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Senator Bernie Sanders has launched an investigation into Amazon, citing allegations of dangerous and illegal working conditions in its distribution warehouses. As the chair of the health, education, labor and pension Senate committee, Sanders wrote a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy demanding more information about worker injuries, turnover, productivity targets, and adherence to federal and state regulations. Sanders also highlighted a report by a group of labor unions that showed Amazon’s serious injury rate was double the industry average in 2021 and requested that Jassy and Amazon respond by July 5.
Amazon said in a statement that it was reviewing the letter and underlined that it had reduced workplace injuries by 23% since 2019. Amazon’s warehouses have faced scrutiny for years, with workers speaking out about unsafe conditions, high turnover, and injury risks, often in the name of efficiency. Most recently, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined three Amazon warehouses a total of $60,269 in January for putting workers at risk of sprains, strains, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
At the start of his role as HELP committee chairman in January, Sanders sent a letter to former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, demanding he end its union-busting campaign, alleging the company was refusing to bargain in good faith with workers who wanted to unionize. Pressured by an upcoming Senate vote to subpoena him, Schultz agreed to appear for a hearing before Sanders in March, where he denied any union-busting practices.
Sanders told the Washington Post it's "an absolute possibility" that he may attempt to call Jassy or Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to testify in a similar hearing. According to a report from labor union coalition Strategic Organizing Center, Amazon had roughly 39,000 injuries in its warehouses in 2022, with an injury rate 70% higher than the rate of non-Amazon warehouse workers. The report also found that Amazon had twice the number of serious injuries compared with the warehouse industry, which Amazon has publicly disputed because there's no regulatory metric called "serious injury rate."


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LG Posts Highest Quarterly Revenue in its History to Hit KSh 1.78 Trillion
- LG Electronics Inc has recorded a 22% increase in consolidated revenues in the third of 2021
- The company's profitability also increased significantly during the quarter but was partially offset by a one-time charge
- Sales increased 14.7% from the same quarter last year on strong growth in the Americas and Europe
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LG Electronics Inc. (LG) has announced third-quarter 2021 consolidated revenues of US$ 16.23 billion (KSh 1.752 trillion), an increase of 22% from the same quarter last year, and the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history.
In a statement seen by TUKO.co.ke, LG said growth in sales of premium home appliances and entertainment products such as OLED and large screen TVs powered the solid third quarter of 2021 performance.
Defying the pandemic
LG's performance was despite supply chain constraints, especially for semiconductors, which was occasioned by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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The company's profitability also increased significantly during the quarter but was partially offset by a one-time charge. As a result, operating profit of US$466.99 million (KSh 50.42 billion) was 49.6% lower than the third quarter the previous year, reflecting a provision of US$ 415 million (KSh 44.8 billion).
The LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company posted third-quarter 2021 revenues of US$ 6.1 billion (KSh 658.8 billion) with an operating profit of US$ 436.51 million (KSh 47.08 billion).
Sales increased 14.7% from the same quarter last year on strong growth in the Americas and Europe.
The company said product competitiveness and operational efficiencies are expected to help LG maintain growth momentum, although slower due to rising raw material costs.
The LG Home Entertainment Company achieved third-quarter 2021 sales of US$ 3.61 billion or KSh 389.86 billion, 13.9% higher than the same period last year.
This was driven mainly by steady growth in demand for premium products such as OLED and large-screen TVs in the key markets of North America and Europe.
Operating profit declined compared to the same period last year due to increased component prices such as LCD panels.
The LG Vehicle Component Solutions Company recorded revenues of USD 1.5 billion (KSh 162 billion). However, there was an operating loss of US$ 464.32 million or KSh 47.98 billion related to General Motors' recall of the Chevy Bolt EV.
“Although the industry saw an increase in demand for automobiles including EVs during the quarter, the global automotive market experienced significant disruption due to the shortage of semiconductors,” the company said.
The company said it would strengthen its global supply chain through greater collaboration with auto OEMs and other component providers.

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As the coronavirus sweeps through Missoula, many businesses are being forced to temporarily close while their employees quarantine.
This is exactly what happened to a popular spot downtown.
On October 5th, Market on Front received the news that no business can afford to hear right now.
“It was from my head chef who heard from one of the cooks that he had tested positive for COVID. And as soon as that happened we closed down the market, as soon as I got the phone call,” said Dennis Round, Market on Front’s co-owner.
The positive case forced 8 employees into quarantine, and shut down operations for 8 days, and Round said he even had to toss some of their product that they’d no longer be able to use.
“Whether it’s our aioli sauces, our sauteed onions, or our pickled beets or whatever it was, all that stuff had to go out the door,” said Round.
It was a brutal blow to their revenue and not the only impact of an 8-day shutdown.
“More importantly, for the employees, you know, they lose days, paid pay days and also tips are, you know, a big part of it is their income is tips,” said Round.
Times are already tough and money is tight, so Round, along with co-owner and wife Robin, acted fast.
“Knowing that they were going to have some loss income, we decided we’d create our own staff relief fund,” said Round.
For three days, Market on Front advertised different incentives to raise funds that would be distributed among the staff.
When they reopened on Wednesday, for every burrito sold, the Rounds donated a dollar to the fund.
“On Thursday, 100 percent of the coffee sales that we did on Thursday went to that fund, then on Friday, what we did was we matched 100 percent of the tips that were given by customers,” said Round.
And the support didn’t stop there. Through the power of social media, fans of Market on Front from states away from California, even Tennessee, donated money after seeing that the Market had closed.
“If you go on social media you’ll see the support after support. not just on the tough days, even on the good days. Things like that, it’s just… people are good,” said Round.
Market on Front has spent the last week operating on limited hours, per the Health Department’s directive.
But starting Oct. 20th, they’ll return to normal business hours which are
Read More: Market on Front creates staff relief fund


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The European Commission opened Private Storage Aid for butter, Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP) and certain cheeses in order to alleviate the impact of Russian restrictions on imports of EU dairy products and to limit the negative effects on the internal market.
Uruguay's dairy industry has overtaken Argentina as the main supplier of milk to Brazil, according to Globo Rural, a Brazilian site which specializes in farming news. Brazil's imports were globally 60% Argentine milk and the rest, 40% from Uruguay, but now Uruguay has moved to over 50%, meaning Argentina is losing ground in Latam largest economy and leading Mercosur partner, Anibal Schaller manager of the Milk Industry Center, admitted to Globo Rural.
A state of the art dairy farm with 8.000 milking cows that will export powder milk, create 300 qualified jobs and generate its own energy from the animals’ dung is scheduled to open its first phase next April in Durazno, Uruguay.
Saudi Arabia's largest dairy company announced it was buying Argentine farm operator Fondomonte for 83 million dollars to secure access to a supply of animal feed. The acquisition will give Riyadh-based Almarai Co. control of roughly 30,000 acres of farmland just ahead of tough new limits to be imposed by Argentina's government on foreign ownership of productive land.
Uruguay has the highest per capita consumption of milk in Latin America averaging between 225 and 230 liters. This compares favorably with Argentina’s 220 liters, Brazil’s 110 and Chile’s 100.
The financial dealings of New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser are under scrutiny amid revelations he owns thousands of shares in a Uruguayan-based dairy company that he actively promotes as part of his job, according to the NZ press.


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Similar to the VR headset, the “Apple Car” is something that has remained firmly in the rumor mill. Project Titan, the company’s proposed auto project, has not been officially confirmed, but speculation regarding a carousel of car executives that have been hired and subsequently fired by Apple, continues to fan the flames of anticipation.
In August, a leak included a rendering of what could be Apple’s 10th-generation iPad, showing what appeared to be a major design change. Aside from the inclusion of USB-C ports, an A14 chip, and a Touch ID home button, the rounded edges of the entry-level device were swapped in favor of flat edges. While all of these specs are still very much unknown, nothing was confirmed or denied from Apple’s recent event.
Last May, Apple put out the first major update to its Apple TV product line for the first time in a few years, with the introduction of Apple TV 4K. Even though this may be lower on the company’s priority list, there were no news offerings related to the growing portfolio of original Apple TV and movie content, or its push towards live sports in recent months.


