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Iceborne will be the first and only major expansion for Monster Hunter World, Capcom confirms.
As the best-selling game in Capcom's history, you'd think more than one expansion would be released for Monster Hunter World. More expansions means more long-term revenues and re-spark engagement long after the base game's release. But Iceborne is so big it's almost like an actual sequel; in fact Capcom is treating it like a big-budget AAA release, and it's the only major project they're releasing this year.
Instead of more big expansions like Iceborne, Monster Hunter World will continually evolve with new smaller content updates. "Yes, Iceborne basically completes World so it will be the last expansion. We're still planning a lot of updates for the future. We think players will get a lot of enjoyment from it," game producer Ryozo Tsujimoto told Game Informer.
That's not to say Iceborne will be small. Capcom is surely going out with a bang. The expansion brings a huge new frosty continent called Hoarfrost Reach, complete with new weapons, monsters, and a huge sprawling story arc that wraps up the main narrative. Iceborne promises to be positively monstrous when it launches in September.
No new expansions doesn't mean Capcom is abandoning ship. Far from it. Monster Hunter World is a live game, after all, and it's crucial Capcom keep close watch over its juggernaut moneymaker. The devs have to continually upkeep the massive world while rotating events, content, and other nifty tweaks over time to make sure people stay interested.
Capcom's bet on Monster Hunter World has paid off tremendously. The company has invested quite a bit into the game's development over four years, creating an online infrastructure across PS4, Xbox One and PC for millions of gamers, all while refreshing one of its core franchises with the new powerful RE Engine technology.
Monster Hunter: Iceborne releases on September 6, 2019 for PS4 and Xbox One, with a PC release slated for Winter.
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Criticism and praise of corporate executives’ actions has nearly surpassed baseball as America’s favorite pastime. Since Starbucks made clear its positions on President Trump in 2017 or Hobby Lobby made a decision to take a stand against abortion in 2013, customers have either idolized or demonized these brands for the positions they take on the various social issues. While the we may deem corporations responsible or irresponsible based on how well they fit our own social agenda, let’s not forget the true motivator behind corporate social activism, which is still, as for every other activity a firm engages in: profit.
Corporate social responsibility, which is defined as corporate positions aimed at improving society and the environment regardless of its effects on profits, have drawn many criticisms from both the right and the left. Tom Borelli, a conservative columnist, wrote in Forbes that Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, prioritized his own political interest above his shareholder and customer interests when he criticized the president prompting a trending #boycottstarbucks on Twitter.
Similarly, Matthew Stewart, a contributor to Harvard Business Review, argued that the Supreme Court decision granting personhood to Hobby Lobby, and therefore, protecting its rights to religious liberty, will end up incentivizing corporations to pursue less profitable options to appease societal demands. Though many have grown increasingly frustrated with the partisan nature of corporate social activism, it is important to recognize that the organization’s customers play the key role in demanding this grandstanding.
The corporation, just like for its products or services, identifies its customers’ preferences to build an image that caters best to these customers. Though hidden under the guise of an ‘enlightened morality’ a corporation’s social responsibility, is no more than a consumer demanded product. Understanding the political and social positions taken by Chick Fil A, Starbucks, Hobby Lobby, and Target is simply a means of understanding their customer base.
Criticisms of corporate social responsibility stem from two major premises. The first is a view that corporations have a concentrated ability to influence public opinion. This premise has overstated the power and influence of corporations and understated the convictions of individuals. If corporations could influence customers without consequence, then social or political statements would not affect company revenue. However, according to research published in the Harvard Business Review, political and social positions from a corporation have significant effects on revenue, largely dependent on political party.
Researchers polled a group of Apple’s customers about their intent to buy Apple products. With one segment they stated Tim Cook’s position on discrimination against LGBTQ individuals while to other segments they provided no statement at all. The survey found that those aware of Cook’s activism were significantly more likely to buy Apple products in the near future than the control group. This example illustrates Apple’s customers prior-held preference in favor of LGBTQ rights, not Apple’s ability to manipulate customer preferences.
The second criticism of corporate social responsibility states that firms that showcase their social or political ideology, either by statement or donation, commit a disservice to their shareholders by alienating customers. The Harvard Business Review’s study shows that Apple customers have an overwhelming preference towards LGBTQ activism. Considering that activism for LGBTQ causes would significantly increase customers’ intent to purchase over the customers whose intent would decrease, Apple then has a duty to make this move in the interest of its shareholders. Harvard Business Review highlighted Delta’s banning of transport of big-game hunting trophies as an example of profitable corporate activism. The ban substantially increased Democrat favorability while only minimally alienating Republican favorability. This suggests that it some cases, being apolitical can be detrimental to company profits.
As Milton Friedman argued in Capitalism and Freedom: “There is one and only one social responsibility of business – to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition, without deception or fraud.” Given that the actions taken in the name of corporate social responsibility today usually positively affect revenue, firms, whether we like it or not, are acting in the best interest of their shareholders. Corporate Social responsibility is what shareholders and customers want.
Phillip Todd is a second-year MA student in economics at George Mason Univesity.

domain: news


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It’s been an interesting journey these last few months with lots happening at the agency! We’ve been making inroads into new projects and witnessed some spectacular wins. Overall, we anticipate some exciting times ahead as we power our way into the future!
We’ve landed an experiential project for domain.com.au and cannot wait to showcase this soon. Watch this space for the whole story in the coming months.
King Island Dairy and South Cape, two of Australia’s favourite specialty cheese brands joined a group of leading brands to sponsor Network Ten’s Masterchef 2014. Our job was to devise a social media and digital strategy built around their sponsorship – keep an eye out for a case study with some interesting results coming soon.
We’ve finally bagged our first superannuation client with a strategic direct marketing campaign for none other than CareSuper, one of Australia’s leading Super brands.
It is a multi billion dollar global brand, and part of the Reliance group – Global Cloud Xchange own the world’s first cloud eco system. It is our first win in Asia as we look to expand our digital footprint with the launch of a global web platform in 20 countries.


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Valencia street live music venue the Chapel will usher in its revitalized bar and restaurant, now called Curio, next Friday, June 22nd. The new food and drink menus from chef Mario Tolentino and bar director Darren Crawford are part of an effort to enliven the spirit of the place, newly re-decorated with dali-esque artwork by Michael Brennan. (Take a look at both below.)
At a venue where one evening draws the folk rock crowd and the next brings in death metal enthusiasts, tastes are likely to vary by the night. Tolentino (previously of The Market on Market, Betelnut, and Fog City Diner) hopes all will find something to like on his menu of regional American food, like hush puppies, fried chicken, kale salad, and a “holy grail” burger.
Crawford has created cocktail menus at bars like the Devil’s Acre, and here has designed drinks in keeping with Brennan’s whimsical artwork. “The beauty for the name and concept is it opens the door for a lot of fun,” Crawford says. His drinks — which are available in the restaurant and bar area, but not inside the concert hall itself — are named for mythical creatures: Examples include the Unicorn (vodka, pisco, strawberry, Szechuan lemon, amaro, benedictine, rainbow bitters, egg whites) which comes out light pink and “super fluffy” with three different garnishes.
“I couldn’t get rainbows to shoot out of it —but it’s as close to a unicorn as any drink I’ve ever seen,” he jokes.
For something more spiritous, Crawford recommends the Phoenix (George Dickel rye, mezcal, Jamaican rum, curacao, green chartreuse, vanilla, ghost pepper, mole). It sits on an activated charcoal ice cube, so the drink gets darker as it melts.


