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Netflix Releases Teaser Trailer For Cuphead Animated Series
A couple of years ago, Netflix announced that they would be developing an animated series for the indie hit game, Cuphead. The good news is that it looks like that time is almost upon us because Netflix has since published a teaser trailer for the upcoming series, and we have to say that we’re pretty excited.
Netflix Confirms Castlevania Spin-Off Series In The Works
The fourth season of the Castlevania animated series on Netflix was confirmed to be the last, but it was also reported that Netflix was interested in expanding on the Castlevania universe. The good news for those who have enjoyed the series is that Netflix has since confirmed that a new spin-off series is in the works.
More Information Revealed About Netflix’s Plan To Expand To Video Games
While all-you-can-consume subscription programs aren’t new, Netflix’s name has kind of been synonymous with that, which is why people call things the “Netflix” of something to indicate that you pay a single subscription and have full access to everything. It seems that that is the approach the company could go for for its video game service.
Netflix Could Be Considering Getting Into Video Games
Netflix is known for one thing and one thing only, video streaming of TV shows and movies. However, it seems that the company wants to expand beyond videos and could be looking to get into video games. This is according to a report from The Information (paywall) where their sources have told them that Netflix has approached veteran game industry execs to help lead their expansion into video games.
Trailer For Netflix’s Final Season Of ‘Castlevania’ Released
While TV show or movie adaptions of video games have never really fared that well in the past, Netflix’s Castlevania series has actually been quite a hit amongst fans and viewers. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end because if you recall, Netflix did confirm that the last season of Castlevania will be released next month.
Netflix Announces Final Season For Castlevania For May 13
For the past few years, Netflix has been releasing new seasons for their Castlevania animated series. For those who are looking forward to the next season, you will be pleased to learn that Netflix has announced the release date which is currently set for the 13th of May. However, the company also announced that this will be the final season in the series.
Live-Action Gundam Movie Announced For Netflix
Live-action movies involving massive robots battling against each other or monsters aren’t new, but to date we have yet to see that treatment given to popular anime series Gundam, at least until now. Netflix has announced that they will be developing a live-action movie set in the Gundam universe which will be directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts.
Netflix Is Looking To Crackdown On Password Sharing
Depending on which Netflix plan you subscribe to, you could have up to multiple simultaneous streams going on at once. The idea is that this is meant to be used within a household where you might be watching one show on Netflix and your other family members could be watching something else.
Netflix Is Creating A Terminator Animated Series
To date, there have been many movies made around the Terminator franchise. There has also been TV series made based on it, but if you’re a fan and you’re hoping for more, you’re in luck because Netflix has recently announced that they will be developing a new animated series also based on Terminator.
Should Apple Have Acquired Netflix? Analyst Thinks It Was Apple’s Biggest Mistake
Apple is kind of late to the streaming game, but the thing is, so was Disney, but yet Disney+ is pulling miles ahead of Apple with some believing that Disney+ could even overtake Netflix by 2026. This is why Wedbush analyst Dan Ives thinks that one of Apple’s biggest mistakes in the last decade or so was not buying Netflix.
Netflix Can Now Automatically Download Shows It Thinks You Want To Watch
Netflix allows users to download TV shows and movies from its catalogue for offline viewing. They even have a Smart Downloads feature that automatically downloads episodes of a series you’re watching and delete the previous one so that you can keep watching the series if you’re offline.
Valve’s Dota 2 Will Be Getting Its Own Animated Series On Netflix
Dota 2 is one of the most played games around the world, with Valve hosting an annual tournament that brings the best players together with prize money that puts more traditional sporting competitions to shame. That being said, we’re not surprised that they are looking to expand on the franchise.
Disney+ Could Overtake Netflix In The Next 5 Years
Right now Netflix is pretty much sitting at the top of the list when it comes to streaming. Despite being late to the party, Disney+ is actually doing pretty well for itself and seems to be rising rapidly, but could it rise fast enough where it might eventually overtake Netflix? Turns out that some think that is a possibility, a possibility that could occur in the next 5 years.
Netflix’s Zelda TV Show Was Cancelled Due To A Leak
Some of you might have heard that a few years ago, there was a rumor that suggested that Netflix and Nintendo were working together to develop a TV series based on The Legend of Zelda franchise. Nintendo was quick to shut those rumors down, and now according to a new report from The Serf Times, the show has been cancelled.
Netflix Testing A Sleep Timer For Its Android App
Sometimes after a long day at work or school, we might fall asleep to Netflix playing in the background. This can be annoying as you might wake up and Netflix would have played several episodes and you’ll have to go back and find where you stopped. However, that could change soon with a new sleep timer.
A Tomb Raider Anime Series Will Be Coming To Netflix
While movies based around video games have kind of flopped, it seems that when adapted into different formats like TV shows and animated series, they have fared much better. Netflix’s The Witcher series and its Castlevania series have both done extremely well, and now it looks like the company is trying its hand at yet another video game franchise.
Netflix’s Android App Updated With ‘Studio Quality’ Audio
One of the problems with listening to audio on our smartphones is that it isn’t quite as good compared to dedicated speakers or even a proper set of headphones. This is because speakers on our smartphones are tiny and given the size of our phones, it doesn’t leave a lot of space for it to vibrate, which in turns does affect the overall sound quality.
Netflix To Roll Out A Shuffle Feature In The Coming Months
Netflix is home to a ton of movies and TV shows, some of which are displayed prominently on the main page, while others are hidden behind a search. This means that there could be a ton of movies and TV shows that you could be missing out on, and Netflix thinks that they have a way to get you to watch that.
Netflix Handily Beats Its Own Expectations, Hits 200 Million Subscribers Worldwide
It’s safe to say that despite all the newcomers to the streaming industry, Netflix is still pretty much dominating. According to the company’s latest earnings, they have revealed that they now have over 200 million subscribers worldwide. This is about an increase of 8.5 million subscribers from the previous quarter.
Netflix Testing Spatial Audio Support For AirPods Pro, AirPods Max
One of the problems with using headphones is that sometimes the sound can come across as being a bit one-dimensional. This is usually because of the size of headphones, where only so many drivers can be squeezed into such a small space, thus reducing its ability to create a soundstage that one might expect from a more traditional pair of speakers.


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Skype has a new video messaging feature. Through an Android, iOS or Mac app, you can send other users three-minute recordings.
Sherman, set the wayback machine to ridiculous because back in 1967, Smith-Corona — best known for its typewriters — actually sold a device called the Mail Call. What did it do? Let users record messages on small cartridges and mail them to anyone with a matching device.
Milly Dowler vanished in 2002. It set off a huge sensation in the UK, similar to the Natalee Holloway case in the United States. Now, reports have surfaced that News of the World hacked into her voicemail.

domain: news


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Yogesh Mehta of Motilal Oswal advises buying Reliance Industries, Bank of Baroda and Ashok Leyland.
Yogesh Mehta of Motilal Oswal told CNBC-TV18, "We have all buy calls today. Number one is Reliance Industries, the bellwether on the Nifty component. Rs 848-849 is the current price, keeping a stop loss of Rs 820, one can look at Rs 895-900 as the price target. It is into all-time high territory right now in the last 10 years."
"Bank of Baroda (BoB) on the PSU banks side is a buy. Currently quoting at Rs 144.50 in future segment, Rs 136-137 is a very good strong support. It was languishing there and near to the lows. Target could be in the range of Rs 154-155 levels keeping Rs 140 as a stop loss, or Rs 139 at best."
"Another one is Ashok Leyland which is near to its all-time high. Post GST and all we have seen in last one month good traction from Rs 109 to Rs 118. Currently it is quoting at Rs 118.50-118.16 in futures segment. Keeping Rs 116 as a stop loss, one can look at Rs 123-125 as a price target," he said.


