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To make this festive season more fun for enthusiasts, Ducati India has linked a deal with Yes Bank. Using its retail finance option customers can avail best in segment customised loan programmes. Yes Bank is the country’s 5th largest private bank. The Italian bike maker also recently launched the XDiavel in India for Rs 15.87 lakhs.
Ducati India, to make our life easier and enhance the premium ownership experience, has also launched a new 24×7 roadside assistance program has been launched. This is being brought in a collaboration with India Assistance, which is a fully owned subsidiary of a leading international assistance company, Mapfre Assistance.
Under the programme, the association will provide on-road assistance to registered Ducati owners in all five dealerships locations across the country. India Assistance says that it is committed to provide round the clock prompt service to Ducati owners enhancing the safety, comfort and confidence for Ducati riders touring the country.
Here’s what Mr Ravi Avalur, Managing Director of Ducati India had to say:
“This year we’ve launched four new Ducatis in India including the XDiavel, 959 Panigale, Multistrada Enduro and Hypermotard and the response has been fantastic! We’re seeing increased demand from smaller cities and wanted to make our motorcycles even more accessible to enthusiasts who want to experience the exhilaration of riding a Ducati. In India, riding season and festive season converge and there was no better time to roll out our collection of offers for the riding community.”
Ducati is also kicking off the first phase of the Demo Road Show weekends in October. It will start in Mangalore on the weekend of 8-9 October, and then it will move to Gurgaon, Coimbatore and Goa, dates of which will be announced shortly. Motorcyclists will be able to book demo rides in advance, experiencing the Authentic Italian Performance of Ducati in their own cities with the added opportunity of being able to buy official Ducati merchandise and apparel at the mini-showroom.


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Financial experts who sell a mobile in order to upgrade to the Apple iPhone 4S will be able to immediately download a brand new app from Bright Grey.
The company has created a tool that allows consumers to view information on any product at the touch of a button.
Bright Touch features a plethora of details from the firm’s personal and business protection menus.
Roger Edwards, proposition director at Bright Grey, said the app has been designed not to give immediate quotes for services as advisers prefer to deal face-to-face.
However, he was keen to point out the strengths of the tool, stating: “Where this app really stands out is in front of clients when handling objections. Advisers will be able to create a profile for their customers there and then which will give tailored answers.”
Another company to have recently launched a new app is Lloyds TSB, which has released a mobile banking feature for its customers.
Posted by Claire Marshall

domain: news


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Uber Eats Sri Lanka Lead Bhavna Dadlani on new tipping feature and more
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of many, particularly businesses that relied on consumers to have mobility and free access on a whim. Uber Eats, which has become a household name in Sri Lanka since its inception, has been a major part of connecting restaurants and their customers in the island and since the pandemic hit, they’ve played an even more urgent role in the process. According to Uber Eats Sri Lanka Lead Bhavna Dadlani, they’ve gone the extra mile in ensuring that both parties experience a smooth transition throughout these difficult times.
Bhavna dove deep into the new “tipping system”, which was introduced by Uber Eats in an attempt to support the restaurant and food industry and provide an opportunity for consumers to have a hand in the process of rebuilding.
She shared that as the Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on everyone, including their delivery and restaurant partners, they have introduced the tipping feature to help support the industry during crucial times like this, after receiving several requests from their users to engage themselves in the process as well. She added that they believe a collective effort by Uber Eats, restaurants, delivery partners, as well as the users showcases both solidarity and provides support for the industry when they need it the most.
The tipping feature allows Uber Eats users to contribute and support the restaurant industry, by choosing to tip their favourite restaurants Rs. 150 and/or tip their delivery partner who completes their food order any amount of their choice, above Rs. 20. All tips will be credited directly to the accounts of restaurants and delivery partners.
How the tipping process occurs is, once you reach the checkout page, select the option to tip your restaurant/store and courier. For restaurants/stores, choose to offer a tip of Rs. 150 at the top of the checkout page. For couriers, enter the amount you wish to tip at the bottom of the checkout page.
She further shared their thoughts behind Uber Eats’ involvement with Instagram in providing delivery services via the social media platform, stating that it was primarily in order to support small and independent restaurants which were struggling during the curfew, and therefore UberEats has linked the “order food” buttons on their Instagram profiles and “order food” stickers in their stories, directly with the app. Both these Instagram features will link directly to each restaurant’s specific Uber Eats menu, thereby enabling a seamless order experience for consumers. Restaurants will also be able to re-share their stickers on their own stories to help drive awareness of community support for the industry.
Bhavna shared that they recognised the immense challenges that come with guiding a business through these unpredictable times. Communities want to rally around the businesses they love. This is why they have linked themselves on the Instagram platform to enable our restaurants to activate these new features, so that users can support the restaurants they love. This initiative is one of their many efforts to support and uplift the restaurant industry in Sri Lanka, during these trying times.
Bhavna also shared some of the concerns Uber Eats had to address when providing these services for the public during this time, stating: “Our biggest concern is the safety of our restaurant partners, courier partners, and consumers. Safety is essential to Uber and it’s at the heart of everything we do. We continue to work closely with public health authorities to keep our community safe.”
She added that as social distancing becomes more commonplace, they would like to remind all Uber Eats users that they can request orders to be left on their doorsteps to facilitate a contactless delivery. During essential supply deliveries, their partners are provided with masks and sanitisers, along with a special safety training exercise via telephone, to ensure hygiene and safety standards for themselves and the community at large.
“We continuously send reminders to our delivery partners through in-app messages and emails, reminding them of basic steps they can take to help prevent the spread of the virus, drawn from advice given by public health authorities. We also support delivery partners who are diagnosed with Covid-19 or placed in quarantine by a public health authority, by offering compensation for a period of up to 14 days,” she said.
Bhavna also shared with us the response they’ve received form their partners, stating that they’ve gotten a great response from their delivery partners who want to #movewhatmatters to support the communities and earn a livelihood.
She noted: “As mentioned before, the safety of the entire community is our biggest concern and we have taken the necessary measures to equip our delivery partners with masks and sanitisers, and educated them on the health guidelines they need to follow.”
Finally, about Uber Eats’ hopes for the future in the island, she said: “As a country, we’ve always been resilient. The road to recovery will by no means be an easy one, but we have confidence in the strong infrastructure that our consumers, delivery partners, and restaurant partners have helped us build. The safety of our communities remain our top priority, and this will remain at the heart of everything we do to help restaurants and delivery partners bounce back, while ensuring consumers still have access to the food they love.”


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Assembly of the company’s Model 3 cars will be put on pause to correct for what Elon Musk has admitted was an over-reliance on robots.
The news: The Model 3 production line in Tesla’s plant in Freemont, California, will enter stasis for four to five days as the company works to “improve automation.” Most workers will be expected to use vacation days or stay home without pay.
Too many robots: In an interview with CBS last week, Musk said he has relied too heavily on robotics to build vehicles. As he tweeted, “Yes, excessive automation at Tesla was a mistake. To be precise, my mistake. Humans are underrated.”
By the numbers: Tesla originally promised to produce 5,000 Model 3 cars per week by the end of 2017. The company now claims it will hit that mark by the end of June, though as of March, it was building just 2,020 each week. The shutdown could be a last-ditch effort to throw out some bots and get things back on track, but combined with lax safety and financial worries, it is certain to generate a lot of investor angst for the firm.
This story first appeared in our future of work newsletter, Clocking In. Sign up here!


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SCC Alumni Network News
News and events that make us proud to be members of the SCC community.
South Central College Foundation Online Auction January 28th - February 5th!
Proceeds to benefit SCC student scholarship program
Let the bidding begin! South Central College Foundation third annual online auction kicked off this week on January 28! The 2014 auction contains 200 items ranging from restaurant gift cards to weekend getaways and more. Since the auction’s inception three years ago, over $35,000 has been raised to benefit students attending SCC.
Bids will be accepted through February 5, 2014. The online catalog can be viewed by visiting www.biddingforgood.com/scc. SCC continues to accept items from donors who may be interested in contributing to the auction.
The South Central College Foundation was created to provide support to the college and its students. With the donations raised, the Foundation provides opportunities to advance the educational pursuits of our students through scholarships and to advance SCC’s ever-expanding programming.
Please consider donating an item, bidding in the online auction (Jan. 28-Feb. 5, 2014) and spreading the news of our auction to your friends and family.


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Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, are synthetic compounds that have become ubiquitous in everyday life. These chemicals are widely used in products such as non-stick cookware, carpets, food packaging, and even firefighting foam. However, what many people may not realize is that there are toxic forever chemicals in bottled water.
Special to The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Forever Chemicals in Bottled Water and Why It Matters
What are Forever Chemicals?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of synthetic chemicals used in many consumer products because they repel water and oil. But once released into the environment, these chemicals do not break down and accumulate in soil, water and air. That’s a significant risk to human health. Exposure leads to a wide range of negative health effects – cancer, decreased fertility and developmental issues.
Forever Chemicals in Bottled Water
A recent study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found high levels of PFAS in several brands of bottled water. Almost all of the three dozen brands tested contained PFAS, with some containing levels significantly higher than the government safety threshold.
Researchers also found that plastic water bottles may be a significant source of PFAS contamination because of the chemicals’ prevalence in the packaging process. Many municipal water systems, including some that provide water to bottling companies, are contaminated with these harmful chemicals.
Impact on Human Health
Research shows that exposure to PFAS increases the risk of cancer, affects the immune system, causes developmental harm and even contributes to obesity.
While more research is needed to fully understand the impact of these chemicals, the evidence so far suggests that they are dangerous to human health.
Regulations and Policies
Currently, there are no federal regulations on PFAS in bottled water, but some states have set limits on the amount of PFAS allowed in drinking water. While these policies are a step in the right direction, they do not cover all bottled water brands.
Minimizing Exposure to Forever Chemicals
In minimizing exposure to PFAS, we should know which products contain these toxic chemicals. Consumers can choose to purchase water from companies that have tested their products for PFAS and are transparent about their findings.
Alternatively, investing in a home filtration system can significantly reduce the amount of PFAS in drinking water.
Raising awareness about PFAS is vital in creating meaningful policy changes. Holding companies accountable for the contaminants in their products is critical. So is advocating for stricter regulations on the use of these harmful chemicals.
Forever chemicals, or PFAS, are a toxic class of chemicals that have become pervasive in our everyday lives. The prevalence of these chemicals in bottled water is a concerning public health issue that must be addressed.
Consumers must educate themselves on the risks associated with PFAS exposure and take active steps to protect themselves and their families. Through continued advocacy and awareness, we can work towards a safer and healthier future.


