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(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to immediately implement a program to protect the existing rice stocks in the country in order to face a food shortage that may occur in the future due to the severe drought currently prevailing in the country.
Accordingly, the Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera has advised the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, to immediately take steps to stop the use of rice for the production of animal feed and beer.
The Minister also instructed to submit a letter prepared in this regard to the Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Consumer Affairs and the Presidential Food Safety Committee.
Due to the prevailing severe drought weather conditions, the farmers are facing the problem of not having enough water for the paddy cultivations to mature.
Especially, over 50,000 acres of paddy fields under the Udawalawe Reservoir are at risk of being destroyed due to lack of water. At least two more shifts of water should be given to these fields.
In Anuradhapura district also there is an acute shortage of water for paddy fields. The Minister of Agriculture said that if there is no significant rainfall in the next few days, there may be a risk of rice shortage in the coming period due to the failure of the expected rice harvest in the Yala season.
Due to this, the Ministry of Agriculture has decided to suspend the use of rice for the production of animal feed and beer in order to protect the existing stocks of rice.
It is reported that about 100,000 metric tons of rice processed from the paddy harvest of the last Maha season has been used for animal feed and beer production.
It was decided to use rice in the production of animal feed to avoid the decline in production of milk, eggs and poultry due to the decline in local maize production, especially for animal feed, and the lack of money to import maize.


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Stomping Grounds on West 34th has its first tenant. Paul Petronella, owner of Paulie’s, Camerata at Paulie’s and partial owner of OKRA Charity Saloon, and Chris Poldoian, Camerata wine director and general manager, are partnering to expand in Houston by opening a second Camerata location in the Revive development at 1225 West 34th.
According to a press release, the 1500 square foot location will be called Camerata in the Oaks, and is slated to open in the spring of 2019. The partners say it will be similar to its sister location, Camerata at Paulie’s in the Montrose District.
Primarily designed as a retail wine store, there will be limited seating for in-store patrons. There won’t be a kitchen but there still will be options for nibbling.
“The 10 seats will surround a bar, with intentions of guests enjoying our by the glass options,” said Petronella. “We will have mostly meat and cheese plates to enjoy on site.”
Petronella said that the pasta and sauces which will be sold on site, would need to be cooked at home.
The focus of Camerata in the Oaks will be on the wine. Expert sommeliers will be on hand to
introduce new wines to accommodate various palates. They will carry domestic beer, as well beer from different parts of the world; and also offer wine from lesser known regions.
Chris Poldoian said there will always be a selection of $15 bottle wines.
“Camerata will offer cellar-worthy fine wine and immediately drinkable weekday values,” he said.
Customers can order cases of wine and beer and as well as pre-packaged food items like cured meats, cheese, fresh pasta, sauces and sweets from Paulie’s.
Certified sommelier Tony Stein is going to be the manager at Camerata in the Oaks. Stein is a former chef and baker at Common Bond in Houston and Bouchon in California. He’s currently at Paulie’s.
“Camerata in the Oaks will mirror Camerata at Paulie’s commitment to small production, high-quality, minimal-intervention wine,” Poldoian said in the release. “Our goal with the wine shop is to introduce residents of Garden Oaks and Oak Forest to new varieties and regions in an approachable, friendly way. With a curated retail selection, dynamic by-the-glass program, and hyper-knowledgeable staff, we hope to offer the same legendary level of hospitality that guests expect from Camerata in a retail experience.”
Sean Garrison from Garrison Designs and Chris Nguyen will design the new building in Stomping Grounds.
Of the location, Petronella said that he recognized that the Oak Forest/Garden Oaks area is a rapidly growing residential area of Houston, and that the commercial landscape is catching up.
“This neighborhood is begging for high integrity restaurant and retail, which is apparent by a quick drive through the area but also supported by data,” said Petronella. “One of the goals of Paulie’s – 20 years ago – and Camerata – 5 years ago – was to fill a need in the River Oaks/Montrose areas of Houston. Today, Montrose/River Oaks could be reaching saturation soon in reference to restaurants per 1,000 residents, as it is one of the highest in city limits. Garden Oaks and Oak Forest is one of the lowest per 1,000 residents at a third the number of River Oaks and Montrose.”

domain: news


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Dollarama is giving a 10 per cent pay raise to all store employees as well as those who work in the company’s warehouses.
The wage increase was announced last week and will continue until July 1.
Dollarama said it will keep re-evaluating how it can support staff in the short-term and long-term as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
“Our ability to provide everyday essentials to millions of Canadians is only made possible through the hard work of the Dollarama team working in our stores, in our warehouses, and in our distribution centre,” said Neil Rossy.
“We recognize the challenges they are facing and appreciate the incredible work they are doing to serve Canadians in these truly unprecedented circumstances.”
Dollarama said it will also hire thousands across the country over the coming months to support the ongoing business demand.
Like other stores, Dollarama is also implementing additional cleaning and disinfecting procedures in its stores, distribution centres and warehouse operations.


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- Morocco National Carrier Set For Flights To 5 East African Cities
- Trade expansion, reintroduction of direct India-S Africa flights between Johannesburg-Mumbai mooted at biz summit
- Marriott moves into West Africa
- Zimbabwe banks on Heritage Tourism
- African wild dogs return to Gorongosa National Park
- Malawi signs tourism pact with Zambia
- Zanzibar Gears Up for Major Tourism Show
- Uganda counts gorillas amid tourism-boosting 'baby boom'
- New Atta Members this month – March
- Application for Membership - Travelshoppe Company
Government, Fedhasa address VAT increase concerns across SA hospitality industry
The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) has made progressive strides with government regarding the impact of the recent increase in Value-Added Tax, which has raised concerns across South Africa's hospitality establishments in serving its government clientele.
For many years, the National Treasury has capped officials spend on domestic accommodation and meals in the effort to manage and contain government spending.
"Increases in VAT are normally passed on to the consumer. However, there has been unease amongst hotels, including major chains, B&Bs and guesthouses. They have been facing the prospect of having to absorb the one percent hike in order to compete for or retain their government clients if there was no corresponding review of the restrictions," says Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, Fedhasa CEO.
Facilitating on-going engagement
As part of its mandate to represent its members to the government with one united voice, Fedhasa has been involved in on-going engagements with the government to not only deal with the VAT issue but also the impact of the recently introduced Sugar Tax and rising inflation.
Following these discussions, Fedhasa can confirm that the National Treasury has published an addendum to its cost containment instruction. The revisions are between a two to three percent increase in the maximum allowable government spend on domestic accommodation and meals, which will cover the impact of the VAT and the Sugar Tax increases on the industry only. However, Tshivhengwa says this is not sufficient to cover the inflation adjustment that the sector faces, adding that the industry’s input cost has risen by general inflation – the association implores National Treasury to consider the full extent of inflation and adjust the maximum capped rate to meet the Consumer Price Index.
"This is a good start for our members and the South African hospitality industry as a whole. In the interests of ensuring fairness and the sustainability of South Africa’s vital hospitality businesses, Fedhasa will continue this process of lobbying government so that their cost containments also properly take the current inflation rates into account," comments Tshivhengwa.


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BMW, Daimler, and VW investigated over a possible cartel
The European Commission has opened an investigation into five car manufacturers who have jointly been accused of pushing back against cleaner emissions technologies.
The Commission is worried actions from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, Audi, and Porsche have denied buyers the opportunity to buy more efficient cars. “If proven, this collusion may have denied consumers the opportunity to buy less polluting cars, despite the technology being available to the manufacturers,” says Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition.
Specifically, “Selective Catalytic Reduction” systems for diesel engines and “Otto Particulate Filters” for petrol engines are thought to be the main culprits.
However, the commission says the investigation is not related to emissions defeat devices.
Last year, an overseas report was released, claiming BMW, Audi, Porsche, and Daimler formed a secret cartel back in the 1990s. The companies discussed technology, costs, suppliers and the exhaust gas purification of its diesel-powered vehicles.
Despite the huge fines being laid at guilty manufacturers’ doorsteps, dirty diesels are alive and well. A separate report claims that in the UK alone, where some seven million ‘bad’ diesels are still in use, around 23,500 early deaths are caused by high levels of nitrogen oxide. It adds that 43 million dirty diesels are still being driven throughout Europe.


