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The 41-year-old reality star visited Instagram on Monday, December 6th, and announced that there would be a “special second release.” Best-selling style From the first release, which sold out quickly.
“This is the last chance to own part of a groundbreaking collection,” she wrote in the caption, stating that the work will be available at 12:00 EST on Friday, December 10.
Kardashian wore only a handful of pieces on the WSJ, including a $ 4,200 leather dress. Innovator Awards will not be replenished. Classic items such as bodysuits, shapewear and underwear are back again.
And it’s no exaggeration to say that fans are quite excited to have another opportunity to scoop up their work from a unique collection. The user wrote, “Please set an alarm,” but another user added, “Shut up.”
The original collaboration blew up the fashion space in November, thanks to its “first of its kind” nature, which blends shapewear with luxury fashion house.
Fendi’s creative director, Kim Jones, I noticed that his employee was talking about the next skims drop. “Suddenly all the women were silent and started looking at their phones. I didn’t know what was going on, but they were waiting for the launch of the new Skims collection. At that time, I “I thought we’d do something together,” he said in a press release shared with Us Weekly.
The Kardashian family’s turmoil fully agreed with the idea, and the two gathered in a secret rendezvous in Mexico in March to plan a collection. “Fendi’s luxury and quality, coupled with the fabric and fit innovations typical of skims, may seem unexpected to some, but the similarities between our creative vision and goals. Are very closely matched, “she said.
It took off from the second time the collection became available for purchase. Not only was it sold out thanks to fan purchases, but celebrities took every opportunity to showcase their new Skims x Fendi work.
Gwyneth Paltrow Thanks to Shapeware for going to Instagram Stories and making her look like a “snatch”. Kourtney Kardashian, Nicki Minaj When New jersey real housewife Star Jackie Gold Schneider A snapshot of the gorgeous capsule collection.
Kim Kardashian’s skim and Fendi announce their second collaboration
Source link Kim Kardashian’s skim and Fendi announce their second collaboration


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A lull in new home construction led Sean Livingston from working backhoes to handling much smaller equipment in the hobby store he openedat 1302-4 Main St.
Inside Hampstead Hobbies are miniature cars, trains, steam-operated tractors, robots that can interface with home computers, science kits and models of everything from a dragonfly to aPatriot missile.
While some of the more intricate items cost a few hundred dollars, toys such as spin tops and balsa wood airplanes are well within reach of a 10-year-old's allowance.
"It's a boys' toy store," admits Livingston, 37. But he said a lot of girls come in the store also. "You'd be surprised how many girls will put model airplanes together."
Adults also come in without even pretending they're buying something for a child.
Livingston opened Hampstead Hobbies May 1 as a second business, while continuing his other one, Phoenix Excavating.
Phoenix has three employees, but the hobby store is a one-man operation.
Livingston said he has no problem maintaining both businesses.
"It's pretty easy -- not too many new homes going up now," he said.
Business at the hobby store is a bit slow so far also, and Livingston doesn't plan on ditching the excavation business. Eventually, construction will begin again, he said.
"There is lots of money inexcavating, and I have all that equipment, so I'm going to keep it,"he said.
But after two knee-replacement surgeries, Livingston said he wanted another way to make money that didn't require such wear and tear on his body. He considered other businesses before settling on a hobby store in Hampstead, using money he had saved.
"These areall the hobbies I played with as a little kid," Livingston said.
His favorites were any kind of airplane, especially remote-control ones.
"I liked just putting something together and making it work."
He picked Hampstead as his shop's location, even though he lives in Reisterstown.
"I just like Hampstead," he said. "I probably would do better somewhere else, because you're looking for a large population to grow. But this business will do all right here."
He said there are few hobby shops in the region, and his major competition is in Timonium in Baltimore County. Many of his customers so far are commuters who pass by his store while commuting between their jobs in Baltimore and homes in Pennsylvania.
Because he anticipated a lot ofcustomers from outside of town, he has invested in a toll-free number. The $20 monthly charge, plus about 17 cents a minute, is very reasonable, he said.
Livingston also counts on word of mouth among members of model and remote-control clubs in the Baltimore area. Schools, Scout groups and even church schools also order his science and other educational kits, such as anatomy models, a fingerprinting kit, and rockets.
While he thought his model airplanes would be the biggest sellers, Livingston was surprised to find rockets to be the store's fastest-moving items.
"These rockets are incredibly popular," hesaid, pointing to a $24.99 starter kit modeled after the Patriot missile used in the Persian Gulf.
He said he sees the popularity of all his traditionally male-oriented toys crossing gender lines.
"Some of the girls are just as excited about the rockets as the boys are," he said.

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Technology utilizing and enhancement of productivity have supported the growth of the cotton ginning industry.
Ginning contributes to the cotton sector by cleaning, drying and maintaining/enhancing the quality of the fiber.
100-years of collective experience in the ginning and the cotton sector was evident at a dinner table in Lubbock, Texas recently. Executives of the ginning sector and this scribe met to discuss the growth of the ginning industry over the past 30-years.
“Ginning machinery has not seen a whole lot of changes with regard to its functionality,” said Ray Moore, a 31-year veteran with the industry. Certainly, productivity has increased from 25 bales per hour to 100 bales per hour added Moore of Bajaj ConEagle, LLC.
This year’s lower cotton yield in the High Plains of Texas and its impact on the ginning sector became an important topic of discussion. “Yield is about 30% lower than what was expected earlier,” stated, 46-year veteran in the sector Steve Moffett, General Manager of Lubbock-based Lubbock Electric Company.
Another aspect of the discussion was how the seed turns out and weight has reduced over the years. This has helped with the productivity, stated Shankar Venkatachalam, President of Bajaj ConEagle, LLC, ginning machinery manufacturer.
Ginning plays an important role in enhancing the quality of the fiber. The ginning industry should effectively utilize technologies such as image processing to control trash, contamination, etc.
Naturally, as Bajaj ConEagle is a subsidiary of India-based Bajaj Steel Industry, Ltd., the interesting discussion focused on the Indian ginning sector, which is roller gin-based. India should soon invest in saw gins to reduce trash content, stated Shankar.
It clear that the global ginning industry is focusing its efforts to reduce plastic contamination.


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June 19, 2006 | Post Archive
Greg Hanssen has no reason to be intimidated by rising gasoline prices. That's because his car gets 100 mpg, which he gleefully boasts on his custom California license plate. At a recent conference on hybrid vehicles, Hanssen impressed the auto engineers in attendance with his modified Toyota Prius.
The most shocking part about the modded hybrid is that it's a plug-in; something car engineers thought was a thing of the past. After electric cars failed due to "lack of demand" (according to big auto manufacturers), attention shifted to hydrogen fuel cells. But critics like Hanssen and company think that hydrogen-run vehicles are at least 15 to 20 years off, if they ever happen at all. That's why they're focusing on turning existing hybrids into plug-ins: it's an immediate solution for an immediate need, and it only costs around $12,000. Ouch. And given that the Prius already costs more than its non-hybridized siblings, plug-in hybrids aren’t likely to go mainstream anytime soon. Admittedly, Hanssen's company EnergyCS, is only looking to reach a niche market of environmentally-conscious early adopters...for now.
A standard Prius gets around 40 mpg and can run in pure-electric mode for a mile or so before it needs to switch back to gasoline. Hansen and his team learned that they could "trick" the Prius computer into accepting a bigger, lithium ion battery, rather than Nickel-Metal Hydride that comes from the factory. Hanssen's Prius thinks the battery is mostly charged all of the time, so the modified Prius can drive 30 miles in pure-electric mode before switching to gasoline. And like a regular Prius, the car won't switch into gasoline mode until it reaches higher speeds. The key difference is that the modified version continues to employ electric power, which handles 75 percent of the workload at 55 mph.
Hanssen and his company aren't the only ones doing impressive research and development with plug-in hybrids. Andrew Frank of UC Davis has been active in the development of hybrid technology for 30 years. His goal is to build a large hybrid vehicle capable of achieving 100 mpg. Currently, you'll find a modified Ford Explorer he's converted into a plug-in hybrid. He dropped the engine size down from 3.5 liter to 1.9 liter without losing any speed. The modified SUV is faster than a non-hybridized Explorer.
Most impressively, however, is that Frank gave a Mercury sedan a similar makeover and now the car gets 200 mpg. Stack that up against the average fuel economy of new American cars -- around 30 mpg -- and just try to keep your jaw off the floor. Rocket science? Maybe not. Undeniably awesome? You better believe it.