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Eastman Chemical is expanding its cosmetic packaging with two new
polymer bottle lines, one that brings a range of colours, another
that brings increasing flexibility for bottle design. The expansion
is in answer to increasing demands...
German self-adhesive label specialist Herma has joined the
internationally active RFID working group Licon Logistics asa new
member. The move taps into the growing alliance between packaging
providers created by the need by many retailers...
Carton packaging continues to be significant for the cosmetics
industry, with steady global market growth of 9 per cent in the
period 1998-2003 largely represented by a visible shift towards
secondary packaging for mass market brands.
Sun Chemical has increased the price of all packaging inks and
coatings by three to seven per cent this month, blaming rising
petrochemical costs that could affect the entire packaging industry
for the next couple of years.
Innovative production and design techniques in glass packaging will
be decisive factors in the future growth of the cosmetics sector,
claims German packaging company the Gerresheimer Group. Tom
Silgan Holdings has confirmed the acquisition of the plastic tube
manufacturing assets of Amcor Plastube located in Pennsylvania, US.
The acquisition is part of its acquisitive streak in the cosmetics
tubes packaging sector.
Italian packaging company G Candiani has launched a new perfume
called Just Cavalli. Part of the the Roberto Cavalli fragrance
line, it uses glass polymer packaging from Eastman Chemical to help
produce a bottle that uses three different...
Packaging and bottling systems provider Krones has developed a new
high-speed packing tray capable of running at up to 100 cycles per
minute and a new PET-Asept Filling System for cold aseptic filling
of high- and low-acid products...
The organisers of Propak Asia expo, held in Bangkok last month,
claim that strong growth and an upward trend in investment in the
region's processing and packaging markets were reflected by record
attendance, with particular...
An Italian company has selected Eastman's glass polymer for the
bottle for Just Cavalli, a new Roberto Cavalli fragrance. The
transparent bottle is made up from different fully integrated
parts: a glass core, a resin shoulder...
French stamping foil manufacturer Kurz has developed a wide variety
of design options, including a dual processing system that utilises
a hot stamping and overprinting process, as demonstrated at Drupa
French beauty salon brand Matis opted for a vessel made from
Eastman Specialty Plastics' super-transparent copolyester resin,
Glass Polymer, to convey the superior qualities of its new luxury
range of face creams.
Crown Zeller has introduced two new small-sized flip-top packaging
products for small bottles and tubes, suitable for use with hotel
amenities, sample- or travel-sized toiletries and cosmetics
The fast turnaround and high quality finish of Decorative Sleeves'
latest UV Flexo printing technology has enabled the company to
produce and deliver special promotional sleeves to L'Oréal to meet
critical customer deadlines.
Perfume bottle designer Pierre Dinand and branding and
communications expert Tim Girvin have formed an alliance to offer
brand design programmes for prestige beauty and fragrance
clients, writes Louise Sheridan.
Sonoco, a global packaging company, has signed a definitive
agreement to acquire privately held CorrFlex Graphics, a US
point-of-purchase (POP) display company, for an all-cash purchase
price of approximately €210 million.
Avery Dennison Roll Materials Europe has unveiled Fasson
Iridescent, a multi-layered film in their premium packaging range,
claimed to give designers a creative means of achieving
multi-colour shelf impact, without the use of additional...
A container made from Eastman Chemical Company's Glass
Polymer copolyester resin has been choosen for the latest
Alexander McQueen designer label toiletry product, Kingdom. The
material is boasted to have crystal-clear properties...
Expression is to be the key word for design innovation in 2004,
according to the German Gerresheimer group that exhibited at
Cosmoprof in Bologna over the weekend. New design ideas were
filtered from regional and international markets...
L'Oréal has been named 'Packager of the Year' for 2003 by
CPC Packaging, an American trade journal for the cosmetics and
personal care industry. The award underlines the Group's capacity
to meet consumer needs...
Elopak Plastic Divisions is to showcase an overview of its products
and services at the Total Packaging & Processing event in
Birmingham next week. Unifill will exhibit its portfolio of
innovative portion packages for food, personal...
Owens-Illinois - the largest manufacturer of glass containers in
America, Australia and New Zealand - is to make further inroads
into Europe. The company that packages cosmetics has announced a
definitive agreement to acquire BSN...
Appleton has introduced MoistureBloc for Ream Wrap, a completely
repulpable and 100-percent recyclable ream wrap developed for
environmentally friendly paper-based products. The company claims
that the product offers excellent moisture...
Eastman Specialty Plastics (ESP) has introduced Glass Polymer, a
value-based alternative to glass. The material - that looks and
feels like glass - is claimed to provide manufacturers with a
durable and shatter-resistant alternative...
The first-ever encyclopedia for the label industry is to be
launched this year at Labelexpo Americas 2004. The encyclopedia is
the result of almost four years of research by Mike Fairley,
founder and publisher of Labels & Labeling...
Airspray has signed a packaging agreement with Procter & Gamble
to produce F2 instant-foam dispensers for P&G's latest Pantene
Pro-V product launch. European-based Airspray already supplies
dispensers to Wella, L'Oréal...
Rieke Dispensing has launched a new 10ml pump, which is said to be
capable of handling a variety of liquid products from free-flowing
liquids to highly viscous creams, as well as those containing small
Palomar Medical Technologies has launched its new pulsed-light and
laser system - StarLux - at the American Academy of Dermatology's
(AAD) annual meeting. The system includes the Lux1064 YAG laser
handpiece to treat vascular...
Airspray International today announced the launch of the first
dual-chambered foam mechanism to be made for consumer products.
Entering the market in the company's third quarter, the Dual Foamer
opens up new design possibilities...
The Gerresheimer Group, an international manufacturer of glass
packaging for perfume and cosmetics, is to expand its opal-glass
production in Belgium. New high-performance smelting and production
facilities were commissioned by the...
Diamond Packaging is to be honoured for its creativity at the
International Mobius Advertising Awards. The company's Trix Remix
Counter Display and Sampler - produced for L'Oreal USA - warded off
competition from 33 other...
A new acrylic coating claimed to guarantee seal retention in humid
environments has encouraged Colgate-Palmolive to introduce a new
line of soap-bar packaging. The new film, Bicor MBR666, is believed
to be ideal for the design of...
Aluminium and packaging multi-national, Alcan, has acquired the
remaining 65 per cent stake of the French Aluminium Dunkerque
smelter. The move comes six months after acquiring the initial 35
per cent share - previously owned by Pechiney...


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Nigeria: Bank PHB to Sponsor CNN's Personality Programme
Bank PHB has emerged the exclusive sponsor of CNN International's brand new weekly half-hour interview programme 'African Voices', which debuted over the weekend.
The commercial partnership positions Bank PHB against CNN's newest, most ambitious personality-driven editorial commitment to Africa yet, and in front of CNN's upscale audiences across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The advertising campaign will also reach millions of online users globally via CNN.com.
According to CNN's spokeswoman, Syreeta Clarke, 'African Voices' showcases uniquely personal viewpoints and candid, up-close revelations from the international newsmakers who call Africa home.
CNN's in-region correspondents, Robin Curnow, Nkepile Mabuse, David McKenzie and Christian Purefoy along with Atlanta-based Isha Sesay, bring viewers special reports and interviews from the innovators and thought leaders making an impact in Africa and on the global stage - from areas as varied as sport, politics, business and the arts.
"This deal echoes the robust investment CNN International is making in Africa across the whole of our business. More than just an advertising deal, this is a true partnership that establishes a meaningful brand association for Bank PHB against what will be a breakthrough half hour of programming," commented Rani R Raad, SVP Advertising Sales, CNN International.


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Blockchain and cryptocurrency company DMG Blockchain Solutions has invested $2 million in Bosonic, a provider of critical infrastructure eliminating counterparty credit and settlement risk in digital asset markets.
The move is designed to develop DMG’s Blockseer Core+ strategy by providing access to Bosonic’s institutional exchange and Layer-2 blockchain-powered clearing and settlement solutions.
“By completing this transaction, DMG’s new partnership will help the company develop more financial service-related functionality for the Blockseer ecosystem,” DMG CEO Sheldon Bennett said. “This initiative represents significant potential monetization of existing Blockseer clients and the ability of DMG for the first time to aggressively enter the consumer market for Blockseer platforms.”
The DMG investment is part of a larger strategic investment into Bosonic that eventually converts into Bosonic preferred shares. DMG receives these preferred shares based on a 25 per cent discount to a pre-money valuation in Bosonic’s next equity financing round or a $200 million market capitalization, whichever is lower. Bennett will serve a term on the Bosonic board as part of the transaction.
DMG views this as a critical move in reaching its strategic goal to become truly vertically integrated. In the future it could offer customers access to a Blockseer based crypto exchange platform. Additionally, with the recent investment in Brane Capital and DMG’s agreements to onboard Brane’s technology to the Breeze and Freeze wallets, DMG will soon have a custody solution adding to Bosonic’s suite of services, thus providing incremental potential revenue to both partners.
DMG’s planned Petra release (in Beta testing) has also been negotiated as a future product available to all users of Bosonic via Blockseer’s exchange.
“We are extremely excited to partner with DMG, whose Blockseer platform will power the world’s first digital asset ecosystem consisting entirely of clean energy mined and OFAC clean crypto. We believe this will help accelerate adoption of cryptocurrencies by institutions and fiduciaries with its integrated mining, independent custody, and various trade execution facilities within a single environment. This initiative will set a new standard for ESG conscious investors interested in digital assets,” said Rosario Ingargiola, founder and CEO of Bosonic.