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Google was once known solely as a search company. The firm, under the leadership of co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, found a unique new way for users to find Websites across the Web. And before long, the founders service became the obsession of people around the globe. Google has entered the pantheon of tech greats that, like the others, might not be matched for years to come.
But after its successful start, Google wasnt content to just stick with its core competency. Instead, the firm jumped to a host of other industries, including advertising and mobile operating systems. Right now, the companys Android operating system is the worlds most popular, easily outpacing Apple iOS, BlackBerry OS and others.
However, the one place Google hasnt been able to make a mark is in the tablet space despite the growing popularity of Android-based smartphones. The search giants hardware partners cant match the momentum of the Apple iPad despite the large numbers of tablets they have released. And by the look of things, thats not going to change unless something drastic happens.
For Google, that something drastic might just be developing its own tablet. Its a risk, for sure, but at this point, Google offering up its own slate is the only way for the search giant to make its mark against the iPad. The question is whether its too late to gain on the iPad.
1. Look at the market share
Google is having a real issue in the tablet space. Androids market share is far below that of iOS, and so far, there hasnt been a single device to come along that has made Apple scared. If Google truly wants to increase its market share in the tablet market, itll have to offer its own slate with all the features customers want. Right now, except for Apple, no other vendor seems willing to do that.
2. The vendors arent keeping up
Following that, its important to point out that none of Google's Android partners is actually keeping up with the changing times . In some cases, these companies are using outdated versions of the Android operating system. In other cases, theyre failing to deliver the screen sizes and designs customers are after. If vendors cant be relied on, Google must deliver something better.
3. It helps the entire ecosystem
There is some concern that if a company that offers software jumps into the hardware space, it hurts all stakeholders. Thats just not the truth. If Google can sell its tablet in boatloads, other Android-based devices will sell well, since theyll benefit from more customers wanting to use the operating system. A well-built Android-based device helps the entire ecosystem.
4. Its unlikely vendor partners will care
The belief that a Google-branded tablet could hurt the market also tends to presuppose that vendors wont like it. Theyll say that Google is competing unfairly, some say, and theyll jump to other platforms. But that wouldnt happen. There isnt a single vendor thats upset about Google acquiring Motorola Mobility. In fact, all those competing vendors continue to sell products running Android. If they dont care about that, why would they care about a Google-branded tablet?


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Google’s Top Destination Searches – Google has just released its “Year in Search 2019” report, compiling the top-trending online search subjects of the year, including data on which destinations Americans were most researching online. The list reflects which locations are trending in online searches, but not necessarily which were the most popular among travelers, said CNBC.
The rankings may reveal rising interest in places that people are aspiring to go to, as well as where they may actually be visiting. That said, the following are the top three (3) travel destinations that saw the highest spikes in searches among U.S. users over 2018.
A small, south Asian nation, the Maldives consists of a chain of atolls situated in the tropical, translucent turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea.
Famed for its unbelievably vibrant waters, coral reefs and exotic marine life, the Maldives has become an elite haven for private-island resorts, which often tout incredible overwater villas that place guests in the midst of the astounding equatorial sea.
Though highly remote and perhaps an unrealistic option for many, this otherworldly paradise is now visible to all through the miracle of the internet and is, apparently, dominating our collective wanderlust.
CNBC reported that the United Nations World Tourism Organization recently determined that Japan posted the second-highest growth in international tourism receipts, behind Australia.
Besides being a fascinating destination in its own right, Tokyo’s hosting of the 2020 Olympics was bound to spark some curiosity among American internet users about the Asian nation and tourism to Japan is bound to boom in light of the upcoming international event.
Next up is Bora Bora, the French Polynesian gem is enjoying renewed interest among travelers, which saw arrivals start to wane in the 2000s.
Sitting atop an extinct volcano in the middle of the ocean, this tropical paradise is famous for its crystalline lagoon and sugary sands; and remains a world-renowned diving destination, teeming with colorful marine life, including sharks of the friendly variety, rays and even whales.


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TOKYO -- A loyalty program backed by Japan Airlines and others will continue its expansion in Asia by enabling consumers in Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia to accrue and spend points in all of these countries starting next spring, a move that could help Japanese retailers capture more spending by inbound tourists.
Ponta rewards, operated by Mitsubishi Corp. subsidiary Loyalty Marketing, will connect its Japanese and Indonesian programs with Malaysian rewards club BonusLink, which has 8 million members. Ponta expanded into Indonesia at the end of 2014 and now has around 17 million users there, with some 14,000 participating retailers. Its Japanese membership totals around 80 million.
Ponta points can be used while shopping at such partner businesses as Lawson convenience stores. Members simply need to display a bar code on their Ponta app for stores to scan during checkout.
Tokyo-based Loyalty Marketing recently bought a small stake in the Japanese arm of SK Planet, the operator of OK Cashbag, South Korea's largest rewards system. The Japanese company eventually hopes to add South Korean businesses to the Ponta network, taking a similar approach to its alliance building in Taiwan. All these moves would expand the network to around 150 million members.
In October, Taiwanese and South Korean travelers will be able to collect Ponta-linked points at five Takashimaya department stores in such tourist hot spots as Tokyo's Nihonbashi district and Kyoto.
Credit cards remain out of reach for all but affluent emerging-market consumers. But since reward points can be earned and used even when paying cash, such programs could catch on broadly in such countries.
Competition is heating up among Japanese loyalty programs, especially as companies rush to attract the surge of tourists arriving from other parts of Asia. TPoint Japan, the operator of the T-Point card and a subsidiary of Culture Convenience Club, recently entered into a partnership with one of Taiwan's largest loyalty programs.


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Yum Brands will open its first Taco Bell restaurant in China later this year, Reuters reports.
The Chinese outpost of the QSR brand will open in Shanghai, Yum CEO Greg Creed said at a conference Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Yum previously said that Taco Bell has a great deal of potential in China, a country in which the parent operates nearly 7,000 Pizza Hut and KFC units. After much speculation that it would do so, Yum announced in October that it would spin off the struggling China division of its business into a separate company.
Read the full story via Reuters.
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Virat Kohli is the only Indian celebrity with a ₹100 crore endorsement deal with a single brand. Now, India’s biggest brand icon has also become the owner of a ₹100 crore business brand.
Virat’s athleisure and sports shoe brand One8, co-created and co-owned with Puma, has grossed over ₹100 crore in Indian market within a year of its launch, national daily Times of India has reported.
Kohli in February last year had signed a ₹110 crore endorsement deal with German sports and athleisure brand Puma, becoming the first Indian sport star to ink a ₹100 crore endorsement contract with a single brand. And now the Kohli-Puma partnership has scored another first for the Indian sports as he becomes the first sportsperson to co-own a retail brand with ₹100 crore annual sale.
Brand One8 and Kohli are going to grow fast from here. The Indian national cricket team captain earlier this month has also launched his personal range of One8 fragrances.
Kohli reportedly gets a 10% royalty on the One8 sales. With ₹10 crore or more royalty from the One8 sales, Kolhi’s annual earnings from Puma may go past ₹25 crore. Around ₹14 crore come as the annual pay cheque from the eight-year, ₹110 crore endorsement deal.
“We believe collaborating with Virat back in 2017 was the right direction for the brand. Success of our collaboration with One8 has lot to do with Virat’s popularity. Also, the launch comes at a time when he is at such a pinnacle in his career,” TOI has quoted Puma India MD Abhishek Ganguly as saying. “Currently, we are planning to double the range of products in this collaboration.”
The ₹100 crore retail aggregate will be considered an impressive and aggressive start for the one-year-old One8 when compared with established and bigger global brands overall performance. Reebok India, in market for over a decade now, had aggregated ₹390 crore in 2017-18, adidas’ annual sales are reported at ₹1,097 crore while Puma India has reported ₹920 crore sales during January-December, 2016.
“One8 is a brand very close to me and I have been personally involved in the conceptualisation of the line,” Kohli had told TOI. “The vision is to build the brand and go beyond the product to capture a way of life.”
MS Dhoni with brand Seven, Harbhajan Singh with Bhajji and Sachin Tendulkar with SRT are the other prominent Indian sports persons to have their own range of sports and athleisure wear. Yuvraj has established YouWeCan for cancer charity with a range of athleisure and causal apparels. But none of these Indian sports icons have come closer to Kohli in business volume.
Other than Kohli, global athletes like tennis sensation Roger Federer (RF), former basketball legend Michael Jordan and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7) have successfully rolled out their own brands. Interestingly, Federer is currently locked in a battle with his former sponsor Nike over RF after he partnered with Japanese apparel major Uniqlo.
However, Kolhi’s contractual clauses give him the liberty to retain brand One8 once his eight-year deal with Puma expires.


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The purchase by Sports Direct of department store group House of Fraser drew a cautious response from analysts on Monday, with some saying the deal could backfire on Mike Ashley, the sportswear retailer's founder.
(Relaxnews) - According to a statement issued Monday, August 13 from the animal rights group PETA, the organizers of Helsinki Fashion Week have pledged to ban leather clothing and accessories from July 2019.
They may feel aggrieved at not obtaining an official seal of approval, but traditional Romanian dressmakers are riding a wave of demand for their folk designs after Dior inadvertently showcased their craft.
House of Fraser is to get a new owner after calling in administrators Friday. A fast deal to buy a slimmed-down version of the chain had been on the cards with news Friday that retail tycoon Mike Ashley is now in charge.
The fashion house's efforts to revamp stores as well as its high-end shoe brand Jimmy Choo paid off as the company topped Wall Street’s quarterly profit estimates on Wednesday and raised its full-year earnings forecast.


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Kanye West is the versatile rapper of the industry who recently composed his biggest hit DONDA 2. When it comes to being a businessman, Kanye West has proven to be a great genius. Kanye West also claimed that he has no interest in jumping into the NFT space.
Just recently, Watching The Throne (@KanyePodcast) took to Twitter to address a fraud in the name of Ye. Some producer is publicizing an upcoming NFT as a collaboration with Ye. @KanyePodcast confirmed that Ye has no such involvement.
Yo, head’s up. Some producer is presenting an upcoming NFT as a collaboration with Ye. We’ve confirmed Ye has no involvement.
It turns out that people out there are using Kanye’s clout to promote NFTs. The page made sure that folks are throwing their money down the drain after getting misled. Kanye West has decided not to join the NFT bandwagon. The Yeezy billionaire has stated that he does not want to create a non-fungible token.
Many of his contemporaries have gotten in on the NFT craze, including Eminem, who paid $462,000 for an ape sketching NFT that looks like him. Justin Bieber spent $1.29 million on his NFT at the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Ye seemed to be pleased at the prospect of reclaiming ownership of his work and releasing it on his own terms. Check out the tweet below.
What’s your take on this story? Sound off in the comments!


