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It has now been over six months since General Motors finally recalled vehicles with a known deadly ignition switch defect. The defect was attributed with being the cause of accidents that resulted in at least 13 deaths. The Wall Street Journal now reports that only 34% of the recalled vehicles have been fixed.
GM has taken $3.4 billion in charges and losses on the past two earnings’ reports for all of their recalls, despite the fact that most of the recalled vehicles have yet to be repaired. The most questionable part of GM’s charges come from the first quarter’s earnings’ report.
In April of this year, GM took a $1.3 billion recall-related charge for the quarter ending March 31st. Repairs on recalled GM vehicles for the ignition switch defect began in April of this year. According to GM’s earnings’ release, the $1.3 billion charge was “for recall costs in … Read More ➡
General Motors continues to deny that it has a safety problem with brake lines that are prone to corrosion in as few as five or six years. Thousands of owners of GM trucks and SUVs have complained of failing brakes due to brake lines bursting from the rust problem. One of these owners, Joe Palumbo from Pennsylvania, has made it a quest (see his website here) to expose the safety defect, thus far to little avail. GM’s latest response to Mr. Palumbo includes an implied admission that the company has been using inferior quality brake lines in its vehicles.
The response to Mr. Palumbo’s complaint of prematurely corroding brake lines came in the form of an email on August 6th of this year from [email protected]. Drew, a “Chevrolet Executive Assistant,” responded to the complaint regarding Mr. Palumbo’s 2004 Chevy Avalanche, which had brake failure after just … Read More ➡
General Motors has yet another unresolved safety concern with its vehicles. This one involves trucks with anti-lock braking system (ABS) problems. The ABS in some GM trucks engages at slow speeds in dry conditions, leading to a loss of braking and increased stopping distances. Once again, this is a known problem at GM, as they have recalled vehicles previously from earlier model years with the same problem.
A search on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website finds hundreds of complaints from owners of GM trucks, model years 2003 to 2008, who experienced loss of braking from inadvertent ABS activation. The root of this problem is not hard to discover; GM recalled earlier model years of the same vehicles that experienced the same problems back in 2005. The plot thickens when considering the known cause, which was brake line corrosion; a problem we at NLPC have been trying to get … Read More ➡
It has been two years since General Motors admitted that there was little demand for the Chevy Volt (as reported here) due to there being “no plug-in market.” Their answer was to “create market” to drive sales for the politically popular but economically-nonviable Volt. GM manipulated sales for the Volt through the use of subsidized leases at a time when President Obama’s favorite, green wonder-car was being criticized for low sales as it failed to live up to the early hype.
GM was able to use taxpayer money in the form of electric vehicle tax credits to help drive down costs to lessees. Taxpayers chipped in $7,500 for each Chevy Volt placed on the road for terms as low as two years. The taxpayer subsidies, along with inflated residual values and other GM incentives, provided for low monthly lease payments and led to a full two-thirds of all Volt “sales” … Read More ➡
After three years and $1.4 billion in stimulus subsidies from U.S. taxpayers, you’d think the technology and performance of the all-electric Nissan Leaf would have improved rather than worsened by now.
You’d be wrong.
Whereas once the Leaf enjoyed a favorable review by Consumer Reports (despite an extremely unpleasant test experience by one of its researchers and the identification of several negative features), the magazine has yanked its recommendation. That’s because of the Leaf’s dismal safety performance in crash testing of small cars by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, where it received a rating of “poor,” along with three other models.
“Collapse of the occupant compartment is the downfall for four small cars in this group, including the…Leaf,” said Joe Nolan, senior vice president for vehicle research for the IIHS. “A sturdy occupant compartment allows the restraint systems to do their job, absorbing energy and controlling … Read More ➡
It’s been a month since the billionaire triumvirate of Tom Steyer (pictured), Henry Paulson and Michael Bloomberg introduced their ballyhooed Risky Business report on the climate, and after all the op-eds, blog posts and public interviews so far, all that can be said about it is that it is already an empty, meaningless PR campaign upon which the financial hot shots have wasted their money.
There is no there, there.
Logical scrutiny of the project, from its genesis to its outcome, would reveal how deeply flawed and biased it is. Given every contributing factor, there is no other verdict that would have been reached other than “we must all do something about global warming!” Yet the legacy media has treated Risky Business as something that was objectively conceived, and which has delivered perfectly reasonable conclusions. That is to be expected from pack journalists who don’t look beyond the climate crystal … Read More ➡
The Associated Press gives evidence today to how desperate General Motors is to give the appearance that the company is firing on all cylinders. GM pulled out all the stops to ensure that June sales would not disappoint when sales were slowing as a result of the company’s loss of credibility during its seemingly never-ending recall saga.
At mid-June, sales for the month at GM were lagging the previous year’s. The political minds at GM could not have this, and according to the piece:
In mid-June, however, the automaker was headed for a year-over-year monthly sales decline, according to data compiled by automotive research firms. Then, on June 20, GM asked dealers to buy more cars, and it threw in another $1,000 in discounts per vehicle, five dealership representatives told The Associated Press. The company finished the month with a 1 percent gain.
The dealers said they were asked to
… Read More ➡
The Houston Chronicle yesterday published an account of a 2013 trip by 10 members of the House of Representatives to Azerbaijan that violates a House rule that prohibits the acceptance of overnight travel from corporations that employ lobbyists. The trip was indirectly paid for by companies doing business in Azerbaijan through nonprofit groups.
The fact set is similar to the 2008 case involving a trip to the Caribbean by then-Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), exposed by NLPC, and investigated by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). OCE referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee, which “admonished” Rangel, prompting his resignation as House Ways and Means Chairman. The head of the nonprofit that sponsored the event was eventually convicted of lying to Congress.
According to the story by Will Tucker and Lise Olsen, 10 House members and 35 staffers enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to Baku, which … Read More ➡
General Motors reported earnings today for the 2nd quarter of 2014. The early prognosis is not good with share price falling after the report. While it is difficult for the Mom and Pop investor to sort through GM’s myriad of charges, special items and various smoke and mirrors, there are some key take-aways that give a glimpse of GM’s financial health. Primarily, debt continues to grow at the company, now exceeding $40 billion while earnings are propped up by special items.
Analyzing the levels of cash compared to debt at GM is probably the easiest way to get to the truth behind the many numbers thrown about in the earnings report. In just the past three months at GM, short and long term debt has grown from a hefty $37.8 billion to an even heftier $40 billion. This key fact gives a contrarian view to what the media and … Read More ➡
It has now been over two months since we requested that General Motors recall vehicles that are prone to brake line corrosion. The vehicles in question, GM truck model years 1999 through 2003, have been under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) since 2010. The government agency has done nothing noteworthy regarding the existing GM safety concern over the four year span of the investigation.
NHTSA has also proven its ineffectiveness when it comes to safeguarding American motorists by ignoring multiple complaints for newer model GM vehicles. Why hasn’t NHTSA expanded the GM brake line investigation to include model years 2004 through 2007, which also have hundreds of complaints involving failed braking as a result of brake line rust?
Owners of GM vehicles with corroded brake lines have been frustratingly trying to bring to light an issue which plagues GM vehicles more so than any other manufacturer.… Read More ➡


