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It was a Saturday evening just before Christmas, and diners were sitting down at the swanky, avant-garde 1880 club in Singapore. But this was no ordinary meal out. The future of agriculture was on the menu.
For the first time anywhere in the world, a restaurant was legally permitted to serve “cultured meat”: chicken produced from cells in a lab, rather than raised on a farm. Singapore’s food regulator in December gave California-based alt-food company Eat Just the green light to sell the product commercially, and 1880 was the first customer.
“I feel like we’ve been talking about this idea for over a hundred years now. Instead of talking and researching and philosophising, and panelling, and all that – now we’re going to be eating dinner. I’m exhilarated,” says California-based Eat Just CEO and founder Josh Tetrick, ahead of the big night.
“This is a big, historic deal for the food system generally, for the implications of what the future of meat will look like. It will accelerate other countries’ regulatory approvals, it will accelerate capital into this.
“No longer can people say ‘this is kind of a science project’. When people are sitting down with their family to a chicken dinner, it’s not a science project anymore. It’s a commercial endeavour.”
Around the world, but particularly on the US east coast, in Israel, the Netherlands and Singapore, cellular agriculture – taking animal or fish cells and making meat or seafood that is identical to the meat we eat today – looks to be approaching its tipping point.
It has been a long time coming. Credit Suisse’s chief sustainability officer Marisa Drew calls it “the 10-year overnight sensation” but in the next 12 to 18 months, pilot phases, and trials (and errors) will give way to regulatory approvals. Factories will start to open, and cultured meat and seafood will be on menus and in shops.
A game-changer for the planet?
Consultants at AT Kearney have forecast that by 2030 cell-based meat could grab a 10 per cent share of the $US1.4 trillion ($1.8 trillion) meat industry, already closing in on the projected 18 per cent share taken by a new breed of meat-like (but plant-based) vegan food. A decade later, cultured meat could be almost level-pegging with conventional meat, at 35 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.
That means vast tracts of agricultural land will no longer be given over to meat production – neither the grazing animals nor the 46 per cent of the world's edible crops that go into the meat supply chain rather than onto our plates. The oceans will no longer be trawled by factory fishing ships. The world could be headed into what Harvard political economist Jan Dutkiewicz has called “the age of animal obsolescence”.
“What we’re seeing now is development on a scale that the food and agriculture industry hasn’t seen in decades, even centuries. It will be a huge transformation,” says Gerrit Suhlmann, managing partner at Europe-based alt-food consultancy Bright Green Partners.
The technology promises something that 2020’s alt-food poster children – vegan burger makers Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods – cannot. It isn’t just aspiring to be like meat. It is meat. And it’s not just the mass-market stuff, the patties and nuggets – it’s fillets of fish, breasts of chicken and cuts of steak that blind tasters cannot separate from the real thing.
And it can potentially be produced on a scale, and thus at a cost – with shorter, more concentrated supply chains – that even the hyper-efficient, industrialised meat industry won’t be able to match.
“We’re going to price it on day one at the price of premium chicken. We see a cost trajectory in the next five to 10 years where we can get below the cost of conventional chicken, and chicken is pretty cheap,” says Just Eat’s Tetrick.
Make your own meat
At the moment, the cost of turning out a piece of cultured meat is still very high, although reducing sharply – mainly because there isn’t any commercial production yet.
The process involves taking a tissue sample from a live cow, chicken, pig or fish and immersing the stem (or other) cells in a serum, or “growth media”, of crucial nutrients. Once the cells start reproducing, the material is transferred into a bioreactor, where it grows exponentially.
The material is then put on a 3D “scaffolding” that differentiates it into muscle, fat and connective tissue. Muscle and fat fibres are combined to make meat.
The process can also produce fat by itself, which could potentially be used as an ingredient in other products, including hybrid products that combine cellular and plant-based material.
It does still sound a little bit sci-fi. And that alienness is shaping up as one of the industry's greatest potential challenges.
This discussion about whether the consumer will like it or not is a bit premature. It hasn’t been released yet, hardly anybody has tried it.
— Gerrit Suhlmann, Bright Green Partners
The product has consistently been described as “lab-grown” (some farming lobbies still prefer the even more derogatory “fake”).
Unsurprisingly, the industry isn’t a fan of the "lab" moniker – especially as the process starts to move out into conventional factories.
They’ll live with “cultured meat” – which is what will probably be mandated to appear on labels and menus – but would prefer “clean meat”, or even just “meat”. Tetrick compares it to the smartphone: “I don’t say to my girlfriend, ‘please pass me my smartphone’, I say ‘please pass me my phone’.”
Another word they wince at is “bioreactor”, which also has sci-fi connotations. “If we look at beer production or bread production – that’s also in a bioreactor,” says Suhlmann.
The farm and fishing lobbies, for whom cellular agriculture is potentially an existential threat, will likely run a “frankenfoods” campaign against the disruptive challenger, hoping to turn consumers away.
But the industry is confident the proof will be in the eating. They say people just want something that looks, cooks and tastes like meat – and that's what they'll deliver. People will also respond to the fact that it’s cleaner and more hygienic than traditional agriculture or aquaculture. The sustainability side, for most, will just be an additional bonus – you can have your fishcake and eat it too.
“This whole discussion about whether the consumer will like it or not, it’s a bit premature. It hasn’t been released yet, hardly anybody has tried it,” Suhlmann says.
“You have to develop it, bring it to market, test it, adapt, iterate, see how you meet consumer preferences. I would put that consumer discussion completely to one side, it’s not relevant at the moment.”
Early survey work suggests the Asian markets have an open mind – most notably India, with its large Hindu-vegetarian population, and China with its unsustainably voracious appetite for seafood.
“The prospect for the cultivated seafood sector is profound, particularly in Asia,” says Drew. “We’re not talking about ground-up fish meal that will go in a fishcake; there are companies that have created a fillet of fish from a stem cell, so it will be just like having a fish caught from the ocean. In Asia, so many livelihoods are tied to the seafood industry in some form or fashion.”
So it’s little wonder that Singapore, which imports 95 per cent of its meat, eggs and dairy, is interested in developing an efficient, domestic supply.
Singapore-based Shiok Meats is on the verge of commercially viable production of shrimp, Eat Just is building a factory there, and American producer BlueNalu is also eyeing off the island state.
“We’re all very excited by what Eat Just has done in Singapore. We’ve been working with the FDA [the US Food and Drug Administration] on a similar regulatory approval, and then we’ll work with Singapore once we have that,” says BlueNalu CEO Lou Cooperhouse.
BlueNalu is focused on fish species that can’t be farmed, such as mahi mahi and bluefin tuna. They’re still in pilot phase for another year, but they have distribution partners already lined up in Japan and Korea.
“The largest per-capita seafood consumption is in Asia, all the net new consumption is there, the GDP growth, it’s only going to become more significant. We’re launching in America but it’s quite possible that we might have our second factory in Asia,” Cooperhouse says.
In Australia things are also slowly building a head of steam, says Michael Dean, Sydney-based founding partner of investment group Agfunder. "Start-ups like Vow are creating a buzz, with its approach to exotic meats. And Heuros is focused on developing production technologies like cell growth media," he says.
But a local regulatory green light could be a way off, he reckons, as there's nothing at commercial scale yet. Tetrick, though, hopes regulatory approval in Singapore will speed up the process in other jurisdictions since these agencies tend to watch each other pretty closely.
The challenge will be the potential political resistance from powerful farming interests. The big food production companies won’t stand in the way of disruption – they can buy into the trend. But farmers and fishing fleets could feel the impact.
Cooperhouse is at pains to portray his industry as a potential partner. “We are targeting species that are typically imported in the home country and are difficult or impossible to farm-raise,” he says. “We want to produce a mercury-free, sustainable, available-year-round product. That’s something we feel we can democratise.”
Others accept that there’s a long-term disruption, but argue they're plotting a path to a more sustainable planet – one that doesn’t keep gobbling up forest for grazing land, overfish its oceans or divert almost half its arable land to feed for livestock.
If the regulatory process survives that political pressure, approvals could prompt a rush of investor interest.
“As with all early-stage companies the typical path when they’re at business plan and vision stage is to seek friends-and-family funding,” says Drew.
“Usually when they get to something that feels like it has the potential to be successful either because the technology can be commercialised and can maybe demonstrate that they’ve got a viable customer base to sell to, then you see private high net worth and institutional venture-capital type A, B and C rounds.”
But she says there will soon be dedicated alt-food funds, particularly in the light of the stellar performance of Beyond Meat, whose share price doubled in 2020. And there will be capital injections from existing food companies keen to get in on the ground floor.
“The classic question that has been around since time immemorial is whether you can innovate from inside a mature large-cap company – does innovation really work? A lot of times you really need to be outside of a big corporate structure to be truly nimble and innovate,” Drew says.
“As a strategic matter, many of the big food guys are saying let me make some small minority investments into several of these, either to get some insight into what’s going on or potentially to ultimately buy them.”
Investors will need to be patient. BlueNalu reckons it will be profitable as soon as it produces and sells commercially, but right now nobody is making money from pure cellular-agriculture plays.
Regulatory approval further afield than Singapore is probably at least a year away, and big factories are a prospect for 2024 and beyond. And it will take a while to win the consumer over.
Agfunder has put money into the sector, but Dean isn't expecting the revolution imminently. "For 2021, the big challenges facing cellular agriculture remain – namely the cost and scalability of production," he says.
"Like all technologies, the pace of development will invariably accelerate as collaboration and incremental breakthroughs imbue the market. So while we are unlikely to see any fundamental production breakthroughs in 2021, that date is surely coming, and coming soon."
It's only in the longer term, though, as agriculture is reshaped, that the extent of the transformation may become apparent – not only in our countryside and seas, but on our plates. Just as the first motor cars still looked like a “horseless carriage”, for a decade or two, the diners will still need an anchor in the food of today.
Eventually, though, meat and seafood may come to be produced on a bespoke basis, in novel forms – unshackled from the limitations of butchering – and with additional nutrients (omega 3 fatty acids in chicken or beef, for example). And it could be decentralised, potentially even knocked up in a restaurant and the back room of your local supermarket. If you can brew beer at home, maybe you could even make your own meat.
“This is already a new enough idea that I don’t think we should push it," says Tetrick. "But 30, 40 years from now we will likely have new paradigms."
Although the road even just to viability still has a way to run, Cooperhouse is happy to contemplate what has already been achieved.
“The holy grail is to manufacture an animal product without an animal at the same genetic, nutritional, functional characteristics as conventional products. That is an extraordinary accomplishment.”
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For fashion retail in general, 2016 was at the same time a challenging year in which various external factors - including geopolitical events - had a negative impact on retail trade in many markets.
"We welcomed more than 13,000 new colleagues which means there are now more than 161,000 colleagues in the group", said CEO Karl-Johan Persson.
In the local currency, H&M sales in Croatia grew 2% over the review period, the company said in its financial report for 2016 starting December 1 and ending on November 30.
During the fourth quarter, the company ventured into new markets - Cyprus and New Zealand, as well as rolled out H&M online platforms in Canada and South Korea.
Profit after financial items amounted to 24,039 million Swedish krona (2,721 million dollars) compared to 27,242 million Swedish krona (3,083 million dollars) previous year. Gross profit increased from last year, while gross margin dropped to 57 percent from prior year's 57.5 percent.
Mr Persson said the company was continuing to develop a strong online presence and was planning stores in Kazakhstan, Colombia, Iceland, Vietnam and Georgia.
H&M said on Tuesday it would roll out e-commerce in six more markets this year, taking it online in 41 of the 69 it is present in.
Instead, H&M will aim to boost sales in every market it operates by 10% to 15% in local currency, both off- and online.
H&M, which operates in 64 markets but whose USA business is its second largest after Germany, has been on a store opening tear for years, including recent new locations in such prime spots as New York's Times Square.
Persson also revealed, however, that it plans to launch brand new fascias as well.
Below, a goofily narrated video from last Thursday, January 26, and further below, video shot yesterday by Big Island Video News . Kilauea has been erupting for 30 years and is believed to have formed anywhere between 300,000-600,000 years ago.
It is in this context that the alliance was stitched; however, it now seems that not all is still well within the ruling party. The youth have done well for the party and are still supporting it. "She is an asset to the Congress", he said.
Barca have won the past two editions of the competition, and are the record holders of the King's Cup, with 28 trophies. The semi-finals will be played on 01/02 and 08/09 February. "It's vital we score at their place in the first leg".
Moreover, Columbia Prns L L C Management has 0.36% invested in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX ) for 85,025 shares. Over the past 6 months 6 sell-side analysts have lowered their long term earnings per share estimates on the stock.
This contest should go the distance, but whether Vandeweghe can cause a boilover will rest on her ability during clutch moments. Hitting 30 winners to seven, the 25-year-old completely exasperated Kerber, who was powerless and showed it.
IT majors such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCL Technologies, Wipro and Tech Mahindra traded deep in the red. And there are reports that President Donald Trump may sign a new executive order turning the proposals into law.
This is the first time Jason Day is competing against a full field since the Deutsche Bank Championship in early September. TaylorMade-Adidas president and CEO David Abeles said: "We are thrilled that Tiger has chosen to play TaylorMade".
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari is also participating. "Things remain unclear", the FSA commander said. The rebels' loss of their former urban stronghold, Aleppo, has shifted the momentum of the fighting in favour of Assad.
"It is the day British boats launched a war of genocide against Indigenous Australians, which continues today". Just after 8am both Australian and Aboriginal flags were raised in unison on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Kompany revels in City return
Asked whether Kompany was fit enough to play two games in four days, City boss Pep Guardiola said: "I don't know". It's something that we worked on and we did that; it's frustrating we didn't convert them.
Gears of War 4's Social Quickplay playlist gets cross-play
Thus, the players who use Windows 10 and those who use Xbox One will be able to play the same online games within social mode. Modern gamers have always been divided based on the platform of their choice, be it Xbox One, PC or PS4.
Anti-Trump protesters head back to SFO today
The complete list of airports and locations where protesters are expected to come together were detailed in this Twitter thread. They later moved into the terminal as immigration advocate attorneys tried to access people detained inside.
TransCanada re-submits application for Keystone XL pipeline
Last Thursday, TRP reapplied for the project and if approved, we believe operations will commence in the next couple of years. The company said the project would contribute $3.4 billion (3.18 billion euros) to the United States economy.
White Woman Admits to Lying About Black Boy Flirting With Her
The jurors in Till's case had no intention of convicting Bryant and Milam, two white men, for the vicious murder of a black child. More than 60 years after the death of 14-year-old Emmett Till , the woman who testified during his trial has admitted to perjury.
Chile Wildfires Declared a 'State of Emergency'
Chile's President Michelle Bachelet has declared a state of emergency and called for worldwide help to stymie the wildfires. The worst forest fire in Chile's recent history has ravaged an entire town, destroying buildings, farms and livestock.
Stars to react to the passing Mary Tyler Moore
She won a Tony for her performance in Whose Life is it Anyway? in 1980 and received an Oscar nod for Ordinary People. She was married three times and welcomed one child, a son Richard, who died from an accidental gunshot in 1980.

