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Govt urged to ban sale of e-cigarettes
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- July 15, 2020
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Islamabad : Use of Electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes and vaping devices, are on the rise among the youth of Pakistan, which leads to a new epidemic of tobacco addiction.
This was stated by Azhar Saleem, CEO, Human Development Foundation (HDF), in online media session. He said e-cigarettes are promoted as a safe alternative option compared to traditional cigarette for quitting smoking. However, the irony is that instead of being an aid for quitting smoking, it has resulted in shifting from one vice to another that too on a higher scale. There are more than 7,000 different flavors introduced in e-cigarettes. Flavors like cherry, apple, mango, candy gums and many more are apparently more appealing to youth than to traditional cigarette users.
Researches from USA state that 20 per cent of the youth, is addicted to e-cigarettes due to the different flavors used. It has been found that e-cigarettes cause an equal damage as compared with traditional cigarette.
Currently, e-cigarette use in the USA is declared as the new epidemic in tobacco consumption. Extensive researches are being carried out to determine the negative health effects of e-cigarettes. So far, it has been found that e-cigarettes cause greater damage to the lungs and respiratory system of user. In Pakistan’s scenario, the Federal Board of Revenues (FBR) has recently imposed a 25 per cent tax on imports of e-cigarettes. This step provides legality to the production and import of these products. As the FBR may see it as a new avenue for revenue generation, the health-related consequences of using e-cigarettes are completely ignored by FBR. It is similar to giving a license to merchants of death for hooking our youth to this deadly addiction.
Azhar stated that FBR and government need to keep the public health concerns into consideration in this matter as we still have a chance to control the use of e-cigarette. Other countries, like India and some states in USA, have completely banned the sale of e-cigarettes. He urged the government and FBR to take positive and strict steps for tobacco control in Pakistan before the time runs out and we are faced with a new epidemic. He said that this epidemic would add extra burden on the existing infrastructure of public health in Pakistan that is already inadequate.
Courtesy : The News


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Can vitamin D cut the risk of miscarriage? Taking supplements before conceiving could make pregnancies safer, study suggests
- Scientific review warns vitamin D deficiency could raise the risk of a miscarriage
- It found women deficient in the vitamin were almost twice as likely to miscarry
- The chances are still extremely low, only affecting 15 per cent of pregnancies
- One doctor recommends women take ‘safe and low cost’ vitamin D supplements
A deficiency in vitamin D could raise the risk of women suffering a miscarriage, a scientific review has warned.
Around three-quarters of those in the UK who are pregnant in the winter do not have high enough levels of the nutrient.
The body creates it from direct sunlight on the skin while it is also found in a small number of foods such as oily fish, egg yolks and fortified breakfast cereals. The study has found women deficient in vitamin D have almost twice the likelihood of having a miscarriage.
However the chances of this happening will still be extremely low as miscarriages only affect around 15 per cent of pregnancies.
A study has found that pregnant women who have vitamin D deficiency are almost twice as likely to have a miscarriage(file photo)
But researchers have called for more studies to determine if taking vitamin D supplements before women conceive could make their pregnancies safer.
The review by scientists at Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research in Birmingham examined ten studies looking at more than 7,600 women.
Their vitamin D level was measured and then was linked to rates of miscarriage. Researchers found women deficient in vitamin D had almost double the chance of having a miscarriage compared to those whose levels were within a healthy range.
The study also concluded those low or deficient had a 60 per cent higher chance of this happening.
Research leader Dr Jennifer Tamblyn said: ‘Vitamin D is safe and low cost so supplements are a great recommendation. Unfortunately in the UK the uptake of women taking antenatal vitamin supplements remains low at around 20 per cent.’
A lack of vitamin D may contribute towards the risk of a miscarriage as it is important in forming a healthy placenta to deliver oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby.
The report in journal Fertility and Sterility added the studies looked at were too low-quality and used too many different doses of vitamin D to determine if supplements before conceiving cut the risk of miscarriage.
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Twitter is the most brand-safe platform for advertisers to appear on, according to the findings of a new brand safety study carried out by computer vision firm, GumGum.
The company questioned 274 executives from brands, agencies, publishers, and technology providers in November 2018. 45 per cent of respondents called out Twitter as the most brand-safe platform, with Facebook second on 25 per cent and Instagram third on 17 per cent. Snapchat and YouTube were joint bottom of the list, with just 0.38 per cent of respondents naming them as the most brand-safe platform.
A majority of respondents felt that brand safety had improved over the previous 12 months, with 49 per cent saying the problem had got “much better” and 32 per cent saying it was “better”. The main area of improvement was less exposure to brand-unsafe images, cited by 80 per cent of respondents. 57 per cent of respondents said they had created an internal role or roles specifically dedicated to preventing brand safety incidents in the past 12 months.
When asked about the tools deployed to mitigate the problem, the most popular answer was blacklists (62 per cent), followed by natural language context detection (35 per cent), and image recognition (31per cent).
Violence is considered the most brand-unsafe type of content to be seen adjacent to, cited by 37 per cent of respondents. Amusingly, second in the list is competitor’s branding on 22 per cent. This is seen as much worse than appearing alongside pornography (3 per cent), fake news (2 per cent), or bad news (0.38 per cent).


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Oracle Corp.’s unlimited license agreements (ULAs) can make great sense for companies that want to use a lot of the vendor’s software, but a number of potential pitfalls can get buried in the fine print, according to a new report from Forrester Research Inc.
The topic of ULAs is especially timely, as Oracle is in its fourth fiscal quarter, meaning the company is scrambling to sign deals before the fiscal year ends.
Oracle ULAs usually last for three years, upon which they revert to a normal model based on metrics, or a new ULA is negotiated, Forrester said in the report, which was authored by analysts Duncan Jones, Liz Herbert and Rory Stanton.
ULAs have their benefits for both Oracle and customers, Forrester said. Customers can deploy software as they wish, rather than having to be parsimonious with a fixed number of licenses. They also don’t need to spend time managing licenses to ensure compliance.
In turn, Oracle gains because customers are more likely to standardize on its products, shoving competitors out of the picture.
However, “calling the contract ‘unlimited’ doesn’t make it so,” the report adds.
Customers should scrutinize ULA clauses that cover licensing scope. Language providing coverage not just for the customer but also other entities, such as majority-owned affiliates and 50 percent joint ventures, should be included, the report notes.
ULAs must also have some type of mechanism for adding or removing products, as customers may find they don’t have all the software they truly need or that they have unnecessary software, as the agreement unfolds. Ideally, the same discount off list price agreed upon for the original ULA, which is often substantial, should apply to new purchases, Forrester said.
Oracle’s frequent acquisitions present another issue for ULAs. The report cites an example of one unnamed ULA customer who “found that Oracle’s
acquisition of BEA had made some of the products obsolete, and so it faced an excessive cost to switch to equivalent BEA functionality.”
ULAs should provide some protections against such scenarios, according to Forrester: “If Oracle subsumes your product within a different product that you haven’t licensed, you should be able to use, install and upgrade to that new product, provided you don’t use functionality that wasn’t in the one you bought.”
Miro Consulting, a Woodbridge, New Jersey, firm that advises clients on Oracle contract negotiations, finds that many end up unhappy with the ULAs they sign, according to company President Eliot Arlo Colon.
There are three crucial tasks customers interested in a ULA must complete before putting pen to paper, Colon said.
First, they “need buy-in from different business areas, not just IT. You need at least one unbiased person to do a sanity check,” he said.
“The second thing, and this is the hardest thing for CIOs, is you want to go into this and pretend you’re a startup or entrepreneur,” Colon added. “If I’m an entrepreneur, and this is my startup business, and write an agreement from scratch, what would I do?” This approach will help a customer avoid blithe acceptance of seemingly boilerplate contract terms, he said.
Finally, ULAs are much more complex than many people realize, Colon said. “Whatever time you think you’re going to need, you probably need to double it.” In fact, companies should start at least a year in advance of signing a deal, he said.
Ultimately, ULAs simply must be placed into the proper perspective, according to Colon.
“You’re still getting a tremendous amount of product at a very low cost,” he said. “It’s a very complex, custom volume agreement. If you take it from that standpoint, you have to see if it makes sense. For some clients it does.”
An Oracle spokeswoman declined comment.