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Complaints have flooded into health officials about 270 Montgomery County business sites allegedly flouting a state order issued last week to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Health inspectors began visiting sites Monday that received complaints from employees or patrons, Montgomery County Health Commissioner Jeff Cooper said.
“If needed, law enforcement will be accompanying our employees as they do these investigations and inspections,” Cooper said. “We are at a point where we know we are going to continue to see a surge in cases. It is vital that we are complying with the director’s order regarding stay at home and what is and what is not an essential business.”
The state health department order issued last week told people to stay at home and allowed only essential businesses to remain open only if they follow certain rules that keep employees six feet apart; provide workers with protective supplies such as soap and water; and send home sick workers.
The Dayton Daily News has filed a public records request for the complaints. The county is working with the prosecutor’s office on reviewing that request.
Gary Weaver said he lodged a complaint with the health department about a Dayton store where he works as a cashier.
“It’s called an essential business, and certainly could be,” Weaver said. “But we are not supplied with anything we need to properly prepare the store … to ensure the safety of its employees or customers.”
The state order calls for frequent and enhanced environmental cleaning of commonly touched surfaces such as workstations, counter tops, railings, door handles and door knobs.
“One look at the store at any time of day and you’ll notice the store is not complying — not attempting to comply — with any COVID-19 guidelines,” Weaver said. “It’s shockingly bad.”
Complaints have also come in about restaurants, manufacturers and big-box stores, according to Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery County.
Cooper said businesses subject to the complaints have been ordered to submit information proving they are in compliance with the state order. In letters dated Monday, the businesses were told they had until the close of business today to respond.
“The only means that we have to readily assure that we can quickly get to all of these businesses is an order to comply,” Cooper said.
The health department asked businesses to submit:
• Justification that the business meets the definition of essential businesses and operations.
• The measures the business has implemented to meet social distancing requirements.
• Documentation that the above items have been communicated to all employees.
• Documentation that the business is following a seven-point checklist of actions the state proscribed to mitigate workplace spread of coronavirus.
Public Health has divided the county into quadrants and inspectors continued visiting the locations on Tuesday, Cooper said.
The inspectors will be carrying appropriate identification, as well wearing Public Health emergency response vests, he said.
Cooper said he’s hopeful a majority of the locations will be found in compliance once inspectors arrive.
“In the event that there’s steadfast refusal to comply with the order, then we would go through our standard administrative process that would be engaging the county prosecutor’s office and looking for some type of injunctive relief through the court system,” he said.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said shoppers at businesses also need to be responsible.
“We know that physical distancing works … it saves lives,” she said. “As you are going to these facilities to purchase items, please do your part. Keep your physical distance.”
Whaley said if you must shop, “do it as little as possible.” But if you go to a store that looks crowded, return when it’s not as busy, she said.
Restaurants offering take-out prompted some early complaints about people congregating too close together on patios and in parking lots, said Dan Suffoletto, a county public health spokesman.
On Monday, the state relaxed some rules, allowing golf courses to reopen, certain lawn care businesses to mow and landscaping companies to resume commercial projects, but Cooper said everyone needs to continue following the order.
“We are at a critical juncture here. This is no time to take this lightly,” Cooper said. “The virus is spreading rapidly and individuals we all care about are going to be infected.”
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Melty Blood: Type Lumina update 1.32 s available on PC, PS4, Xbox and Switch. According to the official Melty Blood: Type Lumina version 1.32 patch notes, the latest hotfix addressed a bug related to battle. Apart from this, Melty Blood: Type Lumina patch 1.32 also includes stability fixes.
Previously, a major update added two new playable characters “Neco-Arc” and “Mash”
Unfortunately, players are still facing several issues with the game. Today’s Melty Blood Type Lumina version 1.32 will fix a few of these issues.
Melty Blood Update Patch Notes – August 19, 2022
- Fixed a bug related to battle.
- Added stability fixes.
- Added genral performance improvements.
Download free Melty Blood: Type Lumina patch 1.32 for PS4, PC, Xbox and Switch.


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This week, on our weekly firmware news roundup: Huawei P30 and P30 Pro are now getting Android 10 in the UK, the Xiaomi Mi A2 is now receiving the latest version of Android, and more!
What's New This Week?
- LG V50 is now getting the latest version of Android in South Korea
- Galaxy S9 series is now receiving its sixth Android 10 beta update
- P30 and P30 Pro are now receiving the latest version of Android in the UK
- P20 Pro will soon start receiving Android 10 in India - European variants will have to wait until March
- Y9 Prime 2019 is now receiving the latest version of Android as well
- Mi A2 is now receiving Android 10 - Mi A3 set to receive it halfway through February
- Mi Mix 2S is getting the latest version of Android as well
All LG V50 beta users are now getting the latest version of Android - but only in South Korea. At least for the moment.
Wow, I wasn't expecting Android 10 for the V50 for another 3 months. pic.twitter.com/BvfyZSF8ne— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) January 16, 2020
Apart from the latest version of Android, this update also brings a newer security patch. It's actually only December's. But, still, better than nothing.
Other than that, there a few new features as well such as Pop-up Window, Google's new gesture-based navigation mode, Focus Mode, and more!
Since the update is rolling out in South Korea, we expect that it'll soon become available in other regions as well. The only problem is that nobody can accurately say for how much we'll have to wait (Except the manufacturer, of course). So, stay tuned and we'll let you know as soon as we know about it!
Galaxy S9 Series
Both the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are already receiving their sixth Android 10 beta update in India. We expect that it'll soon become available in other regions as well - if it's not already.
It brings the January's security patch and asks for a download size of 116 megabytes. In exchange, it also fixes a ton of small bug fixes including, but not limited to the SIM card, mobile data, Samsung Pay, and more.
Also, let us not forget to mention that it brings a newer version of the Camera app.
Samsung's update roadmap mentioned that the S9 duo is set to receive the stable version of Android 10 during January. And since we're halfway through the month now, there is a good chance that this will be the last beta update!
Of course, only time will tell. So, stay tuned!
P30 and P30 Pro
Both the Huawei P30 and P30 are now receiving Android 10 with EMUI 10 on top of it. However, at the moment of writing this article, it's only available in the UK. To be more specific, only to O2 and Vodafone variants.
According to our sources, this is an incremental update that's rolling out in small batches at a time. It comes in at a hefty download size of 4.5 gigabytes with 226 extra megabytes for O2 apps and features.
Vodafone should have already completed the rollout - which means that if you have a Vodafone variant, you should be able to get the update pretty much immediately after performing a manual check.
As per usual, we'd highly recommend downloading the update through a Wi-Fi network. After all, big updates can consume your data plan pretty quickly.
According to our sources, Android 10 beta testing is already done for the P20 Pro and it should start receiving the stable version in India halfway through this month. So, there is a good chance that some of you have already have it!
We would like to inform you that BETA Testing of Android 10 / EMUI 10.0 for Huawei P20 Pro device has been recently closed. We are at the final stages of releasing the software, the stable version of Android 10 Release can be expected by mid of January 2020,— Huawei India (@HuaweiIndia) January 11, 2020
Unfortunately for European users, the update will only start rolling out for you at the beginning of March. Or at least that's for Germany, so, the other regions are very likely to be close enough in that timeframe.
Since those are incremental updates, it can take up to 4 weeks before all of you receive it. So, be patient.
Y9 Prime 2019
According to our sources, the Android 10 update with EMUI 10 on top of it is currently arriving to Y9 Prime 2019 units. There are no specific mentions regarding the regions, but we know that the models are the STK-L21, STK-L22 and STK-LX3 as well. So, we suppose that it's soon going to become globally available!
It's been one week since we last heard about it (Just in less detail), so, there is a good chance that a good number of users have already got it.
If you can't wait until your turn comes, there is also the option of manually installing it. But waiting for the OTA update is without a doubt the risk-free option, plus you don't have to install any additional software for it to work. So, pick your poison.
Xiaomi is definitely not the fastest in terms of OS updates. But at the very least it looks like they are trying to push the latest version of Android into more and more of their devices - which includes some of the older models like the Mi A2!
Now, this is probably largely due to the fact that the Mi A2 belongs to the Android One program. But, hey, we'll take it.
The update weighs 1.3 gigabytes and is currently on an incremental roll-out. So, it may take a while until everyone gets it. To give you a point of reference, it's been more than a week since the Mi 9T started getting Android 10 in the EU and ours has yet to receive it.
Do keep in mind that some people have reported issues with the UI and lack of VoWiFi as well. So, even if you do get the notification for updating, consider waiting for a while until Xiaomi patches these issues.
In other news, the Mi A3 is expected to receive this update somewhere during mid-February.
Thanks for your excitement and patience. Glad to announce the update will be out in mid February for Mi A3.— Mi India #108MP IS COMING! (@XiaomiIndia) January 14, 2020
Mi Mix 2S
The Mi Mix 2S belongs to the premium Mi line from Xiaomi. So, we're not that surprised to see that it's now receiving the latest version of Android with MIUI 11 on top of it!
At the moment, it's only available in China. However, just like with the Mi 9T/K20, we expect that the update will become globally available very soon now.
The update comes in at a hefty 2.1-gigabyte download and apart from the latest version of Android, we expect that a newer security patch is included as well. Xiaomi usually stays a month behind with such things - so chances are that it's the December patch (Changelog doesn't mention anything as of now).
You can also expect to see some Android 10 features like Focus Mode, improved privacy controls, and more - along with many bug fixes and general improvements as well!
That's all we've got for now. Feel like we forgot to mention something important? Got anything wrong? Then let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!