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- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 05:30 06:49 12:14 15:11 17:33 18:52
Dubai attracted over 14.2 million overnight visitors in 2015, recording a strong 7.5% increase over 2014 - double the United Nations World Travel Organisation's (UNWTO) projected 3-4% global travel growth for the same period, annual figures released by Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) showed.
The emirate's tourism sector once again proved the tenacity and strength of its economic contribution, as it made steady progress towards the target of 20 million visitors per year by 2020, despite a year afflicted by macro-economic uncertainties, and amidst a particularly turbulent geo-political climate during the second half of 2015 internationally.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, said: "Under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, last year was a very strong year for Dubai's travel sector, achieving double the global industry growth levels and our international visitation hitting 14.2 million, which firmly positions us as the fourth most visited city in the world. 2015 was volatile for travel globally, as we have all witnessed a range of disruptive factors, ranging from slackening economic growth in Asian and European markets to currency fluctuations across the world.
''Yet if Dubai is to hit its 20 million visitors per year target in the next five years, we must deliver a threshold 7-8% annual growth consistently, which has put even greater emphasis on strong sector-wide collaboration. Our performance over the past 12 months is undeniably reflective of the resilience of our diversified market strategy, our unified industry-level responsiveness, and ultimately the sustained strength of Dubai's proposition."
Through the pursuit of a multi-geography visitation mix strategy, Dubai furthered the performance achieved in the first half of the year to deliver strong growth across key feeder regions, mitigating the downward trends in specific countries.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remained the regional foothold, supporting continued demand from near-markets to Dubai, consequently delivering the highest share of visitor volumes for 2015, with a total of 3.3 million, up 12.8% over 2014.
In terms of country-specific volumes from the GCC, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remained the lead market, contributing 1.54 million visitors, followed by Oman accounting for over 1 million travellers. Kuwait and Qatar were also among the top 20 markets, with the former the only one to register a decline in growth versus 2014 yet retaining its top 10 position, and the latter recovering strongly from mid-year with a high 32% year-on-year increase for the full year of 2015.
Despite a sluggish economy and a strong US dollar constraining Dubai's competitiveness, Western Europe remained the second highest regional contributor to visitor volumes, bringing in nearly 3 million tourists, reflecting a solid 6.1% growth in numbers.
The UK remained within Dubai's top 3 source countries with 11% growth, accounting for nearly 1.2 million visitors. Germany also stayed in the top 10 list with 7% growth generating over 460,000 visitors, followed by two others in the top 20 traffic generators - France showing a slight decline primarily in the last quarter of 2015, and Italy remaining flat versus 2014.
Northern European markets across the Nordics and the Benelux, while independently small in volume, have been frontier growth generators for tourism traffic in 2015, on the back of growing direct flight capacity from the region.
South Asia was the next largest region by volume, bringing in 2.3 million visitors, reflecting a 21.7% increase versus 2014. India dominated the region, becoming Dubai's number one source market for the first time by bringing in over 1.6 million tourists, and the country was the second fastest growing market with a 26% year-on-year growth, followed by Pakistan that ranked just outside the top five, ending 2015 at 11% growth and 513,000 visitors. Efforts to serve highly segment-specific messaging in cities with the highest connectivity and latent capacity, as well as building stronger trade ties in market with digital travel intermediaries, have yielded results and will continue to enable Dubai to capture a share of the growing Indian upper middle-class family and business segments.
Over 1.6 million visitors came from the wider Middle East and North Africa region, representing a 1.3% growth - a strong outcome in the face of heightened regional disturbances. Iran delivered a reliable 6% increase to enter the top 10 rankings as a key source market, with much of the remaining volumes attributable to Egypt and Jordan, each independently registering robust 15% growth versus 2014 for the full year.
Asian markets (excluding the Indian sub-continent) were the next largest regional contributors with a total of 1.2 million travellers to Dubai - a 17.9% increase for 2015 compared to the previous year. With 450,000 Chinese tourists to Dubai last year, inbound traffic from China dominated the uptake from this region, topping the leader board of year-on-year growth trends with a 29% increase in numbers. The Philippines delivered 325,000 tourists, with a particularly strong third quarter performance raising it to number 11 in the source market rankings.
The Americas brought in just short of 1 million travellers, growing at a healthy 8.2% thanks to the strong airlift and increase in point-to-point routes from both east and west coasts, with the United States growing at 3% to retain its position within the top five source markets for Dubai, and Canada also staying within the top 20 with a 13% growth in volumes.
Positive growth across stalwart markets and emerging countries helped offset negative trends in the consolidated Russia, CIS and Eastern European region, which saw a 22.5% decline in travellers, as well as the Australasia region, which dropped 6.3% year on year. Africa remained flat compared to last year, offsetting a weak Nigerian market due to commodity declines and currency restrictions, with growth in Sub-Saharan markets following successful road shows and trade network development in developing markets such as Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Almarri explained: "Building on our core multi-source visitation strategy, we have been able to prudently balance our risk exposure to specific geographies, shift our investment to frontier growth markets for Dubai, and be much more targeted on penetrating niche segments within our stronghold markets. Additionally, we have been very focused on ensuring a committed presence in markets with high levels of disposable income, such as China, and those with future potential like Nigeria or Indonesia that have a growing tourism base to tap into.
"Through 2016 we will continue to leverage increasing airlift, open and streamlined visa policies, and a broad destination appeal that offers something for all travel segments. Further afield, in markets across Australasia and the Americas where we offer convenient direct flight access, we have been working very closely with airline partners, the travel trade, and the hotel sector to create compelling transit programmes.
"Of course, markets such as the GCC, India, UK and Germany, which are our traditional strongholds and continue to deliver over a third of our tourism traffic, will always be a critical priority as there is already a proven credibility of the Dubai destination offering. Our aim here is to build advocacy, create more reasons to revisit, and deliver even greater value for repeat travellers. Hence our investments are based on better analytics to understand our core segments from these countries, becoming very customised in communicating propositions that are relevant for them, encouraging longer stays and ultimately generating greater economic value per tourist through 2016 and beyond."
Having rolled out its global brand campaign in the last quarter of 2015, Dubai continues to work on building brand awareness in new markets and addressing perception gaps in existing markets where there is limited market share capture, to better penetrate and attract the fast growing, mass affluent segments as future leisure and business visitors.
Dubai's tourism performance in 2015 is also reflective of its ability to respond swiftly to changing market dynamics, leveraging the strength of its unified public-private sector partnership-led approach. 2015 saw significant investment in sustaining the competitiveness of the emirate's supply-side proposition, with increasing airlift across key feeder markets, a more balanced growth in hotel inventory, and improvements in retail competitiveness, in addition to enhancements across the core destination product offerings.
Additionally, the emirate's mature business and consumer events industry continues to be a key economic contributor, with the delivery of a strong and regularly renewed annual calendar of global pillar events, core to the value-creation agenda for tourism. As a testament to the competitiveness of the city's ever-evolving calendar, Dubai has earned the recognition of 'World Festival and Event City' for three consecutive years since 2012 by the International Festivals and Events Association. This will only be further accentuated by the growing Dubai Food Festival, the launch of Dubai Comedy Festival in 2015, a renewed Dubai Shopping Festival in its 21st edition in 2016, and the upcoming inaugural XYoga Dubai Festival this February.
Tourism-related infrastructure and capacity enhancement investment is expected to gain momentum in 2016 through more segment-specific offerings such as culture and heritage attractions and family-oriented theme parks, in addition to continued focus on enhancing the business environment that underscores Dubai's pursuit of becoming the number one destination for travel, business and events. Dubai will be steadily implementing projects to develop, enhance and promote the core pillars of Dubai's destination offering that in turn feed into the agenda to not just attract more volumes but to further the sector's growing contribution to the emirate's GDP, and be a source of sustainable competitiveness for future growth.
Almarri concluded: "Infrastructure, accommodation, air connectivity, access and policy enablers continue to be the facilitating levers that ensure Dubai remains price competitive, can deliver exceptional service quality that will not only attract first-time visitors, but ensure that they become Dubai loyalists and advocates longer-term. Today, the evolution of our product offering is a result of ensuring extremely tight collaboration with the hotel sector and the retail community, as well as the collective contribution of government and public and private enterprises, aimed at going beyond attracting tourists, to capturing the highest value we can from every visitor to Dubai, ensuring that tourism contribution to the economy is further amplified. These partnerships are crucial for us to build on the foundations we have laid, and accelerate the pace of growth in 2016, to ensure that the 2020 Vision is brought to life for Dubai."
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The rumors surrounding a possible PS3 Slim continue, annoyingly. DigiTimes, the paper of record when it comes to what’s being manufactured in eastern Asia, says that Sony “has ordered enough parts to make one million consoles in the third quarter of this year, twice as many as in the last three months.” In other words, Sony just ordered an extraordinary amount of components.
What does this means? Nothing, maybe. But if you look at the latest PS3 sales numbers, you’ll notice one thing: a lack of demand for the system. So the assumption is that Sony just ordered all these parts in order to build a new PS3!
Sony could make the announcement later this month at a video game trade show in Germany.
Or, of course, this could all be a swerve. Sony is hinting at A, but it instead executes B. Clever!