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In the week since Bank One Corp. shocked Wall Street and the credit card industry with news that its First USA division was on the skids, bank analysts and investors have been asking themselves if they should have seen it coming.
Most say there was no way to sense how deep First USA's problems ran, though some concede that there were at least faint warning signs such as a slight decline in card receivables between the first and second quarters.
When Bank One and First USA executives disclosed that the holding company would miss its earnings target for 1999 by as much as 8%, they said they, too, were caught off guard by indications that customer attrition is up and growth is faltering.
"If it surprised them, it should be a surprise to us," said David S. Berry, a bank analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods in New York.
Michael J. Ancell, a bank analyst at Edward Jones in St. Louis, said, "There was just no indication that there was anything this wrong."
The news was big enough to knock Bank One's stock price down by as much as 28% and affect other banking sectors' shares.
Katrina Blecher, an analyst at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in New York, said there were indications that First USA was struggling to pick up new customers beginning in the second quarter, despite promises that the credit card division would be one of Bank One's most profitable business units in the second half.
Net income from the credit card business was $303 million in the second quarter, up 54% from the year-earlier period. But average managed credit card receivables declined by about $200 million between the first and second quarters, to $68.9 billion.
"That implies they were stretching for growth," Ms. Blecher said.
Meanwhile, some customers were becoming vocal with displeasure about First USA's late-fee practices. In April, a group seeking class-action status filed a lawsuit in Dallas accusing First USA of unfairly charging late fees. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency received more service complaints from First USA cardholders in the first half of the year than from customers at the next nine surveyed credit card issuers combined.
Bank One executives conceded last week that their previous late-fee policy, which was to charge about $29 if a payment was received on the due date or later, caused some customers to leave. That policy recently was revised so that late fees kick in the day after the due date. First USA said it has also corrected problems in posting some customer payments that were processed by a third party.
Those fixes did not prevent customers from canceling First USA accounts. Attrition spiked by 30% in recent months, with the overall attrition rate moving from the low teens to the high teens, First USA chief executive officer Richard Vague said.
Those trends prompted Bank One to add several sentences to its August 10Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission about the brewing troubles at First USA, said Robert A. Rosholt, Bank One's chief financial officer. The company warned that the environment for credit card issuers remained highly competitive while demand for unsecured consumer debt products was moderating.
"This is likely to result in slower growth in receivables and revenue for the credit card industry in the near term," the 10Q said.
If those sentences were meant as a wakeup call, most analysts said it wasn't loud enough.
"The 10Q was boilerplate," said Mr. Ancell of Edward Jones. "There's no way to read between those lines."
Some analysts including Mr. Ancell have been wary of a Bank One misstep ever since Charlotte, N.C.-based First Union Corp. announced this summer that it was falling behind expectations. Mr. Ancell said in July that he was concerned about Bank One's integration of First Chicago NBD Corp., a company it acquired 11 months ago, just as First Union has disappointed the markets with its handling of CoreStates Financial Corp.
Given the pedestal that First USA seemed to occupy within Bank One, the revelation "was a big shock," Mr. Ancell said. "First USA was always a good growth opportunity."
Mr. Berry said that "the assumption was First USA was off on the sidelines and performing beautifully."
Bank One has lost some credibility with analysts. Most said it would take several quarters, if not a year, of predictable earnings growth to repair the loss of confidence and prove that the company is back on track.
Several analysts have turned bearish toward the entire sector. They said they expect additional companies to make earnings-shortfall announcements this year.
"We don't think these are isolated events," said Michael Mayo of Credit Suisse First Boston in New York. "Some issues at Bank One and First Union are going to take a toll on other companies."


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This limited edition will feature various anime characters across the spectrum and is being made to order by Styled By Sand. Each Tobi-Tag will have a run of 500 tags and every two months there will be two new designs announced by Toymation, to further enhance the uniqueness numbers 1-10 are available to be engraved with 18c Gold plating, although this will be for a slight premium.
For those who order more than one, the option of just ordering the tag and not the chain will be available.
The first two tags available are Optimus Prime and Naruto and will be for sale on pre-order today and on general sale from the 1st February 2010 for £29.99 or £19.99 for those who pre-order.
To find out more information, visit Toymation’s official website here.


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SOFTS-ICE cocoa at fresh 6-month lows on plentiful supplies
* Cocoa sinks to lowest level since July 2012
* Sugar on track for worst weekly performance since October
* Arabica buoyed by disease fears
(Adds new dateline, byline, comment; updates prices)
NEW YORK/LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Cocoa futures on ICE sank to a fresh six-month low on Friday as growing supplies from top producer West Africa and weakening technicals accelerated speculative selling in chocolate's main ingredient.
Raw sugar eased and arabica coffee edged higher on concerns about the impact of tree disease on crops in Central America, which makes a fifth of the world's highest quality beans.
Pressure on cocoa has intensified after prices pierced its long-term support at $2,200 per tonne earlier in the week, which triggered sell-stops.
"This is a technical breakdown which is getting a lot of stop-loss selling. There's nothing fundamentally that has changed for cocoa," said Spencer Patton, founder and chief investment officer of Steel Vine Investment in Chicago.
The most-active March cocoa futures on ICE fell $22, or 1 percent, to settle at $2,173 per tonne after earlier dipping to $2,166. That was the weakest level for the front month since July 17, 2012.
"It's a combination of the main crops seeming better than expected and mid crops looking good," said a European trader.
On charts, selling in chocolate's main ingredient appeared overdone - with a relative strength index (RSI) reading of 33, it was close to 30 which is considered oversold. Even so, its next technical support is not until $2,100, according to Patton.
May cocoa futures on Liffe fell 19 pounds, or 1.31 percent, to settle at 1,427 pounds a tonne.
Dealers noted the flow of cocoa for gradings on the Liffe exchange had picked up, contributing to a weakening of the market structure, with March trading at a 10-pound discount to May after briefly trading at a premium <LCC-1=R>.
Valid cocoa stocks in NYSE Liffe's nominated warehouses rose to 44,020 tonnes as of Jan. 21 from 43,020 tonnes on Jan. 7, exchange data showed.
Soft commodities were under pressure this week, with cash piling into equities and cotton. U.S. stocks were on track for their longest winning streak in more than eight year on solid corporate earnings and encouraging signs from the global economy.
Fiber, a smaller ICE market, rallied to seven-month highs on Thursday, rising 13 percent in just two weeks, as speculators bet on lower plantings and robust Chinese demand. Fiber volume was three times more than coffee and cocoa on Thursday.
SUGAR'S WORST WEEK SINCE OCTOBER
Raw sugar futures on ICE was heading for its worst weekly performance since October on producer selling ahead of a second consecutive bumper crop from top producer Brazil. Heavy trading volume was attributed to spread trading between March and May.
Dealers were bracing for the weekly CFTC Commitment of Traders report later on Friday which may show a further increase in the already-large speculative net short position.
"Technically, March (raws) is stuck in a range and we will see if there is any pre-emptive buying this afternoon in anticipation of the Commitment of Traders report," Nick Penney of brokerage Sucden Financial said in a market note.
March raw sugar futures on ICE were 0.05 cent or 0.27 percent lower at 18.45 cents a lb at 12:55 p.m. EDT (1755 GMT). The contract fell to 18.06 cents on Wednesday, the lowest level for the front-month since August 2010.
Dealers said lower prices had stimulated demand on the physical sugar market. "There has been some decent offtake this week," said a London-based broker.
March white sugar on Liffe fell $1.20 or 0.25 percent to $486.10 per tonne. The contract dipped to $480.80 on Wednesday, the lowest level for the front month since June 2010.
March arabica coffee futures on ICE rose 1.10 cents or 0.75 percent to $1.4765 per lb amid continued fears about the impact of the coffee tree disease, known as roya, in Central America, which accounts for fifth of global arabica output, and Mexico.
Guatemala could declare a national emergency early next month to fight the spread of the fungus while Honduras has cut its 2012/13 coffee production estimate by 13.6 percent.
Expectations for a record off-year crop in Brazil's biennial crop cycle were bearish for prices though, with the government crop supply agency Conab forecasting Brazil will grow 47 million to 50.2 million 60-kg bags of coffee in the 2013/14 harvest.
"Conab officials are confident that improved cultivation methods and the planting of new higher-yield coffee shrubs will erode the differences between high and low-yield years," said Commerzbank in a commodities note.
March robusta coffee futures settled up $13, or 0.66 percent, at $1,959 a tonne.
(Additional reporting by Nigel Hunt; editing by James Jukwey and Keiron Henderson)


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Toyota Motor Corp said it was recalling all of the roughly 2,800 zero-emission Mirai cars on the road due to problems with the output voltage generated by their fuel cell system, a Reuters report said.
Toyota said that under unique driving conditions, such as if the accelerator pedal is depressed to the wide open throttle position after driving on a long descent while using cruise control, there was a possibility the output voltage generated by the fuel cell boost converter could exceed the maximum voltage, the report said.
Toyota has sold about 2,840 Mirai cars in Japan, the US and some markets in Europe, as well as the UAE.
Toyota dealers will update the fuel cell system software at no cost to the customer, it said. The process will take about half an hour, it said.


