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In just the last few years, we have witnessed a number of changes that have completely revolutionized the world of banking. It’s easier than ever to handle practically every aspect of our banking online, including making online payments. Moving forward, we will likely see numerous other trends that will continue to shape the future of online payments and banking.
Fintech solutions continue to evolve in a quest to meet the needs of both online retailers and customers. Innovative strategies have resulted in a number of enormous changes transforming the future of both online payments and banking. Below, we cover just a few of the trends and transitions we are seeing within the online banking and payments industry, as well as what we can expect moving forward in the very near future.
Expansion of Mobile Payments
Mobile payments are among the innovations changing the landscape of online banking and payments. MasterCard has recently launched a program that allows consumers to use selfies rather than passwords. This biometric authentication app requests customers to scan their faces in order to pay. The credit card company has also announced it is testing a number of other authentication methods, including voice recognition, facial identification, and cardiac rhythm. Ultimately, the goal of mobile payments is to make the flow of payments as quick and simple as possible while also maintaining the highest degree of security for both merchants and consumers.
A variety of options is now available with mobile payments, including the ability to make payments on a consumer’s device to purchase services or goods from a specific retailer using a mobile app. In this type of mobile payment, data are stored on the consumer’s device. No data are stored on the merchant’s device.
Mobile Wallets Take Off
Perhaps one of the biggest transformations we will see in the future of online payments and banking is that mobile wallets will finally take off. Retailers have expressed excitement about the idea of mobile payments because such payment methods provide retailers with valuable insight regarding customer behavior that can be used to enhance consumer shopping experiences. In addition, the speed offered by mobile payments could increase traffic in physical stores, thus generating more sales.
Apple became the only major mobile wallet to enter the market in 2014. The following year, however, both Samsung and Google launched their own mobile wallets, shortly followed by Chase, Amazon, Walmart, and several other major players. A number of social media platforms, including Facebook, have also now added payment options that make it possible for users to make purchases online and even send money online to friends and family. Estimates indicate that in-store mobile payment volume is expected to increase from $75 billion in 2015 to more than $500 billion by 2020.
The growth potential for online payments, particularly from mobile devices, is certainly massive. Predictions indicate that 75 percent of all transactions will be made without the use of cash by 2025. Clearly, consumers are growing increasingly willing to use cards and smart devices to pay rather than carrying physical currency around with them.
Digital Remittances Continue to Grow and Ease Global Payments
Thanks to the introduction of digital remittance, it is now easier than ever to send money around the world. Growth among digital startups specializing in this form of payments has been enormous. Xoom, a San Francisco-based company founded in 2001, has experienced phenomenal growth in the area of digital remittances. In fact, the startup now brings in more revenue from digital remittances than does MoneyGram.
Growth of Peer-to-Peer Lending
Over the last few years, peer-to-peer lending has experienced significant growth, effectively cutting out the middleman. Using technology, it has become possible to power transactions, thus giving consumers the opportunity to bypass traditional lenders while simultaneously taking advantage of better interest rates. Lending Club is just one of the many pioneers in this rapidly expanding industry. Since its founding, Lending Club has originated more than $20 billion in peer-to-peer loans.
Incorporation of Blockchain Technology
There are increasing indications that the growth of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency could soon disrupt the world of online payments and banking. Specifically, tokenization is anticipated to shake up the entire financial industry. Startups such as Movile are already harnessing the potential to incorporate bitcoin for in-game purchases and serving as an alternative mobile payment currency in Brazil and other developing economies.
In the near future, blockchain could prove to be one of the biggest disruptors of online payments. Advocates of the technology point out that transactions based on blockchain offer greater transparency and trust while streamlining the payment process.
Big Data, Beacons, and Sensors
Big data, beacons, and sensors are also creating waves in the retail world by assisting merchants in reaching consumers with customized offers. For instance, big data is helping retailers and merchants to send targeted promotions, coupons, and flash sales. There is even the opportunity to complete purchases in advance with the use of this technology.
When it comes to mobile payments, there are many options available, including mobile P2P transfers. In these types of transfers, the consumer’s device is used to make bank transfers.
For many years now, PayPal has practically dominated the online payments industry. However, that could soon change, as a number of startup firms are positioning themselves to become serious PayPal competitors. Among them is Ozan.com, which offers a variety of online banking products that serve as an alternative to banks. The benefits offered by Ozan, including no transaction fees, could very well poise this company to become a major player in the near future. Venmo is yet another company offering P2P mobile payment capabilities.
With so much innovation taking place, there is room for almost unlimited expansion in the online payments and banking space. Although some issues, such as security concerns, still need to be addressed, the overall speed in which transactions can be conducted shows undeniable movement within the online banking evolution.


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We spoke with University of Central Florida professor Dan Novatnak, who has been working across the technology industry since he was 16 years old, about what he believed will be the biggest trends in the coming year.
1 Instant Access to Products
There have been several apps to tackle the delivery game, but consumer giant Amazon is the big player who might be able to push it to the mainstream.
“Two hours. I made an order for a product, it was delivered to my door, by a human being, within two hours,” Novatnak said about using the Amazon Prime Now service.
Other companies are also shifting to include delivery options to their standard service like Uber, which launched Uber Eats in November of this year.
2. Voice Control
Novatnak says the way we interface with our smart devices will continue to change from screen base to a conversational interface as companies develop more functionality into their personal assistant software.
Google Now, Siri and Cortana all come standard in their respective phones and smart watches, and Microsoft even includes Cortana as a base feature in its Windows 10 operating system. When talking about Amazon’s Alexa, Novatnak yelled, “Shut up. I wasn’t talking to you,” noting it could be hard to talk about these when around them.
3. Virtual Reality
Though many headsets launched in 2016, 2017 could be the year the devices hit a critical mass to make the turn from tech-niche to normal.
The biggest drawback for now is cost, giving them a large barrier to entry, but manufacturing costs for tech always comes down over time.
Microsoft also announced a cheap $300 headset on Windows computers for a 2017 release and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg said they hope to eventually make headsets that look as normal as a pair of glasses at the 2016 F8 Conference. Though that second might be a ways down the road, it represents the company’s commitment to the technology.
4. Smart Homes
This year, Apple announced its Apple HomeKit app, which will allow users to control locks, air conditioning, cameras, shades, garage doors, fans and more from their phone or tablet screen, provided those items are connected with compatible accessories. While away on a business trip, Novatnak was able to turn his home’s lights on and off from miles away.
There have also been a lot of horses in the smart home race so far, he said, but with companies like Apple of Amazon, there are big names to rally behind and push the market forward.
5. Radio Falling Behind
All you need is blue tooth and a data plan, Novatnak said, and you can listen to whatever you want.
There has been a shift from car manufacturers to include a number of ways to connect smart devices to the audio system in new car models, and between thousands of specialized podcasts, streaming services like Spotify and phone data plans getting cheaper, there has never been so many reasons not to tune into the radio.
While 2017 probably won’t be the year radio dies, there could be a sharp drop in people tuning in across the board.

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Brexit offers chance of ‘new and original, imaginative’ framework for cross-border cooperation
Brexit has created an opportunity for a “new and original, imaginative model” for cross-border cooperation between Gibraltar and Spain facilitated by the European Union, according to an analysis published by two academics from the University of Cadiz. The UK’s decision to leave the EU had a direct impact on Gibraltar, forcing a redefinition of the...
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For hiking outfitter, this holiday season feels like a path untrodden
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At Trailful Outdoor Co. in Hiawassee, Georgia, the inventory woes from early in the pandemic have started to reverse.
“I think we’ve seen most of the brands and suppliers go from extremely delayed orders to really catching up in the past six months,” said co-owner Eric Champlin. “But that’s created a tidal wave of inventory.” He expects to end the year with 30% to 40% more inventory than he’d like.
For Champlin, who runs the outdoor outfitter along with his husband, Rob Sollie, this is just one piece of what’s looking like a very odd holiday shopping season.
“Consumer buying patterns are definitely shifting,” he said. “Our branded T-shirts were a huge source of revenue for us in years past, [but] we’ve seen a lot of our shoppers kind of passing up even great sales on branded T-shirts, and instead they’re going for things that are more useful and durable, like a backpack or a tent.”
Champlin and Sollie opened their brick-and-mortar store in 2019, choosing Hiawassee in part because of its proximity to the Appalachian Trail. “We do have the benefit of being in a tourist town,” said Champlin. “It’s kind of a destination for some of the bigger metro areas around us.”
And while surplus inventory is a challenge this December, Champlin is still feeling optimistic about the future. “We would love to see both an increase in foot traffic and just an increase in shopping in general.”
“It would be nice to kind of clear out some of this year’s inventory,” he added, “just to make room for what’s coming up next for next year.”
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Legislation regulating online gambling varies in countries. Some have stricter laws than others, primarily due to the nature of technology. While the United States, for example, regulates online gambling like all other vice crimes, Middle Eastern countries are less stringent. For example, Belgium, Canada, Finland, and Sweden do not grant licenses to foreign casino operators. As a result, they cannot prosecute foreign operators for violating their laws. However, they can only block foreign sites and enforce self-exclusion policies.
Some states have banned online gambling, but some have made it explicitly legal. The Federal Wire Act, for example, prohibits sports betting over “telephone-like” devices, which is why most top gambling sites are offshore. However, most states regulate online gambling at the state level. For this reason, players should research their state’s laws before signing up for an online gambling site. Once you have decided whether online gambling is legal in your state, be sure to read the fine print.
The researchers found that younger people were more likely to be involved in online gambling than their elders. The median age of internet gamblers was 31.7 years. The age of internet gambling participants varied by ethnicity: non-whites made up just 15.8% of the total group, but 38.7% of those surveyed were non-white. This study found that internet gambling is a growing industry, with a global reach of $400 billion. This means that there is more money to be made online than ever before.
In most cases, online gambling sites offer bonuses that are similar to mathematically expected. Typically, they require players to wager two to three times their bonuses before they can cash out any winnings. In some cases, these casinos also offer prizes that reward repeat business. The winnings are deposited in the player’s online account, or they are paid out in a certified check. If you win, the money goes directly into your bank account, and you can withdraw it or use it to make more deposits.
A federal case has been filed against the founders of three of the largest online poker companies. The government alleges violations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, money laundering, and bank fraud. The case is still in trial, but it will be a huge blow to the industry. If the U.S. government is serious about stopping the business, there are legal remedies. So, what can you do to stop illegal online gambling? There are three simple steps you can take.
First, the best way to stay safe is to use a credit card that is secure. The security of your credit card is important. There are many ways to prevent fraud and abuse. While it is possible to avoid the problem entirely, many financial analysts believe that the risk is low, especially if you use a credit card. The most secure way to avoid credit card fraud is to use an online payment method that uses your bank account. If your credit card is declined, you should use a different payment method.


