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Shot Scope, the industry-leader in advanced GPS and shot tracking technology, have launched a branding and customisation programme for laser rangefinders – giving a unique edge to the impressive rangefinder collection.
Shot Scope’s custom rangefinder programme now allows golf clubs to customise rangefinders for their members, as well as sell them as tournament and corporate/charity outing gifts. In addition, professional and amateur golf tournaments, university teams, event sponsors, golf resort destinations and others can now connect their brand with golfers who utilise rangefinders to drive their performance on the golf course.
The new Shot Scope customisation service, which prints logos directly onto the product, is available free of charge based on a minimum order of 20 units for the PRO LX or PRO LX+ devices, with a small surcharge added for orders under 20 units.
“We are very excited to now offer customisation and branding on our PRO LX and PRO LX+ rangefinders,” said Gavin Dear, Chief Commercial Officer, Shot Scope. “Logo merchandise remains a very popular category in golf at both the country club and resort levels, as well as for golf tournaments, teams and anyone looking to connect their brand with performance out on the course.”
The new Shot Scope customisation service comes on the heels of the recent successful launch of the PRO LX+ earlier this year – a product that has redefined the laser rangefinder category in golf and is the game’s first device to feature GPS-powered distances and artificial intelligence for personalised performance tracking.
The PRO LX+ is the only rangefinder to offer three products in one – a rangefinder, GPS powered distances and performance tracking. Featuring a wealth of benefits, including adaptive slope technology and a 900-yard range (accurate to one yard), the PRO LX+ provides golfers with the most comprehensive on-course offering to help improve their golf game.
In response to high demand, and in celebration of the World Cup, Shot Scope have created an England World Cup PRO LX+ and PRO LX Laser Rangefinder. These will be available to buy directly at www.shotscope.com.
If you are interested in customising the laser rangefinders, orders can be placed by emailing email@example.com, with all custom orders delivered within a maximum of 4 weeks.


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KARACHI-District administration Karachi on Wednesday fixed the new government prices for mutton meat in the metropolis. A notification regarding new prices for mutton meat was issued by the office of Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Rajput.
As per notification, the mutton price was fixed at Rs1,700 per kg, while the sheep and lamb meat prices were fixed at Rs1,490 and Rs1,590 per kg, respectively. The profiteers have been warned of strict action for selling the meat against the government’s fixed rate.
Pakistan’s weekly inflation remained elevated, marking a 41.90 percent year-on-year increase in the week ending on November 16, mainly due to the rising cost of gas, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said. Measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), the weekly inflation also increased by staggering 9.95pc on a week-on-week basis, according to official data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

domain: news


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2 020 will remain one of the most talked-about and extraordinary year for the world and India alike. As the global pandemic knocked on our doors in March 2020, nobody knew how or when this guest would bid us adieu. While we are still reeling with the aftermath of the pandemic (with Covid cases rising significantly lately, we could be heading towards the second wave), one thing has been observed, ie: the resilience of the Indian economy. While the GDP was slated to fall by eight percent in 2020, forecasts by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expect a strong rebound in 2021. Owing to the Covid 19 induced lockdown, there was also a rapid adoption of digital trends across all sectors which in turn affected VC activity positively. Bain & Company's recently released `India Venture...
Rachita Sharma, Special Editor
Arun Fernandes, CEO, Hotstuff Media Group
Sameer Nigam, CEO & Co- Founder, Stratbeans
Ankit Kumar, CEO, GoZero Mobility
Himanshu Arya, Founder and CEO, Grapes Digital
Arunprasad Durairaj, CEO & Co-founder, Flinto Learning Solutions
Mohan Krishnaraj, Vice President & Global Head, HARMAN International (A Samsung Company)


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The 1969 Volvo P1800 Gasser has been reimagined as an official Hot Wheels die cast and will be on sale in over 150 countries.
Mattel has debuted the official Hot Wheels 1:64-scale die-cast of the 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour winning 1969 Volvo P1800 Gasser built by Lee Johnstone of the United Kingdom. The first international Tour winner, Lee and his daughter, Victoria Upham, attended a global unveiling ceremony in New York City, where their family’s passion project was officially inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends, a collection of the brand’s most iconic and celebrated designs existing both in 1:64th and life-sized scale.
A 71-year-old motor mechanic, Johnstone restored and modified his 1969 Volvo to become a real-life track star, which he races with his wife and three daughters. A winner on and off the track, the P1800 Gasser emerged victorious from a historic 25-stop international tour spanning five continents, joining previous champions including the inaugural 2018-winning 2JetZ, 2019-winning The Nash and 2020-winning 1970 Pontiac Firebird, as the next permanent fixture in Hot Wheels history.
The announcement was made by Ted Wu, vice president and Global head of Design for Vehicles at Mattel, at the legendary Classic Car Club Manhattan prior to the start of the historic fifth annual Hot Wheels Legends Tour presented by Mobil 1. The epic space was reimagined to showcase dozens of examples of how Hot Wheels has influenced culture, ranging from high fashion to NFTs.
The 2022 Tour kicks off with virtual livestreams in New Zealand and Australia in April, followed by the first North American live event in Miami, on April 30th. The UK leg of the competition will run from June to October, with entry details to be announced in the coming weeks.
“The Legends Tour began in 2018 as a way to celebrate and engage the car builder community around the world,” said Ted Wu. “Lee Johnstone’s 1969 Volvo P1800 proved to be a truly awe-inspiring Gasser interpretation that captivated the entire Hot Wheels team. As the first international Legends Tour winner, we can’t wait to share his dream with Hot Wheels fans in more than 150 countries around the world.”
The 2022 Legends Tour will culminate in November with a livestreamed Global Grand Finale event to crown a historic fifth champion. As in the past, all fan car submissions throughout the Tour will be judged on the basis of creativity, authenticity and garage spirit.


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At last, smart technology lets you live like the Jetsons
When Susan Greene is wondering what to make for dinner, she doesn't have to wonder for long—her refrigerator has more than a few suggestions.
"I can go in and say, 'I have chicken. Give me the recipes that I can use to make a dish,' " said Greene, a project manager in Bowie, Md. "It has all the ingredients there."
If she wants to check the weather or listen to Pandora, the fridge can do that too. And, if she's out of milk, the appliance reminds her to pick it up at the supermarket—via her iPhone, of course.
"It's a techie kind of fridge" explained Greene, "with the Internet, being able to keep track of your groceries, what's in there and what's expiring. I was really intrigued by the whole thing."
After careful research, she and her husband purchased one of LG's latest smart refrigerators, complete with a built-in touchscreen. It's a futuristic fridge that might seem straight out of "The Jetsons," but, as technology advances, appliances like these are going mainstream.
(Read more: Battle of the smart homes)
"The Smart ThinQ fridge makes the connected home a reality," said Dave VanderWaal, director of brand marketing for home appliances at LG Electronics. "So many of us are working couples ... both trying to be at the grocery store and keep track of what's happening at home. Just being able to go back and forth with the phone and the grocery list with exactly what you need is a huge benefit."
But refrigerators aren't the only appliances getting an IQ bump. Smart TVs play YouTube videos and display photos on a big screen. Smart washers and dryers send messages to your phone, letting you know when the laundry's done. Clogged lint trap or power failure? The machines will alert both you and a repair technician.
"If there is an issue," VanderWaal said, "it'll actually diagnose itself and tell the service person, these are the parts I'm going to need with me when I do the repair call."
Humanizing the world
We're at a tipping point with smart technology, according to Alex Hawkinson, founder and CEO of SmartThings, which aims to make your whole house smart.
"When you're home, you don't have to lift a finger," he said. "The lights will just come on and off and the climate will manage itself. It'll know when you're home or not, and act as a security system, and call your neighbor if it needs to."
(Read more: Big data's powerful effect on babies)
By placing a variety of sensors around your house and using your smartphone as a remote control, you can manage and monitor anything with SmartThings—adjust the temperature, turn off lights, turn on the alarm and lock your doors. The sensors can also be programmed to send you alerts, such as when moisture is detected in the basement, mail arrives in your mailbox, or the dog wanders off.
"It's humanizing the world in a way," Hawkinson said. "People do playful apps. Like, the parents are home, it's Friday night at 10 p.m., the kids are in bed, and you want the romance lighting and Barry White to come on. You can put personality and intelligence into the everyday."
Tom Coates knows something about smart houses—he's living in one. The blogger and Web entrepreneur has sensors throughout his San Francisco home, monitoring motion, temperature and even water for his plants. The house is so high-tech that it has its own Twitter handle (@houseofcoates), but he's not sold on all smart gadgets.
"If you embed it in the device, then you can't upgrade it easily," he said. "You can't change it. Remember, fridges have a life cycle of 15 years."
Which might explain why, rather than owning a smart model, Coates has an iPad stuck to his refrigerator with magnets.
"What we're seeing is a negotiation between trying to communicate to the public about what it would mean to have more devices and appliances in their home that are connected to the Internet, and how to sell it to people," he said. "And I think the way that you sell it is different from how useful it is."
(Read more: The cloud: What happens to the data?)
The cost of the future
Living in the future comes at a price. SmartThings' "Know and Control Your Home" starter kit will run you $299. Coates says he rigged his house with sensors for less than $500. And at $3,500, the Greenes' fridge is more than double the price of a standard refrigerator.
But smart technology can be a money saver, whether it's your fridge reminding you to use the pork chops or your smartphone automatically turning your lights off when you're out.
"It can touch every part of your life—security, safety, lighting and climate," said Hawkinson. "So it can save a lot of money. There's 20 to 30 percent of energy reduction just by your environment knowing if you're there or not."
For Greene, the costs are worth it.
"If you've forgotten to lock the door, you left the air conditioning on and you're going away for a week, you can turn it off with your iPhone—it just saves so much time and money," she said. "It adds to the quality of your life, especially with smart fridge and being able to get new recipes.
"Plus," she laughed, "it's just very cool."
—By CNBC's Meghan Lisson.
From refrigerators to freight trains, CNBC's "Rise of the Machines" shows you how a new generation of connected machines can now speak to us, and each other. "Rise of the Machines" premieres Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.