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As part of its continued commitment to create an enabling environment and opportunities for the promotion of sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian economy, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has partnered with The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to host the 25th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#25), its annual flagship event. The Silver Jubilee edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit is themed “Nigeria 2050: Shifting Gears” and scheduled to hold on 7 – 8 October 2019 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, would speak on “Gender Empowerment” at the plenary.
The Nigerian Economic Summit is the foremost credible platform for public-private dialogue which enables policy makers and influencers to deliberate on issues, proffer policy options with a view to a better understanding of our national economic policy direction and growth strategies. National leaders and policy influencers billed to attend the event include His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Hon. Minister for Finance, Budget & National Planning, Nigeria.
Other dignitaries are Senator Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan PhD, CON, President of the Senate; Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mrs. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations. The Chief Host of the event is Mr Asue Ighodalo, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Panelists at the event include Alhaji Aliko Dangote President/CEO Dangote Group; Mr Godwin Emefiele Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Bishop Matthew Kukah, Founder, The Kukah Centre; His Excellency Dr Kayode Fayemi, Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum; HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, The Emir of Kano; Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly; Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Hon. Mrs Hannatu Mohammed, Board Member, ICPC; Mr. Chidi Ajaere, CEO, GIG Group; Mrs Juliet Anammah, CEO, Jumia Nigeria and Mr Mauricio Alarcon, MD/CEO, Nestle Nigeria Plc .
The event is billed to comprise plenary sessions, exhibitions, design workshops, dinner and the anniversary lecture as well as the presentation of awards and prizes to winners of the NES #25 essay competition and start-up pitching event.
Senate investigates banks for not remitting taxes on deposits
The Senate on Tuesday directed its Committees on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, to investigate alleged non-remittance of taxes on bank deposits and dividend payments.
The Witness learnt that the it also asked the committees to report back within four weeks.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Uche Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra).
Ekwunife said: “It has been discovered that the Central Security & Clearing System, CSCS and banks in Nigeria do not remit withholding tax on bank deposits and dividends to state government as and when due.
“Most state governments are unable to pay salaries and meet their financial obligations as a result of poor and dwindling revenue.
“Billions of naira are being held by banks either in form of under remittance or non remittance of withholding revenue.”
CBN to banks: You must seek approval before sacking staff
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has said banks are no longer allowed to sack more than five staff without its approval.
This was part of the communiqué released by the Bankers Committee after its meeting on Friday.
The committee, in a circular signed by Director, Financial Markets Department, CBN, Angela Sere-Ejembi, emphasized that all banks should send a sample of Contract Letter issued to outsourced staff + SLA with the company being used to run outsourced staff.
Dabiri-Erewa, others charge Africans in Diaspora to remember their roots
It stated, “Banks should note and be guided by the CBN circular in respect of laying off staff that is more than five. This requires apex bank’s notification and approval going forward.”
The Bankers’ Committee had said the mass sacking in banks would be reduced in the shortest time possible.
The committee noted that while it was working on how to reduce the level of job losses in the sector, there would always be reasons people would have to be sacked from their workplaces.
It explained that while the decision to sack bank workers had elicited a lot of sentiments from both the public and private sectors of the economy, the banks understood the implications of having to relieve workers of their jobs in view of the current economic situation in the country.
Ecobank Nigeria to host Regional Trade Forum 2020
Ecobank Nigeria is set to host its 2020 Regional Trade Forum in Lagos.
The Witness gathered that the forum taking place in March, will be a two-day event, providing the opportunity for exporters and importers within the African region to exhibit their products in a marketplace scenario with panel discussions by highly experienced and diversified stakeholders and leaders of thought in the industry.
Ecobank Nigeria is a member of the pan African banking group with unparalleled Africa wide Network Advantage across 33 countries catering for businesses and providing world class trade services to its customers. The Ecobank Group network has over 30 years been enhancing the financial integration of the continent. The Group provides solutions to facilitate trade in the various trade corridors and groupings across Africa
Announcing the Trade Forum in Lagos, Sunday Abah, Head Trade Finance of Ecobank Nigeria said Ecobank is using the forum to unveil its comprehensive trade solutions to its existing and prospective customers alike by sharing the various payment methods available to facilitate cross border trade throughout its network across Africa. According to him, Ecobank recognizes the role of exporters and importers in driving economies through trade.
“By creating a networking forum for importers and exporters via the trade exhibition slated for the first day of the forum, the Bank extends support to stakeholders in export and import businesses.
“Ecobank’s trade products and solutions are designed around two broad areas: Trade finance which enables customers benefit from adequate and well mitigated credit facilitation in the area of Import finance, export finance, bill discounting, trade loans, distributor finance, structured trade and commodity finance amongst others; also we do Trade Services, which gives our customers the advantage of speedy turnaround time and error free processing of Import Letters of Credit, Import collections, Customs bonds, Export collections and regional trade services amongst others,” he noted.
Ecobank’s unique intra-Africa trade solutions enable settlements of trade transactions and mitigation of payment risk; provide regional solutions and enable exporters obtain payment guarantees without the need for a letter of credit and its related costs to the importer. Ecobank works closely with clients in reviewing key factors regarding transactions processing, settlements, financing, and risk mitigation as well as credit enhancement. The bank boasts of a unique and large Pan-African platform that positions it to support trade at all levels. Its technology platform is designed to help unlock the opportunities of the continent through standardization across 33 countries, while fueling regional integration, trade and investment across borders.
The Ecobank Africa Trade Forum is expected to attract hundreds of guests and participants. Leaders from across Ecobank Group will also be attending to share their market specific trade knowledge and information.
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Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed a production version of the Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster.
Originally unveiled during the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the most powerful production model to come out of the Sant’Agata Bolognese facility, the Lamborghini Aventador Super Veloce, is getting ready to receive a new version. The model in question will get a chopped off roof and will be offered as the Aventador SV Roadster. The announcement has been made officially by the Lamborghini boss, Stephan Winkelmann.
“The Aventador LP 50-4 Superveloce is the most pure, sports-oriented and emotional incarnation of a Lamborghini, and all 600 units have been sold, with first deliveries starting now. We will also produce a roadster version, which our dealers worldwide are now taking orders for”, said the official.
No performance figures on the new supercar have been announced by the Italian based automaker at this time but we expect similar figures to the ones of the Aventador SV Coupe. This means that the same 6.5 liter V12 naturally aspirated engine can be found under its hood, producing 750 HP (552 kW). The coupe needs just 2.8 seconds in order to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill. Prices for the current Aventador SV start from 493,069 USD and 327,190 EUR on the Old Continent. However, all 600 units have been sold out. The Aventador SV Roadster will be offered in just 500 units and it will most likely sell just as fast as its solid roof brother.


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Accella Tire Fill Systems, a division of Accella Performance Materials, has fulfilled another year in its ongoing dedication to planting new trees in partnership with American Forests, the nation’s oldest non-profit conservation organization. The initiative is part of the company’s industry-leading “One Tote, One Tree” green campaign through which one tree is planted for every tote of Accella’s tire fill product purchased.
Teaming up with its customers, aftermarket dealers and distributors around the world, Accella has planted more than 142,000 new trees to date in order to help restore forests destroyed by natural disasters.
For 2017, Accella’s donation is helping American Forests in its work with the U.S. Forest Service to plant more than 40,000 white bark pines in Shoshone National Forest, which is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Wyoming.
“Accella Tire Fill Systems continues to prove itself a steadfast partner to American Forests, consistently demonstrating the great role of corporate responsibility and how it helps us accomplish our timely and critical work,” said Lea Sloan, VP of communications, American Forests.
In its 45 year history, Accella has become the industry’s market leader in tire fill solutions by focusing on developing eco-friendly flatproofing alternatives for industrial, construction and mining vehicles, along with other Off-the-Road equipment.
“As a zero waste, zero emission manufacturer, Accella Tire Fill Systems is dedicated to sustainability as a long-term strategic business focus, and partnering with American Forests is a natural extension of that orientation,” noted Joe Negrey, Vice President of Accella Tire Fill Systems. “Our `One Tote, One Tree’ program exemplifies this philosophy by enabling our global network of distributors, OEMs and aftermarket dealers to join the effort to heal damaged fire zones like the Shoshone National Forest. Together, we are illustrating how businesses can turn innovation and sustainability into a winning formula, for the company and for the planet.”


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Most UK regions now showing drop in sales as buyer demand continues to fall
The UK housing market continued to stutter in October with both demand from buyers and agreed sales declining once more, while price trends are now flat. With most UK regions showing a flat or negative trend in newly agreed sales, momentum in the market is likely to remain subdued in the near term, according to the October 2017 RICS UK Residential Market Survey.
Survey in brief
- National price indicator now flat with London and the South East still downbeat
- Subdued sales trends now being reported across most regions of the UK as demand from new buyers continues to decline
- 70% of respondent’s report sales prices are coming in below asking prices for homes valued at £1m+
- 62% of contributors noted sales prices were coming in lower than asking prices for homes listed at between £0.5m and £1m
Interest from buyers
In October, interest from buyers continued to decline with 20% more respondents seeing a fall in new buyer enquiries over the month. Agreed sales were also reported to have fallen again with 20% more respondents noting a decline in transactions over the month at the national level. Regionally, Wales, Scotland and the North East were the only areas to see any pick-up for agreed sales, while sales trends were either flat or negative across the rest of the UK.
Going forward, national sales expectations remain flat over the coming three months, while the twelve month view has turned marginally negative.
Continued lack of stock
Following a couple of months in which new instructions were broadly stable, the latest results point to a renewed deterioration in the flow of fresh listings coming to market (net balance -14%).
In keeping with other indicators pointing to a slower market, it is now also taking longer to complete a sale, with the average time rising to 18.5 weeks nationally, up from 16.6 in February 2017 when the measure was first introduced.
What this means for house prices
Moving to prices, in October the survey showed 1% more professionals reporting a price rise nationally rather than fall (+6% in September). This figure is now consistent with a flat price trend on a UK wide basis, although there remains significant differences between regions. Respondents in London are continuing to report a decline in prices, with 63% more respondents reporting a fall rather than rise over the month (the poorest reading since 2009). Similarly, respondents are reporting a weakening picture in the South East, while East Anglia and the North East also returned readings below zero. By way of contrast, the North West of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have all reported sentiment consistent with house price gains.
Looking further ahead, over the next three months 11% more respondents are predicting some a decline in prices at the national level. The most cautious predictions for the near term once again come from London, although expectations are now negative in five additional regions (South East, East Anglia, South West, North East, West Midlands). The twelve month view is stronger in most parts, with ten of the twelve regions/countries covered in the report expected to see higher prices in a year’s time. However, there are now two exceptions – in London and the South East prices are anticipated to decline and remain flat, respectively.
Asking price vs sales price
In October, contributors also compared sales prices with asking prices over the past two months. Respondents predictably revealed greater discrepancies for the more expensive homes, and nationally for properties marketed at more than £1m, 71% of respondents reported sales prices coming in below asking prices (compared with 67% the last time the question was asked in July). Within this, the largest category 35% answered ‘between 5 and 10% below’ (26% in July).
For homes listed at between £0.5m and £1m, 62% of contributors noted sales prices were coming in lower than asking prices (compared to 57% in July). Finally, in terms of homes marketed at less than £0.5m, the largest share of respondents (42%) noted asking and sales prices were at roughly the same level, although a still significant 32% stated sales prices were up to 5% under.
In the lettings market, tenant demand was flat for the three months to October (net balance of +1 on a seasonally adjusted basis), while new landlord instructions remained in decline. Rental growth projections are modestly positive for the three months ahead while over the next five years, rents are anticipated to rise by an average of around 3.5% per annum, nationally. This compares with price growth projections of just above 1% over the same timeframe. Meanwhile, London remains the only area in which twelve month rental growth projections are negative, with tenant demand still lacking momentum in the capital.
Kindly shared by RICS