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The team behind the forthcoming China Live (644 and 660 Broadway) understands that it might seem a bit odd to bring an ambitious, multi-level Chinese food-centered retail and restaurant space to an already busy corridor of Chinatown. But they say they don't want to usurp Chinatown's culture—they want to preserve, protect and promote it. "We're trying to respect the past, but also look forward to the future," said Richard Miyashiro, managing partner and director of operations for China Live.
"We're going to augment the neighborhood, not compete," echoed Janine Shiota, China Live's director of programming and corporate communications. According to Shiota, China Live will offer a carefully curated selection of organic products, and focus on authentic types of Chinese cuisine, rather than Americanized Chinese food. They expect to hire at least 300 employees, and are aiming to hire a number of Chinatown locals. "We want people who will understand the products we're bringing and the products we're using," she said.
Janine Shiota reviews a book on Chinese culture. Photo: Geri Koeppel/Hoodline
China Live, which has been described as the "Eataly of Chinese food," is currently in the buildout stage, with a planned October opening. It'll include several concepts:
- A public market on the first floor, including a retail shop selling kitchenware (woks, dishes) and pantry items (spices, herbs, sauces). All items will be organic, sustainable and locally sourced whenever possible.
- The Market Restaurant: A 105-seat casual eatery and full bar on the first floor, with a variety of options prepared in exhibition kitchens
- The Oolong Café: Chinese teas, specialty coffees, Asian pastries, small bites and counter seating
- A casual cold drinks bar on the second floor with a "futuristic Asian dystopia" vibe
- An intimate craft-cocktail bar, Gold Mountain Lounge (formerly known as Madame's Parlour), which will double as a private dining and lounge space
- Eight Tables by George Chen, an elegant, 38-seat restaurant with an evolving, gourmet Chinese tasting menu that hopes to garner Michelin stars and James Beard nods
- A roughly 180-seat banquet facility with audiovisual capability, for weddings, family events, corporate gatherings and other big parties
- A flower and plant stand at the main entrance
Cold drinks bar. (Rendering: China Live)
China Live's husband-and-wife founders, George Chen and Cindy Wong-Chen, are aiming to raise consciousness about Chinese food with their new project. They formerly owned Cow Hollow's Betelnut and SoMa's Shanghai 1930, and currently own Roosevelt Prime Steakhouse, an American restaurant in Shanghai.
"George's depth of historical knowledge of Chinese cuisine and culture gives us a starting point," said managing partner Miyashiro, whose own resume includes Boulevard, Kitchen Door and Hakkasan. "It is one of the great cuisines of the world." Shiota added that China Live will explore all eight great styles of Chinese cooking. "He's going to get inspiration from everywhere," she said of Chen.
Eight Tables. (Rendering: China Live)
China Live is aiming to attract a wide swath of the community, including FiDi workers for lunch in the Market Restaurant and dinner at Eight Tables; neighbors looking for products they recognize but can't find elsewhere in Chinatown; locals who might not be familiar with Chinese cooking or products, and want to learn more; and of course, hungry tourists eager for a cultural experience. "We think we're going to serve everybody at different times of day," Shiota said. They plan to showcase local products like Red Blossom Tea Company teas, and offer walking tours of Chinatown.
Miyashiro (right) with legendary SF restaurateur Cecilia Chiang. (Photo: China Live/Facebook)
Shiota said that China Live hopes to impart the nuances of Chinese cooking to younger generations who might have watched their grandmother prepare dishes, but didn't understand everything that went into them. It will be a "beautiful, modern platform for intergenerational conversation," she said. "We want people to be culturally curious," she added. "It's not just tea. It's not just food. It's about the culture itself." Even the dishes and uniforms have a story behind them, and the team has been in touch with the building's original architect, Phillip Choy.
Phillip Choy. (Photo: Janine Shiota/China Live)
China Live is part of a larger 42,500-square-foot development that also houses the offices of the San Francisco Film Society (on the fourth floor), and will eventually include filmmaking offices and the Speakeasy interactive theater on the lower level.
The larger 644 Broadway building was originally the home of the Palace Theater, dating from 1909. It was torn down and rebuilt in 1984 as a four-story building on top of a 437-seat theater, called the World Theater. Most recently, three of the building's floors housed Gold Mountain Restaurant, one of the largest dim sum spaces in the country.
The building at 660 Broadway was most recently a pet store, but was once the Peppermint Lounge, which hosted musical acts like Paul Revere and the Raiders and Little Richard in the mid-1960s.
644 Broadway. (Photo: Geri Koeppel/Hoodline)
Cypress Properties Group, LLC is the developer for 644 and 660 Broadway. Principal Jeff Lee says the company wants to retain the "gut and essence and soul" of the buildings and expand upon them as a cultural and entertainment hub—and hopefully bring back a little nightlife to the area, which has suffered in that department in recent years. "It's almost like what was here is being recreated, but new and improved," he said.
Cypress bought 644 Broadway for $8.5 million, or about $200 per square foot, which Lee said allows the company to rent it to cultural and creative enterprises at reasonable rates. The building at 660 Broadway cost $3.5 million.
Lee's business partner, Chris Wight, said the idea is to promote synergy among the food, film and theater projects under one roof. "The hope is they get together for a beer in the cafe and come up with their next great idea," he said.


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Microsoft to patent technology that turns your body into data transmitters
14 June l 2013
Instead of using your credit card or money to pay for items over the counter, you simply use your own skin.
Sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? You could well be able to use this technology in the near future as Endgadget has revealed that Microsoft has already applied for a patent for an electronic device that can contain and pass information with just a touch.
The US Patent and Trademark Office application filled out by Microsoft refers to this piece of technology as a Biological Entity Communication Channel. The apparatus will include a signal conductor that will use biological touch as a transmission channel.
Essentially, you will be able to use your touch, wearing this device on your wrist to transmit information. Assuming that the person you’re meeting will be wearing a similar device, you will be able to share contact information with the person you’re in a business meeting with simply by shaking his or her hand.
This futuristic method of collecting and dispensing information comes a fortnight after Motorola Mobility’s Regina Dugan displayed wearable electronic tattoo that can replace passwords at All Things Digital’s D11 conference. The skin patch will let you forget all about maintaining passwords, with it being an authenticating option.
Dugan also spoke about Vitamin authentication. Motorola is working on a pill that when swallowed, turns your entire body into a password by creating 18-bit signals.
These pills, patches and wrist devices won’t be available soon, but sometime in the future. Wearables are the newest devices and Microsoft will want to be in the forefront of this revolution.


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It will be interesting to see if any of the online travel agencies decide to cease doing business in New Hampshire because of the suit. Some have tried this tactic before.
New Hampshire has become the latest state to sue four online travel websites and their subsidiaries in hopes of recovering hundreds of thousands of dollars it claims it is owed in back taxes.
The attorney general’s office on Friday released a lawsuit filed last week acusing Expedia Inc., Orbitz, LLC, Priceline.com Inc., and Travelocity.com of paying the state’s 9 percent rooms and meals tax only on the lower, wholesale rate they pay hotels and rental car companies instead of on the higher, retail price they charge consumers.
The state argues that’s unfair and misleading both to consumers, who aren’t given a detailed breakdown of the “taxes and fees” they pay, and to local businesses that pay the tax on the full retail rate.
“Defendants cannot hide an additional and illegal profit stream under the guise of ‘taxes and fees,'” the state wrote.
The state collected just under $248 million in rooms and meals taxes for the fiscal year that ended June 30. Assistant Attorney General Philip Bradley said determining how much the travel companies might owe is difficult, but he estimates it is in the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
“When states are losing that 25 percent to 33 percent markup, that adds up fast,” he said. “In a time of difficult budgets, states are trying to make sure they’re collecting all the tax they’re due, and when there is a significant gap like this, the state should make an effort to close that gap.”
The president of the Travel Technology Association, which represents online travel industry, called the lawsuit a waste of taxpayer resources and said it is grounded in a lack of understanding of how online travel agents operate.
“We don’t acquire hotel rooms. We don’t rent hotel rooms. We don’t operate hotels. We facilitate the reservation and in some instances collect the payment from the consumer which is then remitted directly to the hotel operator which are responsible for then submitting the tax payment,” said Steve Shur. “Online travel agencies have prevailed in the vast majority of these cases and expect to do so in this matter as well.”
In February, a divided three-judge panel in Florida sided with the online travel companies, ruling that tourist development taxes are due only on what the firms pay to hotels, not the full amount they charge their customers. The case is heading to the state’s highest court.
In March, a Hawaii court slapped the companies with a $70 million fine in March after deciding that they owed the state $158 million in unpaid taxes and interest. The companies are appealing the ruling.
Copyright (2013) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Plus Model News Round-up: Fluvia Lacerda in Glamour Brazil, Tara Lynn in Elle France & More
Plus models continue to make their presence known in the fashion world, whether it’s gracing magazine covers, being interviewed by major magazines or launching their own collections. It’s great to see that curvy bodies are being more accepted on the mainstream fashion scene so whenever a plus size model scores a magazine cover or any other kind of worthy achievement, it’s not just a score for that model but for plus size women everywhere.
Plus model Tara Lynn recently shared her latest exciting news with her fans on Instagram – she’s featured on the cover of Elle Magazine (France). This is not her first time gracing an Elle cover. She appeared on the cover of Elle Spain back in November 2013 and on the cover of Elle France before in February 2012. We wonder if Elle USA is next. Tara is signed to IMG Models.
Brazilian plus model Fluvia Lacerda recently sat down for an interview with Glamour Magazine (Brazil). It was a great interview where she candidly spoke to the magazine about body image and how she has always felt beautiful in her own skin. Considered the “plus size Gisele Bündchen” in the fashion industry, Fluvia told Glamour Brazil that she is “pretty much immune to others negativity” and doesn’t waste time regretting that she does not fit the standards imposed on her by society. She also talks about her views on size diversity in the industry and what she thinks of plus size fashion.
To read more of Glamour Brazil’s interview with Fluvia, click here. Please note that the interview is in Portuguese. Check your browser to see if it has translation capabilities.
Candice Huffine, who’s signed to Muse Models and MiLK Management, recently made headlines with the news that she was chosen to be featured in the 2015 Pirelli Calendar and she is the only plus size model featured. This week, she graces the cover of The Times Magazine UK, which did a feature on the models chosen for the calendar.
To follow Tara Lynn on Instagram, click here.
To check out Fluvia Lacerda on Facebook, click here.
You can find Candice Huffine on Instagram by clicking here.
Stay tuned to the blog for more plus model news!