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Microsoft had planned to enter the tablet market, but recently pulled the plug on its Courier prototype. Now, critics are claiming that Microsoft must develop something to challenge the Apple iPad and stake a claim in the tablet arena, or else. On th...
Dell on Tuesday announced launch plans for its Android-based Dell Streak handheld tablet, while also confirming that the device will get an upgrade to the Flash-capable Android 2.2. later this year. The Streak will launch in the U.K. in early June an...
Dell on Tuesday announced it would ship its first handheld device, called Streak, in June, but it is also looking to develop devices with larger screen sizes as it tries to establish a foothold in the competitive mobile market.
Experts used different data today to conclude that strong iPad sales have created a "halo" effect for Apple, boosting the number of Mac computers the company has sold.
Positive press and word of mouth from very satisfied owners has convinced one-in-five U.S. consumers to buy an Apple iPad, a survey published today said.
Apple's iPad will drive the burgeoning tablet computer market and shipments could grow sixfold by 2014, IDC said in research released on Thursday.
With more than a million units sold in less than a month, it's pretty clear that Apple's iPad touchscreen tablet has been a success so far. But Apple isn't the only company out there to develop a tablet, as there are several iPad alternatives on the ...
The news is buzzing as a leak from Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. (via IntoMobile) states that it has received an order from Research in Motion for an 8.9-inch tablet.
Google and Verizon are working on a tablet computer in hopes of competing with Apple's iPad, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
Demand for netbooks is stabilizing and is poised for growth as consumers start purchasing the devices as primary PCs, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said on Tuesday.
More rumors have surfaced suggesting that Hewlett Packard is dumping its Windows 7-based tablet prototype in favor of a one-panel slate running Palm's WebOS.
Archos has launched what it claims is the first large-screen tablet running Google's Android operating system. The Archos 7 is now available for pre-order through a number of retailers in the UK for £130.
On the day Apple announced the availability of the iPad in some Western European countries, rival German company WeTab changed the name of its tablet computing product and company from WePad to WeTab.
Intel has set its sights on the burgeoning tablet computing market with its latest Moorestown chips, which the company believes will help break rival Arm's dominant position in the handheld device market.
Recent rumors suggest Hewlett Packard may be killing its Windows 7-based tablet device slated for release later this year. Instead, HP may look to build a one-panel slate computer based on the Palm Web OS, according to a report by TechCrunch. HP, t...
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Samsung Galaxy A24 specifications have been leaked online, ahead of the arrival of the purported successor to the Galaxy A23 smartphone. According to details shared by a Vietnamese publication, the upcoming handset will be powered by Samsung’s older Exynos 7904 chipset and pack a 4,000mAh battery. Unlike previous affordable A-Series phones, the Galaxy A24 is tipped to sport an AMOLED display, with a 90Hz refresh rate. The upcoming smartphone is also said to feature a 48-megapixel camera with support for optical image stabilisation.
According to report by The Pixel, the purported successor to the Samsung Galaxy A23 will feature a major improvement. The Galaxy A24 is said to sport a 6.4-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display, with a 90Hz refresh rate. Its predecessor was equipped with a LCD display, with a 90Hz refresh rate.
While the display of the rumoured Samsung Galaxy A24 is tipped to receive an upgrade, the handset is tipped to be powered by an Exynos 7904 chipset. Unlike the Snapdragon 680 SoC that featured on the Galaxy A23, the upcoming handset is tipped to use a three-year-old chipset, built on the company’s 14nm FinFET process and used in Samsung phones launched in 2019. The handset will reportedly feature 6GB of RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage.
For photos and videos, the Samsung Galaxy A24 handset is said to be equipped with a triple rear camera setup, comprising a 48-megapixel primary camera with OIS support, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera, and a 5-megapixel tertiary camera, which could be a macro camera or a depth sensor. It could also feature a 16-megapixel front facing camera for selfies and video chats. Back in July, it was reported that the Samsung Galaxy A24, Galaxy A34, and Galaxy A54 could be launched without a depth sensor.
The Samsung Galaxy A24 is also tipped to pack a 4,000mAh battery, along with support for 15W fast charging, but the report states that this information is “inauthenticated” (translated from Vietnamese). Readers might recall that the Samsung Galaxy A23 offers support for 25W fast charging over a USB Type-C port.


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Battle Ground Festivals will host a trick-or-treat trail on Oct. 29, which runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The trail begins at the Wilco shopping plaza and travels east on Main Street and ends at the Battle Ground Community Center.
Kendra Laratta, owner of Ink Ability in Battle Ground, wanted to run the event out of her love for the city.
“When we first came here and opened our business four and a half years ago, the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce used to be the ones running the trail on Main Street,” Laratta said. “I was involved with the chamber and I thought it was so great that businesses got to open their doors and pass out candy to the kids. I also loved how the businesses supported the community and the community came out to support the businesses.”
She also said the trail would serve as a safer environment for the kids than going out into the neighborhood and knocking on doors. Once the Chamber of Commerce stopped hosting the event and joined the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) in 2019, Laratta took the reins to keep the tradition alive since the GVCC only does business-to-business events. From there, the Battle Ground Festival Association became involved to lend a helping hand.
Laratta said the trick-or-treat trail was also started so Battle Ground could have more grand-scale events aside from the Harvest Day Festival which takes place every July.
Businesses that are not located along the trail on Main Street are still welcome to participate.
Those businesses should contact the Battle Ground Festival Association and a pop-up tent to hand out candy will be made available at the Wilco shopping center. Businesses can also bring a banner for branding purposes.
“One of the things you’ll find the longer you live here is that the people are absolutely fantastic,” Laratta said. “They’re very warm and welcoming, and everybody has a heart. People shop locally and do what they can to support the businesses in this community, and I really appreciate that.”
At the same time as the trick-or-treat trail, the Annual Halloween Fright Night will also take place. Battle Ground Communications Manager Bonnie Gilberti said parents can take their children and play games at the family-friendly event. Some of the games include finding bones in a hay bale and ball tossing. One notable activity is the cakewalk, where kids can win a cake as a prize.
Anyone who wants to participate in the trick-or-treat trail or needs more information can email email@example.com.
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What started as the quintessential holiday display in the Galt House Hotel Conservatory several years ago has become a signature part of the hotel’s KaLightoscope Christmas, a Christmas village that features a kiddie train ride, Snow Fairy Princess castle, Santa’s Sleigh Green Screen Experience, Ernie the Engineer, and nearly 30 entries from the hotel’s annual Gingerbread House Contest. This year the life-size house has a new fence and Christmas cookie shrubs. Executive chef Brian Riddle and his team take seven days to construct the elaborate gingerbread display, which includes 1,000 pounds of gingerbread, 450 pounds of flour, and 2,000 eggs. It's pieced together with 2,000 pounds of royal icing and decorated with 800 pounds of handmade candy, lollipops, and 50 pounds of jelly beans.
Visit: The public can view the display from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays until Jan. 1 (closed Christmas Day).
Tickets: Adults: $14.99 (Monday to Thursday) and $18.99 (Friday to Sunday). Guests receive a free child’s KaLightoscope Christmas Ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket.


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The digital divide in Memphis is about to get a little smaller.
At least that's the hope of the founders of the Memphis Computer Cooperative, a nonprofit organization that will teach people to repair and rebuild computers, as well as offer classes on how to use them.
"The goal will be to have people learn to repair their own computers, or they may possibly walk away with a computer that's been donated," said William Justice, treasurer for the new cooperative.
"Simply put, it's like the [Revolutions] bike co-op, but for technology," added Bill McKessy, vice president of the co-op. Revolutions, a bicycle cooperative in the basement of Midtown's First Congregational Church, specializes in rehabilitating and recycling bicycles.
People can donate their old computers to the Memphis Computer Cooperative, and those will be given to area community centers or used for parts to help low-income residents build new machines.
"The more time goes by, the more computer hardware there will be lying around. It's perfectly good stuff, but folks just trash their old hardware," said computer co-op president James Traynor. "Since we'll be a nonprofit, they can donate their old computers to us and deduct it from their taxes."
The group still lacks a physical location, but Traynor said they are considering several locations and should nail one down within the next few weeks. Despite the lack of workshop space, there is currently an open call for free memberships until January.
"Members will see free or highly discounted curriculum fees and time in the laboratory," Traynor said. "Other technical benefits to being a member include computer cleaning and bug or malware hunting."
In addition to teaching people how to repair computers, the co-op will host classes on technology topics. Some classes will be free to the community and others will have a nominal fee.
"We'll be teaching anything from how to do a hardware upgrade and how to list things on eBay to learning how to set up a website or how to set up a server," Justice said.
Although the organization will be offering donated or rebuilt computers to the community, some low-income people may not be able to afford Internet services once they get the computer home.
"We'll have machines on hand that are usable and ready to donate to community centers as a starting point," Traynor said. "Part of our one-year plan is to distribute terminals to places that are sorely in need of computers. Hopefully, we can work with other nonprofits or with the city to get some Internet connections to the machines that we put out there in neighborhoods."
The co-op will hold its first membership drive and free computer workshop at Otherlands Coffee Bar on Sunday, December 12th, from noon to 5 p.m.
At 8 p.m. that same night, the co-op will hold a fund-raiser at Poplar Lounge featuring several local DJs and a live band. For information about becoming a member, go to ComputerCoop.org.


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Runic boss Max Schaefer has said Blizzard originally intended to develop Diablo III as an MMO. Speaking with Games.on.net, Schaefer, who was the executive producer on Diablo and Diablo II, also said he was rather pleased when he found out the studio would be implementing always-online and auction houses into the game. “[Runic] already decided we were kinda going the opposite way with that, ” he said, “so when they came out with those announcements it was good for us because we could draw some distinctions between the two games.” According to Schaefer, pre-sales of Torchlight II on Steam went up 40% the day Diablo III released, and have remained steady.
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But these greedy kopi sellers aren’t budging.
Some charge as much as S$1.20 for a cup of kopi o and S$1.50 for a normal kopi.
It’s been a month since CNY, but the Kheng Keow Coffee Merchants Restaurant & Bar-Owners Association says that out of its 300 member merchants, over 100 are still charging jacked-up prices.
Even kopi sellers at NTUC Foodfare coffeeshops have raised prices.
Since 23rd Feb, kopi prices went up by 20 cents, such that a cup of kopi now costs 90 cents.
However, the association acknowledged that some kopi sellers are pressured to raise prices due to factors such as higher rent, and higher costs of coffee powder and sugar.
Some kopi sellers also prefer to higher Singaporeans, and have to pay such workers higher salaries.
The Kim San Leng chain of kopitiams, though, haven’t increased prices.
A cup of kopi o at these kopitiams continues to sell at 90 cents.
The kopitiam chain says there’s no need to raise prices as training staff to perform multiple jobs from manning the cashier to making kopi has improved productivity.
It added that outsourcing of certain services such as dishwashing, in addition to government grants, have helped keep costs under control.