text: Smart cities, wearables, fishery businesses... The Internet of Things (IoT) is being used across different sectors for the most innovative uses.\nSoutheast Asia is keeping pace with the global trend and industries such as supply chain or agriculture are taking full advantage of it.\nAlthough Singapore is still at the forefront of IoT implementation, other countries across the region are following suit and governments are introducing the technology as part of a full integration into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). \nAcross ASEAN, IoT spending is expected to reach US$7.53 billion in 2020, a 35% growth in value from an estimated US$1.68 billion in 2015.\n\u201cThe take-up rate in ASEAN countries is expected to be among the highest in the region due to lower initial IoT spending,\u201d said Mark Koh, Frost & Sullivan research manager for IT in APAC. \u201cHowever, the largest markets would still be the mature IT markets, including Japan, China, India and the Republic of Korea.\u201d\nSome countries such as Thailand or Malaysia have adopted national IoT strategic roadmaps in their mission \u201cto create a national ecosystem to enable the proliferation of use and industralisation of IoT as a new source of economic growth.\u201d\nHere we have compiled a list of 11 innovative ASEAN companies which are using IoT across different sectors.\neFishery\nFounded in 2013, eFishery is the first \u2018fishtech\u2019 startup in Indonesia which provides an IoT solution and data platform for fish and shrimp farming businesses. \nThe eFishery Fish and Shrimp Smart Autofeeder devices allow for smart, automatic feeding, making it easier for farmers to monitor and schedule feeding times using a smartphone app (the 'eFishery app').\neFishery's technology senses the fish\u2019s appetite by monitoring their vibrations as they correlate with levels of hunger.\nThe data can also predict how much fish the farmers will harvest and sell, allowing them to connect with buyers before arriving to market.\neFishery's devices can increase yields by up to 35% and double net profit, helping hundreds of millions of farmers globally at the bottom of the pyramid, while at the same time tackling the global challenge of food security.\nN\u2019osairis\nHeadquartered in Kuala Lumpur, this Malaysian startup was founded in 2011 with the mission of unleashing the full potential of IoT for business optimisation across Southeast Asia.\nIn N\u2019osairis they use their own NeX Platform to incorporate the IoT ecosystem components \u00a0- sensors, connectivity and BI - into a single logical framework, allowing enterprises to leverage the platform to quickly deploy their IoT strategies.\n\u201cWe empower our end clients to focus on their core business while we take care of the technicality, complexity and capital needed to deploy the right IoT strategy for their businesses,\u201d said Stalin Vijaya Kamaraj, CEO of N\u2019osairis.\nThe services they offer include managed machine to machine (M2M) connectivity, IoT business consulting, gas tank monitoring, connected vehicle solutions, traffic flow control, Wi-Fi analytics and managed IoT solutions. \nN\u2019osairis has now regional offices in the Philippines and Indonesia and has 25 telecommunication affiliates across Southeast Asia. In 2011 it was awarded a grant from Cradle, Malaysia\u2019s early-stage startup influencer. \nPINS Indonesia\nPINS Indonesia was established in 1995 under the name PT Pramindo Ikat Nusantara as a business focused on telecommunications in Sumatra. In 2002 all of its shares were acquired by PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) and has since then remained an arm of the big corporation.\nNow dubbed \u201cthe IoT company\u201d, PINS Indonesia integrates devices, networks, systems and processes by using IoT supported by human resources\u2019 capabilities and the best systems on offer. \u00a0\u00a0\nThe company\u2019s remit includes home and office automation, smart city initiatives, traffic control, smart building solutions and smart grids. \nIn 2016 PINS Indonesia revealed that it plans to start an online marketplace dedicated to products and solutions from the IoT.\nSingapore Power and Silver Spring Networks\nSilver Spring Networks (since January 2018 an Itron subsidiary) announced in 2016 its agreement with Singapore Power to expand the company\u2019s uses and applications of its existing wireless mesh network platform across the city-state.\nSingapore Power, which provides electricity to 1.4 million homes and businesses on the island, plans to leverage its advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployment to connect an additional 200,000 electric residential customers. \nSilver Spring\u2019s multi-application IPv6 platform will be extended to help Singapore Power improve its operational efficiencies, serve more advanced metering customers and for Singapore Power to develop a digital data and IoT platform. The joint efforts are designed to support Singapore\u2019s \u2018Smart Nation\u2019 goals by leveraging the IoT to improve efficiency, security, economic development and quality of life for its citizens.\nSilver Spring has also announced that it will collaborate with Singapore Power on a variety of product and market development activities with the intent to unlock the creativity of IoT innovation of Singapore\u2019s commercial and academic institutions. \nIn support of its collaboration with Singapore Power - and to help capitalise on IoT opportunities in the region - Silver Spring, which is a US company, intends to establish its Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore.\nA-Square Digital Core\nA-Square Digital Core is a Filipino provider of IoT and IT solutions for business, government, education and healthcare clients. \nUsing IoT they help customers get ahead and improve their own practices and customer engagement by providing solutions to drive revenue and innovation using Android or iOS native applications like mobile collection or ticketing systems, and customer facing or middleware for IoT devices like Arduino or Raspberry Pi.\nThey also customise applications paired with mobile printers connected via USB or wireless.\nKaHa\nHeadquartered in Singapore, this startup designs and manufactures smart IoT wearables including fitness bands and smart watches.\nAmong their products is the One-North Run shirt, a garment equipped with sensors that captures the live heart ratings through an electrocardiography (ECG) facility, as well as record fitness data such as heart rate, calories burned and step counts. Information is displayed on an app supported by iOS and Android.\nThe One-North Run shirt was developed in conjunction with textile company Tex Line and with the help of Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).\nThe shirt's app can work as a personal coach to customise training programmes to suit one's needs based on fitness level, and according to the developers of the wearable, it can also be used for other purposes including monitoring of patients in hospitals or to keep track or workers' performance and health.\nMimosaTEK\nIt is expected that IoT will transform agricultural production from a qualitative field into a precise manufacturing sector based on the data collected, aggregated and statistical analysis. Instead of depending on weather and unforeseen conditions, farmers will be able to adjust crops to achieve the desired outcome.\nThat\u2019s what MimosaTEK, a Vietnamese startup with the yellow flower (or cocktail) name, is trying to achieve in the Mekong country. \nNamed Vietnam\u2019s best startup, MimosaTEK uses IoT to provide precision agriculture to help farmers in Vietnam operate sustainably by optimising yield while cutting costs and reducing risks.\nUsing world-class technology, MimosaTEK provides farm management solutions for both smallholder farmers and large agricultural companies in different parts of Vietnam and for different crops.\nMimosaTEK\u2019s solutions are applied to short-day plants such as vegetables and perennial plants such as black pepper, maca, and citrus trees. It also collaborates with bigger companies working in irrigation infrastructure supplies and greenhouse construction to provide complete solutions for their customers.\nBAESLab\nCaring for the elderly can be a challenging and stressful situation for working families and those who can\u2019t afford looking after loved ones 24 hours a day.\nThe team behind Thailand\u2019s BAESLab knows that very well and decided to create an IoT platform for elderly care that\u2019s able to monitor loved ones who need assistance. \nAmong the products that they have created using IoT are Watchfully and Oura.\nWatchfully is a wristband or necklace that creates a location-tracking signal which can alert family members and emergency response units whenever an elderly wearing the device falls or requires immediate medical assistance.\nOura is a ring-sized wellness computer that helps its users sleep and generally perform better.\nKAMARQ\nIn 2017, Singaporean startup KAMARQ, a venture furniture company aiming to "expand your world" with original products that follow a brand-new "Furniture x IT" concept, merged with ComZeit, a company that specialises in developing solutions for IoT products and equipment management and control.\nAmong the products offered by KAMARQ is Sound Table, a speaker-infused table that can be controlled from a smartphone and play music and ambient sounds that reflect the weather outside.\nBy combining multiple functions in a single product, they want to replace two things with one, and put into practice the "Buy Less" philosophy.\nAccording to the startup, they are the first and only IoT venture that produces a new product that combines furniture and IT.\nUmitron\nThis Singapore-based aquatech startup uses IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) \u201cto create a world water revolution\u201d.\nIn 2017 they launched Umigarden, a product which provides feeding optimisation in aquaculture by fish school analysis.Their aim is to improve the safety and sustainability of aquatic resources and the working environment in aquaculture by developing and providing a computer model that accumulates cultured know-how around the world.\nIn August the company started a new service to provide reliable data for aquaculture insurance. The service utilises IoT and satellite remote sensing to evaluate and mitigate risks associated with ocean environment and farm operations.\nCricketOne\nThis Vietnamese company leverages IoT technology and the circular economy to produce the most sustainable and affordable protein from crickets (yes, the grasshopper-like insect) - a regular diet for more than 2 billion people worldwide.\nThey build shipping containers integrated with their in-house cricket towers together with an environment monitor and control system that are connected to a cloud platform to allow for the easy and productive rearing of crickets. \nThey feed the crickets mainly on agriculture by-products, in combination with other biological plants, under certain researched schemes. By doing this they manage to achieve high quality protein in the finished products.