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Blue Apron is now down from its IPO price during trading today, falling around 4% and down to around $9.60 — a bit south of its original price.
Early in the planning process, Blue Apron was shooting for a price range of between $15 and $17, which would have helped it raise even more money and value the company at around $3 billion. Instead, it had to settle for a valuation below $2 billion and and a lot of questions about the company’s future on Wall Street.
On the one hand, IPOs are supposed to be fundraising rounds, and Blue Apron’s debut yesterday pretty much confirmed that it was able to raise as much money as possible. But the stock went nowhere on its first day, and now it’s dipped below that initial pricing, effectively meaning the IPO was the equivalent of a down round — and the company has a whole different set of standard to which it’ll be held accountable.
There are a couple reasons for why this is probably happening. It’s easy to point to the shadow of Amazon making a huge $13.7 billion bid for Whole Foods and the massive looming threat that poses. After all, Amazon specializes in logistics and delivery and it just purchased hundreds of stores that have access to fresh food and ingredients.
It would seem like a small effort to build a kind of product like Blue Apron within the Amazon empire, and that may even be attractive given that the company shot to $800 million in revenue in a short period of time. Amazon, too, has shown a willingness to bulldoze into areas that may seem semi-unrelated to its core business of selling products online — like buying Twitch and running servers.
Still, Blue Apron is certainly spending a ton of money acquiring customers — and it’s not clear if those customers are sticking around. The company burned through more than $52 million and it added around 160,000 customers. The company’s customer base is growing, but that’s a huge investment in acquiring new customers and hoping they order food on a regular basis. Either the company is having trouble getting them on board, or they are churning a lot and just trying the product as an experiment or using it once or twice a month.
The company has to create a super-sticky product in order to get a return on that investment. In the long run, it may show that it’s built up a core audience for its product and achieves the lifetime value it wants from that investment. But the aggressive burn and what seems like a slow ramp up may be hindering the optimism for the company in the short term. It also likely doesn’t help that a huge portion of the company’s customers are a younger audience, which may be more fickle or not have the buying power of an older set of customers.
It has to diversify its user base beyond just metropolitan areas where young people experiment with cooking nice meals periodically. That means it has to take a different approach to marketing — and maybe hit more traditional methods like billboards, TV spots and others aside from Facebook ads. There’s also a lot of competition, so it has to fight for mindshare and awareness before it even gets to the point that it can convert people to paying customers. There’s definitely a lot of overhead given how fast the business has grown, but it carries a lot of questions as well.
Blue Apron was able to post a small profit earlier in its life, but it needs to figure out a way to sustain that and grow it into a real sustainable business. Until then, it’s stock will likely suffer, which may lead to problems with keeping and hiring talent — as companies can lock up a lot of compensation in stock.
Blue Apron is definitely still a growth story, but it may be that Wall Street just isn’t giving that a pass any more. Snap went public with a bang and likely made a lot of people a lot of money, but its stock has cratered since its first earnings report. It missed what Wall Street was looking for, possibly flipping the switch on the kinds of metrics that investors are looking for in new IPOs.
Featured Image: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Kingsmill will re-brand to ‘Queensmill’ for a limited period this summer. Limited edition packs of Queensmill will be available across the bread brand’s Soft White, Tasty Wholemeal and 50/50 SKUs for a two-week period from 21 May 2012.
Guy Shepherd, Category Director said: “We expect to see great demand for these limited edition packs from consumers excited about the Royal celebrations. The Jubilee weekend, which also coincides with this year’s Big Lunch, is going to create great demand from shoppers looking to stock up on party essentials such as bread. We hope these limited edition loaves become a must-have for summer parties, boosting retailer sales in the process.”
The loaves will be available to retailers across the UK, who should watch out for the new packs arrive in their usual deliveries from 21 May 2012.
Retailers should be sure to stock a broad range of lunch products, from Queensmill to party favourites such as rolls and sandwich alternatives, in order to capitalise on the party spirit of this year’s celebrations.


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Don't miss the latest stories
Apple Creates ‘New’ Minimalist, Gray Window Panel Logo For Microsoft Windows
By Melissa Goh, 05 Oct 2015
While Apple has allowed users to install iCloud apps on Windows, the giant tech company has decided to create a “new logo” for Windows, which appeared as an icon on their website.
Far from Window’s original colorful logo, Apple’s redesigned logo features a minimalist outline of a longer window panel, rendered in gray.
Although the Apple support site has been live since 25 May 2015, this was only discovered recently by a Hungarian tech blog Szifon.
It seems that even though both companies are cordial with each other, Apple is unwilling to have its competitor’s logo seen on its website.
Scroll down, or head over here, for a closer look at the logo.
[via Redmond Pie, Venture Beat, Apple, image via screenshot]
More related news
Also check out these recent news


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14 Surprising Things That Affect Your Willpower And Decision Making
As he tells Vanity Fair, it's a way of managing his willpower.
"I'm trying to pare down decisions," he says. "I don't want to make decisions about what I'm eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make."
Obama's focus on routine is backed up by research. Social psychologist Roy Baumeister has found that willpower is like a muscle - it can be strengthened or fatigued with use.
It's a crucial insight, given that a 2011 study of 1 million people around the world found that people think that self-control is their biggest weakness or character failure.
As Baumeister details in his book "Willpower: The Greatest Human Strength" and a New York Times Magazine cover story, willpower and decision-making are interconnected. The house you grew up in, the number of decisions you made today, and what your friends are doing all affect your decisions in weird ways. Here's a look at how.
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African low-cost airline fastjet has launched its Mozambique service.
The launch routes are between Maputo and Beira, Maputo and Tete, and Maputo and Nampula, with the first flight scheduled for 3 November.
Fastjet, which currently operates in Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, is the first low-cost carrier brand to enter the Mozambican market.
The airline will serve Mozambique with Embraer E145 50-seater aircraft.
Fastjet’s brand entry into Mozambique is in partnership with Solenta Aviation Mozambique.


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When it comes to trademarks, being clever does not always pay off. Lamborghini, the iconic Italian luxury car manufacturer, has found itself in a legal tussle with a Nashville car dealer. If nothing, it highlights the intricate balance between smart business moves and potential trademark infringements.
The trouble began in 2021, with Lamborghini’s entry into the Nashville market. Excitement about a new dealership quickly turned into a domain name dilemma. The desired website name, “lamborghininashville.com,” was not available.
However, this domain had been owned since 2011 by John Pasas, the proprietor of Velocity Motorcars on Murfreesboro Pike. It is a luxury car dealership with occasional Lamborghini in its inventory but no official ties to the Lamborghini brand.
The First Legal Salvo
Recognizing the potential for brand confusion, Lamborghini sent a cease and desist letter to Pasas in August 2021. The luxury car giant contended that the domain name could mislead customers into thinking that Velocity Motorcars was an authorized Lamborghini dealer.
In 2022, Lamborghini’s concerns were validated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The U.N. body ruled that the domain was being used in bad faith by Pasas, leading to an order for Velocity Motorcars to transfer the domain to Lamborghini. This seemed like a clear victory for the car manufacturer. But the saga was far from over.
However, the story does not end here. Unfazed, Pasas acquired a new domain name, “lamborghiniofnashville.net,” redirecting visitors to Velocity Motorcars’ website. This move was seen as a clever circumvention of the earlier ruling, but it also reignited the legal battle.
Lamborghini’s Counterstrike: A Second Lawsuit
Lamborghini has once again taken legal action, suing over the new domain name. The automaker argues that “lamborghiniofnashville.net” could still be easily mistaken for Lamborghini’s official online presence.
The lawsuit claims that Velocity Motorcars is not only misleading customers. But also damaging Lamborghini’s reputation and unjustly profiting from its well-established name.
Thus, this ongoing dispute underscores a broader challenge in the digital age: The protection of trademarks in the realm of domain names. As businesses increasingly rely on the internet for branding and customer outreach, the importance of domain names aligning with trademarks has become paramount.
The Underlying Issue: Brand Identity and Consumer Perception
At the heart of this legal battle is the issue of brand identity and consumer perception. Lamborghini, known for its exclusivity and luxury, is fiercely protective of its brand image. The company’s concern is that customers might be misled into thinking that Velocity Motorcars is an endorsed or official Lamborghini dealership, potentially diluting the brand’s exclusive appeal.
As the case proceeds, the automotive world watches with keen interest. The outcome could set a precedent for how trademark law is applied to domain names and online branding. For now, the question remains: Will Lamborghini’s legal efforts pay off? Or, will Velocity Motorcars find a way to retain its cleverly chosen domain?
So, as businesses navigate this digital landscape, they must balance creativity with respect for intellectual property laws to avoid finding themselves in a similar predicament.