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With huge amounts of bucks in month-to-month origination and listed players like Lending Club, alternate financing has become conventional in america. Experian’s Clarity Services, a professional in alternate financial solutions information and solutions, has released a written report en en titled Alternative Financial Services Lending styles. It offers deep insights to the online customer financing industry and leverages information points of over 350 million customer applications and 25 million loans.
The report tossed lots of anticipated data and some shocks that will help online lenders pivot to more fertile territory.
Knowing the stations
Alternate economic solutions can be acquired from both on the internet and offline platforms. Though online platforms are mushrooming, offline nevertheless stays principal within the customer lending industry.
Kinds of loans
The sorts of loans into the report are broadly categorized online installment loans washington in 2 groups-
- Installment loans – Loans paid back in a few regular re re payments (months or years) are referred to as installment loans.
- Solitary pay – Solitary pay loans are paid back in one single payment ( Lump sum payment) and often have actually a shorter tenure (days/weeks).
Market Styles- Product Mix
Everyone is conscious of the known proven fact that online financing has exploded, nevertheless the development figures presented by Clarity are staggering. After will be the charts that capture the growth pattern of online installments and online pay that is single in relation to funded loan amount and also the wide range of funded loans from 2014 to 2018.
The internet installment loans marked a rise of around 643% in 2018 beginning with 2014 whereas the solitary pay loans’ market doubled in four years.


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A pet dog at a competition. (File photo/Agencies)
(ECNS) - A recent report found that China's consumer market related to pets reached 170.8 billion yuan ($24.9 billion) in 2018, an increase of 27 percent from a year earlier, according to the 2018 White Paper on China's Pet Industry.
The number of pet owners in China's cities and towns now totals 73.55 million, the white paper says. Among them 33.9 million are dog owners, 22.58 million are cat owners, and there are also aquarium pet owners.
It shows that 87.5 percent of dog owners were women, half of them with a bachelor’s degree or above and the majority employees in companies. The cat-owning group is mainly white-collar workers and students, with young people more inclined to have cats.
Owners are now prepared to lavish money on pets, with the estimated annual spending 5,016 yuan for each animal in 2018, up 15 percent from the year previous.
Data also showed that of the total spent on dogs, 36 percent went to food and 28 percent for services. On average, a cat owner spent 44 percent on food and 18 percent for services including medical care.
Bath shampoo, other fur care items, toys, collars and leashes were the main products dog owners bought. The top three cat supplies were found to be litter, toys and scratch boards.
About 53 percent of pet owners said they are not satisfied with veterinary services. Leading reasons were the lack of supervision over medical fees and qualified veterinarians.


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The semiconductors industry can be pretty ruthless and filled with high stakes. It's a sector consumed with rivals wanting nothing more than to put each other out of business with every new product launch. But Broadcom has always managed to stand out and remain a step ahead, which was the reason the company (rightfully) got the benefit of the doubt from the Street after posting soft fourth-quarter results.
Reasons to expect an outperformance
Nevertheless, the company's been making up for it ever since. For instance, on Feb. 12, Broadcom announced the BCM21892, the company's first LTE-compatible baseband chip that supports all 4G LTE bands -- saying it was 35% smaller than current products, making it the industry's smallest 4G LTE chip.
A couple of weeks later, the company announced the first Femtocell chip that integrates radio frequency and baseband modem. But that wasn't all. In the weeks that followed, it's been a succession of product releases and announcements. The benefit of the doubt aside, is the Street now discounting Broadcom's true potential? This is a company that's coming off a 14% year-over-year increase in revenue. Yet some investors considered that performance subpar.
Let's keep things in perspective. Aside from Qualcomm , which grew chip revenue 34%, the sector's overall performance was abysmal. So in light of Broadcom's new products, which should help strengthen the company's market position, it's a safe bet that Broadcom should win market share in the coming quarters against Qualcomm and NVIDIA.
What's more, even though Broadcom's management played it conservative with guidance, the company's strong position with Apple and Samsung, shouldn't be discounted, either. Recent reports suggest that not only is Apple ramping up iPhone distribution in China, but Apple also plans to release a cheaper version. That's not to mention the strong anticipation for the iPhone 5S. Meanwhile, although the Samsung Galaxy S4 didn't exactly woo the Street, Broadcom should still benefit from any type of the demand the phone enjoys. Essentially, forget the smartphone war between Apple and Samsung: Broadcom wins either way.
Where's the company heading?
Management has made it very clear where it wants to take the company. If the recent product announcements serve as an indication, the company also wants to be better diversified. When Broadcom held its analyst day last December, management revealed encouraging strategies related to near-field-communication, or NFC, and how the future of mobile payments can become a strong revenue stream for Broadcom. Here too, is an advantage with Apple.
There were also positive remarks about fifth-generation Wi-Fi. Management said new standards can generate 20% to 30% higher average selling prices. But there was also a significant focus on long-term-evolution, or LTE, technology. The company has held true to its promise and has taken on the LTE platform and has pioneered new designs such as the BCM21892.
It remains to be seen, however, how these new chips can affect Qualcomm, which has a sizable lead in mobile baseband technology. But given the traction that NVIDIA is starting to gain, Broadcom understands how important it is to push chip capabilities further, especially since mobile/wireless now comprises almost 50% of Broadcom's revenue. In the meantime, the company has some offsetting advantages not shared by Qualcomm or NVIDIA.
One such advantage is Broadcom's infrastructure position, which was one of Broadcom's strongest areas in the recent quarter -- growing 21% year over year. But management isn't satisfied. The company is looking to deploy new products through various data center components, which includes core network, access, and aggregation. This is while also investing in software-defined networking, where it can better compete against the likes of Cisco.
Then again, add the fact that the infrastructure/networking segment makes up 22% of the company's revenue, and it's hard to not see Broadcom as an attractive acquisition candidate to Cisco, which has been looking for new growth opportunities. For now, however, Broadcom has put itself in a unique position to grow its business in multiple ways, whether through mobile, wireless, or infrastructure.
What of the stock
I like Broadcom's prospects. Not only is the company well managed, but Broadcom is also well positioned for long-term growth in mobile devices, which is not expected to slow any time soon. But that's not to say the stock is cheap. Granted, there's strong competition from Qualcomm and NVDIA, but the company has shown no meaningful signs of worry.
At $34 per share, the stock is trading at just 12 times forward estimates for fiscal 2013 and at 11 times estimates for 2014, both of which are under Broadcom's historical average. And as long as cash flow continues to rise in the mid- to single-digit range, Broadcom's stock can command a fair value at $40.
The mobile revolution is still in its infancy, but with so many different companies, it can be daunting to know how to profit in the space. Fortunately, The Motley Fool has released a free report on mobile named "The Next Trillion-Dollar Revolution" that tells you how. The report describes why this seismic shift will dwarf any other technology revolution seen before it and also names the company at the forefront of the trend. You can access this report today by clicking here -- it's free.
The article Can New Products and Better Focus Drive Broadcom? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Richard Saintvilus owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Cisco Systems, and NVIDIA and owns shares of Apple and Qualcomm. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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In a note to investors seen by MacRumors, Ives says alongside the normally expected announcement of new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, Apple is planning a "few surprises," including the announcement of the new MacBook Pros. The analyst, who has made predictions regarding event announcements in the past, says the M1 Apple silicon chip will power the new MacBook Pros; however, that's unlikely to be the case.
It's believed that Apple could debut an M1X processor in the new MacBook Pro which offers more thunderbolt channels, cpu cores, gpu cores, multiple monitor support, and more. Another report from claims that the processor will have 10-cores and launch this summer.
The next generation MacBook Pro is also expected to get a flatter design with reduced bezels, a 1080p webcam, SD card reader, three thunderbolt USB-C ports, MagSafe, and HDMI. It could also gain a mini-LED display, similar to the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Ives isn't alone in his prediction. Leaker Jon Prosser has also 'confirmed' a new MacBook Pro is coming at WWDC 2021. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for coverage of the event.