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VERIDIA recently announced they’ll be in the studio recording their new album over the next 5/6 weeks. The band also revealed they’re now part of the roster of a new record label. To find out who watch the announcement below.
Make sure you get plugged into the band’s social medias, and ours, below to stay wired in to all the latest updates on the new record.
Buy “Still Breathing” on iTunes here
Buy Pretty Lies on iTunes here

domain: news


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Following a drop that minted out in under 20 minutes, Ubisoft’s Warlords NFTs for Champions Tactics are reselling for $600 or more.
Ubisoft’s upcoming battler game Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles sold out of its free Warlords NFTs within minutes—and has seen over $2 million in sales within a couple hours of its public mint, per CryptoSlam data.
After a limited presale for select fans, the pixelated profile picture-style Warlords minted out in less than 20 minutes during the collection’s free public mint that occurred at 4pm ET Monday.
The NFTs are now trading on secondary marketplaces like OpenSea for roughly $600 each, or about 0.27 ETH, at time of writing. Only 7% of the 9,999 NFTs are currently listed for sale—a stat that suggests most collectors plan to hang onto their Warlords so they can use them to unlock the game’s next free mint for its in-game characters.
While the Warlords NFTs were free to mint, buyers did have to pay Ethereum gas fees for their transactions, which can fluctuate wildly from tens to hundreds of dollars depending on network traffic. Champions Tactics will use the Oasys blockchain for its other crypto integrations, which promises a gas-free gaming experience.
Gamers who missed out on the Warlords mint and don’t want to drop $600 in Ethereum to play the game aren’t out of options, though. According to the game’s website, Ubisoft will offer a free Champions figure drop at a later date, with more details yet to be revealed.
Champions Tactics is expected to release sometime in 2024.


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The couple that wears tube socks together stays together.
"Celebrate your unique beauty today (& everyday)!"
The highlight of 2017 is finally here.
Take a look back at the twin’s forgotten runway debut.
See what your sign's unique tee looks like.
Protesters greeted the President by yelling, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist U.S.A." and "Shame!" outside Trump Tower.
Stock up on these fall wardrobe staples.
Take denim inspo from the women who wear them best.
How to navigate the picture-perfect summer destination.
From office-appropriate carryalls to stylish bags to tote to the gym.
What more could you want?
The fashion house is amping up its legal battle against the fast fashion company.
The next exhibition will reportedly tackle religion and fashion.
We've all been there, Kim.
The first photo from the couple's vacation is here.
Queen Letizia and King Felipe take their daughters on a well-dressed getaway.
From classic western movies to the country stars of today, a look back at the All-American boot.
The TV and movie characters whose closets we want to raid.
"Serving these Typhoid Mary LOOKS"
What to get for the chic woman who has it all?
Instagram unveiled the top 15 fashion industry users on Stories—and the ranking will surprise you.
From tassels to oversized hoops, these are the earring trends taking over this year.
The singer is also reportedly in talks to voice Nala.
Queen Bey supported her sister Solange at FYF Fest.
Happy Friday to us all.
The models bare all for a black and white editorial.
The actor released a statement following illegal photos of his newborn twins.


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- Wealth PMS (50L+)
July 2012 Inflation on WPI has come in at 6.87%, a lower figure than than the 7.25% in June. But these figures are revised constantly (like I noted last time, the first announced figures for Jan, Feb and March 2012 were all below 7% and later revised above)
From a component perspective, it’s obvious where the drop has come from:
Fuel inflation is hugely down, to nearly 6% from last month’s 10%. That’s because the price of diesel was revised last July. Diesel prices have been unchanged since then, due to government control and artificial subsidies. Petrol, though, is up about 9%.
Diesel is about 4.65% of the index. Inflation in it was about 7% last month, and is now unchanged, so effectively, diesel prices were responsible for nearly all the drop in inflation. Since it’s artificially held down, and widely expected to be raised again due to a widening fiscal deficit (the government shoulders the burden of the fixed diesel price being too low), we can conclude that this drop in inflation isn’t very sustainable.
On a plus: there has been no revision of the May 2012 number, which remains at 7.55%.
Another negative is that manufactured goods – which is 65% of the index – is starting to move up again. The WPI isn’t very relevant to most of us – the CPI, which is currently at double digits, will give us a clearer picture in a few days.