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Song of the Day: SAFE releases “Red Light” video in support of Stay album
Our Song of the Day is the latest visual from SAFE released in support of his new album, Stay.
The video for the Doc McKinney-produced “Red Light” was shot in the Dominican Republic and was directed by Taylor Cohen who has created videos for Khalid, Billie Eilish, Travis Scott, and more.
Stay features Playboi Carti and Quin and shows SAFE’s seamless ability to blend R&B, soul and hip-hop with his unique melodies and eclectic vibe created by his multifaceted upbringing and profound creativity.”
You can find “Red Light” and the Stay album on various digital streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
SAFE (of Halal Gang) is a young artist hailing from Toronto who has already received co-signs from Drake, OVO co-founder Oliver, and has worked with and gained admiration from some of the most award-winning names in the industry.
He is currently featured on Khalid’s Billboard Hot 100 single “Don’t Pretend” while his solo project itself has recently hit the Billboard and iTunes charts as well. His latest single “Paid In Full” featuring Playboi Carti has already amassed several million streams and his song “Listen Closely” with Dvbbs is continuing to climb the Canadian charts.
You can follow @Bando416 on Instagram.


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Porsche have been developing the prototype of their mission E for some time; it was finally unveiled in September 2015 and Porsche look set to build this beautiful sports car and take on Telsa at its own game.
Porsche is not new to the world of electric motors and cars. The Panamera and Cayenne are hybrid cars already in production and doing very well. They have also created a hybrid racing car which has done extremely well on the track. They have even created a gas-electric supercar; which erased the competition at the famous Le Mans circuit this year.
The Mission E is set to be a four door car with four luxurious seats; the batteries will be set low in the car, just as they are in the Telsa. This improves handling as the center of gravity remains low. In many ways it will be a vastly superior car to Telsa’s latest Model S P85D:
Telsa have been making electric cars for many years, their latest version can go from zero to sixty in under three seconds. Porsche, with their first electric car, can get from zero to sixty in three and a half seconds. They have managed to produce six hundred horsepower from the electric engine, although it is not yet clear whether it will have one engine per wheel or axle. Telsa’s latest offering is only capable of three hundred miles on one charge, Porsche have already achieved three hundred and ten miles in one charge.
One of the biggest issues with any all electric car is that once the batteries have run flat you have to wait for them to recharge. Porsche have already found a way round this! Telsa takes around thirty minutes to put an eighty percent charge into its vehicle. Porsche has managed to reduce this to fifteen minutes by using an eight hundred volt charging system.
The Porsche will be the first production car to feature a camera which detects the mood of the driver and will play music according to their mood. It has a space age interior; the dashboard is simple with all the key displays in front of you. You may feel like you are in a spaceship instead of a car! Porsche also has the advantage when it comes to the looks of the vehicle. Although Telsa have made some beautiful cars, the prototype of the Mission E looks absolutely stunning; it features a flawless body which looks like it is all one piece.
Although there are the tell tale signs of a Porsche clearly visible, it also manages to look a cut above anything else on the road. And that’s exactly what people want. Those passionate about the latest cars models on the market want the fastest, coolest and smoothest to drive vehicles. In one word, they want innovation and that’s exactly what Porsche is offering them.
Once the car is produced; and Porsche has recently announced the investment of over a billion dollars to make it a reality, it will come with a considerable heritage. Porsche is one of the most recognized, respected and well established car manufacturer’s in the world. It will generate interest simply because if the heritage and racing pedigree which come with the vehicle. There is no doubt there will be a long waiting list and the incoming funds will help Porsche to fly ahead in the advancement of the electric car.
The Mission E may do more than give Telsa a run for its money; it could be the start of a new generation of electric cars, which charge quickly and can outperform the majority of naturally aspirated engines. It will lead to more Porsche electric cars and other manufacturers will be quick to utilize the technology and compete. The Mission E really could be a game changer for the electric car market.
The battle is on! Both Tesla and Porsche are great car manufacturers; they’re great competitors too. Then again, each of these two companies has its own fans. Some might prefer Porsche and its groundbreaking infotainment systems and hybrid cars; others would go for Tesla’s fast models. Either way, these two will soon go head to head. We’ll just have to see whether Mission E or Tesla wins the title for the most pioneering car ever produced.
By John Smith and Design911.co.uk!