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Final Proof: Snacking Opportunities
June 23, 2021
By Jane Dummer
How the pandemic changed snacking, making baked goods more appealing than ever
Working from home has increased the opportunity for snacking occasions. Shopping has changed with increased online transactions and less in-person trips to the bakery. For some consumers, snacking replaced traditional mealtime, giving bakers more opportunities to sell baked goods.
The pandemic has also driven interest in health and wellness. Craving health and comfort can be at odds. Referencing Delifrance’s newest research – Prove It: A Viennoiserie Focus, Stéphanie Brillouet, Marketing Director – Northern Europe & North America, Délifrance explains, “Indulgence, taste and treating are the key reasons that consumers opt for pastries, and viennoiserie is the ideal answer for those looking for permissible indulgence – after all, health and wellness in the Covid era is also about self-care.”
In Europe and North America, we’ve observed additional snacking occasions during the stay-at-home restrictions. Brillouet says, “Move over morning, the increase in snacking gives operators even more opportunity to sell viennoiserie throughout the day. Try to include hybrids like cruffins and cronuts, which can be enjoyed as a dessert or snack. We created our Brownie Swirl – a cleverly crafted product that brings together much-loved French puff pastry with one of the most popular desserts, the brownie – to be enjoyed at different times of the day. Products like these not only play to the consumers’ love for a treat but are big on taste and flavour – the number one factor when choosing a pastry.”
Similarly, Brad Bissonnette, VP of Marketing and Franchise Recruitment, COBS BREAD describes, “As people are eating most meals at home, and cooking more because of the pandemic, they have been introduced to our freshly baked bread and treats. They are enjoying it as part of their breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacking occasions. An interesting trend we observed when we introduced online ordering is that the online orders contain a high amount of freshly baked treats, such as 6-packs of scones or cinnamon buns. We believe this increase is a result of consumers having more time to browse online without the pressure of a lineup behind them, or a Sales Associate waiting to take their order. It’s likely this online trend will continue post-pandemic.” Matthew Faust, General Manager, BrodFlour Bakery in Toronto identifies, “Our demand for sweets has always been strong, but in these uncertain times, we find our customers have desires for items that align with comfort. Our salted chocolate chip cookie, cardamom knots and sourdough rye brownies are highly sought after and always sell out on the weekend! Our cardamom knots will be a staple that will continue post-pandemic. We started introducing seasonal pastries, such as a lemon coconut square for Mother’s Day. Plus, rotating shortbreads that feature a different grain each month. They will also hang around post-pandemic.”
The global health crisis brought attention to both sustainability and packaging in the food industry. There is a growing audience for sustainable snacks that come with a story. Brillouet states, “Some 70 per cent of respondents say sustainability is important when choosing where to buy pastries and almost as many (69 per cent) believe authority and heritage is key.”
As we transition out of pandemic life and restrictions, and become more mobile, consumers will be seeking small-size packages again. Brillouet explains, “While 25 per cent of consumers say the environment has become a higher priority since the start of lockdown, 63 per cent of UK adults would prefer to buy products with packaging to protect the contents from contamination. That said, sustainability is still a priority for both businesses and consumers, and there is a reluctance to make single-use plastic a firm fixture in the longer term.”
The momentum for baked snacks will continue. And there are many options including sweet, savoury, as part of the main consumption, as a snack, dessert, or a treat aka self-care indulgence (thanks global health crisis for that term!).
Jane Dummer, RD, known as the Pod to Plate Food Consultant, collaborates and partners with the food and nutrition industry across North America. www.janedummer.com
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If you splurged a little more than usual on new gadgets this year, you're not alone.
Consumers are expected to spend $555 per person on new electronics in 2013, up 9 percent since last year, according to a new report from The NPD Group. The research firm surveyed more than 2,500 consumers, and found that 72 percent are planning to purchase an electronics product in the next 12 months.
The increase in spending is being fueled by pricey items like flat-panel TVs and tablets, NPD said. Over the next two years, 28 percent of consumers expect to buy a flat-panel TV and 20 percent plan to purchase a tablet.
The growing popularity of smartphones and tablets is helping to ratchet sales of other products, NPD found. Sales of studio headphones with microphones, for instance, were up 65 percent in the first half of 2013, while sales of wireless streaming speakers have quadrupled.
At the same time, other products that were once popular are now falling out of favor. For instance, just 12 percent plan to buy a Blu-ray player, down from 16 percent in 2012. The decline in Blu-ray sales is a result of maturity in the product category and competition from other devices that also deliver video content, including streaming media players (like the Roku and Apple TV), tablets, and connected TVs.
"Consumers have an abundance of devices to choose from when deciding where to watch video content," NPD's director of Industry Analysis, Ben Arnold, said in a statement. "Today, it seems that nearly any device with a screen and an Internet connection can be used as a video player. As a result, Blu-ray players are now competing as one of many options for watching video content, and sales of video devices reflect this shift."
What new tech products have you purchased this year, or plan to buy? Tell us in the comments.
For more on The NPD Group's study, check out the chart below.
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Following the teasing of the local launch of the limited edition Infinix HOT 10S Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) smartphone, Infinix announced recently that it would sell for the one-day exclusive price of P6,490 on Shopee only on July 12. Afterward, it will be sold for P6,990.
During the Infinix Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) Showdown, the announcement was made between Bianca “Biancake” Yao, chief gaming officer, Infinix, and Frincess Arañas, a gaming livestreamer. They led their teams of Infinix fans in 5v5 battle, with Team Biancake winning.
The budget gaming smartphone, designed by Infinix in collaboration with MLBB, runs on the MediaTek Helio G85 gaming chipset, a smooth and highly responsive 6.82-inch HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate, a 48MP triple HD camera with AI and Super Nightscape imaging, and a 6,000 mAh battery that can provide 76 hours of calling time on a single charge.
For more details about the Infinix HOT 10S MLBB smartphone and to catch new episodes of the Infinix MLBB Showdown, stay tuned to the Infinix Mobile Facebook Page.


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Sony appears to be taking a more proactive approach with free game updates – a policy that is thriving on iOS – by releasing a new content packs for the PS Vita title Escape Plan.
US studio Fun Bits Interactive, which built the PSN chart-topping puzzle game, has updated the game significantly with 19 new levels and various tweaks.
But Sony has issued the DLC for free, a move that suggests the electronics giant is prepared to break old habits and give developers more options with their digital content.
Other games on Sony consoles to be updated for free this week include Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, which includes a new campaign mission, and Mass Effect 3, which makes available new multiplayer maps.
Console manufacturers will typically charge developers to update their games, which often results in the costs being passed on to the customer or just small tweaks being made to games.
Microsoft in particular has received criticism from developers over its long and difficult approval process for DLC, whilst it also charges a high fee to allow game updates.
Meanwhile iOS games are able to work around this certification process, as Apple allows developers to update their games for free, which many indies believe is crucial for success.
Sony has previously been praised by Valve boss Gabe Newell for opening up its console and allowing third party online services such as Steam integrate with the PSN.
CCP exec Brandon Laurino also recently claimed that Sony removed many of its PSN restrictions for its upcoming free-to-play MMO Dust 514, leaving the studio free to “update the game as much as needed”.
He also said that the developer had worked out a framework with Sony that meant the cost of updating was “a completely trivial part of the equation”.


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Global, luxury hotel chain, Mandarin Oriental, confirmed yesterday that the company's credit card processing system had been successfully hacked. According to online news sources, the breach apparently occurred in late 2014 and was discovered when a pattern was identified in a series of fraudulent payments within the hotel's payment systems.
In a statement to the press, the hotel group said that the malicious, data stealing software had infected point of sale systems at some of their 45 locations world-wide, though the exact number of affected hotels remains undisclosed. Though the source of the malicious code is still unknown, only credit card numbers have been confirmed as compromised and other data, such as security codes and customers' personal data have not been reported leaked.
"It should be interesting to see how much the stolen cards are worth, when and if and they go up for sale in the underground card markets," cyber-security expert, Brian Krebs, writes on his blog. Reflecting on the “high rollers” that the luxury hotel brand attracts, Krebs guesses the cards would “fetch a pretty penny.”
Mandarin Oriental has advised its customers who stayed at its hotels in Europe and the US to watch their credit card statements for suspicious activity and has also passed the alert to other hotel chains that might be vulnerable to the malware, which has since been removed from the Mandarin Oriental's systems.


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The Scottish mussel industry currently produces around 8,000 tons a year using wild larvae and is therefore reliant on a successful spawning year. This method is also a limiting factor in the expansion of the industry, which has the potential to become a major part of Scotland’s economy.
However, scientists at Oban-based Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) have discovered a new way of farming larvae in a hatchery by feeding them so-called “designer algae,” which have been selected and grown in a laboratory for optimal growth. By feeding the algae a diet of organic carbon and exposing them to varying levels of light, scientists can control the growth, size and composition of the algae. This system, because it is controlled and tailored for use as mussel feed, is 6-10 times more efficient than the current production systems used in hatcheries for oysters or other mussel larval species. The method could also change how microalgae are produced for the biotechnology industry.
Joe Penhaul Smith, who developed the process at SAMS, said that “these algae are not genetically modified in any way, but are “designer” in that we can cultivate these species in different ways to control their nutritional profile. We are using their natural evolutionary versatility to control how they grow.”
“The system we’ve developed will have an initial start-up cost, but growing the larvae on the scale required will save the industry money in the long term,” Smith said. “I see parallels with the green lip mussel industry in New Zealand, which benefited from a government-built hatchery at the Cawthorn Institute in the 1990s and this now produces around 30% of the larvae for the industry there.”
The SAMS scientists cultivated a wider range of algal species, which can be used for a variety of purposes. One of the most apparent uses of this technology is in aquaculture feed. There is scope for products such as salmon feed. The newly developed feed combines ratios of three algal species, Tetraselmis and the diatoms Phaeodactylum and Cyclotella.


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David Beckham decided to get flirty with his wife, Victoria Beckham, giving her a cheeky pat on the bum as she gave her family a big thank you kiss after her New York Fashion Week show went off without a hitch.
At the close of the catwalk Victoria appeared on stage, as is traditional, but then went to greet her family, and offer a round of kisses.
Son Brooklyn, 18, was noticeably absent, appearing to have remained in Los Angeles where he was celebrating girlfriend Chloe Moretz’s 21st birthday.
The younger Beckham kids clearly follow in their parents fashionable footsteps though, with 12-year-old Cruz s dressed in an all black ensemble, matched with a vibrant pair of bright red socks, while 15-year-old Romeo kept dry with a beige Burberry trench – Romeo is a model for the brand – as well as a breton stripe jumper.
Harper meanwhile wore a burgundy pea-coat with pink ballet slippers.
Victoria’s annual presentation at New York Fashion Week was teased by her on Instagram, where her team shared pictures of the outfits making their way down the runway.
She also showed her lighter side as the team prepped for the big show, with pictures including her in a toilet as she took a ‘show break’ and a second showed her going ‘delirious’ as she attempted to hide in a new tote bag.