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MONTVILLE, CT (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Scalpers hoping to make a quick buck off of flipping tickets Miley Cyrus tickets at the upcoming Foxwoods show may have to reconsider their plans.
Tickets to Miley's gigs are a hot commodity, first with fans but also with speculators and scalpers who snap up the tickets and then resell them on secondary ticket sites like StubHub, usually for prices that are much higher than the face value of the ticket. This has left a swirl of angry fans and legal actions in Miley's wake.
The folks at Foxwoods think that they may have found a solution to this problem. The pop star is set to appear at the brand new, 4,000 seat MGM Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort & Casino on September 27 and while tickets are sold out, you can't get them on StubHub.
"If you look on StubHub as of (Thursday) morning, you can see 200 to 300 tickets for sale for Miley's show in California, and none for our show," Bruce Flax, director of tickets for Foxwoods and MGM Grand told the New London Day.
Flax is hoping that the new system, dubbed Equal Tix, will deter ticket speculators. Equal Tix is integrated into Foxwoods own in-house ticketing system and requires prospective ticket-buyers to register online to get an access code that functions as a virtual place in line and allows the registree to purchase up to 4 tickets. Purchasers can then pick up the tickets at the box office on the day of the event, provided that they can present a valid photo ID and the credit card used to purchase the tickets.
While the system isn't perfect — scalpers could still sell tickets, they would just need to show up at the box office on the day of the show — at first blush, it seems to be working well.
"We must be doing something right, because scalpers are writing to newspapers trying to get articles written about how unfair it is. One paper posted a blog saying a publicist representing one of the bigger scalpers pitched a story placing (our new system) negatively." Flax noted. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers


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(Ecofin Agency) - Chinese electronics company ENGO Holdings launched today its computer and mobile phone assembly and manufacturing plant in Uganda. The inauguration ceremony was headed by the country’s president Yoweri Museveni.
The new factory, located in the Namanve Industrial Park in Wakiso District, Uganda, is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed between ENGO Holdings, the National Information Technology Authority - Uganda (NITA-U) and the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).
Construction of this factory began on July 4, 2019.
James Saaka, Executive Director of the NITA-U, said: “We have now moved to develop standards to guide the manufacture of electronics, ICT equipment including computers and related products. It is a great progress that we are moving Uganda into this ICT equipment manufacturing space but we must move in tandem with the rest of the world in terms of standards and quality in order to be competitive.”
According to Ares Chow Yu Qing, the executive director of ENGO Holdings Limited, the plant would start its operations with 100,000 gadgets per month. “For Computers, the target is One Million a year – depending on demands,” he said. The devices will be marketed under the brand name Simi Mobile.


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Icelandic carrier Eimskip has announced a short sea feeder shipping service between the port of Halifax and Portland, Maine. This new service commenced on November 30, with the arrival of Eimskip Selfoss at Halterm’s Terminal at the port of Halifax. To deliver a weekly service, Eimskip is deploying a third vessel to its Green Line rotation.
Eimskip Green Line Service departs weekly from European ports and calls at Canadian ports and Portland, ME., providing FCL and LCL service, including dry and reefer containers and flat racks, project cargo, break bulk and oversized cargo and IMO cargo,
with excellent network connections with Southern Europe, Russia and the Baltics.
“This new weekly offering will better serve our existing customer base and will create an avenue for future growth,” said Jeff Simms, Managing Director, Eimskip Canada. “We are seeing increased volumes through operations at Portland, Maine, as well as Halifax and Newfoundland. The combined increase is making the change to weekly calls a reality.”
Kim Holtermand, CEO and Managing Director at Halterm International Container Terminal notes “We are delighted to be working with Eimskip, a long-term customer, on the development of its intra-regional and trans-Atlantic services.” “Earlier this year Halterm welcomed the first 10,000TEU capacity container vessels to arrive in Halifax and the terminal is capable to handle the largest 14,000TEU ships now regularly calling North America’s east coast – these vessels need a strong feeder and intermodal network and Halterm is proud to partner Eimskip in making one such opportunity available to and from the New England states,” adds Holtermand.
In addition, in cooperation with Eimskip, CMA CGM will offer direct and seamless service to Asia and other global markets from Portland on its Columbus JAX service, with all transits moving on a CMA CGM bill of lading.
“We value all of the ocean carriers calling on Halifax. Eimskip has carved out a strong business in the refrigerated cargo sector, specifically focusing on the frozen seafood market between North Europe, Atlantic Canada, and the New England states,” said Karen Oldfield, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority. “The addition of a third vessel to Eimskip’s Green Line will certainly be welcome news for Eimskip’s existing customers and will create new global supply chain opportunities.”
Eimskip, based in Reykjavik, Iceland, is a transportation company offering a variety of services. Founded in 1914, Eimskip’s shipping line connects North America with ports in Europe, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It has a network of 61 offices in 20 countries, operates 21 vessels and has approximately 1,700 employees.


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Code discovered in a beta version of Robinhood’s iPhone app reveals the popular no-fee trading platform is considering adding a feature that allows users to send cryptocurrency to each other via digital gift cards, according to a Bloomberg report.
- The cards can be accompanied by messages up to 180 characters long, and the money can be retracted anytime before it is accepted by the recipient, according to Bloomberg.
- The code was found in a beta version of the app by developer Steve Moser that was shared with Bloomberg.
- In the past, beta versions of Robinhood’s apps have revealed features such as support for crypto wallets, Bloomberg wrote.
- Commissions from crypto trading have become an increasingly significant source of revenue for Robinhood in recent quarters.
- On Monday, crypto tracing firm Chainalysis announced it will provide data and compliance tools to Robinhood’s online crypto trading service, Robinhood Crypto.


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IBM Security has published its 2021 Cost of a Data Breach Report. The report is based on an analysis of data breaches at 500 organizations between May 2020 and March 2021 and shows data breach costs have increased by 10% year-over-year. Data breach costs are now at the highest they have been in the 17 years that IBM Security has been publishing data breach cost reports.
The average cost of a data breach is now $4.24 million, having increased from $3.86 million last year. The most expensive data breaches are those experienced by the healthcare industry, with healthcare industry data breaches costing an average of $9.23 million per breach, up from $7.13 million the previous year.
The study was conducted on breaches of fewer than 101,000 records, although the report does include a section on mega data breaches of between 50 million and 65 million records. The average cost of a mega data breach was $401 million per incident – more than 100 times the cost of breaches of 1,000 to 100,0000 records, up from $392 million last year.
During the period of study, the most common cause of breaches was compromised credentials. Compromised credentials were involved in 20% of data breaches. The most common data types compromised in breaches were customers’ personal data such as names, email addresses, passwords, and healthcare data. 44% of data breaches studied included personally identifiable information (PII). Breaches involving PII cost an average of $180 per record, compared to the average of $161 per record.
In 2020, ransomware attacks increased significantly and accounted for 8% of all data breaches studied. Ransomware attacks typically cost more to resolve, with an average cost of $4.62 million.
Data breach costs were typically around $1 million higher in cases where remote working contributed to the cause of the breach, and those breaches typically took much longer to contain. At companies with more than half of their workforce working remotely, breaches took an additional 58 days to contain on average. The average time to identify and contain a security incident increased by 7 days to 287 days.
The majority of the breach cost is lost business which accounts for 38% of the total breach cost. Lost business includes lost revenue due to downtime, increased customer turnover, and the cost of acquiring new business due to diminished reputation.
IBM Security identified several factors that increase or decrease breach costs. Breach costs were significantly lower at organizations with a mature security posture that had implemented AI, security automation, and at organizations that had adopted a zero-trust approach to security.
The average cost of a breach at an organization with a mature zero trust strategy was $3.28 million, which was $1.76 million less than those who had not deployed this approach at all.
The average breach cost at an organization with a fully deployed security automation strategy was $2.90 million, compared to $6.71 million at organizations that had no security automation.
Having an incident response team and a tested incident response plan reduced data breach costs by an average of 54.9% from $5.71 million when neither were in place to $3.25 million with both.