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Photo of the Week: A Sweet Business Idea in Peru
July 06, 2012
Elizabeth Gómez Flores, an engineer from Peru, launched her chocolate company, NATIVOS, in 2011. The skills she learned through TechnoServe helped her to formalize her business, open a production plant and reach new markets.
Photo credit: Paolo Lopez
Elizabeth Gómez Flores, an engineer from Peru, launched her chocolate company, NATIVOS, in 2011. Through TechnoServe’s Idea Tu Empresa business plan competition, sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development, she was selected to participate in a three-month class and receive continuing assistance from a TechnoServe consultant. The skills she learned help her to formalize her business, open a production plant and reach new markets.
This weekend, Elizabeth is a proud participant in the prestigious annual “Salón del Cacao y Chocolate” in Lima, a national chocolate and cacao exhibition. Learn more about Elizabeth’s path to success.
Related Blog Posts
Continents apart, a bakery owner in Kenya and a food scientist in Minnesota team up to develop delicious new products that boost nutrition for local communities.
After battling leaf rust on his coffee farm in Honduras, Oscar Ramirez won 2017's Cup of Excellence competition and broke records for Honduras's coffee sector after applying best practices he learned from TechnoServe's MAS program.


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Dubai’s hotel sector is gearing up for Expo 2020 Dubai, the world’s largest and most impactful event ever to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
The UAE services and business sectors, spearheaded by the hotel, travel and tourism industry, have been working tirelessly to ensure a safe, inspiring and unforgettable experience during the six-month event.
With Expo 2020’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, as well as one or more of its sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, Dubai will welcome visitors from every corner of the globe to join the making of a new world, as it brings together the planet in one place to reimagine tomorrow.
Wego, which specialises in travel services and online reservations, stated that various countries are awaiting the start of Expo 2020.
The company revealed that it witnessed, through its website, about 533,000 searches in July, on flights and hotels for the period during which this event will be held.
This indicates the increasing demand that Dubai is witnessing, and the rapid recovery of the business tourism sector, noting that in light of the preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai, hotels have begun to allocate packages and extended stay offers specifically for visitors to the exhibition.
Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) revealed that until May 2021, there were 128,545 hotel rooms in Dubai. There were 715 hotel establishments, including 134 five-star hotels.
Dubai Tourism’s statistics also showed that the emirate welcomed 2.06 million international overnight visitors from January to May 2021.
The emirate has one of the highest number of hotel rooms in the world, according to a study by travel site Insider Monkey (100,000 hotel rooms available for visiting guests).
Dubai hosts seven of the 12 tallest hotels in the world including the Gevora Hotel (356.3 metres), JW Marriott Marquis Dubai (355m), SLS Dubai Hotel and Residences (336m), Rose Rayhaan by Rotana (333m), Burj Al Arab (321m), Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel (309m) and Millennium Plaza (294m).
More hotels are being constructed in Dubai despite the challenges and impact of COVID-19 on global tourism and travel.
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the largest cultural gathering in the world and will provide inspiring experiences for 182 days.
More than 200 entities will contribute to these experiences, including countries, multilateral organisations, companies, and educational institutions, as well as millions of visitors, to create a version that is the largest and most diverse.
#Dubai‘s hotel sector is gearing up for @Expo2020Dubai, the world’s largest and most impactful event ever to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, from 1st October, 2021, to 31st March, 2022.https://t.co/qOL2xy4oF7 pic.twitter.com/9eSakoTCnh
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 8, 2021