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Some of the nation's biggest chains are set to open at a new food court in the coming weeks near Boston.
Greggs, Subway and Burger King will be launching new stores at the Sutterton service station after the site was given a major face lift.
A new coffee shop is also in the works and will open alongside the big hitters.
Burger King at Sutterton service station closed in August to make way for the new venture.
The building, located near the petrol station, off the roundabout connecting the A17 and A16 used to be a Little Chef, but last year became EG Diner which shared the building alongside Burger King.
A spokesman for Burger King has quashed rumours that the restaurant had closed for good.
He said: “Burger King has indeed closed temporarily while a refurbishment of the building takes place.
"It’s great news as the revamp will transform the site into a food court setting with Greggs, Subway and a coffee shop moving in.
"Staff from the site’s Burger King have been relocated while refurbishment is carried out and will return when we re-open.
"We look forward to welcoming all to our new restaurant when we re-open."
Although a date for re-opening is yet to be announced it is hoped the new food court will open its doors in coming weeks.


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Snapchat, the company was recently renamed to Snap Inc., started selling the Spectacles smart glasses last week. It’s selling them through cute little vending machines that have so far appeared in various locations across California. Spectacles have now made their way to the East Coast but the company hasn’t just set up another vending machine, it has actually opened a pop-up store for Spectacles in New York City.
This isn’t like most pop-up stores that you might have seen from time to time in the Big Apple. It’s a very unorthodox pop-up shop that’s heavy on the branding but still relies on the vending machine to dish out the Spectacles.
The pop-up store is located in a building close to the iconic 5th Avenue. The entire facade of this building has been decorated with the Spectacles’ eye logo while inside the pop-up store there are multiple screens which show that this product is all about.
At the far end of the queue barriers, there’s just one vending machine that’s dispensing Spectacles so you may have to hurry or the stock might get sold out. You’ll find the pop-up store at 5 East 59th Street, the branding is pretty hard to miss once you’re there.
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Former fashion designer adapts to vision loss with style
Alida Miletic's glaucoma was diagnosed during a routine eye exam. More than 250,000 Canadians have glaucoma but only half know they have it, according to CNIB
Alida Miletic always knew there was a possibility she would someday develop vision loss. Her grandfather was diagnosed with glaucoma as a young adult and other family members had experienced vision problems, so there was a genetic risk.
But the former fashion designer never expected she would be diagnosed with aggressive glaucoma at 40.
“My grandfather lost his sight in his 20s, so at 40 I thought ‘I’m clear of that.’ So it was really tough,” Miletic says. Prior to her diagnosis, Miletic’s focus was on her career in fashion. A graduate of Oakville’s Sheridan College, she ran her own clothing line for eight years before moving to Milan to work for the renowned fashion house DSquared2. Returning to Toronto, she joined the luxury menswear retailer Harry Rosen as a Versace and Giorgio Armani specialist.
Miletic first noticed something was wrong with her eyesight when she was driving at night and saw halos around street lamps and car headlights.
“I thought I was tired or hadn’t eaten properly,” she says.
Her glaucoma was diagnosed during a routine eye exam. The disease occurs when the optic nerve has been damaged, most often by elevated pressure in the eye. More than 250,000 Canadians have glaucoma and only half of them know they have it, according to CNIB.
It’s referred to as “the silent thief”, says Miletic, since there are typically no early warning signs and if left untreated, it can turn to blindness. The only real defence against the disease is regular eye exams.
Struck by the speed at which her glaucoma attacked her eyesight, Miletic refused to accept her diagnosis.
“I was in complete denial,” she says.
Miletic’s ophthalmologist first treated her with eye drops; eventually she required surgery to save some part of her sight.
She had to quit her career, which she says in many ways defined her. Friends and family didn’t know how to help; she was even unsure of how to help herself.
But during a followup appointment her ophthalmologist gave her a new prescription: “Go to CNIB,” he said. “They’ll help you out.”
When Miletic made the call to CNIB, a registered charity that delivers practical and emotional rehabilitation services to Canadians who are blind or partially sighted from coast to coast, she says her whole world changed.
“CNIB came over and interviewed me and said I could attend an intensive rehabilitation program,” she says. “They basically taught me how to be safe in my home.”
CNIB assisted her in adjusting many aspects of her life: how to cook safely, how to re-organize her home (she lives in the house she grew up in), how to navigate her neighbourhood and how to perform a range of everyday tasks.
“I didn’t trust myself to cook or use sharp knives,” Miletic says. “Your whole life changes. I mean, how do you brush your teeth?”
CNIB also introduced her to braille so Miletic, who loves to cook, could label items such as spices. She’s also learned to become extremely organized and to simplify everything around her.
“A clutter-free area is a safe area,” she says.
Now legally blind, Miletic describes her eyesight as like looking through a pinhole. She says the image is very foggy.
Dealing with the loss of vision successfully sometimes means planning ahead and calling on her support network.
After a few missteps, including returning home from the grocery store with a can of gravy instead of soup and getting lost in a large shopping mall, Miletic says she has learned to reach out to people and not only ask for help but tell them how they can help.
She now phones ahead and asks grocery store employees to walk her through the aisles; she also calls CNIB if she needs assistance finding her way around a shopping area.
“Anytime you have a situation you can ask CNIB to help you navigate that situation,” she says. “When there’s new construction in your neighbourhood they’ll help you navigate that.”
Never computer literate when she could see, Miletic has learned computer skills to gain greater independence.
“I can look up menus, for example, and know what I’m going to order without needing assistance from everybody,” she says.
Today Miletic is a vision health spokesperson for CNIB and volunteers by helping other people adjust to the life-changing experience of losing their sight. She also has a new-found commitment to education. She is studying sociology at the University of Toronto and has already completed courses in Canadian history.
“I never thought I’d go to university,” Miletic says. “And I love it.”


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It’s hard to believe that just six years ago, Microsoft completely dominated the mobile space. Two of the top three smartphones in 2006 were powered by Windows Mobile, and it was the must-have platform for power users and enterprise users alike. Yet by 2010, Redmond had totally lost its grip on the portable computing industry, with iPhones and Android-powered devices having emerged to pummel its market share. How did a company so successful at maintaining a near-monopoly on the desktop fall from grace in smartphones?
For a (relatively) long time, there were only three players of note in the so-called converged devices category in the US: Microsoft, Palm, and RIM. Almost everyone who wanted a pocketable computer that was greatly extensible in both hardware and software settled on either a Windows Mobile-, Palm OS-, or BlackBerry-powered device. And because Windows Mobile had the largest software catalog and the most powerful components in its PDAs and phones, it naturally rose to the top of the pile for the discriminating user.
Flash forward to 2010. The iPhone has taken the market by storm, forever altering the mobile landscape and the features demanded by consumers. While Android did well in emulating popular iPhone features from the outset, Windows Mobile was slow to adapt; for instance, its stylus-mandatory UI made the much more finger-friendly capacitive displays impossible at the time, even while the rest of the industry left resistive screens behind. Microsoft also never got the hang of offering programs through an app store, delivering a half-baked solution late in the game.
Another seemingly huge contributing factor was the long gap between the announcement of Windows Phone 7 Series and the release of actual Windows Phone 7 hardware: nearly eight months. Not only were current users bitter that their devices were about to be obsolescent — because they would neither be upgradeable nor capable of running the latest applications — but potential buyers would be crazy to invest in an ecosystem whose sunset was growing near. The combination of these factors made former owners upgrade away from the platform and then stay away even when WP7 hardware (very slowly) hit the scene.
It seems that complacency, then, may have been Redmond’s greatest fault; while the rest of the industry grew and evolved to embrace new technologies and methodologies, Windows Mobile can arguably be accused of resting on its laurels, never really pushing the envelope after Windows Mobile 5. It’s only now, several years later, that the company is showing signs of life again with the introduction of Mango, Apollo on the horizon, and exciting hardware from partners like Nokia, Samsung, and HTC.
This was certainly not a comprehensive list of reasons that Microsoft now finds itself playing catch-up in the enormous mobile ecosystem. What else do you think led to the decline of WinMo/WinPho?


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The Heritage Corridor Business Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce serving Lemont, Homer Glen, and the surrounding areas, announced the inaugural LHG Meat-A-Thon, taking place on Sunday, November 13. The event is an eating challenge, where participants will visit 13 different stations (restaurants, food trucks, pop-ups) in Downtown Lemont that are each serving a different two-ounce sampling of meat – including a hamburger slider, pulled pork, chili, a taco, and more. They will be given a racing t-shirt and a racing bib, taking on the theme of running a race. Upon completion, participants will receive “The Golden T-Bone” finishers medal.
“There are so many great restaurants in the area, we wanted to bring attention to these entrepreneurs in a truly unique way,” stated Dan Mulka, Executive Director of the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance (HCBA). “Plus, we want more people to discover Downtown Lemont. It’s vintage charm, blue collar ethic, outdoor fun, this Village is like no other.”
The event itself is a fundraiser for the HCBA, which also puts on other events like the LHG Test Kitchen Week in January and Lemont Legends Cruise Nights in the summer. A portion of the proceeds are given back to the vendors to help defray their costs.
Currently, the LHG Meat-A-Thon has announced the following vendors for the event:
• Barrel & Vine
• Big Ed’s Shed
• Heroes West Lemont
• Matt’s Barbecue
• Mucha Salsa
• Wooden Paddle
The cost to participate in the event is $100 per person (plus a $4.95 processing fee). To register, or for more information, please visit LHGMeatathon.com.
Artist Rendering – Finisher Medal
Artist Rendering – Participant T-Shirt