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The 5+ A Day Charitable Trust is pleased to announce a new brand ambassador partnership with health and wellbeing bloggers, Julia & Libby.
In their roles as 5+ A Day Charitable Trust ambassadors, the Kiwi sisters will create recipes using fresh seasonal produce to feature on the 5+ A Day social media platforms. Julia & Libby also have a strong online presence with over 100,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram where they will share 5+ A Day messages.
The duo has garnered a strong and loyal following online since launching their blog five years ago when they started writing about improving their diets by eliminating highly-processed foods, and eating more healthily.
Today, they are strong advocates of eating fresh, wholesome food for health and wellness. Julia and Libby will highlight how easy and important it is to eat fresh fruit and vegetables every day.
5+ A Day General Manager, Paula Dudley, says the healthy lifestyle of the sisters is an inspiration to everyone.
“Julia and Libby are in step with our values at the 5+ A Day Charitable Trust as they are great advocates for making healthy food choices,” says Paula. “They have shown how switching to a more nutritious diet can improve your quality of life. We are also impressed by how passionate they are about sharing their knowledge to empower others to take the steps towards a healthier lifestyle.”
Julia says they are excited about their new roles as ambassadors for 5+ A Day which has the children of New Zealand as its beneficiaries.
Earlier this year, Julia and Libby launched their first cook book, Julia and Libby’s Wholefood Kitchen, which features easy-to-follow recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Libby has a diploma in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Naturopathy. Julia is also continuing her studies towards becoming a naturopath.


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Jakarta (ANTARA) - A team of researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has successfully managed to extend the shelf life of honey from 180 days to 419 days using evaporation and irradiation.In a statement released on Monday, BRIN's Agriculture and Food Research Organization researcher, Teguh Wahyono, informed that his team has been researching methods to extend the shelf life of derivative products from honey in the form of functional foods based on forest honey and selected herbal ingredients. The evaporation and radiation technologies used in the research did not affect the honey's quality and its anti-bacterial nature, Wahyono said. "Moreover, the honey product's antioxidant (level) was increased by our treatment," the researcher added. The honey product was produced by a domestic micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME), Imago Randau Harmoni, he said. The research also found that exposing honey products to evaporation and irradiation treatments in a particular dosage results in a decline in the products' humidity and acidity levels. reduction in the humidity and acidity of honey would reduce the ability of microbes to develop in the product, hence, extending its shelf life, Wahyono said. "Interestingly, evaporation and irradiation treatments do not change the product's color and structure. Therefore, it would not affect the customers' acceptance of the product," the researcher added. Wahyono said the research is currently under review in reputable global journals, and its patent is under registration. However, he highlighted that the application of the technology requires further supporting facilities to bolster the export potential of MSME products. He also expressed the hope that the research will benefit the public, including the general public and the scientific community, and provide solutions to food issues encountered by residents. The animal product technology research led to Wahyono being named among the 12 best-performing researchers by BRIN earlier this month.
Source: Antara News Agency


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MP wants coffee revolving fund released
Kigumo Member of Parliament Ruth Mwaniki has urged the Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Cooperatives Peter Munya to expedite the disbursement of Sh3 billion for the coffee revolving fund.
The MP said she does not understand why the money which was factored in the 2018/19 budget is yet to be released.
Speaking in Kigumo during the opening of new Amica Sacco branch, Mwaniki said the coffee sector need urgent measures to revive it and save thousands of farmers who still rely on it for a livelihood.
"The money was meant for the farmers and I don't understand why up to now it has not been released," she said.
The legislator, however, said this money should be channeled directly to the farmers using the accredited and existing coffee societies structures.


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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Although restrictions were loosened for a few months, some small businesses are still struggling from the harsh conditions during the pandemic. Those months of closed doors and restrictions took a big hit on small businesses in the state.
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“2021 I remember being real excited to put 2020 behind us and it was looking up for a little bit,” said small business owner Jesse Herron.
The first few months of this summer New Mexico spent re-opened were not enough to make up for the loss in revenue. “There’s no finish line which I think this year most people were really hoping for a finish line to put this whole thing behind us,” said Herron.
Herron is the owner of Painted Lady Bed and Brew. He says he saw some improvement during the tourism season this year. “In June I had my best June ever,” said Herron.
The cheeky new take on a bed and breakfast keeps things small. “When people are here in their rooms or private areas they aren’t expected to wear a face mask,” said Herron.
That means contact and big groups aren’t a big worry but as restrictions ramp back up and with fewer people traveling, the future is uncertain. “It’s real scary it’s difficult to plan for the future when you don’t know when you’re going to get to that point basically,” said Herron.
Herron went to the city for help, getting a $10,000 small business entrepreneurial recovery grant. “It helps pad some of the uneasiness,” said Herron.
His other saving grace less than a month away is the International Balloon Fiesta. Fiesta brings in thousands of people, possibly looking for a quirky place to stay. “We’ve been booked for the most part for probably the past three or four months,” said Herron.
Even though the week of Fiesta is booked way in advance, he’s keeping a close eye on any changes for his guests and his business. “As long as we can get through and have a balloon fiesta that’s just the biggest ticket that helps out so many small businesses here,” said Herron.
The City of Albuquerque will start distributing the grant money on Friday, September 10th. 1,721 local small businesses applied.


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Upstate Companies Make Top 8 in Contest
GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Three Upstate companies are in the running for a contest aimed at finding the “coolest thing” made in the state as part of “Manufacturing Madness.”
The South Carolina Manufacturer’s Alliance came up with this competition to showcase products made here in the Palmetto State.
According to the SCMA, the state has more than 5,000 manufacturing companies.
Voting for Manufacturing Madness has already narrowed down the list from 16 to eight. Voting to choose the top four from the list of eight companies takes place now through March 18.
Three upstate companies have made the cut. Lockheed Martin in Greenville is recognized for its F16 Fighter Falcon. Milliken in Spartanburg County is highlighted for its uniforms made for the Girl Scouts. The uniforms for the Daisies and Brownies are made entirely from recycled materials. Electrolux Home Products Inc. in Anderson is on the list for making Electrolux/Frigidaire refrigerators and freezers.
After this week’s voting, the top four contenders will be announced. Voting will resume March 21 to 25 to determine a winner. The company with the “coolest” product will be announced March 31.
Copyright 2022 WHNS. All rights reserved.


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China’s Geely on Monday launched a new electric semi truck as automakers look to bring new technology to the commercial vehicles market.
Geely’s commercial vehicle group, Farizon Auto, is planning to roll out the new Homtruck in 2024 and is targeting international markets too, the divisions CEO Mike Fan said.
Geely’s Homtruck launch comes as a number of automakers from Mercedes-owner Daimler to Warren Buffett-backed BYD have announced their own electric trucks.
Tesla, which announced its own truck called the Semi in 2017, has delayed production of that vehicle for some time.
The Homtruck will have different power options including methanol hybrid and pure electric.
Methanol-powered batteries are a technology Geely has been investing in for some years and some of its models currently have this power option. Farizon said the Homtruck’s batteries can also be swapped out which cuts down on the need to charge.
The interior includes a shower and toilet, single bed, refrigerator, kitchen area and a small washing machine, the company said.
Geely said the vehicle will be able to use some partially autonomous driverless features. And for longer journeys, trucks will be able to communicate with each other to maintain safe speed and distance.
Fan said that Geely plans to introduce autonomous driving in three phases. By 2023, the company hopes to have some partial driverless features with more advanced systems in 2026.
Geely plans to achieve full autonomy in 2030.


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Specialised e-retailers draw investor attention
Online retailers that sell only a single category of products are fast gaining investor attention as they require lesser capital to grow than multi-brand portals. Investor interest in backing such ventures is growing as the broader e-commerce industry is quite crowded.
By Biswarup Gooptu
NEW DELHI: Online retailers that sell only a single category of products are fast gaining investor attention as they require lesser capital to grow than multi-brand portals. Termed as vertical ecommerce portals, these ventures which sell specialised products for healthcare — ranging from prescription drugs to nutritional supplements and spectacles, baby care products and jewellery—cater to customers who buy high-value products at frequent intervals. The higher margins earned by these companies is making them attractive for investors who have put in a total of about Rs 664 crore so far this year. “We aim to build a valuable company that meets the investors’ strategy of backing sustainable ventures,” said Prashant Tandon, founder of Healthkart.
The Gurgaon-based company, which sells consumer healthcare goods as well as prescription drugs, raised $14 million ( Rs 89.3 crore) funding from Intel Capital and existing backer Sequoia Capital earlier this year. Founded by Stanford and Harvard Business School graduates Tandon and Sameer Maheshwari in 2011, Healthkart has grown from offering management software to physicians to now directly retailing healthcare products to consumers. With about 50,000 transactions a month at an average spend of Rs 2,000, the company is clocking a monthly revenue of about Rs 10 crore.
“These companies do not require the same amount of funding as say, a Flipkart , as they use capital more efficiently while providing a variety of high-margin products, for more frequent purchases,” said Karan Mohla, vice-president at IDG Ventures.
“This makes them very good value creators,” said Mohla whose fund has invested in New Delhi-based Valyoo Technologies, which runs portals such as Bagkart and Jewelkart.
Founded by former Microsoft employee Peyush Bansal, the company raised $10 million (Rs 63.8 crore) for its eye-care retailing website LensKart from UTV founder Ronnie Screwvala’s Unilazer Ventures and IDG Ventures in February. LensKart sells about 1,000 pairs of eye glasses daily, across 1,500 cities and earns about Rs 4.5 crore in revenues monthly. “It’s a much more complex market we operate in, not a price-oriented one that the multi-category ventures are in. You cannot get away with just offering discounts,”said Bansal.
Investor interest in backing such ventures is growing as the broader ecommerce industry is quite crowded. “There is a certain amount of saturation in the multi-category space and one can’t write small cheques in the space anymore,” said Rahul Khanna, managing director at Canaan Partners, which holds a 25% stake in multi-category ecommerce firm Naaptol. “The next best thing is to identify ventures that focus on particular categories,” said Siddharth Bafna, partner at investment bank Lodha & Co. Investors are also focusing on more than just revenue generation by e-commerce ventures to identifying companies that have shown a clear path to profitability. Both LensKart and Healthkart have targeted 2015 and 2016, respectively, to be in the black. In April this year, Mumbai-based online baby care company BabyOye also raised $12 million (. 76.6 crore) from an investor consortium led by Helium Venture Partners, and which included Tiger Global and Accel Partners. The company is expected to reach a turnover of Rs 250 crore by 2015.
Specialised e-commerce portals are also looking to provide a range of services to not only attract new customers. While Healthkart relaunched its drug search engine Healthkart Plus as an online marketplace for prescription drugs earlier this year, LensKart has entered the offline mode as well, signing franchisees across the country. “The ventures are starting to build critical mass, and investors believe a number of them have the potential to become multi-category players,” said Canaan’s Khanna. Analysts are of the view that a combination of fewer investors and fewer quality assets makes this a good time to invest in such companies now.“However , there won’t be too many of them, and investors will have to identify them,” said Pragya Singh, associate vice president retail consultancy Technopak.