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Whilst there weren’t many new e-bike releases this week there is plenty of related news, from the final resolution of the legal situation at Lake Tahoe, one of the most popular trail riding spots in the US, to China’s recent efforts to make electric vehicle battery recycling more effective.
The eclectic nature of the week’s news continues with features on the UK throttle only laws, a new e-bike motorized workstand and the new legal obligations on French automobile advertisers that might just help sell e-bikes; all going to show the many related areas the huge and growing popularity of e-bikes have helped them reach into.
Lake Tahoe class 1 trail access legal dispute finally settled
Innovative looking Mubea e-cargo four-wheeler slated for summer launch
UK’s Wisper’s limited run of throttle only e-bikes
Motorized EZLift for heavy bikes and e-bikes
China aims for more and better battery recycling
French car ads must tell you there might be better ways to travel
Dutch, Belgian and German e-bikers buying pricier e-bikes
TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST E-BIKE ACCESS LAWSUIT SETTLED
Bicycle Retailer and Industry news has reported that ‘The group of trail and forest advocates settled its federal lawsuit filed in 2019 against the U.S. Forest Service, whom it said allowed Class 1 e-bikes on non-motorized trails in the Tahoe National Forest without conducting a public study.’
Class 1 e-bikes are pedal assist only and do not feature any throttle.
There’s more info on popular bike trails at Tahoe here and this video from Fly Rides shows the spectacular scenery that the nearly 200 miles of new access helped open up when it was first introduced in 2019. The commentator also emphasises the importance of good trail etiquette so that e-mtbers give a good impression to other trail users – important in safeguarding their new access rights for future use…
GERMANY’S MUBEA EXPANDING INTO ELECTRIC CARGO BIKE DELIVERY
Southern Germany’s Mubea have traditionally specialised in lightweight auto tehnologies and developed the likes of specialist suspension systems and coachwork – and now summer 2022 should see the launch of their Mubea Urban_M Cargo, a four-wheeled electric cargo bike.
Mubea say the new model combines ‘the legal advantages of an e-bike with the load capacity of a mid-range car.’ The payload is 740lbs / 335 kilograms. As an e-bike it will be allowed on cyclepaths and its modular design means it will fulfill numerous cargo carrying briefs. The projected retail price is 10,490 euros.
UK’S WISPER ANNOUNCES LIMITED RUN OF ROAD LEGAL THROTTLE ONLY E-BIKES
One of the big differences between the UK and the US e-bike scene is that, generally speaking, throttle-only e-bikes (so-called twist and gos) are not legal e-bikes in the UK.
Up until now that was. Cycling Industry News tells us that ‘Wisper Bikes has announced a limited run of their traditional range of e-bikes (806, 705 and 905) with a full throttle that will power the bikes up to 15.5mph without pedaling.’
The article tells us that Wisper Bikes has had a batch of its bikes tested by the DVSA and they have now been Type Approved as 250W Low Powered Mopeds, a sub-group of Low Powered Moped that meets the appropriate legal criteria.
Do note though that the implication of the above is that – as they are legally classified as a form of moped – the rider would be required to wear a compliant motorcycle helmet on the road and to have a regulation size rear number plate as well as insurance, whilst riding on public roads, and would not be able to ride on cycle lanes.
The story highlights how small electric mopeds are a much overlooked category of vehicle in the UK and one with great potential. It’s an area that a recent report from the UK’s Motorcycle Industry Association, as reported in MCN, hopes will be developed in future.
EZLIFT WANTS TO TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF E-BIKE SERVICING
UK firm EZLift recently launched their motorized bike stand with especial appeal to those who regularly work on heavier e-bikes.
They claim it is ‘the world’s first modular service lift for servicing all types of bikes, cargo bikes, traditional scooters, and the new breed of e-motorcycles. The design is so unique that EZLift has applied for patent protection. What makes the design unique is the lift is fully modular whereby it can be used in the shop and then slipped out of its shop mount and used in the field with its mobile mount.’
Apparently the lift is also waterproof and has a capacity to lift up to 90kg.
CHINA SETS OUT POLICY FOR REUSING ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES
According to this recent post by LEVA-EU ‘Over the last 6 months, China has seen a series of new directives that act to build upon existing battery reuse and recycling schemes, industry, and infrastructure…..During 2021, 3.3 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) were sold in China; these include purely battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This number does not account for the millions of electric bikes and mopeds additionally sold during the period.’
The new directives establish a ‘ladder’ of usage priorities, so that, after 4-6 years of usage in an electric vehicle (when batteries capacities are often reduced to 80% or less of the original level), batteries can be moved into slower electric vehicles, and eventually, stationary energy storage units.
The article also gives an interesting snapshot of the state of the battery recycling industry in China; apparently ‘there are 47 whitelisted battery recycling companies in China, with two firms – Brunp and GEM representing 50% of official operation. Operating unofficially, a plethora of smaller businesses offering cheaper rates also exist, though may operate in a wasteful, or harmful way.’
The article estimates only 30-40% of battery materials are recycled but believes the potential is there for that figure to reach 80%.
CARMAKERS IN FRANCE MUST NOW SHOW HOW OTHER METHODS OF TRANSPORT MIGHT BE BETTER
Automobile manufacturers will have to promote alternative mobility solutions in their ads in France. The policy will come into effect on the 1st of March.
Exactly how car ads incorporate the obligations imposed by the new law remains to be seen – advertisers are asked to make use of the #SeDeplacerMoinsPolluer hashtag (literally get about with less pollution)
France 24 reports that carmakers will have a choice of three legally approved slogans: “Consider carpooling”, “For day-to-day use, take public transportation,” or “For short trips, opt for walking or cycling.” They will be required for all media — print, TV, radio or internet.’
The ads will also have to include a vehicle’s CO2 emission class, a new ranking system to inform consumers about the environmental impact that is part of a widespread climate action law approved by lawmakers in July.
Failure to fulfill these requirements carries a penalty of up to € 50,000. The article also notes that ‘As part of the new French law, advertising for the most polluting vehicles — those that emit more than 123 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre, including many popular SUVs — will be completely outlawed from 2028.’
DUTCH E-BIKE RIDERS MOVE UPMARKET
LEVA-EU has also reported on how Dutch, Belgian and German e-bikers are moving upmarket.
According to the report, in 2021 ‘Average prices rose by 4% from € 2,191 to € 2,283…..In Belgium, the increase in 2021 was over 8% compared to 2020, from € 2,031 to € 2,197. Germany showed the largest increase of more than 12%, from € 1,904 to € 2,140……E-bikes from €3000 upwards are also showing a significant increase….. E-bikes priced up to €1500 account for over 30% of purchases in both countries.’