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BPI has announced that they will undergo a major systems upgrade on October 19, 2019, from 12:01 AM to 11:59 PM.
According to BPI, the upgrade is part of its efforts to provide improved services and capabilities. During the downtime, BPI’s online banking, mobile app, BizLink and ELink platforms, ATMs, CAMs, and Debit Card services will be temporarily unavailable. All branches will also be closed from October 19-20, 2019. Credit card and prepaid card services, on the other hand, will remain accessible. Users are advised to plan weekend transactions.
For updates, users may visit BPI’s advisory page here.


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The recently announced Sony a7R III is a great camera has a lot of great features. The US price for Sony a7RIII body is $3,198.00, will be shipping in late November, 2017. So how is a7R III compared to Nikon D850 and Canon 5D Mark IV ? Here is quick specs comparison for Sony a7R III (Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Adorama) and Nikon D850 (Amazon/B&H/Adorama) and Canon 5D Mark IV (Amazon/B&H/Adorama).
Sony has announced the new a7R III (Amazon/B&H Photo Video/Adorama) full frame mirrorless camera, the US price for a7R III is $3,198.00, and also announced Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens (B&H Photo), the US price for this lens is $1,298.00. Both will be available in late November, 2017. Sony also announced development of Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM Lens, it will be released in Summer of 2018.
The Sony Alpha a7R III has rumored for a long time, after the release of Sony Alpha a9 (Amazon/B&H Photo/Adorama), now more and more people are waiting for high megapixel Sony a7R III or Sony a9R. Currently, there is no detail specs rumors on a7R III or a9R. SAR said that a7R III will have a full frame mirrorless sensor megapixel around 60-70MP, and we may not see release of a7R III very quick, the rumored release date is in late this year.
A new Sony camera named “WW158299” has just registered in China Gov site MIIT. According to previous rumores, this camera could be a new mirrorless camera, could be new a7 series full frame mirrorless camera, or flagship Sony Alpha a9 mirrorless camera.


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Facebook stock hits a new low of $24July 27th, 2012 - 6:51 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt
New York, July 27 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Facebook has recently reported that it is experiencing slow revenue growth and they have not forecasted thier financial growth yet.
Facebook had reported a revenue increase of 32 percent in the second quarter which is above the forecast that was given by analysts. Officials from Facebook said that the new success that they experienced was due to the advertising that they did.
It is said that Facebook shares have decreased by shedding their value by a third of the previous value amount. The company’s shares hit a new low of $24.
Facebook was the first American company to get in to the market with a value of more than 100 million dollars. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook said that the advertising is going well and that it is expected to boost Facebook.
He said that they were going to work hard to improve mobile apps for Facebook as this will push Facebook towards growth. Facebook uses a lot of money on operating and its financial chief says that the amount will go up in the second part of the year. T
he financial chief went further to add that investments are the top priority for Facebook right now.
Facebook recently faced compensation charges where it incurred a loss of 157 million dollars. It is looking to rise up from this loss.
- Facebook 'to be worth $100b by next spring' - May 03, 2011
- Facebook plans to go public to raise $87bn - May 04, 2012
- Mark Zuckerberg sued by Facebook investors - Jun 05, 2012
- Facebook to become publicly-listed company - Jan 30, 2012
- Facebook's early investors likely to sell shares worth billion dollars - Apr 28, 2011
- Facebook to be valued at over $100 bn in 2012 - Nov 29, 2011
- Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg earned $30.9 million in 2011 - Feb 03, 2012
- Facebook buys Instagram for $1 bn (Lead) - Apr 10, 2012
- Mark Zuckerberg may need to pay $2 billion in taxes - Feb 08, 2012
- Facebook to buy Instagram for $1 bn - Apr 10, 2012
- Facebook acquires Instagram for $1 billion - Apr 10, 2012
- Infosys profits from weak rupee, lowers dollar guidance (Lead) - Jan 12, 2012
- Facebook CEO upgrades relationship status - Married (Lead) - May 20, 2012
- Carol Bartz could get $10 million in compensation from Yahoo - Sep 08, 2011


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- But Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers says unlikely to achieves highs registered from 2010 to 2015
- 2020 tea output declined 10% or by 30 M/Kgs to 270 M/Kgs, lowest seen over a decade
- But average auction prices at Colombo Tea Auction reached their highest ever value in rupee terms
- Tea exports down by 27 M/Kgs, recording a Rs.10-12bn shortfall in earnings, at around Rs.230bn
- Sri Lanka Tea Board has set an export earnings target of Rs.300bn for 2021
Sri Lanka’s tea output is projected to recover this year, following an estimated 10 percent or 30 M/Kgs year-on-year (YoY) decline in the output in 2020, mainly due to the adverse weather conditions prevailed in the country, according to Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers.
“Sri Lankan tea output although is likely to recover in 2021, is unlikely to achieve the highs registered from 2010 to 2015. Therefore, the supply situation would continue to remain tight,” the tea broker stated, touching on the industry prospects for 2021. Sri Lanka’s 2020 tea output is estimated to remain marginally above 270 M/Kgs in 2020, recording the lowest output seen over a decade and falling behind the original target of 340 M/Kgs set for the year.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s tea export volume is estimated to have declined by approximately 27 M/Kgs in 2020, compared to 2019, recording a Rs.10-12 billion shortfall in tea export earnings, at around Rs.230 billion.
For 2021, the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) has set an export earnings target of Rs.300 billion, a similar target set for 2020.
On an encouraging trend, Forbes & Walker noted that the tea production in October and November recorded an increase of approximately 3 M/Kgs, compared to the same period of last year and hence, the fourth quarter of last year is expected to become the only quarter to post an increase in production in 2020.
Despite the record low production, Forbes & Walker highlighted that the average auction prices at the Colombo Tea Auction reached their highest ever value in rupee terms of Rs.628.21 in 2020, topping the previous all-time high of Rs.618.14 achieved in 2017. However, in US dollar terms, it was US $ 0.69 below the all-time high of US $ 4.11 recorded in 2017.
For 2021, the tea broker noted that the current tea prices are likely to remain at present levels up until the end of the first quarter of the year.
“Perhaps on a cautiously optimistic note, we could expect these levels to remain till around mid-2021. The tea prices thereafter would largely depend on the supply scenarios that unfold during the first quarter of 2021,” it added.
Despite the optimistic outlook for the prices, Forbes & Walker cautioned that the tea industry continues to be challenged with regular wage increases and lower rates of mechanisation, which would continue to undermine the competitiveness, resulting in further higher average production costs above the competitor exporting countries.
In 2020, the prices of high-grown teas improved by Rs.72.27 or US $ 0.30 to Rs.580.90, while the prices of medium-grown teas made a gain of Rs.84.98 or US $ 0.37, reaching Rs.553.94 on average. Meanwhile, the average prices of low-grown teas reached the all-time high of Rs.666.32, up by Rs.89.71, compared to 2019.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, the average auction prices improved by Rs.89.44 to Rs.643.15, compared to the same period in 2019, led by significant gains in high-growns and mid-growns.
Up to October last year, the Colombo Tea Auction, along with the Kolkata, Cochin and Guwahatti tea auctions, saw their auction prices climbing up. However, the auction prices in the African tea auctions, including Mombasa, saw their prices dipping during the same period. Overall, the Colombo Tea Auction, which went fully digital during the year, recorded the highest auction prices.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s tea exports to most of its key markets fell in the 11 months of 2020, with Russia, Chile and China being exceptions.
During the period, the tea export volumes to Russia, which is the third largest buyer of Ceylon Tea, improved by 1.8 percent YoY to 27.4 M/Kgs.
China became the fifth largest buyer of Ceylon Tea in the period with tea export volumes jumping by 15.3 percent YoY to 12.25 M/Kgs.
Chile was the largest growing market for Ceylon Tea during the period, with export volumes increasing by over 38 percent YoY to 8.9 M/Kgs.
In addition, Ceylon Tea exports to Saudi Arabia, Poland, Egypt and Israel also increased during the period.
However, Ceylon Tea exports to Iran declined by a whopping 30.06 percent YoY to 14.2 M/Kgs during the period, mainly due to the trade restrictions imposed on the country. Similarly, the tea export volumes to the UAE and Turkey, which are considered to be trading hubs, also declined by 3.4 percent YoY and 15.6 YoY in the period.
However, Turley remained as the largest importer of Ceylon Tea in the period, with export volumes amounting to 34.6 M/Kgs in the period, as tea export volumes to Iraq declined by 16 percent YoY to 29.7 M/Kgs. (NF)


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Indian manufacturer, Intex has announced a new entry level smartphone under its Aqua sub-brand, the Intex Aqua Star II which comes at the price tag of Rs. 6,590 and it will be available on both offline and online stores. This smartphone, the Intext Aqua Star II HD is the successor of Intex Aqua Star II which company has launched earlier this year and as name today’s announced smartphone comes with HD screen which was missing in its predecessor.
If we talk about specs then it flaunts an 5-inch HD IPS display screen, under the hood it is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core Spreadtrum (SC7731) processor coupled along with 1GB of RAM and has includes 8 GB of internal stoarge which can be further expandable up to 32GB via microSD card.
In terms of photography it includes an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and it supports some nice features like face recognition, panorama, geo-tagging, best shot, smile shot, and HDR options, at front it has got an 5MP front facing camera as well for selfies lovers, in terms of connectivity it supports WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3G, Dual SIM and GPS.
It houses an 2000mAh battery which can deliver up to 6 hours of talk time, and up to 250 hours of standby time, it will be available in Champagne, Silver, White, and Grey colors variants.
Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Mobile Business Head, Intex Technologies said, “Through this new launch we aim to define our purpose of unleashing an economically attractive and technologically luring smartphone in the market. Our latest offering – the Aqua Star II HD – is available at an amazing price point. We are delighted to offer such an outstanding product and hope to continue this in the coming future.”