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The recession in 2008 led Scott Gerber from a career building luxury yachts into a career as a stick-figure sculptor.
Three years ago, Gerber sought to find a new outlet for his energies and some spare boatbuilding materials and decided to create a metal sculpture.
He dubbed it the “Tube Dude” and placed it on his dock. The simple, smiling stick-figure sculptures have become a structural art sensation. More than 900 have been sculpted and shipped as far as Paris.
Tube Dude’s next stop is the Concept Boats booth 3140 outside the Miami Beach Convention Center at the Progressive Miami International Boat Show, which starts Thursday and will continue through Monday.
Seeing the Tube Dude’s new gallery on Sarasota, Fla.’s Main Street, neighbor Chip Fendt, a marine industry veteran and a salesman for Concept Boats, foresaw eye-catching sign holders for the boat show booth.
“These sculptures just make everyone smile. I thought it would be a great way to convey the fun of boating and Concept agreed,” Fendt said in a statement.
So Gerber went back to work designing for boats — but this time for center consoles instead of his own brand of luxury yachts. The Tube Dudes on display will include boat passengers, show attendees and sign holders and will offer a photo op for passersby to commemorate their visit to one of the world’s most popular boat shows.
Gerber is happy to see his sculptures back in the marine industry because his exit was prompted by the recession. He found inspiration in creating a new career and using the welding, powder coating and manufacturing capabilities of his company.
“This is a real American Dream story,” Gerber said in a statement. “Who would have thought that all my ambitions and success — and failure — in the yacht industry would lead to stick-figure art that is making people everywhere smile and be happy?”
A recent growth spurt and a county grant have enabled Gerber to increase the size and location of the company and hire eight staff members. He also has a number of clients in Miami who have Tube Dudes in their homes. The sculptures are used as mailbox, sign, towel and bottle holders.
Tube Dudes range in size and color and can be customized. Made of schedule-40, marine-grade aluminum, they weigh about 20 pounds, have a lifetime warranty and are priced at about $1,200 and up, depending on the size and complexity. Mini-sized sculptures are $200 and up. Standard sign holders are also available for rent.


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In Pictures: 10 examples of mobile health around the world
Health care workers in the developing world are using mobile phones to address critical health needs ranging from maternal mortality to HIV testing to clean water. Here are 10 examples of mobile health around the world.
- Are we ready for a mobile-first world?
- Smartphone chips could replace server processors in HPC, researchers say
- Google pursuing broad wireless project for emerging markets, report says
- Schnucks wants federal court to handle data breach lawsuit
- Proposed law would make reprogramming cellphone IDs a crime
- Puppet gets a more expressive configuration language
- iPhone 6 rumour rollup for the week ending May 24
- iPad 5 rumour rollup for the week ending May 23
- Is Google trying to swipe Waze from under Facebook's nose?
- Public cloud shakeup: VMware in, Dell out, and OpenStack in limbo?
- Reports: FTC examining Google's display ads
- Researchers warn of increased Zeus malware activity this year
- Google, Facebook launch bidding war for Waze
- Google ready to start shipping Glass to #ifihadglass Explorers
- Vanishing into thin [MacBook] Air: Shortages signal WWDC refresh


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Janet Yellen lies to the nation. The Fed doesn’t want to let the peoples’ cost of living decrease. 2% inflation isn’t a target; it’s a floor. Retail investors move from bubble to bubble without learning any lessons. Sell your Bitcoin before Logan Paul’s audience does.
CPI data heavily contradicts Fed’s transitory inflation narrative. Reagan was more popular during a recession than Biden is during this “booming” economy. The government has too much money on the line not to lie about inflation. Media’s bias taints their inflation reporting. Federal Reserve can print money, but they can’t
Supply shortages exacerbated by consumers reading the inflation writing on the wall. Gas prices at the pump close to all time record highs in most of the country. Dollar is being propped up by taper. The crypto market has flipped the gold market. Joe Biden looks to replace Jerome Powell
Press knows Biden doesn’t have the aptitude to even answer softball questions. Record high stock market eyes blue skies ahead. As Peloton bikes become overpriced clothes racks, Peloton stock becomes dirty laundry. Gold may end up being the pin that pricks the Bitcoin bubble. The IRS tricked the middle class.
Markets blessed Fed’s decision to begin tapering. Jerome Powell says economy is healthy, but requires monetary policy of an economy in crisis. Full employment is subjective and rarely achieved. Powellnomics: It’s inappropriate to have interest rates above 0% in an economy that’s not at 100% employment. Fed knows the economy
Nasdaq and S&P finish the week strong. Robinhood closes the week near its all time low. Newmont leads gold mining stocks lower. Gold mines don’t lose missed earnings, they postpone them. Crypto ships will rise and sink on the same tide of fear and greed. Inflation is driving up labor
US dollar would tank if traders understood implications of economic data. Trade deficit continues to break records month after month. Strong economies have trade surpluses; we have a bubble economy. We’re only consuming and importing because we’re printing a currency the world still values. Massive trade deficits aren’t a problem
Elon Musk needs a rocket ship to find Tesla’s PE. Bakkt Holdings rises on crypto partnership with MasterCard. Jack Dorsey warns of imminent hyperinflation. Stanley Druckenmiller doesn’t realize the Fed is the problem. When politicians aim their weapons at the billionaires, they always hit the middle class the hardest.
Netflix and Tesla stocks make all time highs. Trump SPAC makes a splash. Investors buying WeWork SPAC are putting lipstick on a pig. Gold price gains on inflation news, which means bigger gains may be around the corner. Oil price increases while oil production decreases. Inflation in 2022 will eclipse


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MILAN — Fashion house Cerruti has almost broken free from its financially troubled parent, Fin.part.
Italian men’s wear manufacturer Manifattura Paoloni has signed a contract to buy 82 percent of Cerruti 1881 SAS from cash-strapped Fin.part for 112 million euros, or $136.4 million. In addition to that, it will take on about 11 million euros of debt owed by Cerruti Holding SpA, which is being liquidated.
If completed, the deal will mark the end of what has been a bumpy ride for the label under Fin.part ownership. Fin.part is currently facing the courts as it approaches bankruptcy.
Manifattura Paoloni said in a release it has put down a 5 million euro, or $6.1 million, deposit to buy Cerruti, but the rest of the acquisition hinges on whether a Milan court will allow Fin.part to continue operating and execute a restructuring plan that involves a partial reimbursement to Fin.part and Cerruti bondholders. A court date for that decision has not been set. Fin.part said last July it was defaulting on nearly $260 million worth of bonds.
If the acquisition goes through, Manifattura Paoloni will pay another 5 million euros at the deal’s closing. Then it will pay off the rest in 12 annual installments of 8.5 million euros. But Manifattura Paoloni outlined a caveat: The size of those installments will decrease, starting with the fourth installment, if other Cerruti debts emerge over time.
Fin.part bought control of Cerruti (51 percent) in 2000 for $70 million. Cerruti was one of several Fin.part acquisitions, including Frette, Maska and Moncler, that caused Fin.part to rack up hundreds of million of dollars in debt. Fin.part has since spiraled into a financial crisis that has been marked by the resignation of founder Gianluigi Facchini and the ire of Fin.part investors.
In 2001 Fin.part bought the remaining 49 percent of Cerruti from designer Nino Cerruti and his family for $67 million. Under Fin.part control, Facchini and Nino Cerruti reportedly clashed and wrangled for control of the firm. In 2001, the company tapped Roberto Menichetti to design Cerruti, but he left six months later. Istvan Francer and David Cardona also did stints at the label.
Manifattura Paoloni is hardly a household name in the U.S., as most of the company’s business is in Italy and other European countries. WWD’s sister publication, DNR, ranked the company as the eighth-biggest men’s wear manufacturer in Italy. It is based in the central Italian region called Le Marche, and it posted 2004 sales of nearly 50 million euros, or $60.9 million.
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
For men’s fall 2018, @giuseppezanotti drew on elements from streetwear, sport, biker, combat and rock ‘n’ roll. Pictured here are a pair of shoes from the collection, featuring zippers, rhinestones, and silver hardware. Head to WWD.com to see a roundup of the accessories from Milan’s men’s fall 2018 shows. #wwdfashion (📷: Andrea Delb)
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of @ralphlauren’s snowboarding collection, the brand is mining its archives. The iconic brand is reintroducing vintage styles and dropping new designs for a color capsule that will be available in Ralph Lauren stores and @openingceremony on January 25. The capsule will consist of 10 pieces, including the Snow Beach Pullover, pictured here, which is a collector’s item that rapper Raekwon wore in Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple” video. #wwdfashion (📷: Tom Gould)
For @rochasofficial’s pre-fall 2018 collection, creative director Alessandro Dell’Acqua channeled the sophisticated and intriguing Catherine Denevue in the film “Belle de Jour.” Polished collarless coats, midi skirts, suits and ’60s graphic motifs were all featured in the collection, adding a sense of discreet luxury. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion
“We tried to produce clothing of that couture quality, but the most daunting part was that we only had a matter of days [to do it],” said costume designer Lou Eyrich, who recreated Gianni Versace’s iconic looks for @americancrimestoryfx. Eyrich searched online retailers and vintage shops for original pieces from the design house and for @penelopecruzoficial, who plays Donatella Versace. Head to WWD.com to read how she created the Versace world. #wwdfashion
Only three months after her stellar debut catwalk season, @kaiagerber has inked her first big design collaboration –– with @karllagerfeld. The collection blends Lagerfeld’s Parisian chic aesthetic and the model’s signature West Coast casual style via RTW, accessories, footwear and more. The #KarlLagerfeldxKaia collection will launch in September with a series of events. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion
Harrods plans to remove the famous statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed from the bottom of the Egyptian escalators and hand it back to Mohamed Al-Fayed. “We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years,” said Michael Ward, Harrods managing director. “With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr. Al Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace.” More on the news, with reporting by @loreleimarfil, at WWD.com. #wwdnews