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Caffeine lovers may have met their match in a performance shoe that taps coffee grounds, among other more sustainable materials.
Finnish sneaker brand Rens is crowdfunding its latest vegan, climate-neutral sneaker the “Nomad” on Kickstarter as of Tuesday. Pledges to preorder the shoe start at $89 for early-bird backers with the ultimate retail price noted as $179. The sneaker comes in nine colorways. Its upper is made with a 50 percent blend of yarns spun from coffee grounds and 50 percent recycled polyester, averaging six recycled bottles per pair. The outsole is 100 percent sustainably sourced rubber and 100 percent EVA cushioning, with the insole and waterproof membrane comprising fully recycled materials.
Major convenience store chains in Taiwan and Mainland China fuel the coffee grounds supply, and the ensuing process transforms the grounds into a filament by way of polymerization (mixed with recycled plastic pellets).
Due to the coffee material’s natural antimicrobial properties, Rens boasts three times the odor control — an edge typically given by silver ion technology in performance apparel. The brand also cites quick-dry features and advanced ultraviolet protection.
The company was cofounded by 27-year-old Jesse Tran and 23-year-old Son Chu, who after their first shoe launch last year that sold in more than 100 countries were placed on Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 list. This year, the company earned a Red Dot Design Award, which is an international competition for product design.
“Nomad is targeted at the performance junkie, looking for comfort and most importantly to make a positive impact on the environment through their purchasing decisions,” Tran said.
Between throwaway cups and coffee grounds (which are backyard compostable), coffee is chalking up a sizable footprint. It’s estimated by the National Coffee Association that the world consumes more than 2 billion cups of coffee every day, with millions of tons of organic waste attributed to the coffee industry annually. Based on research from the German Environmental Agency, reusable cup innovations — not unlike the paradigm shift occurring in retail bags — can have untold benefits, like a drastic cut in emissions, water use and deforestation.
“If food waste was a country, it would be the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world,” said Tran. “Like all organic waste, when coffee is disposed of in landfills, it creates a perfect breeding ground for methane, a 28-times more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. For most coffee waste, the landfill is its only destination.”
To date, the nimble start-up has recycled more than 250,000 plastic bottles and 750,000 cups of used coffee. Working with carbon offsetting firm ClimatePartner, Rens also measures, curbs and offsets carbon emissions at each stage including raw materials, packaging, production, transport and waste.
However, there are blind spots, Tran acknowledged. “Does utilizing coffee solve all of the problems associated with food waste? Of course not, but by looking at the materials we use in a new way, we can not only reduce our impact, but also unlock the full potential of these amazing materials beyond their initial purpose.”
The Kickstarter campaign, too, has its perks, he said. “Crowdfunding gives you better access, more feedback, a cleaner, greener and more affordable product and process, and a better overall sneaker.”


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The British firearms maker Webley and Scott (W&S) is all set to produce and sell firearms for the civilians in India, 70 years after the country’s Independence.
Webley and Scott, which was founded in 1790, had produced weapons for at least 15 countries.
The police force of India also used.38 caliber revolver produced by W&S as a standard sidearm till the early 1990s, says a media report.
W&S is now on the way to becoming the first foreign company to set up a plant in India for the civilian market under Centre’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
According to experts, this is a game-changer.
It is also good news for India’s civilian firearms users as it is expected that they will be able to procure new firearms at a lower price compared to the price which they had to bear for procuring second-hand firearms in the country.
As the Indira Gandhi-led Indian government banned the import of firearms for civilians in the early 80s, the second-hand guns were sold in the retail market at sky-high prices because of a huge mismatch in demand and supply.
This trade will be hit, say experts.
According to a media report, W&S entered into a joint venture with Sial Manufacturer Pvt Ltd – an Uttar Pradesh firm – to come up with a plant in the Sandila industrial area near Lucknow for the new entity named Webley and Scott India.
The report quoted a senior executive of W&S, Laura Judd, saying: “My colleagues visited the site last week and its development is certainly underway.”
Judda added: “The website and Facebook pages (of the Indian project) have been created by us here in the UK.”
The report also the Indian partner of W&S, Maninder Sial, as saying: “We will soon launch the classic W&S Mark IV revolver in .32 caliber in two variations.”
“This will be followed later in the year by a .32 caliber pistol with polymer frame and steel slide. The pistol will have a 13-shot capacity. Next in line are a 12 bore pump-action shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol and air rifles,” said Sial.
Webley’s John Bright is the joint director for Webley and Scott India.
The company also said it applied for a licence for production in 2017 and got it in 2019.
The report further quoted Sial as saying that the .45 pistol may take time as the ammunition is not made in India and they will have to seek permission for importing it.
“Initially, we will have to depend on Indian ordnance factories for a proof test of the weapons. We will come up with proof testing facilities of our own soon,” Sial further said.
It has also been reported that the Ordnance Factory Board, which makes .32 caliber handguns for civilians (which includes a revolver that resembles the W&S) will face competition.
Sial said: “The revolver will be priced at about Rs 1 lakh while the pistol will retail for about Rs 2 lakh. The goods and services tax (GST) will be added to this.”
The report quoted DK Mahapatra, general manager of Rifle Factory Ishapore (RFI) of the Indian Ordnance Factory Board, where the .32 pistol is made, as saying: “Indian customers are very price sensitive. At the same time, they are a bit fascinated by foreign brands.”
Mahapatra also said the Indian customers are willing to acquire a foreign weapon even at a premium.
“Definitely, there will be competition with the entry of Webley and Scott, UK,” he said.