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Google put a finer point on the value it placed on Motorola Mobility’s intellectual property when it agreed to buy the mobile-phone maker, saying in a regulatory filing Tuesday that $5.5 billion of the $12.4 billion price tag was attributable to “patents and developed technology.”
Google surprised many in the technology world with its announcement last year that it intended to buy Motorola. The Mountain View, Calif. Internet search giant argued the deal would strengthen its patent portfolio and help legally insulate its Android mobile phone software from infringement lawsuits.
The acquisition would “supercharge Android,” Chief Executive Larry Page wrote then.
Google closed its acquisition of Motorola in May, following extensive antitrust reviews.
Last week, Google reported second-quarter earnings that included Motorola results from a portion of the period. Google said Motorola contributed some $1.25 billion in revenue, though the new unit also posted a $233 million operating loss.
During an earnings conference call with analysts, Google executives declined to go into much detail about their strategic plans for Motorola, which is a longtime Google partner that has built devices based on Android.
“Clearly, everybody should expect some changes at Motorola,” Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said during the call, “but we have nothing really to announce right now.”
Google has sought to bulk up on patents as a protective measure, as a number of its technology rivals have targeted both the company and its Android software with litigation.
Oracle sued Google for alleged patent and copyright infringement by Android in 2010, though a related trial earlier this year resulted in a victory for Google.
Apart from patents and developed technology, Google said in the filing Tuesday that $2.9 billion of the purchase price for Motorola was attributable to cash acquired, $2.6 billion was related to goodwill, $730 million for customer relationships and $670 million for “other net assets acquired.”
The goodwill, Google explained, is “primarily attributed to the synergies expected to arise after the acquisition.”


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Fuel supplier Air BP unveils new chief executive
Martin Thomsen will take over as chief executive officer of jet fuel supplier Air BP from 1 July.
He will succeed Jon Platt, who has led the business since 2016.
Thomsen has been with BP for 15 years and has held several positions across the downstream business.
“Air BP has been providing safe and reliable fuelling operations for over 90 years and remains committed to supporting the needs of our customers. We have an exciting future ahead of us as we continue to support both bp and our industry’s low carbon ambitions”.
Thomsen’s previous roles include fuels general manager Turkey, retail operations manager Spain, commercial optimisation fuels Iberia and retail Europe strategy and business development.


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Japan's electronics industry, once considered nearly unstoppable, is now suffering from its worst slump since World War II, according to new figures released by the industry's main trade association.
Production of all electronics equipment in Japan fell an estimated 10.6 percent in 1992 from 1991, the first double-digit decline since World War II, the Electronics Industries Association of Japan said in a report released this week. The trade group also predicted that the industry's output would grow a scant 1.5 percent in 1993.
The organization's annual assessment painted a surprisingly gloomy picture of an industry battered by slack demand in its home market and a lack of innovative new products, technological changes and rising competition from lower-cost manufacturers in East Asia. Painful Restructuring
Indeed, the slump affects virtually all products made by the Japanese, including televisions, video recorders, computers, calculators, semiconductors, telecommunications equipment and scientific instruments. And it is forcing Japan's once vaunted companies to undergo painful restructuring.
The decline in 1992 Japanese electronics production to 22.6 trillion yen, or about $180 billion, was unexpected. A year ago, the industry association had projected that output in 1992 would grow 5.6 percent.Continue reading the main story
The results contrast with the United States electronics industry, in which at least some products, including semiconductors and personal computers, have seen strong growth. The data suggest that American companies are gaining worldwide market share at the expense of the Japanese.
While the main cause of the production downturn is the recession in Japan, the report indicated that there are several factors that will continue to hurt the Japanese industry even after the economy improves. Needed: New Demand
Consumer electronics companies, for instance, are suffering not only from recession but from the fact that most homes already have a videocassette recorder or a television set. New products are needed to fuel growth, but none have emerged. While some electronics companies have placed their hopes on high-definition television and on new digital audio recorders like Sony's mini-disk system, the electronics association said these products would not make an impact for years, if at all.
"It is not expected that recently introduced products, including high-definition television equipment, will spur significant new demand," the report said.
In computers, Japan's industry, particularly the producers of large mainframes, are starting to feel the effects of the same shift toward smaller machines that has devastated the world's biggest computer company, the International Business Machines Corporation.
The widespread electronics industry slump has already led to at least one-time losses at leading companies like Fujitsu, NEC, Sony and Oki Electric. The problems are forcing the companies to jettison some marginal businesses and to reduce their work forces by thousands, though most companies are doing this through attrition rather than layoffs. Executives are now preparing for a decade in which growth will be far slower than in the past. Slow Recovery Expected
"We won't see a high growth rate like in the 70's and 80's," said Shigeru Yoshinaka, electronics analyst with Barclays de Zoete Wedd Securities. And with companies reluctant to lay off people, he said, the recovery in profits "will be prolonged compared with the United States companies."
Japan's electronics industry had seen almost continuous growth for several decades, sometimes as much as 30 percent a year. In the last two decades, there have been only two other years in which production shrank -- in 1975, after the first oil shock, and in 1986, after the strengthened yen made Japanese products more expensive abroad.
Worst hit in 1992 was the consumer electronics sector, perhaps the industry for which Japan is best known. Production of audio and video equipment is estimated to have plummeted 17 percent, to 3.9 trillion yen, or a little more than $30 billion. Another decline of 3.5 percent is projected for 1993. Exports fell 13.1 percent in the first nine months of the year.
Measured in units, Japanese production of color televisions dropped 10.7 percent, videocassette recorders 22.8 percent and video cameras 23.6 percent. But production of compact disk players rose 7.9 percent, although output of other stereo equipment fell.
The report shows that consumer electronics is becoming less important here, accounting for 17.2 percent of total electronics production in 1992 compared with 30.7 percent in 1982. Offshore Manufacturing
Part of the decline in production in Japan results from the fact that Japanese companies have shifted their manufacturing offshore. Much of the movement has been to Southeast Asia, which offers lower manufacturing costs and is helping the Japanese companies compete with low-cost suppliers in South Korea, Taiwan and other areas. In other cases, production has shifted to the United States and Europe to be closer to markets. For color televisions and tape recorders, production by Japanese companies outside Japan now exceeds production in Japan.
Computer production also had a steep drop of 10.2 percent, to 5.46 trillion yen, or about $44 billion, as Japan's hard pressed banks and securities companies have scaled back on their investments in automation. Even sales of personal computers, which should be a fast-growing field, fell about 10 percent in 1992, analysts said.
Weak sales of computers and consumer electronic equipment in turn led to an estimated decline of 9.8 percent in integrated circuit production in 1992. Some market research figures show that American semiconductor companies have now regained the lead in overall computer chip production from the Japanese.Continue reading the main story


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Survey shows inflation increases retirement savings worries
May 24, 2023 by Mark Schoeff Jr.
Rising inflation has most Americans worried about whether they can save enough money to fund their retirement, while economic headwinds have more of them thinking about purchasing annuities to stabilize their post-work income, according to a survey released Monday.
Click HERE to read the full story via InvestmentNews
Originally Posted at InvestmentNews on May 22, 2023 by Mark Schoeff Jr..
Categories: Industry Articles


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Google Inc. said Monday it's buying No. 1 Internet video sharing Web site YouTube Inc. for $1.65 billion in stock. The deal is regarded as a largely defensive one that leapfrogs Google into a leading role in a burgeoning Internet marketplace. Moreover, the Google/YouTube deal highlights how Google GOOG, +1.22% Yahoo Inc. yhoo and other Internet companies are betting heavily on video to attract more customers and generate more advertising revenue. Indeed, many analysts chiming in on the deal Monday suspect Google's competitors will now seek to buy YouTube-wannabes in order to keep pace with their rival. On Monday, the boards of directors of both Google and YouTube approved the terms of the deal, which was announced after the market closed for the day.
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Ferrari snatched up the "F1 CAL" number plate, planning to use the badge on the first Ferrari California shipped to the UK.
Ferrari has purchased the UK number plate "F1 CAL", and will be placing it on the first Ferrari California shipped to that country, according to Autocar. The first Britain-bound unit of Ferrari's front-engined 2+2 should arrive in 2011.
Unveiled at last year's Paris Motor Show, the Ferrari California is the automaker's first car to have a folding metal hard-top. Equipped with a 460 horsepower, direct-injection, 4.3-liter V8 engine, the car travels from 0-100 km/h in less than four seconds. Other features include the F1-Trac system (seen on the 599 GTB Fiorano), carbon/ceramic brakes, and a multilink rear suspension system.
"We wanted the perfect registration to befit its desirability," said Ferrari North Europe's Richard Gordon. The regional manager continued to say, "Thankfully, DVLA Personalised Registrations released its F-series last year and we worked hard to ensure we were able to secure F1 CAL - a registration that can only be described as ideal for our new car."
Ferrari will try to produce roughly 5,000 units of the California every year. The car is believed to be sold out through 2012.


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Our Mandate Is Simple...
To help and educate people so that they can regain
their health and achieve their fitness goals 7 minutes at a time..
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
IBM Shows Off "Empathic" Robot, Offers Watson To Diabetics
IBM doesn’t do Consumer Electronics, but IBM Chief Executive Ginni Rometty is making a big speech tonight at CES (The Consumer Electronics Show, a Superbowl of gadgets and widgets) about the moves that the company’s artificial intelligence platform, Watson, is making into the kitchen, the bank, the gym, and the doctor’s office.