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In August, Karma announced the upcoming launch of a privacy-minded mobile hotspot device that would, among other things, have a built-in VPN. Called Karma Black, that device will officially be available to purchase in January, the company has revealed. The hotspot will provide buyers with LTE data wrapped in a layer of security, helping protect data, block potentially harmful advertisements, and more.
Karma Mobility offers hotspots and data plans that enable users to get on the Internet anywhere they can get LTE coverage. The new Karma Black differs from the company’s existing products by adding a security-centric offering into the mix. Karma Black isn’t just for getting on the Internet — it is for browsing safely, including anonymously.
According to Karama, its Black offering will both encrypt and therefore anonymize the user’s activity, helping prevent tracking, surveillence, and similar things. It is calling its product a Personal Security Appliance, and is currently offering it for pre-order at a discounted $149 USD. Once January 15 comes, the date that it will be officially available, the price will increase to $249 USD.
In addition to the device cost, users will need to pay an additional “security services” monthly charge of $19.95/month. In addition to offering LTE access, Karma Black also supports WiFi bridging, meaning you can connect your home WiFi to it so that it benefits from the same privacy features. By doing that, you can anonymously browse the Internet on your own WiFi to avoid data charges.
The router features a built-in battery that enables it to broadcast WiFi for up to 6 hours per charge. Karma offers a pay-as-you-go plan called “Drift” that costs $3/month with a $10/GB fee and monthly subscription plans called Pulse. With those, you pay $39.99/month for 5GB of LTE, $79.99/month for 10GB/month, and $99.99/month for 20GB/month.


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Packing heavy bags could hit you hard in the wallet, as fees hit the $400 level, according to a report by USA Today.
This week, the publication released its annual survey of airline fees, showing costs keep going up and up for passengers.
The highest fee? American Airlines charges $450 for an overweight checked bag weighing 71-100 pounds on its Asian flights.
Other airlines have also gotten in on the fees. For an overweight checked bag weighing 71-100 pounds, Continental Airlines charges $400 on most international flights. United Airlines charges $400 for checking bags weighing 71-99.9 pounds on flights to another continent.
On "The Early Show" Wednesday, Ben Mutzabaugh, USA Today travel reporter, said most airlines are justifying the high fees by saying they need the fees to recoup the fuel charges for carrying such heavy luggage on long flights.
He added, "I think they really are just trying to discourage heavy bags. It's difficult for them to handle. The good news to this is, so few people are traveling on itineraries like that with such heavy luggage, it affects a small portion of us. Most of us are likely to pay fees domestically that are much lower than those international ones that are the eye-popping numbers of $400 to $450."
However, the average American in the U.S., Mutzabaugh said, will pay $20 to $25 for a checked bag or $20 to $35 for a second bag.
He said, "That's possibly an extra $120 per trip just on bag fees. It's less expensive than that $400 number, but can add up especially for a family traveling for the holidays."
What extra fees could catch you this travel season?
- Carry-on baggage fee: Mutzabaugh said, "Do you know you have to pay to carry a bag on for Spirit Airlines? If it doesn't fit under the seat front of you, they may charge you $30 to $40 to put it in the overhead bin for you."
- Seat assignments: "Believe it or not," Mutzabaugh said, "on some airlines it can cost $7 just to choose your seat or $15 to $20 to book an exit row.
- Online booking fee: "Allegiant Airlines, it's a small carrier, they fly to a lot of cities, but they're not super-big. They charge $16.99 (for an) online booking fee. The only way to avoid that is buy your ticket at the airport."
So how can you avoid those fees?
Mutzabaugh suggests trying Southwest because they have a campaign that permits two free bags. JetBlue, also, doesn't charge for the first checked bag.
He also suggested trying to concentrate your flying for the year on a single airline or applying for an airline credit card with perks like free checked bags.
Mutzabaugh said, "There's still some hoops to jump through, but there are some ways you can avoid some, if not, all of the fees."
"Early Show" co-anchor Chris Wragge joked, "You can also grow wings or (try a) magic carpet. Those are some of the other options."


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Sportswears retailer SportSwear is offering free return shipping to customers who return their Sportswearing to their original retail locations, following a number of reports of customers getting ripped off by the online retailer.
Sportswear announced the offer, which comes in the wake of a string of complaints about a handful of brands in recent months, in a press release on Monday.
The company said customers who are unable to return their product within 72 hours will be refunded in full and will be given an opportunity to return the product for a full refund.
The offer is only valid for products from the Sportswatch range, and customers who have purchased other Sportswatches products are not eligible.
The full list of affected products can be found on the company’s website.
Sportsware said customers are welcome to return any items they may have purchased from the retailer, but that the return policy is only applicable to Sportswaps products.
It added that customers can return any Sportswap products they have purchased with any other SportSwatches products, and the company said all returns will be subject to a full full refund including a 10 per cent restocking fee.
“It is always a great pleasure to hear from our customers who choose to return a Sportswash product,” Sportsworks chief executive Ian Watson said in the statement.
“But we want to make sure that you are fully satisfied with the way we do business, and this is an important part of that process.”
We appreciate the support from customers and understand the concern some have with some of our products and are taking the opportunity to offer a full return.
“The announcement comes just a day after SportsSwear reported a 10.5 per cent rise in net profit to $9.5 million ($AU50.3 million).
The Australian Retailers Association said it had not been able to contact Sportswares about the offer because it was a “trade secret”.
The ACCA said it has previously received complaints about Sportswas behaviour on the internet and it was calling on retailers to take a more active role in ensuring customers get a good deal on their purchases.”
When retailers do not act quickly enough, customers can be left with poor value for money,” ACCA chief executive Greg McBride said.
The ACCC is also calling on the retailer to stop selling products that contain counterfeit logos, trademarks and company names that may be misleading.


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The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down seven points in late-morning trading on June 7. Markets have been subjected to increased volatility in the late spring. Some analysts and economists have even warned about dreaded stagflation, which would mean a period of low growth and high inflation. It remains to be seen whether North American economies can rebound fully from the pandemic and a tough labour environment. Today, I want to look at three defensive stocks that can provide some protection in an uncertain climate. Let’s jump in.
This top grocery stock has been very reliable
Grocery retail stocks proved to be one of the most reliable assets during the COVID-19 pandemic. These entities were classed as “essential services,” allowing them to operate fully during the crisis. Sales surged over the course of the year.
Empire (TSX:EMP.A) is one of the top grocery retail groups in Canada. Some of its top brands include IGA, Sobeys, FreshCo, and Safeway. Its shares have climbed 17% in 2021 at the time of this writing. The stock is up 38% from the prior year.
In Q3 fiscal 2021, same-store sales excluding fuel rose 10.7% from the previous year. Meanwhile, earnings per share jumped 47% to $0.66. It achieved e-commerce sales growth of 315% during the pandemic. The defensive stock last had a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15. It offers a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, representing a 1.2% yield.
Should you invest in Suncor right now?Click here to learn more!
One defensive stock that is chasing a dividend crown
In the summer of 2020, I’d discussed why Fortis was worth holding for the long term. Fortis is on track to become a Dividend King by the middle of this decade. That means it will have achieved at least 50 consecutive years of dividend growth. It is one of my favourite defensive stocks.
In the first quarter of 2021, the company delivered net earnings of $355 million, or $0.76 per share. Adjusted net earnings came in at $0.77 — up from $0.68 in Q1 2020. The stock possesses a solid P/E ratio of 20. It last paid out a quarterly dividend of $0.505 per share. That represents a 3.6% yield.
Here’s why I’m targeting this defensive stock in June
Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD.B) is the last defensive stock I want to focus on today. The Laval-based company operates and licenses convenience stores around the world. These were also able to continue regular operations during the pandemic. Shares of Alimentation have increased 2.2% in 2021. The stock is up 7.4% from the prior year.
The company is set to release its fourth-quarter fiscal 2021 results on June 29. It achieved total merchandise and service revenues of $4.5 billion — up 5.6% from the prior year. Merchandise and service revenues posted growth of 6.3% in the year-to-date period.
Shares of Alimentation last had a favourable P/E ratio of 15. This is a worthy defensive stock to hold for investors bracing for potential instability.
Here's another dividend stock to snatch up today...
Before you consider Suncor Energy, you may want to hear this.
Motley Fool Canadian Chief Investment Advisor, Iain Butler, and his Stock Advisor Canada team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Suncor Energy wasn't one of them.
The online investing service they've run since 2013, Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada, has beaten the stock market by over 3X. And right now, they think there are 10 stocks that are better buys.
This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.
Fool contributor Ambrose O'Callaghan owns shares of Fortis Inc. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD INC. The Motley Fool recommends FORTIS INC.