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Flying hasn't been this satisfying since 1996, according to a new report. Unfortunately for the airlines, that's still only slightly higher than the two lowest ranked industries, cable and internet service providers.
“Travel is a big industry,” said Claes Fornell, founder and chairman of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), which released its annual report on U.S. airlines, hotels and restaurant chains on Tuesday. “If people aren’t satisfied, they spend less and it impacts the whole economy.”
Overall, the industry improved 3 percent to a score of 69 out of 100 over last year. Yet airlines remain mired at the bottom of the list of the 43 industries the ACSI covers, barely beating out perennial cellar dwellers, subscription TV service (68) and Internet service providers (65).
For the second year in a row, Jet Blue beat Southwest, which until 2012 had held the first place spot for 17 years. Their scores were 83 and 81 respectively.
The study also looked at the various elements that make up the entire air travel experience and found that respondents were most satisfied with the ease of the reservation and check-in processes (82) and least satisfied with the inflight experience, including food and beverage (68) and seat comfort (63).
The latter is likely to get worse before it gets better, especially for passengers on American, which recently announced it was planning to squeeze in even more seats to the coach sections of its fleet of 737s and MD-80s.
According to Fornell, much of fliers’ frustrations can be traced to the ongoing consolidation in the industry, which has led to service cutbacks, higher prices and fewer options for travelers.
“Instead of becoming more competitive, we have something like an oligopoly,” Fornell told NBC News. “[Customer satisfaction] doesn’t matter as much because consumers can’t really punish an airline” by choosing another carrier.
As evidence, Fornell points to the fact that United remains at the bottom of the heap (62) more than a year after its merger with Continental. He also predicts bumpy times ahead for passengers on American (65) and US Airways (64) as the two carriers work through their own merger.
“In a real competitive industry you couldn’t get away with scores in the low 60s,” said Fornell. “Nobody would pick them.”
Rob Lovitt is a longtime travel writer who still believes the journey is as important as the destination. Follow him on Twitter.


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Space Furniture held a party on 21 July to celebrate the opening of its new Kitchen Gallery for Varenna kitchen systems.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Born out of admiration and love for serene beauty, material richness and timeless appeal, this contemporary lifestyle brand from Japan is now exclusively available at Stylecraft Singapore.
The interiors referenced the metropolis’ culture and heritage, interweaved with contemporary vibrancy of the locale.
Taking place from 1st to 10th December in Taipei, Taiwan Design Week is set to amplify the country’s presence on a global design stage by bridging innovations, sustainability, and global creativity.


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Dubai Parks and Resorts announced that it has tied up with third party vendors for theme park services ahead of its launch in October this year.
The mega theme park complex, which will provide over 100 rides and attractions upon opening, has signed agreements with HB Leisure, Scooterbug, Best Lockers and Penny Press Factory.
Under a five-year revenue sharing deal, United Kingdom-based HB Leisure will provide skill games for visitors to interact with the characters and themes of the individual zones within each park.
Meanwhile UK-based Penny Press Factory will provide souvenir coins machines, featuring unique IPs, which will be exclusive to Dubai Parks and Resorts.
The partnership with ScooterBug will provide children’s strollers and electric mobility vehicles and the deal with Best Lockers will allow visitors to store their personal belongings in electronic lockers.
Dubai Parks and Resorts also previously announced a five-year revenue share agreement with UK-based image solutions provider Picsolve International.
Chief parks operating officer Stanford Pinto said: “Along with providing guests with unrivalled and unforgettable experiences at our parks, we are also focused on ensuring long-term revenue-generating opportunities for our shareholders.
“The partnership agreements with our third party vendors will offer a wide range of additional services.”
Set across 25 million sqft, Dubai Parks and Resorts will include three theme parks – Hollywood themed motiongate, Legoland and Bollywood Parks, one water park, a hotel and a retail dining district Riverland.
It is slated to be the largest in the region when it opens.
In February, the company confirmed that it had completed 100 per cent of the design, 88 per cent of overall facilities structure works and 70 per cent of the infrastructure.
The first ride – Legoland Dubai’s Dragon Coaster – was installed in October and in total 89 per cent of the ride system production with 16 complete rides have been delivered.
Announcing its financial results for 2015, the Dubai-listed firm also said that cumulative project expenditure reached Dhs 5.8bn as of end-December 2015.
Dubai Parks and Resorts hopes to make revenues of Dhs 2.4bn in its first full year of operation.


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Pirelli has launched new tires targeting flagship cars and SUVs marketed in South and Central America. The Cinturato P7, Scorpion and Scorpion HT will be available in specific gauges and with Seal Inside technology, which restores a hole caused by a stud, for example, and doesn’t leave you in the way.
Let’s say the Cinturato P7 targets more all kinds of vehicles. The Scorpion was developed to serve the entire off-road SUV segment. Whereas, the Scorpion HT is very heterogeneous, with 70% of its urban use and 30% off-road. The most wonderful of family.
- NS UOL . cars currently Not TikTok! Follow fun videos, releases and trivia about the automotive world.
There is no hole
Seal Side technology is available and makes the tire capable of self-closing in the event of punctures in the tread. This facility is now manufactured in Brazil, at the Feira de Santana plant, in Bahia, where the brand also produces and exports tires for use on snow.
Pirelli notes that anyone interested in a tire with Seal Inside will also get Tirelife Protection Service as a bonus, a program that replaces the tire in cases of accidental and irreparable damage for free.
Pirelli CEO and Executive Vice President for Latin America, Cesar Alarcón, said the new products underscore the region’s importance on the global stage as a leading market for Pirelli.
The launch took place at the Panamericano Circuit, located in Elias Fausto, in the interior of São Paulo. The site functions as an outdoor laboratory and has seven separate test tracks and a total area of 1,650,000 square metres.
Want to read more about the automotive world and talk to us about it? Join our Facebook group! A place for discussion, information and exchange of experiences among car lovers. You can also follow our coverage at Instagram by UOL Carros.
“Entrepreneur. Music enthusiast. Lifelong communicator. General coffee aficionado. Internet scholar.”