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Sir Bradley Wiggins is on the verge of striking a sponsorship deal with Skoda UK that could pour millions of pounds into his own brands and his eponymous team over the next three years, Cycling Weekly can reveal.
A spokesperson for Skoda UK confirmed the brand was in “advanced discussions” with Wiggins and his commercial partner company XIX Entertainment but that it had yet to be signed.
Though he added he the company hoped to complete something before Christmas.
A separate source said the car brand, owned by the German Volkswagen Group, will appear on the Team Wiggins jersey and provide vehicles for the squad.
They said the deal is also set to entail personal endorsements, which will see Wiggins appear in adverts for Skoda over the three-year period.
Skoda has long had an association with cycling providing vehicles and sponsorship to multiple races, notably the Tour de France.
The Wiggins team has been sponsored by Sky but that deal comes to end at the end of 2016, and it emerged in July that Sky had decided this year not to renew it.
During 2016 Team Wiggins partnered with Hyundai for its vehicles.
CW understands that the deal with Skoda has taken Wiggins and his commercial partner company XIX Entertainment, months to broker.
The Skoda UK deal will be welcome good news to Wiggins after a tumultuous couple of months in which he has found his legacy in the sport called into question following revelations about a series of TUEs for banned medications before big races, and allegations of a mystery package being delivered to the team in France straight after his Critérium du Dauphiné win in 2011.
However, those scandals seem to have done little to dent Wiggins’s popularity as sold-out crowds turned up to see what was billed as his last race at the Ghent Six Day last month.
Skoda’s parent company Volkswagen has also been involved in scandal in recent years.
The company is still reeling from the revelation that it used software to cheat diesel emissions tests in millions of cars worldwide.
It has already paid out $15m (£11.9m) to authorities in the US and may yet face heavy sanctions in other countries.
A group of its own shareholders are currently seeking €8.2bn (£7bn) in damages after the company’s share price fell following the emergence of the scandal.
Wiggins and XIX Entertainment declined to comment.


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Google in the past couple of weeks has done major changes to its digital payments platform, Google Pay. The company recently overhauled the logo and the design of the platform. However, it looks like Google isn’t done transforming Google Pay yet as it is planning to make a bunch of other changes to the platform.
A recent report suggests the company is planning to kill its web app in early January. As of now, Google Pay’s web app offers the ability to manage payment methods. It also allows users to send money to family and friends. Now, word is that the company is killing the web app or at least a part of it.
As per a report by 9To5 Google, Google will not allow users to send or receive money from its web app starting in January 2021. Users will be able to send or receive money from the company’s new Google Pay app.
“Starting early in 2021, you won’t be able to use pay.google.com to send and receive money from other people. To send and receive money, use the new Google Pay app,” the company says in a notice that is displayed on the web app.
While users may not be able to transfer or receive money, they will still be able to use the platform for managing payment methods.
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Additionally, Google is also adding a new fee on instant transfers done via Google Pay. This means that if users try to transfer money from their Google Pay accounts to their debit cards via instant transfer, they will either have to pay 1.5% or 31 cents, whichever is higher, Android Police reports.


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• JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been critical of Bitcoin since 2017, calling it a fraud and a waste of time.
• After a dismal 2022, the price of Bitcoin has been inching upward over the past few weeks, trading at $22,709 at the time of writing.
• Dimon has reiterated his opposition to the world’s largest cryptocurrency and dismissed cryptocurrencies as having no real worth.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been a vocal critic of Bitcoin since he first called it a fraud back in 2017. Despite the prolonged crypto winter, proponents of cryptocurrencies remain bullish about the industry’s prospects and have had cause for optimism. In the wake of the market’s troubles following the demise of FTX, the chief executive of the banking giant has continued to criticize the crypto, asserting that it is a hoax and reiterating his opposition to the world’s largest cryptocurrency.
The price of Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency in the world, has been gradually increasing over the past few weeks. According to data from Coingecko, Bitcoin is trading at $22,709 at the time of writing, an increase of 15% over the past week. However, despite the market’s recent success, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon remains unconvinced. Last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Dimon dismissed cryptocurrencies as having no real worth.
In an interview, he stated, “I believe all of that to be a waste of time. You just have to look at the data and make your own judgments. The issue with Bitcoin is that it has no real value. It’s not a real currency and it’s not backed by anything.”
Despite Dimon’s skepticism, proponents of cryptocurrencies are optimistic about the industry’s future. As more people become aware of the benefits of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, the industry will continue to grow. Several governments have already begun to recognize the utility of digital currencies, and more are expected to do so in the near future.
While there are still many risks associated with cryptocurrencies, the industry seems to be gaining traction. Whether or not Jamie Dimon ever changes his opinion of Bitcoin remains to be seen, but in the meantime, the crypto market continues to show promise.


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By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Are you fed up with fees? First, the airlines made headlines by charging for things that used to be free. Then it was the banks. Now, more and more hotels are checking in on this free frenzy. In fact, a new study estimates hotels are expected to collect about $1.8 billion from extra fees and surcharges this year alone.
Frequent traveler Karon Gibson says she is fed up with hotel fees.
"I don't think it's fair sometimes, because you're already paying pretty high fees for hotel rooms," she says.
Gibson has been hit with fees to use the safe in her hotel room, resort fees even if she didn't use the gym or pool, fees to receive a fax, even a daily parking fee when she didn't have a car!
"I was pretty upset about that," Gibson says.
Upset because she checked into a hotel and checked out with a much higher bill than she expected.
"I find people are extremely mad about the situation," says Travel Expert Ian Ford.
Ford operates a website called the Undercover Tourist. He's seen fees at two star hotels to luxury hotels, and there's quite a range of costly charges, including: restocking fees ranging from $5 to $15 for just opening the mini bar, a bellman charge of $8 even if you carry your own luggage, even a $3.95 energy charge for using the air conditioning.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association says fees are increasing in part because hotels sometimes have to pay a third party to run the gym, operate the pool, provide internet access or other services.
"Unfortunately, we'd like to give away as much as we can, but the economics are that somebody has to pay for it when it's all said and done," says Joe McInerney with the Association.
So what can you do to avoid these fees? Call the hotel when you make your reservation and ask what they charge extra for, or check the hotel website. Some hotel loyalty programs give members breaks on the fees.
Also, be sure to check your bill carefully when you check out. It's easier to dispute a fee while you're still at the hotel. That's what Karon did, and she got the parking charge removed from her bill.
For more from the Undercover Tourist, click here.
For the study on hotel fees, click here.
for more features.


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CMS Info Systems failed to get an impressive grey market premium and its public issue saw a lukewarm response from investors.
It was the 65th and the last initial public offering (IPO) of 2021. The issue closed with a subscription of 1.95 times during December 21-23.
All sorts of investors participated in the listing but the demand was very low. The portion set aside for retail investors was subscribed 2.15 times and qualified institutional buyers had put in bids 1.98 times their allotted quota, the part set aside for non-institutional investors was booked 1.45 times.
Experts feel the entire issue being an offer-for-sale by promoter Sion Investment Holdings Pte Limited received muted response from investors and low grey market premium. The market volatility through the last couple of months, tepid listings of last few issues and Fed tightening of stimulus added to the woes.
Also read - CMS Info Systems IPO share allotment. Check out allotment status online, latest grey market premium, listing date
CMS Info Systems is India’s largest cash management company based on number of ATM points and number of retail pick-up points end March 2021, as well as one of the largest ATM cash management companies worldwide.
“Despite a dominant position in the domestic value chain, the IPO was not able generate sufficient interest among the investors. Overall the issue was subscribed 1.95 times, which is significantly lower than the trend visible in the recent IPOs,” admitted Rajnath Yadav, Research Analyst at Choice Broking.
He further said that volatility in the secondary markets, abnormal listing of couple of latest IPOs, and global cues like concerns on inflation and faster-than-expected tapering and the air of an interest rate hike have been instrumental in making the market response lukewarm.
Click Here To Read All IPO Related News
CMS Info Systems traded at Rs 221 per share in the grey market, a premium of Rs 5 or 2.3 percent over and above the expected final issue price of Rs 216 per share, as per IPO Watch. It will make its debut on the bourses on December 31.
CMS Info Systems has raised Rs 1,100 crore from the public issue. Being entirely an offer-for-sale by promoter, the company will not receive any money from the proceeds, and all the money, besides issue expenses, will go to selling shareholder.
Also read - Market regulator tightens rules for IPOs in record year for first-time share sales
Mohit Nigam, Head - PMS at Hem Securities highlighted six reasons that impacted IPO subscription of CMS Info Systems.
“First, its business depends significantly on the use of cash but the RBI is planning to introduce digital currency that will impact the amount of cash in circulation. Second, the company’s business is highly dependent on the banking sector in India and, any adverse development with respect to Indian banks can adversely affects their utilisation and demand for cash management services,” he said.
The company’s top five customers contributed 55.73 percent of total revenue in FY2021, and it is exposed to various operational risks as they handle large volumes of cash, which are third and fourth reasons, respectively.
Also read - IPO fireworks in New Year too; companies likely to garner Rs 1.5 lakh crore through initial share sales
“Fifth, the success of businesses depends upon their ability to effectively deploy, implement and use information technology systems and advanced technology initiatives in a cost-effective and timely basis. Sixth, the offer is entirely an OFS and the proceeds from this offer will not be available to the company,” Nigam said.
The company’s cash management services business contributed 68.61 percent to revenue in FY21 and contribution from managed services business to revenue in FY21 was 27.88 percent.
It recorded higher profit at Rs 168.52 crore for the year ended March 2021, rising from Rs 134.7 crore a year back, but revenue seems to have impacted by COVID-19, falling to Rs 1,306.09 crore from Rs 1,383.23 crore. It clocked profit of Rs 84.47 crore on revenue of Rs 626.29 crore for the five months to August 2021.
Also read - Global Health, Veeda Clinical receive Sebi approval to launch IPOs
CMS Infosystems is also supported by the promoter, Sion Investment Holdings Pte Limited, an affiliate of Baring Private Equity Asia, a private equity firm that has over $27 billion assets under management as of June 2021.
In the financial year FY21, its top five customers in terms of revenue contributed 55.73 percent and top 10 customers contributed 75.13 percent. Its customer base of ATM cash management business is diversified, including over 13 MSPs (managed services providers), and service 45 public and private Indian banks (including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank) directly and through MSPs, as well as white label ATM deployers, as of August 2021.
“CMS Info Systems is a stock for the long term that enjoys dominant market leadership supported by a strong management team and has delivered stable financial performance. The business is expected to benefit from positive industry drivers such as the under penetration of ATMs in India and the shifting trend towards outsourcing,” said Swapnil Shah, Head of Research at BP Wealth.
“The business could be impacted in the short term if there is a third COVID wave. Besides, the issue did not gather much attention from the investors and thus is trading at a low grey market premium,” he said.
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.