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January 4, 2019
Coimbatore : The local chapter of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry today thanked RBI for releasing guidelines on restructuring of advances to MSMEs, which contribute 50 percent to the manufacturing sector.
RBI has decided to permit a one-time restructuring of existing loans not exceeding Rs.25 crores to MSMEs which are in default but ‘standard’ as on January one without an asset classification downgrade, which will be a big relief to financially stressed MSMEs, Chamber President, V Lakshminarayanasamy said in a release here.
Stating that the RBI has taken this decision by understanding the structural bottlenecks and factors’ affecting the performance of the MSMEs, he expressed happiness that the Governmenta and RBI have considered the importance of the MSMEs in the Indian Economy.
The MSMEs exporting sectors which were affected due to demonetization and implementation of GST would be benefitted by the move, he said.
A provision of 5 per cent in addition to the provisions already held, shall be made in respect of accounts restructured under this scheme is also a welcome move. he said.


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Empowering Accessibility and Security: Crypto Binance Trading
Matt Damon and Crypto: A Surprising Connection
When you hear the name Matt Damon, you might think of his incredible acting skills or his humanitarian efforts. But did you know that he is also involved in the world of cryptocurrency? In this article, we will explore the unexpected connection between Matt Damon and crypto, and how they intersect in the digital landscape.
Enter Matt Damon: The Celebrity Partner
It may come as a surprise, but Matt Damon has joined forces with a crypto company to promote secure management of digital assets. This collaboration aims to raise awareness about the importance of crypto wallet security and the potential of digital currencies. As a renowned actor and influencer, Damon's involvement brings much-needed attention to the crypto industry.
Damon's involvement extends beyond endorsing crypto wallets. He is also part of a groundbreaking project that combines the world of cryptocurrency and sports. The Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, recently unveiled, is set to revolutionize how venues and events operate. With an emphasis on accepting digital currencies for ticket purchases and concessions, this arena opens up new possibilities for crypto enthusiasts.
Unlocking the Future: Matt Damon and Crypto
As the world becomes more digitized, cryptocurrency is gaining traction and becoming an integral part of our lives. Matt Damon's involvement in the crypto industry sheds light on the potential benefits and the importance of secure management of digital assets. Through partnerships and initiatives like the Crypto.com Arena and endorsing crypto wallets, Damon is contributing to the growth and adoption of digital currencies.
The Rise of Crypto: What You Need to Know
Cryptocurrency has been gaining popularity in recent years, with Bitcoin leading the way as the most well-known digital currency. But what exactly is cryptocurrency? In simple terms, it is a form of digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. This decentralized system operates on a technology called blockchain, which records all transactions securely.


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Mullican Flooring is conducting a national cash rewards campaign for flooring retailers Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, 2012. The campaign is called “The Urban Awakening” and offers sales personnel opportunities to receive cash when they sell specified Mullican products.
The promotion is so-named because it coincides with Mullican’s product sponsorship of the 2012 HGTV Urban Oasis Giveaway – a consumer promotion in which online visitors can register to win a fully furnished condominium in Miami, Fla. Mullican is the exclusive hardwood flooring sponsor for the 2012 giveaway home.
“Our cash rewards campaign is one way we show appreciation to the hundreds of sales personnel across the country who work so hard to sell Mullican products,” says Brian Greenwell, vice president of sales and marketing for the Johnson City, Tenn.-based company. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without their hard work and diligence.”
The Urban Awakening campaign involves both solid and engineered products with cash rewards ranging from 5 cents up to 25 cents per square foot, depending on the product. Products featured in the campaign include solid flooring from Mullican’s St. Andrews, Muirfield and Chatelaine collections; and engineered flooring from its HillShire, MeadowBrooke, RidgeCrest, Castillian and Chalmette collections.
To collect rewards, sales personnel are required to show proof of sales and to document all transactions on scorecards that need to be returned to Mullican Flooring by Dec. 14, 2012.
Distributor signups, information sheets and sales personnel scorecards about The Urban Awakening will be distributed via e-mail. For more information, flooring retailers should contact their Mullican Flooring distributor or Tressa Samdal, Mullican’s marketing coordinator, at 800-844-6356.


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02 November 2023
The UK hotel industry benefitted from a boost in demand in September as people headed off on staycations across the country to make the most of the Indian summer, according to the RSM Hotels Tracker.
The data, which is compiled and produced by Hotstats and analysed by RSM UK, shows occupancy was up from 79.4% (August) to 82.0% (September) in the UK and from 80.4% to 82.6% in the London market – a 3.6% and 5.2% uplift, respectively, when compared to last September.
Average daily rates (ADR) of occupied rooms in the UK also increased significantly from £146.60 (August) to £156.86 (September) and from £211.43 to £235.47 in London.
Revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased from £116.42 (August) to £128.70 (September) in the UK and from £170.05 to £194.51 in London. These price increases also filtered through to the bottom line, with gross operating profits of UK hotels up from 35.7% to 40.5% in September and from 38.8% to 44.9% in London.
Chris Tate, head of hotels and accommodation at RSM UK, said: ‘While the unseasonal heatwave in September was bad news for some industries such as retail, the prolonged summer encouraged consumers to head off on UK staycations to enjoy the last of the sun, giving a welcome boost to the hotel sector ahead of the winter months.
‘The jump in gross operating profits to near pre-pandemic levels suggests that while higher room rates have previously been eroded by rising costs, there are signs these costs are starting to ease, but there’s still a way to go.
‘Consumer confidence appeared to be on the road to recovery in September, but after suffering a stark drop in October, hoteliers will need to mitigate the likely knock-on effect on demand. In addition, with warnings of further train strikes over the festive period, this could be detrimental to bookings. After a disappointing Christmas last year, hoteliers need some form of reassurance from government that this won’t happen again, otherwise it’s the hotel and leisure and hospitality industries that will have to pay the price.’
Thomas Pugh, economist at RSM UK, added: ‘The recovery in the hotel sector in September is in contrast to many of the economic indicators we have had for Q3 so far. Retail sales dropped sharply, and the PMI surveys are still pointing to a downturn.
‘However, there are reasons to be hopeful about the outlook for consumer spending. Real wages are now rising and should increase sharply over the next year as inflation drops more steeply than wage growth. That should support consumer spending power over the next year. What’s more, cost-of-living grants paid to low income households are set to rise by about £4bn in Q4, which will support spending.
‘The problem is that with consumer confidence still in the doldrums and savings in real terms back to their pre-pandemic level, many consumers will choose to save any additional income rather than spending. What’s more, for a large portion of households, any increase in incomes will just be eaten up by higher mortgage and rent costs, reducing their disposable income. As a result, we aren’t expecting the increase in real wages to lead to a boom in consumer spending.’


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Android users can breathe a sigh of relief as the once troublesome January 2024 Google Play System update is returning to devices after a tumultuous start to the year. Rolled out at the beginning of January, the update faced immediate backlash due to severe issues, prompting Google to pull it from circulation. However, following extensive fixes, the updated version is now being reintroduced.
The rollercoaster ride of the January update
Initially released in January, the update garnered notoriety for causing widespread disruptions, particularly for devices with multiple user accounts or work profiles. Users reported problems ranging from numerous app crashes to inconsistencies in external storage functionality, rendering affected phones virtually unusable. The situation escalated to the point where Google had to provide manual instructions for users to rectify the issues themselves, a process deemed complicated and daunting for many.
With devices essentially crippled by the faulty update, users faced frustration and inconvenience, highlighting the critical role of seamless updates in maintaining device functionality and user satisfaction. While Google's response included manual instructions for fixing the issues, the complexity of the process underscored the need for a more robust and user-friendly approach to addressing such problems in the future.
The Play System update conundrum
The January 2024 update debacle marks the second instance in four months where an automatic Android update has led to significant disruptions for Pixel phone users. With both incidents resulting in extended downtimes and complex workaround solutions, questions arise regarding Google's ability to handle buggy updates effectively. The reliance on developer-level command line actions and the risk of data loss further exacerbate concerns surrounding the update process for Pixel devices.
Moreover, the delay in rolling out a fix for the January update underscores potential gaps in Google's update management strategy, particularly in identifying and resolving issues promptly. As users navigate through the fallout of these problematic updates, trust in the reliability and effectiveness of Android's update system may wane, posing challenges for Google in maintaining user satisfaction and loyalty.
The future of Android updates
The recent string of problematic updates sheds light on underlying issues within Google's update infrastructure. The absence of a reliable rollback mechanism and inadequate testing procedures raise doubts about the company's ability to ensure seamless updates for users. As Pixel phone owners navigate these challenges, the fear and uncertainty surrounding the update process loom, casting a shadow over the otherwise seamless Android experience.
In light of these developments, stakeholders within the Android ecosystem, including Google, device manufacturers, and users, may need to reevaluate their approach to software updates. This could involve implementing more rigorous testing protocols, improving communication channels for issue resolution, and enhancing user support mechanisms to mitigate the impact of future update-related disruptions.