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Back in 2019, it was widely reported that the FDA was moving to crack down on the importation of Canadian drugs into the USA. This came on the heels of several years of Americans waking up to the significant savings to be made in purchasing drugs online from Canadian companies such as Canada Pharmacy. Just over a year later, then US President Donald Trump approved a bill to allow drugs to be imported from Canada on a much larger scale, essentially scaling up what Americans have actually been doing for some time.
True to Trump’s stated commitment to the economic liberalism (although somewhat contrary to his “America first” protectionist policies) was this apparent move to do something about the incredibly inflated prescription drug prices currently paid by Americans.
It should be noted of course that Congress has actually allowed drug importation since 2003, although only if the secretary of Health and Human Services has certified that the drug is safe. Because Canada has its own stringent prescription drug regulations, which have been recognized as in line with that of the United States, these imported drugs are usually regarded as safe.
Why Are Prescription Drugs Cheaper in Canada?
Whether being sold over the counter or via online pharmacies, Canadians do pay significantly less for their drugs, both prescription and otherwise. The reason for this is actually surprisingly simple: the Canadian government ultimately foots the bill for prescription drugs – and it will not do so if a government review board believes the cost is excessive.
This board is known as the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board and is a pseudo-judicial body that has been approving drugs for the Canadian market since 1987. If the price is considered too high, the board refuses to pay and Big Pharma manufacturers are suddenly faced with the prospect of losing the entire Canadian market. In the vast majority of cases, the pharmaceutical companies simply capitulate. In the US, by comparison, the government is not involved in the negotiations that bring drugs onto the market.
It might strike one as odd to hear that the Canadian government wields so much influence over the prices of the drugs in the country; they can effect significant price decrease by simply refusing to pay higher rates. This might seem even odder when you remember that Canada actually has a relatively tiny domestic pharmaceutical industry. Indeed, until Trudeau initiated a somewhat mad scramble for a vaccine contract with domestic companies during the Covid 19 pandemic, Canada’s pharmaceutical sector has had a historically weak relationship with the Canadian government.
Nevertheless, this is precisely the reason why the same prescription drugs as sold in the US are typically much cheaper in Canada, and it is the source of the entire debate on American drug imports.
Will the Mass Important of Canadian Drugs Solve America’s Drug Price Problem?
Ultimately, the importation of drugs from Canada to the United States does not simply eliminate the higher prices hitherto paid by American consumers. If this were the case and there were no strings attached, then the American drug market would be in peril and Canada would be a supplying a substantial proportion of America’s drugs. This is evidently not the case.
It is the absence of a doctor-patient relationship that exists in such situations that most deters Americans from making the leap to American medicine. Without a specific assessment, dosage and course lengths are something that must be “eyeballed”, as it were, by the consumers themselves. This is ultimately why change in America’s drug pricing must come from America itself.


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Despite being a direct competitor in the mobile market, Microsoft actually owns quite a few Android patents and isn’t afraid to use them in lawsuits. The latest company to fall under Microsoft’s patent hammer is Kyocera, which allegedly infringed on some of Microsoft’s Android patents with three of its budget Android smartphones.
In a complaint (PDF) filed Friday in Seattle federal court, Microsoft claims Kyocera infringes its patents with three of Kyocera’s lower-cost Android phones. The accused models include the Duraforce, Hydro, and Brigadier. All three run the Android operating system and are “ruggedized” cell phones, meaning they include features like waterproofing and thick rubbery exteriors. Microsoft has long maintained that Android device makers must pay royalties for use of its patents. Most Android device-makers pay a royalty to Microsoft for each phone, and estimates of the Redmond company’s patent-licensing revenue ranges up to $2 billion per year. While most Android makers are paying Microsoft, one notable holdout is Motorola, which continues to fight the patent claims in court. Microsoft and Samsung recently settled a disagreement over their existing patent license.


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SK On, a prominent global electric vehicle battery manufacturer, is strengthening its collaboration with Solid Power, a leading U.S.-based developer of solid-state battery technology. The partnership aims to expedite the advancement of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). The announcement comes following the signing of a research and development technology license agreement by SK On at CES 2024, the world’s largest IT expo.
The South Korean company is now securing licenses to leverage Solid Power’s cell technology for its research and development initiatives. Moreover, SK On plans to utilize this technology in producing solid-state battery cells, establishing a new pilot line in South Korea set to install this pilot line by 2025.
SK On’s collaboration with Solid Power encompasses the procurement of electrolytes crucial for solid-state battery production. The South Korean company is set to acquire electrolytes from Solid Power, initially for the upcoming pilot line and subsequently at a minimum of eight metric tonnes until 2030.
The procurement is tied to validation, and SK On plans to utilize the electrolytes for collaborative efforts in advancing its cell technologies. The expected value of these electrolyte sales to Solid Power is estimated to be at least $10 million, with the broader collaboration anticipated to generate sales exceeding USD 50 million.
The SK On and Solid Power partnership signing ceremony took place on January 10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, attended by SK On Chief Commercial Officer Sung Min-suk and Solid Power Chief Executive Officer John Van Scoter.
SK On plans to leverage its cell design and production expertise, combining it with Solid Power’s technologies in sulfide-based electrolytes and cell solutions. The alliance aims to drive the development of ASSBs with enhanced cycle life and energy density.
The agreement delineates specific focus areas, including research and development, line installation, and electrolyte supply. SK On secures the licensing rights to Solid Power’s solid-state cell designs and manufacturing processes for research activities. The agreement stipulates payments of $20 million from 2024 to 2027, contingent upon achieving milestones. However, SK On’s use of this technology is limited to research purposes and is expressly prohibited for commercial production.
John Van Scoter, President and CEO of Solid Power, highlighted the strategic importance of the Korean market and the expanded relationship as an endorsement of Solid Power’s solid-state battery technology.
An all-solid-state battery (ASSB) exclusively employs solid electrolytes instead of liquid or gel-based alternatives. This design choice reduces the risk of fire incidents and offers the potential for batteries with decreased weight and volume, surpassing current capacity limits seen in lithium-ion batteries.
Solid Power, established in 2011, has carved a niche as a technology leader in sulfide-based ASSBs. The company’s specialization extends to large-capacity cell technologies and the production processes of solid electrolytes. Since the initial investment, the two companies have been engaged in detailed discussions to refine and expand their collaborative initiatives.
- Korean Automakers Sweep 2023 Good Design Awards with Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis Triumphs
- South Korea’s $2.26 Billion Vision: A Robotic Revolution by 2030
- 2047 Roadmap : Yoon Suk Yeol Extends Tax Incentives in Pledge to Propel Semiconductor Sector
- Korean Government Unveils KASA, Aiming for 10% Share in Global Aerospace Market
- Hyundai Motors Takes Flight: Supernal Electric Air Taxi Aims for 2028 Launch


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Not even architectural gems like Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House (1946) in Palm Springs, California, are immune to today’s recessionary climate.
The house was re-listed for sale on September 29 after its purchase earlier this year fell through. The sleek, iconic home sold for a cool $19 million in May during Christie’s Postwar and Contemporary Art auction held in New York, but the deal unraveled for reasons not made public. The property is now being offered for the “bargain” price of $12.9 million – a 32 percent reduction. After five weeks on the market, there are still no takers.


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By Eileen A.J. Connelly, AP Personal Finance Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Visa Inc. has cut off 100 scammers who use bogus marketing techniques to dupe consumers in the past six months.
Among the most common hustles: billing the credit cards of customers who thought they were getting free trial products like dietary supplements or teeth whiteners $79.95 per month or more, and then making them jump through hurdles to get the charges to stop.
"We've been monitoring this situation from this past summer in particular," said William M. Sheedy, a Visa group president. The number of complaints from cardholders who disputed ongoing charges they never agreed to shot up, although the merchants and the products they sold often varied.
While there are always a handful of complaints about merchants, most are resolved quickly. But in the case of the ongoing charges, it was clear the problem was widespread. "Consumers are being fleeced," Sheedy said.
Visa told The Associated Press that about 100 merchants had their payment processing terminated because of chronic complaints since early summer. The scam is so common, the San Francisco payment processor is teaming up with the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau to alert consumers.
Most of the time, the swindlers use Internet ads to lure their customers. The ads often feature unauthorized photos of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Rachel Ray, implying endorsements for supplements like acai berries or teeth whiteners.
Newer variations take advantage of the recession with work-at-home scams, or con people into seeking information about applying for government grants linked to economic stimulus programs.
Winfrey and her frequent guest Dr. Mehmet Oz filed several lawsuits this year trying to stop companies from implying they endorsed products made with acai berries.
"The fraud artists look for the fraud du jour and they will play that up magnificently," said Lois Greisman, an associate director of the FTC.
Other common features on the deceptive ads are fake testimonials and credit for the discovery of breakthrough products to a "local mom," said Stephen Salter, vice president of BBB Online. When someone clicks on the ad, their computer's location triggers a program that sets the origin of the "local" mom near that user.
Here's how it works: consumers click on an ad for a free trial offer of supplements or a free "information kit" that will explain how to apply for government grants or use the Internet to make big money effortlessly from home. They think they're entering a credit card number to pay for shipping and handling. But in a few clicks, they've unwittingly authorized ongoing charges that can rack up fast. When consumers see their statements and try to question the charges, they are often unable to track anyone down to make them stop. Often, clicking through can result in more than one monthly charge on a card.
"The game here is to get people hooked, keep them on the hook for monthly charges as long as you can, and only stop making those charges when you're forced to," said Stephen Salter, vice president of BBB Online. BBB has received thousands of complaints about the problem, with multiple companies to blame. "The product is irrelevant to getting the charges on the card."
The trick is a marketing technique called "negative option," where customers must say they don't want to join a so-called club or receive additional materials in the future. The details of the ongoing charges are often in small print or can only be found by following a hyperlink. There's frequently a series of pre-checked boxes that most consumers zoom past as they order. Skipping those boxes is key, because leaving them checked ostensibly giving the companies permission to keep charging the card.
"I can't count the number of sites online that are engaged in this type of advertising, and even if I could count them today, that number could easily change tomorrow," said Greisman of the FTC. The Internet has given "new life and new breath" to this type of scam, which the agency has also seen in the past with direct mail, telemarketing and even television ads.
It's impossible to track how many people have been caught up in the scams or how many companies are involved.
Negative option marketing is not illegal. It's the hidden manner some companies use to get people to agree to the charges that is the problem. "Those cost disclosures have to be upfront and prominent," Greisman said.
Before making a purchase, consumers should check the company out on the BBB Web site, www.bbb.org, to see if it has racked up complaints. Consumers who've been caught up in the scams should file complaints with the FTC online at ftc.gov or by phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
—For the best rates on loans, bank accounts and credit cards, enter your ZIP code at BankingMyWay.com.