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If you’re like me, your debit card is as good as cash. Whip it out anytime and it’s an easy transaction, but as people become more dependent on plastic money, crooks have an even easier job of snatching hard-earned dollars and cents.
Hundreds of cases of identity theft are reported annually in Montgomery County, including stolen checks, fraudulent bank deposits and credit cards.
Protecting your assets has become a major issue as society mainstreams technology, making everything from employee codes, credit card numbers and personal information available in cyperspace.
Sgt. Bob Berry of the Conroe Police Department said the best way to safeguard your personal information is to pay more attention.
“Don’t leave your purse, wallet or laptop sitting on the front or backseat of the car. You’d be surprised how many cases we get a week of people who go to a store and leave stuff on the front seat,” he said. “These thieves are opportunists.”
For information about identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission Web site at ftc.gov or call the Department of Public Safety’s Montgomery County bureau at 936-538-3519.
Have you or someone you know been a victim of identity theft? Doing anything extra these days to protect yourself? Please comment in the blog space below.


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President-elect Barack Obama will introduce Monday his National Economic Council director, Lawrence Summers, and his Treasury secretary nominee, Timothy Geithner, two men from the same ideological wing of the Democratic Party but with different roles in the new administration.
The team projects heft, not ideology, said James Galbraith, a liberal economist at the University of Texas who has been in contact with the Obama economic staff. In the opening months of the Obama administration, Messrs. Geithner and Summers will be shepherding through Congress some of the most aggressive, interventionist economic policies since the Depression, and observers caution that the president-elect can't afford to appear as if he is exploiting the nation's economic crisis for an ideological agenda.
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Chile: Consumer confidence rises in April
May 12, 2017
The Adimark GfK consumer confidence index (IPEC, Índice de Percepción de la Economía) increased from 37.3 points in March to 40.1 points in April, marking the second consecutive monthly rise. However, the index remains entrenched below the 50-point threshold separating pessimism from optimism, where it has been since May 2014.
April’s significant uptick was driven by greater optimism regarding the current economic situation of the country, the economic situation of the country over the next twelve months, consumers’ personal economic situation and the country’s economic stability over the next five years. Consumers also became more willing to make household purchases, which bodes well for private consumption.
Author: Oliver Reynolds, Economist


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A new report on consumer online and mobile behavior finds that smartphones are most popular with singles, while married folks favor tablets. The "2012 Online User Behavior and Engagement Study
" from The Search Agency and Harris Interactive reveals distinct differences in online and mobile behavior between various age groups. Other factors impacting behavior include disposable income, as well as the influence of children. “It’s no doubt that a plethora of smartphones and tablets are increasingly being used by consumers, so mobile marketers and advertisers need to think beyond the device when they’re providing content to the consumer,” said Mike Solomon
More Suggested Content:
Smartphone Marketing: 4 Predictive Targeting Tips Give Marketers More Predictive ROI
June 13, 2012
From Today @ Target Marketing
Last month, smartphones passed the number of feature phones on the market, with the worldwide smartphone market growth at 42.5 percent year over year in Q1 2012. The capabilities of smart mobile devices enable marketers to more efficiently reach relevant audiences with the highest purchase intent. And now, marketers have a new set of demographics to throw into to the mix—device demographics
—which adds a crucial layer to traditional targeting based on demographic profiles and assumptions based on previous purchase behavior alone.


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Maharaja comes to Hicksville. Yes, it is the new grocery store and farmers market. The grand opening on Thursday, June 30, saw a large number of customers and owners’ friends and relations. Mr. Gurdip Singh Narula offered prayers (Ardas) for the owners. Mr. Dilip Chauhan, Director with Nassau County Comptroller’s Office, presented a citation to Amandeep Singh Toni, on behalf of the Nassau County.
Speaking with The Indian Panorama Mr. Toni said that Maharaja was a little different kind of store as it offered much more than the existing Indian stores did. He named bakery as an attraction as also availability of meats as another. He said the store supplied Kosher and organic food. In fact, there was a great variety available at the store which is centrally located at Delco Plaza on Broadway.
Mr. Johri quoted Sant Rajinder Singh ji “Honesty begins when ego ends” to emphasize the importance of humility and praised Tony for being humble and gentle. Mr. Dilip Chauhan said additionof a super store indicated the growing enterprise of Indians. He said it made him happy to see Hicksville and Nassau County attracting entrepreneurs. He wished Toni all luck and assured of the County’s help for all small businesses. Mr. Zinda Singh was much impressed with the large store with a rich variety of stuff. He said addition of another store was good for consumers who will benefit from competition among the businesses.


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HONG KONG FASHION WEEK
Something for Everyone
HONG KONG—As China’s apparel and textile industries compete to maintain their global dominance, similar challenges confront Hong Kong Fashion Week, established more than 40 years ago at a time when many people outside of Asia knew nothing about making clothes in this part of the world.
The gargantuan semi-annual trade show, which normally houses around 1,500 participants, saw a slight decrease in the number of exhibitors during its recent Jan. 19–22 run. Held at the sleek Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, it sports a spectacular waterfront view of Victoria Harbour and all the seafaring activity that goes on along the choppy aquatic thoroughfare.
For the Fall/Winter 2015 edition of the show, there were 1,484 exhibitors from 19 countries, about half represented by mainland China and about 25 percent from Hong Kong–based enterprises. The previous year there had been 1,543 exhibitors, who make a wide array of garments and accessories that include denim, swimwear, activewear, eveningwear, men’s and women’s clothing, childrenswear, buttons, zippers, handbags, shoes, and costume jewelry.
At the more stylish World Boutique, an adjunct show in January that focuses on fashion brands rather than cut-and-sew and manufacturing operations, there was a slight uptick of 303 exhibitors, three more than last year.
What seemed to be in major decline was the number of foreign buyers attending the show. Definitely absent were the hordes of Russian buyers who seemed to blanket the show a few years ago.
Before, it was not uncommon to frequently hear Russian on the escalators going up and down the various floors where the exhibit halls are located. A dearth of Russian buyers was confirmed by Alexander Lareks, a Russian who works for Fashion Collection magazine in Moscow. He was looking for Russian buyers to interview for his luxury womenswear publication but found a big drop in attendance by his fellow compatriots who may have fewer rubles to spend now that the country is seeing a downturn in oil revenues. Russia is predicted to settle into a serious economic slump this year.
The disappearance of buyers was felt by Akshay Agrawal, a director for Amod Exports, which manufactures some 70,000 garments a month from his mid-size factory outside of Mumbai, India.
For the last five years, he has been attending the show with a contingent of manufacturers that make up the India Pavilion. This year there were 52 companies in the group.
“Five years ago there would be 30 to 40 people who would drop their business cards off,” he said, pointing to a box on top of the table placed in front of his wide array of colorful tops and dresses. “Now I may reach 15 to 20 maximum. But that doesn’t mean you don’t get orders.”
Tempting to buyers is his low-cost wholesale prices of $7 to $8 for a blouse and $8 for a casual dress—many of which have value-added elements such as detailed embroidery.
Wang Tai Fashion Wholesale—a manufacturer of dresses, tops and pants based in Hong Kong—has been attending the show for 10 years. “Before this show was good, but not too many people are coming now,” said Judy Kwok, a director for the company, which has a factory in Dongguan in southern China with 300 workers and another factory in Cambodia with 400 workers.
Quality vs. quantity
Although there was no traffic jam of buyers, those wandering the halls were serious about making contacts and finding new resources.
This was true for Phyllis Brasch Librach, president and founder of Sydney’s Closet in St. Louis. The manufacturer of plus-size special-occasion dresses was paying her third visit to the fair, where she was hoping to meet new resources, see current manufacturers and glean some creative ideas by perusing the various booths in the Emporium de Mode and other sections of the four-day fair. Then she was off to southern China to meet with her current roster of factories to plan her Spring/Summer 2016 season.
“I come to China several times a year to manufacture, and the fair gives us the chance to see fashion trends. We have to be ahead of the curve,” she said. “And we can see half a dozen vendors all in the same hall. Skype and email are great, but nothing replaces that face-to-face experience.”
She also likes the various seminars on subjects such as “Sustainable Development of the Fashion Industry” and trend-forecasting sessions. She also attends the Hong Kong Accessories Fair and the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, to manufacture her large-size selection of prom dresses, which wholesale for $129 to $250; her special-occasion frocks, which have a wholesale price of $129 to $249; and her bridal gowns, which go for $149 to $499 wholesale.
Equally intent on placing orders was Mathilde Ottaviano, the new knitwear buyer for La Redoute, a large mail-order and online clothing venture in France. The company develops 90 percent of its own designs but is looking for more manufacturers to chip in with their own styles. She has already seen a couple of factories. “If I bring back good business, I would like to come back to Hong Kong Fashion Week at least once a year,” Ottaviano said. Finding new factories is a long process because La Redoute likes to make two separate inspections of the facilities to verify social compliance and physical standards before placing orders.
But not everyone was looking to place orders. There were some buyers who were roaming the halls looking for “fashion inspiration” and checking out the trends. That was true of Jacob Separzadeh, whose Los Angeles company, Radzoli, manufactures primarily dresses and tops sold in specialty stores in places such as Chicago and Las Vegas. “For 20 years I came to this show to find factories. And I only dealt with factories or manufacturers who had offices in Hong Kong,” he said.
Now, to avoid placing large minimum orders, he has his own small factory with 7 to 15 workers in southern China, across the border from Hong Kong. The factory turns out 200 styles per season. He was walking the show with his Chinese fashion designer to survey what was showing.
Many manufacturers at the show believe that slim buyer traffic is an indication that many companies are either going directly to China to do business or skipping the country altogether now that prices are escalating.
The average Chinese garment worker makes anywhere from $400 to $600 a month with benefits, compared with $100 to $200 some 10 years ago, said Shirley Chan, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s garment advisory committee. She is also chief executive of YGM Trading Ltd., which licenses or owns such labels as Aquascutum, Ashworth and Michel René. Her Yangtzekiang Garment Ltd. makes clothing for such labels as J. Crew, Nike and Ralph Lauren.
“Chinese labor costs are getting much higher. And with the one-child policy, a lot of the young people don’t want to go into the industry,” she said. “A lot of manufacturing is still done in China, particularly the higher and middle end, but people are talking more about Vietnam and Cambodia.”
Many Chinese manufacturers are hedging their bets against a manufacturing slowdown in their country. Several Chinese apparel makers with booths were showing off their factories in Cambodia, where wages are one-fourth those in China and apparel made there can be exported to Canada, Europe and Japan duty free because of the generalized system of preferences giving certain developing countries import advantages.