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Facebook wants TV’s ad money.
The seemingly best way to get at those dollars is to actually have TV ad space to sell advertisers.
Yet right now, Facebook is betwixt and between the tube, putting it nowhere in TV advertisers’ eyes.
So it’s time to actually get on TV – or move on. And that starts with going way over the top.
As in, Facebook needs to buy Roku, or buy a TV manufacturer.
Or just forget about it.
As Digiday’s Tim Peterson reported a few weeks ago, Facebook recently shut down its initiative to sell OTT ad inventory for various mid-sized smart TV apps using its data.
You could be forgiven if you thought that this unit had already gone away a while ago, given its lack of big partnerships, traction or profile.
It seems that major TV networks don’t want to invite Facebook in to help sell the most lucrative ad medium on the planet any time soon.
Meanwhile, Facebook’s other shot at TV money, Facebook Watch, is far from a finished product (it lacks a clear programming strategy, vision, and promotion, for starters). But after an erratic first few years, Business Insider’s Lauren Johnson reports that Facebook appears to be settling in on YouTube-like quality content as a means to get at TV money.
This could work – over a long period of time. Just ask YouTube how long it’s taken to make real headway with TV marketers (and that was before a string of brand safety disasters).
Currently, TV ads are still largely funded by a different set of advertisers and budgets than those that fuel web video. And therefore, that best shot at getting at those budgets is to give them what they want: TV ads.
To that end, helping sell ads on connected TV devices was the right idea for Facebook, but the approach was flawed.
That’s why buying Roku, and its 22 million registered user install base and well-established ad tech infrastructure, is the perfect move for Facebook right now. Roku has had a rocky year in the public markets, and could be an easy $5 to $6 billion purchase for Facebook.
Given what’s been going on with Facebook lately (there’s been some – shall we say, Real News), the company could use two things:
-A distraction (which a big deal could certainly provide)
Roku offers instant growth. Not only are OTT ads a hot market, Facebook could turn on its data for targeting and send their effectiveness – and advertiser demand for them – through the roof. They’d know who you are, where you live, what you like and what you really watch. And TV networks would suddenly have to work with Facebook if they want distribution on Roku.
Plus, buying Roku accomplishes two other things:
-It’s an instant home for Facebook Watch
-It keeps Roku away from Google and Amazon.
Ok, so maybe Facebook doesn’t want to be in the set-top business, or doesn’t like some aspects of Roku’s economics? Another quick gateway into the TV business could be to buy a smart TV maker.
TV manufacturers increasingly play a powerful role in reaching consumers via their interfaces and built-in app environments. Connected TVs would offer Facebook both, with the opportunity to soup up the canvas. Plus, the screen-level data would provide Facebook with powerful TV analytics on millions of US homes, which could be used for program personalization and TV ad attribution across the board.
If you can prove that OTT ads work, you’ll do very well in this business.
Of course, Facebook has Portal, its own hardware bet. So far, despite the cute ads, Portal seems like a bigger screen for FaceTiming or Skyping, which most Americans are already pretty satisfied with. And there’s not a lot of ad or media money in video chat.
There’s lots in TV. And Roku already has a portal into the home.


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The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has directed banks to limit cheque payments to third parties (payees other than the account holder) over-the-counter with effect from July 2, 2013.
According to the central bank, this new directive which came about following consultation with the banking industry is part of measures to encourage migration to a cash-lite society and the use of non-cash modes of transaction settlement.
“With effect from July 2, 2013 cash payments in honour of cheques to third parties at bank counters shall not be above GH¢10,000,” the BoG said in a statement..
The central bank explains that the limit does not apply to third party cheques that are presented for the credit of an account through clearing. It does not also apply where the payee is the drawer of the cheque, BoG added.
The BoG expects that the implementation of the limit will “reduce the incidence of fraud and other malfeasance as well as limit the scope for abuse of the banking system by criminals.”
It hinted that the limit or threshold for encashment of cheques over the counter by third parties would be reduced further in January 2014.
The central bank encouraged bank customers to use the various payment instruments such as cards and mobile money available for transaction settlement in the banks and at point of sale terminals.
Stakeholders in the financial sector just ended a National Payment System Strategy workshop hosted by the BoG. It was organised to provide the opportunity for industry players to discuss the development of payment systems in the country.
By Ekow Quandzie


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Transparency is of the latest business buzzwords, but few companies take it as far as Buffer, a San Francisco-based social media software company that makes its salaries public.
All of its 70-plus employees – from the CEO to the so-called "happiness hero" customer service representatives – have their annual incomes published online. The company also publishes revenue in real time, and last year it openly discussed the reasons behind its decision to lay off 10 employees.
"People were quite shocked about how we shared our financial details for that one," says Buffer spokesperson Hailley Griffis, who is based in Toronto.
The so-called "radical transparency" approach helps attract and retain employees that fit with its open culture and also helps to improve the business. For example, when the company started sharing its monthly recurring revenue numbers online, a reader pointed out they were calculating it wrong. It was quickly fixed.
"When you put something out into the open, there's a lot of feedback that comes in," Ms. Griffis says. "It has opened up a really great dialogue."
While few organizations go as far as releasing employee salaries (with the exception of requirements for some government workers and leaders of publicly listed companies), more are taking bold steps to publicize key financial metrics such as sales, profit and customer retention rates. By being open, companies are hoping to get employees more involved in the business and build customer loyalty and trust.
While there are risks, such as revealing data that can be used by competitors and potential impacts on employee morale (especially if the business isn't doing well), experts believe the pros outweigh the cons.
"I think it's a positive trend," says Ann Frost, an associate professor for organizational behaviour at Western University's Ivey School of Business.
She says increased transparency forces companies to be more accountable and can empower employees to pitch in and make their company more profitable.
"People like to see that what they do on a daily basis makes a difference," Ms. Frost says.
More transparency also helps companies build a stronger corporate culture and attract top talent.
"You are indicating this is an open transparent [company] and you don't play games," Ms. Frost says. "But you need to have that culture for transparency to work."
Toronto-based Fiix, which makes maintenance software for equipment and asset management, doesn't share salary information but is open with its 50 employees about a number of key metrics including financial results, targets and how much money it has in the bank. Employees are also allowed to sit in on executive meetings.
Fiix CEO Marc Castel says being more open gives employees confidence about the state of the business. When times are tough, they can also help it do better.
"When you don't know how the business is doing, you get nervous about the future. You end up spending a lot of time talking and worrying about things that you shouldn't," Mr. Castel says. "Transparency turns every employee into a mini CEO who can take personal ownership and responsibility for the health of the company."
Fiix also publishes its quarterly revenues on its website for customers and stakeholders to view if they want, as well as corporate social responsibility goals and programs and product updates, both good and bad.
Mr. Castel doesn't see any downside to sharing the information and is open to feedback.
"You have to be big enough as an employee and as an executive to take the good and the bad," he says. "Not everything you do is going to be terrific. There is nowhere to hide when you're transparent. If you get called out, you have to deal with it. It makes people more accountable and more responsible and ultimately builds character and better judgment."
Waterloo-based Axonify doesn't share much information outside of the company but is open with employees about its finances, targets, expenses and any hiring challenges it may have.
"Employees need to understand how the judgment calls and decisions they're making add up financially to what we're all trying to achieve as a company," says Axonify CEO Carol Leaman. "From an overall financial-results perspective, I think it's essential that people know, otherwise they guess – and when they guess, usually it's in a negative way."
She says some potential hires also want to know about the company's finances before they accept a job.
"They want to know there's enough cash to feel safe," Ms. Leaman says. "It has almost become necessary that, to attract people, if they're going to jump ship from somewhere else [they want to know] that you're going to survive."
Ms. Leaman says transparency builds trust with potential and current employees.
"If people trust you and they understand how their contribution adds to the overall results, they will go to the end of the Earth for you," she says. "From a cultural and loyalty perspective, it is highly effective to be open and honest with people."


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Honda has announced that the 2021 Honda Passport went on sale on Thursday, with a starting price set at $33,710, including the destination fees.
The only big change for the 2021 Passport is that it now comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Previously all the trims had it, except the base Passport Sport.
The 2021 Passport is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque that’s mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. It comes standard with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is optional.
The Passport is offered in four trim levels: Sport ($33,710), EX-L ($37,730), Touring ($40,600) and Elite ($45,100). All-wheel drive is a $2,000 option on all the trim levels except the Elite, which comes standard with AWD.