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With the NBA continuing it’s foray into international waters, basketball is expanding as a global brand. So a former superstar heading over to China isn’t the worst experience. Gilbert Arenas looks to be joining other former NBA stars like Stephon Marbury and Tracy McGrady making the leap across the water to continue playing the game they love professionally.
Gilbert managed to hang on in the L longer than I expected. Not because he wasn’t talented. Clearly he could score. And for a moment, the Wizards were stating to look good in the East but injuries and off the court stuff never truly allowed for the team to come together.
I wonder if he’ll showcase his show fetish while playing over there. For a minute he had some buzz with his website that documented which throwback footwear he’d rock for each game.
With the crop of new footwear brands popping up there, some sort of endorsement deal wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility’s. Or, maybe he and Laura can start the first “Basketball Wives international player edition.”
That would be new.


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With roughly US$2 billion spent on influencer marketing campaigns in 2018 and a spend projection of about US$7 billion and US$10 billion for 2019 and 2020, respectively, the influencer marketing industry is on an impressive upward trajectory.
At the centre of this remarkable industry stride, are indigenous companies like Plaqad, an influencer and content marketing startup founded in 2017, which boasts of over 2000 top content creators and influencers across various niche and interests.
As part of its efforts to solidify its position in the industry, Plaqad recently partnered with leading Blogger and Influencer, Tosin Ajibade (Olorisupergal) on the Influencer Marketing Masterclass and with Africa’s leading tech platform, Techpoint on Build 2019.
Its partnership with Olorisupergal was particularly interesting as both parties collaborated to host an influencer marketing masterclass for budding influencers. The class, which held on Saturday, January 19, saw over 20 participants present. Speakers at the event included Plaqad CEO, Gbenga Sogbaike, founder of the Global Brand Network, Queen Esohe Igbinoba, and Olorisupergal herself.
In line with the brand’s plans to collaborate better and directly with clients and other stakeholders in the ecosystem, Plaqad exhibited its product offerings at Techpoint Build 2019, the largest Tech conference in Nigeria that connects the startup and SME community with industries.
The event featured discussions on running a successful business, a startup competition (Pitch Storm), exhibition for several businesses and training for SMEs.
With over 300 startups present, Plaqad showcased its offerings at the venue, where they connected with other SME brands, offered critical advice on how to run cost-effective marketing on a shoestring budget, while interacting with members of the ecosystem.
The CEO of Plaqad, Gbenga Sogbaike commenting on strengthening Plaqad’s brand positioning, said, “This is the second year of Plaqad’s existence in an industry increasingly connected to the latest technology. For us it is important that we spark collaborations and partnerships across all stages of our development, to enhance our position within our niche market. In line with our corporate strategy for the year, we are heavily investing in partnerships and initiatives that helps us better collaborate with brands and also grow the ecosystem.”
Plaqad is known to employ a data-based and brand-specific approach to influencer and content marketing rather than the more popular one-size-fits-all approach typically used.
In the past two years, Plaqad has worked with top multinational brands in Africa including the Nigerian Breweries, MTV, MTN, Heineken, Opera, SureRemit, and Interswitch among others, managing several campaigns in different verticals including Media, FMCG, Beauty & Fashion, Technology and Healthcare.


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The counterfeit issue within the semiconductor industry has been a hot topic throughout the United States more recently than in years past due to the increase in reported cases.
In a recent article, CBC News in Canada reported about Canada's most recent encounter with fake parts in a major military aircraft, which, to our surprise, has not pushed for immediate replacement of the questionable components.
The Canadian military was quoted in the article as saying: "At this point in time, other than continuing to be vigilant, we don't have any particular concerns in this country..." It is messages like this that are discouraging to members of the semiconductor supply chain who have been diligent in providing the required traceable devices to help out customers, both domestically and internationally.
Fortunately, there are "messengers" all over the world talking about the dangers of counterfeit. In Canada, one of them is Mark Tayles. Below is an excerpt from his latest article, "Still Clear, Still Present, Still Dangerous":
A follow-on CBC News report this week doesn't reassure me that we appreciate the intrinsic nature of electronics and the potential danger from counterfeit devices.
Quoted is Martine Simard-Normandin (president and founder of Ottawa-based laboratory, MuAnalysis, a leading test facility for suspect counterfeit parts). 'I would not feel comfortable flying that aircraft, knowing they have used parts of essentially unknown traceability.'
Are you willing to be one of the industry's "messengers" about the dangers of counterfeiting? Let us know.
About the author: George Karalias is Director of Marketing and Communications for Rochester Electronics. He has worked with the company for over ten years and his experience in the high-tech and computer industries started in 1983 when he graduated from Boston College. Early in his career, George worked for some of the best advertising and marketing companies in New England. On the corporate side, George has directed the marketing and branding of several companies including Avid Technology, the pioneer in digital video editing. In 2006, before it was considered a serious problem, George helped Rochester launch an awareness campaign about the counterfeit issue in the semiconductor industry with a well-attended symposium and the creation of the SIA's Anti-Counterfeit Task Force. Follow news on Rochester Electronics through Facebook, Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn. George can be contacted through Twitter or LinkedIn.
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Farmers for Free Trade and 15 other major agriculture groups are defending Permanent Normal Trade Relations status with China. With increased tensions between the two countries, lawmakers are considering the revocation of that trade status. This coalition is asking Congress to consider the negative impact that decision would have on farmers. China is the largest buyer of U.S. food and agricultural products, representing nearly 20 percent of all exports.
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The Windows Phone 7 launch is coming soon – expect to see many many ads from Redmond, Washington touting the glory of Windows 7. Microsoft is expected to spend over $500 million on marketing at launch. Windows Phone UK is partnering with Secret Cinema to bring “a new level of connectivity” to the Secret Cinema experience and raise awareness of Windows Phone 7.
Check out the quick teaser video below.
You interested ? How about Xbox Live on the Windows Phone 7 platform? Check it:


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The Honor 8A has enhanced speaker quality through its new SmartPA amplifier
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor has launched its latest budget smartphone the Honor 8A.
It comes in at £139.99 and is available from Amazon and Carphone Warehouse, with Honor announcing more retailers in the coming weeks.
Honor has again introduced the Dewdrop FullView display and this offers a screen-to-body ratio of 87 per cent.
The smartphone is dual-SIM compatible and also has a micro-SD slot.
Honor Western Europe president Michael Pan commented: “With the Honor 8A, we are offering a smartphone built with the highest quality technology, but at an affordable price point.
“The device is a perfect mixture of style and substance, as it brings both impeccable design and fantastic audio quality.”
Honor has also improved the sound quality by introducing a built-in SmartPA amplifier. The dual suspension structure enhances the sound by up to 30 per cent from its predecessors claim Honor.
It runs on Android 9 Pie and is powered by the MediaTek 6765 8-core processor.
There is a 13MP main camera with a 8MP front-facing camera equipped plus the ability to unlock the phone using facial recognition.
Other features include a 3,200mAh battery, 3GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage.


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iPhone 5 released: But Android beats Apple again!
After yesterday’s unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, a tablet-smartphone hybrid, at the IFA electronics show in Berlin, Android-based devices are once again stealing the march over Apple’s iOS with the recent launch of an Android-based ‘iPhone 5’.
Yes, you read it right – A Chinese online vendor is now selling the Goophone I5, an Android-based copy of Apple’s fabled iPhone 5.
Notwithstanding the fact that the iPhone 5’s specs and looks are still subject to rumours, Goophone, which has in the past released the Goophone Y5 4S – an exact replica of the iPhone 4S – claims that the I5 is all what the iPhone 5 will ever be.
For those who can’t wait to lay their hands on the new iPhone – and are wary of patented imitations – the Chinese version may yet offer the closest (and least worrisome) option.
The Android-based version of the device is available even before the actual device can get a chance hit the market and wow the audience – perhaps on September 21, 2012.
The device features the rumoured two-tone back design as well as a quad core chip, although exactly which type is unknown.
Rather disappointingly, however, the Goophone I5 comes with a regular 3.5-inch display with 940 x 640 pixels – in contrast with strong rumours that suggest that the iPhone 5 (or the new iPhone, or just iPhone) will definitely feature a larger screen size of up to 5.5-inches.
A 5 megapixel camera on the back and 1.3 megapixel snapper on the front complete the known specs.
Wanna pre-order? Click here
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


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Indian food delivery company Zomato reported a smaller third-quarter loss on Thursday, helped by a one-time gain from a stake sale, while revenue jumped on higher demand for restaurant meals.
Zomato’s restaurant business, which offers customers discounts and deals when they eat at partner restaurants, has strengthened as restaurants and bars reopened after a drop in Covid-19 cases over the past quarter, while the company’s core food delivery business continued to grow.
“The restaurant food renaissance (in the third quarter) resulted in green shoots in our restaurant advertising sales business,” the Gurugram-based company said in a regulatory filing.
Zomato also said it will increase the upper limit of its potential investments over the next two years in the fast trade market to $400 million.
India’s fast-paced commerce and hyperlocal delivery space has attracted investors over the past year, with Google and Reliance Industries investing in Bengaluru-based startup Dunzo.
Zomato has also invested about $225 million over the past year in delivery company Blinkit, logistics technology company Shiprocket and neighborhood business discovery app Magicpin.
Gross order value, or the total monetary value of all food delivery orders placed on Zomato’s online platform, increased 84.5% year-on-year to Rs 55 billion ( $733.07 million), while orders jumped 93%.
The company’s consolidated net loss narrowed to 632 million rupees for the three months ended December 31, from 3.53 billion rupees a year earlier, helped by a one-time gain of 3.16 billion rupees from from the sale of its stake in Fitso, an online platform. that helps people discover sports venues.
Operating income increased by 82.5% to 11.12 billion rupees.
Shares in Zomato have fallen 25% since listing in July last year amid broader market weakness due to valuation concerns and expectations of monetary policy tightening by global central banks.
- Reporting by Anuron Kumar Mitra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Vinay Dwivedi of Reuters.