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Marginal pressure on Asia-Pacific paints and coatings industry is a titanium dioxide market quandary too
Asia’s demand for titanium dioxide is dwindling, which would mean that some of its supply would be stockpiled in the future.
With China, India, South Korea and Indonesia in it, there’s no denying that the Asian region has the capability to dictate a trend in every global commodity market. The region is the area where both flourishing (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines) and recovering (China, Japan, India) economies exist harmoniously. However, much to most Western economies’ dismay, whatever good happening in Asia may not sit well with them.
The global titanium dioxide market has this problem, too. The supply segment is relatively high, as the mineral is one of the most abundant in the world, but the demand remains precarious as ever. Now that a large demand that typically comes from Asia is sliding downward, a lot of titanium dioxide volume in the future could end up stockpiled, which is very similar to what happened in nickel and aluminium in 2013. This could hurt the stable prices, and the only thing that mining companies could do is to wait and watch for a miracle, a thing that happens often in the commodity commerce segment.
Now, many Western titanium producers are anxious.
The biggest threat to the titanium dioxide market is the continuously decreasing demand for paint in the whole region. As we all know, a large percentage of the global demand for the mineral comes from the paints and coatings market. While Asia is where tiger cub economies and global superpowers are located, this is also the home of several struggling economies such as Sri Lanka, Laos, and Myanmar. These are the countries where food and clothes are considered more important than cars, aircrafts, or other products highly dependent on paint. Not even house repainting is a big deal in these countries.
Looking at Asian Paints Limited, one of the largest paint producers in Asia, will give one a clear picture of the entire Asia-Pacific paints and coatings industry. Shares of Asian Paints have dropped 16 percent since hitting an all-time high in January. The margin pressure that the company is experiencing is also shared by many paints and coatings firms in the region. According to experts, the reason behind the indifference over paint is simply abject poverty and declining buying power.
However, the oversupply in Asia could be mitigated by the nanoparticles market, a large, emerging industry that caters to photovoltaic producers and alternative energy technology producers. Giant economies such as Germany, Spain, the US, the UK, and even China and Japan are now tapping the PV market to solve exorbitant electricity issues and to contribute to the alleviation of the growing global carbon emission predicament.
The PV market is now considered to be one of the fastest growing market sectors in the world. It is expected to record $89.52 billion growth in 2013 to $345.59 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 18.30 percent from 2014 to 2020. The Asia Pacific region is predicted to hold the major market share at 53.25 percent, which is followed by Europe at 23.52 percent.
The growing market will be supported by the ever-expanding supply sector. In 2017, several rutile and ilmenite miners are expected to join the global commerce. Among which is White Mountain Titanium Corporation (OTCQB:WMTM), an exploration company from Santiago, Chile capable of producing up to 112 million tonnes of rutile.
The small company owns the Cerro Blanco Property, a 17,041-hectares rutile resource area that is hailed by mining experts as one of the largest and promising titanium dioxide facilities in the world today.
The titanium dioxide sector is a less chaotic and problematic segment compared with other global markets like industrial or precious metals. Indeed, there have been oversupply problems and measly demand that created anxieties among producers and suppliers in the past, but it always ends up mitigated, if not totally solved.
It’s undeniable that the Asia-Pacific market is causing problems to the titanium dioxide industry. However, it is not the only segment that depends heavily on the mineral. Other key titanium dioxide consumers are various industries such as cosmetics, manufacturing, engineering, and even food.
Add to this the increasing consumer buying power in India and China. The growing middle-class sectors in these countries will help resuscitate the struggling paints and coatings industry. And this will definitely happen soon, as both countries, will do everything to show the world that they can be an essential global economy, too. For China, it is all about being better than the US—a lofty dream that has long been altering the entire global market.
This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.
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John Collison, president and co-founder of Stripe.
Christophe Morin | IP3 | Getty Photographs
AMSTERDAM — The co-founder of $95 billion fintech massive Stripe defended the corporate’s trade practices after lawsuits from opponents that it engages in unfair competitors.
John Collison, Stripe’s president, stated Tuesday he’s “beautiful unapologetic” in regards to the corporation’s selections to release equivalent options to rival fintech corporations, including that is “how the economic system works.”
“On occasion we release a product first after which folks come alongside and increase competition to that,” Collison informed newshounds on the Cash 20/20 fintech convention in Amsterdam.
“On occasion there might be any individual else available in the market with a product like Plaid after which we can input an area with a equivalent product however with natural differentiation for purchasers.”
Main tech platforms have steadily attracted criticisms for borrowing concepts from smaller competition. Fb mum or dad corporation Meta and Twitter had been accused of mimicking the audio chat app Clubhouse with their very own competing options, as an example.
As soon as considered as a darling of Silicon Valley, Stripe has confronted allegations of foul play from fellow monetary generation corporations together with Bolt, a one-click checkout provider, and Plaid, which permits fintech corporations to get admission to buyer knowledge securely.
Ryan Breslow, founding father of Bolt, described Stripe as a “mob boss” in Silicon Valley, accusing it of colluding with traders like Y Combinator and Sequoia to make it more difficult for rival corporations to compete.
In a since-deleted tweet, Plaid CEO Zach Perret accused Stripe of the use of knowledge received from an interview with Plaid to release a equivalent product known as Monetary Connections.
In a single tweet, Breslow — who has since stepped down as Bolt’s CEO — accused Stripe of working a “monopoly on technical eyeballs,” claiming the corporate made it more difficult for competing fintech corporations to get protection on Hacker Information, a well-liked tech information web site owned via Y Combinator.
Collison stated any recommendation Stripe is working a monopoly is “ludicrous and disprovable.”
“There are such a large amount of cost corporations,” he stated, including corporations like PayPal and Adyen be offering abundant competitors for Stripe.
Final yr, Stripe processed $640 billion in transaction volumes, marking an build up of 60% from 2020.
Buyers have lengthy speculated about an eventual record for the company. Collison stated Stripe is “more than happy” staying non-public in the intervening time.


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Czech carmaker Skoda Auto on Monday launched a limited edition of its mid-size sedan Rapid in India with a price starting at Rs 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The Rapid Matte edition will be available in carbon steel matte colour and will be powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine with options of automatic and manual transmissions, Skoda Auto India said in a statement.
While the manual transmission option is priced at Rs 11.99 lakh, the automatic transmission variant is tagged at Rs 13.49 lakh (ex-showroom), it added.
Commenting on the launch, Skoda Auto India Brand Director Zac Hollis said since its launch in 2011; the Rapid has had a successful journey in India with more than one lakh customers. It has seen great resonance with auto enthusiasts across the country.
“Taking the success story further, we are thrilled to introduce the Rapid Matte Edition in India. With this addition, the Rapid portfolio expands further to reach new customers. With its distinctive style and extensive feature list, I am confident that this product will see great demand,” he added.
The new edition has a host of unique design features such as a new glossy black radiator grille and spoiler in the front coupled with the carbon steel matte colour, shiny black door handle, black body side moulding black trunk lip garnish, among others.
It comes with all-black alloy wheels and offers essential safety features like dual airbags and an anti-lock braking system across its product portfolio.
The Rapid Matte edition is also equipped with rear parking sensors, an anti-glare interior rearview mirror, rear windscreen defogger with timer, height-adjustable three-point seat belts at the front, rough road package and engine immobiliser with floating code system, the company added.


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Moncton narrowly approves mobile food vendor plan
City will allow 3 food trucks, 2 food carts on downtown streets this summer
Moncton scaled back a proposal to allow food carts and food trucks downtown this summer after complaints were raised by a local restaurant owner.
Councillors were discussing a pilot project to allow six food trucks and five food carts to be allowed in the downtown this summer.
Instead, the council approved only three food trucks and two food carts this summer. The vote passed council by a single vote.
However, the pilot project ran into opposition from councillors and restaurant owners.
But Todd Marsh, the owner of the Subway restaurant on Main Street, said he doesn't like the competition from these food vendors.
"I've got big property taxes, I've got big water bills," he said.
Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc and two other councillors were concerned about unfair competition for established restaurants.
Coun. Daniel Bourgeois said other restaurant owners have told him privately they are also upset about the potential for mobile vendors to cut into their profits.
"Why are we doing this, what's the problem, what are we trying to fix?" Bourgeois asked.
The majority of councillors backed a proposal to allow mobile food vendors.
'Success builds success'
Coun. Dawn Arnold said allowing vendors to sell hot dogs or gourmet food from carts or trucks has worked well in almost every other city where it has been tried.
The councillor also discounted the fears of those who think the mobile food vendors would hurt existing businesses.
"I think that success builds success," she said.
"I also talked to a lot of restaurateurs in the downtown area and they were — all that I talked to — extremely positive about this."
Arnold said she believes the added competition will help all businesses grow and attract more people to Moncton’s downtown.
"Someone has just mentioned the size of the pie, I think the pie gets a lot bigger. The pie doesn't stay the same size," the councillor said.
“The more people that come downtown looking for interesting things, for interesting food opportunities, the better. I think it helps everyone, it creates a vibrant downtown.”
Saint John also wrestled with the issue of allowing downtown food vendors last year.