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Storey County battery refinery almost ready to go
A company in Storey County may have found a way to revolutionize the battery recycling industry. It's tapping in to the $65 billion-a-year market, with a green alternative.
It won't be complete until mid-November 2016 or so, but battery producers across the nation are watching this factory closely.
Chief Commercial Officer Steve Cotton says, "Our recycling technology is going to change the way the batteries are made, the way the batteries are distributed and collected, and ultimately how that who ecosystem of recycling works."
We're not talking double-A's, but instead, lead acid batteries.
The type that's under your hood is most recycled product in the world.
"There are really four basic ingredients," Cotton says. "Plastics, hard metals, lead compounds and water with sulfuric acid in it."
Currently, this is how those batteries are recycled. The lead cores are heated to 3,000 degrees in a process called smelting. It's messy and one of the biggest causes of air pollution.
"We think aqua refining solves that last remaining problem to make it truly one of the worlds best stories of reduce, reuse and recycle," says Cotton.
Aqua Metals has a new way of recycling batteries. They're torn apart. Plastics are recycled and acid saved, hard metals melted into a block. And the lead compounds from those soft metals go through the Aqua Metals process.
Cotton says, "it is amazing to watch clear liquid turn into lead, metal, right in front of your eyes."
it is a trade secret, so we won't show you how it is done, but the metals are dissolved in electrolytes. When electricity is added, you get 99.99% pure lead.
"We believe that we will be manufacturing the highest that the world has ever seen ."
Doing that with a fraction of the environmental impact of smelting has two of the biggest battery recyclers in the world knocking on Aqua Metal's door.


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At the beginning of last week, a great deal of media attention was caused by the disclosure of the dimensions of the crisis in which the Evegrande Group fell into, as well as the information on the NEVS sale of industrial machines and tools in Trollhattan. It was also announced at the time that the Evegrande Group was looking for a strategic partner for its NEVS subsidiary, which was in some ways contrary to the information that industrial properties were being sold to Sweden.
At the same time, there have been no announcements from the company NEVS for a couple of months now, except for the timely internal information that 300 jobs are endangered. Their channels on social networks have been completely “silenced”.
However, according to the latest news from China, there may still be a chance for NEVS in general and NEVS plant in Sweden. Although the company “NEVS” has really put up for auction its industrial assets, it only means that there will be no car production in Trollhattan, but it does not mean that there will be no work on development EV projects.
The crisis affected the Chinese giant Evegrande Group, whose main activity was real estate, completely changes the direction of activity. Evergrande is raising the message on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that it is completely changing its footing and intends to invest in electric car production instead of real estate.
The message from Evergrande’s chairman Xu Jiayin (or Hui Ka Yan as he is also known as) that electric cars should be the company’s focus within a ten-year period has caused the share to rise by a maximum of 17 percent during the trading day.
To remind you, Evergrande still includes the Trollhättan-based electric car developer NEVS, but Evergrande has not yet released an electric car model on the international vehicle market. In the coming period, we will follow what will happen around the crisis in the Evegrande Group and how it will affect NEVS. Last month, the unit warned it was still seeking new investors and asset sales, and that without either it might struggle to pay salaries and cover other expenses.
its been so long since NEVS started, they could have had a production EV years ago and had a headstart on other manufacturers, now they are way behind, models looking old and outdated. Production plants in china stood idle. They had their chance and missed and just seems now like a money fraud scam scheme.
What a sad end to a legendary automaker….
Never going to happen :(
Electric Vehicles are the stupidity of overly zealot environmentalists, who know absolutely nothing about how petrol is used in vast manufacturing. Everything plastic has petrol as its basis.
The real future of vehicles lies in Hydrogen ….. not EV.
If Saab ever wants off the ground… again…. it will find a way to manufacture Hydrogen cars…
TJ you are right that oil is used in many of the parts that are produced. But the real future has never and will never be hydrogen. The economics and physics surrounding it preclude it ever being a viable alternative to either gas or EVs. My stance is not an environmental one as much is it is based in raw science. But time shall tell. Have a Saaby day:)
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By Amanda Kondolojy, Saturday, September 3, 2016 04:14
With Labor Day weekend upon us, summer 2016 has finally come to an end at Walt Disney World. Though this season wasn’t as sucessful as Disney was probably hoping it would be, fall is getting off to a great start at the resort, with the Magic Kingdom all decked out in warm autumnal tones for the season and the fall version of the Main Street Trolley Show being performed daily.
However, in addition to these classic fall additions, this year will bring some new entertainment options to the park to help celebrate the season. Here’s everything new that is coming to Walt Disney World this fall!
1. A new fall finale for Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire debuts at Magic Kingdom
Though it was delayed slightly by the brief arrival of Hurricane Hermine, Disney debuted the new fall finale of Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire yesterday afternoon. This brand new seasonal finale brings an all-new song to the closing of the show, as well as new fall-inspired outfits and choreography as well. You can check out a brief video (from Orlando Attractions Magazine) above that showcases this new segment of the show.
While it may seem a little premature to add changes to Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire (it only just debuted three months ago), we’ve known for some time that Disney was planning to make periodic adjustments to this new show, and the Magic Kingdom has a long history of creating seasonal versions of its entertainment lineup to keep guests coming back. However, if you want to see this new fall show in person, you’ll need to move fast, as it has been confirmed that a winter version of this show will debut sometime in November!
2. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party gets a character shuffle for 2016
Although some may be a little disappointed that year’s edition of Mickey’s Not-So Scary Halloween Party is essentially the same as last year’s event, there are some small changes to the Boo-to-You parade that bring some new characters to the event. First up, Zootopia’s Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps will be joining the pre-parade Creepa Crew this year, which entertains guests waiting for the parade on Main Street, U.S.A.
And back at the rear of the parade Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph will be bringing in the candy this year instead of Goofy, leading a team of Wreck-It Ralph-inspired dancers.
In addition to the character changes for the Boo-to-You parade, two new characters are now out for meet and greets during this event: Belle will now be meeting in her blue villager attire outside of Gaston’s Tavern (right next to Gaston) and Tweedledum and Tweedledee will be meeting guests near the Mad Tea Party attraction on the side with the Queen of Hearts. Although these new characters are a great addition, unfortunately it looks like the Old Hag version of the Evil Queen from Snow White will not be meeting guests at this year’s event, which is unfortunate as this event was one of the few where guests could meet villains.
3. New fall sweet treats appear around the Magic Kingdom
And of course it wouldn’t be fall without some sweet treats around the Magic Kingdom. Disney recently confirmed that the following fall-themed items will be available during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party, but in our experience, many of these treats are sometimes available during regular park hours (especially in the afternoon) and it never hurts to ask if you’re not attending the party if you can grab one of the following:
Main Street Bakery (Main Street USA)
- Chocolate Worms and Dirt Cupcake
- Vanilla Spider Cupcake
Parlor Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (Main Street USA)
- Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich
Gaston’s Tavern (Fantasyland)
- Enchanted Pumpkin Spiced Cupcake
Storybook Treats (Fantasyland)
- Candy Corn Ice Cream Cone
The Friar’s Nook (Fantasyland)
- Ghoulish Strawberry-lemonade Slushy
At popcorn stands around the park
- Candy Corn Cotton Candy
- Vampire Mickey Popcorn Bucket
- Halloween Popcorn Bucket
- Halloween Hot Mug
- Poison Apple Stein
4. Minnie’s Halloween Dine celebrates Halloween at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Moving to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, beginning today the seasonal character dining at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has switched over to Minnie’s Halloween Dine. Both Mickey and Minnie will be meeting guests in the spooky attire pictured above, and hungry diners will be able to partake in some Halloween-themed treats during this seasonal experience as well, which takes place daily at the Hollywood and Dine restaurant. Guests who want to check out this new dining experience will have until November 6th to check this new theme out, as November 7th will bring a Christmas theme to this eatery.
5. Club Villain returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Yesterday marked the return of fan favorite character experience Club Villain to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Sunset Showcase Theater. Though this upcharge experience was cancelled earlier this year, it is back for a limited time during a special fall engagement, running Fridays and Saturdays through October 29th, with seatings at 5:15PM as well as 8:30PM. In addition to the weekend seating times, a special Halloween edition of this event will also be offered on Monday, October 31st, which will be the last time for the foreseeable future that this event will be offered.
Unfortunately, even though we’re happy that this event is returning the only piece of bad news here is that it looks like guests wanting to experience Club Villain will still need to pay the increased $129 per person price point (the event was previously $99 per guest), and there are (thus far) no discounts being offered for annual passholders or DVC members who want to attend Club Villain. If you want to book this experience, you can do so now, here.
Are you planning on visiting Walt Disney World this fall? What are you looking forward to doing at the resort during this season? Let us know in the comments below!
Please remember to contact Destinations With Character Travel for ALL of your Disney, Universal, Seaworld, and Orlando Area Vacations, Adventures by Disney, and Cruising Needs.
With Destinations With Character Travel, you will have a DEDICATED agent, available to you 24/7 from the very first minute of planning, right up until the day you return home, to answer all of your questions and handle any of your vacation needs.
As always, When you book with us, All of our Disney Services, including FastPass and Dining reservation services are completely FREE when booking through us!
Please remember to “Like” Destinations With Character Travel on Facebook ,
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The facelifted version of the two-door coupé will soon only be sold with the 2.0-litre TFSI engine. The lowest-powered petrol and diesel versions have been axed from the line-up. You will be able to buy the 2.0-litre TSI in three states of tune - a 40 TFSI, producing 197hp, a 245hp 45 TFSI, and the TTS will get a 306hp engine.
The updated TT also comes with car more standard kit. Audi’s Drive Select system and automatic headlights and wipers now come as standard, right from the base model. There’s also a new sports display for the standard Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster.
S Line models also feature more aggressive styling, with a new front splitter and a wider diffuser at the back. To mark the 20th anniversary of the TT, Audi will also launch a TT 20 Years model. This version will be powered exclusively with the 45 TFSI engine and feature a limited run of 999 units.
The pre-facelift, third-gen Audi TT currently is currently on sale in India at Rs 73.54 lakh (on-road, Delhi).