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Along with his wife
Country star Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly, are debuting a free referral-based grocery store in Nashville.
The Paisleys announced the new venture this week.
It's a team effort with Belmont University and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
"The Store" plans to offer basic food items to families and individuals referred to them by nonprofit or government agencies.


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Tata planning to keep UK Port Talbot plant operational: Report
Tata Steel is exploring a joint venture with Germany's ThyssenKrupp and one of the options would have meant job losses at the plant employing around 4,000 as a result of shutting down of one of two blast furnaces on the site.
Shapoorji Pallonji set to acquire 51% in Gopalpur port
The second private port in Odisha, the Gopalpur project was won by a consortium of OSL...
China deflects queries over naval deployments at Gwadar port in Pakistan
Chinese military spokesman said he had no information about any plan...
Tata Steel, Thyssenkrupp looking at reducing Port Talbot's capacity
An industry source close to Thyssenkrupp's board said the German group expected the struggling plant to be downsized in the event of a merger, without specifying by how much.
Chinese navy ships to be deployed at Gwadar port: Pakistan navy official
China would deploy its naval ships along with Pakistan Navy to safeguard the strategic Gwadar port and trade routes under the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Buy Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, target Rs 295 : Sumeet Bagadia
Buy Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. at a price target of Rs 295 and a stoploss at Rs 270 from entry point
Buy Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, target Rs 290 : Mandar Jamsandekar
Buy Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. at a price target of Rs 290 and a stop loss at Rs 260 from entry point
Sensex surges over 100 points; Nifty50 reclaims 8,150; Adani Ports top gainer
Sentiment in Asian markets was boosted after S&P's said the outcome of Italian referendum would not have an immediate impact on Italy's creditworthiness.
Dhamra Port to reclaim 2,000 acres of land to fuel expansion
Dhamra Port has engaged different government agencies for detailed studies on the impact and the same was expected to be completed by December.
Govt to develop new and small ports to boost commercial shipping: Minister
According to the Minister, three major ports that are proposed to be developed -- Sagar Island (West Bengal), Enayam near Colachel (Tamil Nadu) and Paradip (outer harbour) (Odisha).
Adani Ports SEZ shares gain on raising Rs 1,300 crore via NCDs
In a filing Adani Ports SEZ said it has raised Rs 1,300 crore by allotment of 13,000 rated, listed, secured, taxable, redeemable, non-convertible debentures.
Buy Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. target Rs 304 : Dharmesh Shah
Buy Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. at a price target of Rs 304 and a stoploss at Rs 255 from entry point
Buy Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. target Rs 290 : Manav Chopra
Buy Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. at a price target of Rs 290 and a stoploss at Rs 268 from entry point
Vodafone says it has provided enough ports to Reliance Jio
Vodafone today said it is hopeful of a "fair decision" by the government on the penalty suggested by TRAI for allegedly denying network connectivity to Reliance Jio.
Adani Ports and SEZ to deleverage further: Fitch
The agency forecasts the firm's financial leverage, as measured by net adjusted debt to improve to around 4.0x in FY18,.


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Adweek assembled a cross-section of CMOs for a spirited roundtable. They discussed everything from productivity amid economic uncertainty to collaborating with C-suite peers. They talked about utilizing the skills they honed during the pandemic as they navigate the year’s economic headwinds.
Excerpt from the main article:
As the industry kicks off 2023 under a cloud of economic uncertainty, no one is affected more directly than marketers, who not only are tasked with deciding what and where to spend under decreased budgets—determination that will impact the rest of the advertising ecosystem—but must also determine how to best guide their brands to grow their respective businesses. To hear directly from those marketing leaders and learn how, where and why they will be making strategy decisions in the new year, Adweek assembled a cross-section of CMOs—from big and small companies, upstarts and legacy organizations and a mix of B2B
Adweek’s Outlook 2023 Package Analyzes What’s to Come was originally published on Adweek Feed


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Ghana’s eSports market is steadily growing. Top professional gamers from the country have earned close to $1000 each playing FIFA, according to eSports earning reports. The earnings are a not as lucrative as top earners across the globe but puts the country on the map. The gaming market is creating opportunities for new and seasoned gamers to participate in high-profile competitions, which may raise Ghana’s international profile in eSports.
FIFA is a soccer video game, which is easy to learn. Offering a simple way to enter the eSports market, the game attracts many new players. However, competitions are extremely competitive. Seasoned players have mastered the game’s nuances to compete for tournament pool prize money. Since the game is globally popular, it is a fan favorite at local, regional, and international tournaments.
As one of the highest grossing games in the eSports market, CS:GO experiences popularity throughout the globe. It is the first-person shooter game that several other eSports titles mimic. Valve to the unexpected step of making the game free-to-play, which creates an opportunity for Ghana’s esports enthusiasts to master the title.
Its competitive gaming community and dedicated fan base allows players to trade and sell items associated with the game for cash money. With more than 300,000 daily players and the growing economic benefit of playing the game, it has solidified its place as one of eSports most enduring titles
Dota 2 is one of the most popular eSports titles in Ghana. With interest in the game from local players and tournament organizers, Dota 2 fan base.
Popular Esport Tournaments & Teams to bet on
Ghana Esports Association organizes frequent events featuring FIFA and other popular titles for in-person and online players. Ghana Master League hosts competitions featuring nearly 100 gamers from throughout the country, who compete to win the championship prize.
Attracting sponsorship from major brands, such as Logitech, Ghana’s eSports tournaments are raising millions and creating awareness about the country’s growing eSports market. Expanding from friendly competitions with neighboring countries to high-end competitions attracting international competitors, the eSports market in Ghana continues to evolve.


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Stormzy’s #Merky Books has partnered with popular headphone brand Beats to host a three-day pop up shop in the heart of London.
Set to take place between 14-16 November, the #Merky Books Pop-Up Shop will be taking place at the new Beats Residency in Shoreditch and will celebrate creativity in all its aspects, ranging from music and art to filmmaking and directing.
Wretch 32 is due to kick things off on November 14th with a songwriting workshop alongside writer, teacher and researcher Darren Chetty.
Other events during the three-day event include a reading from broadcaster and author Derek Owusu, an illustrator workshop, panel discussions, DJ sets and much more. A screening of the BIFA-nominated film Serious Tingz will be held on the third day, followed by a talk from the actor and director Abdou Cissé
Books, zines and illustrator prints from creators of colour will also be available to buy each day, as well as #Merky Books merchandise.
The pop-up shop is definitely bound to be an insightful experience for all those with a passion for all things creative so make sure you register to be in in with a chance with heading down there.
To register and for more details for the pop up shop, click here.