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BASF has agreed to sell its industrial coatings business to AkzoNobel for €475m (US$529m).
The business supplies various types of coatings, including for wind energy plants and commercial transport, and coil, furniture foil and panel coatings. The business had sales of €300m in 2015. AkzoNobel will acquire all of the business’ technologies, patents and trademarks, and its two main manufacturing sites in Deesside, UK, and Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.
BASF will retain its automotives coatings business and said that it will continue to expand its leading position in the sector, as well as strengthening its focus on its decorative paints business. Markus Kamieth, BASF Coatings president, said that the industrial coatings segment will have “positive growth prospects” with AkzoNobel, the global leader in industrial coatings.
“This proposed acquisition will strengthen our position in the important coil coatings market and fits well with our existing business, allowing us to offer essential solutions to our customers,” said AkzoNobel CEO Ton Büchner.
The two companies expect the deal to be completed by the second half of 2016, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approval.
Catch up on the latest news, views and jobs from The Chemical Engineer. Below are the four latest issues. View a wider selection of the archive from within the Magazine section of this site.


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It seems as natural a pairing as any, a yoga studio and a vegan restaurant.
In these days of COVID-19, with all of the hardships faced by small business owners, partnering together and sharing resources and customers can be as powerful a survival strategy as any.
Meet Bodhi Yoga and Chive Kitchen, like-minded neighbors in downtown Farmington.
The two are partnering together on Nourish + Namaste, a Slow Flow yoga class in nearby Shiawassee Park that ends with an entree salad and drink on the patio of Chive Kitchen.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, from 6 to 9 p.m.
"This is a perfect opportunity. Suzy [Silvestre, chef and owner of Chive] and I would call each other and discuss different business ideas since we have similar customers," says Alana Abdal, teacher and owner of Bodhi Yoga.
"Yoga helps us to connect with the mind and body and food helps us to nourish it. It seemed like a natural partnership, and especially during this time."
For Bodhi Yoga, the coronavirus forced the studio to shut its doors back in the middle of March. Since then, they’ve moved courses online to host virtual yoga sessions.
Once the weather broke, Bodhi was able to start hosting sessions in nearby Shiawassee Park. That came as a relief to newer students, Abdal says, who tend to prefer in-person instruction.
For Chive Kitchen, the vegan restaurant made their own adaptations to the pandemic. Chive began offering prepared vegan meals and vegan groceries to-go. They are now also offering limited on-site seating.
This is not the first local partnership that Abdal has forged. She’s hoping to soon renew a Bodhi-Farmington Brewing Company partnership similar to that with Chive, as well.
"Small businesses are the backbones of communities," Abdal says.
"With the two of us coming together, we hope to strengthen downtown Farmington."
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This week in Apple news we learned that the 2020 iPhones could have bigger batteries. While Android devices usually have much bigger batteries than those included with iPhones, Apple’s software does make the battery life last pretty long. In 2020, though, iPhones could get a sizable bump in battery capacity, making them even better at holding a charge.
Elsewhere, we heard about the new Mac Pro finally going on sale, Apple’s return to the Consumer Electronics Show after decades away, and a rogue industry analyst who says that the iPhone 11 Pro lineup isn’t selling well.
See the Apple news roundup below for all the latest.
The top Apple news stories of the past week:
- 2020 iPhone lineup could have much bigger batteries: According to “industry sources” (take that as you will), the lineup of 2020 iPhones could have a custom battery protection module that is significantly smaller and thinner than in previous iPhones. This could result in more internal space in future iPhones, leaving room for more battery.
- Mac Pro and the ridiculously expensive display are on sale: Apple launched the new “cheese grater” Mac Pro back in June but it just now is finally available for you to actually buy. A Mac Pro with maxed-out specs will set you back nearly $60,000, and the ultra-high-end Apple Pro Display XDR monitor will set you back another $5,000, at a minimum. If you want to prop that monitor on a stand, that will cost you another $1,000. Yes, really.
- Apple will return to CES after decades away: Although Apple put up a big ol’ ad at CES 2019, it hasn’t actually had a presence at the event since 1992. That changes in 2020 with Jane Horvath, Apple’s senior director of privacy, attending a roundtable to discuss — you guessed it — privacy.
- Rogue analyst says iPhone 11 Pro isn’t doing well: Although most industry analysts would describe iPhone 11 sales as strong and healthy, one rogue analyst doesn’t agree. According to Rosenblatt analyst Jun Zhang, Apple is cutting iPhone 11 Pro production by 25% because people only want 5G phones. Our eyes can’t roll back far enough for this.
- However, that analyst isn’t completely wrong: While the idea that the iPhone 11 Pro isn’t doing well globally is pretty absurd, there is one market where it definitely isn’t doing well: China. According to esteemed brokerage Credit Suisse, Apple’s iPhone shipments in China fell more than 35% in November, marking their second straight double-digit decline. Time for a new China strategy, Apple.
- Apple’s new acquisition could make iPhone photos better: According to public filings in the United Kingdom, Apple acquired a UK-based startup with technology that improves photos taken on smartphones. A corporate lawyer at Apple took control of Spectral Edge, Ltd. and the rest of the company’s advisors and board members were terminated. Ouch.
Thinking about making the switch?
If you are reading this Apple news article on an iOS device and thinking about making the switch to Android, we have multiple articles and guides that can help you with that process. Despite how it might seem, moving from iOS to Android is easier than ever, and many of the services and systems on iOS have similar or even the same counterparts on Android.
The best place to start would be our guide on how to switch from iPhone to Android, which goes over all the basics. We also have more specific guides, such as how to transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. We also have app guides that will give you the best alternatives to iOS staples, such as our list of best alternatives to FaceTime on Android.
If you’re looking for a great Android device to replace your iPhone, consult our list of the best Android smartphones available now.
More posts about apple


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(Ping! Zine Web Tech Magazine) – Debian Linux-based operating system Ubuntu experienced it latest release with version 13.04 recently.
As an open source operating system, Ubuntu emphasizes benefits including speed, security and compatibility.
So what’s new with the latest version? According to a report from PC Perspective, new inclusions are as follows: new pre-installed apps, a revamped Linux kernel, updated server software stacks, a new Unity desktop environment and more.
Developer Canonical maintains the OS is used by 20 million on a per day basis. Those interested can run it alongside current operating systems including Windows and Mac OS X.


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The experimental new company’s first release arrives in (some) stores this May.
Bad Idea, the new comic book publisher that plans to bypass traditional sales and distribution methods, has released details about its first title. The alternate history series ENIAC comes from Matt Kindt and Doug Braithwaite.
Named for the real-life computer completed in 1945 for the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps after two years of construction, ENIAC‘s story suggests that the computer itself has been behind an extensive plan to drop an atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945 — a plan that seems set to end in the launching of every single nuclear weapon in the world in a handful of days unless two covert operatives can shut it down in time.
ENIAC will be the first release from Bad Idea, the new publisher that intends to limit its releases, both in terms of format — there will be neither digital releases nor collected editions — and availability. Between 20 and 50 comic book stores will distribute its titles with a one-per-customer limit enforced at each location.
The series will launch May 6 at retail locations to be released at a later date.


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The plan for Wal-Mart was to expand into highly populated urban areas, such as New York City, the world capitol of consumerism.
But after losing its first battle in September to open a flagship store in the East New York section of Brooklyn, and after considering the timing of the mayoral primaries in which several of the Democratic candidates support blocking the retailer’s entry into the city, Wal-Mart has decided to scale back its lobbying efforts in New York City, reported The New York Times.
From the beginning, the store has faced intense push-back from local elected officials. For those that oppose the retail giant's entry, they point to the company's low-wage jobs and the huge potential for putting unionized supermarkets out of business.
But it’s not yet over for Wal-Mart: Sources say the company does not plan to give up and is still interested in sites already zoned for retail.
In fact, Steven Restivo, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said the company “remains committed to opening stores all across the U.S., including in large cities.” And Wal-Mart will continue to evaluate opportunities in New York City, he added.
But City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a mayoral candidate and a long-time outspoken opponent of Wal-Mart opening in the city, said, “As long as Wal-Mart’s behavior remains the same, they’re not welcome in New York City.
“New York isn’t changing. Wal-Mart has to change.”


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Last year, the New York Times lab tried leveraging technology onto—I couldn't make this up—the mirror in a shopper's bathroom. Yes, it would beam images back and forth, superimposing ads—where it could—related to what the consumer was doing and helping to choose clothing. This week, it was British department store chain John Lewis' turn.
The Lewis mirrors, being trialed at its flagship London store, use cameras to capture a shopper in the mirror. But the image that is displayed in the mirror is not that shopper wearing whatever she is wearing. Instead it shows that shopper wearing whatever outfit she has selected. In theory, she could "try on" a dozen outfits within two minutes.
Like other mirror and related efforts, this setup (which had help from Cisco) enables images of the outfits and the shopper to be E-mailed to the shopper, and then shared with others. That's the sort of afterthought social media component.
The problem with John Lewis' mirror concept is that it doesn't truly address shopper concerns. Trying on an outfit—even in one of Macy's peek-a-boo changing rooms—is all about feeling the fabric, getting an exact sense of how it fits on you specifically (where does it feel tight or too loose?).
Even those body-measuring kiosks in malls that claim to take hundreds of thousands of measurements in a couple of moments ultimately deliver a garment that the customer must try on in a dressing room.
By the way, magic mirror variations never seem to go anywhere, but technology that sits in the dressing room? That seems to have a much better success rate. Why? Instead of trying to create a new experience that doesn't address the complaints about the old experience, it simply makes the existing method better.
What are the complaints about dressing rooms? Lack of privacy, having to lug too many outfits into too small a room, the challenge of getting an associate to unlock the doors and lack of comfort in general.
Nordstrom wants customer-owned mobile devices in the dressing room to be a key part of its growth, while Guess has a similar idea but wants it done by Guess-owned iPads. In Japan's Mitsukoshi chain, it was RFID and VoIP way back in 2006. Today, some of Japan's dressing rooms are toying with RFID hangers that properly manage inventory no matter what the customer hangs on them.
But a mirror that does a Photoshop superimposing of an idealized outfit on a shopper's video? Attention-generating novelty? Slightly. Something that will address customer needs and, therefore, have lasting power? You're better off asking, "Mirror mirror, at the mall, who has the fairest mirror gimmick of them all?"