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A new eWeek editorial suggests that people who gripe about Microsoft’s dominance in the IT world ought to look at Apple instead. Despite the differences between the platforms, there are some commonalities that make Apple a potentially serious player in the enterprise market.
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Microsoft has been criticized for pressuring legacy customers to upgrade their systems to run newer software like Office 11, for example, and Apple has likewise taken its lumps with its attempts to force user migration to Mac OS X — telling developers at last year’s Worldwide Developers Conference that Mac OS 9 was dead, for example, or forcing new PowerBooks to work in Classic only rather than rebooting into Mac OS 9.
Of course, Apple is doing things right, too, according to eWeek. A Unix-derived operating system, support for high-speed 802.11g wireless networking, or “AirPort Extreme” as it’s called in Apple parlance, Bluetooth support, and built in DVD burning capabilities amount to an eminently capable 17-inch laptop.
The 12-inch PowerBook G4 model may also prove to be droolworthy to open-minded IT professionals looking for a portable workstation. In fact, Apple’s sales potential in the IT space may come from professionals who up until now have needed a Unix workstation and a PC on their desk — some have already made the switch.
eWeek suggests that there’s one weak spot left, and that’s in the area of management tools. Apple’s own Remote Desktop software goes towards solving this problem, however, as it enables Mac-based administrators to provide support and centralized software management over their networks.
“To those who gripe about having only one real end-user IT choice, we have a suggestion: Stop complaining and look at Apple,” said eWeek.


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BofC Live is a podcast from Business of Cannabis. Delivering cannabis news and exploring the companies, brands, people, and trends driving the cannabis industry.
On today’s BofC Live segment we connect with Scott Kenyon, CEO of Wurk, a technology company working with cannabis companies on HR, compliance and operations. Wurk empowers businesses with a universal personnel record payroll and HRIS platform. Kenyon shared his company’s unique offering for cannabis companies, how the company launched and the importance of companies scaling in the cannabis industry having an eye toward growth and compliance.
Listen to this episode of BofC Live, and all BofC Live episodes, as a podcast:


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Channel: Kristine Summer
#AD Super excited to help announce the opening of Sony Thread Shop’s Beatles pop-up shop in New York City!
The shop will be located at 163 Mercer Street. It opens this week, December 11th and goes until December 22nd.
The pop-up shop will have a ton of new Beatles merch including turntables, clothing, toys, and even a Beatles themed pinball machine.
Check out The Thread Shop for more information!
Video length: 0:53
* This article was originally published here


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Research firm JMK Research has published its latest report into the Indian solar sector, which found that India installed 6.5GW of new utility-scale PV in 2023, alongside 3GW of new rooftop capacity, pushing India’s total installed solar capacity above 60GW for the first time.
The Chinese government has requested the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute consultations with the US over subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Swedish manufacturer Nordcell has revealed plans to build a 1.2GW module manufacturing plant in northern Sweden.
The latest round of the UK’s renewable energy support scheme saw solar scoop almost 2GW of new capacity. Gareth Simkins examines the winning projects and looks ahead to assess how solar is likely to fare in future rounds.
Retail giant Walmart has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with utility EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) for a 180MW solar PV project in Texas, US.
Solar manufacturer Maxeon Solar Technologies has initiated a TOPCon patent infringement lawsuit against Canadian Solar in the US.
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued a final rule designed to tighten up the anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) regulations.
The Australian government has launched the Solar Sunshot programme, a A$1 billion (US$650 million) investment to support an Australian solar module manufacturing industry, to widespread support from the sector.
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set up the minimum efficiency standards for cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film modules to be enlisted in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar PV modules.
US Senators Jon Ossof and Reverend Raphael Warnock have urged the Biden administration to support the domestic solar manufacturing industry by lifting an ongoing tariff exemption on bifacial modules.
Many countries around the world have tried to create a domestic solar manufacturing sector over the past decades, although success stories have been rare. This is a consequence of China’s ongoing dominance of the supply chain, including the production of polysilicon, wafers, cells, and modules.
The policy environment for solar PV in Europe needs to be balanced between the interests of developers and other industry parties, according to speakers at today’s Large Scale Solar Europe conference in Lisbon.


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75 Percent of Gamers Support Microsoft’s Acquisition of Xbox Activision Blizzard
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently revealed that 75 percent of public emails sent to them regarding Microsoft's ongoing acquisition of Activision Blizzard were in support of the deal. This news comes as a surprise to many, as the CMA is still waiting on the verdict of an antitrust lawsuit filed by the FTC. The public has made a variety of arguments both for and against the deal, the CMA has now published its findings.
The public submissions in favor of the merger largely echoed the arguments made by Microsoft, such as its commitment to keeping titles like Call of Duty available on all platforms and its desire to better compete with Nintendo and Sony. It was argued that the acquisition would be beneficial for the health of the gaming industry and could pave the way for bigger publishers like EA, Ubisoft, and Take-Two to be acquired.
On the other hand, those who disagreed with the deal tended to be more concerned about the health of the gaming industry as a whole. They argued that the merger would give Microsoft too much control of the gaming industry and that it could lead to exclusivity deals for Activision Blizzard games. It was suggested that Microsoft should not be allowed to make its content exclusive to Xbox platforms due to the potential loss of revenue.
The arguments made by the public have largely focused on the potential of the deal to increase competition in the industry. The recent troubles of Activision Blizzard were also brought up, with some submissions arguing that Microsoft could provide a guiding hand for the embattled company.
In addition to the arguments for and against the merger, the CMA noted that a large number of emails received had to be removed due to abusive and unintelligible comments.
The survey results from the CMA have revealed that the majority of gamers are in favor of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This is likely due to the potential to increase competition in the gaming industry and the promise that Microsoft has made not to make content exclusive to Xbox platforms. However, the survey results have sparked a debate in the industry, with some arguing that public opinion should not be taken into consideration when making decisions about the industry.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen how the acquisition will impact the gaming industry. However, while the public's opinion may be important, it's ultimately up to the courts to decide whether the deal is in the best interests of the industry. It remains to be seen what the outcome of the FTC's antitrust lawsuit against the deal will be, but it's clear that the saga is far from over.


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Nintendo beats itself – in terms of sales and profit. The game manufacturer has announced its latest business figures and was able to post a brilliant record. The Nintendo Switch in particular seems to be making a big contribution to its success.
Top year for Nintendo: Switch manufacturer breaks sales records
The last financial year could hardly have gone better for Nintendo, this is shown by the company’s current financial figures. In the fiscal year 2021 Nintendo was able to earn the equivalent of 13.34 billion euros and thus its sales by a whopping 34.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. The last time they were so successful was in 2009.
But not only sales went through the roof, the operating result also followed suit with an increase of 81.8 percent. A similar success was also achieved in terms of net profit. This rose by 85.7 percent. But where does the sudden golden rain come from?
If you scroll a little further down, you will soon find the “culprit”: the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo’s hybrid console sold an impressive 28.83 million times in the past year. For comparison: in the previous year, only 21.03 million consoles were sold over the counter.
The number of additional consoles also affects game sales. These increase by the same amount from 168.72 million to 230.88 million units – Nintendo’s new gold donkey So it really pays off thanks to the corona pandemic.
Smaller, lighter, cheaper – is it worth buying the Nintendo Switch Lite? We’ll tell you in the video:
Normal Switch hardly available anymore: Nintendo has a plan
Nintendo certainly not only wants to repeat this success in the coming year, but also to expand it further. But the current hardware crisis could thwart the company’s plans. The normal Nintendo Switch is already sold out almost everywhere, only the lite version is still in stock at retailers.
According to the rumor mill, a successor to the Nintendo Switch will also appear this year. This “Switch Pro” could look like this:
According to insider reports, Nintendo is already in talks with other suppliers to further boost production of the Nintendo Switch. In the coming financial year you want 30 million consoles to sell. Whether this goal can be achieved remains to be seen – but currently the Nintendo Switch seems to be selling like hotcakes.