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Denver Post file photo
The growing landscape of independent U.S. craft breweries now in the hands of corporate owners has a Colorado-size hole.
The past year has seen megabrewer Anheuser-Busch InBev and private equity firms either take over or purchase stakes in a number of smaller breweries outside.
More moves are expected, and Colorado is a lucrative target with well over 225 craft breweries, with scores more in planning and with serious street cred as one of the centers of independent American brewing.
Sooner or later, will we see a local brewery born in a garage or dreamed up on a cocktail napkin snatched up by one of the big boys?
“I think it’s likely that we will,” said Kim Jordan, president and CEO of New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins. “My sense is, with A-B anyway, they are probably looking at a regional strategy. They have a brewery here (in Fort Collins). They have a distributorship here. It makes sense to me we would see an announcement about a craft brewery as well.”
In interviews, representatives of Colorado’s five largest craft breweries said they have every intention of remaining independent.
Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont went so far as to suggest it was a buyer and not a seller, looking to purchase smaller craft breweries suffering growing pains.
The growth of craft beer makes it an appealing target as overall beer sales have been relatively flat. Craft beer sales grew 17 percent in 2013 and accounted for 7.8 percent of the beer market, according to the most recent figures from the Boulder-based Brewers Association.
“Craft brewery”Qualifying as a “craft brewery” under the group’s definition depends on a brewery’s production volume, ownership status and other factors.
To get this out of the way quickly, New Belgium is extremely unlikely to sell out. The state’s largest craft brewery by a large margin — and the third-largest in the country — made a pair of business moves a couple of years ago to solidify its independence.
In 2013, New Belgium announced Jordan and her family had sold their controlling stake to the company’s employee stock ownership program, making the brewery 100 percent employee-owned. New Belgium also became a certified B Corporation, or benefit corporation, meaning its board can be guided by more than the bottom line.
Jordan said New Belgium has not been approached to sell.
“I think, for the most part, people feel like we have a plan, and we are pretty committed to that plan and we are not a likely candidate,” she said.
Jordan had a front-row seat for the latest sellout drama last month, when Anheuser-Busch announced it was purchasing Seattle-based Elysian Brewing. Jordan and Elysian co-owner Dick Cantwell — who opposed the sale and was outgunned by his two fellow owners — have been dating for years.
While Jordan said she is not happy about the pending Elysian sale, she is also stunned by the viciousness of the reaction. Selling out is seen as the end goal for most startup industries — consider high-tech — but not so in craft beer.
“I find myself wanting to remind people this is beer,” Jordan said. “We are not solving big-world problems.”
As Jordan and others have noted, Anheuser-Busch’s shopping spree appears to be regionally strategic and targeting breweries with brewpubs, which can be more immediately profitable and serve as valuable brewing testing grounds.
Jordan said the purchases also seem motivated by a desire to stake a claim to the entire three-tier alcohol distribution system in place since after Prohibition — production, distribution and retail.
Of the three recent A-B acquisitions, Blue Point Brewing in New York state and Elysian are about the same size, producing about 50,000 barrels a year, followed by 10 Barrel Brewing in Bend, Ore., at about 40,000 barrels.
Given that, breweries in Colorado north of 40,000 barrels a year are the most likely candidates to receive an overture from big beer. That would put six or seven Colorado breweries in play. A barrel equals 31 gallons.
Oskar Blues’ size, reputation, name recognition and restaurants surely make it an attractive target. But spokesman Chad Melis said the Longmont-based company, which opened a second production brewery in North Carolina in 2013, has other designs.
“Right now, we’re looking at potentially buying some smaller breweries that are going through some of the growing pains we have been able to persevere through,” he said.
Melis noted that craft beer is a relatively young industry, is going through a boom “and there is not a ton of super-experienced people out there.” An acquisition makes sense, he said, because Oskar Blues has the personnel who have navigated challenging industry waters.
Money and supportJennifer Litz-Kirk, senior editor of the industry publications Beer Business Daily and Craft Business Daily, said such mergers provide a “halo effect” for the bigger brewery and money and support for the smaller one.
“It’s another way for the bigger craft brewers to stay more relevant,” Litz-Kirk said. “Everything is local — uber-local. With 4,000 breweries now, how local is local? A square block?”
Litz-Kirk said the biggest surprise on the acquisitions front involves private equity firms looking to pick up breweries and later turn them for profit. Both Lakewood, N.Y.-based Southern Tier and Atlanta-based Sweetwater Brewing struck private equity deals in 2014.
Odell Brewing has followed a conservative path of what founder Doug Odell calls “managed growth.” The company has five shareholders: Odell; his wife, Wynne; sister Corkie; and two managers with the company for 20 years.
In an e-mail response to questions, Wynne Odell was emphatic about the fate of the 107-employee company, which shipped 99,517 barrels to 11 states in 2014: “Odell is not on the market and has no intentions of selling to big beer.”
She said Odell does not have a transition plan but is actively discussing one that will “retain our cultural legacy, maintain our financial stability and ensure internal control.”
Longmont-based Left Hand Brewing has been approached frequently about selling out, said CEO Eric Wallace.
Wallace said 100-employee Left Hand is already half employee-owned and will be “making announcements later this year” about steps to strengthen its position as an independent craft brewery.
“We have every intention of staying fiercely independent,” he said.
Wallace is not surprised by corporate beer’s thirst for craft breweries, given the segment’s growth. To him, the bigger question is why would independent breweries want to sell. He mentioned a few economic reasons: breweries that find themselves either upside-down, having grown too quickly or weighed down by a heavy debt load.
“We like doing what we’re doing,” Wallace said. “Being in the beer business is really fun. It’s always a challenge and never boring, and we’re working with great people. Why get out of that?”
No intention to sellTodd Usry, brewmaster and general manager of Breckenridge Brewery, which is preparing to move its operations from Denver to Littleton, said the company has not been approached to sell out and has no intention to do so.
“The big thing to me is (that) the craft beer industry was built on individuals and their stories,” he said.
When craft breweries sell out, he said, “I think there is some serious authenticity that is lost, and that the brand loses. We’re not corporate. We are entrepreneurial and individual.”
Usry, like others, is concerned about the business ramifications of big-beer buyouts. “It’s going to be harder and harder to get our voices heard at the wholesale level,” he said. “It’s hard enough for craft beer in general to get meetings with big-chain buyers.”
A MillerCoors spokesman said the company will look at merger and acquisition opportunities, as well, if they are priced right and “provide entry into a new style or geography where we feel underdeveloped.”
For craft breweries, selling to big beer provides access to lucrative distribution networks. But the megabreweries have found acquisition can also muddy the distribution waters, said Craft Business Daily’s Litz-Kirk.
When MillerCoors bought a Minneapolis-based hard-cider company, it acquired a patchwork of differently aligned distributors — some carrying mostly Miller Coors, some carrying mostly A-B and some independent, she said. The process of aligning distribution networks can prove costly and difficult, she said.
So there you have it — a lay of the land and statements from Colorado’s big five craft breweries expressing a desire to remain independent.
Does that mean the state will not factor in the next big-beer or private equity acquisition announcement? Of course not.
If the recent industry upheaval shows anything, it’s this: Don’t be surprised by anything.
Eric Gorski: 303-954-1971, firstname.lastname@example.org or twitter.com/egorski


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The closure of much of Europe's airspace is beginning to bite in many ways.
TUI Travel, the leading holiday travel group which owns Thomson and First Choice, has become the first company to estimate the losses it is incurring from the grounding of flights. Up to yesterday, it says the costs have been £20m - and that the daily expense is between £5m and £6m.
You'll find it increasingly difficult to buy roses, since most of them this time of year are flown from Kenya.
And you may find, like the family Peston, that your kids are being given the day off school, because substantial numbers of teachers can't get home from their holidays.
But it is time that someone defended the battered reputation of the erupting Icelandic volcano.
Because all reports to the contrary, it isn't the volcano that has grounded our aircraft; it's the weather that has done the damage.
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2014 wasn't a great year for Africa's travel and hotel industries, with the ebola epidemic in a few countries driving down visitor numbers across the continent.
That was then, and 2015 was better for both visitor numbers and for hotel deals. As the year drew to a close, a report from consultancy firm JLL noted that Africa's hotel sector could safely expect an investment increase of $2.7 billion by 2018. Sub-Saharan Africa expects an average growth of 9,000 new rooms per year, with supply expected to grow to 4 percent annually by 2017. This compares to a relative slow-down in the north, where 5,000 new rooms are anticipated between 2015 and 2017.
One factor behind the surge in demand is a resurgent tourism industry, expected to increase 5.7 percent yearly between now and 2030, significantly higher than the 3.6 percent anticipated globally. This, and more diversified economies, is attracting global hotel brands, whose presence accounts for 22 percent of total rooms. Such hotels are mostly operated via franchises and management contracts with very few leases, according to JLL.
The continent's industry got a significant jolt early in the year when South African hotel chain Sun International announced plans to take over casino resort group Peermont for nearly $775 million. (The deal hit a "regulatory hurdle" by the end of the year, and the sale has not yet been officially completed.)
By mid-year, the Lagos, Nigeria-based W Hospitality Group advisory released its Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Survey, based on data from 37 international hotel chains with 80 brands among them. The results showed that the continent had seen a jump in the development pipeline to 270 hotels and nearly 50,000 rooms, with sub-Saharan Africa exceeding North Africa by almost 70 percent.
Significantly, the data revealed a modest recovery in North Africa and stronger confidence in SSA. This is significant given that just two years prior, the number of rooms in the North African pipeline was the same as that in sub-Saharan Africa.
In April, Tsogo Sun reached an agreement with the owners of the site of Cape Town's former Tulip hotel for the construction of a three-star, 500-room hotel complex at a total investment of R680 million. The new hotel will consist of two products in one complex: a 200-room SunSquare hotel and a 300-room StayEasy hotel. The project is expected to be completed by September 2017. In Johannesburg's Fourways neighborhood, Tsogo Sun is also planning to open another three- or four-star hotel.
In July, AccorHotels announced plans in July to open 50 hotels across Angola by 2017. By the fall, branded hotels were planning to open 3,611 new hotel rooms in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. Cairo followed with 2,704 rooms; Abuja, Nigeria’s political capital, was poised to get 2,177 rooms; and Marrakesh would get 1,994 rooms.
At the same time, GoldenPeaks Capital Holdings, a UK-based investment firm, signed a contract to spend $1.2 billion toward the construction of 170 hotels in oil-rich Angola, which reportedly also has one of the most expensive hotel room rates in all of Africa.
Just a few days later, Marriott International signed deals for two new properties in South Africa, in partnership with The Amdec Group. Expected to open by February 2018, the 150-room Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch and 200-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch will be located in the Melrose Arch precinct in Johannesburg.
Marriott became the largest hotel operator in Africa following its acquisition of South Africa’s Protea Hotels in 2014. Over the next five years, the company expects the Marriott International brands, including the Protea brand, to expand from 10 African countries to 18, involving the development of an additional 38 properties across seven brands. “Africa is important to Marriott International’s growth strategy because of its rapid economic growth, growing middle class and youth population, as well as the expansion of international flights onto the continent,” Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa for Marriott International, said at the time. “With over 850 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, there are enormous opportunities there.”
Two weeks later, global hotel consulting company HVS echoed the optimistic view of Africa's hotel sector in a report, but cautioned that growth had reached "a new level of maturity with less reliance on foreign visitors and increased demand from local businesses."
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts announced plans to open 685 rooms in key cities across the Sub-Saharan region by 2019, adding three new upscale hotels to its portfolio in Kenya, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire and taking its total number of African properties to 28. "Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to be the fastest growing region in the world over the next five years with a projected GDP growth rate of 4.8 percent from 2014 to 2018, according to research by Deloitte," Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts senior vice president Africa Alan O’Dea said in a statement. "It is therefore crucial we get a strong foothold in this market, which is undergoing a trade and investment boom right now."
Not every deal was positive, however. According to Tsogo Sun's Chairman’s and Chief Executive Officer’s review from August, the company's last fiscal year saw a downturn due to the overall recession affecting Southern Africa in the wake of last year's ebola scare. A deal to acquire a 40 percent stake in the GrandWest and Worcester casinos in the Cape province was cancelled in July 2015 "as it became clear that we would be unable to conclude the regulatory process before the deadline for the transaction," Chairman John Copelyn said in the review statement.
Late in the year, African Sun terminated its lease agreement for its Ghana hotel. In the group’s unaudited financial results for the year ending September 30, chairman Herbert Nkala said the hotel's losses were due to high fixed-costs structure and a slow revenue upturn and reached $1.97 million from a loss position of $1.64 million.