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NCM Planning to Add Replica Sinkhole Exhibit
“It’ll be called sensorama. The guests will enter the room and it will simulate what it would have been like if you were in the cave when the sinkhole happened.”
A Corvette enthusiast is leading a campaign to have former General Motors designer Peter Brock inducted into the National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame.
A caller phoned the police last week and said he was holding five hostages at the National Corvette Museum and that a bomb would go off if he didn’t receive $50,000.
Been itching for a way to get one of your beauties on display at the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky? Well, here’s your shot.
The National Corvette Museum celebrated a significant milestone last week with the delivery of the 10,000th Corvette distributed through the museum delivery program.


text: All ministries urged to buy local goods, says minister May 03, 2018 0 2370 12345 Asif Iqbal DohaTo encourage local firms to produce more and reduce the country's dependence on imports, all ministries and government entities have been advised to purchase local products, Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed al Thani has said."The government is taking all the necessary steps to encourage local firms to step up production. All the ministries and government bodies have been advised to increase the percentage of their purchase of local products from 30 percent to 100 percent if the locally-made goods meet the required standards," Sheikh Ahmed said while addressing a Qatar Development Bank (QDB) event recently.The minister pointed out that the government is taking necessary measures to support local entrepreneurs and spur investments. "The country is keen on introducing legislations governing the business environment and is paying great attention to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)," Sheikh Ahmed said.Calling upon the SMEs to seize the promising investment opportunities available in the country, Sheikh Ahmed said the small and medium enterprises should establish innovative projects that serve the nations economic diversification plans.Qatar has outlined plans to help economic diversification in partnership with the private sector by creating competitive business environment that attracts investments."In addition to adopting policies that foster partnership between the public and private sectors, the government encourages the SMEs to invest in non-oil sectors," Sheikh Ahmed added. The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has sought to develop mechanisms for the protection of intellectual property rights to encourage entrepreneurs to establish new and innovative projects, he said.The ministry has also provided e-services to facilitate the patent registration and issue Certificate of Deposit and Preservation of Rights for Copyright, he added.Sheikh Ahmed said the ministry has also been keen on encouraging entrepreneurs to launch projects through initiatives such as granting licences to carry out business activities at home, regulate the work of street vendors, as well as offering several investment opportunities in education, health, tourism and sports sectors. He said recently 12 investment opportunities for licensing vendor vehicles were offered.Sheikh Ahmed said the economic diversification efforts of the government is showing encouraging results and this is evident from the fact that the contribution of the non-oil sector to GDP accounted for about 52 percent in 2017. "This balanced economic performance has also contributed to enhancing the confidence of the business community in our national economy at both the local and global levels," he added.


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Mercedes-Benz India today announced an increase in the price of its entire model range effective from 1st September, 2013. The quantum of price revision will be in the range of 2.5% to 4.5%. Exchange rate effects, higher import duties and rising input costs coupled with a host of other unfavorable factors like higher interest rates has been impacting the bottomlines.
Prices of the Mercedes car models after revision would be: (All prices are ex-showroom Mumbai).
• The new A 180 CDI luxury compact will now be priced at Rs. 22.05 lakhs, an increase of 4%.
• The B 180 CDI Luxury Tourer will now be pricier by 4% at Rs. Rs. 23.50 lakhs.
• The C-Class 200 CGI Avantgarde sedan will now cost Rs. 32.25 lakhs an increase of 2.5%.
• The newly launched E-Class 200 CGI Avantgarde will now be available at Rs. 42.16 lakhs, up by 3.5%.
• The ML-Class 250 CDI luxury SUV will now be priced at 50.98 lakhs up by 4%.
Mr. Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented, “The rising input costs along with higher import duties have been creating significant pressure on our bottomlines for quite some time now. The constant weakening of the currency and the increase in other relevant taxes further impacted the business, adversely. We have been absorbing a significant portion of these impacts till now, but to run a sustained and profitable business in the long run, revising the prices upwards was inevitable. However, despite the price hike, the attractive financial solutions from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services like ‘Flexinomics’, ‘STAR Agility’ and ‘STAR Supersonic’ loan approvals etc. are all tailor made for our customers. These solutions will provide benchmarking value proposition enabling a hassle free purchase, while our after-sales programmes like Star Care, Star Ease and Road Side Assistance, will enhance the customer’s overall ownership experience.”


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Federal lawmakers and a growing number of governors are banning TikTok from government devices, citing security issues.
Lawmakers say they are concerned the Chinese government could gain access to Americans’ user data. The short-form video app owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd. became a hit during the pandemic, growing to more than 100 million American users and winning ad dollars from U.S. businesses.
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PHUKET: Foreign diplomats representing at least six countries are to meet Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa to address the growing problem of cheats and swindlers targeting Phuket tourists.
The news was reported through state news agency the National News Bureau of Thailand.
Tourism and Sports Ministry Spokesperson Watchara Kannika announced that EU Ambassador David Lipman, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand, and the ambassadors of six countries, including Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the Netherlands, are to meet Mr Chumpol to brainstorm a solution to the increasing problem of tourists being cheated and swindled in Phuket.
Mr Chumpol said that the problem of tourism cheats operating in Phuket has become an international issue that calls for immediate action.
The most common rip-off schemes that tourists face include overpriced products and services, low-quality products, low-standard services and exaggerated damage claims on broken items, said the report.
Meanwhile, the Tourism and Sports Ministry will launch a blacklist of jewelry shops that sell low-quality items at inflated prices, it was announced.
The names of such shops will be put on the website of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as well as that of the Department of Tourism.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has also been instructed to inform its overseas offices regarding this issue, said the report.
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Telstra has just announced its very first smart phone plan with “unlimited” data… but it has a speed cap.
And you have to bring your own phone.
Called ‘Endless Data BYO Plan’, it is priced at $69 per month, with a minimum cost of $828 over 12 months. The plan comes with ‘unlimited data’, but only the first 40GB per month will be uncapped. If you go over the limit the speed will drop to 1.5Mbps.
“We know how important it is to our customers that they can access the fastest speeds available to them on our network. That’s why our unlimited plan comes with 40GB of data to enjoy at uncapped speeds, unlimited sports action, and then data capped at 1.5Mbps to get customers through the month if they need it,” says Vicki Brady, Group Executive of Telstra Consumer and Small Business.
This sounds a lot like Optus’ ‘Unleashed’ plans from earlier this year that also offered ‘unlimited’ data with a 1.5Mbps cap. It didn’t go unnoticed by media outlets and when the telco was questioned by the Australian Financial Review, all marketing material relating to the offer was removed from the Optus website.
And while this certainly isn’t the same situation that Optus was in back in 2012 when it was fined $3.6 million for offering “unlimited” download plans that had undisclosed limitations – it still doesn’t entirely sit right.
In fact, it begs the question on whether ‘unlimited’ is an appropriate term to be attaching to plans that do, in fact, have limitations.
We have reached out to Telstra for comment and will update this story if we receive a response.


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Super Bowl ads already sold out
- Staff New York Business Journal
If your business was contemplating spending $4 million for a 30-second advertisement during the Super Bowl this year, you’re too late, according to Louisville Business First.
The New York Times reported that Fox Broadcasting has sold all its available advertising time during this year’s Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2. Among the companies that bought airtime were Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Butterfinger, Dannon Oikos yogurt, Doritos, GoDaddy, Intuit, SodaStream, Wonderful Pistachios and Cheerios brand cereal, according the paper reported.
Dannon was among the big advertisers for last year's Super Bowl as well.
The Dannon plant in Minster — just north of Dayton — is the largest yogurt manufacturing facility in North America. The plant in recent years has added 50 jobs and increased its footprint in southern Auglaize County where it produces 3 million yogurt cups daily. The company employs about 400 workers at the 336,000-square-foot facility.
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That Rihanna reign just won’t seem to let up…any time soon at least! The multi-million dollar music and fashion powerhouse will be honored with the Fashion Icon Award at the 2014 Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards on June 2nd at the Lincoln Center.
“We are proud to present Rihanna with the CFDA Fashion Icon Award for her impact on the industry as fashion’s most exciting ambassador in recent memory” CFDA CEO, Steven Kolb stated in the huge announcement. Along with @Badgalriri’s music, acting, and fashion designer credentials, she will be recognized and honored for her contributions to the fashion industry as well as her philanthropic partnership with the MAC AIDS Fund’s Viva Glam campaign.
The Fashion Icon Award is given to an individual whose style has made a significant impact on popular culture on an international stage. With Rihanna’s timeless and evolving fashion style, CFDA could not have chosen a better candidate for the award other than Ms. Fenty. Whether “She” is in a sheer Balmain Top or an elegant Stella McCartney piece, Rihanna certainly knows how to work fashion from all angles and turn it into her very own muse.
Most importantly what and who will Rih Rih be wearing to the CFDA awards? Either way I’m more than sure she will look stunning as usual. Rihanna joins the ranks of past CFDA winners such as Lady Gaga, Iman, Kate Moss, and Nicole Kidman.