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TalkTalk’s financial results reveal people are flocking to its YouView TV service. What’s the reason for the rapid growth, and how is the provider doing when it comes to broadband?
TalkTalk's YouView-based TV packages have now amassed 1.1 million subscribers, according to its latest financial results. That means it's now leapfrogged BT as a TV provider.
Between April and June, TalkTalk gained 185,000 TV customers. As a point of comparison, BT's last financial results in March showed it gained 46,000 TV customers that quarter, taking the total number of people with a BT TV package to one million.
TalkTalk's success can be attributed to it offering the cheapest subscription TV in the UK. Rather than charge a premium extra channels as standard, TalkTalk gives you a YouView set-top box and lets you add extra channels to it. For example, you can add seven Sky channels, including Sky 1 and Sky Living, for £5 a month or Sky Sports for £30 a month.
However, while TalkTalk's revenue has gone up by 3.1%, profit growth has still fallen short of expectations.
But according to TalkTalk big cheese Dido Harding, that's OK because its TV packages has helped it reduce churn - the number of people switching to another provider.
A significant reason for the growth there has been is TalkTalk's broadband. Over the last three months the provider's gained 34,000 fibre optic broadband customers, which shows more people are switching to superfast broadband as it becomes more affordable.


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A growing number of brands are showing interest in the metaverse. Last month, Walmart’s trademark applications showed the company was preparing to create its own NFTs and cryptocurrency and would begin selling virtual electronics, toys, appliances and home decor. In fact, a real estate metaverse seller is planning to build a virtual mall.
Retail brands now see the metaverse as having real potential to change the way consumers interact with their products and stores and up their marketing game. According to research, 77.24% of buyers just stop at “add to cart” and end up buying nothing. The immersive nature of the metaverse is crucial to enhancing this experience.
Better shopping experience
Showrooms and virtual stores have come a long way since 2016 when the first virtual store was launched by eBay. Virtual stores are not only convenient and time-saving for consumers, but they decrease returns for sellers and can help expand customer base. Customers can discover products faster and personalization for each user will be much greater than in physical stores. Online shopping lacks the visualization and engagement that the metaverse can offer. Many features are tailor-made for retail businesses. Customers can explore different features and try different designs while time spent in store (a measure of sales) also naturally increases.
The immersive experience gives customers the opportunity to try out products and integrate them into their homes before purchasing them. IKEA has launched an AR catalog app that lets shoppers see what a lamp would look like in their bedroom before deciding to buy it. A study conducted by Obsess and titled “Metaverse Mindset: Consumer Shopping Insights” showed that 70% of consumers who visited a virtual store ended up purchasing an item.
Attracts a young clientele
Gen Z is very familiar with the virtual experience, which makes Metaverse a good choice for younger consumers. The investigation revealed that 40% of Gen Z and 40% of millennials, who made up a third of total respondents, want to buy virtual goods. Retailers now understand that going where consumers are is a better option than trying to get customers to physical stores. In addition, virtual connectivity has developed everywhere. A study by Snap and Deloitte found that by 2025 nearly 75% of the world’s population on social apps will use AR.
Fashion brands have led the retail industry’s foray into the metaverse. Brands like Nike, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger, and Forever 21 have all had metaverse-based marketing campaigns. There are a few who have invested heavily in the sale bargain on the metaverse. Nike filed a bunch of patent applications, including one for a Metaverse studio, launching Nikeland on Roblox and buying virtual fashion startup RTFKT that creates virtual shoes and collectibles.
Luxury brands like Balenciaga are planning to create a metaverse unit in addition to having developed a video game for a new collection and partnering with Fortnite on virtual clothing. In this segment, Gucci is far ahead. The company sold a Roblox handbag for over $4,000 and a video that was sold as an NFT on Christie’s for $25,000.
Samsung has launched its own metaverse on Decentraland, a platform built on the Ethereum blockchain to showcase its products. Offering a virtual experience of their New York store, the platform sold NFTs worth $71.8 million within a week. The brand is now selling its smart TVs along with an NFT Platform app that lets shoppers explore and trade digital art.
The fledgling metaverse and gaming platforms already have a retail element, as these are marketplaces that already sell NFTs. NFTs themselves are another major aspect of the metaverse that retailers don’t want to lose. Just like Samsung, brands can easily use NFTs to improve a user’s shopping experience. They can be used as receipts or special passes for product launches to grab attention or can be used to create new digital products. In other words, brands can innovate in several ways to generate revenue using NFTs.
But the change is not just in one direction. A week after Facebook rebranded to Meta, the company announced plans to open physical stores to showcase its virtual reality headsets. Experts say the metaverse won’t necessarily mean the death of brick-and-mortar stores. Instead, the two could end up in a symbiotic relationship.


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If you haven’t heard of the sport of pickleball, you soon will. Simply turn on the TV and on any given weekend you’ll see players competing in tournaments and leagues across the country and around the world. Yes, over 70 countries now have people playing the fun sport of pickleball. Television shows like Good Morning America and The Today Show have recently showcased pickleball, and the news is abuzz about the fact that people like Tom Brady, Lebron James and Mark Cuban now own Major League Pickleball teams.
We personally have been playing pickleball in the tiny town of Brookville, Indiana since 2008. And yes, thanks to Brookville friends and residents Marilyn Hedrick, Larry Sheets and Charlie and Betty Allen, pickleball has been played here since 2006.
So with the simple cutting of a ribbon, we’ve launched the very first Pickleball Rocks Shop at 110 Main Street in our hometown of Brookville, Indiana.
This new site will be the first midwest store dedicated solely to the sport of pickleball and further solidifies Pickleball Rocks as the country’s best known pickleball apparel brand. The shop will handle much of the world famous Pickleball Rocks branded apparel as well as their new branded paddles and portable nets. Additionally people will be able to demo paddles from major paddle makers like Gearbox, Selkirk, Engage and Pro-Lite Sports.
The store has its own indoor dinking court plus, during good weather, will have an outdoor demo court for trying out your future new paddle. We are excited to move the Pickleball Rocks administrative office to 110 Main Street and additionally the new shop will act as the launch pad for all new Pickleball Rocks products before they go for sale online.


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This is the first trailer released for EA Sports FIFA 18 for the Playstation 4.
The footage shows Cristiano Ronaldo, the new face of the EA Sports production, taking on a number of players before winning a free-kick.
Ronaldo's Real Madrid take on Chelsea in the trailer, and it concludes with the Portuguese pulling out his trademark celebration.
The release date for FIFA 18 is yet to be confirmed, but it is usually in September.
Last year's title brought in women's teams as well as expanding the line-up of available teams and players.
This year EA has bagged the Chinese Super League.
Liverpool fans were disappointed not to see the new Main Stand on FIFA 17 , but will Anfield be updated for FIFA 18?
And will the corners at Goodison be filled in?
We'll update this article as we learn more so keep checking back for the latest news on FIFA 18.