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There is always that one person who ruins it for everyone else; the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. In this case it was Juul e-cigarettes with their unique style, flavors and internet sales that drove teen use skyrocketing into epidemic proportions and prompted the Food and Drug Administration to finally take control of the situation.
Next week the FDA will start putting restrictions in place which “are aimed at limiting access to pod-style e-cigarettes” such as the Juul, which has gained 75% of the U.S. e-cigarette market, not including online sales. To be fair all cartridge style e-cigarettes popular with teens will fall under these new restrictions; however tank systems are exempt. The policy will take effect immediately.
If you want to sell flavored pod-style e-cigarettes, they must be in a separate area inside the store that is unavailable to minors or you restrict minors from the store. Flavors not under the new restrictions include mint, menthol and tobacco, but these flavors could face restrictions if youth use continues to rise.
Nationwide high school use has increased 75% since last year with 20% of high school students using vaping devices; middle school use has increased 50%. Florida youth ages 11-17 has seen a 60.2% increase in current use of electronic vaping in the past year alone. Broken down, high school students who have ever tried vaping is at 37.9% for 2018, an increase of 18.1% in the past year, with middle school students at 14.7% for 2018, an increase of 18.5% over 2017. High school students currently vaping is at 24.8%, up 58.0% over 2017; middle school is at 7.8%, an increase of 44.4% over last year. Kids in Florida and throughout the U.S. cannot continue seeing increases in nicotine product use.
The head of the FDA considered removing e-cigarettes totally from the market back in September. Instead, he gave the major e-cigarette manufacturers an ultimatum: work with the FDA on a plan to reduce teen use or risk having their products banned. “Strict age verification controls for online sales” will also be required.
The new proposals are a great start, not quite a total ban, but enough to hopefully see a decrease in use. But there are some issues with the plan:
– first, kids know how to refill closed pod-type cartridges; YouTube is filled with instructions. Unless kid-friendly flavors are totally banned for all vaping devices, the trend can continue with nary a blimp.
– second, all internet sales of nicotine products should be outright banned, not merely restricted. Nicotine products should only be sold in face-to-face transactions, no matter the age of the purchaser. Wasn’t that one of the reasons for putting limits on cigarette vending machine sales? At least there should have been a six month moratorium on internet sales.
– third, increasing the national tobacco age to 21 will further deter teen use. It is easy for at 15 or 16 year old to look 18, it is more difficult to look 21. And it will keep high school students who are 18 from purchasing products for younger peers.
– finally, while the FDA talked to e-cigarette manufacturers to give them a say in the new restrictions, were public health advocates and those on the front lines of national youth tobacco prevention programs also given a say on the new restrictions?
The new restrictions cover how e-cigarette manufacturers are going to keep kids from purchasing their products, but it doesn’t mention what will happen to retailers who continue to sell to minors. It’s time for tougher restrictions in that area as well.
Click HERE for the article


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Love Live! School Idol Festival is already enjoying success as an iOS and Android release, reaching millions of players across the world. Now it's going to be making a splash as a popular arcade game in Japanese arcades. Hit the jump for more!
Sanrio and Bit are teaming up to produce a limited edition run of winter-themed chocolates designed to serve as souvenirs for foreign tourists visiting Japan. Hit the jump to learn more.
The January issue of shoujo manga magazine Aria, out in Japan on November 28th, has launched comedy spin-off Seven Deadly Sins Production from Chiemi Sakamoto. This one imagines the cast as the stars of a from a live-action TV drama, with Meliodas a genius child actor, Diane made a giant with CG effects and so on.
Atlus and Nintendo have been trickling out more videos for Genei Ibun Roku #FE, the crossover between Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem that's coming to Wii U in Japan on December 26. Meet Maiko Shimazaki after the jump.
Koi Ikeno, the author such shōjo manga as Tokimeki Tonight and Nurse Angel Ririka SOS, will be publishing a new autobiographical manga in the electronic edition of Shueisha's Cookie manga magazine. Hit the jump to learn more.
AnimeSongCollabo videos collect contributions from fan musicians and vocalists and compiles them into complete covers of favorite anime themes. This weekend, the themes of fall 2015's anime season have been collected. Sorry, One-Punch Man or Iron-Blooded Orphans openings, but still plenty of awesomeness. Check out the results after the jump.
From the anime series Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] comes a figma 2.0 of lead Shirou Emiya. The poseable figure comes with a cheerful smiling expression, a shouting expression for combat and a condescending expression. Optional parts include his school bag, slipper parts, an enhanced steel pipe and a right hand with magic circuits. The twin blades, Kanshou and Bakuya are also both included.
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Europe finds way to mitigate energy crisis
The energy crunch in Europe is not ebbing away. For this reason, EU states are looking into the benefits of joint gas purchases.
The European Commission is desperately trying to find a way out on how to lower soaring gas prices. Currently, it is considering the possible benefits of member states jointly buying strategic reserves of gas and its further storage. This measure is supposed to help governments stabilize energy prices, prevent price spikes, and also survive the upcoming winter.
The new EU project is aimed at tackling several problems at once, e.g. tax cuts, financial aid for poorer households, and a number of companies in various sectors. The European Commission hopes that by adopting the new initiative, it will be able to lower energy prices by April 2022. However, they will significantly exceed the average price of previous years.
Apart from that, the European Commission encourages EU member states to actively switch to renewable energy sources. The gradual shift to greener energy will ensure that the bloc will not face the same energy price shocks in the future. Energy ministers from EU countries will hold an urgent meeting in Brussels to discuss the price spike on October 21 and 22. "The only way to fully decouple gas from electricity is no longer to use it to generate power. This is the EU's long-term goal, to replace fossil fuels with renewables," EU energy policy chief Kadri Simson pointed out.
Notably, the idea of creating a single platform for the purchase of natural gas for all EU countries has been brought up more than once. Before that, a similar proposal was made by Eastern European countries, e.g. the Polish government. However, this proposal did not meet cordial support in many European countries. Simson said that it was extremely difficult to implement this idea because the obvious advantages were ignored until recently.
The cost of gas and electricity before the heating season rose to the highest levels ever. On October 6, gas was estimated at $1,924 per thousand cubic meters. Industrial companies were forced to reduce production volumes. The sky-high electric bills of citizens also raised alarm bells.
Despite the fact that Russia sticks to its long-term contract obligations, the European Union calls for more gas supplies. On October 7, President Vladimir Putin suggested his country could sell more gas to the EU through Ukraine. Following this statement, gas futures collapsed to $1,000 per thousand cubic meters. In the period from 11-17 October, gas futures were evaluated at $1,028 per thousand cubic meters.
Tesla declines state aid for German battery plant
According to a Tesla Inc. spokesperson, the company has withdrawn its application for state funding in Germany. The government subsidies were meant to support the carmaker in its planned construction of the battery factory near Berlin. The US electric car manufacturer intends to build a plant for battery cell production in Germany.
09:56 2021-12-07 UTC+00
Recovery in US labor market boosts consumer activity
According to the Wall Street Journal, experts acknowledge that the US economy is clicking into gear by the year-end. The most evident signs are a sharp increase in consumer spending and a faster pace of companies’ capital expenditures. Notably, initial unemployment claims in the US have dropped to the lowest level since November 1969.
09:28 2021-12-07 UTC+00
Bitcoin price boom poses threat to US economy
In order to track cyber attacks using cryptocurrency, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation carries out its own analysis of bitcoin price dynamics. Its reviews are published on an irregular basis, which is why they deserve particular attention. Thus, according to the latest report, bitcoin’s rally puts the US economy at risk.
08:00 2021-12-07 UTC+00
Crypto may destabilize markets amid lack of legislation
Some governments are cautious and even suspicious about the cryptocurrency market. They have to accept the existence of digital assets. However, many of them are seriously worried about the risk of illegal activity in the crypto market.Recently, regulators have made statements on the legislation that will control the cryptocurrency industry.
14:44 2021-12-06 UTC+00
US releases strategic oil reserves to cool global crude prices
"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself" is the rule that US President Joe Biden seems to adhere to. In particular, he announced that the US would release 50 million barrels of oil from the national strategic reserves in order to curb rising crude prices.
14:42 2021-12-06 UTC+00
Climate activists target Amazon warehouses in Black Friday protests
On November 26, European climate activists targeted Amazon distribution centers in Black Friday protests, blocking their activity. Extinction Rebellion, the environmental group, was behind the blockage of depots of the world's biggest e-commerce company, Reuters reported.
14:16 2021-12-06 UTC+00