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BT Retail continuing to chase users over excessive usage
The Register has highlighted the continuing policy of BT Retail to issue letters to the heavier users of its Retail ADSL services, under the BT Broadband and BT Yahoo banners. We reported on this originally in December 2005.
Given that the maximum usage allowance on the BT Retail products is 40GigaBytes over a month, then if they are only targeting those with a usage above 100GB a month, it would seem a reasonable margin of leeway has been given. BT Retail published an FAQ detailing what it would do to those regularly exceeding the allowance back in February 2005, and has been mentioning the usage allowances since June 2004. So it should be unlikely that any user getting the excessive usage email is unlikely to be aware that there are usage allowances on the BT Retail products.
The number of providers willing to let consumers have a totally free reign of usage on their network has been decreasing, and it is now to the point where very few providers other something they describe as 'unlimited', that truly will allow a consumer to use all they like. For those people who have embraced the broadband culture fully, and are downloading figures like 100GB a month, compared to the UK average which seems to be around 10GB per month, then it may be the case of looking at some of the small business offerings from providers. These will cost more per month, but this may well mean providers are more tolerant of peoples usage habits.


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Wish you had a smartwatch that could survive practically anything? Suunto’s latest might just do that, and Google is onboard.
Smartwatches aren’t exactly a new thing, but durable smartwatches built for more than running may not be as readily found. However a brand that has built its name off sports gear made to take on the tough outdoors is doing just that at CES this year, and even employing some familiar smart technology, so you don’t have to be stuck into some random smartwatch system at the same time.
Suunto, a Finnish brand known for its precision instruments including some pretty strong compass and diving gear, is giving the smartwatch thing another go this year, as the company pushes a new style for its smartwatch: one that runs on Google’s Wear OS.
Originally one of the main competitors for smartwatch operating systems, Google’s Wear OS has rather been missing in action for a couple of years now. Originally released as Android Wear, it was never killed and has still been out, but not much has been released for the platform in terms of new hardware. However it’s one of the smartwatch platforms that works on both Android and iOS, making it compatible whether you have a Galaxy, a Pixel, or an iPhone.
Suunto’s embrace of Wear OS, however, tells you that Google’s smartwatch play is alive and well, and likely off the back of Fitbit’s acquisition by Google, a fairly solid choice for watch manufacturers.
This year, Suunto’s take on the category is the Suunto 7, a smartwatch built for the outdoors that will come with Google Pay support, as well as over 70 sport modes to help track your fitness while you’re out and about.
Battery life is a big part of the package, too, with Suunto expecting up to 12 hours battery life with the GPS switched on in continuous tracking mode, or closer to 48 hours in daily use, suggesting the Suunto 7 is a two day smartwatch.
The hardware relies on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 3100, a chip made for wearables by the maker of a chip used in quite a few phones, and there’s a circular OLED screen to use, protected by Corning’s scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, too.
Outside of the hardware, Suunto is talking about durability, because that’s one of the things Suunto is known for. The hardware itself is made from stainless steel and will be resistant to water as deep as 50 metres, and while we’re yet to see an IP rating, the Suunto 7 is reportedly shock-proof and dirt-proof, too.
“Today, whether sport is your passion or your lunch-hour escape, we live in a blended life that demands a technology partner who does not sacrifice functionality in sport or everyday use,” said Heikki Norta, Chief Digital Officer for Amer Sports, the company that owns Suunto.
“Suunto set out to overcome the challenge of designing a smart watch with robust sports watch features, and vice versa, in order to help users get the most out of both their sports and their busy lives,” he said.
The good news for Australians is that while this is a CES 2020 announcement, it’s one that does have local pricing and availability details, with the Suunto 7 heading to Australian shores on January 31 for $799, available from a few places, including the Suunto website and JB HiFi.
Leigh Stark was flown to CES 2020 in Las Vegas, USA as a guest of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).


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WASHINGTON -- A New Jersey dairy is embroiled in an international dispute at a time when the incoming president has questioned U.S. trade policy.
MCT Dairies of Milburn still is waiting for a state-owned bank in India to return $135,000 accidentally sent to the institution. The company has enlisted U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th Dist.) and last year hired a Washington lobbyist, all to no avail.
"Free trade has to be fair as well," Lance said. "Foreign governments and foreign entities like this bank should operate by the same rules as American companies and American banks. If this was a situation in the United States, it would have been resolved long ago."
"There are good things about free trade," said Ken Meyers, MCT's chief executive. "This is one of the bad things."
MCT does around $125 million to $150 million in business a year, 30 percent of its overseas. The company has benefitted from free trade agreements that allow it to sell its products such as cheese and butter overseas.
"Global trade is important to the dairy industry," Meyers said. "We are really big winners when free trade agreements are done."
MCT's saga began in December 2013 when the dairy transferred money to Punjab National Bank in New Delhi, which handled financial transactions for an Indian supplier of casein, milk proteins used to make cheese. But the company had shifted its accounts to another institution.
MCT sent money to the new bank, and then asked the original institution for a refund. The bank refused, claiming it was in another dispute with its former customer.
"They basically told us they weren't giving us our money," Meyers said. "They said they had a right to our money because they had a problem with the vendor. Under what guise, I have no idea."
Thousands of dollars in legal fees later, MCT remains out the money. The bank has skipped court dates in India, forcing ongoing delays.
Menendez, Booker and Lance have been joined by two GOP lawmakers from Wisconsin, where MCT has a plant, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Reid Ribble, on a series of letters to the U.S. State Department, to the Indian ambassador, and to the Indian finance ministry, all to no avail.
"We'll continue to push for a resolution to the situation in which MCT Dairies finds itself," Menendez said.
The Indian embassy did not respond to requests for comment. The State Department said it had offered assistance and was following the issue.
Menendez and Booker both sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and MCT's lobbyist, Mario Castillo, said one of his next steps would be to urge a congressional hearing on trade disputes like this one.
"There's no greater disinfectant than sunshine," Castillo said.


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As the modern-day world continues to become more and more digitised and virtual reality-based environments continue to become popular, the metaverse concept is looking even more realistic.
So, what does this mean for broadcasting?
Broadcasting in the metaverse is well on its journey to becoming the new reality. The characteristics of the future concept bring a new dynamic to live direct events, such as concerts or conferences, as well as other forms of entertainment, including virtual reality gaming or interactive experiences using an artificial intelligence (AI) universe. The metaverse may also involve the use of augmented reality or mixed reality technology, which can create immersive and interactive environments for users to explore and engage with.
For example, the broadcast of a sports competition using AI and advanced 3D graphics will increase the level of realism that immerses the viewer. Ultimately, this is a key strategy to increase the platform or organisations potential engagement.
The Australian Open partnering with Decentraland to create a more immersive experience, which saw them replicate the AO grounds, also created new commercial assets to sell to brands, as well as opportunities to bring more eyeballs to their content.
Tennis Australia NFT & Metaverse Project Manager Ridley Plummer said: “Taking the Australian Open into the Metaverse is an important step to provide truly global access to our great event.”
The Metaverse is not going anywhere, and as a company, we’re invested in continuing to grow our online presence and push the boundaries of innovation.”
This is an indication that for the entertainment and broadcasting industry, the metaverse holds endless possibilities. The transitional period is already underway. Online game platforms like Fortnite and Roblox are already hosting their own virtual concerts, featuring renowned artists like Twenty-One Pilots, Ariana Grande, and Travis Scott.
This technology allows users to experience a totally different world away from reality in an unfamiliar ecosystem and has already attracted millions of viewers from outside their typical circles. Bringing your brand/IP onto new platforms, whether that be Sandbox, Roblox etc, is a smart move, and the evolution of the matchday experience, as above with the Australian Open example, continues to show that change is necessary to keep you audience engaged, interested and spending.
Further examples we may see of how the entertainment industry will transition into broadcasting in the metaverse:
An augmented reality game show, where contestants compete in a virtual game environment and viewers can watch the action unfold in real-time on their devices, with special effects and graphics overlaid on the real world. A good example of enhancing a broadcast and the experience around it was one of our speakers last year at our summit, Virtex, which replicates esports gameplay in 3D, allowing you to be more immersed in the event, whilst allowing you to also meet with your friends in this environment whilst the gameplay unfolds.
A live-streamed conference or panel discussion, where speakers and audience members can interact in real-time through a virtual environment, with the ability to see and hear each other as if they were in the same physical space. Don’t worry, we’re not plugging this for the web3 summit just yet!
Many of the largest brands and tech companies, (some of which are investing huge amounts), are all noticing the same thing as the importance of a virtual presence beyond social media grab begins to take shape across a range of industry sectors.
Amazon, Meta and Niantic are just a few of the mainstream companies already investing into the metaverse. Niantic will be co-investing $20 million, alongside venture and angel investors in early-stage AR companies.
Niantic, responsible for Pokémon Go, the most successful AR game of all time. Their CEO and founder John Hanke said: “We believe humans are the happiest when their virtual world leads them to a physical one. Unlike a SCI – FI metaverse, a real - world metaverse will use technology to improve our experience of the world as we’ve known it for thousands of years.”
They plan to be a catalyst for the AR ecosystem, and invite founders and investors to join them in building companies that share their vision for the Real-World Metaverse.
Overall, the development of the metaverse and its potential impact on these industries is an exciting prospect that is worth paying attention to. When it comes to entertainment and TV programming, beyond brand extension, it will be certainly interesting to see the impact that the metaverse will have on things like content creation and consumption.