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Genesis Biosciences is celebrating after triumphing at the inaugural Cardiff Business Awards and winning Technology and Innovation Business of the Year 2015.
In a hotly contested category – which recognised the success of companies that have created and developed innovative products to improve the performance of their organisation – Genesis Biosciences beat off stiff competition to be crowned Technology and Innovation Business of the Year 2015 at the Cardiff Business Awards.
Technology and innovation are at the heart of Genesis Biosciences. The highly qualified and experienced team constantly strive to create and introduce new scientific advances to the market. Ongoing reinvestment in research and development ensure Genesis Biosciences remains at the forefront of the industry; continually creating leading, innovative products and solutions.
Winning this award is the culmination of extensive research into application-specific bacteria which has resulted in unrivalled results across a series of markets.
The most recent microbial product line, Evogen, provides performance driven, environmentally responsible microbial cleaning products which deliver an alternative to the harsh chemicals offered by competitors. The product was the result of a £2.5million investment and more than four years of research and development.
Speaking after receiving the Technology and Innovation Business of the Year award, managing director John Clark said:
“Winning this award is the culmination of extensive research into application-specific bacteria which has resulted in unrivalled results across a series of markets”.
“Our eco-benign foundation delivers biological products which out-perform the alternative solutions without the use of harsh chemicals which are known to harm the environment. We have made giant strides in the facilities management, marine and waste water treatments markets and are extending the applications to many other sectors globally”.
“This recognition is well deserved by the small and dedicated teams here in Cardiff and across the ocean in our Lawrenceville manufacturing facility and we were delighted to receive the honour”.
Genesis Biosciences was presented with its award at a glittering ceremony hosted at Cardiff City Hall.
Cardiff Business Awards founder, Liz Brookes of Grapevine Event Management said: “We were overwhelmed at the amount of entries we received for the inaugural Cardiff Business Awards, and at the quality of the businesses that were nominated”.
“Everybody we interviewed had a unique story to tell about their business success and journey, and picking the winners was a very tough task for our panel of judges.
“It was fantastic to be able to recognise and publicly reward very deserving winners such as Genesis Biosciences, and we look forward to seeing these businesses continue to grow and develop on the worldwide stage”.
Want more news from us? Read some more recent articles below:
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A year in review and look ahead at the market Down Under. Editorial is provided by License! Global’s Australian content partner, The Bugg Report.
Bonnier’s Outdoor Life magazine is building its branded consumer product line with the addition of two new lifestyle partners.
Crayola is planning a range of products featuring Lima Sky’s app property Doodle Jump, including mobile games and a line of craft kits.
Ultimate Ears has unveiled the latest artist partnership for its line of UE Booms speakers–street artist Kenny Scharf.
Talent agency N.S. Bienstock has been appointed as the licensing agent for Veria Living, a media brand devoted to health and wellness.
The new 3D Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction is set to open at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park this spring.
Motor oil brand Mobil 1 has partnered with NASCAR driver Tony Stewart to bring back the classic car film Smokey and The Bandit.
Scooby-Doo is joining forces with the North Shore Animal League America’s Tour for an animal adoption tour across the U.S.
The owner of Albertson’s grocers has announced plans to buy competitor chain Safeway in a transaction valued at $9 billion.
Women's sports apparel brand Tail Activewear has launched a new line of collegiate licensed merchandise.
Fashion designer Nanette Lepore is expanding into the home category in a new partnership with Peking Handicraft.
Surf brand Hang Ten has tapped D6 Sports for a range of new products in the action sports and wheeled categories.
Lawless Entertainment has inked a new deal with Hoffman California Fabrics for fabric featuring the art property Suzy’s Zoo.
MGA Entertainment has teamed with Corus Entertainment to bring the new animated series “Lalaloopsy” to Canada.
For the second year in a row, Uniqlo has launched a line of Fender-branded t-shirts in the U.S., the U.K. and France.
Iron Chef America has launched a new line of home meal kids inspired by the hit Food Network series.
Nestle is sending out a fleet of food trucks featuring its Stouffer’s brand to cities across America this fall.
Target has launched a new line of organic food called Simply Balanced under its Bullseye brand.
FremantleMedia has expanded its partnership with MDI Entertainment for branded lottery games in the U.S.
Sears Canada has become the exclusive home of the plus-size women’s brand Penningtons in a new a deal with Reitmans Canada.
©2014 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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The secret cosmetic company that went bankrupt last year has been acquired by another company that says it will make it all better.
Secret cosmetics is the largest beauty company in the world with a $300 million valuation, and its founder, Elizabeth Schoeler, was a key figure in the founding of L.A.’s first makeup and beauty brand, MAC Cosmetics.
But the deal to buy Secret is a big step forward for Schoellers company, which is trying to transform its image as a high-end beauty brand into one that makes high-quality products for everyday use.
Schoeller was also part of the team that led the first beauty products line that launched in L.T.A., the city’s luxury shopping mall.
Schoeller, who died in 2014, is survived by her husband, Steven Schoels, and daughter, Lauren Schoelters, who are now the sole directors of the company.
Scholters company, Secret, will now be known as the cosmetics division of Lala, a privately held company that also owns cosmetics company Lola.
Lala will take over Secret’s makeup business and make it even more affordable and accessible.
“Elizabeth’s vision and her vision for the company, and for the city of Laughlin, was to create a safe, affordable and beautiful place to shop, to shop with, and to shop for,” Lala CEO Rob Lopatowski said in a statement.
“Elizabeth’s legacy will continue to shape the makeup industry in the Laughlin community, and her talent and vision will continue serving L.L.A. for years to come.”
Secret has been making high-priced lipsticks, lipsticks and cosmetics since its inception in 2014.
Its products include a line called Beauty in the Bag, a collection of beauty products that is marketed to women with thin lips and an array of skin-care products including lip glosses, lip scrubs and moisturizers.
In a statement, Lala’s board of directors said it’s “extremely grateful for Elizabeth’s contributions to Lala and to the cosmetics industry as a whole.”
It’s the latest in a string of acquisitions in the cosmetics sector.
Last month, cosmetics maker L’Oreal bought cosmetics company Cetaphil for $4.5 billion.
In 2016, cosmetics giant L’Oréal acquired beauty and beauty products maker AmorePacific for $1.7 billion.
And in 2019, beauty brand Clinique merged with cosmetics brand L’oreal to become the largest cosmetics brand in the U.S. and one of the world’s largest.
Lala will also now have more options for the cosmetics business than it did before Schoells death, which meant that Schoelleers brand, which had grown to $1 billion in sales, would have a new home.
L’Orèal will have more control over Lala as a company, the company said.
But L’oreal will continue as a separate entity with an independent board of trustees that will oversee the makeup business, L’Occitane said in the statement.
Schooelers brand is a favorite of celebrities, including models, actors and athletes.
Scholters products are available at the top retailers such as Macy’s and JCPenney, and the brand has sold millions of bottles to high-profile celebrities, such as Kylie Jenner, Kate Upton and Kim Kardashian West.


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Trade in West African crude oil cargoes was slow on Monday, with traders saying that Angolan offers were too high to attract interest.
Initial offers for cargoes of November Angolan crude oil were substantially higher than corresponding levels for October barrels, traders said.
Although October supply moved relatively rapidly, traders said that underlying demand was not strong enough to justify stronger levels.
Traders were waiting for the final cargoes of the November Nigerian loading programme. Early indications show it will likely be shorter than for October as both Forcados and Qua Iboe grades were smaller.
The Angolan programme for November was also smaller than for October, but traders said that underlying weak demand would limit any strength.
Growth in China’s large factory sector probably stalled in September, adding to worries the economy could be at risk of a sharper slowdown unless Beijing rolls out more stimulus measures, a Reuters poll showed on Monday.
China is the largest consumer of Angolan oil.
Erha will load four cargoes or 133,000 barrels per day in November, Bonga will export six cargoes or 190,000 barrels per day
Qua Iboe: There will be 11 cargoes exported in November according to a shipping list, lower than the usual 12 or 13. The most recent cargoes traded at around dated Brent plus $1.50.
Some 13 cargoes of the 49 available had been bought via term contracts, traders said. Very few spot trades had been done.
Dalia November cargoes were offered at dated Brent minus $2.30, CLOV at minus $1.70, Hungo minus $1.60. These offers were at least $1 firmer than original offers for October vessels.
There was only one Girassol cargo due to load due to planned maintenance on the field, below the usual six.
Production is expected to return to normal for December export, a trader said.
The results of an HPCL tender are expected on Tuesday, winners of a BPCL tender is expected on Thursday while a CPC tender result is expected by the end of next week, a trader said.
Petrovietnam will buy a Congolese Nkossa cargo for September loading, a trader said.


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Infographic: History of Facebook’s Developer Platform
May 25, 2012 12:50
May 24 is the fifth anniversary of Facebook Platform. The project launched at the 2007 f8 conference to 70 app developers and fourteen months later, there was more than 30,000 apps on the platform.
Facebook introduced Connect at the 2008 conference, and it enabled third party websites to build social integration into their user experiences. Which later on went on to have companies like Zynga to introduce hit games like FarmVille and more and the emergence of the "like" button on external websites.
Check out the infographic below made by the folks over at Mashable:
Apple has so much money, its spaceship campus is already underway right now. And now, you get a birds-eye view of it courtesy of a YouTuber with a drone and GoPro camera. Here's a peek of it. Read more
You can punish a GoPro however you like, but it looks like it'll take on any challenge like a champ. The most recent torture was sending a GoPro videoing an experimental rocket in action. Fire and cameras don't usually mix, but the GoPro survived. Read more
Exoskeletons are the next evolution of human strength. Pneumatic-powered cyborg arms will let you do the things that were impossible without the help of a few or more. This guy created his own version. Read more


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For those who enjoy browsing cocktail recipes but always get distracted before purchasing the ingredients, there is now Drizly Premium Brand Hub, a collection of curated cocktail recipes where every ingredient is shoppable. On the same page, users can learn how to make a Mai Tai and order angostura bitters and dark rum.
A collaboration between FOOD&WINE and alcohol distributor Drizly, the site offers Spirits brands a chance to remedy one of their biggest weak spots. While most Spirits brand sites already publish cocktail recipes, barely any capitalize on them by offering readers a way to buy the ingredients on-site.
Most alcohol producers seem to understand that recipes have promotional value: 84% of Spirits brand sites feature cocktail recipes, according to L2’s Insight Report: Cocktail Recipes. However, only 4% include a product locator and 3% link visitors to an e-tailer where they can order ingredients online – reducing the likelihood that casual browsers will end up making a purchase.
Although Drizly competitors like Klink, Minibar, and Saucey already offer brand-sponsored recipes within their apps, the new content hub’s FOOD&WINE co-branding brings this content to a wider audience. By offering shoppable recipes featuring their products, brands can broaden sales and gain cachet among cocktail cognoscenti.