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Transport 2000's report claimed that because many company car drivers received free fuel they drove more private miles thus increasing pollution, the company car undermined attempts to make public transport more attractive and that the company car was 'a four wheeled perk' (Fleet News November 10, 1995).
However, the Lex report says the average number of business miles driven by company car drivers annually was 14,400, but the number of private miles they drove had dropped in the last year to 5,900 compared with the private motorist who travelled 7,200 private miles a year. And with fleet cars being newer than private cars, the report says company cars are more environmentally friendly with older, privately-owned cars causing much of the pollution.
The report also takes Transport 2000 to task over its 'four wheeled perk claim' and says 74% of company car drivers believe their vehicle is essential for their job, rising to 96% among those who drive more than 20,000 miles each year. According to the report just 7% of drivers see their vehicle as a perk.


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SAN FRANCISCO — Tubular, a small San Francisco start-up that provides analytics for YouTube content creators, has raised $2.5 million in venture capital in the latest sign of how far the business ecosystem has evolved around the Google (GOOG)-owned video repository.
YouTube was once known as Wild West of online video, but over the past two years Google has focused on raising the quality of YouTube content through a series of direct investments and the cultivation of third-party “networks”.
The result is a cluster of small studios, mostly based in Los Angeles, that acts like a digital Hollywood, pumping out slick YouTube hits.
With the ultimate goal of hosting enough high-quality content to lure big-spending advertisers to YouTube, Google doled out more than $100 million last year in grants to its networks and bedroom stars.
In May Google led a group of investors who poured $35 million into Machinima, a leading network, to stoke growth in the YouTube industry.
That market has now grown to the point that it can support its own start-ups, says Tubular’s founder Rob Gabel.
As more semi-professional and professional YouTube creators enter the sector, with increasing competition among them, there is a growing need for analytical services.
Tubular is one such service, allowing customers to monitor and measure when videos get the most views and comments, or the sources of referred traffic.
The software includes a dashboard that displays the real-time analytics, which are generated by tapping into a stream of data provided by YouTube.
“If YouTube is a multibillion-dollar market, then that’s billions of dollars going out to content creators who can then invest that again,” said Gabel, a former Machinima employee.
At a high level, the pie is large and continuing to grow rapidly. Former Citi analyst Mark Mahaney estimates that YouTube will bring Google a total of $3.6 billion in 2012.
Rich Heitzmann, a co-founder of FirstMark Capital, which led Tubular’s latest funding round, said that Google is far from wringing out all of the potential revenue from YouTube.
“We think the ecosystem is at least the size of Facebook’s, considering it has a billion users and if you consider the time spent on YouTube,” Heitzmann said.
“The advertising opportunities are there, and yet the ecosystem hasn’t evolved technologically.”
Other investors in Tubular’s first tranche of equity financing included High Line Venture Partners, SV Angel, Lerer Ventures and Bedrocket Media Ventures.
Still, Gabel is betting that he can create a long-term, sustainable business on YouTube’s platform at a time when some Silicon Valley companies are wary of building on the backs of larger companies.
Twitter, for instance, courted controversy this year when it made a business decision to shut off its firehose of data for a number of popular third-party developers to drive more visitors to its own site.
Allen DeBevoise, the CEO of Machinima who is also a Tubular investor, said that YouTube has reason to foster its independent developers rather than squash them.
“It’s a thriving and fast-moving ecosystem now,” he said. “But a lot of players are needed to make it all work.”
Though Gabel acknowledges that the YouTube industry’s rapid expansion is no guarantee of success, he has high hopes.
“Everything is a bit of gamble,” he said, “but I feel good gambling on YouTube and online video.”


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DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The “Global Debit Card Market Report 2022” report has been added to from ResearchAndMarkets.com offer.
The global debit card market is expected to grow from $90.49 billion in 2021 to $93.23 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3%. The market is expected to reach $96.84 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 1%.
Asia Pacific was the largest debit card market region in 2021. Western Europe was the second largest debit card market region. Regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The reduction in the use of cash as a result of various factors has contributed to the growth of the debit card market. Various institutional bodies and governments attempt to minimize the use of cash, as cashless transactions reduce the risk of crime and money laundering, decrease tax evasion, and lower transaction costs for businesses. In June 2021, according to the Financial Times, there was a 35% reduction in cash payments. Thus, the reduction in the use of cash and the continued trend of digital payments are expected to drive the debit card market.
The universal presence of mobile has increased the use of mobile payments and wallets, which is expected to restrain the growth of the debit card market. Mobile wallet refers to a payment service through which payments can be received or sent using a mobile. According to a Forbes article published in March 2020, mobile payments in the United States exceeded $130 billion in 2020. Most mobile wallets have built-in security such as Touch ID fingerprint, six-way password numbers and other features that reduce the risk of fraud. The ease of transaction and more security features in the mobile wallet will increase its usage, limiting the growth of other payment methods including debit cards, thus limiting its market growth.
The cryptocurrency debit card is a new trend in the card industry. Crypto debit cards act as an effective bridge between existing financial systems and the crypto world. They offer instant purchasing power from bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Crypto debit cards allow cardholders to make payments and withdraw fiat currency at ATMs, similar to debit cards linked to bank accounts. Major card networks such as MasterCard, Amex, and Visa are focusing on corporate payments with the use of blockchain. Revolut, a UK-based start-up, offers the metal card with the MasterCard logo and access to 5 cryptocurrencies and 150 fiat currencies.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces historical and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market in the context of the broader debit card market and compares it to other markets.
Main topics covered:
2. Characteristics of the debit card market
3. Debit Card Market Trends and Strategies
4. Impact of COVID-19 on the debit card
5. Debit Card Market Size and Growth
5.1. Global historic debit card market, 2016-2021, billion dollars
5.2. Global Debit Card Market Forecast, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Billion USD
6. Debit Card Market Segmentation
6.1. Global debit card market, segmentation by card type, history and forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, billions of dollars
6.2. Global debit card market, segmentation by service provider, history and forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, billions of dollars
6.3. Global debit card market, segmentation by application, history and forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, billions of dollars
7. Regional and Country Analysis of the Debit Card Market
7.1. Global Debit Card Market, Split by Region, Historical & Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, USD Billion
7.2. Global Debit Card Market, Split by Country, Historical & Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, USD Billion
8-26. Debit Card Market Analysis by Country
27. Debit Card Market Competitive Landscape and Company Profiles
Capital One Financial Corp.
Bank of America
National Bank of India
For more information on this report, visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/po4q1p
ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world’s leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, top companies, new products and the latest trends.


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In August 2016 Sharp said that it wants to collaborate with Japan Display to co-develop and produce OLED displays. JDI responded saying that Sharp did not actually reach out regarding such a collaboration, but it seems that Sharp did not give up on that idea.
Sharp's stock returned to the Tokyo Stock Exchange first section after a year of absence, and the company's president told Reuters that it is going to ask Japan's government it help it form an alliance with JDI. Sharp is also considering an investment in JOLED.
Both Sharp and JDI were late to the OLED game, and both companies aim to start producing OLEDs at around 2019. A Japanese collaboration may indeed be very beneficial as all display makers in Japan has to catch up with Samsung, LGD and others that are already producing OLED displays.
In October 2016 Sharp announced that it will invest $570 million and build OLED pilot lines at its plants in Osaka and in the Mie Prefecture. The pilot lines will begin OLED production in the summer of 2018. In August 2017, Japan Display announced a strategic focus on OLED displays as the losing display maker failed to keep up with the industry shift to OLEDs. JDI said it will need to raise new funds in order to accelerate its OLED plans and prepare for mass production in 2019.