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On Friday, July 14, the stage at South County Secondary School was transformed into a runway fit for fashion week in New York City. Participants in Fairfax County Public School's third annual Fashion Camp produced a fashion show to demonstrate what they had gained during their week-long experience.
In its third year, Fashion Camp expanded to two locations as a result of its success the previous two years. South County Secondary School offered a five-day camp from July 10-14, while Westfield High School is set to offer the second session this week.
"The camp is open to rising first through eighth graders," said camp director Kay Walters. "Campers come from all different schools, but ideally South County feeder schools."
Close to 130 campers attended the camp that met from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
"We were broken up into five age groups," said first-time camper Nikki Walters, a rising seventh grader at Hayfield Secondary School. "Each day, we had special activities where we learned about skin care and etiquette or we made accessories and redesigned an outfit from home." Nikki chose to transform a pair of jeans from home into a skirt that she modeled at the fashion show.
IN ADDITION to modeling the styles they made for themselves, campers were provided with an outfit from either Target, J.C. Penney, or Old Navy, who worked in conjunction with the camp. "Our camp leaders chose outfits that would fit our personalities," said Nikki Walters.
Each age group was headed by two leaders from area high schools, who themselves have taken fashion merchandising and marketing classes. They worked with Target, J.C. Penney and Old Navy to select outfits from their back-to-school styles for the campers.
"The campers learned to do inventory on the borrowed clothes, which would be returned after the fashion show," said Paige Cerand, college intern and camp counselor. "The stores were so helpful, and Old Navy even sent a representative to talk at one of our trend sessions."
For Cerand, she saw changes in her campers that extended far beyond just an increased sense of style. "A lot of the girls came in on the first day and weren't even talking," she said. "By the end of the week, you could tell they were more comfortable with themselves and each other and it was great to see them come out of their shells and gain some confidence."
Confident they were as each age group first modeled the sponsored outfit, then the one they designed for themselves while performing a choreographed dance to up beat music. Parents filled the room provided by South County to capacity and took pictures of their young fashionistas.
Many of the campers have either participated in past years, or are planning to return next year. "It really gave me a different way of looking at fashion," said first-time camper Anna Burke, a rising eighth-grader at Rocky Run Middle School. "I used to think it was about brand names, but it's really about how you put things together."


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Last Friday Messy Bubs HQ hosted an online virtual conference and award ceremony for our fabulous franchisees!
On this day we get together virtually to share our successes and tips for running our own Messy Bubs locations. Franchisees have the chance to get together and grow stronger as a team by learning from each other and sharing stories of fails and wins!
We had the opportunity to listen and learn from Dante St James who shared marketing tips and introduced us to AI and how we can successfully use this within our businesses.
Our wonderful Steph at Messy Bubs Darwin shared her franchise success story starting from the day she purchased her franchise, legal documents, training, launch day and her ongoing business progress. Steph has been in business coming up 3 years and is loving what she does because it fits in with her lifestyle and supports her local community.
Steph also shared with us her fabulous win at the Whats on 4 Kids Awards 2023 for Best Sensory Experience.
We also spent the day learning about the new Mini Messy Bubs Discover Sensory program which will be released later this year! This program is based on Music, Movement and Messy Play!
Our conference gift bags this year contained some wonderful taster products such as Little Brian paint and bath sticks and the amazing Bio Dough!
The Messy Bubs team finished the virtual day with our inhouse Awards ceremony where we celebrate each other and recognise the hard work and dedication of our fabulous franchisees.
Our Peoples Choice Winner for 2023 was Messy Bubs South Adelaide which was a fantastic achievement as both Abbie and Zoe started their business in December 2023 and have already made a big impression in SA. This win means they have won a marketing credit for term 2! Congratulations ladies!
It really was a wonderful morning of the team being together! Very much enjoyed and we can't wait to see what our team have in store for 2024!


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Solidoodle Press 3D printer
Robot Picasso: Maker Transforms Failed 3D Printer into Cubist Drawing Machine
Last year, scores of 3D printer fans were disappointed when promising startup Solidoodle closed its doors, leaving several customers without the printers they had ordered or refunds for their orders….
Solidoodle Announces That They Are Suspending Operations Immediately
It is never a good day when a well-liked company can’t keep their doors open, and even less so in a small and tight-knit industry like 3D printing. Unfortunately 3D…


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Twitter on Thursday posted better-than-expected second-quarter profits on Thursday thanks to growing advertising demand in all geographies and all types of advertising products.
The San Francisco-based company earned $ 65.6 million, or 8 cents per share, in the April-June quarter. That’s a loss of $ 1.38 billion, or $ 1.75 per share, a year earlier.
Revenue jumped 74% to $ 1.19 billion from $ 683.4 million, beating Wall Street expectations. In the United States alone, advertising revenue has almost doubled.
Analysts were expecting an average of 7 cents per share and revenue of $ 1.07 billion, according to a FactSet survey.
Twitter said it expects revenue of between $ 1.22 billion and $ 1.3 billion for the current quarter. Analysts are forecasting $ 1.17 billion.
The number of daily users increased 11% to 206 million from the previous year, in line with expectations.
Twitter said it was continuing to work to make conversations on its platform “healthier.”
He said that among the steps, his systems now take into account the nature of the relationship between the originator of a tweet and the responder, including how often they interact.
âWe’ve also improved our ability to more accurately detect loud language, including profanity, and created easier ways for people to let us know if they found the prompt useful or relevant,â the company said. in a letter to shareholders.
During the second quarter, Twitter introduced a host of new products, including a ‘Tip Jar’ that allows users to collect payments and ‘Super Follows’ that allow users to charge for additional exclusive material not shown to their regular followers. .
Twitter shares jumped about 5% in after-hours trading. The stock had closed up 7 cents at $ 69.57.
Suggest a correction


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Photo by ja ma on Unsplash
Developing countries are being provided with models to develop sustainable cold chains. A sustainable cold chain will reduce food loss and waste. The Cold Chain Database and Modelling initiative has been launched by the Global Food Cold Chain Council (GFCCC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction.
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Lineage opens headquarters in Madrid
New headquarters highlights continued investment in the region and lays the foundation for continued growth
ONE boosts reefer fleet
Ocean Network Express (ONE) is expanding its reefer fleet by adding 6,500 new units.
Cool Logistics team attends GCCA’s European Cold Chain Conference
The GCCA conference in Barcelona provided food for thought!


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Few brands are as exposed to European tourism as Louis Vuitton. Given the recent slew of terrorist outbursts on the continent, which have made wealthy Asians and Americans more reluctant to travel there, parent group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is showing surprising resilience.
Federal Reserve officials are virtually certain to leave interest rates unchanged at their meeting that wraps up Wednesday, but their policy statement will be scrutinized for any clues to whether a September rate increase is in play.
Puma’s biggest star, the sprinter Usain Bolt, is parrying rumors he could retire as soon as the end of this summer’s Olympic Games in Brazil. For Mr. Bolt, retiring is a career issue. For Puma, it is a challenge faced by every company that taps athletes for endorsements.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ContentWatch Appoints Ken Knapton as Vice President of Engineering
New appointment brings tremendous engineering and product delivery leadership to ContentWatch
SALT LAKE CITY – April 5, 2005 – ContentWatch Inc., a trusted provider of Internet filter and protection tools designed for families and small businesses, today announced the appointment of Ken Knapton to the position of Vice President of Engineering.
“ContentWatch has done a tremendous job defining its future product roadmap. I’m excited about the product line and look forward to continuing the ContentWatch tradition of delivering world-class products to small businesses and homes,” Knapton said.
A veteran of the high-tech industry for over 17 years, Knapton brings a wealth of technical and management experience to ContentWatch, having led engineering teams for companies such as Word Perfect, Novell, Intel, Relizon, and AccessData. Knapton also holds two patents for his work on enterprise security and anti-virus technology, which makes him a great fit for ContentWatch and their industry Internet protection tools.
“We’re excited to have Ken on board,” said Jack Sunderlage, president & CEO of ContentWatch. “Ken has the right skill set, management style and technology background to enable ContentWatch to continue to be a leading innovator of Internet protection tools.”
ContentWatch, Inc. delivers Internet protection solutions for the home, library, education, government and business markets. ContentWatch’s mission is to be the world leader in thought and technology by creating Internet protection tools and services that provide homes and businesses with a safer, more productive Internet experience. Based in Salt Lake City, ContentWatch has customers in all 50 states and more than 100 countries and was recently selected by The Walt Disney Company as the official filtering software for its Disney Dream Desk PC for kids. For more information on ContentWatch products, visit http://www.contentwatch.com/.