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Video - Outbound Yahoo Video Feed
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:14 PM
Updated Tuesday, Jan 8 at 7:21 PM
Spokane shoppers had an extra obstacle on their way to stores -- a whole lot of slush. Breanna Roy looks at the "Spokane Shuffle" as folks try to walk across those icy, slushy parking lots.


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Chipotle asks customers not to bring guns into restaurants
US fast-food chain Chipotle has asked customers not to bring firearms into its restaurants, after a group of gun rights advocates carried assault-style rifles into one in Texas.
Following the display, a gun control group launched an online petition to put pressure on the company.
Chipotle said the guns caused "many of our customers anxiety and discomfort".
Many US states allow people to carry guns in some fashion, but businesses may ban them.
Chipotle, which serves Mexican-style food, joins coffee giant Starbucks in requesting customers not bring guns into their locations.
In a statement provided to the BBC, Chipotle said it previously deferred to local laws as to do otherwise would "put our team members in the uncomfortable position" of asking customers not to carry guns.
But it was now "respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants" unless they were law enforcement officials.
"The vast majority of gun owners are responsible citizens and we appreciate them honouring this request," Chipotle said in its statement, adding it was the role of elected officials "to set policy in this area, not the role of businesses like Chipotle".
The chain operates more than 1,400 stores across the United States.
It unveiled the change after a national gun control group, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, announced a petition asking the chain's chief executive Steve Ells to prohibit firearms in all Chipotle restaurants, circulating two photos of people posing with firearms inside and outside a Chipotle restaurant.
"Moms are grateful to Chipotle for taking quick action," Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, said on Tuesday.
"Businesses have a duty to protect their employees and patrons - especially in states where no background checks or training are required to buy semi-automatic rifles and carry them openly in public."
The gun control group, backed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said it received 10,000 signatures in a few hours.
Open Carry Texas founder CJ Grisham told the Forbes website his group went to a Chipotle at the weekend not to demonstrate but for a meal following an event.
"We always let the manager know we're coming," he said. "We're peaceful, we're looking for a place to eat, but we have guns. If we're not welcome, we're not going to spend money there."


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NEW YORK A recently launched scrap metal recycling company in Indiana is set to produce about 10,000 tonnes of shredded scrap this month after reaching its full production rate earlier this week.
Waterloo, Ind.-based MetalXlaunched late last year by former OmniSource Corp. owners the Rifkin family (amm.com, Nov. 1)commissioned the shredder on Feb. 28.
The Wendt Model 60 shredder feeds an oversized ferrous downstream and eddy-current separation line with a downstream line throughput capacity of 120 gross tons per hour. The system is also configured to accommodate a second shredder at a future date, the company said.
"We have designed a shredding system that is different than other shredder installations. The result is greater flexibility, lower capital costs and increased operating efficiencies," MetalX chief executive officer Danny Rifkin said in a statement.
MetalX also aims to perform custom shredding for customers and hopes to develop proprietary shredded products for use in specific applications, it said.
"We are more interested in creating shredded products that add value for customers than simply producing a commodity grade of shredded, although that product will clearly be a significant part of our mix," Rifkin said.
MetalX launched operations on Oct. 29, 2012, and has since grown from 12 employees to nearly 70.


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Style Notes: Naomi Campbell Gets Her Own Yahoo Show; Style.com Begins Layoffs
A side of fashion to go with your taco Tuesday.
Whispers of layoffs at Style.com have been circulating the Internet since news broke Monday that the Condé Nast-owned site would be transitioning into an e-commerce platform later this year. The editorial content, which was seen as direct competition to Vogue, has already lost deputy editor Noah Johnson as well as fashion market director Rachael Wang, with more layoffs expected to follow in the coming days. [Fashionista]
At its NewsFronts presentation earlier this week, Yahoo announced its latest lineup of shows slated for Yahoo Screen (the company's streaming service) which is set to include I Am Naomi, a show produced by and starring — you guessed it — Naomi Campbell. According to the site, the series will show the supermodel chatting "with the world’s most powerful and influential people.” [Yahoo]
Despite new creative director Stuart Vevers' best efforts, North American sales for Coach have taken a nasty hit. According to retail reports, sales have fallen 23 percent in the fiscal third quarter and shares dropped 6.3%. The company is hoping that when their Stuart Weitzman buyout closes in May, the shoe brand will help to boost revenue once again. [Bloomberg]
Media juggernaut Refinery29 has raised $50 million in Series D Financing, with plans to continue building out their lifestyle content. The company, which was primarily focused on fashion content when it launched in 2004, has plans to "invest heavily in video," as well as to build their brand globally and expand their social media and mobile presence. [TechCrunch]


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Researchers at Hewlett-Packard have developed a working unit of a memory circuit that has existed in theory for 37 years, which could ultimately replace RAM and make computers more intelligent by tracking data it has retained.
So today's highly anticipated launch revealed the HTC Hero Android phone as everyone suspected. That in itself would have been a bit of a let down since we've known and speculated about the Hero for some time. Hardware wise it's not a million miles away from previous HTC Android phones. Yes, it has a 5 megapixel camera and finally a 3.5mm stereo headset jack but that's not much to get excited about.
But the real news was the announcement of HTC Sense, a customisable UI for Android. Now that's something I can get excited about. Rather than try to explain it, I think the official press release does a pretty good job so here goes:
What makes the natal project so damned awesome is that it allows you do more than just play games. You can move through menus by Moving your hands back and forth. The camera is so advanced it has awesome things like facial recognition and voice recognition. While your xbox is powered up and going, you can stand in front of natal and it will sign you in to your avatar.
Παρόλο που ακόμα αποτελεί μια ιδέα, το Roll Top ίσως να αποτελέσει το πρότυπο πάνω στο οποίο θα βασιστεί ο σχεδιασμός των μελλοντικών φορητών υπολογιστών.


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Other Obama campaign continues
Updated 11:38 pm, Friday, November 9, 2012
It was a constant refrain on President Barack Obama's campaign trail: No matter how much progress had been made during his first term, there's more work to be done.
He's not the only Obama facing a daunting task during the next four years.
Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign, a nationwide initiative to reduce childhood obesity through healthful lifestyle changes, has enjoyed success since its launch in February 2010, but there's a lot more work ahead.
The first lady's accomplishments are numerous, most notably in the arena of school lunches: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed in 2010 gave children access to more healthful school lunches, and thousands of school cafeterias (including many in San Antonio) now feature salad bars.
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She also forged partnerships with the private sector. Wal-Mart announced it would remove trans fats and reduce salt and added sugars from thousands of packaged foods. Darden Restaurants, the owner of Olive Garden, Red Lobster and other chains, agreed to overhaul their kids menus to make them more nutritious.
Two years after Michelle Obama urged the Grocery Manufacturer's Association to revamp its marketing of healthful foods to kids, Disney announced in June that it will introduce nutritional standards for food advertising.
More than anything else, Michelle Obama — whom healthful food guru Michael Pollan called the most powerful foodie in the world in Forbes magazine last year — has brought nutrition and fitness into the national spotlight.
Legislation isn't the only way to effect change. Increased awareness of childhood obesity, acknowledgement of the severity of the problem and straightforward information about how we can fight it — the foundation of the first lady's efforts — in the long term may prove to be more valuable in reducing childhood obesity than, say, citywide bans on large sodas.
Of course, three years is not enough to turn the tide.
Efforts at the federal level to fight childhood obesity must continue long after Obama's second term.
And the first lady knows it.
“This isn't a problem that's going to be solved in a year or two or three,” she said during a conference call with reporters in February 2011. “This is a generational problem, so we have to keep driving this issue. We will do it here at the national level, but the real work happens on the ground where you all are.”


text: The Windows Mobile 7 mystery movie is becoming a mini-series. When Microsoft offered no insights about WinMo7 or its release date at this month's CES (consumer electronics show), impatient industry watchers and journalists went digging for answers and got nuthin' concrete from the Redmondians.I tried to get some WinMo7 release date info through a Microsoft spokesperson and got the same old line: "We are not talking about future generations of Windows phones at this time."But everywhere else, speculation ran wild about release dates and design tweaks. This tends to happen when a vendor keeps mum about an upcoming product. Rumor, speculation and hints from anonymous sources about WinMo 7 will work in Microsoft's favor as it will build anticipation. Microsoft is learning from Apple here.\n\nWindows Mobile 7: Can Microsoft Reinvent the Mobile MarketSlideshow: Seven Features in Windows 7 You Probably Don't Know About\nSlideshow: Windows 7 in Pictures: The Coolest New Hardware\n\nMost would agree that if Windows Mobile 7 has a prayer against the iPhone, BlackBerry and increasingly popular Android phones, Microsoft must improve the design, UI and touchscreen features as well as make it available on more devices and market it aggressively.Microsoft is taking a stubbornly deliberate approach to Windows Mobile 7's release. Congress moves faster than this. A recent story from tech news site Bright Side of News, citing unnamed sources at smartphone manufacturers, says WinMo 7 will be delayed until 2011 because phone manufacturers are still swooning over Google's Android OS.\n2011? That's too slow by miles. But take that news with a grain of salt. Most reports have said WinMo 7 will see the light of day late this year, which is still too late given pace of smartphone innovation. During CES, Engadget reported that an exec from phone manufacturer LG let it slip that WinMo 7 will release this year.Microsoft could hush criticism that it doesn't surprise people anymore by releasing WinMo7 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer did say in his CES keynote that, "We will have a lot more to say about phones at next month's Mobile World Congress."Veteran Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley thinks that translates not to a WinMo7 launch but to a Windows Mobile 6.6 launch \u2014 an interim version designed for capacitive screen phones. This would be like showing up to see Frank Sinatra, and getting Frank Sinatra, Jr.But despite the tedious wait for Microsoft to get its mobile act together, Redmond has admitted its mobile mistakes and is setting expectations high for Windows Mobile 7. It is investing significant money and marketing and engineering talent into its mobile business. Entertainment and Devices chief Robbie Bach told financial analysts at CES that the next iteration of Windows Mobile will be "something that looks, feels, acts and performs completely different."Those are strong words, but they're just words. If Microsoft wants mobile users to believe that WinMo 7 is a brave new world, then it's time for serious demos at Mobile World Congress next month and the Mix 2010 show in March, followed by a general release this fall. Red-hot Android phones were everywhere at CES, and Windows Mobile was nowhere. CES frequently sets the tone for how markets and technologies will evolve that year. Microsoft still has time to bring Windows Mobile 7 to life, but the clock is ticking. Shane O'Neill is a senior writer at CIO.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com\/smoneill. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter at twitter.com\/CIOonline.