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Alameda Research, the company behind the FTX exchange, raised $ 50 million in a funding round to create a DeFi ecosystem on maps.me , an offline mapping application. The funding will make it possible to launch a multi-currency wallet on the Maps.me platform that will unlock decentralized payments for the app’s 140 million users.
Popular offline mapping app receives $ 50 million funding from major investors
The hugely popular offline mapping app, Maps.me, has just raised $ 50 million in funding to bring decentralized finance to its 140 million users. According to a press release, the funding round was led by Alameda Research, the company behind cryptocurrency exchange FTX.
Genesis Capital, a Hong Kong-based investment firm, and CMS Holdings, a major investment firm focused on the crypto industry, also participated in the round.
The funding will be used to launch an embedded multi-currency wallet on Maps.me’s mobile app that is effectively opening up the world of decentralized finance to tens of millions of new users. According to Maps.me, the wallet will be able to provide access to turn-by-turn routing, travel guides and hotel bookings, as well as «handle a wide range of payment and investment tools in the Maps.me ecosystem.»
Maps.me users should be brought closer to the world of decentralized finance
The wallet embedded in the app will enable users to save values and achieve returns of up to 8 percent. Users can also use the wallet to exchange money, send money, and get cashback for transactions made through the app.
One of Maps.me’s biggest goals is to use funding to combat the high fees on foreign exchanges. The company said that third-party banks and travel booking platforms also have extremely high commissions, which make travel bookings a burden.
According to company representatives, the aim of the wallet is to enable users to make direct bookings with almost zero fees.
Alameda Research comments that the main reason for investing in Maps.me was the platform’s potential to bring new users to the world of decentralized finance. Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and CEO of Alameda and FTX:
«By embedding and democratizing access to high-yield finance for millions of users through an everyday app, Maps.me has the potential to really drive DeFi mainstream adoption and bring breakthrough technology to the masses.»
FTX exchange users can take part in the IEO of the MAPS token on the FTX platform. The token will be issued as an SPL token on the Solana blockchain and as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum ( see How to Buy Ethereum ).
The exchange limits the IEO to users whose accounts have KYC2 and either 1,000 FTT staked or a 30-day trading volume of at least $ 50,000.


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One Moto India plans to invest Rs 250 cr to set up manufacturing unit in Telangana
The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government to set up the new facility at the outskirts of the capital Hyderabad, One-Moto said in a statement.
''We aim to manufacture at least 40,000 units in the first phase of the plant launch, and capacity will easily be taken up to one lakh in two years,'' One Moto India co-founder and partner Sameer Moidin said.
To be spread across 15 acres, the new manufacturing plant will have major automation integration with additional semi-robotics, and the latest manufacturing machinery to produce cutting-edge products, the company said.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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EE adds 201,000 contract customers during 4G launch quarter
LONDON (Reuters) - Everything Everywhere, Britain's biggest mobile operator, said it added 201,000 contract customers in the fourth quarter, during which it launched Britain's first superfast 4G mobile broadband service.
The company, a joint venture between France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom, said more than half of its customers were now on contracts, reflecting the growing popularity of smartphones, as the company posted broadly flat adjusted core earnings.
EE posted full-year adjusted core earnings of 1.41 billion pounds, broadly flat on the year before, on revenue of 6.7 billion pounds, down 1.9 percent.
Its service revenue of 5.95 billion pounds, rose 2.7 percent excluding the impact of regulatory price changes.
(Reporting by Paul Sandle, Editing by Brenda Goh)
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The Apple AirPort router is no more.
The company officially discontinued the AirPort products on Thursday, when it confirmed the news in a statement to 9to5Mac.
All three AirPort products that Apple is currently selling -- AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule -- will remain available in Apple's online store, in retail stores and with authorized resellers while supplies last, the company has confirmed.
This is hardly a surprise: Apple reportedly shut down its AirPort team in November 2016, and none of these products have been updated for years.
Apple didn't share any reason for the decision, but it did tell Engadget it might re-enter the router market if it decides it can make a meaningful contribution to the space -- which sort of tells why Apple left the market in the first place.
The AirPort was first introduced in 1999 as a simple, hassle-free way to get you online. The lineup of AirPort products was updated with new standards and expanded over the years to include the router/NAS combo Time Capsule, but Apple hasn't introduced new AirPort products since 2011.
If you're still looking to buy a router from Apple, the company has a remedy of sorts: It currently sells the Linksys Velop home mesh Wi-Fi system. But these days, you should have no trouble finding a good router in any decent electronics store, and most of them will be better than Apple's now outdated AirPort products.


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In July the arrest of a German intelligence employee for allegedly spying for the US had caused an uproar among German politicians. The country's foreign minister had demanded an immediate clarification of the situation from Washington. Of course this was putting salt in an already open wound over the NSA bugging Merkel's phone, causing her to switch to a Canadian BlackBerry smartphone using their encryption Secusite. Today Apple went on a PR offensive to remind Europeans the good that Apple is doing for their economy.
Today, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that "Apple reminded Europe that the App Store—which offers everything from Angry Birds to Menstruation Tracking Apps—isn't just a place to download games, but a force for economic growth.
Apple has said that "Roughly 500,000 jobs have been created in Europe that are directly attributable to the App Store. Of the more than $20 billion developers have earned from App Store sales worldwide, $6.5 billion has been paid to European developers. In 2014 the overall app economy is expected to deliver $16.5 billion in revenues to EU GDP, and this contribution is growing at a rate of 12% per year." Yet the news may not be as appreciated as much as Apple is hoping for.
While it's true that Apple has created jobs for Europeans on one hand, the iPhone killed off Nokia which was providing much higher paying jobs. Finland's Prime Minister Alexander Stubb squarely faults Apple for their financial crisis. So Apple has a lot more PR to do in order to counter the latest round of political poison that's in the air, especially in context with "NSA security concerns," that is being used by China and Russia.
Just today, China's government officially excluded Apple iPads and MacBook laptops from the list of products that can be bought with public money because of security concerns. Apple's new PR campaign has gotten off to a good start and even announced today that they're dropping legal action in Europe over their patent disputes with Samsung. Yet there's a lot more that has to be done in order to stem this new negative tide of news that is being aimed at them.


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The beverages and foods we consume have a significant impact on our health. This particular drink has been associated with higher risks of dementia.
Everything we put in our bodies has an effect. While some we are aware of (like high cholesterol and processed foods being bad for our heart), there are foods and drinks that have surprising effects on our bodies, ones that we wouldn’t know unless we were to look into them. According to new research, there is a direct correlation between dementia and diet soda.
Dementia is a condition that affects over 3 million people a year, particularly those who are over the age of 65. And even though there is no sure way to prevent it, memory and judgement loss can be curbed by staying active and eating healthy — even if that means cutting out beverages that are sugar free.
The study, published in the journal Stroke, kept track of 1,484 people over the age of 60, for a period of 10 years. Subjects who drank artificially sweetened soda every day were significantly more likely to develop dementia when compared to subjects who drank it less than once a week. The former group was also more likely to have strokes.
While researchers were adamant that the study did not imply causation, the trend was significant enough that they believe the phenomenon should be studied further and that the widespread belief that diet sodas are healthier alternatives than other types of drinks should be questioned.
Beverages are a significant source of stress for health practitioners. They’re the number one source of added sugars in America. While diet soda doesn’t have the same amount of calories and sugar as regular soda, it’s still a drink that should be consumed in moderation, and not an alternative for healthy beverages.
Diet soda has artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and more, which have been linked with a variety of conditions, including negatively affecting gut health, more headaches, decreased heart health, and more. While healthier than regular soda, diet beverages should not replace water, which should make up the bulk of your beverage consumption, no matter how boring that sounds like.


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U.S. officials see the deal as a threat to NATO, for which Turkey provides the second-largest military.World Politicsread more
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Shares in German meal-kit delivery firm HelloFresh slumped on Monday after it said it no longer expected to break even in the fourth quarter of this year as it plans to invest margin profits to support growth.
HelloFresh added it now planned to achieve such break-even on adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (AEBITDA) basis during the course of 2019.
The company's shares were down 6.6 percent as of 0800 GMT, while the German small-cap index traded 0.8 percent lower.
It follows other companies across the online takeaway and meal-kits sector such as Delivery Hero or Just Eat, who decided to shelve profitability targets this year and spend heavily in order to gain greater market share.
HelloFresh, which competes with struggling U.S. rival Blue Apron, said investments would include such measures as price reductions, increase in meal selections in the U.S. market and scaling up of a new value brand.
The margin on AEBITDA improved by 6.1 percentage points to negative 1.2 percent in the second quarter, the company said.
Excluding the impact from Green Chef, acquired in March, HelloFresh already achieved break-even at the AEBITDA margin on a group level.
At the same time, the company raised its target for 2018 constant-currency revenue growth, excluding Green Chef, to 32 to 37 percent, from previously 30 to 35 percent.
Revenues at constant currencies grew 48 percent in the second quarter to 339.9 million euros ($387.21 million), with 43 percent growth in the United States and 55 percent in the international segment.
Blue Apron said on Aug. 2 its second-quarter revenue fell 25 percent, missing analysts' estimates, as fewer customers signed up for its service.