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TOKYO — A trans-Pacific free trade pact without the United States covering 13 percent of the global economy is set to enter into force on Dec. 30 after Australia’s ratification Wednesday, a move that appears to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist policy.
“We will proactively engage in strengthening trade framework based on free and fair rules,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the Japanese Diet as Australia became the sixth nation to ratify the 11-member deal.
The deal, which will cut tariffs on agriculture and industrial products and also ease investment restrictions and enhance protection of intellectual property rights, stipulates that it will enter into force 60 days after at least six signatories complete necessary domestic procedures.
Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s state minister in charge of the trade pact, said he hopes to join hands with countries sharing the existing members’ vision for free trade.
Japan plans to chair the first ministerial meeting as early as mid-January to discuss the future acceptance of such members and the implementation of the trade pact, according to Motegi.
The implementation of the deal will allow “consumers to purchase foreign products at a cheaper price and also make it easier for Japanese companies to operate overseas,” Motegi said.
Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore are the first six nations to ratify the agreement. The other members yet to finish their domestic procedures are Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Peru, and Vietnam.
Britain, Colombia, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand are among countries having shown interest in joining the pact, known officially as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the trade agreement “one of the most comprehensive and ambitious” in the country’s recent history as Canberra notified New Zealand of its completion of domestic procedures.
Following an abrupt U.S. pullout from the original 12-member framework under Trump in January 2017, the remaining countries signed the current revised pact in March this year.
The remaining 11 countries aim to show their commitment to free trade even as the world grapples with an escalating trade war between the United States and China as the two world’s largest economies engage in tit-for-tat exchanges of higher tariffs.
The development also comes days ahead of the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 6 when Trump hopes to garner voter support for his “America First” agenda.
Japanese government officials hope that the CPTPP will help inject momentum into Tokyo’s push for multilateral free trade ahead of the expected start of bilateral negotiations for a Japan-U.S. trade agreement in January.
When the CPTPP takes effect, Japan’s economy is projected to get an 8 trillion yen ($71 billion) boost although agricultural and sea produce trade may see a negative impact of up to 150 billion yen, according to the government.
Japanese automakers are expected to benefit from the deal, which would eliminate 6.1-percent tariffs on passenger cars currently imposed by Canada in the fifth year after the pact comes into effect, while Australia’s tariffs on vehicles will be removed immediately.
Despite the government’s measures to mitigate the impact on domestic agricultural sector and help it enhance competitiveness overseas, many Japanese farmers have voiced wariness about the influx of cheaper livestock products due to the implementation of the CPTPP.
Japan’s tariffs on beef will be cut to 9 percent in the 16th year from the current 38.5 percent, while the 4.3-percent duty imposed on high-priced pork will be eliminated in the 10th year, welcoming news for consumers but a challenge to Japanese livestock producers.
For more articles concerning trade, click here.


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Swiss expands network with Edelweiss agreement
Swiss World Cargo said Monday it is expanding its network to seven new destinations through a cooperative agreement with Swiss passenger airline Edelweiss Air.
The agreement will see Swiss World Cargo market belly space for Edelweiss as it enters the cargo market. Edelweiss and Swiss began collaborating on passenger services in November 2008.
The new destinations are long-haul flights from Switzerland: Mombassa and Nairobi in Kenya; Cancun, Mexico; Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic; Goa, India; and Male, Maldives.
The Nairobi flight complements an existing Swiss Air flight from Zurich.
“This is an exciting and mutually beneficial agreement,' said Oliver Evans, chief cargo officer at Swiss Air, in a statement. 'Our industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges and many competitors are canceling destinations in their network. Thanks to the cooperation with Edelweiss Air, we are able to expand our offer. Most of the new markets served are small, but Swiss WorldCargo has an established reputation for focusing effectively also on niches. The Edelweiss Air brand is well established in the Swiss market, and the network will offer Swiss WorldCargo's customers some attractive new business opportunities.'
The airlines did not say what aircraft would be used for the new destinations. Edelweiss' Web site says it used A-330 planes for its long-haul flights.


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Today's diesel cars are cleaner and more efficient thanks to technological innovations by automotive suppliers, according to Bosch.
Over the past decade, the increasing number of diesel cars fitted with advanced components, such as common-rail diesel stop/start, have benefited from significantly reduced emissions and lower running costs, the firm claims.
It highlights the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' New Car CO2 Report, which says new diesel cars sold in the UK are 21% less polluting and 27% more economical than they were in 2003, claiming that British motorists are saving money.
However, the research does not take account of recent studies that show real world fuel consumption figures are more distant than ever from the official figures reported by the car manufacturers.
If diesel cars were only as fuel-efficient as they were ten years ago, says Bosch, the average annual fuel bill for 12,000 miles of driving would be £1,690 rather than the £1,330 it is today - so motorists are saving up to £360 per year. In addition, modern less polluting diesel cars are reducing the UK's CO2 emissions by more than 750,000 tonnes per year.
Peter Fouquet, president of Bosch UK said: "Motorists today benefit from much cleaner diesel cars than those that were on the market even 10 years ago. As diesel car sales continue to rise, we are focused on constantly innovating new technologies that help reduce emissions from diesel cars and make them cheaper to run."


text: It was late last week that Evogen started teasing the coming of a new flavor for their post-workout powerhouse, GlycoJect. Very few hints were given, however it was very early on that we were wondering if the game was over before it had even begun. Following the announcement of another taste for GlycoJect, we spotted the supplement in wild berry, both on Evogen’s store and in a promotional image. Without confirmation from the brand’s themselves and based on the fact that we hadn’t been following Evogen to closely. We weren’t 100% on whether or not it was the new GlycoJect flavor previewed and released a little early. Less than one week later the brand have unveiled their fourth for the product, confirming that wild berry is indeed the one going to Evogen’s post-workout. While the latest from the brand has yet to hit retailers, as mentioned last week and today. Eager Evogen fans can already purchase wild berry GlycoJect direct, for the relatively good price of $44.95.


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Accolade success for restaurant
PUBLISHED: 21:00 11 December 2010
Karim Merie kmphotos
A POPULAR food chain which has a restaurant in Weston has been awarded a prestigious accolade.
Bottelino’s was named Italian Restaurant Chain of the Year at the national 2010 PAPA awards – beating off competition from the likes of Pizza Express and Ask.
The ceremony took place last month in London and managing director Mike Botta accepted the award on behalf of the company.


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Lenovo profit surges on smartphone, tablet sales
Updated: 2013-11-08 12:58
By Gao Guan in Beijing and Amy He in New York (China Daily USA)
Ashley Rodrigue, a Lenovo Ambassador, introduces Lenovo's new Yoga tablet at a New York preview event on Oct 29. Amy He / China Daily
Lenovo Group Ltd, the world's largest personal computer maker, reported a higher-than-expected second-quarter profit on Thursday, boosted by growing sales of smartphones and tablets.
Net profit was $220 million in the quarter ended in September, a jump of 36 percent year-on-year, the company said. Revenue was $9.8 billion, a 13 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
A sales increase in emerging mobile devices was one of the major contributors for the growth. Yang Yuanqing, chairman and CEO of Lenovo, said the company has sold more mobile devices than personal computers over the past months. Lenovo's consumer electronics unit, which includes smartphones and tablets, contributed $1.5 billion in revenue.
The Beijing-based company said it sold 29 million devices in the past quarter, the most in the company's history.
"Overseas mergers and acquisitions provided a major driver for Lenovo's business growth in previous quarters. This quarter's growth was because of Lenovo's own innovation and successful marketing strategy in the mobile devices sector," said Antonio Wang, associate director at industry consultancy IDC China.
Data from IDC showed Lenovo shipped 12.3 million smartphones from July to September.
However, its smartphone shipments still lagged behind Apple Inc, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.
Total shipments of the top three exceeded 127 million, according to IDC
"Competitors such as Samsung entered the China market a long time ago, but because Lenovo is focusing on growth in the mid- and low-end markets, the distance among other brands is set to narrow," said Liu Jun, head of Lenovo's consumer electronics business.
Lenovo sold more smartphones priced under 2,000 yuan ($320) than Samsung in the Chinese market, said Liu.
China is the world's biggest smartphone market. It accounted for 39 percent of the global smartphones as of September, data from Canalys showed on Wednesday. Lenovo posted the largest annual increase among the leading smartphone vendors, according to an IDC report. "The company relied on its stronghold in the Asia-Pacific region and particularly in China, where the overwhelming majority of its smartphones went," the report added.
"The future of Lenovo would be more on [smartphones] and tablets," said Zhang Jun, analyst at technology analysis firm Wedge Partners. The current smartphone and tablet businesses are very focused on China, he said, and Lenovo is growing its smartphone business fast.
"We are still positive on Lenovo," Zhang said, and Lenovo's global expansion into the smartphone business "might potentially hurt [Samsung's lower-middle] end smartphone business. Zhang also said that Lenovo has been "cautious" to expand into the global market in the past because they wanted to create better products in order to "compete with tier-1 players like Samsung and Apple".
Lenovo has also made progress in other markets, pushing into Latin America and emerging markets in Southeast Asia. "We will speed expansion in more emerging markets in the Middle East and Latin America through innovation," said Yang.
"Hardware making is a prominent advantage for Lenovo, but we are still looking to integrate hardware with software and applications in order to make the next-generation devices," he added.
Yang estimated that global demand for PCs will rebound by the end of 2014, boosted by the global enterprise-level market and growing orders from China.
The company said it is looking for acquisition targets for all its product lines and M&As in the smartphone sector will be the company's top task, said Wong Wai Ming, chief financial officer of Lenovo.
Earlier media reports indicated Lenovo was actively courting the drowning Canadian cell phone maker BlackBerry Ltd. BlackBerry said on Wednesday it is no longer for sale.
Contact the writer at firstname.lastname@example.org and email@example.com
(China Daily USA 11/08/2013 page10)