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By agreeing to invest $500 million in a two-year-old deal, Priceline Group expands partnership with Ctrip, China’s biggest online travel company.
Owner of renowned websites, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com and Priceline.com, Priceline Group has expanded partnership with Ctrip, the biggest online travel company in China. With an investment of $500 million, the group has also obtained the rights to to buy Ctrip shares over the next year, increasing its holding to about 10 percent.
Keeping in mind that one in every 10 tourists in the world is Chinese and that they are the biggest travel spenders, the market is being heavily pursued at the moment. The expansion of the deal between Priceline and Ctrip aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences between China and the world.
Currently, Priceline’s global portfolio comprises over 500,000 accommodations outside Greater China, while Ctrip boasts of 100,000 accommodations in China itself. The agreement works towards cross-promoting hotel inventories between the companies.
Priceline’s six primary brands also include Kayak, OpenTable and Rentalcars.com (also known as TravelJigsaw), apart from several ancillary brands. The group has services in over 200 countries and territories in Europe, North America, South America, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa.
Ctrip, conceived in 1999, has 17 branch offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other major cities throughout China. In 2010, the company invested in Taiwan ezTravel and Hong Kong Wing On Travel, expanding its service scope to include Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, in addition to over 60,000 destinations and attractions throughout Mainland China. In 2014, Ctrip invested in ToursForFun, expanding its reach to North America.
Photo Credits: Skift


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New York should require some digital currency companies to collect and periodically verify customer information to deter financial criminals, Manhattan's district attorney told state regulators Wednesday.
The U.S. Justice Department seizes digital funds tied to an Internet black market, Republicans line up behind effort to fight FATCA and more, in this week's news roundup.
China prohibits the trading of bitcoins by financial institutions over money laundering concerns, the U.K. closes 100 suspicious Bank of Cyprus accounts, and more, in this week's news roundup.
Ready or not, Bitcoin is growing in Europe, even as European regulators struggle to figure out how or if they'll police the virtual currency.
Lawmakers are asking the IRS to quickly finalize guidance on potential tax liabilities of digital money, including the crypto-currency platform Bitcoin.
Nearly all digital coins studied by researchers at the University of California in San Diego were used to purchase goods from a black market Web site selling illicit goods, a recent study found.
The second installation of a two-part story on how the Bitcoin market is changing under the scrutiny of federal and state officials.
Even as the use of Bitcoin grows, the differences in opinion about the risks the digital currency poses only seems to get larger.
When FinCEN issued its innocuously entitled guidance, "Application of FinCEN's Regulations to Persons Administering, Exchanging, or Using Virtual Currencies" in March, an already speculative currency may have received its death blow.
The alleged money laundering of $6 billion through bank accounts controlled by a virtual currency operator and its accomplices reflects widespread and serious anti-money laundering vulnerabilities, say industry experts.
Since the 2011 indictment by the U.S. Justice Department of some of the most prominent online gambling sites in the world, the financial risks posed by Internet betting have changed, believes Christine Duhaime, barrister and solicitor at Vancouver-based Duhaime Law.
The U.S. Justice Department is expected to decide within the fiscal year whether prosecutors can bring charges against entities using a controversial virtual currency, an FBI official said Thursday.
While the popularity of virtual worlds has grown in recent years, lawmakers and regulators have been slow to address related vulnerabilities to financial crime, according to Dr. Clare Chambers-Jones, an associate professor in banking and finance law at the University of West England Bristol.
An emerging virtual currency intended to be used in lieu of cash could also be a vehicle for criminals seeking to make international transactions anonymously, according to investigators.
A report by an intergovernmental watchdog highlighting the anti-money laundering weaknesses of more than two dozen countries is prompting non-bank financial institutions to drop customers and avoid risky markets.
Online securities and futures firms should speak regularly with regulatory examiners about the sorts of financial crimes that are raising concerns, according to E*Trade's top AML officer.
A recent penalty by an Australian financial regulator against e-commerce site PayPal for weak anti-money laundering controls could prod U.S. regulators to more closely scrutinize companies with similar business models.
Canadian payments company ESI Entertainment Systems Inc. will forfeit $9 million in a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Justice Department for its role in helping to launder proceeds from an illegal gambling operation.
Software firm MindArk, creators of Entropia Universe, is on the verge of releasing automated teller machine-style cards that allow players to access real dollars from their virtual world accounts, something consultants say will make them an attractive venue for criminals to launder illicit funds.
The growth of virtual economies on the Internet presents an opportunity for criminals, who can launder money by trading virtual property and converting profits from virtual cash to real currency, according to a report issued by consulting firm Deloitte.


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Memphis' own Coldway has released a new EP titled Yooth. Coldway is a producer, songwriter, composer, and all around musical genius when it comes to creating his own style. The EP includes four tracks, one of which was featured on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's Da Sweet Blood of Jesus and it is titled Water. …
Jagged Edge~Ready (Audio)
I'm a JE fan....can't wait unit October 27, when J.E. Heartbreak II drops. Listen to the latest single released by the R&B quartet below.
Virghost~Pac in ’95 (Official Video)
I had the pleasure of hearing this song a few months ago via email and I sent Virghost a nice reason as to why this should be his first release off his new project. Check out the video for "Pac in '95" below.
Jay Z & Beyoncé~ Run (Official Trailer)
Even though "Run" is never going to be released, this is one hell of a trailer.
Apple: The Next 30 Years
Apple recently celebrated 30 years and shot a video around the world in one day to show the next 30...all on an iPhone.
New Serato: DJ 1.6
For all my DJs out there... Along with Rane Hardware support, Serato DJ 1.6 includes the Pitch 'N Time DJ Expansion Pack, Quantize, Nameable Cue Points, Jet Pack FX Expansion Pack, support for the Pioneer DDJ-SZ & Numark V7 Pro Controllers and the brand new Denon DJ MC6000MKII & Reloop Terminal Mix 8 DJ Intro …


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Microsoft issues updates to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for the Apple iPad, with some handy new features.
For only $2,000 or so, you can convert the upgraded MacBook Pro to a 15.4-inch Mac tablet.
Facebook reports huge sales, Apple patents a smart watch, and a space robot gets some updates.
Apple last allowed public testing of a pre-release OS 14 years ago, but now it's letting OS X 10.10 out for an early spin.
President Obama met with top tech executives to discuss issues with the healthcare website but NSA concerns dominated the discussions.
The patent is for a wrist-worn gadget that has a touchscreen and can communicate with a smartphone
Coming up on WTU Microsoft announces lay off plans, IBM and Apple team up and Google tests out Project Tango in space.
The amount Apple pays out depends on the outcome of its appeal of a 2013 antitrust ruling.
Times have changed since Apple's '1984' commercial bashing IBM.
Apple released a document detailing what data its released to governments around the world.
IBM says it will develop business-optimized apps for the iOS platform, and will sell both iPhones and iPads to business customers, too.
Two filings in two weeks bring unexpected moments to Silicon Valley high-tech trials


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The company plans to do this with the help of marketing and a promotional push, making its existing customer to move up the value chain from basic products like GTX to premium like synthetic and semi-synthetic products such as Magnatac and Edge. This move is also seen as a response to the strategy of other lubricant makers in the market like Shell Lubricants, who are increasingly focusing on synthetic lubricants. In terms of margins too, premium products garner better.
Further, it would also mean that Castrol may look at phasing out at least one of its product from the lower-end of the value chain in order to save production and marketing cost and free up capacity should it decide to bolster the portfolio with new products at a later stage. The company will look at re-visiting its packaging strategy in a bid to expand its reach in the premium segment and make its offerings available in smaller and convenient packages to suit customer needs.
"We want to target the customers that value our products and brand. We are looking at smaller and simplified portfolio with premium segment as our core business area," Ravi Kirpalani, automotive director & COO, Castrol India Ltd said. "Our strategy is to simplify organisational and product portfolio in a bid to make seamless operations all across the supply chain," he said, adding that there is a lot of headroom to expand in the premium segment.


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Developers can submit their Android Experiments for a chance to go to Google I/O 2016
Google wants to see what developers can come up with in new and innovative software for the Android platform. It has announced a contest where entries submitted to the Android Experiment site will be judged by a panel of Google team members, and the top three winners will get a free trip to San Francisco to attend the 2016 Google I/O conference on May 18-20.
Android Central got to see some examples of the unique apps that developer have already submitted to Android Experiments in February at Mobile World Congress 2016. With the new Android Experiments I/O Challenge, those developers could get a lot more attention for their projects. Google says it is looking for a number of things from Android Experiments:
- Creative uses of Android’s new or distinctive features
- Projects that explore how we interact with our devices, in small and big ways
- Unique visual aesthetics
- Projects that inspire other developers
- Surprise us – we want to see the amazing things you’re cooking up
Developers have until April 13 to submit their entries into the Android Experiments I/O Challenge. In addition to the top three winners getting the Google I/O trip, five runner-ups will win a Nexus 6P, The contest itself is open worldwide except for a few countries (France, Italy, Quebec, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Sudan).
Enter the Android Experiments I/O Challenge


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Sales growth at a 10-year high and the disposal of European and US businesses gave Cadbury Schweppes profits that were ahead of forecasts. Its pre-tax profits rose 13 per cent to £873 million last year with sales increasing by seven per cent to £6.51 billion. The company is organised in four regional operating units, supported by six global functions, one of which is finance and information technology. It is now over halfway through a four-year plan, which began in 2003. The plan includes growing revenue by three to five per cent a year and improving profit margins by 50-75 basis points per annum. Last year Cadbury Schweppes sold its European beverages business for £1.26bn to a private equity group and has concentrated instead on brands like Green & Black’s organic products, which it bought in 2005. Last year sales for the brand increased by nearly 50 per cent.
Todd Stitzer, CEO of Cadbury Schweppes, stated in the annual review that the company had refined its supply chains and will continue to use innovation to drive growth. The company has been in the middle of a global SAP implementation, and the UK system went live last summer.
On innovation Stitzer said: “In 2004 we introduced a rigorous innovation management process, which enabled us to take a common approach to innovation decision making. Building on this process in 2005 we put in place a new software tool which facilitates the sharing and roll-out of new innovations across the business.”