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Acquisition Will Extend NAM's Digital and Mobile Reach
NEW YORK, July 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- News America Marketing (NAM), a subsidiary of News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV), today announced the acquisition of Checkout 51, the data-rich, digital and mobile coupon company based in Toronto.
The Checkout 51 mobile app enables consumers to browse weekly discount offers on a wide range of grocery items including fresh produce, household and personal care, and then redeem the offers post-purchase simply by taking a photo of their receipt.
NAM, the premier publisher of print and digital coupons in the United States and Canada, completed the acquisition on July 24th. Checkout 51 will continue to be based in Toronto and the app will retain its name.
The Checkout 51 app was ranked Best for Cash Back in 2014 by Consumer Reports(1 )and has garnered positive reviews from consumers(2) since its launch in 2012 in Canada and 2014 in the U.S. It is the #1 receipt recognition app in Canada(3). The company currently has over three million registered users in the U.S. and another one million registered users in Canada. 94% of Checkout 51 users are under the age of 55 and 81% are under 45(4). Since its launch, Checkout 51 has paid out nearly $15 million (USD) in savings to consumers(5).
"This is a significant moment for the digital transition and development of News America Marketing. Bringing Checkout 51 into the News America Marketing family allows us to offer new mobile options for our clients to reach consumers, with a smartphone-friendly, paperless and highly personalized experience that many of today's consumers, particularly Millennials, find attractive," said Marty Garofalo, CEO, News America Marketing. "We believe Checkout 51's mobile savings app is the perfect addition to News America Marketing's SmartSource family of products and services which have long been a staple of savvy consumers across the U.S. and Canada."
"We are thrilled to be joining News America Marketing, a company with a long-standing pedigree of helping consumers stretch their budgets," said Noah Godfrey, Co-founder and General Manager, Checkout 51. "News America Marketing's relationships within the consumer packaged goods industry will give us the additional reach that will allow us to further expand our offerings to give more consumers more savings opportunities than ever before."
"News America Marketing's leadership is fully committed to digital as it relates to consumer marketing along the path to purchase, and you can expect to see more product evolutions and additions to our portfolio as we anticipate and respond to the needs of our clients and our retailer partners," added Mr. Garofalo.
(2) Currently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in Apple's App Store.
(3) Based on ranking in the Canadian Apple App Store, Lifestyle section
(4) Based on Checkout 51 membership database
(5) Based on Checkout 51 offer redemption database
About News America Marketing(®)
News America Marketing, a subsidiary of News Corp [NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV] is the premier marketing partner of some of the world's most well-known brands. From our iconic Sunday coupon insert, SmartSource Magazine(®), to our innovative digital savings platforms, News America Marketing's SmartSource(®)-branded advertising and promotion programs are an integral part of America's shopping routine. We reach millions of consumers each day through our network of 1,900+ publications(1), 56,700(+) retail stores(2), and 500 online partner sites including our own SmartSource.com(3). Since 1988, we have delivered advertising and promotions that are proven to help brands succeed.
For more information, please visit newsamerica.com or smartsource.com.
(1)NAM market list effective August, 2015
(2)Based on an aggregate of NAM cycle 8, 2015 Coupon Machine for all classes of trade with the exception of specialty stores that accept only Carts or Shelftalk
(3)As of December 2014
About Checkout 51
Checkout 51 Mobile Apps ULC, the company being acquired, operates the mobile app that helps consumers save money on their groceries simply by taking a photo of their receipt. Launched in Canada in 2012 and the US in 2014, Checkout 51 is now one of the most popular savings apps in North America(1). Over four million members have already saved a total of USD $15MM(2). Checkout 51 works with many of the largest packaged goods companies in the world, allowing them to deliver exactly the right offer to the right person at the right time via their unique mobile platform.
The Checkout 51 app is available for free in the Apple App Store, Google Play, and at checkout51.com.
(1) Based on ranking in the US & Canadian Apple App Stores, Lifestyle section
(2) From Checkout 51 offer redemption database
This document contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global economic, business, competitive market and regulatory and other factors. More detailed information about these and other factors that could affect future results is contained in News Corp's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The "forward-looking statements" included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and we do not have any obligation to publicly update any "forward-looking statements" to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/news-america-marketing-purchases-checkout-51-300118358.html
SOURCE News America Marketing


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Trucks are massive climate polluters, and the emissions from trucking retail goods spike 94% during Black Friday week. But there is a solution.
Berlin continues to double down on Ukraine, earmarking nearly more than $8 billion for the war in its just-passed budget. While the domestic situation implodes, and the government and media smear anyone – political parties, […]
Chinese economists and officials are sounding alarm bells over the state of the country’s stalling economy. Read Here


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BMW aims to slash battery costs for electric vehicles by 30 percent with the introduction of the Neue Klasse platform featuring cylindrical cells. The disclosure was made a few weeks ago when insiders assumed the supplier would be one of the existing partners: CATL, Eve Energy, Samsung SDI, or Northvolt. According to Automotive News, Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited has inked a deal with the automaker to provide the new batteries.
With the new wave of electric vehicles on the Neue Klasse architecture, BMW believes it can achieve the same profit margins it enjoys for vehicles powered by combustion engines. The German luxury brand refrained from going into any details about its deal with CATL. The latter also did not elaborate on the matter, only saying it has reached an agreement with the automaker.
Switching from prismatic cells to round ones will take place in 2025 when the first NE-based electric vehicle is scheduled to go on sale. It’ll compete in the 3 Series segment and is going to be assembled in Hungary at the upcoming Debrecen plant. CATL has been a battery partner for a decade, and while the new cells do sound promising in terms of cutting costs, rising prices of nickel and lithium partially negate the advantages.
Earlier this month, Reuters reported about how the world’s biggest battery maker is scouting for sites in the United States to build an EV battery manufacturing plant. Possibly located in South Carolina or Kentucky, the facility would serve not only BMW but also Ford. Why are these potential locations being considered? Because that is where the companies have factories, therefore simplifying logistics to reduce transport costs.
BMW will allegedly assemble the Neue Klasse-based 3 Series and iX3 at its San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico from 2027. Before that happens, a NE electric model will begin to roll off the assembly line at the factory in Munich in 2026.
Source: Automotive News


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Report: Television ad spending in Canada
By Adnews Staff
According to a new report from Standard Media Index, Canadian television advertising spending increased 35% in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter of 2020. However, this still represents a 12% decline in spending from spending in the second quarter of 2019. Canadian TV ad spending is similar to that of the United States, according the the report, which saw an increase of 32% over last year, but a 14% decline compared to 2019.
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In the September 2020 edition of the Market Update:
- The global economic recovery continues, however growth is uneven across regions and there were signs of a loss of momentum in Europe through the September quarter.
- US President Trump stepped up his trade rhetoric ahead of the presidential election with talk of a “decoupling” from the Chinese economy amid a widening trade deficit.
- China is on track to be the first country to exit the pandemic and is the only G20 country with a positive GDP result, recording 3.2% year-on-year for the June quarter.
- The Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates on hold at 0.25% at its September meeting and extended the Term Funding Facility until the end of June 2021.
- From 28 September, Australia’s JobKeeper payments will fall from $1,500 per fortnight to $1,200, and $750 for those working less than 20 hours per week.