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Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has announced that it is soon going to launch its first Android Go Edition device, the Redmi Go in India on March 19. The device was announced in Europe and Philippines earlier this year.
The Redmi Go will be launched under the Redmi sub-brand and is the first Android Go Edition device from the company. Earlier, Xiaomi had launched the Mi A1 and Mi A2 Android One devices in India. The India launch date of the Redmi Go has been confirmed in an event countdown posted by the company on its website.
The Redmi Go runs on Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) that is a barebones version of the full Android 8.1 Oreo release. It features a 5-inch HD resolution display with 16:9 aspect ratio and chunky bezels. It comes preloaded with apps like Gmail Go and YouTube Go that focus on using the bare minimum resources, whether it is about the memory/storage or data.
While Xiaomi's smartphones (across the Mi, Redmi and Poco brands) generally offer great value for money, this generally hasn't been the case with the company's stock Android smartphones. The Redmi Go's specifications further hammer this point home, as it doesn't seem to compete well with other devices like the Asus ZenFone Live L1, which also features an 18:9 display and a higher resolution rear camera.
Powering the Redmi Go is the Snapdragon 425 chipset, which is paired with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, with an option to expand it using a microSD card. In comparison, the Redmi 6A at ₹6,999 gets you 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage at a marginally higher price.
The Redmi Go comes with an 8MP camera on the back and a 5MP camera on the front. The fingerprint sensor is also nowhere to be seen. The phone is powered by a 3,000mAh battery.
The Redmi Go was launched with a price tag of €80, which is roughly ₹6,250. We expect the company will slightly reduce the price in India to keep the device competitive.


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Amazon has announced a new renewable energy project in Alberta to advance its aim of powering 100 percent of company activities with renewable energy by 2025.
The renewable energy project in Alberta is a 375 MW solar farm. Amazon says that once it comes online next year, it will bring Amazon’s capacity in Canada to more than one million megawatt-hours (MWh), which is enough to power more than 100,000 Canadian homes.
“This is great news for our province and for all Albertans. Amazon’s investment in our province means jobs for Albertans, and furthers Alberta’s reputation as a diversified energy powerhouse,” said Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in a news release.
“Thank you to Amazon for this vote of confidence in Alberta’s economy and our diversified energy future.”
Amazon previously aimed to power 100 percent of company activities with renewable energy by 2030, but moved up the target to 2025.


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Apple may open up its iOS and iPad OS enabling users to select their default apps reported Bloomberg. The tech giant Cupertino is also considering to open up its HomePod speaker to other music streaming services like Spotify and Pandora. This report is from unnamed sources close to the situation. They have not officially commented on the reports.
Apple may give its users a choice to have a third-party web browser and mail app. The company has been scrutinized for not giving its users a choice for default apps and has used its native apps.
Spotify filed a complaint with the European Commission last March regarding the anti-competitive practices of Apple for operating its App store. Apple presented itself in the US House of Representatives antitrust panel in a hearing last year.


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Every day or so I read another blog post (or ranting comments) about how BlackBerry could be rehabilitated, or how Nokia could restart Maemo and build the ultimate smartphone again. Things came to a head after Jolla announced their first phone for sale. Surely this phone with an amazing user interface will vindicate the N9?! Amazing technology plus a killer UI? Marketshare is theirs for the taking!
Windows Phone isn't much of a threat to Android, but it represents the threat to Android's business model
It’s hard to imagine any operating system presenting a real threat to Android. It represents a vast majority of the smartphone market, and too many companies rely on it for that to change any time …
We’ll see how this plays out with Google’s value focused lineup and eventual counter from Samsung.
Pardon the fanboy coverage of Jolla, but it isn’t everyday that a new mobile os is launched. I really don’t want to spend $600+ for the Jolla phone with such low end specs.
Starting a new mobile phone company in todayâs competitive market could be seen as a suicidal business plan, but a new smartphone announced this week may have some features that make it appealing. …
HTC One pics from https://m.facebook.com/Fishuality?id=250901761703389&_rdr
Really good overview on how the commoditization of smartphones is enlarging access to billions more people
Smartphone maker holds a 57-per-cent market share among university and college students in South Africa, survey finds
It looks like aggressive pricing and value added services are going to be a key differentiator for emerging markets.


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Sainsbury’s has issued new rules with the second lockdown approaching.
However, supermarkets will stay open – but with a new set of rules.
Things will be different at all of the big supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s.
What are the new lockdown rules at Sainsbury’s?
Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts has essentially put a ban on couples and families shopping together.
In a statement on the website, he laid out the store’s new rules.
He said: “Where possible, we ask that you only send one adult per household when you shop with us.”
Where possible, we ask that you only send one adult per household when you shop with us.
Roberts added: “This will help us manage the number of people in our stores and make your shop quicker and smoother.”
This means couples will not be able to shop together and families should only enter stores together if children are not able to stay at home.
Support for elderly shoppers during winter
The supermarket also has a number of other changes in place, recognising that elderly and vulnerable customers will find it difficult to queue outside the store in winter.
“From Thursday, we will offer elderly and vulnerable customers and NHS and care workers with an NHS ID priority access to our stores.
“This means you can skip the queue at any time so that we can welcome you into our stores quickly and safely,” he said, adding that Sainsbury’s will once again have a socially distanced queuing system in place outside stores.
The supermarket has also increased the number of online orders it can carry out, with 750,000 weekly slots available for home delivery and click and collect.
Online order slots for the core Christmas period – December 20 to 23 – go on general release on November 29, he said.
What are the other supermarkets doing differently?
Other supermarkets are also introducing new rules.
Tesco has announced a traffic light system at its bigger stores to manage the number of customers in the shop at any one time.
If it’s raining, Tesco will hand out umbrellas to those waiting in queues outside.
Safety marshals and protective screens
Meanwhile, Asda will have 1,000 new safety marshals at the front of every store and patrolling the aisles of larger stores.
Aldi has protective screens at all 7,000 of its checkouts, while shoppers are being encouraged to pay using contactless.
It will also continue its NHS hour service.
Lidl has a “crowd control” system in place in stores and it’s made changes to the in-store bakery.
As well as using tongs, disposable gloves will also be provided so shoppers can bag loose items.
Head to our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and tell us what you think of our story.