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FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AXT, Inc. (Nasdaq: AXTI), a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor substrates, today announced that it will participate in two upcoming financial conferences during the month of August. Gary L. Fischer, chief financial officer, and Leslie Green, investor relations, will host one-on-one investor meetings as part of the 12th Annual BWS Financial Growth and Value Summer Investor Series on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020.
https://ecntoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-fb.png 960 960 admin https://ecntoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/logo-300x138.png admin2020-08-06 13:15:002020-08-07 01:24:38AXT Announces Participation in Upcoming Investor Conferences
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Mumbai, November 13: In another case of fraud from the city, a Powai man lost almost Rs 1 lakh when he got the contact details of a shop selling SIM card at a discounted rate from Google. The man lost Rs 99,999 in ten transactions after he entered his card details on the link sent by the fraudster.
According to a Times of India report, the fraudsters claimed to be the owner of a shop called Abraa-Ka Dabra in Hira Nandani Powai. Police found out that the fraudsters were operating from Rajasthan where they got SIM cards using fake documents. Mumbai Cyber Fraud: Woman Loses Rs 85,000 While Booking a Table Online at Shiv Sagar Restaurant in Santacruz West.
Last week, in another case of fraud that took place in the city, a woman lost Rs 80,000 when she wanted to a book a table for her family at a restaurant in Santacruz West. The number didn't belong to the restaurant and was added by the fraudster to dupe people. Man Loses Rs 1.25 Lakh While Ordering Online Wine Bottle From Ujwal Wines in Andheri.
Last month, a similar incident happened when a man lost Rs 1.25 lakh in three transactions while trying to order alcohol from Ujwal wines shop in Andheri. He got the contact number of Ujwal wines by searching online.


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Improves ADM’s ability to link the country’s harvest to export markets
DECATUR, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today announced an agreement
to purchase a port terminal in the state of Pará in Brazil.
“By adding this strategically located port to our extensive logistics
network in Brazil, we will increase our capacity to export grain from
Western and Northern Brazil and further expand our fertilizer operations
throughout the country,” said Valmor Schaffer, president, ADM South
America. “This port will enhance ADM’s global reach, better connecting
the Brazilian harvest to markets including Europe, the Middle East, and
even Asia through the Panama Canal.”
The facility was designed to handle minerals, and ADM plans to convert
it to handle bulk grains and agricultural inputs. ADM also plans to
upgrade the facility to handle Panamax vessels and double its storage
capacity. Once complete, the new port will have capacity to handle 3
million metric tons a year.
ADM is Brazil’s largest soybean meal exporter, the second largest
exporter of soybeans and the Brazilian economy’s seventh largest
exporter overall. The company currently operates in all of Brazil’s
major agricultural ports and owns a port terminal in Santos, São Paulo.
About ADM in Brazil
ADM is one of the largest agribusiness companies in Brazil. With more
than 4,000 employees, the company processes soy at four facilities, and
markets the soy oil brands Sadia, Concórdia and Corcovado. The company
operates the largest biodiesel plant in Brazil, five fertilizer blending
facilities, a cocoa processing plant, a sugar cane processing facility
that produces ethanol, and more than 40 elevators across the country.
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company
(NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs.
Today, 30,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn,
wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and
energy uses. With more than 270 processing plants, 420 crop procurement
facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM
helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 160 countries. For
more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Jackie Anderson, 217-424-5413


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The UK economy will grow at 2.7 and 2.5 per cent in 2014 and 2015, respectively, the report added, supporting the general trends outlined in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) revised World Economic Outlook (WEO) report just one month ago.
In the WEO, the IMF said that the UK economy would grow by 2.5 and 2.9 per cent, respectively.
The European Commission report also said that Germany’s economy is to rebound significantly from 0.4 per cent last year to 1.8 and 2 per cent in 2014 and 2015.
The average growth for the 28-nation bloc is 1.2 and 1.7, respectively.
But there are pitfalls – Germany’s economy is tied too closely to Russia’s and increasing sanctions on the latter are likely to hurt Europe’s recovery.
Some expert estimates hold that the impact of sanctions could subtract up to 1 per cent from Germany’s GDP growth.
Recovery prospects are also impacted by low inflation rates. Although, the European Commission has insisted that the risk of deflation is low, the European Central Bank has been more concerned.
Inflation stood at 1.2 per cent in 2013, fell to 1 per cent forecast for 2014 and is expected to fall even further to 0.8 per cent in 2015 – far below the 2 per cent level the ECB says creates better conditions for growth.
On April 3, The ECB held interest rates at 0.25 per cent, largely meeting analysts’ forecasts, but its president Mario Draghi sounded a cautionary note about very low inflation data throughout the 18-member eurozone.
The ECB has always said that its target inflation for the zone is 2 per cent. However, recent data has the average at 0.5 per cent, and the bank says that low inflation – or deflation – can postpone growth as consumers wait for bargain prices for goods and services.
Eventually, this leads to inadvertent stagnation.
In a bid to spur growth, the ECB has enacted policies to keep inflation rates at around 2 per cent throughout the eurozone.


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Posted Mon Oct 23, 2017 at 07:00 AM PDT by Steven Cohen
The action drama based on a true story is coming to Blu-ray.
Only the Brave, based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, is the heroic story of a team of local firefighters who - through hope, determination and sacrifice - become one of the most elite firefighting teams in the nation. Starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale and Jennifer Connelly, the firefighters forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus as they fight a fateful fire to protect our lives, our homes and everything we hold dear.
Exact specs and supplements have not been detailed yet, but the Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and the Ultra HD Blu-ray will feature 2160p video.
Suggested retail price for the Ultra HD Blu-ray is $45.99. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.99.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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Compare Hotels rates & Flight tickets prices from 100+ top booking sites at once...
Check the prices & save up to 80 %...
Click to find cheap, affordable travel offers,
new deals campaigns... >>> www.travelkinds.com
Travelodge to recruit thousands of new staff
|March 18, 2019||Posted by TravelKinds.Com under General||
Travelodge has launched a new recruitment programme targeting parents looking to get back into work. Travelodge also revealed today that revenue climbed 8.8 per cent to £694 million in the year to December 31st, while adjusted earnings grew £9.6 million to £122 million. read more >>>
Source : BreakingTravelNews.Com


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Female Founders to star Rachel McCord
ReachTV and Invincible Entertainment announced today, the co-production of the new original interview series “Female Founders.” The weekly series will be filmed at NASDAQ Marketsite Times Square, and hosted by Rachel McCord, entrepreneur and founder of The McCord List.
“Female Founders,” is part of ReachTV’s aggressive expansion into original programming. McCord will interview top female leaders from business and venture capital, including Jesse Draper (General Partner, Halogen Ventures), Sallie Krawcheck (CEO & Co-Founder, Ellevest), and Leah Wald (CEO, Valkyrie). Leaders will dive into some of the most complex problems in business and the innovative solutions they deploy, while working to advance a more sustainable and inclusive future. Episodes will explore insight, perseverance and wisdom from women leading today’s most innovative and progressive companies.
“Female Founders is a rare opportunity to hear in depth from the leaders shaping the businesses at the forefront of American culture,”Tom Ashley, Invincible CEO
“Female Founders is a rare opportunity to hear in depth from the leaders shaping the businesses at the forefront of American culture,” said Tom Ashley, Invincible Entertainment CEO. “Everyone has a side hustle now, and they’re looking for tips to grow their business. Not only will our audience of travelers learn something from the valuable experience of Female Founders, but it will be incredibly entertaining with Rachel McCord at the helm. In addition to distribution across ReachTV and Business Rockstars, we plan on expanding to audiences at Bloomberg and USA Today.”
The series will be produced by Invincible Entertainment partners Tom Ashley and Thom Beers. Ashley is the Founder & CEO of Invincible Entertainment, a media and technology executive and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in motion picture distribution and streaming media technology. Beers is a three-time Emmy award-winning producer and former CEO of Fremantle Media, who has created shows including Deadliest Catch, Storage Wars, Monster Garage and Wild Justice.
ReachTV is a free ad-supported streaming television network with more than 40 million viewers per month. The network is distributed in 500K hotels, 2,500+ airport screens across North America, and powers 24-hour live sports in-flight. ReachTV brings together tech, data and storytelling to offer viewers a new connected media experience with shopability, and featuring a rich library of content with originals, live rights to the NFL, and licensed content from NBCU, AMC, Live Nation, Advertising Week, Fast Company and more.
Invincible Entertainment is a film and television distribution company with a content library of 5,000+ movies and TV shows. Highlights include Kevin Smith’s “Yoga Hosers,” “The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog,” “JBTV,” and “Paranormal Files”. Invincible’s flagship streaming platform, Galxy TV (www.galxy.tv), is the first streaming service to pay viewers to watch and offers easy access to free streaming TV, ad-free premium subscription packages and movies on demand. Invincible owns 19 free, ad-supported streaming television channels, which are widely distributed on third party platforms including Plex, LG, Roku, FreeVee, and many others. Invincible also owns the YTA Broadcast Television Network, reaching over 41 million television households across the United States.
Rachel McCord is a Celebrity entrepreneur, author, producer and host, she is known as a major inspiration to millions of women, empowering them to create epic lives regardless of their background. Named “Master of Branding” and “influencer of influencers” (Daily Mail), McCord has served in a variety of capacities throughout her career including modeling, speaking, serving on boards, and founding her empire, The McCord List, a community of fellow celebs, bloggers, and influencers, and the top-rated show on Amazon Live. In addition, she has more than 1 million followers and is the Co-CEO of ViralBrand, an influencer marketing agency responsible for launching over 300 campaigns for companies such as Disney and Warner Bros.