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Whether you’re a fan or not – we think it’s fair to say Apple does a pretty good job of avoiding major malfunctions when they put out new hardware or software, right?
Obviously, we see occasional hiccups, but considering the sheer size of the company and its customer base, we’ve yet to see a flaw on par with exploding Note 7s or photo leaking Galaxy S9s – until now that is.
While you don’t have to worry about your pants catching fire, you might want to think twice about what you say when you see an incoming FaceTime call.
9to5Mac is reporting on the discovery of a “significant bug” that allows FaceTime callers to hear the audio on the other end, even if the person has not answered. Adding to the issue, in some cases, video is also sent to the caller without explicit permission.
While Apple promises a fix is on the way, it won’t arrive until sometime “later this week” leaving millions of iPhone users vulnerable for the time being.
What’s more, this bug doesn’t require significant ‘know-how’ to exploit. If you’re curious, here’s how it works:
- Place a FaceTime Video call to a contact in your phone
- Once the call starts, tap the ‘Add Person’ button and enter your phone number
- This should start the process of a group FaceTime call and allow you to hear audio from your contact
Shockingly, the person on the receiving end has no way of knowing if they’re a victim of such an attack. What’s more, it’s not uncommon to brush off incoming calls by hitting the power button, which in this case seems to be the trigger that inadvertently sends video in addition to audio to the caller.
Unfortunately, we’re all stuck with this bug for at least the next few days. And considering the damage it could cause, it’s probably best to just disable FaceTime all together until the problem is officially remedied.
Sources say any Apple device running iOS 12.1 or later may be at risk.


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Many Nintendo supporters are fervently hoping for a new installment of the well-known F-Zero racing series. Only one supposedly devoted fan reportedly spent more than 5 million yen (approximately $40,000 US) on Nintendo shares, allowing him the opportunity to speak with the Japanese publisher regarding F-Zero and its future.
A shareholder phoned in on June 29 to a shareholder meeting and asked Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa if the business had thought about reviving fan favorites, notably F-Zero. The question drew the attention of fans eager for a new installment in the futuristic racing game because it has been more than 15 years since the series' previous release. According to a recent article, we know who asked this query and why.
Business Insider claims that the investor who inquired about F-Zero is a fan of Nintendo who bought 100 shares for 5.6 million yen in February after selling stock in a different firm. The investor, who requested anonymity, is only recognized by his Twitter handle, Momiji. His self-description is "diehard fan."
Momiji told Insider, "I've been playing Nintendo games since I was a kid. "Among them, F-sensation Zero's of speed is something I can't get enough of."
The president of Nintendo responded to a question concerning F-Zero by essentially saying, "Thanks for asking, but...no."
According to Furukawa, whose translation Momiji validated, "it is actually difficult to generate new titles and remakes, including sequels, for every Nintendo game that fans seek." But we respect the high standards set by our supporters and are extremely appreciative of them.
The managing executive officer of Nintendo, Shinnya Takahashi, seemed a little more upbeat but refrained from making any promises.
"We were asked if there were any intentions to remake the Famicom Detective Club series during the 79th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders in 2019, and, at that time, we just so happened to be preparing a remake," Takahashi remarked through translation from VGC. "That is an example where we were already working on such a title," the author said.
“We cannot tell you if there are any plans for future remakes of any specific game,” Takahashi continued. “But, during development, we are always thinking about various possibilities that players can enjoy.”


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ExtremeTerrain has teamed up with their customers in a new Customer Builds series, where XT’s top voted customers are asked to share some inspiration behind their builds. In this installment, XT host, Merideth Evasew, sits down with one of our community’s favorite JK & restore TJ, owned by John Shea. Together they go over a full break down of the build and shed some light on the inspiration behind it. Check It Out Here: https://www.extremeterrain.com/jeep-wrangler-builds-profiles.html?imageid=296263&from=0
ExtremeTerrain is Is back with another episode of our new “Customer Spotlight” build series, where our top voted customers are invited to talk cars with our hosts.


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One of the bigger announcements to come out of WWDC was Apple’s unveiling of ARKit. In one fell swoop, Apple dove head first into the world of augmented reality and gave developers the requisite frameworks to build incredibly engaging and realistic augmented reality apps and experiences.
“When you bring the software together with these devices, we have hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads capable of AR,” Craig Federighi said last week during the WWDC keynote. “Overnight it will make ARKit the largest AR platform in the world.”
Now comes word via Digital Di that Ikea is teaming up with Apple to create a new AR based app that will enable consumers to visualize what certain pieces of furniture will look like inside of their own home.
“This will be the first augmented reality app that allows you to make reliable buying decisions,” Michael Valdsgaard of Ikea explained. What’s more, Valdsgaard added that when Ikea launches new products in the future, they will appear inside of the company’s AR app first.
At launch, Ikea anticipates 500-600 individual items will appear in its AR app.
For the time being, the app will only enable users to visualize furniture in their homes, though Ikea would eventually like to give users the ability to purchase products from within the app.
“It is our ambition, but I can not promise that it will work in the first version,” Valdsgaard said. “Ideally, you could put a sofa in your home with the help of the app, and then with one click add it to your shopping cart on the e-commerce site. But we have a tight deadline.”
Nonetheless, the app should prove to be especially useful for in-store shoppers curious about how a specific piece of furniture might look in their house or apartment.
As for why Ikea opted to partner up with Apple, the company said it was attracted to Apple’s incredibly large installed base of iPhones and iPads. And echoing Federighi’s remarks above, Valdsgaard said that iOS “will be the largest AR platform in the world overnight.”


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The idea of “metaverse” is just about to become the reality and revolutionize the way people experience traveling. Alexander Pershikov, who is a founder of GetExperience.com — one of the world biggest travel experiences marketplaces — supposes that companies already need to incorporate the mechanisms of “metaverse” into their work. GetExperience.com has already developed a new way of tackling customers’ needs based on a unique bidding engine which combines best offers for the client and then, using special AI algorithms, provide one with the best personalized choices. Pershikov is certain that by offering now both offline and online experiences, GetExperience.com does not only appeal to the customers all around the world, but also intensifies efforts of other companies to involve the cutting-edge mechanisms of metaverse in their services and products.
Nowadays, the plans of incorporating metaverse technologies in different areas concern more business rather than the tourist sphere. Started as a feature of gaming development, metaverse is now provides businesses with solutions in many other industries by allowing brands to use online tools to ease the communication with the clients and enhance the level of services. Pershikov claims that such trends only reflect the current development of the world reality — and the question of full incorporation into the digital reality remains to be acute.
Read the full article here


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The Food Industry Association of Canada has announced Mary Dalimonte, former senior vice-president of merchandising and commercial programs at Sobeys, and Tom Gunter, former executive vice-president and general manager at Fiera Foods Company, will receive this year’s Golden Pencil Award.
The Golden Pencil is the grocery industry’s highest honour for lifetime achievement. Dalimonte and Gunter will receive their awards Nov. 19 in Toronto.
Dalimonte held senior roles at Loblaw before joining Sobeys in 2008 to lead Sobeys Urban Fresh format, playing a key role in its development. In 2011, she took on the role of VP, private label in 2011. And, most recently, Dalimonte was instrumental in developing a concept store, Sobeys Extra, which features expanded fresh, grocery and HMR offerings combined with in-store experts and services. Dalimonte announced in April that she would be retiring after more than 40 years in the grocery industry.
Gunter, also a recent retiree, has more than 30 years industry experience having held senior management roles at such companies as PepsiCo, Molson and ConAgra Foods Canada, where he served as president for six years. More recently, Gunter spent nearly four years as EVP/GM of Fiera Foods. He currently sits on advisory boards of Burnbrae Farms and Local Grown Salads -- a vertical farming startup.
Last year’s winners were Nestlé Canada CEO Shelley Martin, Retail Council of Canada president Diane Brisebois and Darrell Jones, president of Save-On-Foods.
Other recent winners include Michael McCain of Maple Leaf Foods, Vince Scorniaenchi of Fortino, Jean Gattuso of Lassonde Industries, Gus Longo of Longo Brothers and Eric La Flèche of Metro.
Prior to the ceremony is Canadian Grocer’s annual Thought Leadership conference, which will feature trends, insights and some of Canada’s top grocery leaders.
Both the Thought Leadership Conference and the Golden Pencil Awards are held Nov. 19, in Toronto at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.


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Cryptocurrency advocates are welcoming the new wave of asset trading market participants to Twitter. These are traders from the hugely popular channel r / WallStreetBets on the Reddit platform, commonly known as WSB.
The latter made headlines around the world the day before after its members collectively began buying shares in GameStop GME, an American gaming accessories store and retailer. In March last year, the stock traded for just $ 2.63, while the stock is now trading at $ 347. In this regard, many cryptocurrency lovers wondered if the collective efforts of traders could do the same with Bitcoin and altcoins.
By tradition, let’s start with an explanation. GameStop is a Texas based company founded in 1984. She sells computer games and various accessories. Since in recent years gamers prefer to buy everything online, rather than on physical media, the position of the company has deteriorated significantly. To illustrate: On November 1, 2013, a GameStop GME share was asking for $ 55, and last summer it cost $ 4.
However, this is not all: in recent years, large funds from Wall Street have been openly shorting GameStop shares, that is, earning on their fall. At the same time, analysts from financial giants talked about the uselessness of the company – yet in 2021 hardly anyone will go to the store for a game disc – thereby provoking a further drop in shares.
The already mentioned members of the WallStreetBets channel did not like the situation. They massively undertook to buy up the shares of the GameStop company, which caused their rate to skyrocket to new highs. The rally also ended in losses for the Wall Street giants, which had to quit short.
Why GameStop stocks are going up
The main message in which many admire the WSB is the expectation of a similar leap in Bitcoin. For example, here is a tweet from a user under the pseudonym Croesus, in which he hinted at the likelihood of a repetition of a similar situation with cryptocurrencies.
Do you see this rage? Do you see this community directing their anger towards the system? What do you think will happen when they find out what Bitcoin really is? The bullish trend in 2021 could be bigger than any of us thinks.
That is, the user assumes that traders will do the same with the main cryptocurrency when they get acquainted with the principles of interaction with the blockchain in more detail. Allegedly, since the shares of a little-known company were able to take off, then the situation with Bitcoin will be even larger.
There is one problem here, though: WallStreetBets traders just aren’t that interested or enthusiastic about cryptocurrencies. Firstly, the channel moderators do not approve of any messages or comments with the words «Bitcoin», «Ethereum», «cryptocurrency» or other related terms. Any messages that violate the rules are immediately removed, that is, raising this topic among traders will not work, Decrypt reports.
Secondly, WallStreetBets representatives also oppose the promotion of stocks, which are easy to manipulate for quick profits. The channel’s moderators are hostile to any mention of the prospects for securities of companies whose market capitalization does not exceed the billion dollar threshold.
Still, the smaller the company’s capitalization, the easier it is to influence the value of its shares. And this option is not suitable for those who like buying assets.
The takeaway from the situation is obvious: while we are unlikely to see a sharp tenfold rise in Bitcoin, as happened with GameStop shares. However, one news of the successful confrontation between ordinary traders and Wall Street financiers is already a signal – the paradigm is changing. It is possible that well-known moneybags and funds no longer have such tremendous power over the markets, which means that power will eventually pass into the hands of ordinary traders.
However, in general, we believe that there is no point in such attempts to short-term growth in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. The industry has moved to a long stage of recovery, which was confirmed the day before by the head of the largest exchange Binance, Changpeng Zhao. Accordingly, investors will observe the growth of various coins and without questionable manipulations. So in this case it is worth only to rejoice at the ability of ordinary people to influence the world, but for cryptocurrencies this option is clearly superfluous.