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The event, set for Saturday and Sunday, is designed as an educational experience aimed at informing consumers about cutting-edge technical garments composed of recycled fabrics. Polartec, based in Lawrence, Mass., and a longtime proponent of eco-conscious manufacturing techniques, recently celebrated recycling its one-billionth bottle. The company, which specializes in producing performance, outdoor fabrics, is Oeko-Tex 100 and Bluesign AG certified.
At the Harvard Square Takeover, people can check out Polartec’s sidewalk chalk art, receive free gifts made from recycled materials and see how many plastic bottles it takes to create a garment. Recycled garments will be clearly marked and Eastern Mountain Sports will be offering $15 off any in-store purchase of $75 or more. The Eastern Mountain Sports Store is located at 1 Brattle Square in Cambridge, Mass.
“We want consumers to examine the ingredients in their clothing with as much scrutiny as they do the ingredients in their food,” said Polartec chief executive officer Gary Smith. “The Harvard Square takeover will showcase amazing garments made with recycled fabrics alongside fun activities for a family-friendly adventure.”
Polartec noted that consumers who purchase garments with recycled fabrics help reduce the use of virgin plastic that ends up in landfills and oceans. Polartec uses Unifi Inc.’s Repreve 100 yarn in almost all of its fabric platforms, including Polartec, Power Shield, Power Dry, Power Wool, Power Grid and Alpha. In the past, consumers had to sacrifice technical performance for eco-consciousness, but that is no longer the case as major brands like Eastern Mountain Sports create recycled garments able to handle the worst weather on the planet, the company said.
Unifi, based in Greensboro, N.C., manufactures multifilament polyester and nylon-textured yarns for the apparel, automotive, medical and industrial sectors, including its Repreve yarns and fibers produced from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles.


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Friday, December 9, 2022
Khiree Stewart, WBAL-TV
The Baltimore Ravens are trying to trademark the term "Charm City" in connection with professional football. WBAL-TV learned their initial application has been rejected.
Imagine seeing the phrase "Charm City" on Ravens shirts, hoodies, and other items. It's something the Ravens have been trying to do, but now their efforts are hitting a roadblock.
You can see it all over Baltimore. The city has been known as the "Charm City" since the 1970s. In February, the Baltimore Ravens filed an application to trademark the term "Charm City" in relation to professional football on clothing, shoes, and other promotional items.
The Ravens told 11 News their intent is not to prevent anyone from the general use of "Charm City," saying:
"Our trademark filing is specific to anything in connection with, or relating to, Baltimore Ravens professional football. This includes team marketing campaigns such as 'Charm City Football,' which is used to represent the history of football in Baltimore slogans, merchandise and promotional items."
The U.S. Patent Office is now rejecting that initial application, saying the term is primarily geographically descriptive. 11 News spoke with a local trademark lawyer about what this means.
"They looked and said that these products originate in Baltimore, and purchasers are going to perceive this as coming from Baltimore, 'Charm City' is ultimately geographically descriptive," Andrea Evans, a patent, trademark and copyright attorney, said.
She said the phrase "Charm City" is so widely used, it's what led in part to the rejection.
"They identified that Charm City is synonymous with Baltimore and basically said you can't get on principal register, but once you showed that you used the trademark, we'll give you the trademark on the supplemental register," Evans said.
She said the Ravens will have three months to respond. Meanwhile, Derrick Vaughn with the "Charmtastic Mile" said there will be lots of questions but believes there may be benefits as well if the trademark ends up going through.
"They see that on national TV. When the Ravens play at night and you see that Charm City across their chest, it's a great thing for the city. Because people are like, whoa, something great," Vaughn said.
As of now, there is no word on how the Ravens will respond to the initial rejection.


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CoralPay Technology Limited, a payment switching and transaction processing company, has deployed the first interoperable Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and mobile payment platform.The service will enable enhanced interoperability amongst stakeholders in the payment ecosystem.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of CoralPay, Chioma Nkechika, the service will allow customers using the USSD short codes of their respective banks alongside their Mobile Apps to pay for goods and services directly from their bank accounts and wallets.
The transactions are accepted on point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and Automated Teller Machine (ATMs), with receipts printed or on eCommerce sites with emails sent to registered addresses.
The service which is known as the C’Gate solution, is already being adopted and deployed by leading Nigerian banks and Mobile Money Operators (MMOs), seamlessly enables USSD to POS, USSD to Web, USSD Fast Transfer transactions, USSD on App, USSD to ATM, and CiCo (USSD Cash-In and USSD Cash-Out) on POS.
The C’Gate solution offers customers more flexibilities and payment options than anything currently available in the Nigerian market.
Zenith Bank has led the adoption of the solution as an addition to its e-payment offerings, with other banks like GTBank, UBA, Access Bank, FCMB, FirstBank, Fidelity Bank, Wema Bank, Keystone Bank, Sterling Bank, and Providus Bank, following its lead and implementing the initiative at various levels of integration and deployment.
CoralPay also announced its entry into the Nigerian payment industry with a solution, in partnership with Alipay International, to ease online transactions for the Chinese, other Asian consumers and African merchants starting with Nigeria.
The partnership will further expand Alipay’s footprint in Africa and opens the door for its more than 520 million active users in China, to make online payments via the CoralPay platform. Nkechika, who spoke on the partnership, assured Nigerians of the company’s ability and capacity to deliver on the African franchise, leveraging on their business network and partnerships.
Nkechika also noted that the C’Gate solution was designed and developed locally, leveraging on the global experience and expertise of the company’s engineers, drawing on the declared mission to build ‘Africa’s Gold Standard’ for payment, encouraging financial institutions and SMEs growth capacity through financial inclusion and innovation.
He noted that the C’Gate platform is the first of several breakthrough solutions the company has in its pipeline, adding that they are well-primed to bring more innovative services into the Nigerian market. Nkechika revealed that thanks to the initiative, customers are now liberated from their cards and can now transact on POS, Web and ATM-like transaction without their payment cards, while confirmation is received via printed receipt at the point of interaction or email.


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KOCH:HP India today introduced new technology solutions to empower educators with digital tools that will.
NEW DELHI: RICS School of Built Environment, Amity University will commence the academic session 2020-21.
MUMBAI: Tata Motors, India’s leading auto brand, today announced the launch of its new initiative.
GOA: Netafim India – a wholly owned subsidiary of Netafim, the global leader in smart.
NEW DELHI: Airtel Payments Bank and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) today announced a partnership.
KOCHI: Tata Motors, India’s leading auto brand, along with its dealer partners in Kochi –.
MUMBAI: Tata Motors – India’s leading automobile brand, today announced a calibrated restart of manufacturing.
CHENNAI: Ashok Leyland, flagship Company of the Hinduja Group and India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer,.
NEW DELHI: South Asia’s biggest telecom, Internet, and technology event India Mobile Congress 2019 held.
KOLKATA: SVF Entertainment needs no introduction. As West Bengal’s premiere record label, and Eastern India’s.


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After Motorola's annual meeting Monday, the company said a preliminary tally of stockholder proxy votes indicated that Icahn lost his bid for a director's seat. At the same time, Motorola CEO Ed Zander said the company next week will show new mobile devices based on 3G and Java technologies.
The announcement wasn't lost on some stockholders, who noted that Zander came to Motorola in 2004 after a stint as president of Sun Microsystems. This week Sun, the main developer of Java, announced that it will unveil new mobile phone software based on new Java technologies.
Icahn, who represented nearly 3% of Motorola's stockholders, began his drive to change Motorola in January, after the company posted dismal financial results. Initially, Zander rode Motorola's popular Razr handsets to higher revenue and profits, but then handset competition set in and the company had to lower prices to the point where Motorola's sales and earnings suffered.
Icahn took some last feeble shots at Motorola and at Zander at the annual meeting, but late support for Motorola management from the California Public Employees' Retirement System helped derail his efforts to nab a director's seat. Icahn said a few large mutual funds doomed his campaign when they threw their support to Zander and Motorola top management. Icahn said he had support from smaller funds and individual investors.
"We are focused on executing our plan to improve the performance of our mobile devices business and building upon the strength of our strong Networks & Enterprise and Connected Home Solutions business," said Zander in a statement after the meeting. "During the past few months, we have met with and listened to a large number of our stockholders, including Mr. Icahn, and we value their insights and perspective regarding Motorola."
Icahn, who had previously launched stinging personal attacks against Zander, became conciliatory at the meeting. "There's no reason they shouldn't have welcomed me with open arms," Icahn told laughing stockholders. "I mean, heck, I'm a nice guy."
Zander recognized Icahn at the start of the meeting and set the tone for a gentlemanly proceeding.
Icahn said he will keep his Motorola investment; the firm's stock dropped in early trading Tuesday. "It's a very, very good investment," Icahn said, speaking with reporters after the meeting. "It's just a question of do they have good enough management to carry it home."