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An anonymous reader quotes ZDNet: The Russian Parliament is debating a bill that will force all electronic equipment sold in Russia — such as smartphones, computers, and smart TVs — to ship pre-installed with apps from Russian tech firms. According to lawmakers, “the bill will protect the interests of Russian Internet companies and will reduce the abuse by large foreign companies, working in the field of information technology.”
If the bill is approved, the Russian government will publish a list of electronic devices that will need to comply with this new law. Smartphones, tablets, computers, servers, and smart TVs are expected to be on the list. Devices that don’t run a complex OS or custom software will be exempt. The government will also publish, per each device type, a list of Russian software that equipment vendors will need to include on devices sold in Russia.
of this story at Slashdot.


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In independent Bangladesh, restaurants and other eateries are the freest entities, completely at liberty to do according to their sweet will in terms of food quality and price rates of the stuff they serve. A visit to posh food courts or roadside eating places will make the point clear. The restaurant owners are fully free to serve you stale food. The so called fresh foods they serve are also prepared in a most unhygienic environment with adulterated or recycled ingredients. Sometimes we hear about sporadic anti-adulteration drives but, for lack of continuity, they hardly have an impact on the unethical practices of the eatery owners.
A common witty comment about restaurants in the country is that some food items in them are as old as the restaurants themselves because, it is believed, the owners do not throw away a day’s leftover but add them to the fresh ones the next day. It is not without reasons that the owners and the stuff members of these eateries do not eat what they serve to the customers. And what is to be said about the food prices and service charges? Those are the exclusive jurisdictions of the restaurant owners. A man even in a delirium fantasy cannot remember regulatory measures in ensuring quality and fixing price of the foods and services.Against this backdrop, we hear for the first time that an initiative is on to introduce a grading system for the restaurants in the city. According to a back page story of this daily yesterday, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) is going to introduce a sticker system for the city’s more than seven thousand restaurants to indicate to what extent an eating house follows hygiene and food safety regulations. Under the initiative, the restaurants will be classified into three categories based on their service quality. Gradually restaurants of other cities and urban centres should also be brought under similar initiative. It may be mentioned that such grading systems are quite common around the world to help identify restaurants according to their quality. What BFSA is going to do is a most welcome initiative. It is hoped that this will help remove anarchy in the country’s catering services and ensure safe foods for the customers.


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Nokia 2, the entry-level smartphone from HMD Global, which was launched on 31st October in India, is now available to purchase in Russia. With this, Russia has become the first market where the smartphone is available.
In Russia, the Nokia 2 smartphone has been priced at RUB 7,990, which is roughly 116 Euros or $115. It was on pre-order in Russia for about a week.
The smartphone features a 5-inch HD LTPS display with a screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and 16:9 aspect ratio. There is a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top for protection. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor, making it the first smartphone to run on Snapdragon 212. The processor is coupled with Adreno 304 GPU.
It packs just 1GB of RAM and only 8GB of internal storage. There is a microSD card slot which allows to expand storage upto 128GB. As of the camera department, the phone comes with an 8-megapixel rear facing autofocus camera with an LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Nokia has also included “Bothie” feature which allows users to use both front and rear cameras simultaneously.
Connectivity features on the device include Dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS / GLONASS. The device is fueled by a massive 4,100mAh battery, which is rated to provide two days of battery life on a single charge. The phone also comes with IP52 certification, meaning that the device is splash proof.
The Nokia 2 smartphone runs on the stock version of Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box, and comes with Google Assistant. The company has also promised to update the device with Android 8.0 Oreo “shortly”.
When launched, the company revealed the pricing of the smartphone to be 99 Euros, but because of taxes and import fees, it is more expensive in Russia than in Europe. Although the smartphone was announced in India, it is yet to go up for sale in the country.


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Profit at media conglomerate The Walt Disney Co. soared 89 percent in the fourth quarter, reflecting strong performance of its movies worldwide, increased attendance at its theme parks and higher revenue from its ESPN cable channel.
The Burbank-based company reported net income of $782 million, or 36 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to $379 million, or 19 cents per share in the same period last year.
Revenue increased to $8.784 billion from 7.734 billion in the same period last year.
The results beat analyst expectations of 34 cents per share on revenue of $8.694 billion.
Profit rose at its studio, theme parks and media networks divisions, which includes the ABC network, but remained flat at its consumer products unit as the company increased its investment in video games.
The company also delivered a 34 percent increase in net income for the full year, driven primarily by a sharp increase in profits at its studio.
The studio gain came largely from a reduction in marketing costs this year, compared to higher costs last year for distributing a slew of Miramax films the company was obligated to release.


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Payments Council Report Reveals Changes in Payment Behaviour
A new report called ‘The Way We Pay 2010′, published by the Payments Council, shows a payments revolution occurred in the UK in the past decade, and this looks set to continue. The last decade not only saw the rise of internet banking and shopping but it was also the decade where cards took control of consumers’ wallets as cheques and cash were increasingly replaced by a card – particularly the debit card.
Rapid decline of cash wages
A decade ago, one in eight workers still got paid cash-in-hand. By 2009 just one in 20 took wages home in notes and coins. By 2018, it will be only one in 50. Interestingly in the mid-2000s, the shift away from cash halted temporarily, before falling again in 2008. A much bigger switch from cash has taken place in state benefit payments: 10 years ago, 87% of benefits and pensions were paid in cash; today, 79% are paid directly into bank accounts. The demise of cash wages has been driven by the ongoing expansion in the number of automated payments and cash machines. There are 63,000 holes in the wall in the UK today, two-and-a-half times more than 10 years ago.
Use of cash predicted to fall below half of all transactions for first time
On the face of it, cash still looks popular. Six in 10 transactions still involve cash, but almost 80% of these are less than £10. In just five years time, cash transactions are expected to represent less than half the total for the very first time. The value of cash consumers use is dwindling even faster compared to their wealth and spending, rising only 7% in the last 10 years, while overall consumer spending has doubled. If consumers had not made the move to other payments such as cards, then they would need £102bn more in their wallets each year to meet their spending needs today, compared to 10 years ago. This equates to £2,050 more for each adult per year, or £40 per week each.
Cheques check out
Cheque usage has been falling since 1990. Just 0.8% of retail transactions are now made by cheques. By value, 60% of what consumers pay by cheque is now for financial transactions (savings, investments, paying credit card bills).
Credit cards reach maturity as debit cards rise to dominate the payments revolution
Card usage has flourished as traditional payment means have withered. But credit card usage has actually fallen in real terms since 2005. Debit cards have become the payments workhorses. There has been an increase in how much consumers spend on cards four-fold in 10 years, and are expected to use them six billion times this year. Increasingly debit cards have taken over both higher value credit card payments, and lower value cash payments. By 2018, one in four of all transactions will be on a debit card, up from just 5% 10 years ago. This could prove a conservative forecast as the contactless revolution gathers pace – with more cards carrying contactless technology being issued and more retailers rolling out the new technology.
Faster Payments catch on quickly
The latest act in the payments revolution is the arrival of Faster Payments. At launch, it was calculated that about 8% of Bacs phone and online banking payments and standing orders payments were eligible to become Faster Payments, but in fact, many more payments have materialised suggesting that customers have decided to replace a cheque or cash payment in favour of something faster. Half of regular standing orders have now migrated to Faster Payments, while individuals are making around 10 million more one-off internet and phone payments per month than before the new system was launched.
Business Reaction to the Report
Jim Woodworth, head of business services at ACI Worldwide
“Today’s report from the Payments Council supports the widely accepted view that consumers are increasingly abandoning paper forms of payment such as cash in favour of more convenient electronic options including debit card transactions. In order to support this so-called ‘payments revolution’, financial institutions need to make sure their systems are developing at the same pace. As the volume of electronic payments increases year-on-year, banks need to be able to cope with both the growth in the number of payments and the increasing potential for fraud, as well as the emergence of new ways to pay, such as contactless cards and Faster Payments.
“Looking ahead, our perceptions of cards and what they can do will become much broader. In the future, more banks are likely to move towards the development of multi-application cards, which will be able to include authentication, transit, access to money and identification services. The UK is likely to be at the forefront of this revolution, as UK consumers are generally more experienced using cards than our neighbours in Europe.”
Nick Ogden, chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Voice Commerce Group
“It comes as no surprise that the Payments Council has again articulated the demise of cash in their latest report with usage rising just 7% over 10 years, while total spending has doubled. The switch away from cash has been long coming with the latest statistics demonstrating that the payments market is changing as consumers look for more secure and convenient ways to pay. While change is exactly what is needed and technology innovations driving the uptake of mobile and online, the threat of fraud and identity theft becomes more prevalent as hackers get better at cracking these new payment technologies. With this in mind there is now a need for a truly secure method for customers and businesses to authorise and verify transactions in the most convenient way possible. In the coming decade those who can align convenience with security really do stand to revolutionise the way we pay.”
Ian Kerr, chief executive officer (CEO) of Level Four
“The UK Payment Council report highlights both the increased use of the ATM as well as the need for banks to roll out new services at this channel. It is clear that ATMs dominate the way in which consumers access their cash as the report states that cash machine withdrawals have almost doubled in the past decade. Much of the increase in ATM traffic is due to consumers using the terminal in place of the branch so the roll out of new functionality to enable this trend to continue will be key. However, cash use in general was found to be declining, consequently banks must continue to innovate at the ATM in order to ensure that it remains an essential point of interaction with the bank.
“To continue to generate cost savings and ROI [return on investment] at this terminal, banks should provide value added functionality and, critically, reliability. While enabling new functionality such as mobile top up and contactless is important, banks must not forget the basics. Keeping ATM networks constantly up and running as the number of services and complexity of the channel increases, will be a critical challenge for banks. ATM downtime can damage brand reputation among a consumer demographic who clearly value and expect a quick and convenient service from their bank. Consequently, traditional manual testing of ATMs is no longer enough and automated testing will be one of the key tools for banks looking to maximise ROI and customer service at this channel.”
Steve Brunswick, strategy manager at Thales Information Systems Security
“Today’s launch of the UK Payment Council’s report on payment trends further cements the online channel’s place on the leader board when it comes to the future of payment transactions. The report states that two-thirds of UK consumers now shop online, while traditional forms of payment such as cheque and cash are declining, albeit at different speeds. The prominence of online is clear, however less so are the actions being taken by banks to secure this channel.
“As friends increasingly use online banking as opposed to cash to make payments between themselves and with 22 million adults now banking online, no financial institution can afford to be complacent. The figures speak for themselves; clearly there is no better time to ensure online security is top of the agenda.”