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Thrilled to announce that Mykidstime has scooped another award! We have won the Going Global category at the 2020 Think Global Awards. Here’s what the Awards are all about:
Don’t miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions.
The Going Global Award Category
The Going Global award category of the Think Global Awards is designed to highlight achievements in going global.
This award helps to shine a light on individuals and organisations, regardless of scale, that demonstrate an ability to focus their thinking on going global then progress in that direction.
About The Think Global Awards
The Think Global Awards highlight the importance of connecting with a global audience effectively and efficiently is so critical in today’s marketplace. The messaging and essence of the communication becomes so important as businesses and brands grow, and as they expand products and services into new markets and geographies.
Global content, languages, and a host of items play such an important factor along with local cultural market understandings. These awards are a way of recognizing achievements in some of these areas and to help and promote the awareness of thinking globally for individuals, communities, start-ups, small and medium sized businesses, global brands and large scale international organizations.
The Judging Panel included CEOs and Academics from across the world.
We are really thrilled to have won this year’s Going Global award. As a small business, based in the West of Ireland, it’s amazing to think that we are able to help, support and inspire parents across the world!
The Mykidstime Team is away to pop the champagne and have a slice of celebratory cake!


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Sotheby’s appears to be backing recent reports that India’s art market is poised for growth by announcing today, 10 April, it is launching its first auction in Mumbai in December.
It is not the first time the firm has dipped its toe in the Indian art market. In 1992 Sotheby’s held a single sale of Indian, European and Oriental art in Delhi, but the consensus was the local market wasn’t yet ready for international auctions, and so it discontinued them.
Since then much has changed. After the global financial crash of 2008, the market plummeted but in recent years it has been quietly making a comeback. Sotheby’s opened an office in Mumbai in September 2016 and recent events, such as the opening of a sculpture park in Jaipur in December and reports of healthy sales at the India Art Fair in Delhi in January, are creating a palpable buzz. India’s economy has been growing at a rate of around 7% a year since 2014, which is also fanning optimism in the art market
Edward Gibbs, Sotheby’s chairman of India and the Middle East, says Indian collectors have long had a presence in the auction house’s salerooms. “Recently, however, we have seen exponential growth in their activity at Sotheby’s, not only in our sales of South Asian art, but also in our wider international auctions,” he says. “This strong uptick is part of a global pattern of increased liquidity within the market but it is also reflective of the flourishing arts scene on the ground in India itself.”
The inaugural sale, Boundless Mumbai (echoing the concept of the first Boundless Dubai auction last November), will be held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. It will include works by South Asia’s best-known artists, as well as Westerners who have been influenced by the region. The top lot is a painting by the Indian Modernist, Tyeb Mehta, a member of the influential post-war Bombay Progressive Artists' Group, alongside other well known Indian names such as F.N. Souza, S.H. Raza and M.F. Hussain.
Durga Mahisasura Mardini, which was commissioned from the artist in 1993 and has remained in the same collection ever since, carries an estimate of 20 crores ($3m). It is expected to break Mehta’s auction record of $3.6m.
Sotheby’s is capitalising in other areas too. Less than a year after it announced it was scrapping buyer’s premium for online-only sales, the auction house has partially reversed its decision. Large estate sales, which are often divvied up between live auctions for higher-value lots and online-only sales for the lower value items, are thought to have caused confusion.
As of 1 April, specialists can now decide on a case-by-case basis whether to apply the fees to individual lots. “After a period of experimentation, we wanted to give our specialists more flexibility in pricing, and so the decision has been passed back to them,” says a Sotheby’s spokeswoman.


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Nissan’s world sales speed ahead as quarterly sales rise more than 20% to £18.4bn
Nissan, which builds one in three of the cars manufactured in the UK, reported a 5 per cent rise in profits as sales grew around the world.
The company said profits for the January-March period totalled £652million as quarterly sales rose more than 20 per cent to £18.4billion.
Global chief executive Carlos Ghosn said sales growth was outpacing the industry and expects to grow even more this year.
Speeding ahead: The company said profits for the January-March period totalled £652million
Nissan forecast annual net profit of £2.4billion – up 4 per cent on the previous year.
The firm sold 5.2million vehicles in the year ending in March, controlling about 6.2 per cent of the global car market. Nissan expects to sell 5.65million in the year to March 2015, which would raise global market share to 6.7 per cent.
Ghosn said the results were ‘satisfactory’ but still fall short of potential.
‘This means pursuing profitable growth opportunities, focusing relentlessly on quality and enhancing our sales power,’ he said.
Nissan’s Sunderland plant produces the Qashqai, Note and Juke and the 100 per cent electric LEAF.
The factory exports 80 per cent of production to 97 markets worldwide.
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Atlus is preparing to announce and premiere a very important title. And the producer plans to release the game next year, which will become the “pillar” of the studio in the coming years. Taking into account the history of the band, we can expect a unique show.
Atlus has been a busy year, but there are many indications that the next few months will be crucial for developers. Recently, an interview with more than 100 game developers from Japan appeared on Famitsu’s website, including Shinjiro Takada, a product manager who works for Atlus.
By setting goals for 2022, Khan Takada Plans for an experienced studio, intending not only to announce it, but also to release a very important production:
“I chose ‘Challenge’ as the keyword for 2022 as we hope to release the game as one of Atlus’ pillars. All of us at Atlus are working hard to develop this production to make it fun and satisfying for everyone, so please look forward to it.”
The team is already working on a new part of the Persona series, which can be boldly called an “important title”, but according to some rumors, the premiere of the situation is very far away and we will have to wait for it until several years .
However, players can expect For a full view and a possible first view of Project Re Fantasy – A brand new IP was announced from the Japanese studio in 2017, but since then the situation has been very quiet.
“Player. Introvert. Problem solver. Creator. Thinker. Lifetime food evangelist. Alcohol advocate.”


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The company has released a new privacy tool ahead of the impending GDPR European legislation that goes into effect on Friday. The new tool is available here and allows users to request a copy of all the data Apple holds on them, correct any data mistakes, deactivate their account, or delete their account entirely. Data users are able to download include purchase and app usage history, calendars, reminders, photos, Apple Music and Game Center statistics, documents stored in iCloud, marketing history, and AppleCare support history, reports MacRumors.
Right now the new data download tool is only available to Apple accounts that have been registered in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, but Apple says it will be rolling out the tool to all Apple accounts globally “in the coming months.”


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Big retailing’s e-commerce apocalypse has been way overblown
Don’t believe it. The stories are mostly hype and the current closures largely a product of changing tastes. Insofar as retail has problems, furthermore, the best solutions involve avoiding actions that will make things worse and taking steps to allow for easy reuse of vacant retail space.
The story of Claire’s, which built its business and brand around free-ear piercings for teenagers and costume jewelry, proves how little e-commerce really has to do with retail’s ills. Pierced ears cannot be delivered by courier and the types of accessories sold at Claire’s are simply the things many want to see in person before buying.
While its corporate history goes back to the 1960s, Claire’s name and approach is largely a product of the 1990s and hasn’t changed much since then. Put another way, changing tastes did it in.
In the case of Toys ‘R Us, far from being destroyed by video games, the retailer relied on them for massive portions of sales and was the second largest video game retailer as recently as the early 2000s. Toys ‘R Us problem: it simply didn’t keep up or move into e-commerce or online distribution as aggressively as it might have.
In any case, there’s simply no evidence that “retail” writ large is in trouble. After all, sales are up — 5.5% in November and December of 2017 alone. Total employment in the sector has dropped slightly but so has the unemployment rate for those who previously worked in retail. This suggests that employment is declining because store owners just can’t find people to fill jobs.
Still, there are some worrisome signs that suggest that the vacancies left by these chains may not be filled: traditional enclosed malls, which have been in decline for decades, are clearly hurting. This is happening because there is just too much space overall. The United States’ per capita income is only about 15% higher than culturally similar Canada’s but we have nearly twice as much retail space per person. Traditional department stores that have long anchored enclosed malls are also hurting, a victim of fast-fashion chains like H&M and big-box discounters.
To deal with this, two policy courses seem to make sense.
First, with very narrow exceptions like encouraging the construction of full-service grocery stores in neighborhoods that lack them, governments shouldn’t offer any special treatment for new retail development. If we already have too much retail space, building more will make things worse.
Second, local and federal officials should change zoning laws to facilitate creative re-use of retail space. Many cities won’t allow conversions at all for old space in hopes of returning department stores and other businesses that nobody really wants anymore.
There are better uses. Around the country, retail spaces have become apartments in Providence, Rhode Island, a church in Lakeland, Florida and a greenhouse in Cleveland. But it’s burdensome and time-consuming to get permission for changes that allow these things. It would be far better to simply relax the rules and allow retail space to be converted for any purpose so long as it meets basic safety codes.
Mandates for parking that might be sensible for a mall preparing for Black Friday crowds may make no sense for other uses and should also go. Likewise, efforts to “landmark” spaces used for shopping deserve extreme skepticism: the places where people buy are rarely truly historic.
The way people buy things has long evolved and will continue to do so. But there’s little evidence of a true retail apocalypse and, insofar as the retail sector might have problems, the solutions to them are relatively simple.
Image credit: photocritical