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Ebusco (Euronext: EBUS) today provides an initial insight into its figures for the first half of 2023. As a result of previous supply chain disruptions and ongoing labour shortages, the company is adjusting its expectations for 2023. By accelerating production capacity increases with assembly partners, the company is targeting an improved result for the second half of 2023.
Market conditions first half 2023
As communicated earlier, Ebusco is facing material shortages due to supply chain disruptions. Although the supply chain is recovering, combined with ongoing labour shortages, this is leading to more delays in bus production than expected. Due to the headwinds, financial performance in the first half of the year remains below Ebusco’s expectations:
- Turnover is expected to be around €41 million.
- EBITDA loss expected to be €44 million.
To meet current orders and facilitate future growth in its order book, Ebusco is now pushing to accelerate the scale-up of its production capacity with the help of three assembly partners in Europe and abroad. Not only have all partners individually already proven their ability to ensure the quality of assembly, they are also helping to accelerate production and improve gross margin. Moreover, with the planned opening of the production facility in Rouen, France and an external casco assembly partner, Ebusco is working to further scale its casco production.
Outlook and strategic priorities beyond 2023
Partly due to the lower number of buses contributing to turnover, it is no longer realistic to assume that the previous expectations for turnover as well as positive EBITDA will be met in 2023. With the current actions, Ebusco expects to record a significant improvement in the operating result for the second half of 2023 compared to the first half of the year. With this, Ebusco nevertheless expects a significant increase in sales over the full year 2023 compared to 2022. In 2024, the company expects to be EBITDA positive.
On 9 August 2023, Ebusco will announce the results for the first half of 2023 and further details regarding the planned actions.


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Sales of private (as opposed to fleet) diesel passenger cars have been slipping for nearly four years. The last time private diesel passenger car sales registered positive monthly growth was September 2012, when registrations jumped 10.8 percent against the previous year. Since then, diesel passenger car volumes have endured a long southward slide.
And we’re not talking a small reduction either. Two years ago, Australians bought 1031 diesel passenger cars in July. Last month, just 530 diesel passenger models found new homes in Aussie driveways. That’s a nearly 50 percent drop over the past 24 months.
What some may find surprising is that while the Volkswagen emissions cheating saga that’s been headline news since September 2015 certainly hasn’t cast diesel engines in the best light, Australian enthusiasm for diesel Golfs, i30s and Mazda6s has been waning for much longer.
Mazda phased out its diesel-powered Mazda3 XD Astina in June due to slow sales (its huge $43,000 retail price certainly didn’t help its cause) and the Ford Focus lost its diesel variants in July when Ford’s local operation rationalised the engine range to just a single 1.5 litre turbo petrol four-pot.
Those were recent reactions to the steady reduction in diesel market share. Looking further back, Volkswagen dropped the Polo 66TDI from its light car range in 2014 and the Ford Fiesta diesel was binned in 2013. After flirting with offering Euro-style diesel mini hatches, the auto industry eventually cottoned on to the fact that Australia simply didn’t care about them.
Volkswagen also slashed the number of diesel models in its Volkswagen Golf range. Whereas previously the German automaker had three different diesel powertrains on offer in its volume-selling hatchback – the 77TDI, 103TDI and performance-oriented GTD – the present-day range includes just one diesel – the 110TDI Highline. Not a huge surprise, then, that diesels comprise just 7 percent of the Golf hatch and wagon’s year-to-date sales tally.
Peugeot, another manufacturer with a significant history with diesel power, has also experienced cooling demand for diesels – though some of that is attributed to the greater availability of petrol models – especially the arrival of automatic variants for the entry-level 208 and 308 hatch ranges.
Right now, 75.7 percent of Peugeot’s passenger car sales are for petrol models. In 2009, over 58 percent of Peugeots sold in Australia were diesel.
Curiously the Volkswagen Passat has a diesel sales split of 45 percent despite the sole diesel offering in the range being the 140TDI Highline – the most expensive Passat on offer at $45,990 for the sedan and $47,990 for the wagon.
It’s a similar tale at Ford. The Mondeo diesel enjoys a whopping 77 percent share of overall sales, though a significant number of those are accounted for by efficiency-sensitive government and commercial fleets. Ford wasn’t able to give us a fleet/private breakdown for the Mondeo’s sales figures.
Conversely, the Mazda6 – which has virtually no fleet sales – currently only has a 10 percent uptake on its 2.2 litre diesel engine option. Two years ago that number was 20 percent. It seems midsize cars, like medium SUVs, are where consumers believe diesel power starts to make sense – but it’s still a minor share once you subtract fleet sales from the mix.
So what’s happening here?
The price of fuel plays a huge part. After experiencing peaks approaching $1.60 per litre in early 2014, the cost of a litre of unleaded petrol has sunk to as low as a dollar per litre this year. Diesel has also come down off historic high prices, but is still more expensive per litre than petrol.
Diesel has greater energy density than unleaded petrol allowing a diesel-engined car to travel further on the same volume of fuel (which helps compensate for its extra cost).
However with diesel car ownership being accompanied by sticky fuel bowsers, noisy idling, added vibration and higher purchase cost compared to identically-equipped petrol models, it’s no surprise that consumers and manufacturers alike are shying away from oil-burning passenger cars.
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Through a strategic partnership with Valve, HTC has introduced HTC Vive, which aims to transform the way consumers interact with technology and the world around them. If you’re planning to go out and grab one, hold steady because the consumer edition will only be available at end 2015.
HTC and Valve have introduced a full room scale 360-degree solution with tracked controllers so users can get up, walk around and explore virtual space, inspect objects from every angle and truly interact with surroundings. The headset features high quality graphics, 90 frames per second video and great audio fidelity.
HTC is also introducing new wireless VR controllers that will make users feel as one with the virtual environment. The new HTC VR Controllers come in a pair and are designed to work with a wide range of VR experiences.
“It’s rare that a company has an opportunity to forever transform the ways in which people interact with the world and communicate with each other but that is exactly what we plan to do with Valve,” said Cher Wang, Chairwoman of HTC.
Beta versions of the Vive Developer Edition have already generated rich entertainment content from some of the world’s top game developers including Vertigo Games, Bossa, Barry –Fireproof, Dovetail Games, Wemo Labs, Google, Steel Wool Games, and Owlchemy.
Beyond gaming, HTC and Valve have a broader vision for VR and see a real opportunity in transforming everyday experiences. Travel, attending a game, meeting friends or even shopping will never be the same again and the companies are working with leading content creators, including Google, HBO, Lionsgate and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan in order to make that vision a reality.


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Dating rules change with every new generation, and with this change comes new terms that further explain the types of agreements between couples, whether exclusive or not. Some terms describe how you seek love, like “shooting your shot” and “sneaky links.”
Joining the list is a new term called “relationshopping”, which is different to “relationshipping”.
Behavioural scientist and dating coach Logan Ury took to Instagram to explain the difference between the terms saying that relationshipping is what researchers call the process of going from strangers or friends to romantic partners. However, the new phenomenon – relationshopping – is different in that it describes searching for a partner as you would shop for new shoes. Logan says this is how modern dating has created the illusion that we can do comparative shopping with potential partners the same way we do items in stores.
She also added that treating our potential partners like potential purchases can get us in trouble because, unlike goods, people aren’t experimental. We cannot be understood by comparing and contrasting our parts. Should you, however, find yourself in the space where you’re trying to analyse your potential partner through the searchable goods lens, Logan suggests broadening your filter to get to the data faster and focus on “relationshipping” instead of “relationshopping”. This is due to the fact that dating apps cannot capture a person’s kindness, loyalty or growth mindset.


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M极速pk10安卓版 aDR极速pk10安卓版 iD - Spanish gastronomy is vital to help boost Spain's profile in China, says Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros, the high commissioner for Marca Espana, a Spanish government institution set up to promote Spain's image abroad.
He says Marca Espana planned to have a greater presence in Asia, and especially in China. "One of the tools we have to promote is our gastronomy, which along with fashion and sport, leads the strategy to enter into important markets such as China."
Although Spanish food is not well known in China, progress is being made in popularizing Spanish culinary traditions in the Asian giant, Espinosa de los Monteros says.
"Every time a prestigious chef goes to China, or begins to work in China, they are very popular; it is food that Chinese people enjoy," he says.
He explains that although Spain has a traditional food culture, a generation of chefs are also known for their innovation.
"It is a culture which is typified by innovation, talent and technology, which has been incorporated into the old art of cooking," he says.