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The stock market is officially in bear market territory after falling more than 20% over the last two months. This is not a time to panic, as bear markets have occurred numerous times in previous decades. However, this can be a good opportunity to reassess your stock holdings and think about what companies you want to own for the next 10 years.
One area I'm particularly excited about over the next decade is stocks related to the explosive demand for streaming content. We've already seen enormous growth in video streaming, but there is still so much untapped potential, particularly as streaming becomes more mainstream for other markets like audio and gaming.
Spotify: Dominating audio streaming
Shares of Spotify have not performed well since they debuted in 2018, but the latest operating results point to the stock potentially being a big winner over the long haul.
In the last quarter, growth in monthly active users accelerated for the third consecutive quarter, reaching a total of 271 million, and Spotify is still growing quickly. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 24% year over year, driven by strong growth in both paid subscriptions and ad-supported listeners.
Spotify is well known for its music app, where it has a competitive advantage centered around its recommendation and discovery technology, in addition to creating playlists based on each user's taste. But lately, management is looking at podcasts as its next big growth opportunity. The future of radio is moving online, which is why Spotify acquired Gimlet, Anchor, and Parcast last year to position itself for growth in this burgeoning market.
More than 16% of Spotify's users engage with podcast content, but that is going to increase significantly. The company reported last quarter that podcast consumption hours surged 200% year over year and that engagement with podcasts is encouraging ad-supported listeners to try a paid subscription.
Spotify also recently announced the acquisition of The Ringer, a leader in sports, entertainment, and pop culture content. The deal puts Spotify one step closer to dominating the audio streaming market, and it's already making good progress getting there, as the latest numbers show.
Management sees enormous growth potential, which is why they are declaring 2020 "an investment year." This means investors shouldn't expect to see Spotify report deep profits this year, but revenue will continue to climb. It's only a matter of time before the market pushes this growth stock higher as the service marches toward one billion users.
Roku: Piggybacking on the growth in video streaming
Streaming has come a long way over the last decade. There are numerous companies competing in this market, including Disney, ViacomCBS, HBO, and many more. But Roku might be the single best streaming stock in the sense that it gives you broad exposure to growth happening across the streaming landscape.
Roku has differentiated itself with its operating system for TVs that allows users to see what content is available across a range of services. In 2019, one in three smart TVs sold in the U.S. was powered by Roku.
Given this flexible position, the company is experiencing explosive growth. Revenue surged 52% year over year in 2019, and Roku finished the year with active accounts climbing 36% to 36.9 million, with total streamed hours up 68% to 40.3 billion.
This momentum puts Roku in a great spot to grow its ad revenue, which is how the company monetizes its platform. Over the last 10 years, the trend of traditional advertising shifting to online search fueled Alphabet's growth. There is a similar trend now starting to take shape in streaming with TV advertising shifting online. This will help Roku sustain its rapid growth for years to come.
Huya: Top game streaming platform in China
Another attractive stock in the streaming landscape is Huya, a leader in live game streaming in China. The video game industry continued to grow last year, reaching about $150 billion in value worldwide. But the video content side of that industry, where audiences watch gameplay on sites like Amazon's Twitch or Huya in China, is growing faster than the industry overall and is already a $6.5 billion market, according to SuperData.
SuperData estimates that there are 944 million people around the world who watch game streaming content, and China has over 600 million gamers, which puts Huya in an excellent position with a massive addressable market. Millions of people tune in to these game streaming sites to watch their favorite personalities play games or to watch a live esports tournament broadcast.
Huya makes money by taking a cut of the money spent by viewers to support their favorite streamers. This generates about 95% of its revenue.
All the popular game streaming sites in the U.S. are owned by the big tech companies, so Huya is one of the few pure-play stocks for investors. In the fourth quarter, revenue surged 64% year over year to $350 million. It now has 150 million monthly active users, representing an increase of 28.8% over the year-ago quarter.
The stock has seen a lot of volatility in its two years on the market, largely driven by concerns about the economy in China and the COVID-19 outbreak. But this would be an ideal time to take advantage of depressed prices and start a position in this company that is tapping into a fast-growing segment of the gaming industry.


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DETROIT – The economic meltdown that nearly reduced the global industry to cinders in 2009 changed the automotive world for the better, Saab Automobiles AB Chairman Victor Muller says.
The crisis killed suppliers, closed dealerships, relegated time-honored car brands to the history books and left thousands jobless. These outcomes were painful, but ultimately beneficial, Muller says on the sidelines of the North American International Auto Show here.
There exists now a new openness that fosters innovation.
“(Since) the storm, everybody is willing to share everything with everybody,” he says, specifically referring to Saab’s agreement negotiated last year to acquire some 200,000 4-cyl. engines from BWW AG for the next-generation Saab 9-3 midsize car line.
Just suggesting such an arrangement five years ago would have been “like cursing the church,” Muller says during an impassioned roundtable with journalists.
Similarly implausible was last year’s tie-up betweenAG and SA- Motor Co. Ltd.
Consider also Saab’s joint venture withMfg. Holdings Inc., Muller adds. The companies will develop and produce in-wheel electric motors for use in the new 9-3, scheduled to debut in 2012.
“The industry’s changed,” he declares, claiming Saab clearly has changed for the better.
The calamity allowed the auto maker to “drive the break-even point down with a hammer,” Muller says forcefully.
In a slick demonstration of oratory that would humble a televangelist, the Saab executive, promises redemption for the Sweden-based brand that nearly died when discarded in 2009 by the formerCorp., which later declared bankruptcy.
Muller says Saab is blessed with “the most loyal customers in the world. Period.” But he concedes even they may not buy if their peers in the general public believe the brand is on life support. So the auto maker will spend “serious” money on marketing this year.
Skeptics can be forgiven, considering Saab tallied fewer than 32,000 global sales in 2010. However, Muller firmly commits to a forecast of 80,000 deliveries this year and 120,000 in 2012; targets, he says, that are attainable largely because of GM’s legacy.
When Muller’sCars took control of Saab last year, development of the brand’s 9-5 flagship sedan was complete and the 9-4x cross/utility vehicle was nearly complete. But by the time the next-generation 9-3 arrives in 2012, Saab’s showroom offerings will be among the freshest in the industry.
Between now and then, however, the auto maker is coping with leadership woes.
Saab’s global marketing position is vacant and Global Sales Director Matthias Seidl is filling in as Saab Cars North America’s chief operating officer, following the sudden departure of Mike Colleran. Saab also lost industry-veteran Adrian Hallmark in 2010.
Against this backdrop comes news from Sweden that Saab will reduce hourly output at its Trollhatten plant to 28 cars from 39. “This is normal for the winter months.When we face early spring, we will go up again,” spokesman Eric Geers tells Reuters.
But the auto maker is sticking to its target of 80,000 sales in 2011.
European-market deliveries likely will get a big boost later in the year with the launch of the 9-5 SportCombi, Muller says. Historically, the wagon-style 9-5 has accounted for 80% of the nameplate’s sales in Europe.


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Huge Topaz slip up under scrutiny
The fallout is only just beginning over the Competition Authoritys oil industry blunder, writes Ciaran Hancock
News of the incredible gaffe emerged on Tuesday, when the authority put a statement on its website admitting that it had missed by one day the deadline to make a determination on Topaz’s €285m takeover of Statoil’s wholesale and retail oil operations here. As a result, the deal was free to proceed.
Topaz already owned Shell’s network of service stations and the combined entity now has between 30% and 35% of the Irish petrol retailing market as well as a strong position in wholesale terminal facilities and the distribution of heating oil.
“It is extraordinary that such a big deal should be so badly handled,” said Tom Noonan, head of Maxol, a leading competitor of Statoil and Shell, who has locked horns with the authority


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The OnePlus Z is going to be the first truly affordable phone from the company in a while.
As per one of the leaks, the phone will come with triple rear cameras, a 90Hz refresh rate screen, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and more. It is expect to be priced competitively harkening back to the days when OnePlus made relatively more budget-friendly phones.
Further, a separate leak suggests that the OnePlus Z will be launched in India on July 10.
OnePlus Z specifications
According to the survey, the OnePlus Z is expected to feature a 6.55-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It may be powered by the Snapdragon 765 SoC with 5G support; apart from featuring with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The phone is said to have three cameras on the back with the primary being a 64-megapixel sensor, accompanied by a 16-megapixel sensor and a 2-megapixel sensor. A 16-megapixel front camera housed in a hole-punch is expected as well. The phone may be backed by a 4,300mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging. The OnePlus Z, like the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro, will likely have an in-display fingerprint scanner.
OnePlus Z price in India (expected)
The survey states that the OnePlus phone believed to be the OnePlus Z will start at Rs. 24,990 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. Another variant of the phone that comes with 12GB of RAM is also expected and was recently spotted on Geekbench.
A separate report by Android Authority states that the OnePlus Z will be launched in India on July 10. However, since the company has not shared information on the pricing and availability, this should be taken with a pinch of salt. Also, the company is planning an event for July 2 where it will launch two new smart TV series.