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Nissan North America is recalling 604,500 vehicles, most of them in the United States, to fix problems with steering columns and battery cables, the automaker announced Thursday.
A lower steering column joint and shaft will be replaced on approximately 303,000 model year Frontier and 283,000 Xterra SUVs, the automaker said, while the positive battery cable terminal will be replaced on approximately 18,500 Sentra sedans.
Approximately 515,000 of the vehicles involved are in the U.S. The remaining recalls will occur in Canada and several Latin American and African countries.
In the SUVs, the lower steering column joint can, in rare cases, develop corrosion that limits movement of the joint. If not repaired, this could, in extreme cases, lead to cracking of the steering shaft, Nissan said.
In the Sentra, a problem with the battery cable could lead to difficulty starting the vehicle or possible stalling at low speeds, the automaker said.
In the North America, the SUV's involved were made during the 2002 through 2004 model year. The Nissan Sentras involved were made between May 15, 2010 to July 8, 2010 in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Nissan said it will begin notifying owners in early December once replacement parts are available. U.S. customers with questions can call Nissan Consumer Affairs at 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261). They can also contact their Nissan dealer.
Irish drug maker Mallinckrodt will have to pay a $100 million fine and allow one of its competitors to produce a life-saving medication used to treat infants. The company hiked the price of the drug from $40 per vial to more than $34,000 per vial over the course of about 15 years. More
Economists expect official figures to show that China's economy maintained its "uncanny stability" by growing at 6.7% for a fourth consecutive quarter. More
In 1998, Ntsiki Biyela won a scholarship to study wine making. Now she's about to launch her own brand. More
Navient, formerly part of Sallie Mae, was sued by the CFPB Wednesday for allegedly cheating borrowers out of repayment rights. More


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Scottish designer to be stocked at Edinburgh department store.
By Kathryn Lewis
Scottish jewellery designer Jane Gowans will sell her line for the first time in Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh this winter.
The 26-year-old’s designs will be sold alongside the likes of fashion designers Holly Fulton and Jonathan Saunders.
Gowans said: “It has been incredible to receive the support and recognition from Harvey Nichols by being invited to stock my work with them. Having my collection showcased alongside designers such as Holly Fulton and Jonathan Saunders is such an achievement. As an emerging designer this provides such a strong platform for developing and promoting my work.”
Until now, Gowans, a 2009 graduate in jewellery and metal design from the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, has sold her line in smaller boutiques like the Black Box Boutique in Edinburgh.
The Captain collection, which will officially be launched in February, is made up of 10 whimsical and contemporary pieces all of which were handcrafted in the UK and finished by Gowans herself. Inspiration for the collection came from an old photograph of Gowans’ grandfather dressed in a naval uniform. This led to the development of Gowans’ nautical inspired collection which takes ropes, knots and compasses as motifs for burnished rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets.


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You may have heard that this Sunday is the biggest football game of the year – it’s “American football” for those in the UK. the US event is as much for publicity as it is for the game.
As tech publications like this are fond of pointing out, back in 1984, Apple made perhaps the most memorable commercial in Super Bowl history. This often leads one to believe that Apple and the Super Bowl go hand in hand, but in reality, Apple’s history with the game is quite short. But still, every year we hope that Apple uses the biggest stage to showcase a new product. And every year we are disappointed.
But Super Bowl LVII might be different. After 10 years with Pepsi, Apple Music is sponsoring the Super Bowl halftime show, which will see Rihanna perform live for the first time since 2016. Suffice it to say that about 100 million people will watch it, which is one of the largest audiences. Apple has ever had. This is the first time Apple is sponsoring the show, so we don’t know what to expect. Will Rihanna wear AirPods? Will MacBooks grace the stage? And most importantly, will Apple show ads during the big game?
Before we get to Sunday, here’s the story behind the Apple Super Bowl ad.
Apple 1984 the ad is often cited as the greatest ad in Super Bowl history. Directed by Ridley Scott of Alien and Blade Runner fame, the 60-second commercial aired only once, becoming the first Super Bowl XVIII halftime commercial. Its theme was based on George Orwell’s novel, 1984, and the ad’s dark, dystopian imagery resonated with populist conservatism and the Cold War. It was designed to create buzz around the announcement of the Macintosh on January 24, 1984, and it certainly hit its mark.
Scott’s direction has made a lasting impression on popular culture, so much so that “Apple” and “Super Bowl” have become synonymous, even though no Apple product was featured in this ad.
In 1985, Apple, well aware of how effective 1984 a second ad was shown during Super Bowl XIX. Name lemmingsthe commercial was directed by Tony Scott, Ridley’s brother, and has a similar tone to promote a new software suite called Macintosh Office that was designed to connect a Macintosh to a printer and file server.
The ad tried to convey the tone 1984 and it definitely made an impression on viewers – but not the one that Apple intended. With a massive ad campaign that included seat cushions during the big game and full-page newspaper ads warning viewers to skip the restroom break in the fourth quarter…lemmings the audience didn’t like it. People who watched the ad found it depressing and offensive, and nowhere near as enticing as 1984.
After lemmingsIt took 15 years before Apple decided to introduce a new commercial during the Super Bowl. HAL from 2001: Space Odysseyand it came at a time when fears were growing that computers would stop working due to the Year 2000 bug and chaos would ensue.
Apple used ads to promote the Mac’s immunity to the Y2K bug – and as it turns out 12 months later, Y2K is much ado about nothing. HAL turned out to be the last ad Apple made specifically for the Super Bowl.
I Fought the Law (2003)
It’s not technically an Apple ad, but a 2004 Pepsi ad that announced a partnership with iTunes certainly looked like one. Green Day’s advert for the Sonny Curtis song “I Fought the Law” featured 16 teenagers sued by the RIAA for illegally downloading music from the Internet during the days of Napster’s popularity. Ironically, this is the only Super Bowl ad that actually shows an Apple product—not an iPod, but an iMac G4. The ad and ad campaign was a hit and helped take the iTunes Store to the next level.
It’s been 24 years since the HAL ad and Apple is back at the Super Bowl, but this time as the main sponsor of the Super Bowl show as part of the show, the halftime presentation. Apple is calling the show the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show featuring Rihanna, who hasn’t performed in public since 2018.
Apple has been promoting its presence at Super Bowl LVII all month in Apple Music’s “Rihanna’s Road to Break” section, which includes:
Halftime Hype Radio: A 10 part series featuring past halftime shows.
Rihanna Revisited Radio: An eight-part series focusing on Rihanna’s music catalog.
Super Bowl LVII Live: Daily live streams that “capture the excitement” of the game and halftime show.
Playlists of NFL teams and players.
Interview with Rihanna on Apple Music Radio.
There are also rumors that Apple is filming a behind-the-scenes documentary that will be streaming on Apple Music. And the performance will most likely be available for streaming after the show.
But will there be new Apple ads during the big game? So far, there are no rumors that Apple is running ads, but Apple would probably like to keep it under wraps. In addition, halftime show sponsors often advertise during the Super Bowl—Pepsi, Bridgestone, Sprint, AOL, and others have had separate ads in addition to the sponsorship. And Apple is constantly running “Undo Send” ads in Messages and Apple TV+ during the 2023 playoffs, so a Super Bowl spot is definitely a possibility.
And the Timing Is Right – Ridley Scott’s Upcoming Film Napoleon will air on Apple TV+ later this year. So maybe Apple made him direct a sequel. 1984? We’ll find out on Sunday.