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In a world where the total population has soared past 7 billion, a staggering 2 billion adults do not have a bank account. The majority of these people, known as “the unbankables”, live in developing countries where financial inclusion is unfortunately not a reality for all.
However, as we are living in an age that’s more and more digital, while this large chunk of the population may not have banks, what they do have is smartphones.
In a recent article from Raconteur, they took an in-depth look at how mobile money has transformed sending and receiving payment in the developing world:
“Digital payments have drastically reduced costs and, by recording transactions in previously informal, cash-based societies, they have spurred economic growth in areas that desperately need it. The payment landscape across the developing world has been reshaped because of mobile money and the traditional banking behemoths have been bybassed. ”
In the article, CEO & Azimo co-founder Michael Kent states that,
“As other products get built on mobile money platforms – think insurance, credit, saving and wealth management – users in developing countries will be put back in control. They will be able to improve the management of their financial resources, and ultimately their lives and those of their families.”
With the help of companies like M-Pesa and Azimo, spurring on economic growth, the dream of financial inclusion for all is now not that far off. Continue reading the rest of the article about the unbankables, here.


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What have central banks wrought?
Oh my, how things have changed since late last year.
Here’s something Wal-Mart could do to Amazon, just to be nasty.
Wolf Richter Talks Shop: “Carmageddon” and tips on buying a car.
Commercial and residential real estate bubbles choke the economy. The upper bounds of hype and craziness have been reached.
Shares of Wal-Mart, Kroger, Costco, Target get crushed. Whole Foods soars.
She did her homework. And consumers got a temporary gift.
The death of fundamental analysis.
Fed lays out plan to unwind QE by $600 billion a year. Markets shrug. But “Painful sell-offs eventually materialize…”
The death spiral of the department store.


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Our CEO Peter Badger was on the road in New York during the recent new tablet announcementpalooza. On Tuesday of that week came the iPad Mini and a fourth-generation regular-sized iPad (though a lot of people missed that second one entirely). Then on Friday of that same week, to much/some/a bit of fanfare, the Microsoft Surface arrived on the scene.
At Framehawk, we’re definitely gadget freaks. If there’s a new mobile device, someone in the office has it on Day One. For example, Peter unboxed his just-released iPad 3 during one of our staff meetings a few months back.
So, we’re certainly not going to let that week’s gadgetfest go by unnoticed. We haven’t gotten our hands on an iPad Mini yet, but Peter had a chance to try out the Surface. And, well, let’s just say the review wasn’t glowing. His comments:
"I played with the Microsoft Surface tablet today and it is seriously lacking. Usability was terrible. I couldn't navigate to the home page, to apps, or within apps. Crazy side menu pop-ups appeared in random ways.”
Those who know Peter know that he is a big proponent of Apple, but his disappointment with the new Microsoft tablet was more about how he thought the average person would react. And the impact that would have on the enterprise:
“Yes, I am an Apple fanboy, but I've got to tell you, this thing is in for a rough ride with consumers. And without that consumer interest, the Surface won't be the challenge to iPad and Android in the enterprise that Microsoft wants it to be.”
According to Peter, though, Apple didn’t hit it out of the park that week either (unlike a certain Panda).
“Of course, Apple's not perfect: WiFi only for now for the iPad Mini? I haven't seen it yet, but come on. That's a bit of a let-down."
The market will decide, of course, what the right form-factor and feature choices are. IDC analyst Bob O’Donnell predicted “huge sales and lots of confusion” for tablets over the next few months, with a chance for Amazon Kindle Fire HD and Google’s Nexus 7 to make some inroads, but Apple to maintain the lionshare of the market.
Mike Elgan’s Datamation article last week also sided with the iPad Mini over the Surface. Elgan said that while the Surface is cool and has Microsoft on the right track, the iPad Mini should outsell it 10:1 in the next 6 months based on the price, the keyboard, apps, maturity, and a bad consumer reputation for Microsoft.
As you try out these devices yourself, let us know what you think. We’ll keep doing the same.
This post also appears on the Framehawk blog.


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KLN was commended for its contribution as an industry leader, providing professional services and networking opportunities for Mainland companies, which allow them to connect with the rest of world while driving business activities, technology advancement and talent development. In addition to its future plans and forward-looking initiatives in the overseas markets, the award also highlights KLN’s excellence in overseas market development, product and service innovation, and resilience and adaptability in the changing environment.
William Ma, Group Managing Director of Kerry Logistics Network, said, “We are gratified with the recognition over our international business endeavours. KLN has been diligently developing its global network and cross-border services for years. The recognition not only reaffirms our success, but it will also push us to go further in expanding our international foothold and offerings. Going forward, we will continue to embrace our role as the connector between Mainland companies and the world, so that we can create more value for our customers, as well as the local communities we serve.”
The Standard Chartered Corporate Achievement Awards are organised by Standard Chartered Bank and co-organised by Hong Kong Economic Journal to recognise companies for their outstanding performance and contributions to the economic and trade development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
About Kerry Logistics Network Limited (Stock Code 0636.HK)
Kerry Logistics Network is an Asia-based, global 3PL with a highly diversified business portfolio and the strongest coverage in Asia. It offers a broad range of supply chain solutions from integrated logistics, international freight forwarding (air, ocean, road, rail and multimodal), e-commerce and express to industrial project logistics and infrastructure investment.
With a global presence across 59 countries and territories, Kerry Logistics Network has established a solid foothold in half of the world’s emerging markets. Its diverse infrastructure, extensive coverage in international gateways and local expertise span across the Mainland of China, India, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Middle East, LATAM and other locations.
Kerry Logistics Network generated a revenue of over HK$81 billion in 2021 and is the largest international logistics company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as well as a constituent of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index.
About Standard Chartered Corporate Achievement Awards
Organised by Standard Chartered with Hong Kong Economic Journal as the co-organiser, the “Standard Chartered Corporate Achievement Awards” aim to recognise enterprises with outstanding performance over the past year, in particular in the areas of cross-border business expansion and sustainable and innovative economic development, which greatly contribute to the economic and trade development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. At the same time, the Awards hope to strengthen communication among business elites, promote market growth, and enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in an all-round way.


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PRESS RELEASEToday a consumer of microwave popcorn filed suit against butter flavoring companies and microwave popcorn manufacturers.
The suit was filed on behalf of Elaine Khoury by Humphrey, Farrington & McClain of Independence and Morgan and Morgan of Ft. Meyers, Florida.
This is the first consumer microwave popcorn case filed by the firm in Missouri.
Missouri has been a hot-bed of butter flavoring litigation. In 2004 a $20 million dollar verdict was obtained for Eric Peoples of Carthage, Missouri. Peoples and over thirty of his co-workers from the Jasper popcorn plant in Jasper, Missouri sued International Flavors and Fragrances for severe lung injuries. Two additional verdicts of $15 million and $2.7 million were obtained before all the cases from the Jasper plant were settled.
This is the third consumer case filed by the McClain firm. National news was made when Wayne Watson from Denver, Colorado filed suit in federal court for similar injuries. Last September, Larry Newkirk of Spokane, Washington became the second consumer diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans. Like Wayne Watson, Larry Newkirk became sick after eating 4 to 6 bags of buttery microwave popcorn a day for several years. "Eating the popcorn is not the problem," said Ken McClain, lead attorney for Khoury, "it is inhaling the butter vapors when the bag is opened that is causing the lung problems."
The disease bronchiolitis obliterans is caused by breathing microwave butter flavor. The chemical in the butter flavor, diacetyl, is a ketone. This ketone damages lung tissue and causes permanent non-reversible damage. The major microwave popcorn companies recently began marketing diacetyl-free microwave popcorn. "The problem is that nobody knows what kind of chemicals are in the replacement product," said Mr. McClain.
Some of the patients suffering from this condition have been placed on lung transplant lists. At least one has had a lung transplant.
"These problems were predictable and avoidable," said Mr. McClain. "The R & D workers at Jasper were found to suffer from bronchiolitis obliterans at a very high rate. Their only job was to pop popcorn in microwave ovens."
Unfortunately, the problem appears to be increasing. "We get calls from consumers every day" said Steven Crick of the firm. The firm currently represents over 500 injured individuals across the country. They have filed suit in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio and Washington.
Kenneth B. McClain