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Bitcoin and cryptocurrency stipends have gained regulatory recognition in many parts of the globe including Switzerland, Estonia, Italy, Russia, United States, Japan, and New Zealand. However, when it comes to other major sectors or businesses, cryptocurrencies are not yet being used for remuneration. Individuals and firms in the aforementioned jurisdictions are seriously exploiting the benefits of legal digital currency payments.
The Swiss Confederation is one of the nations that has made itself a more Bitcoin-friendly market and has become a paradigm in several references, such as the manner it is holding Bitcoin remunerations. A wide range of cryptoasset firms and businesses including Ether Foundation, Shapeshift, Xapo, Libra Association, etc. are continuously opening up offices within the Swiss Crypto Valley.
Back in the days, the Alpine federation was an exemplar to many when it comes to geopolitical neutrality and financial confidentiality. However, in the last few years, the federation was tainted by potent actors like the European Union and the United States. But, the introduction of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ether, Ripple and others in the region have given Switzerland a great opportunity to reclaim its position in the minds of digital currency users, and indeed the Swiss has welcomed the chance with two hands.
The financial authorities in Switzerland have tried and are continuing to formulate a solid regulatory frame that will properly manage cryptocurrency activities and other instances where virtual currencies are used such as taxation. The financial authorities in the country have even come out to request all individuals who are being paid using cryptoassets such as BTC, ETH, XRP, etc. to declare it and also go ahead to pay taxes accordingly. These taxes will have to be made like the way they tax traditional salaries.
Cryptocurrency profits of users have been treated as tax-exempt capital, but now, traders and investors might pay wealth tax that is directly charged on the total sum of cryptocurrencies they own, akin to fiat currency or valuable metals.
In addition, there are also a multitude of giant countries where cryptocurrency adoption has reached to greater heights. For instance, ½ of financial technology (fintech) firms are paying their workers using cryptocurrencies. Also, blockchain and Bitcoin firms authorized to operate in Estonia are motivating and remunerating their customers and employees with tokens. In japan, its leading internet provider GMO Internet Group, revealed that it will start paying salaries of its over 5,000 workforces in cryptoassets. Also in the US, one of the top virtual currency exchanges began the journey of tipping the wages of its over 250 workers using BTC.


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If true, it would bring Ma into direct competition with Tencent, while teaming him up with Masayoshi Son
The Singaporean ride-hailing company Grab is reportedly raising a massive US$1.5 billion fundraising round, and if Bloomberg reports are true, they may be adding Asia’s brightest star to the investment pool.
According to a report today in Bloomberg, Jack Ma is considering joining Softbank in its US$1.5 billion funding of the continuing battle for Southeast Asia between Grab, Go-jek and Uber.
A Grab spokesperson told e27 the company will not comment on rumours.
The Bloomberg article was unclear if the money would come from Alibaba or Ant Financial, but if it goes through, Ma would be in direct competition with Tencent. In May, Go-jek reportedly closed a US$1.2 billion round from Tencent.
Grab has been openly focussed on expanding its payments platform, making it a major part of its Indonesia master plan. Bloomberg pointed out than an investment from Ma would bring Alipay into the equation.
Just to make the entire picture complete, Bloomberg reports that China’s Didi Chuxing is considering investment in this round (Didi has already invested in Grab).
Chinese tech giants entering Southeast Asia
One of the major macro-stories of the past year has been the increased investments in Southeast Asian startups by Chinese tech giants.
Besides the Go-jek investment, Tencent also dropped US$54 million into the music app Smule — an American company that has the majority of its users in Southeast Asia.
It also launched a joint-venture with Thailand’s Ookbee in January to grow digital content.
Ma, between Alibaba and Ant Financial, has been in a similar trajectory. Alibaba is reportedly working to partner with Emtek Group in Indonesia and Ant Financial entered the region for the first time in late-2016 with an investment in Ascend Money.
Finally, if the rumours are true, it would bring together possibly the two most famous tech personalities in Asia.
With Softbanks reported involvement, CEO Masayoshi Son would be partnering with Ma; it is difficult to think of a more star-studded duo in Asia than those two.


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Even though countries in Asia have local, authority-regulated garbage collection, there remains a significant gap in related areas like plastic collection, aggregation, and recycling. For Thailand specifically, plastic waste management is a concern, especially as sustainability becomes a more significant part of the country’s long-term agenda.
To improve its waste management of plastics, Thailand is expected to ban the shipment and importation of plastic waste from other countries by 2025, per The Business Times. Ultimately, this will help reduce the inflow of plastic waste while also providing interested parties with potential investment opportunities in the sustainability sector.
Tax Incentives to Cut Plastic Waste
In addition to banning plastic waste imports by 2025, the Ministries of Industry and Finance have collaborated to develop a new tax incentive scheme to encourage businesses across several industries to limit their consumption of biodegradable plastics and reduce plastic pollution. Those in the retail industry will likely feel the most immediate impact as the sector is notorious for plastic use in its products.
This tax incentive will deduct approximately 25% of the total companies spend on biodegradable plastic products from 2022 to 2024. To qualify for the tax reduction, operators must purchase and source their biodegradable plastic products from licensed manufacturers who have undergone a certification process conducted by the Industry Ministry. As of January 2023, seven certified manufacturers have 72 licenses to produce various biodegradable plastic products.
With most Thai businesses already moving away from single-use plastics, the tax reduction program will further solidify Thailand’s commitment to using eco-friendly substitutes like biodegradable plastics. Given that local enterprises have been receptive to such changes, the path to sustainable development is a realistic venture but will take time. The participation of both the public and private sectors will be the key driver to the national sustainability agenda in the short and long term.
Business Opportunities in the Private Sector
As Thailand aims to adopt less harmful and modern waste management practices, the private sector will be presented with business opportunities to innovate, especially those with expertise in sustainability. Several startups across Asia have already created a niche while innovating the plastic waste supply chain, and stakeholders in Thailand can aim to replicate similar success.
For instance, India-based Ricron Panels turns non-recyclable waste into building materials and construction sheets like plywood. Meanwhile, a startup in Indonesia called Kibumi is digitally transforming the plastic recycling supply chain by introducing modern waste collection points. Currently, the start-up alone can manage 410 tons of waste per month. These examples perfectly illustrate the opportunities available to the private sector in Thailand, as they reflect which industries can expand into and innovate the landscape of plastic waste management.
Sectors like construction, retail, and technology, to name a few, can all integrate sustainable plastic waste management practices into their current operations. Doing so will reap several benefits, namely: (1) strengthens corporate social responsibility, which is becoming increasingly important due to consumer awareness, (2) increases flexibility and adaptability of operations in the long-term; and (3) helps drive and scales up Thailand’s sustainability agenda.
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