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WASHINGTON—President Biden is likely to decide later this summer whether to partially forgive student-loan debt for millions of borrowers, according to administration officials and others familiar with the matter, after the president said more than a month ago that he would weigh in on the issue in the next couple of weeks.
The officials said Mr. Biden is likely to announce his plans in July or August, closer to when the pandemic-related pause in federal student loan payments is scheduled to lapse, as the president and his senior advisers continue to weigh the political and economic fallout of any such move. The Biden administration earlier this year extended the pause, which has been in effect since March 2020, until Sept. 1.
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We brought it to you yesterday about something being in the air as far as a potential collaboration between News Corp and Apple in regard to an iPad news app. This seems to be gaining some traction as a new report has the app set to be revealed on December 9.
According to John Gruber, both Rupert Murdoch and Steve Jobs would be in attendance at the possible event. “This is not going to be a quiet launch,” Gruber notes, saying that it would be iPad-only at first.
Apple has oft been talked about to be developing an actual dedicated newsstand app for the iPad, but the Daily would still start off as your traditional third-party app. Where does Apple play in this? Their contribution would revolve around a billing change to be able to allow subscriptions in iTunes. The structure of it isn’t known just yet, but it would be built into iOS, not just the accounting system.
As Electronista points out, how this would work without an update to iOS isn’t known just yet either, but perhaps Apple would allow News Corp some early access to APIs or even a temporary free publication until the plan would go into effect. As mentioned yesterday, the possible pricing plan is said to be 99 cents per week.
Most know that publishers have been knocking on Cupertino’s door asking for them to adapt its business model for magazines, newspapers as well as other periodicals because they believe the current pricing structure just isn’t cutting it.
Follow this article’s author, Matthew Tilmann on Twitter
(Image courtesy of topnews.us)


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The company has committed to investing more than $100 million in the startup ecosystem in India. In the last 10 months, the company has announced six deals totalling about $86 million across segments. These range from the recently announced investment in game studio Nautilus, game streaming platform Loco and e-sports firm Nodwin Gaming, to Indian language content firm Pratilipi...
In the next 3 years, about 250 million Indians from smaller towns and cities will come online in the next three to four years to create content and converse in regional languages through these apps
Here's what content publishing startups are up to these days


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MegaFans, a mobile gaming company based in Southern California, announced the distribution of the world’s first NFTs (non-fungible tokens) as prizes to mobile eSports platform players.
In September, the company began testing offers with Bitcoin to gauge market response, which was positive, so they quickly moved to include NFTs as part of the company’s plan to integrate into the metaverse market and become the first mobile eSports platform in that space.
MegaFans also tested distribution options for a long-term, scalable model, and is currently utilizing Open Sea, the largest NFT marketplace for peer-to-peer transactions, as well as Polygon, a multi-blockchain system that addresses high gas fees in a secure environment.
As MegaFans entertains offers to integrate with other metaverse platforms, the model proved to be successful this week when the company distributed the first NFTs within their mobile eSports environment.
MegaFans provides a variety of free-to-play and pay-to-win options, ranging from quick-play contests to monthly tournaments with larger prize pools of up to $5,000. (USD). As community participation grows, the pools grow in size, and players win virtual tokens that can be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies, NFTs, gift cards, or cash.
The company also employs a leaderboard format that offers multiple tournaments at the same time to an infinite number of players worldwide, regardless of skill level or geo-location.
Jeff Donnelley, CEO and Founder of MegaFans, stated:
“It’s both exciting and humbling to be the first to market in the blockchain space!” We’re bridging mobile eSports games and digital currencies in an unprecedented way. This is the metaverse’s cutting edge, and we (MegaFans) are pioneering technology that opens up previously untapped markets.”
Incubation at Launchpool Labs
MegaFans has recently joined the Launchpool Labs incubator program, where they will receive strategic and technical assistance to help grow their growing community of gamers and collectors.
The Launchpool Labs incubator is a 90-day intensive development program focused on creating communities and value around blockchain startups.
Roxana Nasoi, MD of Launchpool Labs, stated:
“eSports metaverse games are novel in the P2E (pay-to-earn) environment, in a market that is experiencing a real boom in terms of gaming, NFTs, and cryptocurrency.” The majority of projects out there take advantage of the web browser or PC opportunity, whereas Megafans goes completely mobile, giving them first-mover advantage. The team has a track record of success in mobile esports fantasy games, and we’re excited to help them enter the gamefi space.”


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- John Oliver mocked WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service, HBO Max, on his HBO show „Last Week Tonight“ on Sunday.
- Oliver was criticizing the NBA’s recent apology to China when he transitioned into a mock promotion of the service.
- Oliver said „it’s not HBO, it’s just TV.“
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
John Oliver took a playful jab at WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service, HBO Max, on his HBO show „Last Week Tonight“ on Sunday.
Oliver criticized the NBA’s apology to China after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted (and then deleted) in support of Hong Kong protesters, pointing out how much business the NBA does in the country.
„There’s nothing more cringe-worthy than watching someone forced to engage in promotional bulls— to appease the whims of their parent company,“ Oliver said.
He then transitioned into a mock promotion of HBO Max. WarnerMedia, HBO’s parent company, will launch the streaming service next year.
„Have you heard about HBO Max?,“ Oliver said. „Looking to add another app and monthly charge to watch things? HBO Max has you covered. It’s going to have all your favorites: reruns of ‚The Big Bang Theory,‘ reruns of ‚Friends,‘ reruns of ‚The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.‘ You can pay for all of those through HBO Max. HBO Max — it’s not HBO, it’s just TV.“
Oliver’s comments come after WarnerMedia has been hit with heavy turnover since the company formed in the aftermath of AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner last year. The top executives who have left the company include former HBO CEO Richard Plepler, who resigned in February. AT&T was quick to make its intentions for HBO known and wants to ramp up original content from the premium cable network to compete with Netflix, a move that is in contrast with HBO’s historical quality-over-quantity strategy.


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International North-South Transport Corridor: Russia sends test consignment to India through Caspian Sea – Iran route avoiding Suez Canal
Russia dispatched cargo to India via Iran on Saturday, employing the International North-South Transport Corridor.
India’s trade with the world increases drastically in the last quarter of 2021-2022, increase in trade with China amongst the lowest
While the total International trade increased by $340 billion, the trade with China specifically only saw a marginal increase in comparison.
From Textiles and Pharmaceuticals to Healthcare and Education: Here is how the India-Australia trade agreement benefit India
The India Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement will benefit several sectors in India and will create employments
‘Ever Forward’ vessel now stuck near Washington DC, earlier ‘Ever Given’ of the same company was stuck in Suez canal for a week: Details
Meanwhile, the Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine Corp had hired divers to inspect the vessel for possible damages and help in refloating the 'Ever Forward'.
India and Bangladesh hold Commerce Secretary-level meeting in New Delhi, significant progress on multimodal connectivity between the two countries
Indian and Bangladesh held extensive discussions on a variety of issues of mutual interest in New Delhi
India to sign Free Trade Agreement with UAE on Friday, PM Modi to hold a virtual summit with Abu Dhabi crown prince
PM Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan are going to hold a virtual Summit on Friday
Piyush Goyal identifies Indo-Australian relation as ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, says interim trade agreement to finalise in 30 days
The aim of this agreement is to facilitate bilateral relations in tourism and the exchange of information and data related to the sector between the two countries.
Growth in imports from China slows down during Modi govt while India’s trade with other countries increase at a much higher rate
The growth rate for India’s trade with China is even less than the growth rate of India’s total international trade, which increased by 50%
Amul Dairy had filed a case with the Federal Court of Canada over trademark infringement by a group called 'Amul Canada.'
Karnataka HC dismisses petitions against probing Amazon, Flipkart: Here are the allegations against e-commerce giants
Karnataka High Court quashed petitions filed by Amazon and Flipkart against an order by competition regulator over unfair trade practices.


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Every now and then, Nintendo releases day one updates for new games that are about to be released or just released. Most of these updates usually fix some last-found bug, or they make some content in the game available for the public to play.
This is no exception. Nintendo has released a brand new update for Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. After the update, the game should be version 1.0.1. According to the official patch notes, the update fixes a number of bugs discovered. You can see the patch notes below.
- Fixed a rare issue where the game would sometimes freeze at the end of an event.
- Fixed a rare issue where the game would sometimes get stuck when moving from base camp to war map.
- Fixed a rare issue where after selecting a file to save to on the save screen, the screen would not change and progress was blocked.
- Fixed an issue where certain battles in certain sequences would cause players to get stuck and prevent progress.
- Fixed an issue where using the partner special at certain times would cause the partner special to not end and prevent progress.
- Fixed an issue where the Switch Lock On target controls did not work when holding the left and right Joy-Cons horizontally to control the game.
- Various other issues have been fixed to improve game comfort.