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The students at St. Felicitas School recently celebrated the last few official days...
When you began shopping for your home, you may have envisioned white picket fences,...
The use of LED bulbs in homes is on the rise nationwide, and with good reason. Not...
Fall officially began last week, and although the East Bay will still have a few...
When you’re calculating the potential return on investment of any home improvement...
|Hinkley Family Celebrates 30 Years of Reparing Cars|
|Thursday, 27 December 2012 09:47|
Three generations of the Hinkley family pause to celebrate 30 years in business in Castro Valley. From left, John, Kevin, Karen and Chris.
By Robert Souza
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
It is something of a traditional rite of passage for the younger members of the Hinkley family to spend time sorting and identifying nuts, bolts and tools.
By the time they were 12 or 13, those kids were brought to the family’s Kevin L. Hinkley Auto Tech shop in Castro Valley to help out with the clean-up chores while learning how to “wrench” cars. First generation John Hinkley brought son Kevin, who in turn brought his daughter Karen and son Chris.
“It’s a way of passing the business on...and it’s cheap labor,” jokes the senior Hinkley, who ran the Chevron station at Stanton and Heyer back in 1968. In 1982, Chevron sold its auto shop at 5269 Crow Canyon Road to the Hinkley’s and they’ve been there ever since.
“I am blessed to have a job I love,” he said of his three decades in the car repair business where he deals with second and third generations of customers. “We have a personal thing with our customers, they aren’t just numbers to us.”
John and Kevin agree their town has treated them well over the years and look forward to Karen and Chris to carry on the tradition.


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The tech world has been waiting with baited breath for today, the first official announcement day for the latest Samsung smartphone out of their flagship Galaxy series, the Samsung Galaxy S10. Samsung are one of the biggest mobile phone manufacturers in the first and are often noted for spearheading new mobile technologies that eventually go on to change the format of all popular mobile phones. It is because of this, the entire tech industry have been anticipating this most recent announcement, simply because it offers a window into the future, not just for Samsung phones but for every single smartphone manufacturer. The trend seems to be, whatever Samsung do, the others will do soon too.
Whilst we won’t explore the technology behind the phone (although it does look super cool) we want to focus on what the crypto community has been anticipating. There have been rumours surfacing for the past few months suggesting that Samsung could be including a huge level of crypto-functionality in their next series of phones. Today, the crypto industry have not been left disappointed after an announcement that the Samsung Galaxy S10 will allow its users to securely store their cryptocurrency – this is a huge move for Samsung because it is going to attract a lot of crypto investors, encouraging them to move from rival Apple and Huawei phones, to the Samsung Galaxy S10. I’m certain that this announcement will see a huge boost in sales.
The #GalaxyS10 is a next generation smartphone like no other.The next generation Galaxy has arrived.
— Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) February 20, 2019
The Samsung Galaxy S10 (and all future models we assume) will come with a feature named Samsung Knox, a built-in storage feature with hardware that provides an extra secure storage solution for your private keys. The official Samsung announcement states:
“Galaxy S10 is built with defense-grade Samsung Knox, as well as a secure storage backed by hardware, which houses your private keys for blockchain-enabled mobile services.”
We have also seen images of something called the Samsung Blockchain KeyStore, a solution that looks to provide a working cryptocurrency storage solution, one that is no doubt secured by the Samsung Knox technology.
Source: Crypto Daily


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Galaxy Entertainment sees growth opportunities in PH
Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group and local partner Leisure and Resorts World Corp are seeking the Philippine gaming regulator’s approval for its planned gaming and leisure hub on the world famous Boracay Island.
Top officials of Galaxy led by billionaire Lui Che Woo, paid a courtesy visit to President Duterte Wednesday to discuss the group’s.planned foray into the Philippine gaming market.
?As you know, China?s relationship with the Philippines has been improving. K Wah Group and Galaxy would like to play a role in the One Belt One Road initiative and we strongly believe the Philippines has great potential and offers attractive opportunities,? Galaxy deputy chairman Francis Lui said in an e-mail.
“Galaxy is excited about the possibilities.of teaming up.with LRWC to develop a world-class besch resort for our players in Boracay which was just rated the number one island in the world in 2017 by Conde Nast Travellers readers,” Lui added.
Galaxy’s confidence in the Philippines is mainly driven by the warmer ties between China and Manila.


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Fry's customer escapes gun-wielding man Crimes & Incidents, posted by Editor, Palo Alto Online, on Dec 8, 2011 at 11:09 am
A man received an unwelcome holiday surprise in the parking lot of Fry's Electronics Wednesday night when two men wearing masks and black clothing approached him and flashed a handgun, Palo Alto police confirmed Thursday.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, December 8, 2011, 10:55 AM
Posted by dark and scary, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Dec 8, 2011 at 11:09 am
The Frys parking lot is pretty big. The outer reaches are dark and scary on cold winter nights and you sometimes have to park out there during the holiday shopping season. Why don't they put up more lights?


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The new project called Resource Effectiveness and the Circular Economy is an intensified continuation of an earlier IVA project.
“I believe that this will make the difference,” said Åke Svensson, Chairman of the Steering Committee at the project kick-off.
The project will focus on five areas: mobility, facilities, food, textiles and plastics.
Jan Nordling is one of the Project Managers.
“The goal is to identify and document all of the initiatives already under way in the country. We’re going to hold open workshops within each of the sub-projects,” he said.
The financial sector’s role and opportunities in terms of resource effectiveness and circular efficiency is one of the topics to be explored.
Minister for Financial Markets and Consumer Affairs, Per Bolund (MP), was optimistic.
“These are my policy areas. We need to convert to a circular economy. We have no choice,” he said.
The current consumption model of always buying new things that break more and more easily is no longer sustainable, according to Per.
“Eventually consumers will no longer accept this. We need to make better use of our resources.”
Per Bolund pointed to the need for more cooperation. And he’s not just talking about parts of the private sector.
“Policy-makers need to show the way. Broad agreements are needed. We also need to identify measurement tools. How, for example, is our consumption affecting the situation in other countries?”
He also said that future investments will need to be made in new business models. According to the Minister, the financial market has antiquated business models but there is a desire to take a longer-term approach. And these days if businesses want to attract investment, a sustainability perspective is essential.
“Otherwise we will get struck in old structures. Joint investment with both public and private capital can allow us to achieve things that would otherwise not be possible,” he said.
The Swedish tradition of cooperation is an opportunity to create strategies for dialogue and implementation.
“IVA can play a role in the Government’s agenda for cooperation,” he said.
But there are challenges in making the resource-effective, circular economy a global reality. Rare earth metals used in, for example, cars and other advanced products are one such challenge.
Björn Ola Linnér of Mistra Geopolitics, pointed out that theoretically there is no shortage of these, but that there are political risks associated with the producer countries.
And although there are mineable minerals here in Sweden, Penilla Gunther (KD) thinks that mining them is hard to implement.
“Who wants a mine in their backyard?” she wondered.
Anders Wijkman, Chairman of the Swedish Recycling Industries' Association, said that material waste is not just a loss of materials but also a waste of substantial economic value.
“We want an initiative that will create a second-hand market for materials. Today is if often more expensive to use recycled materials than new ones. We need to fix that. We have an economic model that worked when there were two billion people on the planet. Now we need to do things differently,” he said.
Ola Alterå, Director of the Climate Policy Council, maintained that we need a broader approach that goes beyond the climate issues. Sustainability is an important concept.
But not everyone is a winner when we improve resource effectiveness.
Björn Stigson is a senior advisor.
“When Germany decided to convert its energy sector the energy companies lost a lot of money. No one in Germany predicted that this would happen,” he said.
He also said that development in the USA is now going backwards. Instead it is China that has realised the necessity of investing big in green solutions.
The role of materials in achieving the climate goals cannot be overstated. This was the opinion of Robert Westerdahl of Material Economics.
“If we’re going to reach the climate goals, we must focus on the role of materials,” he said, adding that increasing servicification in more industries is a way forward.
“Trains and airlines have always had a business logic based on service. This should be able to work in other areas as well,” he said.
Henrik Sundström of Electrolux also emphasised the importance of materials.
“In the past the main focus was on energy use.
But now materials in refrigerators etc. are also something that Electrolux is looking carefully at. The company is also exploring the possibility of using more recycled materials.
“Materials have clearly become the next big issue. Customers benefit from more energy-effective products, but are they willing to pay more for products manufactured from recycled materials?” he wondered.