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Cranswick vows to become ‘zero food waste’ business by 2030
Major premium food supplier Cranswick has announced plans to move to 100% renewables from next month and remove all food waste from its operations by 2030.
These pledges form part of Cranswick’s new Second Nature sustainability programme. As part of the zero-waste commitment, Cranswick will work alongside WRAP’s Courtauld 2025 Commitment, which sets signatories a voluntary goal to collectively report and reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions by 20% across the sector.
The firm has also become an official friend of Champions 12:3 – a partnership of key government, nosiness and society leaders aiming to progress the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to have food waste and reduce food losses by 2030.
“We want to be agents of change, addressing key environmental and social issues from farm to fork,” Cranswick group commercial director Jim Brisby said.
“Second Nature is not just a project; it is a movement whereby we fully intend to change the world we operate in. We aim to lead sustainability across agriculture and food production on a global scale by integrating sustainability as second nature to what we do, how we work, and why we do it.”
The pledges follow last month’s commitment from Cranswick to halve plastic packaging use by 2025. At the time, the company called for industry stakeholders to collaborate with them to address the plastics issue as a matter of urgency.
Commenting on the news that Cranswick has joined Friends of Champions 12.3, World Resources Institute (WRI) senior fellow and director food loss and waste Liz Goodwin said: “It’s great to see the commitment they are making to reducing food loss and waste in their operations and that they have already taken steps in the right direction.
“We need more organisations to step up like Cranswick in order to achieve the SDGs.”
Cranswick’s announcement comes hot off the heels of a pledge to halve food waste by 2030 from discount retailer Aldi, which has also signed up to the Champions 12.3 initiative.
Cranswick and Aldi have joined the likes of Tesco, Nestlé and Ikea in signing up to Champions 12.3, which is being chaired by Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis. Lewis previously told edie increased collaborative efforts to tackle food waste need to be matched by greater transparency from businesses.
A report from the Champions scheme found that for each dollar invested into food waste reduction methods, the average company site would generate $14 in return, creating a “triple win” for the economy, food security and the environment.


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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Humana's exit from the Marketplace in many states is estimated to affect up to 1.5 million people this fall. Many other plans will have narrower networks with increased premiums. That adds up to millions of Americans shopping for a new plan this open enrollment season. GetInsured, a leading health insurance marketplace, is offering tips to help consumers make the best decisions possible when it comes to health insurance plan selection.
- Make sure your doctors are in network. Health insurance plans can change each year. Even if a 2016 plan covered certain physicians, that might not be the case for 2017. Consumers should review their plan for any changes. Those in the market for a new plan will want to make sure their doctors are in network.
- Ensure ongoing prescriptions are covered. Just like doctor networks, prescription coverage can change. Those with regular prescriptions should check to see if their medications are included in their preferred plan before enrolling.
- Select the right metal tier for your needs. At first glance, bronze plans can seem attractive because of their lower monthly premiums. But these plans typically come with higher deductibles, coinsurance and copays, out-of-pocket maximums, and overall lower levels of coverage. Speaking with a licensed health insurance agent can help determine which metal tier (i.e. which level of coverage) makes the most sense.
- Find out if you qualify for tax credits. Last year, 85 percent of people who enrolled in a health insurance plan on the Marketplace qualified for tax credits averaging $291.1 Tax credits are determined by income and household size, and can help to significantly reduce monthly premiums, saving consumers thousands of dollars each year.
- Don't shop by monthly premium alone. A health insurance plan that has a $100 monthly premium may look like the lowest cost plan, but after factoring in deductible, copays/coinsurance and prescription costs, that same plan could end up costing more than one with a $200 monthly premium and higher levels of coverage.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. Licensed agents are available across the country to help consumers compare and shop for health insurance plans; there is no charge for this service. Consumers will want to select an agent that represents multiple carriers to get a good picture of the options available to them.
"Medical debt continues to be the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States," said Michael Daugherty, Vice President, Consumer Relations. "That's why it's so important for consumers to choose a health insurance plan that works best for their individual needs. At GetInsured, our mission is to make this process simple for shoppers."
Open Enrollment for 2017 begins November 1, 2016. Consumers can shop for and compare plans on GetInsured.com. For additional assistance, licensed agents are available at (866) 602-8466 Monday – Thursday 9:00-10:00 ET; Friday 9:00-8:30 ET; Saturday 10:00-6:00 ET.
1Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: March 31, 2016 Effectuated Enrollment Snapshot
GetInsured is a cloud-based health insurance exchange platform that combines modern technology and customer service capabilities to make health insurance shopping easy and efficient. Since its founding in 2005, GetInsured has helped millions of consumers find the right health plan for their needs and budgets. GetInsured is approved by the federal government to enroll Americans in subsidized health insurance plans, and also provides state governments and employers with SaaS-based technology solutions for public and private health insurance exchanges. For more information, please visit www.GetInsured.com.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/getinsured-helps-consumers-prepare-for-open-enrollment-by-offering-6-tips-for-saving-on-healthcare-expenses-300323070.html


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GENEVA — Swiss food and drinks company Nestle SA reported Wednesday a 7.5 percent rise in half-year net profit to 5.45 billion Swiss francs ($5 billion) and raised its full-year outlook as global sales increased despite adverse currency exchange rates.
The results from the maker of Nescafe, Jenny Craig and Haagen-Dazs beat analyst expectations and compared with a 5.1 billion francs profit a year earlier. Sales rose to 55 billion francs during the six month period to June from 52 billion francs.
Nestle now expects its core food and drinks business excluding currencies effects and one-off events to grow 5 percent, an improvement on its previous forecast of over 3.9 percent.
Shares in Nestle were flat at 51.50 francs ($48.85) on the Zurich exchange.
"We have increased investment in our brands, people and capabilities and have prepared the company for a more challenging second half," said chief executive Paul Bulcke.
Nestle said the biggest growth came from emerging markets, the sale of low-cost alternatives and a strong performance by its premium brands.
Developed markets showed some weaknesses, with lower demand for frozen food in North America and a late start of the ice cream season in Europe.
Exchange rates put a drag on sales as the Swiss franc surged against the euro during the first half.
Nestle, which earns most of its money outside Switzerland, said these adverse currency effects reduced sales in Swiss francs by 1.5 percent.
The Vevey-based company benefited from several acquisitions including the purchase of rival Kraft's frozen pizza business.
Investors have been looking for signs that Nestle is poised for a major takeover, but the company has been coy about spending further cash in recent months. Instead, Nestle has made several smaller investments into companies such as Guatemala's Malher Group and Vitaflo, a British maker of clinical nutritional products.
Chief Financial Officer Jim Singh told investors Nestle will continue to focus on "bolt ons" even as it completes the sale of its remaining stake in eye care company Alcon during the second half, a transaction that is expected to earn it about $28 billion.
Some of that money will go into a 10 billion francs share buyback program, while Nestle also plans to invest further in marketing and developing new products.


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Forget cans of tuna and packets of instant mashed potato, a new campaign is set to rekindle traditional harvest festivals with a fresh focus on locally sourced produce.
The harvest festival celebration dates back to pagan times and in Christianity is traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the harvest moon – the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. Traditionally schools have collected canned goods for the needy, but this year chefs and campaigners also want the tradition to be seen as a celebration of homegrown produce and regional suppliers.
Jack Stein, executive chef of his father, Rick’s, restaurant empire, has been getting people excited for the harvest with an event called the “Cornish Foodie Mile”, which set the challenge of finding ingredients within a mile (“and a half”) of the kitchen. “Harvest festival is about celebrating the end of the growing season, and a kind of getting together of people ... and seeing how the community can keep going in the winter,” he said.
Like many people, the chef first experienced a harvest festival at school. “Everyone had to bring in something, and my school was in a very rural area. People had loads of bread and pumpkins, lots of autumnal stuff on a huge table.”
But it’s only since he’s worked in restaurants that he understands the community value of celebrating the festival: “What I didn’t understand at the time was the idea that this is what we’ve produced, this is what we’ve got to live on. This is what we’ve got as a collective unit, as a family or a village... to survive on for the winter.”
British Food Fortnight began yesterday and a “Bring Home the Harvest” campaign has been launched, calling for schools and youth groups to create a harvest box of fresh fruit and vegetables (ideally that the children have grown themselves) as well as a selection of local produce. The celebration will include a National Harvest Service at Birmingham Cathedral on 20 October.
Andy Jones, who is running the campaign, said the inspiration for the campaign came out of his childhood “Bring Home the Harvest is about community. It’s something we used to do years ago, but sadly we no longer do,” he said.
Mr Jones argues that consumers have become used to the exotic year-round offerings of supermarkets and, as more of us move to cities, our distance from the men and women who grow our food is growing. “We’re most certainly detached from our growers. Some kids, they don’t even know where a carrot’s grown; they think it’s grown in a supermarket.
“We’ve forgotten what seasons are because they’re available all year round. And if you lose what seasons are then you’re losing what food is. With strawberries only in June and July – it gives a good feeling to everyone who sees them on shelves and in shops. Let’s get back to the harvest and use seasons more.”
Bring Home the Harvest is also working to bring locally sourced produce into hospitals, added Mr Jones, who is national chair of the Hospital Caterers Association. “A lot of it is down to using the local suppliers and it obviously being seasonal. It’s about using the local suppliers who actually produce those goods and highlighting the great work that they do. That’s why I’m behind this campaign.”
He wants to make hospitals a focal point for the celebration, as a means of improving the quality of hospital meals. “Some trusts are doing a harvest festival for the first time. They’re getting staff to bring in products into the hospital to be put on display, and then delivered out to the needy who require them,” he said.
Anti-poverty campaigner and cook Jack Monroe, author of a A Year in 120 Recipes, recently took part in the Harvest Food Festival in Cornwall, held at the Eden Project, and said the celebrations reminded her of her childhood: “What comes into my head is a mental image of me aged about seven dressed up as this huge cardboard banana singing, ‘We plough the fields and scatter ...’ at my primary school assembly to a group of tittering parents. My memories of harvest festivals as a child are all fairly joyous and happy ones.”
Like Mr Jones, she thinks the festival is a great opportunity to engage kids with food. “If you go to your local supermarket then you find carrots in a bag, so to children who have ever known anything different, how would they know that carrots come from the ground?”Reuse content