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Mar 04, 2024
“Hong Kong is back” – That’s the message from Cathay Cargo as they prepare to welcome attendees to the World Cargo Symposium to its hub.
“It’s the perfect time for WCS to come to Hong Kong,” said Tom Owen, Director of Cargo at Cathay Cargo, the host airline for the 2024 edition of the air transport cargo event. “Hong Kong has had a rough ride over the last four years, from social unrest to Covid impacting its air cargo logistics status. It hasn’t been able to showcase its extraordinary logistical abilities to the world.”
“WCS will bring a lot of industry leaders back to Hong Kong who haven’t been here since Covid. Hopefully, they’ll be impressed by the optimism for the future with all the new developments, investments and infrastructure projects.
“Hong Kong is well and truly back as a global logistics leader for air cargo. That’s the big takeaway we expect people to get from seeing the activities on the ground. Hong Kong is vibrant, progressive and ready to compete as the preeminent air logistical hub.”
Mark Watts, Chief Operating Officer at Cathay Cargo Terminal, echoed: “It’s a great opportunity to have key industry players in Hong Kong to witness for themselves the extraordinary progress being made here.”
One of the primary focuses at Cathay Cargo revolves around the digitisation of the cargo environment, something the business has focused on for several years now. A noteworthy example is its utilisation of the virtual airway bill as a standard for recording air cargo transactions, setting a precedent for how they engage with freight forwarders.
Cathay Cargo has implemented various initiatives to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, and they plan to unveil more opportunities and collaborations with customers at WCS, solidifying their role in helping to transform the industry.
“Digitalisation of our cargo ecosystem is vital for the future,” Owen said. “Hong Kong is a great example of a place trying to lead and move things forward. We are amongst the leaders piloting these digital processes, and we have more announcements to unveil in due course.”
READ: Packaging petals
With Hong Kong remaining on top of the rankings as the world’s busiest airfreight hub, Watts believes that Cathay can also showcase the region’s leadership in terms of efficiency and sustainability.
The airline and its cargo terminal have set an ambitious target of achieving zero emissions by 2050, with short-term and medium-term goals guiding them along the way, showing their profound commitment to the cause.
“Our cargo terminal is only ten years young and was built with sustainability in mind. For example, it was built with solar panels installed on available roof space and a cargo warehouse operating system backed up by documented daily processes that place sustainability at the centre of our operations,” Watts explained. “Our new Pharma Handling Centre was built with 420 high-thermal insulation panels and non-ozone depleting HFC refrigerants, all steps to be energy efficient.
“It’s not just good for cargo; maintaining it at the right temperature also reduces our carbon footprint.”
Cathay Cargo Terminal was the first facility in Hong Kong to sign up for the IATA Environmental Assessment Programme (IEnvA) in October 2023. The programme provides globally recognised environmental and sustainability standards for the aviation industry.
Efforts to reduce waste are also a key focus. “We recycle all plastic cargo covers from import shipments broken down at our terminal, and that plastic comes back to us recycled in the new sheets we use to cover export shipments. Traditionally, we’ve used 30-40% recycled content, but from 1 March 2024, we will use sheets with 50% recycled content.”
Addressing the issue of plastic in the industry is a significant challenge for cargo industry operators worldwide. “We’d like to see that become the minimum standard for plastic cargo sheets globally,” Watts added.
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Author: Edward Hardy


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- A case will resume on Dec. 21 at the National Labor Relations Board regarding a string of unfair labor practices and safety complaints brought by the United Auto Workers against Telsa.
- Tesla denies all allegations that it has restricted union-organizing efforts, tried to stop employees from discussing safety issues and retaliated against pro-union workers.
- If the UAW prevails, the ripple effect could impact tech companies in Silicon Valley.
Tesla's long-simmering relationship with the United Auto Workers is heating up again.
As part of an ongoing effort to organize the electric automaker's Fremont, California, assembly factory, the union has filed a string of unfair labor-practice charges and safety complaints with the National Labor Relations Board. These include allegations that Tesla restricted union-organizing efforts, tried to stop employees from discussing safety issues and retaliated against pro-union workers. Tesla has denied all the charges.
The contentious relationship between Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk and the UAW has been going on for more than two years. Musk has criticized the union, and last May, in response to its complaints to the NLRB, he tweeted, "Nothing stopping Tesla team at our car plant from voting union. Could do so [tomorrow] if they wanted."
Legally that's true, but the workforce has never taken a vote, and the UAW won't comment as to if or when they might. So the hearing that began last summer will resume Dec. 21 at the NLRB office in Oakland when lawyers for both sides will file additional briefs with administrative law judge Amita Tracy.
While an ultimate winner in the case could take years following the judge's ruling and appeals, when it happens, the outcome could have a far-reaching, high-stakes ripple effect across Silicon Valley and beyond.
If the 400,000-member UAW prevails, the ripple effect won't necessarily impact other U.S. auto manufacturers operating in the United States. Many are already unionized, and others have avoided unionization by opening factories in non-union and right-to-work states.
"It's historic that the UAW is involved with Tesla," said Harley Shaiken, a professor at the University of California Berkeley who specializes in labor issues, "and what happens here, I think, will have ramifications beyond the company itself." It would be a high-tech company that is unionized, he added, "but it would also be a start-up in the auto industry, not one of the traditional Detroit automakers that would be organized."
In the topsy-turvy realm of disruptors of traditional industries and legacy companies, Tesla is a sort of hybrid — an innovator of both renewable-energy technology and automobile manufacturing. Musk founded the company as part of his grand strategy to transform not only the auto sector but also aerospace (SpaceX), solar energy (SolarCity) and even underground tunneling (The Boring Co.). To get there, the South Africa-born entrepreneur espouses Silicon Valley's meritocracy model, where enthusiastic, highly productive executives, managers, engineers and hourly workers are well paid and receive attractive benefits and perks.
For example, all employees are awarded equity when they get hired, and they receive additional awards based on performance, which they can receive in cash or in equity. The company also told CNBC it provides generous maternity and paternity leave, six choices of health plans and $130 a month in commuter benefits.
The UAW, on the other hand, insists that Tesla — with a market cap of about $61 billion — is at its core a car manufacturer, where the workforce of approximately 10,000 full-time employees already has the legal right to organize yet has been impeded in its efforts. The issue has been intensified as Tesla continues to roll out its Model 3 sedan, which has been slowed until recently by production snafus. (The company recently stated that it's on track to produce 7,000 Model 3s a month, up from its original target of 5,000.)
To keep things in context, it's worth considering the assembly factory's complicated history — beginning for Tesla in 2010 but dating back to the 1960s — and its relationship with the UAW.
General Motors opened the Fremont facility in 1962 and ceased operations in 1982, the nadir of the U.S. auto industry's quality, production and sales problems, exacerbated by the rise of Japan's automakers. The UAW workforce at Fremont was derided as one of the industry's worst, with reports of drinking on the job, high absenteeism, low morale and even sabotaging of cars.
Two years later the factory reopened as a joint venture between GM and Toyota — dubbed the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., or NUMMI — and became the U.S. poster child for successfully adopting the much admired lean manufacturing and management methods developed by Toyota in Japan. In fact, NUMMI hired back a majority of the more than 5,000 UAW employees laid off by GM.
"That strategy brought an experienced workforce into the new factory," said Shaiken, "and would be a true test of the value of the Toyota production system and new ways of managing the plant." The reconstituted UAW workers were directly involved with management in decision-making and problem-solving, he explained, and NUMMI soon had among the best-quality numbers of any GM plant, high productivity and consistent profitability.
Then came the Great Recession in 2008 and the dramatic downturn in the auto sector, leading to GM's bankruptcy in 2009 and the shuttering of NUMMI a year later, putting nearly 4,500 UAW employees out of work. Toyota, which owned the factory, relocated its operations to Mississippi, Texas and Canada.
As fate would have it, that was when Musk was about to launch the all-electric Model S luxury sedan. He purchased much of the NUMMI plant for $42 million from Toyota, which in turn invested $50 million in the new venture. (Toyota sold the stake in 2016.)
As far as including NUMMI's UAW workers, Tesla told CNBC it initially rehired hundreds and that many still work at the factory today, but the company did not provide any hard numbers. The UAW declined to comment.
Nor will the UAW talk on the record about attempts to organize workers at Tesla since it opened, although the union reportedly spent $422,000 on such efforts in 2017.
The campaign heated up in February 2017 when Tesla production worker Jose Moran published a blog post. After citing his pride in working for a green car company, he complained of his and his co-workers' long hours, harsh conditions, work-related injuries and fears of reporting them, inadequate pay and the requirement to sign confidentiality agreements.
"Many of us have been talking about unionizing and have reached out to the United Auto Workers for support," Moran wrote.
As organizing efforts intensified, more reports of injuries and safety violations surfaced. Musk fired back with defensive tweets. The UAW filed charges with the NLRB in late August 2017, alleging that Tesla intimidated pro-union workers, followed a few months later with an unfair labor practice complaint. Finally, in June the NLRB issued a complaint against Tesla based on a series of charges from employees and set a date for the hearing to begin that month.
In prizefight fashion, both sides traded punches and counterpunches based on the charges. Over four days, three workers portrayed Tesla and Musk as anti-union; the company denied the allegations and spoke of valuing its employees. A second round of hearings was held in September, with more sparring but no knockouts, nor a final judgment.
Indeed, Judge Tracy at one point alluded to the likelihood of years of litigation in the case.
The UAW still has a presence at the Fremont factory, but any organizing efforts are essentially stuck in neutral until the case is resolved one way or the other. And even if the NLRB rules in the UAW's favor, the Fremont workers will have to vote on whether to unionize, and presently it's unknown if a majority wants to. For its part, Tesla told CNBC, Musk has been clear that it's up to the employees if they want to unionize.
In the meantime, Tesla said that its production employees start out making $19 an hour, claiming that's above the auto industry average.
"That is before equity and benefits are factored in, which are equivalent to an additional 60 percent of base pay," the company said.
Tesla also has addressed safety issues germane to the case. In October 2017 the company hired Laurie Shelby to oversee its Environmental, Health and Safety team. A year later she posted a blog on the Tesla website, outlining a number of improvements and initiatives, including a new onsite occupational health clinic, athletic trainers who roam the factory floor to preemptively identify potential injuries and a "Find-It-Fix-It" program that rewards employees who speak up about safety risks. Shelby reported that an investigation by California's Division of Occupational and Safety and Health of recordkeeping at the factory identified only two minor issues.
The company also argued that its production workers have more of a seat at the table than a union would provide. Musk's philosophy is that anybody at any level of the company can email anyone else if they have any questions, Tesla said.
The Tesla-UAW case could have ramifications on other Silicon Valley companies. Several recent developments bear watching.
At an Amazon warehouse near Minneapolis, a group of about 40 workers from East African nations organized to complain about working conditions, and the company negotiated with them on improvements — a first, according to labor organizers and researchers.
In November, after nearly 20,000 Google employees staged a walkout worldwide over the handling of sexual misconduct allegations, the company agreed to undo its mandatory arbitration clause for harassment and allow individuals to take their cases to court. Within days Facebook, Airbnb and eBay followed suit.
In December contract workers at Google, who took part in the walkout, sent a formal letter to CEO Sundar Pichai. They demanded better and equal treatment compared to that of full-time employees and alleged that Google "routinely denies [contract workers] access to information that is relevant to our jobs and our lives."
"With low unemployment, we're seeing more confidence among Silicon Valley workers speaking their mind," Shaiken said. That doesn't mean union drives are imminent, he added, "but it indicates that if workers don't have a union, they're going to try to invent one."
Note: An earlier version of this article listed the date for filing new briefs in the Tesla-UAW case briefs as Dec. 7. Following publication, the NLRB extended the date for filing new briefs to Dec. 21. CNBC has also been informed that no additional hearings will be held. The next step will be the judge's ruling, after which either or both parties can appeal the decision.