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They're two brands house wives and husbands across the country will be all-too-familiar with - and now, Vileda and Marigold have joined forces.
Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions, the Rochdale-based parent company of Vileda, has swooped for the Marigold brand in an undisclosed deal.
This agreement includes the global trademark rights for the Marigold brand, as well as its consumer household gloves business in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Netherland, Hong Kong and Japan.
The business has annual sales of around £14m - 17m euro - and has been bought from Ansell.
Henrik Sternberg, UK country manager for FHCS, which employs 45 staff in Rochdale, said: "The acquisition of the Marigold brand complements perfectly our already successful household gloves business. Marigold is a market leader in the UK and Ireland, countries in which we are not yet represented in this category.
"The brand also has a strong market presence in Hong Kong, Italy and the Netherlands. In addition, we will be able to extend our global presence by entering the Japanese Consumer market for the first time.”
SHS UK & SHS Ireland will continue to operate as the distributor of the Marigold brand. FHCS added it planned to expand the Marigold range to grow sales in the coming years.


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Google’s executive chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt will be speaking before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee later today as that panel looks to determine whether Google abuses its power in online search.
Antitrust regulators are investigating complaints that Google favors its own commerce services and offerings in its search results, among other allegations.
Some companies has complained that there search ranking dropped when they Paid Ad budget dropped.
According to the New York Times, which obtained Schmidt’s opening testimony, the former Google CEO will tell Congress that Google plays fair
“”Google generates wealth for itself, he writes, but even more in total for small businesses across America. And he portrays the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust investigation of Google, begun earlier this year, as largely the result of complaints by disgruntled competitors.””
“”Google is cooperating with the wide-ranging F.T.C. inquiry, Mr. Schmidt writes, and adds “we hope it will be conducted in a focused and fair manner so that we can continue creating jobs and building products that delight our users.”
“Google’s success is a byproduct of its corporate ethos of putting consumer interests first. Keeping up requires constant investment and innovation and if Google fails in this effort users can and will switch. The cost of going elsewhere is zero, and users can and do use other sources to find the information they want.”
“Google’s search and advertising marketplace helped generate $64 billion in economic activity for hundreds of thousands of small businesses throughout the United States.”
“In his testimony, Mr. Schmidt pointed to a long list of competitors including Microsoft’s Bing search engine, travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity, restaurant review and recommendations sites like Yelp, shopping sites like Amazon and eBay, and social networks like Facebook. “Consumers,” he writes, “have a truly vast array of options – some search and some note – from which to access information.”
Mr. Schmidt further writes, “most of these complaints come from Web sites that don’t like where their site ranks on Google’s search results page or argue that in providing better answers like maps, shopping, or local results, we are hurting individual sites.”
The Internet Commerce Association sent off comments to the committee on Google and issues as they relate to domain holders but has not made the letter public.


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(image credit- electrive.com)
Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, said the company intends to announce the next location for its Gigafactory by the end of 2023. This comes after earlier this year disclosed a Mexican facility.
Location of New Plant to be Announced
By the end of this year, Tesla will most likely decide on the location of its newest manufacturing facility. CEO Elon Musk disclosed this when Wall Street Journal’s Thorold Barker posed the query during an interview for WSJ CEO Council Summit, according to a report.
This verifies the months’ worth of rumors that have been circulating about various cities competing for the future Tesla production facility. The carmaker currently has a number of manufacturing plants throughout the globe, including those in Fremont, California, Austin, Texas, Berlin, Germany, and Shanghai, China.
The location of the potential next factory has not yet been officially confirmed by the company. But in a drive to increase its output globally, Tesla is serious about its intention to build its next plant in a foreign country.
Included in this are India and France, which came after the Mexican factory that the business and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced in March.
Which country’s gigafactory, France or India?
India may be the final destination for Tesla’s new Gigafactory, according to a report by Teslarati, as the country has appeared to be advantageous to the firm. The CEO said, “Absolutely,” when asked if he was interested in India becoming the company’s next location.
But a few weeks ago, Musk met with Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, and other business leaders in an effort to persuade businesses to make investments in the nation. Musk acknowledged that he grows optimistic about making a sizable investment in the future as a result of the conversation.
The government’s attitude and the way they are embracing the EV business impressed him. The meeting with the French president is timely because Tesla has been looking to negotiate a contract for second manufacturing outside of the United States, particularly in Europe.
Also read: Tesla meets its goal of producing 5,000 Y models each week At the Gigafactory in Texas
This discussion takes place only a few days after France’s initial move to oppose US President Joe Biden’s Buy American green incentives program was announced. According to Macron, he would change current laws and regulations to compensate businesses by the end of the year for purchasing green vehicles.
Currently, Tesla is well on its way to meeting its manufacturing goal of 1.8 million units for this year. Musk did note that the business has the ability to create 2 million devices annually.
Musk is interested in constructing a new plant because existing factories in Shanghai and Fremont are currently operating at maximum capacity.


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Sony’s PSVR headset is thought to be the most successful of the three major VR devices from 2016. We don’t know that for sure, but the headset has sold 4.2 million units. That might be a lot for the nascent VR industry, but it’s just a fraction of the near-100 million PS4s sold out there. Sony, then, wants to do better.
Dominic Mallinson, senior vice president of R&D at Sony, said as much at Collision 2019 last week. As reported by VentureBeat, Mallinson noted that Sony was “very happy” with PSVR’s current position.
“We’re very happy with those numbers and very happy with the position,” Mallinson noted. “But we know we can do better. There are over 96 million PlayStation 4s in the market today. And every single one of those is capable of delivering a great VR experience. So we’d like to convert many, many more of those people to be PSVR users. And we won’t just stop with PS4.”
That last comment led Mallinson on to outline the next-generation of VR headsets. But he also spoke about how to pull more people in with the current PSVR. One area to improve in is non-gaming VR applications.
“We need more people to come in and make compelling experiences for VR,” Mallinson said. “We have a pretty good handle on games. So I’m not too worried about that. And we’re still investing in our own first-party games as well. But I think everyone else out there — they could step up their game a little bit. So we could see more education, see more training, see more medical applications.”
With likely at least a few more years on the market, how much further can Sony push PSVR sales?


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Harvey C Mansfield, one of Harvard's most outspoken conservative professors and the author of a book called Manliness, also told the Guardian he questioned the decision. "The bounds of what is offensive have been extended and distorted, and I no longer trust the bent judgment of politically correct enforcers."
And despite exports having fallen 7.3 per cent during the same period.
A network of walking and biking trails leads to other lakeside neighborhoods and to downtown, which is about 15 minutes by bicycle and 10 by car. The Walker Art Center and other museums are nearby. Hockey and skating are popular on the lakes in winter; canoeing, swimming and fishing in the summer.
This is a thorny issue that’s unique to messaging apps. We expect ads to live alongside content we consume. We don’t expect them to crop up in our one-on-one communications. “The last thing you want in a personal conversation is a banner ad or pop-up that interrupts that,” Wray says. “It might work with more impersonal networks, but specifically within messaging, people hate traditional ads.”
‘Hackers are using common terms from pop culture and sports to break into accounts online because they know many people are using those easy-to-remember words.’


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The government of New Brunswick announced that it will be raising the province’s minimum wage from $11.00 to $11.25 on April 1, 2018. The government promised that following last year’s increase to $11.00, all future minimum wage increases would be based on changes in the rate of inflation. Although the government has yet to enshrine this promise in legislation, this year’s increase in minimum wage is in line with the country’s 1.9% increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 2017.
On April 1, 2018, Prince Edward Island’s minimum wage will increase by 2.6% to $11.55 per hour. Despite ongoing advocacy from the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), the PEI government refuses to tie its minimum wage increases to a rate of inflation formula.
Nova Scotia will increase its minimum wage to $11.00 ($10.50 for inexperienced workers) on April 1, 2018. Nova Scotia has legislation which mandates that its minimum wage increases be based on the previous year’s increase in CPI.
Minimum wage changes should be based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year.
As part of a growing initiative for greater harmonization between the Maritime provinces, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick have all legislated that if changes to minimum wage are to occur, it will only happen on April 1st each year.
RCC has commended the New Brunswick government on its decision to tie this year’s minimum wage increase to the rate of inflation. However, RCC continues to be very specific in its call for the government to legislate that its minimum wage increases be based on the previous year’s increase in CPI.
RCC uses the Nova Scotia model as a positive example of how other provinces should determine their minimum wage.
This spring, Nova Scotia’s Minimum Wage Review Committee will review the current formula for adjusting the minimum wage. This will include looking at the current rate and the approach to setting the minimum wage. Atlantic premiers have also recently committed to looking at options for harmonizing the minimum wage across the Atlantic region.
RCC will continue to push for legislated predictable minimum wage increases based on the change in the consumer price index. This allows for predictability and depoliticizes any such decision.


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Nokia has finally out with the launch date of its Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 with announcement of first operators and retail outlets in select countries this week. Both Lumia 920 and 820 will appear in stores in France and UK this week, followed by Russia, Germany and then further selected markets across the world by November, including Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the US and Vietnam.
In case if you missed out the specs of both the smartphone, then Lumia 920 features 1.5GHz dual core processor, a slightly larger 4.5-inch display, and the new Windows Phone 8 operating system. The company also includes wireless charging for the Lumia 920, as well as “PureView” camera technology. The phone includes an 8-megapixel unit with a Carl Zeiss lens while the Nokia Lumia 820 features 4.3-inch display, built in NFC, a 1650mAh battery, microSD slot with Nokia locations services.