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With the recession, job layoffs and other effects of the struggling economy, Shop With a Cop can use some extra help this year.
Organizers of the annual event are asking the community for additional donations so children can be given $50 to shop for Christmas with a police officer at the Wal-Mart store in Covington.
“There’s a greater need this year to help make Christmas brighter for children in our area,” said Patti Jenson, fund-raising coordinator for Maple Valley Rotary, one of the organizations that helps coordinate the program that last year benefitted 300 at-risk and underprivileged children. She said enough money has been raised for the same number of kids this year, but the need for more exists.
Donations can be made through Jenson at Shop With a Cop, in care of Allstate Insurance, 23868 SE. Kent-Kangley Road, Maple Valley, WA 98038.
Children who are chosen to participate are encouraged to purchase something special for themselves.
Shop with a Cop is conducted by Greater King County Police Activities League, deputies from the King County Sheriff Department, Greater Maple Valley Community Center, Wal-Mart and Maple Valley Rotary.


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Digital TV News: SRT Alliance
Thirty-nine more companies join the SRT Alliance
Mar 21, 2019 – The SRT Alliance has announced that 39 more companies have recently endorsed the SRT protocol for low latency video streaming, including broadcast industry giants Imagine Communications, Net Insight, Red Bee Media and Telestream.
News categories: SRT Alliance, David Heppe, Steve Russell, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Media Player, NABShow, OTT, Worldwide
Kaltura and 32 others join SRT Alliance
Nov 28, 2017 – The SRT Alliance, an open-source initiative dedicated to overcoming the challenges of low-latency video streaming, announces that 33 new members have joined the initiative, including the leading video technology provider, Kaltura.
News categories: SRT Alliance, Yaron Reichert, Sylvio Jelovcich, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Media Player, OTT, Worldwide
SRT Alliance adds 22 new members
Jul 13, 2017 – The SRT Alliance, an open source initiative dedicated to overcoming the challenges of low latency video streaming, has announced that 22 new members have joined the initiative including Brightcove, Harmonic, Limelight and Perform Group.
News categories: SRT Alliance, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Media Player, OTT, Worldwide
Haivision and Wowza form SRT Alliance video streaming initiative
Apr 24, 2017 – Wowza Media and Haivision have announced the founding of the SRT Alliance and the open source availability of SRT, a video transport protocol to enable the delivery of secure, low-latency video across the public internet.
News categories: Wowza Media, Haivision, SRT Alliance, Charlie Good, Peter Maag, Content Distribution, Digital TV, NABShow, OTT, Worldwide
- ViacomCBS, DISH Media, Adcuratio enable broadcast inventory on MVPD STBs
- DoubleVerify earns MRC accreditation for CTV measurement
- Philco launches Roku TV lineup in Brazil
- Chips&Media introduces WAVE6 series of video codec IPs
- Worldwide semiconductor revenue up 7.3% in 2020
- Kantar expands TV audience measurement panel in Georgia
- TDS introduces live, streaming TV product
- LG announces 2021 NEXTGEN TVs
- GTPL Hathway digital CATV subscribers unchanged YoY at 7.35 million
- Nordic consumers’ media spend unaffected by the pandemic
- Amazon launches mobile-only video plan in India
- VUALTO event orchestration and DRM chosen for ITV Hub VOD delivery
- Nielsen now tracking premium theatrical films on VOD platforms
- rlaxx TV now available on Amazon Fire TV and Android TV
- SK Broadband selects NAGRA forensic watermarking for IPTV STBs
- 24i integrates Float Left Roku framework with its app platform
- Survey shows 27% of U.S. households plan to cut cable TV in 2021
- Cellnex Telecom selects Intertrust DRM for LOVEStv
- Synamedia integrates security and watermarking with Akamai
- Five-year CAGR of 1.1% for pay-TV revenues in Thailand


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South Korea denied a request by Alphabet Inc.’s Google to export digital. News Corp is a network of leading. South Korea Blocks Google From Expanding Local.
We dedicated the navigation column on the left to sections that you customize.Google News. Saturday, December 28, 2013. Question Bank - Airbus A320. FMS and Navigation. XI of XVIII. Q 01:. You have pushed the LOC push button on.
Google News & Weather on the App Store - iTunes - AppleBreaking news, opinion, in-depth stories on politics, business, society, sports, Cool Japan, culture, arts, entertainment, more.To make news more accessible and easier to navigate, we redesigned the desktop website with a renewed focus on facts, diverse perspectives, and more control for users.Our first redesign of Google News in six years focuses. It’s there for everything from moments of political change to gripping sports events to daily local news.
Google LLC is an American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products. These include online advertising technologies.
Accessed from the story card, this page gives you a range of articles with a diversity of perspectives.Find world news and coverage of breaking news from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, South America, and the Middle East at MSN News.You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications.News Lab in 2017: working with news organizations to address industry challenges.
Technology News - CNET News - CNETJP Japan / 日本; LA. Welcome to the Jungle înaintează pe primul loc în Box Office-ul American. Google a prezentat astăzi Nexus 6P și Nexus 5X.
South Korea Blocks Google From Expanding Local Maps - WSJ
At Google, we don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community.When you search on Google, we use your location to help show the most relevant search results. For example, if you’re in Seattle, when you search for coffee shops.Here is a great Android App called Kaleido as found in the Google-Play Store. The World And It's Not Good News For. com/news/local/counties/durham.
Google AdWords - PPC Online Advertising to Reach YourA few months ago, Google made a change to Google News where you need to sign in to be able to change your local news information.Videos have become central to news storytelling, so we improved the algorithmic selection for top videos, highlighted the top video in a story card, and built a better player.
List of Google products - WikipediaTake advantage of online advertising to improve your internet marketing efforts. Learn how Google AdWords can meet your marketing goals today.
Headline news and features on Japan, Asia Pacific and the world, as well as full coverage of domestic and overseas business. The Japan Times LTD.News for Google Japan continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.
Google is trying to turn its search engine into an employment engine. Beginning Tuesday, job hunters will be able to go to Google and see help-wanted listings that.
Google Japan News » TopixGoogle News recently added a localization feature to its main page, gathering stories not just from local newspapers and web outlets, but supposedly from sources.We hope the new design enables you to easily access quality journalism, bolstered with meaningful insights and comprehensive coverage.
U.S. Navy plane crashes into Pacific Ocean off Japan — eight rescued, three missing. U.S. Navy plane crashes into Pacific Ocean. It crashed at 2:45 p.m. local.Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.A fast and easy way to read Japan News in. local and weather news. you are transacting with Google Payments and agreeing to the Google.
You can set up Google News to show the topics you want to. The local weather and news sections show. If you switch to another language and personalize.News Lab in 2017: Helping journalists use emerging technologies.Follow more accounts to get instant updates about topics you care about.The latest news and headlines from Yahoo! News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos.Browse Newspapers in Google News Archive You can now browse all the issues digitized by Google for newspapers like The Montreal Gazette, The Sydney Morning Herald,.Google Groups allows you to create and participate in online forums and email-based groups with a rich experience for community conversations.
Google's News section will now highlight the importance of local news sources. While Google News has more than 75,000 news sources, it hasn't always done a.Catch up instantly on the best stories happening as they unfold.Google says it has taken. an American man pleaded guilty to stealing celebrities' nude pictures by using a phishing scam to hack. Local News; World.
Google News has been. Fortune’s technology newsletter. Google is also. like “opinion” or “local source,” which Google pitches is a way to.If you're a news junkie, you should give Google News & Weather a go. Jack Wallen shows you how to install and use this outstanding app from the makers of Android.


