highest in the world, thereby discouraging the use of Nigerian ports. The Guardian investigations revealed that importers of Nigerian-bound vehicles and other cargoes prefer landing them at Cotonou and other neighbouring ports, and smuggling them into Nigeria through the porous borders, in order to avoid prohibitive tariffs charged by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Despite Nigerian government’s ban on importation of vehicles through land borders, the volume of cars smuggled into the country from Cotonou through Seme, Idiroko, and other land borders has risen astronomically in the past four months.
This is even as the government of Benin Republic last month approved the reduction of charges on transit vehicles by 27 per cent, which happened six months after the Nigerian Government banned the importation of vehicles through the land borders.
Data obtained from the Autonomous Port of Cotonou showed that while the importation of cars in Cotonou reached an all-time low of just 3,500 units in January 2017, the volume of cars discharged there last month was well over 10,000 units.
Investigations showed that the volume of cars imported through the Autonomous Port of Cotonou in transit to Nigeria also recorded significant growth since March 2017.
A Senior Staff of a Shipping Line in Cotonou, Elisee Dieudonne, said: “We expect this reduction in prices in Cotonou will divert even more vehicles to the Benin Republic, while the volumes in Lagos will remain stagnant. From all indications, this figure is going to grow in the next month, as the naira is re-valued against the CFA, and more traders are patronising the port of Cotonou.”
She added: “The trend we’re seeing is that the old and crashed vehicles, which are paying comparatively low level of duties, are discharged in Lagos, while the newer and more expensive second-hand cars are discharged in Cotonou.”
President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Increase Uche, said the port of Cotonou has slashed transit cost to attract Nigerian importers, as such, the Nigerian Government should also review the import duties if they are serious about making the seaports competitive.
According to him, about 80 per cent of those vehicle imported through Cotonou is smuggled into Nigeria without paying duty. “It is left for Nigeria to also reduce their duty in order to make it competitive, as we keep saying, the Customs duty is on the high side, they over value imports.
“Besides, the inconsistent policies are not helping matters. Importers will place an order for consignment and before it comes here, government policy may have created one problem or another and such importer might have borrowed the money from a bank to finance the transaction. The goods will incur demurrage, and the burden is too much and people continue to lose investment.
“All these are not good for our economy, we should also reduce the cost of importing through Nigerian seaports if actually, we want to make the ports competitive,” he said.


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Waze Android Auto: Delays Caused By Privacy Breaching Feature?
Back in 2016, the developers at Waze revealed that the map application will be integrated on Android Auto but this will happen very late. The developers didn’t provide any explanation for it but they are fully expecting Waze to be ready for Android Auto by Q1 this year.
Well, Q1 is already behind us and there is still no sign of Waze on Android Auto. It got us wondering on what could possibly be taking Google so long in adding Waze on Android Auto?
If a research from University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business is to be referred to, Waze is being delayed because of the potential revenue it can offer when integrated on Android Auto.
In detail, Google wants Waze to come with a data collecting feature that can continuously record the way the driver drives his car. It will create a virtual profile for the driver thus allowing Google to identify what the driver needs at any point of time. A separate system will then hold a live auction to advertizers so that they can promote a relevant product directly at the Waze-user.
It sounds pretty complex and if this is true, Google is looking at a massive income opportunity with Waze on Android Auto. But on the other hand, will such a feature ruin the driving experience?


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Maryland-based MOM’s Organic Market made its first sale in 1987, when founder and CEO Scott Nash hand-delivered a box of organic produce to a customer in Rockville. While the company now has 17 stores across five states and 1,000 employees, its focus remains serving the community. MOM’s does so by offering a high volume of organic products, banning more than 100 ingredients from its shelves and prohibiting products that target children with licensed cartoon characters on the packaging. But one of the most impactful ways this retailer serves communities near and far is through countless eco-friendly initiatives.
“We’re always looking for ways to protect and restore the environment,” Nash says. “We inflate people’s tires. We recycle batteries. It’s never, ‘hey, we’re done.’ These are the things we’ll always work for until we’re dead.”
Here are three ways MOM’s raises the environmental bar:
Renewable energy. MOM’s considers environmental destruction and climate change the biggest challenges facing humankind today.
In February 2013, MOM’s installed solar panels at its Waldorf location, and in July 2016, its solar farm in Kingsville, Maryland, went live, offsetting 25 percent of the power used companywide. Additionally, the White Marsh store’s solar panels generate about 30 percent of that store’s energy usage. Any energy not generated by solar power is offset with wind power renewable energy credits.
Charitable partnerships. MOM’s donates more than $500,000 each year to environmental organizations.
Shopper support. MOM’s offers free recycling for hard-to-dispose-of items like cork, cellphones, household batteries, electronics and denim. Plus, it provides free composting to customers, encouraging them to seek out responsible ways to divert items from the landfill.
The other Retailer of the Year Best Community Project finalists are:
The Retailer of the Year winners were announced at Natural Products Expo East 2017.