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Facebook and Apple deepened their alliance on Monday, as Facebook Gifts is starting to sell iTunes digital gift certificates. Upon purchase, Facebook users can suggest what music, video, or apps their friends should spend their $10, $15, $25, or $50 credit on. By adding one of the world’s most popular presents to its Gifts store, Facebook Gifts could boost sales and split the 30% margins with Apple. What the actual revenue split is remains a secret. We do know there’s no shipping costs for either partner to pay for, and Apple typically taxes content and app creators a 30% to be sold in iTunes. Read the full story at TechCrunch.
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"Facebook Gifts Now Lets You Buy iTunes Credit For Friends And Recommend What They Should Purchase" by @ShellyPalmer


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SAVAGE has announced its integration with Samsung. The development marks a pivotal moment for the video marketplace that has been built on Polygon. It now comes pre-loaded on over 30 million Samsung QLED TVs across the world, allowing users to experience 8K resolution like never before. Additionally, it represents a significant advancement in the Web3 ecosystem because Savage exemplifies what Web3 is capable of when properly integrated by influential players in the sector.
Boosting 8K resolution for millions of users takes Savage a step closer to achieving the objective of constructing the future of an economy. The space is powered by cutting-edge tools, with the Web3-enabled streaming app leading to Samsung TV’s enhanced content streaming.
It further helps Savage advertise the content better. Samsung will allow Savage to leverage the functionality of Samsung Highlights. Currently, in beta, Samsung Highlights is a new short form of video app that delivers content to users directly on their lock screen. Gaining access to Highlights helps Savage advertise its content on the platform. This has been identified as something unique, something that Web2 has lacked in its list of offerings.
Web3 is known to boost crypto and digital ownership. Savage has plans on a similar line: first, to put up a single-click login feature and then list SAVG as one of the payment methods. Also, the platform will integrate custom rights-managed licenses into the metadata of their non-fungible tokens.
The simplicity of a single-click login can be accessed by creating an account with Polygon and MoonPay. Once registered, the line-up of content will open up for purchase with SAVG and other methods like debit and credit cards. Savage has expressed its commitment to keeping things seamless for a better UX, making it easier for them to familiarize themselves with how the platform works.
Announcing SAVG to be the native token and clarifying that it will drive the economy of the platform has boosted its prices. The token has been up by 60.33% in the last 24 hours and is listed at $0.001144 at the time of writing this article. Savage has confirmed that the token has been rebuilt from the ground specifically to ensure it supports the scalability needs of the new creator economy.
SAVG will serve the purpose of currency conversions, marketplace fees, and priority placement on devices, to mention a few.
Built on Polygon, the current partnership with Samsung takes Savage one step ahead in the process of expanding its ecosystem. It marks a journey from being a smart TV app to a new mobile-integrated app where users can seamlessly onboard the Web3 sphere, access every functionality conveniently, and not feel the difference—except in video quality—since Savage is committed to bringing 8K to the world.
That said, Samsung Highlights is available for users to download.


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The Company Car Today CCT100 Awards run down the 100 cars able to serve any fleet requirement, picking out the class best in the 20 main car categories, and of course, anointing our overall Car of the Year.
Company Car Today's expert editorial team and contributors have trawled the UK car market, assessing the merits of every car on sale to draw up shortlists of the top five cars in every segment.
The shortlist for each segment includes our incumbent champion, alongside the fleet best-seller in each sector according to the SMMT fleet sales classification, and the conventionally-powered car with the lowest emissions in each segment. Then we’ve added two picks of our own, voted for by Company Car Today’s editorial team, taking into account everything that makes for an appealing company car.
With those five-car shortlists created, we’ve taken an in-depth look at the 13 separate qualities we believe make for a good company car – everything from running costs using industry expert Kee Resources’ whole life cost data, to price, emissions, BIK payments and residual value, along with insurance cost, boot space, performance and three categories based on our own experience of how the cars look, drive and perform as an overall company car proposition.
With each car given a score, that is then transformed into a chart which unfolds to deliver our top 100 cars to cover every fleet purpose, keeping drivers, fleet managers and accountants happy.
click on the links below to see our CCT100 Awards Winners:
- 2021 CCT100 Awards Winners
- 2020 CCT100 Awards Winners
- 2019 CCT100 Awards Winners
- 2018 CCT100 Awards Winners
CCT Innovation Awards
New for 2021, Company Car Today's Innovation Awards celebrate the best in innovation in the fleet and business car sector.
Entries are now open for the CCT Innovation Awards, which will crown the winners of 10 separate categories covering the best innovations from across the company car marketplace, comprising:
- Risk Management
- Green Award
- Best App
- Leasing and Contract Hire
- Fleet Management
- Editor’s Choice
Winners will have illustrated how clever innovations are helping fleets to run their businesses more cost-effectively, greener and more efficiently.
“We’re excited to be announcing these new awards to the fleet arena,” said Company Car Today Publisher Dave Wallace. “We’re looking to reward the smartest, most useful and most impressive innovations in the industry for the way they help company car fleets to be better managed and more efficient, especially in the current tough environment.”
Entries are welcomed from both industry suppliers and manufacturers, and also from fleets looking to recommend innovations that help them do a better job of operating and managing vehicles or business travel.
Companies are welcome to enter more than one category, with entry, of course, free of charge. Submissions of up to 300 words should be sent to email@example.com before the closing date of 28 May.
A full table of winners will be published in the August 2021 issue of Company Car Today.


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Sears stores are shrinking. Here's what one of those shrinking stores looks like now.
As Sears retreats from one of its most promising locations, Seritage says it can triple the rent by turning the space over to the new tenants.
Sears' CEO agrees to $40 million settlement of lawsuit that alleged he unfairly enriched himself with the company's 'crown-jewel assets'
Sears CEO Eddie Lampert and his hedge fund are paying $40 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit claiming that Lampert stripped the company of its best assets.
The company is already in the process of closing 64 Kmart stores this month.
Kmart is closing 64 more stores and laying off thousands of employees — see if your store is on the list
Kmart stores in 28 states are closing. The company informed employees of the closures on Friday.
Sears on Friday informed Kmart employees in at least 13 states that their stores would be closing in mid-December.


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All articles by BRAIN Staff
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (BRAIN) — Crankbrothers has enacted a minimum advertised price (MAP) policy and a new e-commerce sales policy, each effective immediately.
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (BRAIN) — Challenge is releasing a Team Edition version of its Chicane cyclocross tubular, with a 320 tpi cotton casing.
Last season Challenge offered its Grifo and Limus tubulars with the supple casing, but the Team Edition Chicane is new for this year.
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (BRAIN) — The company behind Optic Nerve sunglasses and goggles is renaming itself and launching a second sunglass brand, to be called One by Optic Nerve.
BEAVERTON, Ore. (BRAIN) — Yakima Products is expanding its line of tray-style hitch racks with the new FourPlay and TwoTimer models.
QUEBEC (BRAIN) — Outdoor Gear Canada will be the exclusive distributor of Redline BMX bikes in Canada, starting with the 2015 model year. Redline is owned by Accell North America.
BERKELEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Highway Two, a California-based distributor, is pledging to donate 1 percent of its sales to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.
BERGERAC, France (BRAIN) — At the Tour de France's penultimate stage Saturday, Bianchi unveiled a new time trial/triathlon frameset that uses the company's Countervail vibration canceling technology.
The Aquila CV was raced by Team Belkin's Bauke Mollema and Laurens Ten Dam.
GOLDEN, Colo. (BRAIN) — Kask has hired Nat Ross as its North American brand manager, the Italian helmet brand has announced.
Ross will operate from Golden, Colorado.


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Netflix with Ads Pricing Said to Start from $7/month, Says Report
Netflix is targeting a price point between $7-9 USD a month for the cheaper, ad-supported subscription tier it plans to launch sometime this year — reports Bloomberg.
If true, the new plan would clock in at almost half the price of Netflix’s current most-popular plan, which costs $15.49 USD per month.
According to people familiar with Netflix’s plans, the streaming platform will serve about four minutes of advertisements per hour of content to subscribers of its ad-supported service. Netflix is undercutting the industry standard for commercials to strike a careful balance between profitability and consumer appeal.
Netflix will only show advertisements before and during some programs, but never after, sources said. Insiders also indicated that Netflix is starting out with smaller advertisement deals so as to not overwhelm subscribers with ad spots.
Reports indicate that Netflix will debut its first ad-supported subscription plan during the last quarter of this year in at least half a dozen markets. Netflix has said that rolling the new tier out to all markets may take until early next year.
The streamer has been bleeding subscribers, and it wants to appeal to a wider target audience consisting of those who find the standard Netflix subscription too costly but don’t mind watching some ads in exchange for a haircut on the monthly rate.
Netflix has historically been against advertising. However, heavy subscriber losses in recent quarters have led to the executive leadership’s about-turn on the issue. The company announced plans for an ad-supported tier earlier this year, and it chose Microsoft as its advertising partner in July.
To make the ad experience more comfortable for users, Netflix plans to avoid using too much targeting to tailor ads to the viewer and ensure that the service doesn’t serve the same ad spots to users over and over again.
Unfortunately, Netflix’s new subscription will come with some additional drawbacks beyond just ads. Netflix has so far confirmed that its ad-supported tier will lack some licensed shows and won’t allow offline downloads.
Netflix starts at $9.99 CAD/month in Canada for the basic plan, while the standard plan costs $16.49 CAD/month and the premium tier costs $20.99 CAD/month.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Cadbury Schweppes PLC CSG, +1.18% uk:cbry said Thursday that it has made a good start to its current fiscal year, with both its confectionary and beverage businesses showing sales momentum, and added that sales growth is now expected to be weighted towards the first half. The sales weighting is expected to be due to "demanding" second half comparatives, while margins in the first half are expected to be broadly unchanged from a year ago. For fiscal 2006 as a whole, results are expected to be within financial goal ranges, Cadbury Schweppes added.
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text: Hemp cannabidiol or CBD has been recognized for many benefits on human health without intoxicating effects. But is it legal? What’s the difference between hemp and marijuana? Can it really help stress resilience and mood stability? Dr. Aimée unveils the mystery behind hemp CBD oil and its fast-growing popularity across the nation.