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Mars Petcare launches Greenies Dental Treats
Mars Petcare is launching Greenies Dental Treats to the UK specialist pet trade in May in a bid to help owners look after their dog’s teeth and gums more regularly.
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This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories
18th May 2018 | Commercial Energy
How are we going to reduce emissions from aluminium and steel? Can we go plastic free, and reduce waste? And, how will we sustainably re-fashion the industry?
This, and more, in the week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories
- No Electricity? No Problem! UK hopes to solve diesel train problem with hydrogen – Hydrogen could help the UK overcome a financial roadblock in its ambitious plans to ditch diesel in favour of an electrified rail transport system.
- Architects propose a giant circular park in the sky for Asti, Italy – This green-roofed car park in Italy doubles as public space. The project, designed by architects Angelo Salamone and Ilaria Filippi of AS-DOES, is an example of green social infrastructure that creates a programmatic symbiosis.
- EU to withhold 16 per cent of carbon permits next year to curb oversupply – Around 1.65 billion carbon permits were in circulation in Europe’s carbon market last year and almost 265 million of those will be withheld from auctions in 2019 as a step to curb oversupply, the European Commission has said.
- World’s first “plastic free” label unveiled – The world’s first Plastic Free Trust Mark has launched to support the growing band of companies that have committed to phasing out plastic packaging. Campaign group A Plastic Planet is to debut the new label, which will be awarded to food and drink products that are packaged without any plastic.
- This could be the biggest advance in aluminium production in 130 years – Apple, the largest publicly traded company in the world, joined a major collaboration last week that could change how it gets one of the key components that makes its ubiquitous gadgets look so sleek: aluminium.
- Carbon emissions from travel industry are 4 times higher than estimates – A study by the University of Sydney finds that carbon emissions from tourism and travel are four times greater than previously believed. With tourism growing faster than the overall world economy, those emissions are likely to increase even more.
- How sustainable designer Bill McDonough is re-fashioning the fashion industry – Through Fashion for Good, Bill McDonough has created a “platform for innovation” through accelerator and scaling programs, which bring together brands, manufacturers, retailers and innovators to address issues of unsustainability in supply chains.
- Carbon emissions could be halved by avoiding waste from food, clothing and electronics – This important report challenges us to address the less obvious, but significant opportunities that come from using less and reusing more.
- New electric car with tiny carbon footprint to be rolled out in Sweden next year – The car, Uniti One, needs a smaller battery because the chassis is built with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, making it lighter and thus significantly lower carbon pollution than normal. The first models will roll out in Sweden next year, before moving into the rest of Europe, the Middle East and India.
- Swedish Steel boss: “Our pilot plant will only emit water vapour” – A new pilot facility under construction in northern Sweden will produce steel using hydrogen from renewable electricity.
More information available on the website below


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Telecoms watchdog Ofcom has revealed the best and the worst performers when it comes to customer complaints for broadband, landlines, mobile, and pay TV.
Complaints figures are presented per 100,000 customers and covers the three-month period from April to June 2016.
BT topped the list of broadband complaints, followed by its subsidiary Plusnet, with 26 and 23 respectively.
The industry average is 15, and both Sky and Virgin Media both managed to keep their complaints far below that.
The poor performance will no doubt be used by its rivals to insist the regulator strips BT of its infrastructure arm Openreach.
The regulator is currently running a consultation on its proposals to leave Openreach under the BT Group umbrella, which is expected to close on 4 October.
Telecoms challenger brand TalkTalk and Plusnet tied for most complained about landline operator, with 18 complaints per 100,000 customers.
The landline industry average is 11, with Sky and Virgin Media again outperforming the wider market.
Vodafone was the standout loser when it came to mobile complaints, racking up a whopping 23 complaints per 100,000 customers. Talk Mobile was next worst with eight.
Vodafone pushed up the average for mobile industry complaints. Tesco Mobile, which runs on the O2 network was the standout performer with just one complaint per 100,000 customers.
BT also performed poorly in the pay TV market. It topped the chart of most complained about brands, with 16 per 100,000 customers, more than double the next worst provider, TalkTalk.
Sky was again the industry benchmark, racking up just one complaint per 100,000 customers.
Lindsey Fussell, director of Ofcom's consumer group, said:
We expect providers to make customer service and complaints handling top priorities. While complaints have gone down, providers must work harder to better serve their customers.
Consumers have a right to expect good service and will rightfully complain when that standard isn't met. If companies do fall short, we will step in and investigate, which can lead to significant fines.
The total volume of telecoms and pay TV complaints made to Ofcom reduced between the first and second quarters of the year, with overall declines in landline, broadband and pay-monthly mobile complaints.
Ofcom said it published the data to both give consumers insight in to brands, and incentivise providers to improve their performance.


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It seems Twitter is set to throw in the towel. Twitter was valued at $24 billion back in 2013 when it opted to go public. However, since then, the social media company has failed to meet its investors’ expectations. The company brought back its co-founder Jack Dorsey to work as the Chief Executive Officer, but not much has been achieved.
The growth of the company is slow, and losses are continuing to accumulate. The social media company is expected to start off on the formal sale proceedings in the next coming few weeks. Despite its poor performance and accruing losses, several companies have been reported to be interested in purchasing the social media company with Microsoft being one of them.
A handful of businesses is interested in buying Twitter according to recent reports. Microsoft has been said to be one of the businesses that intend to place a bid for the social media platform. According to TechCrunch, the potential bidders if Twitter besides Microsoft is Google, Salesforce, and Verizon. Twitter shares have risen to 22 percent following the move from the interested bidders.
News indicate that Microsoft intentions of purchasing the social networking site are to keep Salesforce from acquiring it. Microsoft hopes that their interest in buying Twitter will drive up its price to the cloud computing company from acquiring it. The same scenario was seen back in June when Salesforce showed an interest in buying LinkedIn. Microsoft later moved in swiftly and bought the company LinkedIn for more than 26 billion US Dollars.
According to CNBC reports, a deal between Microsoft and Twitter is expected to be announced before the end of 2016. Sources close to CNBC also indicated that talks between the two companies were picking momentum. CNBC’s David Faber suggested that Twitter is edging towards a formal sale process.


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Thanks to reporter Trish Crompton with the technology magazine Communitech for this terrific review of our new wine mobile app!
Wine app pours its way to the top of the app store
Natalie MacLean may have uncorked the secret to helping even the most amateur of wine drinkers to become their own sommelier.
As an award-winning wine writer, MacLean is constantly asked for recommendations on the perfect wine.
“I would get lots and lots of emails all the time,” MacLean says, and they were filled with questions like, “I want to buy an anniversary wine for my parents, I have 50 bucks to spend and they like Californian [wines], what do you recommend?”
MacLean is also a self-confessed tech geek who understands the importance of instant access to information, and that people aren’t buying wine “behind some big desktop,” but on their phones.
“Mobile isn’t superfluous,” she says, adding that there’s more to it than “reprinting a website on an app.”
It’s this kind of thinking that really sets her app apart from the clutter in app stores. The app, Wine Reviews & Ratings, is also causing quite a stir in the media, with CTV’s The Social being the latest to feature it last week. It was also named top wine app by the Globe and Mail, National Post and iPhone Today Magazine.
“What this app does is it tries to be your pocket sommelier, where you can choose all of your criteria, plus [it has] the added benefit of knowing the stock in the closest store via GPS,” MacLean says.
The app has a built-in barcode scanner that pulls up ratings, reviews, recipes and food pairings. Its integration with the LCBO and SAQ (Quebec’s liquor retailer) gives users accurate inventory on specific wines, and lets them save wines they have liked in their own in-app “cellar”.
For the complete article, visit wine mobile app review.
Download the new wine mobile app here.


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Profit Agro is proud and honored to announce the launch of India’s first full scale Hydroponic Raft System. Set in the city of Bangalore, this greenhouse is a huge step forward in Industrialized Agriculture in India. We would like to thank Mr. B.V Naidu, Chairman of the Federation of Indo Israeli Chambers of Commerce (FIICC), for giving us this opportunity and collaborating with Profit Agro in setting up the greenhouse.
The Hydroponic Raft Systems or HRS uses deep water cultivation ponds to create the most sustainable solution. Furthermore, this smart & simple Agro- Technical solution uses less fertilizer, water and power than ever before. The system itself stands in a league of its own and we’re very proud that yet another implementation is on its way to providing India its future in Industrialized Agriculture.
Modernizing Indian Agriculture is a significant part of the growing economy. Hydroponic Raft systems is a huge phenomenon due to its large yield production and durability in all weather conditions. This project proves to be the first biggest step in industrialized Agriculture for India.