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Asia will be the second-largest sales market for matchmaking software, following US, with $323 million in revenue in 2020, in accordance with Statisa.
WHEN NIHARIKA Singh very first used matchmaking app Bumble inside her home town of Lucknow in 2018, she discovered that after a few swipes, there were no further potential lovers. But after she got stuck home adopting the lockdown last year, the 24-year-old discovered a new crop of men on such programs, quite a few back yourself like her.
“They would deliver me non-stop gives,” she said, after removing the software in December. “we don’t imagine I’ll make use of the programs in Lucknow again. I discovered that right here, males are also mentally hopeless to satisfy — that has been not the case in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore. The experience distinction between a lady and a guy is very large, particularly right here. Im experiencing an issue of abundance.”
Across Asia, online dating app managers have mentioned an urgent Covid impact: the development of consumers in places away from metros, with no particular advertising and marketing drive. And, a persistent and raising sex instability: outside of the 31 million Indian matchmaking app consumers in 2020, 67 per-cent were males.
Asia could be the second-largest money market for matchmaking software, following people, with $323 million in earnings in 2020, per Statisa.
A Tinder spokesperson informed The Indian present that development in Tier-II towns and cities has exploded double the amount once the metros previously seasons. Happn, very popular programs in Asia with 28 million people, presently has Nagpur, Surat, Ludhiana, and Agra with its leading 20 metropolitan areas. “Because of this pandemic, small locations become climbing regarding latest customers or task regarding software,” stated aquatic Ravinet, mind of fashions at Happn. (more…)


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"Fallout 4" developer Bethesda sure is quite busy these past few days. The studio has been working on a new update called 1.6, which has already been released and ready for download on Steam. Meanwhile, the company also revealed the latest about the game's PS4 mods.
According to VentureBeat, "Fallout 4" received the beta version of update 1.6 just recently. Players can download it through Steam by simply opting in on the properties menu. The new update brought some fixes and improvements as expected. Nonetheless, the most interesting of it all is the so-called "ExitSave" feature.
The said "Fallout 4" feature allows players to create an autosave whenever they decide to exit the game. It should be noted that the title is among the highly celebrated games on both PC and consoles. Hence bringing such feature is only right, as it will keep players on coming back from time to time.
Games like "Fallout 4" must maintain a kind of engagement. Otherwise, it can only serve as a make or break for the game. And sure enough, Bethesda has been doing the right thing. With the game's lifetime value reaching $99.6 billion, it only shows how passionate the studio is.
The "Fallout 4" update 1.6 is only made available on beta version for PC. However, it is expected to arrive across consoles PlayStation 4 and Xbox One anytime soon.
In related news, Express reports that "Fallout 4" PS4 mods have been announced delayed. Although the company did not reveal any ETA, they assured fans for updates in the next few days or so.
Bethesda released an update for "Fallout 4" in the last few weeks in preparation for the game's PS4 mods. However, it only introduced issues that are all unique to Sony's system -- from the size limit of the mods being limited all the way to the sound files not working properly.
The company has already iterated their plans to resolve the issue. Heck, they even have decided to work hand-in-hand with Sony in order to expedite the process.


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Fuji Heavy Industries and Mazda joined Toyota in increasing their profit target as domestic production will benefit from the weak yen.
Over the past three months Mazda more than doubled its net income target to 26 billion yen ($277 million) for the fiscal year ending March 2013, while Fuji heavy increased its forecast by 13% to 76 billion yen. All Japanese companies will benefit from the weakening yen which is to reach a 21/2 year low.
“The currency has the biggest impact,” said Takashi Aoki, a Tokyo-based fund manager at Mizuho Asset Management Co., which oversees about $38 billion. “At the current level, we can expect earnings in the fourth-quarter to greatly outperform, and for earnings to the next fiscal year to exceed expectations as well.”
In 2012, Fuji Heavy, which produces the Subaru cars, sold a record number of vehicles in the US, due to its best-selling Impreza hatchback. Fuji Heavy produced 75% of its vehicles in Japan, while Mazda manufactured 71%, the highest ratio among the country’s major automakers. Fuji Heavy said it plans to sell 722,000 vehicles this year, with 8,000 more compared with its last forecast.
“The yen is still making corrections from a high level,” said Fuji Heavy Chief Financial Officer Mitsuru Takahashi. “From a manufacturer’s point of view, we should produce where the goods are sold.”


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Gerry Wang, chairman and chief executive officer of the containership chartering firm Seaspan, said his firm has "never been as excited as we are today about the opportunities, dealing with all the new growth opportunities and also the financing transactions that we’re doing."
Wang made the comment this week while discussing the company's fourth quarter results with investment bankers.
Seaspan, which owns and charters containerships to liner companies, reported net earnings of $59 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, 151 percent more than the $23.5 million earned in the fourth quarter of 2011.
For the full-year 2012 , Seaspan achieved net earnings of $121 million compared to an $83 million loss in 2011.
The company noted it accepted delivery of four new ships in 2012, bringing its fleet to a total of 69 vessels at the end of 2012.
In January 2013, Seaspan entered into contracts with Hyundai Heavy Industries for the construction of five 14,000-TEU ships, that will be delivered in 2015 and chartered to Yang Ming.
Seaspan also ordered four 10,000-TEU ships that will be built by the Jiangsu shipyards in China. They will be delivered in 2014 and chartered to MOL. Seaspan has also agreed to purchase four 2003-ships from MOL that will be chartered back to the Japanese carrier.
Wang said there is "tremendous demand for fuel-efficient vessels" and liner companies want to take advantage of cheap prices as shipyards and new ship designs which allow them to reduce unit costs and make them more competitive.
He also said because liner companies have not made much money for the past two to three years there is an "opportunity for us with a strong balance sheet to fulfill the void they have in the capital space."
"We’re just working on several projects at the same time, and I would anticipate some new deals to happen this year," he said. - Chris Dupin


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The president may still reject the law on the pre-installation of Russian applications on devices.
Electronics manufacturers and Russian retailers contacted Russian President Vladimir Putin about the new law on pre-installing Russian applications on devices. This was reported by the publication “Vedomosti”.
The letter was sent by the Association of Trading Companies and Manufacturers of Electrical Appliances and Computer Equipment RATEK. It includes Google, Apple, Samsung, Intel, Dell, M. Video and many other companies.
On November 21, the State Duma in the third and final reading adopted amendments to the law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”, which were already nicknamed the “law against Apple.” The amendments oblige to preinstall Russian software applications on smartphones, computers and smart TVs sold in Russia. Apple promised to leave Russia if such a law is passed, since it does not preinstall third-party applications on its devices.
The law can still be rejected by Putin and then it will not enter into force. If the president approves the law, he will enter into force on July 1, 2020.
The letter of November 29 states that the entry into force of the law will negatively affect the development of the industry, as well as lead to monopolization in the development of Russian software. It is also noted that the law is contrary to the principles of the World Trade Organization, as it creates an advantage for Russian software developers.


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There is a YouTuber who is testing the durability of Samsung Electronics’ new mobile phone ‘Galaxy Z Flip 5’ by opening and closing it non-stop for a week.
On the 8th (local time), Bloomberg Communications conducted a real-time broadcast comparing the durability of Samsung Electronics’ ‘Galaxy Z Flip 5’ and Motorola’s메이저놀이터 ‘Laser 40 Ultra’ on the YouTube channel ‘ Mrkeybrd ‘, which has 130,000 subscribers, from the 2nd. said there is.
It is to check durability by manually opening and closing which of the two mobile phones will fail first.
As of 4:45 am on the 9th, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has been opened and closed 379,800 times and is operating normally. However, when it was opened and closed 223,000 times, an error was found in the hinge, but there is no problem in use.
On the other hand, the Razer 40 Ultra turned off the screen and stopped working completely after 126,367 opening and closing.
The experiment ended with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 winning, but the YouTube channel plans to continue testing the device until it completely breaks down.
Even now, this YouTuber is checking the durability of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 by opening and closing it.
Previously, this channel conducted the same experiment with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 last year.
The first release of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was in August 2021, but this YouTuber did that experiment with the Z Flip 3, which was released last year and was about a year old. According to Bloomberg Communications and Business Insider, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 broke after opening and closing a total of 418,500 times.


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Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando on track to expand Office inventory by more than 4.0 percent in next few years.
Miami is in pole position when it comes to projected supply increase
June 04, 2019
- Follow link to interactive visualization for full story on all Florida markets:
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