text: Mid City's Southern charmer Brown Butter Kitchen & Bar has now officially fulfilled the latter part of its name, officially adding booze as of this week. The bar is now open, and some Jazz Fest drink specials have been going on. The masterminds behind Brown Butter Simon Beck and Dayne Womax have also just rolled out dinner service every Thurs-Sat from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and plas to officially launch brunch soon. Until then, feast your eyes upon this supper menu hotness that includes a chicken fried quail salad and rabbit and dumplings. Yes, indeed.


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Following the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Government of Canada reaffirmed its commitment to address plastic pollution and protect biodiversity here at home, and around the world with Canada’s Ban on Certain Harmful Single-Use Plastics.
“We promised Canadians we would deliver a ban on certain harmful single-use plastics,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “We’re following through on that commitment by prohibiting the manufacture and import in Canada of five of the six categories of these harmful single-use plastics.”
“With this ban, and our participation toward achieving a global treaty, we’re joining the global effort to reduce plastic pollution and protect our wildlife and habitats. There is a clear linkage between a world free of plastic pollution and a sustainable world, rich in biodiversity—a world that also best supports the health and economic security of Canadians, protects our environment, and helps in the fight against climate change.”
Effective December 20, 2022, the manufacture and import for sale of the following harmful single-use plastics in Canada is prohibited:
- checkout bags
- foodservice ware made from, or containing, problematic plastics that are hard to recycle
- stir sticks
- straws (with some exceptions)
The ban on the manufacture and import of ring carriers will enter into force in June 2023.
Over the next decade, this world-leading ban on harmful single-use plastics will result in the estimated elimination of over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution, which is equivalent to over one million full garbage bags.
The Government of Canada will continue to be guided by science as it takes additional measures toward its zero plastic waste goal. The Government is working with provinces, territories, and industry to set an ambitious collection target of 90 percent for recycling plastic beverage bottles. It is also developing regulations to require that certain plastic packaging contain at least 50 per cent recycled content and to establish clear rules for labelling recyclable and compostable plastics. Draft regulations are targeted for publication as early as fall 2023. In addition, the Government is developing a plastic registry to hold plastic producers accountable for their plastic waste.
These measures put Canada among world leaders in the fight against plastic pollution and will help to meet the commitments of the Ocean Plastics Charter. Internationally, Canada continues to advance global ambition as a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution. Canada is working with countries and stakeholders globally to develop an ambitious and effective legally-binding treaty to end plastic pollution. The world must act urgently and concretely to tackle plastic pollution and Canada will continue to be a strong contributor to this effort.
“The convenience of single-use plastics comes at a devastating cost to our oceans. Plastic products like six-pack ring carriers and shopping bags are consistently found in the stomachs of whales and around the necks of seabirds. Once in the ocean, plastic can persist for hundreds of years. This ban is the first step toward stopping the problem at its source,” said Anthony Merante, plastics campaigner at Oceana Canada.
For further information, visit: Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations – Overview


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During the VMARK Interior Design Week, iGuzzini unveils its new lighting space
The Light Experience, the place where visitors can enjoy a first-hand experience of iGuzzini’s lighting perfection, comes to Vietnam for the first time. LK Technology, iGuzzini’s distributor in Vietnam, hosts the new space at Thanh My Loi, where it was unveiled on the 18th of May during the VMARK Interior Design Week. The new Light Experience space in Vietnam adds to the number of those already in the APAC area, in Auckland, Shanghai and New Delhi.
Massimiliano Guzzini - iGuzzini’s Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer - attended the VMARK Interior Design Week, organised by the Vietnam Design Association and the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, and gave a talk on smart lighting design at its International Interior Design Summit.


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Well Econsultancy has published their latest statistics on mobile internet usage and trends from both here in the UK and Europe. I’ve picked out a few of the interesting ones:
- 42% of UK shoppers have used their mobile phones while shopping offline, while 16% used it to compare prices with other stores.
- 55% of small businesses have not checked the appearance of their own website on a mobile phone, despite the fact that 64% of small business owners regularly use the mobile web.
- 41% of SMEs said their website didn’t look as good on a mobile, while 36% said the functionality had been affected.
- Just 7% have already optimised their sites for mobile, but 65% had no plans for a mobile version.
- According to a study of 1,500 people in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain shoppers who use their mobile in some part of the research and purchase process spend 15% to 30% more than those who use just one channel.
- UK users prefer to access the mobile internet using a browser rather than an ‘app’ (70% versus 55%) according to a study by Orange.
- Mobile internet sales could double in the next 3 years. By 2013 mobile internet sales could reach as much as £275m, 4% of online retail spending, up from £123m currently.


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Rumors have spread like wildfire this past summer about Google’s upcoming product, Google Glass. This futuristic wearable computer shoots video in 720p, includes GPS, SMS messaging and the ability to make phone calls as well as a high resolution display that is said to be equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away. The specs are topped off with the lovely promise of a full day of battery life.
Google Glass will allow you to multi-task by staying connected and communicating even when users are physically active or have their hands full. It will also grant users creative opportunities to record video or take pictures with a simple voice command. This is much easier than having to fish a phone out of a pocket and go through three screens just to take a picture. By the time the camera has finally activated the moment has passed. It also assists law enforcement agencies by giving them more information than ever. Google Glass provides a constant tether to the internet for its wearers.
The common user also has to think about the drawbacks to Glass. Many are worried about the breach of privacy that Glass might entail. Google has developed facial recognition apps that does exactly as it sounds. Walking down the street, Glass would attempt to identify every person you pass. Also, no one around a Glass wearer would be able to identify if the wearer is recording everything around them or not. Third parties around the wearer would have to tiptoe around during their conversation just to ensure that Glass would not pick up any sensitive or private information. Some establishments have already chosen to ban Google Glass even before its release due to its invasiveness.
Dave Meinert, the owner of “The 5 Point”, a bar located in Seattle, Wash. was the first to ban Google Glass due to customers not wanting to be known. “[à]we don’t let people film other people or take photos unwanted of people in the bar, because it is kind of a private place that people go.” Says Meinert in an interview with MYNorthwest.com.
Despite the wide controversy surrounding Google Glass, most assume that it will be successful due to its very fashionable design and innovative technology. Google hopes to launch the developer edition of Glass in the first quarter of 2014 priced at $1,500.


text: Dogecoin was the cryptocurrency commerce of the day after Coinbase, the largest U.S. cryptocurrency change, mentioned it’s going to make dogecoin out there on Coinbase Pro, the buying and selling platform for its skilled merchants. Wednesday’s announcement despatched dogecoin, a meme-based cryptocurrency standard amongst retail buyers, up by 31 % in late buying and selling. Dogecoin reached a market capitalization of some $54 billion on Wednesday, making it the sixth-largest digital forex, in accordance to information and market tracker CoinGecko.com. But Wednesday’s surge nonetheless leaves the worth of dogecoin far under the place it was earlier than cryptocurrency fanatic and Tesla CEO Elon Musk referred to as the digital forex a hustle throughout his visitor TV spot on “Saturday Night Live” final month. Even although the worth of dogecoin has been pushed up in a buying and selling frenzy by retail buyers, its precise real-world use is restricted. The coin has not seen a lot progress as a type of commerce fee…. not like bitcoin, which has seen its use as a type of spendable forex develop.