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Patagonia, the environmentally conscientious outdoor clothing and equipment brand, has embarked on a review of its EMEA performance marketing business and is speaking to agencies, a process being co-handled by AAR.
The brand has been working with Merkle since 2016 and told PMW sister title Campaign that the agency of record has been invited to repitch. Patagonia added it is "midway through the process and [is] not accepting further submissions".
Patagonia achieved B Corp status in 2011 and it appears that the agency that successfully wins the brief will also be expected to have such accreditation.
At Patagonia, the review is being overseen by Kasia Jagodzińska, ecommerce marketing manager EMEA, who said: "Following our announcement last year that Earth is now our only shareholder, we are now looking ahead to the next 50 years and ensuring that all our partnerships reflect Patagonia's reason for being: we're in business to save our home planet.
"Therefore, we are conducting a competitive pitch for our EMEA performance marketing work. Our incumbent agency has been invited to take part and we are prioritising potential partners who share our values as a responsible company, such as B Corporation certification and 1% for the Planet membership."
Patagonia was founded in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard, an environmentalist, philanthropist and mountaineer. Last September, he pledged to give away all future profit for anti-climate-change schemes. While he and his family transferred 2% of Patagonia's stock to a trust that oversees the company's core values, the remaining 98% was allotted to a non-profit called Holdfast Collective, which uses the profits for initiatives designed to combat climate change.
Patagonia's EMEA marketing is headed up by Tyler LaMotte, marketing director EMEA, who featured in Campaign's Power 100 ranking of the UK's most influential marketers.
LaMotte joined Patagonia last May following the promotion of Alex Weller, who has penned various opinion pieces for Campaign over the years, including a piece about how the brand is campaigning to put energy in the hands of communities.
A version of this article originally appeared on PMW sister title Campaign.


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Photo identification cards will be available later this month for Ontarians who don’t have a driver’s licence, Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne says.
The government-issued identification card will be available to the more than 1.5 million Ontarians 16 years and older who don’t drive.
People without a driver’s licence say not having the ID card makes life more difficult in terms of everyday transactions such as cashing a cheque, opening a new bank account, obtaining a credit card, boarding a domestic flight, obtaining hotel accommodations or even renting a video.
For $35 individuals can apply for the photo card, which is valid for five years, at about 20 select ServiceOntario centres starting July 25, with the program expanding to all 300 locations in 2012 should the numbers warrant.
Applicants will be required to provide original identity documents proving legal name, date of birth and signature.
And the provincial government has ensured the photo card will be accepted as valid proof of identity to access government, financial or business services and will be among the most secure cards in North America.
Wynne said when she was a newly minted transportation minister the Canadian National Institute for the Blind first raised the issue of the identification cards.
“It was really the vision-impaired community that came to me. They said … ‘we want what is available in every other jurisdiction except for two in Canada and that’s a non-driver driver’s licence.’ They were just looking for a basic piece of government-issue ID,” she told the Star.


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Liquid Telecom today announced that from the 23rd of March , it will avail 20% to 50% of free additional bandwidth to their corporate customers in a move to appreciate their business partners.
Speaking during a press conference under the theme Promise of higher-capacity and faster internet, Liquid stated that it needs to help enterprises maintain service delivery and operations against backdrop of worsening economic situation in Zimbabwe.
Furthermore they announced that thousands of their enterprise customers would automatically benefit from enhanced internet connectivity across the company’s fibre network.
The Regional CEO for Liquid Southern African Region said, “Liquid Telecom is playing a vital role supporting businesses and the customers they serve with faster, higher capacity internet without additional expense. As a result, many organisations across Zimbabwe should be in a stronger position to maintain service delivery.
“Beginning this Month of March 2020 many enterprises will benefit from increased internet band width with speeds of up to fifty per cent faster and without any additional costs.” said Makamure
“This is likely to include fewer disruptions relating to online shopping and banking, maintaining day-to-day business operations with cloud-based services and supporting critical services including telemedicine and digital e-health solutions.” he added.
The key priority for liquid telecom continues to be the corporate social responsibility and this offer follows the successful roll-out of ‘Edu-zones’,a corporate social responsibility initiative, under which free internet access has been provided to thousands of students through free Wi-Fi at over 48 tertiary institutions across the country.


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Some new insights reveal that audio advertising may be a rising star of the digital advertising space.
When you think about digital advertising, what probably comes to mind are things like paid search, ads on social media channels, display advertising and maybe even video ads. But have you ever thought about audio advertising? It’s media and it’s digital, so by definition, it’s digital media.
Now, some new insights reveal that audio advertising may be a very effective channel that few are paying attention to.
In the information cited in this article, Seventy-eight percent of 7,000 U.S. consumers surveyed by Nielsen (and quoted in WARC’s report) said they do not mind ads or sponsorship messages because they know they fund the podcast. And liking these ads might mean people go on to buy: 62 percent said hearing ads on podcasts would make them consider new products or services.
What makes this interesting beyond being a promising digital advertising channel is that it also reveals a changing relationship between content and those that consume it and the role that advertising can play in the relationship between content creator and content consumer. In the case of this relationship, consumers acknowledge that it’s the advertising that makes the content they like possible.
Considering the rising mistrust of online advertising and the increasing number of consumers using ad blockers, finding ways to make digital advertising less intrusive becomes a worthwhile goal.
It should be pointed out that the article references podcasts where the relationship between the content creator and the listener is likely to be much deeper. We’re not aware of any data that looks at ads on podcasts compared to music as platforms like Spotify have both.
There’s also a second reason this is of particular interest, many of the AdTech and digital media projects that we’re following in the emerging blockchain space are looking at the relationship between content publishers and content consumers as a core component. This includes the idea of allowing content consumers to “reward” content creators directly using cryptocurrencies such as the Basic Attention Token from Brave Browser. In addition, the more a publisher creates content that consumers like, the more they’ll be able to generate revenue when their audience views ads delivered by these platform.
To learn more about what we’re doing in the blockchain space and about the MarTech, AdTech and digital media projects emerging that are leveraging blockchain technology, visit https://www.ltrdigitalgroup.com/blockchain/


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“In this changing, full of anxiety and uncertainty, but the age of heroes, we are together to witness the birth of the king of the new economy”
In November 27th, 36 krypton WISE2018 new business conference grand opening at the Beijing International Conference center. On behalf of the conference with first-line star enterprises, experts and scholars, investors and regulators, joint venture in 2018 dismantling environmental change, predict 2019 new wind. The summit invited YC China founder Lu Qi, Jason Jiang, chairman of Focus Media IDG Capital Partners Niu Kuiguang, Nobel laureate Thomas Sargent and other guests to attend the meeting, to explore and promote the commercial civilization of the future. Eight dimensional Capital Research Director Wei Ran invited to attend the meeting, in the common development of mountain chain in 2019 new “zone” sponsored by 36Kr and the daily planet Hacker venue and all the potential opportunities and challenges.
36 krypton President Feng Dagang in the opening speech pointed out that in 2010, no global market value of the top ten enterprises in a new economy, but this year the number has become seven, including apple, Google, Facebook, Tencent, Ali etc.. This is the trend of mobile Internet technology as the representative of the global venture capital industry, the rise of the drive, the birth of the big change.
Each field of the emergence of the new economy, all traditional industries to bring disruptive change. Has the highest circulation of only 3 million of the newspaper, now today’s headlines can reach Nikkatsu millions; only 60 thousand drivers in Beijing taxi market, but drops have 50 million owners. Behind a huge difference, showing new economic potential and future.
In this changing, full of anxiety and uncertainty, but the age of heroes, we are together to witness the birth of the king of the new economy. Mainly by the science and technology innovation and capital expansion driven economic growth model can be considered as a new economy, there are many high growth in this area, to subvert the industry may even change the world new economy companies. From any point of view, they both subvert the industry, and promote the development of the industry, more profoundly changing our lives.
In the birth of bitcoin 10th anniversary, driven by technology and capital strength, block chain industry really ushered in the first scenario of subsidence development brought dividends, attracting a large number of enterprises, and users of capital into the bureau. And now the block chain one carrying under the catalysis of a “super business mission”, on the one hand because of excessive exposure under the pressure of bubble. In the background of economic reform, capital industry inflection point, the cold, fresh air becomes easier and will eventually lead the market faster by Sentosa in the new channel for falsification, real quality, sustainable development is still foggy.
In the new WISE 2018 “zone” potential conference, eight dimensional capital investment companies, the daily planet Odaily founder Wang Mengdie Mandy pointed out that the current block chain industry pioneer period has passed, but the bonus and a chance that the future more professional team will occupy the dominant position. This industry will have new opportunities, and to seize these opportunities are not those speculators, but can really create value of people.
Mandy, the Odaily core team from the 36 block chain channel krypton content team, currently has its own APP, website and products. No matter how the market environment, Odaily has always insisted on the production of original and exclusive, the depth of content, hope to be able to service to the people who actually do the work in the industry, and the flow and the right to speak to them. Eight dimensional capital as an early investor in Odaily, very much agree with Odaily values, and is willing to work with the help of the observer and to record from an objective block chain industry professional, growth oriented global block chain company integrated technology services group, for the development of the industry can not replace the leader.
Compared to last year, the entire industry is to return to rational income: talk less, say more technology; blind all in is no longer feasible risk control consciousness is more intense, and even led to the rise of the block chain security of this emerging industry, not only from 360 traditional giants like attention, also bring dividends for block chain security companies such as Changting technology.
People began to look from the sky to the foot, how to realize the large-scale industrial application has become an important proposition today. From ant gold clothing, finance, science and technology, zhong an Jingdong JP.Morgan institutions such as their guests from different angles to explore the possibility of application.
Block chain is not all, it is just one of many components of technology. More and more entrepreneurs to start thinking about how to cut to solve a practical problem from the angle of smaller grains, rather than abstract “to the center” to be a. Slice technology, chain expansion, cross chain, chain, hierarchical intelligent contract, people began to block chain and big data, AI a new generation of information technology, put together from the system perspective, think about it in the whole system of value.
While traditional financial institutions also pay close attention to combining block chain and finance. From CITIC Securities Investment Department, Shanghai coal exchange, Japan Arashiyama capital and the University of Hong Kong experts from the traditional financial perspective, the analysis and prospects of many possible block chain services in the asset securitization business.
How to see the 2019 Huashan mountain – all of Hacker block chain technology development and challenges of the venue, presided over by the global community Hacker Dorahacks partner Yue Hanchao, Jiang Jiazhi, eight bit, Wei Ran, Changting dimensional capital of science and technology Yu Xiaohang, Ever Chain Jia Yongzheng and other guests discuss the development and challenges of technology and industry chain in 2019.
Eight dimensional capital Wei Ran that block chain industry is still in its infancy, people tend to overestimate the short-term impact of a technology, but underestimate the long-term effects. We are optimistic about the long-term concern those underlying technology development and financial infrastructure construction projects, has invested more than 30 global public chain, contract layer (storage, privacy, smart contracts) and application projects, for entrepreneurs, the industry is still full of imagination.
But at present, the digital world and the traditional world has not been completely open. From the capital side, due to the lack of compliance, the traditional large institutional investors and Old Money to enter, because the price fluctuation is too large, the valuation model is not clear, risk aversion and Buffett’s belief value investors are still on the sidelines; from the asset side, the last few words form a single asset, on behalf of the early equity means of payment or project, not involving debt, asset categories, IP, ABS, REITs, cultural property and other financial form.
In order to further into the digital world and traditional world to build bridges, eight dimensional capital is currently actively layout Security Token industry chain. The eight dimension has invested in Securitize, Equidate, OpenFinance and other projects, and reached a strategic cooperation with a number of exchanges, the rating agencies and firms that provide STO related consulting and investment banking services.
In the future, in order to prevent the bad money drives out good money, industry supervision and self-discipline is necessary, the infrastructure of the whole industry, including entrepreneurs, investment institutions, media, rating, law firms and financial instruments will be more and more mature. No business model in the digital world is the traditional form of fully engraved, but will still follow the nature of business and finance. We look forward to working with more international knowledge, grasp the talents of emerging technologies and understanding of the capital market, promote the next wave of chain block.