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Business groups have been complaining to Congress about soaring punitive-damage jury awards. Yet, businesses themselves are winning a sizable number of these verdicts.
Calls for overhauling the civil justice system date back many years. However, dissatisfaction with high punitive damages did not reach a crescendo until 1989. In that year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Eighth Amendment, which forbids imposing "excessive fines" and "cruel and unusual punishments," does not apply to awards of punitive damages in private parties' cases. Moreover, the high court refused to fashion a federal one-size-fits-all standard of excessiveness. (Browning-Ferris Industries of Vermont Inc. v. Kelco Disposal Inc., 492 U.S. 257.)
In 1973, Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI), Houston, entered the Burlington, Vt., trash-collection market. For the next seven years, it held a virtual monopoly on roll-off collection services in the Burlington area.
In 1980, Joseph Kelley, a BFI local district manager since its Vermont inception, left the company and opened Kelco Disposal.
Two years later, Kelco held 43 percent of the roll-off market. In an effort to drive Kelco out of business, BFI began drastically reducing its prices through an illegal pricing strategy.
In 1984, Kelco filed suit in federal district court, alleging BFI's unlawful attempt to monopolize the Burlington roll-off market and its illegal interference with Kelco's customer contracts.
The jury found BFI liable for illegal predatory pricing under federal law and interfering with Kelco's contract relations in violation of Vermont tort law. It awarded Kelco $51,000 in compensatory damages and $6 million in punitive damages. Ultimately, the Supreme Court upheld the award in full.
Kelco's victory illustrates a paradox in the current tort-reform debate. Congress has focused on limiting punitive damages in cases where a defective product injures a consumer. A Senate bill would apply only to these product-liability cases, but the House version would limit damages in a wider variety of cases.
The expected compromise will leave open the possibility of large damages in commercial cases - contracts and unfair competition, for example - which are primarily filed by businesses.
Not surprisingly, consumer groups think the solution is unfair. "The business community wants to limit consumer rights but maintain unfettered access to the courts for themselves," said a spokesman for Citizen Action, a consumer lobbying group. "It's just blatant hypocrisy."
Business interests that want to cap punitive damages insist that most companies would gladly trade the opportunity to win higher punitive damages for broader limits on such damages.
"People we represent understand there is a much greater likelihood that you are going to be the victim than the beneficiary of the current system," said a lawyer for businesses who seek punitive-damage limits.
Ironically, punitive-damage awards appear to occur more frequently in lawsuits between businesses than in personal injury claims. After the National Center for State Courts surveyed some 75 local court systems last year, it found that plaintiffs who win contracts cases also receive punitive-damage awards 13 percent of the time. By contrast, plaintiffs win punitive damages in only 4 percent of successful tort cases.
Meanwhile, the median award in contracts cases is nearly 50 percent higher than in tort cases. Punitive damages tend to be higher in financial disputes than in injury cases, according to a representative of the American Bar Association. "The awards can be very high, because businesses are fairly good at documenting their losses," he said, adding that some business litigants have operations so vast that "any type of court award is likely to be very, very high."
These statistics do not go unnoticed. High potential rewards are luring increasing numbers of company litigants to ask for punitive damages. "It's a growing trend," said an attorney who files suits against insurance companies who refuse to pay claims on time. Approximately 25 percent of the lawyer's clients are businesses.
Supporters of punitive damages cite its key role in business litigation. Such damages, they say, send a convincing signal to companies who refuse to play by the rules.


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You can finally pay with your college card at the SU
Yes, that’s right, at last the SU has heard us
Okay, so it’s not the biggest news story of the year, but this change over Christmas, along with the £10,000 re-investment into Tommy’s (or so the SU claims), may make those legendary SU nights a little bit easier.
No longer will we face the mile long queues for the cash point, just to find out its run out of cash…again.
No more trekking up to Windsor just to claim your VK budget for the night.
And no more bulk buying just to meet the £5 card charge limit. The SU College Card is here.
The card has taken nearly 10 months, as President for Education and Campaigns, Nayab Cheema, first put the change forward in her March manifesto. Now it’s arrived, she’s pleased to have see it happen.
She said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to bring in this change. When running for election this was a key part of my manifesto and was based on the views of students I consulted with at the time.”
So it comes with a few disclaimers. For us poor students that happen to be in our college overdraft (as well as the one at the bank, let’s be real) you need to top it up in credit. Also if its after midnight, forget it, for some unknown reason the SU have put a time limit on transactions – just gonna have to get the drinks in before then eh?
Its unclear whether the VAT discount will be applied to drinks and burgers in Tommy’s but with Medicine’s new Toast night, there’s always going to be a way to get your drinks a little cheaper (all drinks are £1.50 on a Monday).
Now if only these magical college cards could open the back gate…


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By- Allen Thomas
Bringing to the table a host of new features, while maintaining the lust and charm of previous generation Galaxy phones is Samsung, with their new S7 and the S7 Edge. Unveiled at the 'Mobile World Congress' this week, the phone has received fairly positive reviews and feedback from reviewers around the Globe who attended the event. But is the new Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge good enough to grab market shares from Apple's iPhone and fend-off advances from cheap Chinese makers such as Huawei and Mi? Read more to see what Samsung is bringing to the fight this year.
By Allen Thomas
2015 was a decent year for gadgets- starting off with the usual fervor and enthusiasm, before ending in an asymptotic fashion to make way for a whole new breed of gadgets this year.
Before indulging into what's coming to the markets this year, let's take time to remember gadgets such as the uber-cool Samsung Galaxy S6, and the Apple iPhone 6S from 2015. Leading mobile technology into a level one could only imagine back in 2014, the two managed to up the stakes in the never-ending 'war of smartphones'.
Despite that, there was competition too. The Nexus 6P, Huawei Ascend Mate 8 and the LG G4 receives special commendation for giving the two leading moguls a run for their money. Also worth noting were the fantastic- Apple Watch, FitBit Charge HR; and the desirable Huawei Watch.
In any case, up next is a sneak-peak of what's coming this year. CES mode- engaged!
As you may have noticed, the market for tablet-sized goodies have grown bigger than it ever was, and fans and customers who once opted for much-loved iPad, now have options ranging from different brand names like ‘Samsung’, ‘Sony’ or even ‘HTC’. Sure enough, due to all this newfound love for slates, there are more and more companies entering the industry too. And that as expected, leads to competition (Yes! And that’s what we always wanted. It sure was high time we got our pick to choose the best).
Just imagine how boring and monotonous life would be, without this store. And to be honest phones would be of no big use to us either. However, thanks to the good ol' folks at Google, we stand here, one year into the incarnation of the newly renamed app market.
Last year was a blast!!! At least in the electronic and gadget industry, as we witnessed the release of a variety of ground-breaking devices. Proof? The Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X, Note 2, Lumia 920, Nexus 7 and so on. Anyways, as we move on to another fresh year, here is the list of electronics we are expecting to see... Ready? Here's no. 10...
Ever extending roads and the never ending game which kept on running through the smart phones and tablets of ours is back here in an improved figure under the name ‘Temple Run 2’.
Just as we all expected, Sony announced its upcoming PlayStation 4 gaming console at the February 20 event. While a lot was said about the console at the event, we still have no clue as to how it looks or how much it would actually cost. Pity!!!
According to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, Sony will be adding support for playing games streamed over the internet in the upcoming PlayStation 4 console, which is said to be unveiled during the February 20 event.
This comes as a surprise for all. Yes, Firemonkey’s highly anticipated Real Racing 3 video game will be available for free when it launches on Android and iOS on February 28. The word was delivered by Nick Earl – Electronic Arts’ senior vice president for mobile and social game development.
Its been an awful lot of time since I updated, and hence the title 'Tech Memes of the week' looks pretty ummm... outdated...
Anyways these are some of the trending tech memes out there... Hope to catch you all soon with more interesting pics!!!


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Handsets running Google's mobile Linux system Android outsell iPhones, according to analysts, while carriers prep version 2.2 for rollout.
March 26, 2017
Devices:All Devices »
Device Index Android 2.2.
With the Linux mobile OS Android 2.2 SDK out, we highlight the top 10 features mobile app developers will want to know about.


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(CHINA DAILY, CHINADAILY.COM.CN) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Sunday (05) that China will “Try to achieve better results” in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2017, as its growth target is set at “around 6.5 percent”. Analysts said the goal is achievable since the economy could have hit the trough last year.
Premier Li announced the target when he delivered the Government Work Report to about 3,000 national legislators at the opening of the 5th plenary session of the 12th National People’s Congress.
He also revealed that the country has set a target of creating at least 11 million new jobs this year and keeping the urban registered unemployment rate below 4.5 percent. Regarding consumer inflation, he said the country will keep the Consumer Price Index growth at about three percent for this year.
China’s GDP growth was 6.7 percent last year, the lowest in 26-years, due to weak external demand and domestic economic restructuring. But its consumption, which contributed to 64.6 percent of GDP growth last year, could continue to grow robustly in 2017 to help bolster stable economic growth, analysts said.
Although the real estate sector and auto sales could cool this year, which drags on the economic growth, consumption in such sectors as online shopping, culture, travel, information, elderly care and sports is booming and retail sales growth could remain above 10 percent this year, said Xu Hongcai, a Senior Economist of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. If investment growth remains stable, it is possible that China can achieve a growth rate of over 6.5 percent this year, he added.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its forecast of China’s growth this year to 6.5 percent in January, up from 6.2 percent in the previous forecast, citing an increasing role of the country’s pro-active economic measures.
China’s GDP growth in the last quarter of last year moved to 6.8 percent from 6.7 percent in the first 3 quarters. “It shows that the Chinese economy had rebounded moderately,” said Mr. Xu. “In the first quarter of this year, the trend may continue and growth could also be 6.8 percent or even higher.”
China’s official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which gauges the activity of the manufacturing sector, rose to 51.6 in February, up from 51.3 in January, further consolidating the trend of improving economic fundamentals. It has been in the expansionary territory for 7 consecutive months.
“China’s February manufacturing PMIs showed improved momentum post the Chinese New Year, with better new orders and new export orders, stronger production momentum, improved raw material inventory, and slightly weaker but still firm input price momentum. We expect China’s February economic data release to show a robust start to 2017,” said a UBS research report.
China will also pursue a more proactive and effective fiscal policy in 2017. The deficit-to-GDP ratio is projected to be three percent, with the fiscal deficit set at 2.38 trillion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 200 billion yuan.
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