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Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida samples seafood at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market on Thursday to assess the impact of China’s ban on Japanese seafood in response to the release of treated radioactive waste water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant into the ocean. Sampled and talked to the workers.
The release of treated wastewater began last week and is expected to continue for a long time, possibly decades. Japanese fishing groups and neighboring countries protested, and China immediately banned all imports of Japanese seafood in response.
One of the seafood business operators told Kishida that his sales of scallops (a type of seafood) had dropped by 90 percent since the treated water was released. Scallops are largely exported to China.
“We will compile support measures for people involved in fisheries,” Kishida told reporters after a visit to the market. “We will also strongly call on China to end its trade restrictions that have no scientific basis.” China had increased testing on Japanese fishery products, causing lengthy customs delays before the waters were released and banned.
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The data published by Eurostat showed on Thursday that Retail Sales in the euro area contracted by 5.9% on a monthly basis in January. This reading followed December’s increase of 1.8% and fell short of the market expectation for a decline of 1.1%. On a yearly basis, Retail Sales fell by 6.4%.
Other data from the euro area revealed that the Unemployment Rate stayed unchanged at 8.1% in January and came in better than analysts’ estimate of 8.3%.
Meanwhile, European statistics reported that retail sales in Bulgaria increased by 1.8 % in January compared to the last month of 2020, when they increased by 1.3 %. This represents a slight increase in retail sales for the ninth consecutive month, after the last recorded real collapse in retail sales of 20.1% last March, followed by a 2.0% fall in April – during the first Covid lockdown in 2020.
Better growth in retail across the EU was only reported in Sweden (up 3.5%).
On an annual basis, the decline in retail sales in our country was limited in January to a decrease of 3.9% after a 10.7% decrease in December.


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: The End of Passwords has Arrived
Google Introduces Passkey Technology
Google's new Passkey technology offers secure authentication options like Fingerprint, Facial ID, or PIN, replacing the traditional password system
Passkey Authentication Options
Passkey authentication options include Fingerprint, Facial ID, or PIN, providing secure and convenient access to online accounts.
Collaboration with Apple and Microsoft
Google collaborates with Apple and Microsoft to revolutionize online account access with Passkeys, providing secure authentication options.
Revolutionizing Online Account Access
Passkey technology is revolutionizing online account access by providing more secure and convenient authentication options.
Passwords pose security risks and are inconvenient for users, making Passkeys a more attractive alternative for online authentication.
Passkeys for Google Accounts
Google Passkeys are now available for account authentication, offering more secure and convenient alternatives to traditional passwords.
Replacement of Passwords with Passkey Authentication
Passkeys replace traditional passwords for online authentication, providing a more secure and convenient access to online accounts.
QR Code Authentication for Other Devices
Users can authenticate on other devices with QR codes, using Face ID or Touch ID, making Passkeys even more accessible and convenient.
The Fido Alliance, led by Apple, Google, and Microsoft, is promoting the adoption of Passkeys as a more secure and user-friendly authentication method.
Passkeys for Safer Online World
Passkeys offer a safer online world, but adoption is still in the early stages as users transition from traditional passwords to this innovative authentication technology.


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Online clothing purchases today are premised on the idea that all you need to know is your size or measurements in order to guarantee a good fit, and while men can often get away with this, the reality is that women’s clothing purchases are much more complex. The fact that more than 30-50% of all online apparel purchases are returned is a testament to this, but even those who have the luxury of shopping in person struggle with getting the feedback they can rely upon and feeling confident with their purchases. More than 71% of millennial women send selfies to their friends when trying on clothes, but the chances that they’ll get a response from every friend while they’re still in the store are low.
Now there’s a solution: LookyLoo, an AI-powered social commerce platform that allows users to post photos and receive direct feedback on fashion choices from a cloud of other consumers. Meanwhile, the AI (better known as “Lucy”) learns based on how you and others to vote, leading to stronger, personalized, and specific recommendations. What looks good in fashion is contextual to location and age group, and Lucy takes this into account for every user.
“Fashion is art, and for a lot of people it’s an opportunity to be something beautiful,” says Chia-Lin Simmons, founder of LookyLoo. The app is already enormously popular, and the team at LookyLoo is looking to the future. Where’s that, you might ask? Cosmetics.


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iQoo Neo 5S is set to release later today though a special launch event in China. Ahead of the launch, the Chinese smartphone maker has teased some key specifications of the upcoming smartphone. The company has shared some teaser images which show that it may not have a 3.5mm headphone jack but it will get a stereo speaker setup. The iQoo Neo 5S is also teased to get a 48-megapixel primary sensor for the triple rear camera setup. The display specifications of the iQoo Neo 5S have also surfaced online.
A Weibo. Through Post, iQoo teased that the upcoming iQoo Neo 5S There will be a 4,500mAh battery with dual-cell 66W fast charging support. Vivo The subsidiary is claimed to charge from zero to 70 percent in 18 minutes. one more Post The teaser suggests that the upcoming iQoo smartphone will get stereo speakers and the 3.5mm headphone jack doesn’t appear in the images shared.
iQoo, via one more A Weibo post has teased the camera specifications of the upcoming iQoo Neo 5S. The smartphone is said to get a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.79 aperture 25mm aspherical lens. The iQoo Neo 5S will also have Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The Chinese smartphone maker has also shared a camera sample from the iQoo Neo 5S and it shows a decent dynamic range and realistic color reproduction.
Separately, another Weibo Post The upcoming iQoo teases some of the display specifications of the smartphone. The iQoo Neo 5S will get an OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate with a peak brightness of 1,300nits. The upcoming smartphone will also have 6,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,000Hz touch sampling rate and HDR10+ support.


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Netflix has hit a monumental feat in its journey to be the leader in streaming services with reporting 203.6 million paid subscribers around the world that includes a record breaking 37 million paid memberships in 2020.
According to the company’s earning report it achieved $25 billion in annual revenue, the company also acknowledged that with rise of other streaming service it “expects to add 6 million subscribers” in Q1 2021 compared to last year’s “15.8 million”.
The report also revealed that Netflix earned a upticking growth in Q4 2020 with new shows like The Queen’s Gambit and Emily in Paris. The Queen Gambit was watched by more than 62 million households within the first four weeks of its release, making it the second most watched limited series on Netflix.
Netflix has promised its subscribers that the company will release at least one movie a week — or about one every five days after it increased the prices of its services in the United States.
HBO Max and Peacock are not able to give tough competition to Netflix as Disney Plus remains as the biggest rival to the company with recently launched WandaVision and other shows like the The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Ms. Marvel, and Hawkeye.


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Will Westlake, a Starbucks barista in Hamburg, New York, whose store recently filed for a union election, was told by a manager he could attend an earlier mandatory anti-union meeting on 8 November because he was scheduled to work early the next day.
The meeting was in a nearby hotel and when Westlake arrived he found out he was the only worker in attendance, with six members of Starbucks management. The meeting lasted for about one hour.
“That was basically how my last anti-union meeting was, totally separated from the rest of my co-workers and having to be surrounded,” said Westlake. “They started off by going around and saying that they wanted me to vote no for the union. And then they went back and forth talking about how great all the benefits are at Starbucks and if we vote in a union, we may not have any of those benefits.”
Westlake emphasized the numerous anti-union meetings have been framed as listening sessions, but it’s the workers who have been doing most of the listening: the sessions have largely consisted of management presenting anti-union talking points, with little feedback from workers involved.
Westlake’s experience is just one part of an aggressive anti-union campaign run by the giant coffee chain as six Starbucks stores in the Buffalo, New York, area have filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board in recent weeks. If successful, the stores would be the first Starbucks corporate locations to unionize in the US.
Workers have reported numerous captive audience meetings, one-on-one meetings, store shutdowns, closures, remodelings, and text messages – a mode of contact that was previously used only for emergencies. Dozens of corporate executives have flooded stores with the intent to deter workers from voting to unionize, workers say.
“The company has sent more managers here to Buffalo than workers voting in the first three elections. There’s no way it can be viewed as anything other than an attempt to spy on partners and intimidate them,” said Brian Murray, a Starbucks barista in Lancaster, New York.
Murray added: “Every day we’re forced to deal with new managers we’ve never met and it’s draining to have to go through constant anti-union meetings, text messages and managers trying to pry into our lives. It shouldn’t be acceptable for them to treat anyone like this, especially during the lead-up to an election that should be free and fair.”
The former Starbucks CEO and billionaire Howard Schultz visited Buffalo to present a case against unionizing to workers on 6 November and incited criticism for making an analogy to the Holocaust in discussing the company’s mission.
Starbucks Workers United filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB on 4 November over Starbucks’ conduct during the union campaign, which included Starbucks shutting down two stores that are holding union elections and transferring workers to disrupt the voting units.
Starbucks characterized the closures as coincidental.
“As soon as the baristas publicly announced they wanted to have a union, corporate executives swarmed into the stores to try to stop them with threats, promises, store closings and overwhelming pressure,” said Richard Bensinger, an organizer with Starbucks Workers United.
He said all 21 employees at the Starbucks store in Cheektowaga, New York, had signed the union election petition, but the company then expanded the voting list to 46 workers.
At another store, Bensinger said, 80% of workers signed union authorization cards, and Starbucks shut down that store as well. The company transferred workers to other stores and turned the location into a training center.
According to a December 2019 report conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, US employers are charged with violating labor law in 41.5% of all union elections and spend nearly $340m annually on union avoidance consultants, tactics that labor leaders and many elected officials are hoping to rein in with the Pro Act in Congress.
“It’s been really stressful, especially when there are times when they come in a group of four or five of them to talk to every single person on the floor. It’s 10am, peak coffee time, and we’re trying to keep up business while they’re trying to do one-on-one meetings with people to gauge what’s going on with them, and that’s been frustrating,” said Angel Krempa, a shift supervisor at the Starbucks location in Depew, New York, just outside Buffalo. Krempa’s is of three stores that filed for a union election with the NLRB this month, joining three other nearby stores that have begun their mail-in ballot elections.
Krempa said that since the union organizing drive went public, Starbucks has sent dozens of corporate executives to the Buffalo area, including two support managers to her store, which had operated without an assistant manager.
As corporate executives have shown up at stores as a part of the anti-union campaign, her store manager, along with several others in the area, have resigned. She noted that shortly after her store filed for their union election, on 9 November, Starbucks announced the store would be remodeled, the third time in the past eight months.
The corporate presence, Krempa argued, has worsened working conditions, as workers feel constantly under surveillance, and it has consistently disrupted regular job duties, while problems such as short staffing, lack of proper training and safety measures remain unresolved.
“It’s really just a spying technique, and it’s made most of our baristas really uncomfortable, because it feels like instead of a helping hand, it’s more of an eye in the sky right in front of you, and they’re waiting for you to mess something up,” added Krempa. “We’re here to just bring back the accountability that Starbucks says they’re trying to give to us and make sure that Starbucks is the good company that they say they are, and this is how we feel we can make sure that happens. Starbucks needs to allow partners to continue to fight for themselves and the company because that’s all we’re trying to do.”
Starbucks deferred comment to a letter by the Starbucks executive vice-president – North America, Rossann Williams, who noted operational changes in the Buffalo area were a response to operational gaps.
“We care deeply about our partners here in Buffalo, as we do in every market across the country, and we want to preserve our partner to partner relationship,” wrote Williams. “While it is certainly our partners’ right to make their own decision – and one we fully respect – I do hope our partners will give us a chance as they make the best decision for themselves, their families and their fellow partners.”