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Since the 1847 Customs Act prohibiting the importation of books with “immoral or indecent character,” writers and booksellers, most particularly shops specializing in alternative and LGBT texts, have been fighting for our freedom to read.
Toronto’s Glad Day Bookshop – the oldest surviving bookstore of its kind in North America – and Vancouver’s Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium have fallen victim to persistent attacks by the government’s morality squad. Glad Day manager Scott Dagostino recalls the Canada Customs agents confiscating shipments of allegedly “obscene” titles at their own discretion: “Working at Glad Day as a clerk in the mid-1990s, I vividly remember receiving a box of paperback copies of an American collection of gay short stories edited by Armistead Maupin,” he says. “The box had been previously opened, the books pulled out and roughly stuffed back in by customs guards. Half of them were bent and torn, and impossible to resell. It was sad and infuriating.”
Glad Day’s owner and manager were both arrested in 1992 and later convicted on charges of obscenity for stocking lesbian BDSM magazine Bad Attitude, which led staff to team up with Little Sister’s in its groundbreaking Supreme Court of Canada case. The stores suffered as a result, but made great strides for Canadian LGBT literature.
“Profits that could have been spent, say, buying a building for the shop in Toronto were instead spent on legal fees,” Dagostino says. “But, in the end, freedom of speech prevailed and now people can fearlessly purchase Fifty Shades of Grey in their favourite bookshop thanks to Little Sister’s and Glad Day. As always, we were just 20 years ahead of the curve.”
How can copyright go so wrong?
For many people, the polarizing Copyright Act of Canada is one of the country’s most confusing pieces of legislation, with a history too complex for these pages. So here’s a Copyright 101 from John Degen, executive director of The Writers’ Union of Canada:
▶ If you create it, you own it. If someone wants to use what you own, there needs to be a discussion. That’s the whole basis of copyright.
▶ It doesn’t mean nothing’s free or available; it means there needs to be a discussion.
▶ Removing or severely weakening copyright means there are no discussions, which means you don’t actually own what you create. If you don’t own what you create, you have no legal
protection as a professional.
BookNet Canada’s reality-based revolution
Before the advent of BookNet Canada in 2002, many Canadian bestseller lists were as fictional as the novels they featured, usually the result of educated guesses at best. When BookNet, a non-profit organization created to modernize and streamline the industry, began to aggregate sales data from nearly all Canadian book retailers, publishing got a much-needed (though not always welcome) dose of reality. Agents had a harder time bluffing their way into large advances, underperforming authors found themselves out in the cold, and sales reports suddenly became a common feature at publishers’ acquisition meetings. And books with small marketing budgets but large readerships – which might have previously been ignored by the media – are now often hailed as sleeper hits. BookNet numbers also showed that Canadians really do consume an abnormally large amount of domestic literary work. Reality is rarely pretty, but it isn’t always cruel.


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- 4 min read
Meta India clocks gross ad revenues of Rs 16,189 crore in FY 2021-22
According to industry insiders, Google and Facebook continue to roughly corner over 70 of the digital advertising pie in India, and this has been the case for the last few years, indicating a duopoly that has only been strengthening. Globally, Meta Platforms Inc reported revenue of $28.82 billion in Q2 2022, down from $ 29.07 bilion a year ago. It reported a profit of $ 6.69 billion, down 36% from the previous year.
The company’s net profit grew by 132% year on year to Rs 297 crore during the same period.
Facebook India Online Services ended up paying a Rs 907 crore equalisation levy to the government on the gross ad revenues in fiscal year 2021-22, as per the ROC filings.
Facebook India purchases advertisement space from Meta Platforms Inc USA.
When selling to their Indian customers, Meta India applies some markup to the cost of goods sold.
For Meta India, Rs 15,120 crore was the cost of ad inventory.
Meta India’s total income in fiscal year 2021-22 was Rs 2,324 crore and that includes the net advertiser reseller revenue (Rs 889 crore), IT-ITES services (Rs 1,420 crore) and other income (Rs 15 crore), as per the filings.
The company’s net profit is earned from this net income.
In fiscal year 2020-21, the company clocked gross ad revenues of Rs 9326 crore and posted a net profit of Rs 128 crore on an income of Rs 1481 crore. In fiscal year 2019-20, the tech major clocked a net profit of Rs 136 crore on an income of Rs 1216 crore.
Media buyers familiar with matters at both Meta and Google said the gap between the two is shrinking. “Google reported gross ad revenues of around Rs 13,887 crore last year, and Meta has reported gross ad revenues of Rs 16, 189 crore for fiscal year 2021-22. The gap between the two seems to be decreasing. If you look at Meta’s growth, it has been more than Google's growth every year,” said a media buyer who works with both platforms.
A media buyer said Reels has driven growth on Instagram, videos has driven growth overall, and the growth of Meta's platforms in general has been more. “The pandemic drove digitisation and this growth has come despite the peak wave of Delta when the economy almost came to a halt for a few months. I think a lot of the growth has been driven by smaller businesses and new ventures. From an industry point of view, consumer tech, CPG, financial services and the whole direct to consumer category has done really well for the Meta properties,” the person said.
According to industry insiders, Google and Facebook continue to roughly corner over 70 of the digital advertising pie in India, and this has been the case for the last few years, indicating a duopoly that has only been strengthening.
Globally, Meta Platforms Inc reported revenue of $28.82 billion in Q2 2022, down from $ 29.07 bilion a year ago. It reported a profit of $ 6.69 billion, down 36% from the previous year.
In major markets, the technology giant has been facing stiff competition from TikTok and Amazon for ads and was hit hard by Apple’s privacy changes to its mobile operating system iOS that allowed users to opt out of digital tracking but that hasn’t been the case in India as the country is primarily an android market.
The CEO of a digital agency said the India results need to be seen in the country’s economic context.
“I think we are in the middle of this massive digitisation and the economy has been doing well. The growth of the platforms has continued and therefore supply has not been an issue,” the person added.
As per GroupM futures report ‘This Year, Next Year’ (TYNY) 2022, ad spends are estimated to reach Rs 107,987 crore in 2022 in India, with a growth of 22% for calendar year 2022.
In an interview with ET last month, Ajit Mohan, managing director of Meta India had said there were three areas where the company has put in disproportionate energy and investments over the last two years--video (in particular Reels), building a proposition for small businesses, and a partnership with Jio.
He said the pandemic accelerated digital transformation and Meta is benefitting from the transition from offline to online and that transition continues to be well underway.
Mohan had also said that while both Facebook and Instagram are growing “really fast” in India, the momentum has been especially driven by Reels on Instagram, which is also there on Facebook now.


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Sharp's new BD-HDW700 and BD-HDW70 Blu-ray disc recorders and VR-100BR1 media will be the first BDXL conformant hardware and media on the market
In April this year, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) announced the final specifications for the new multi-layer recordable Blu-ray Disc format which can more than double the storage capacity of existing 50GB dual layer discs. The new BDXL format supports rewritable discs of up to 100GB and 128GB for write-once recordable discs. Looks like Sharp gets to claim bragging rights as the first company to release both media and hardware that supports the new standard – two new BDXL compatible AQUOS Blu-ray Disc recorders, as well as 100GB write-once BDXL format media to the Japanese market this month.
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