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General Motors Co has announced a significant staff reduction plan as part of its strategy to achieve a $2 billion cost reduction target.
This move comes at a time when US companies have announced over 180,000 job cuts in the past two months, the highest number since 2009, with the tech sector accounting for more than one-third of these job cuts.
Under the terms of the plan, GM will offer buyout packages to the majority of its salaried employees, resulting in a pre-tax charge of up to $1.5 billion to cover the expenses.
All US salaried employees with at least five years of experience and all global executives with at least two years of experience will be offered lump sum payments and other benefits to exit the organization.
This strategy of minimizing employment through natural attrition will help GM streamline its operations and achieve its cost reduction target.
GM CEO Mary Barra has outlined several steps that the automaker will take to reduce its structural costs, including decreasing vehicle complexity and increasing shared subsystems between existing internal combustion engine and future electric vehicle programs. By streamlining its operations and reducing its costs, GM hopes to improve its bottom line and remain competitive in the automotive market.
The staff reduction plan by GM is a strategic move to minimize costs and remain competitive in the market. However, it may have a significant impact on the affected employees and their families, and the wider economic implications of the job cuts should be carefully considered.
General Motor’s Competitive Approach For Market In 2023
GM plans to reduce its structured costs by decreasing discretionary spending and minimizing salaried staff through natural attrition, primarily in the US. This move is aimed at improving vehicle profitability and making the company more competitive in the market.
GM expects to incur a pre-tax charge of up to $1.5 billion, with the majority of the charge to be taken in the first half of 2023. The automaker had 58,000 salaried employees at the end of 2022, and eligible employees interested in the voluntary program must sign up by March 24, with their departure from the company expected by June 30.
GM CEO Mary Barra emphasized the need to take cost into account in everything the company does, stating that it needs to be ingrained in the company’s culture. By taking this step now, GM hopes to avoid involuntary actions that may be required in the future.
In February, a GM executive announced that the company was reducing executive-level and salaried jobs, while rival automaker Ford Motor Co said it planned to eliminate 3,800 product development and administration jobs in Europe in the next three years.


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A faulty stop light switch is responsible for the recall of 121,754 vehicles nationally.
06th March 2019 11:03 AM
Car fans have several ways to savour the tracks at Highlands Motorsport Park, a gem known to too few in NZ’s South...
04th March 2019 10:03 AM
One of the segment pioneers, the Subaru Forester, raises the bar with outstanding safety and practical cabin design.
13th Nov. 2018 4:11 AM
SUV sales are surging at the cost of hatchbacks but are we letting our hearts rule our heads?
09th Nov. 2018 5:11 AM
An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recall notice has been issued on four Subaru models.
06th Nov. 2018 2:11 PM
Latest from Subaru is an awesome piece of technology because it addresses a major road safety issue.
24th Sept. 2018 12:09 PM
New survey reveals the simple tricks dealers use to satisfy and keep customers.
30th Aug. 2018 3:08 PM
Family SUV focuses on facial recognition technology and adds active driver aids as standard.
26th July 2018 9:07 AM
Petrol-electric hybrids are Subaru Australia’s best bet as emissions laws bite and demand for diesel cars slumps.
03rd July 2018 1:07 PM
The Subaru BRZ tS has a heap of go-fast bits to improve its ability when the going gets twisty.
18th June 2018 8:06 AM


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Online Food Delivery
Goyal to hold discussions with food aggregators, associations who have been opposing discounting
Registration on the platform by eateries has grown by 6% since August says Goyal; NRAI disagrees
Swiggy may emerge as the largest private-sector blue-collar job enabler in the country
Amazon has offered to make do with lower commissions from restaurants and has been trying to convince them to break exclusivity contracts with established players Swiggy and Zomato.
Zomato recorded 214 million orders in the first half, which averages out to about 35 million orders a month, and a GMV of $821 million, the company said.
Zomato has been accused by the NRAI of "unethical" deep discounting practices for its "Gold" prgramme.
The restaurant owners wanted the number of 'unlocks' available to a Zomato Gold member to be restricted and want a dilution in the 'Buy 1 Get 1' offer
Zomato is considering rejigging its Gold membership programme that allows customers to get a dish or two drinks free at participating restaurants
Over the past week, hundreds of restaurants have delisted from the dine-in platforms of Zomato, EazyDiner, Nearbuy, Magicpin and Dineout, over the issue of what they say is “unsustainable deep discounting”.
Zomato will have to find a lead investor that Ant doesn't view as a competitor, given that it has a right to veto the deal
Food delivery staff of Zomato on Sunday went on an indefinite strike in West Bengal's Howrah, alleging they were made to deliver beef and pork dishes against their will.
Zomato allowed customers to earn back 10% of the order value through Z Coins into Zomato Piggybank.
Swiggy's investment conversations come at a time when it is locked in a discounting war to fend off closest competitor Zomato
Swiggy is said to be looking at a valuation of over $4 billion for this round, up from $3 billion in the previous one that was announced in December last year.
DoorDash, which has partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill and burger chain Wendy's to deliver hot food ordered on its smartphone app, said its business grew more than 60% since its previous round of funding.
Swiggy is also pushing to increase order density by building products and expanding its restaurant base to drive repeats from the top 50 million internet users
The move is in line with Ola’s shift in strategy to largely scale up Foodpanda as a cloud kitchen business rather than as a marketplace model where it would compete head-on with larger rivals Swiggy and Zomato.


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In a post to Google's Android Building group today, Jean-Baptiste Queru once again acted as the bearer of good tidings for developers and tweakers everywhere, announcing that "a new set of proprietary binaries for Jelly Bean are available."
The new batch of binaries includes those of the Nexus S and Nexus S 4G (Crespo and Crespo4G respectively), the latter of which we just recently saw added into the AOSP fold.
HTC Rezound owners may have a reason to get excited in the very, very near future. According to a leaked document, the Rezound may be seeing an update to Ice Cream Sandwich starting as soon as tomorrow, July 29th. The document says the OTA update should be about 292MB, so be sure to have your WiFi handy before you download.
As we mentioned before, there is a decent chance that the tip was fabricated.
If you were hoping to see a phablet device like the Samsung Galaxy Note on Verizon, Big Red's upcoming device is going to technically fit the bill. Except instead of the enjoyable, well designed, and globally acclaimed device, you will get this horrendous boxy eyesore, complete with a 4:3 CRT-like aspect ratio: the LG Optimus Vu.
Here it is, in all its glory monstrosity, next to... yup, the 4.8" Galaxy S III.
After silently activating in most of its launch markets this weekend, Sprint's 4G LTE network has finally been officially announced. A promotional launch video released today explains Sprint's 4G LTE rollout and Network Vision, and encourages viewers to comment on the burgeoning LTE network's performance.
To that end, things aren't looking great for Sprint's new 4G network – at launch, it is promising just 6-8 Megabits per second download speed (burstable to 25Mbps) and 2-3 Megabits per second upload.
The Verizon Galaxy S III is finally available. You can walk into a Verizon store and buy yourself a shiny new GSIII for $200 right now - so long as you're okay with 16 GB of storage and not into unlocked bootloaders, that is.
That aside, if you do plan on picking up the GSIII on Big Red today, you can save yourself $50+ buy ordering from Amazon Wireless, Let's Talk, or Wirefly.
The Android development community couldn't be more on fire today now that Android 4.1 has been fully open sourced. While the Jelly Bean flavored CyanogenMod 10 is not just here just yet (though work has already begun), the CyanogenMod team released a fantastic treat for new Galaxy S III owners on AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile - official nightlies, available for downloading and flashing right now:
It means that ROMs that are built from AOSP, like CyanogenMod, can now start integrating the Jelly Bean code and release the first true JB nightlies. Not broken ports from the Galaxy Nexus builds - real ROMs.
Update: Verizon just posted on its official blog that the rollout is slated to begin today, June 22.
Verizon has just uploaded the official support documents for the RAZR / RAZR MAXX Ice Cream Sandwich update (which by the way will be build 6.16.211 – the same build that recently leaked). With the docs going live just moments ago, users should expect the update to officially start rolling out any day now.
It was less than two months ago that the Galaxy S III was first announced to the world at Samsung's super classy special event. Now, the device is available inside the US borders. Though, there are a few catches. For starters, the device is only available on T-Mobile so far, according to a press release from Samsung. You can order it online, or from "select retail stores." This is in line with T-Mobile's previous statements where the company announced it would be splitting the launch in twain.


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New MeetGB showcase targeting 100 global buyers
VisitBritain is gearing up for an April showcase to more than 100 global buyers why the UK should be their destination of choice for conferences, meetings, business events and incentives.
The national tourism organisation is bringing 80 meetings and event suppliers from across the UK together with 120 global meetings and event planners to do business at MeetGB, a showcase event, to be held in London, 19-20 April.
The planned format is for one-to-one business meetings between UK conference suppliers and international event planners, to take place over two days. Buyers are expected from France, Germany and North America attending, as well as Belgium, Austria, Spain and Switzerland.
Tourism minister Michael Ellis said: “Events like MeetGB help us promote Britain as a premier destination for business events. This is a great opportunity for British businesses to build new global relationships, bring more international conferences to the country and attract greater inward investment.”
“MeetGB will showcase to global buyers the breadth and quality of the UK’s meetings and events industry, demonstrating our fantastic infrastructure, our ease of access and the quality on offer across so many destinations for the international business events market," added VisitBritain/VisitEngland CEO Sally Balcombe (pictured).
MeetGB, hosted by VisitBritain in partnership with London & Partners, VisitEngland, Visit Wales, VisitScotland and Tourism Northern Ireland, will be held at the Hilton London Bankside.
A programme of accredited education sessions for buyers will also run during the event.
Ahead of the event, the global buyers will attend one of 11 educational visits across the UK to experience first-hand the variety of conference and event facilities.