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Given the fortunes lost to failed crypto exchanges and the boom-and-bust cycle of cryptocurrencies and NFTs last year, it’s tempting to dismiss the much-hyped metaverse as the next big loser for 2023. It’s easy to see why — the name itself was hatched out of science fiction, there’s no single agreed-upon definition, and, like crypto and NFTs, it has sometimes been overly hyped up as something which could quickly transform our world. At the time of writing this, generative AI has already taken over headlines and is tipped as the next shiny toy for marketers. The backlash to the hype cycle, however, is just as overblown as those promises that we’d all be spending our days in the metaverse within the span of a few years.
The metaverse has been described as the next iteration of the web, or more specifically, how we interact with it. In practical terms, the metaverse combines the connectivity of the Internet with spatial computing to create a more immersive web experience. So what, you might ask? Who wants a future of wearing headsets and zooming around virtual worlds when the real world exists in all its multi-sensory glory?
New and emerging technologies are often written off as fads. However, the dismissive reaction many now have toward the metaverse is reminiscent of how many felt about the emergence of the World Wide Web in the 1990s. Search for “Bill Gates explains the internet to David Letterman” and watch Letterman making fun of Gates in 1995. 30 years later, the joke is on Letterman.
In the present moment, many people don’t understand the point of the metaverse. Disruptive innovations are never as good as existing products, in the beginning. Think of the frustrations of the early Internet. Can you hear the dial-up tone slowly making its connection? It’s best to keep an open mind for the future potential of emerging technologies like the metaverse — and why, and how, brands and customers could leverage it in the months, and years, ahead.


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In a move that could be a first in the industry, Petty manager Tony Dimitriades and Ticketmaster have canceled about 460 seats that had been set aside for online fan club members. Canceled seat locations could be found at TomPetty.com at press time.
Scalpers apparently joined the Tom Petty fan club in order to purchase pre-sale tickets and resell them for a higher price through secondary outlets – a clear violation of the club’s condition of membership.
“When you join the Tom Petty fan club, you agree that you’re not going to resell the tickets you buy at TomPetty.com,” a spokesperson for Tom Petty told Pollstar.
Tom Petty reps were tipped following the March 27th pre-sale, when fan club members posted messages on the site complaining that all the good seats were taken, according to the spokesperson. Dimitriades and TM were soon able to locate the tickets bought by scalpers and void their seats.
“A lot of analyzing of data was done and they were able to find out what tickets were sold online during the pre-sale and match them to tickets that were available online [at a higher price],” the spokesperson explained.
In a posting on Tom Petty’s Web site, Dimitriades said tickets will be offered once again to fan club members under stricter guidelines. Those who buy tickets will have to show a photo ID to pick up the ducats on the night of the concert.
“We don’t claim to have completely eliminated all reselling activity on these of any other shows,” Dimitriades said. “But this is definitely a step in the right direction and a major strike on behalf of the good guys.”
The manager also wrote that fans who purchased tickets through an unauthorized seller would have to deal with that seller in regards to getting a refund.
“These scalpers are in business, and I think if they want to stay in business … they’re going to want to contact the people they sold tickets to and say, ‘Look, something just happened and I feel obligated to let you know about it,'” the spokesperson said.
A similar situation occurred during a March 26th fan club pre-sale for Tom Petty’s June 20th show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. About 800 seats had been canceled for that concert, according to Dimitriades.
He said the canceled tickets would be re-sold to fan club members, who would again be required to pick up the ducats at will call with proper ID.
Meanwhile, a pair of Tom Petty tickets for the MSG show were priced at an “outrageous” $9,000 each at stubhub.com at press time, according to a statement from Tom Petty reps.
– Mitchell Peters


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First cruise ship visits Belfast since start of pandemic
The first cruise ship to visit Belfast since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic has arrived at Belfast Harbour.
MSC Virtuosa, which has just under 1,000 onboard, is on a one-day visit, and passengers are able to visit the city in controlled bubbles.
Crew members are not permitted ashore in ports unless they are involved in operational duties such as tour dispatch or check-in.
The MSC Virtuosa was not permitted to dock in Scotland due to the country's health regulations.
The vessel is the largest to arrive in the city.
Belfast welcomed its first cruise ships in 1996 and the sector has continued to grow but the pandemic effectively closed the industry globally.