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Microsoft to retire Cortana Virtual Assistant for Windows 10 and 11
In its support document, Microsoft recently quietly announced that it would no longer support Cortana as a standalone app in Windows, starting in late 2023. This move doesn’t come as a surprise, considering the lack of attention the virtual assistant has received in recent years.
Cortana was marketed as “the next big thing,” offering users a personal assistant capable of searching for information, completing tasks, and answering questions similar to Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. It debuted back in 2014 for Windows and Windows Phone. However, by 2019, Microsoft shifted its focus after attempts to boost engagement by integrating Cortana with Alexa proved unsuccessful. The company repositioned Cortana as an assistant primarily for Office and Teams users.
With the introduction of Bing Chat and voice access for Windows 11, Cortana’s functionality is slowly being replaced. As a result, Microsoft advises the remaining users of the Cortana app in Windows 10 or 11 (which are likely few in number) to seek for alternative options.
“We know that this change may affect some of the ways you work in Windows, so we want to help you transition smoothly to the new options. Instead of clicking the Cortana icon and launching the app to begin using voice, now you can use voice and satisfy your productivity needs through different tools.”


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13 supermodels with insanely expensive engagement rings: from Hailey Bieber’s US$600,000 rock to Emily Ratajkowski’s double diamond – and the gorgeous sparkler Alessandra Ambrosio lost
To a supermodel, image is everything. So naturally, would-be suitors need to bring the bling when it comes to getting down on one knee.
Hailey Bieber, for example, has a massive ring from Justin Bieber that could have cost US$600,000, while Shanina Shaik, on the other hand, once wore a gold, diamond ring in a hexagon shape.
So don your shades – because here are some of the brightest (and most expensive jewels) given to the queens of the catwalk.
Alessandra Ambrosio received a square-cut sparkler from entrepreneur Jamie Mazur in 2008 – but she didn’t have the ring for long.
As Ambrosio told Vogue UK in 2016: “I actually lost my engagement ring a few years ago, so I do want to replace it. I don’t know if he’s going to make me replace it myself since I lost it!”
Ambrosio was engaged to Jamie Mazur between 2008 and 2018, but they never actually married. It’s unclear if the model ever donned another ring to signify her engagement to Mazur, but in March 2018, the couple of 10 years announced they had separated.
In 2016, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley started wearing a statement diamond from Jason Statham.
She debuted her ring at the Golden Globes that year and has been engaged to the actor ever since.
In 2016, US Weekly reported that Neil Lane designed the jewellery, which features a round, five-carat diamond set in a platinum band. The publication also reported that it cost US$350,000. Phew.
In May of that year, Kate Upton debuted a similarly shaped ring from her now-husband Justin Verlander on the Met Gala red carpet.
People reported that jeweller Anita Ko worked with Verlander to create the ring, which features a large, eight-carat solitaire inside a silver band with swooped claws covered in pavé diamonds.
Upton and Verlander later married in November 2017.
In January 2016, Shanina Shaik showed off her one-of-a-kind jewellery from DJ Ruckus.
Designer Lorraine Schwartz actually created two engagement rings for the model, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia reported at the time, and Shaik chose the one she liked best.
Her favourite had a large, hexagon-cut stone set in a gold band, with another hexagon-shaped halo of diamonds surrounding it.
Though they married in 2018, the couple announced their split around one year later in August 2019.
Hailey Bieber confirmed her engagement to Justin Bieber on July 7, 2018, but didn’t share her ring with the world until almost two months later.
But when she did showcase her oval-shaped ring, Bieber did so in a fashionable way: on the cover of Vogue Mexico.
Gemologist and diamond expert Grant Mobley said that at the time that her ring appeared to feature an eight-carat diamond, and could have cost US$600,000.
The model’s now-husband worked with Jack Solow of Solow & Co. to design the ring.
“In the end, Justin wanted something that would gracefully accentuate Hailey’s beautifully-shaped hands,” the jeweller told People at the time.
Emily Ratajkowski also waited until July 2018 to give fans a close-up look at her unique ring from Sebastian Bear-McClard.
Kathryn Money of Brilliant Earth told Page Six at the time that Ratajkowski’s ring could have cost anywhere between US$50,000 to US$90,000.
But its price wasn’t the stand-out feature of the ring. Instead, it was its actual diamonds: a two-carat, princess-cut diamond and a three-carat, pear-shaped diamond, both of which matched her thick wedding band.
The couple announced in July 2022 that they’d be divorcing after four years of marriage.
On July 27, 2018, Karlie Kloss gave the internet a glimpse of her expensive rock from Joshua Kushner.
As Brilliant Earth’s Kathryn Money told Page Six at the time, the ring’s square-cut diamond, crystal-covered band, and silver setting could have cost between US$200,000 and US$500,000.
The centre stone of the ring, Money added, is likely between seven and eight carats.
Heidi Klum’s dark engagement ring, which she received on Christmas Eve in 2018, was specially designed for the model by her now-husband Tom Kaulitz.
“Tom drew the dream ring for Heidi and then went in search of the right stones,” a friend of Klum’s told People at the time.
He specifically wanted a green centre stone, as that is Klum’s favourite colour, People reported, and chose one that looks green in sunlight but red under darker lighting.
Angel Martha Hunt
With an Instagram post in January 2020, former Victoria’s Secret Angel Martha Hunt revealed that photographer Jason McDonald proposed to her with a square-cut diamond ring.
Hunt wrote, “I have a secret …” as her post’s caption, alongside a photo of herself making a “shhh” symbol with her left hand – showing off her ring in the process.
As PureWow reported at the time, her cushion-cut diamond is likely three or more carats and is surrounded by smaller diamonds in “tapered baguette” shapes.
Jourdan Dunn has been engaged to Dion “Sincere” Hamilton since early 2020.
“Jourdan Dunn Hamilton ....... has a nice ring to it! 💍👰🏽🖤,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
Dunn gave fans another glimpse at her circular diamond – which is surrounded by a diamond halo and smaller stones across its band – with an Instagram post on February 3, 2020.
As reported by The Knot, her large ring could have cost between US$40,000 and US$100,000 depending on its colour and clarity.
Thanks to her now-husband Juan David Borrero, Jasmine Tookes started sporting a stand-out diamond that same year.
The former Victoria’s Secret Angel shared an Instagram post on September 24, 2020, that shows her holding hands with Borrero. The photo put her oval-shaped ring front and centre, so viewers could see the giant stone set on a thin, gold band.
Jewellery brand Ritani designed the jewellery, and told Who What Wear that Tookes’ diamond is seven carats. The publication also reported that the ring has a hidden halo and platinum prongs, and it cost more than US$250,000.
Taylor Hill announced on Instagram in June 2021 that her “best friend” and “soulmate” Daniel Fryer proposed with a unique ring.
“My best friend, my soulmate, I’ll love you always 💗✨ 06/25/21 ✨💗,” the model wrote on Instagram at the time, alongside a close-up shot of her ring.
The massive jewellery has three main stones: an emerald-cut diamond in the middle, and a smaller triangle diamond on each side.
This year, Romee Strijd shared that her long-time partner Laurens van Leeuwen proposed to her – and the model’s ring is stunning.
Strijd shared the news on Instagram, where she posted a photo of her ring and wrote, “I said YES 💍❤.”
Apeksha Kothari, the COO of diamond search engine Rare Carat, described the ring at the time as “a looker, for sure”. Its centre diamond is likely three or four carats, Kothari said, and the stones are seemingly “bright white and clean”.
“Overall, I’d estimate this ring to be around US$400,000, due to the great quality diamond,” Kothari added. “The thin band creates the illusion the diamond is almost floating.”
- Justin Bieber proposed with a piece estimated to be worth US$600,000, while actor Jason Statham dropped some US$350,000 on wife Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
- Kate Upton, Karlie Kloss and Shanina Shaik all feature, but even the most expensive ring isn’t a guarantee of true love – with three couples on this list no longer together …