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Catering: 2021's trends according to TheFork
Attention to origin and type of products, greener and more sustainable food habits
TheFork investigated the preferences of its users and restaurateurs to understand what are the 2021 restaurant trends. The survey conducted in December 2020 on the community of 682 users and 1,000 restaurants, revealed two trends above all. First of all, it is expected that more and more restaurants also sell their products through physical shops and/or e-commerce. Secondly, the offer of all-day-long meals could take hold, and not just the “classic” lunch and dinner.
Technological solutions are also increasingly important. 72% of respondents stated that in 2020 they used digital services for the first time, a clear sign of the digitization of our habits. The protagonists of next year will therefore be contactless payment methods, online reservations, solutions for delivery and take-away, digital menus and gift cards. There was also unanimous opinion for restaurateurs who in 2020 mainly adopted online reservations, payments and digital menus and the electronic register for tracking contacts. 80% of the businesses surveyed plan to continue using them also in 2021.
As for eating habits, among the 2021 trends we find anti-waste recipes, products with a low environmental impact or even the climatic diet, thanks to the increasing sensitivity of the public towards issues related to sustainability. Less quoted among the novelties are those that emerged from various US studies such as the rise of chickpeas, alternatives to carbohydrates, chili, "fake" meat and fish and wine in boxes and cans. Finally, TheFork asked its community what precautions they will have in 2021 when choosing a restaurant: for 65% it will be more important than in the past to choose a restaurant based on the average price and 80% will pay more attention to restaurants that offer discounts or promotions. On the other hand, the offer in the dining room is also evolving: just over 40% of restaurateurs reduced the menu in 2020, while 10% have already thought of a menu suitable for any time of day or evening.
EFA News - European Food Agency


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Growing up in St. Petersburg, Reggie Reed and Michael Morrison often dreamed of starting a business that would allow them to travel and enjoy life together.
After graduating from Lakewood High in 2008, the two went their separate ways but remained close. Morrison went on to play college basketball for George Mason University, and then professionally overseas. Reed started a successful roofing company, Reggie Reed Roofing, and served as director of recruitment for St. Petersburg College. In 2020, the Tampa Bay Business Journal named Reed as one of its 40 people under 40.
On June 24, Reed and Morrison’s childhood dream will become a reality as they launch LIV 21, a recovery drink crafted to replenish and rehydrate the body after a day or night of indulging in alcoholic beverages.
“We are specifically targeting those that like to drink,” said Reed. “We just want to make sure our consumers understand there is a product out there that they can take to make them bounce back the next day.”
The concept for LIV 21 came to the pair in May 2019 as they traveled to Miami for their annual summer vacation. They stopped at a CVS to stock up on supplies for the trip when Morrison reminded Reed they needed Pedialyte to help them recover.
While Pedialyte was originally intended as an electrolyte-packed drink for children, it’s been a longstanding open secret that hungover adults have found the product beneficial. In recent years, the company has embraced the reputation with products marketed for that purpose.
Morrison said Reed came up with the idea to make their own drink solely to help consumers live up to their motto of “work hard, play hard.”
The two were confident in their concept and believed it would resonate with professionals that also like to have a good time, but soon realized they had a steep learning curve ahead of them when it came to formulating the beverage.
“Me and Michael, we’re like, ‘how do we make a drink?’” said Reed with a laugh. “Do we go to Publix and buy some ingredients?”
The co-founders began their research and enlisted manufacturers to help them create the drink. Reed said they spent about six months perfecting the formula, chock full of electrolytes and vitamins and infused with coconut water for rehydration.
LIV 21’s signature “culture blend” includes dihydromyricetin (DHM), an herbal, over-the-counter hangover remedy. A 2020 study by the University of Southern California found that DHM, sourced from the Japanese raisin tree, not only helps the body metabolize alcohol faster and eases headaches but also benefits the liver.
“We found it activates a cascade of mechanisms that erase alcohol from the body very quickly,” said Jin Liang, a research professor of clinical pharmacy and the study’s author.
Morrison noted that companies sell a powdered version of DHM that consumers then mix with water.
“We have more DMH than those companies also,” said Morrison. “That, on top of the electrolytes – it’s pretty hard for the product not to work.”
LIV 21 also contains milk thistle, an antioxidant used to reduce inflammation and calm the stomach, and Taurine, an amino acid and energy booster found in drinks like Red Bull.
“We wanted to obviously make the product work – that was the number one priority,” said Reed. “And second, making sure it tastes better than anything else that’s on the market.”
Reed added that LIV 21 offers more electrolytes per serving than Pedialyte or Gatorade, and the coconut water provides potassium. Morrison noted that lemon berry is the first flavor available for the June 24 launch but said there are plans to create new flavors and products that he could not disclose yet.
The distinctive bottles, said Reed, are 14.5 ounces or 400 milliliters. The drinks will retail for $7.99, comparable to the price of Pedialyte at a local drugstore.
Reed explained that the pair chose to name their drink Liv 21 because it represents a significant age in everyone’s life. When someone is becoming an adult, they typically yearn for the day they are old enough to go out and drink with friends. Once their 21st birthday is a distant memory, most adults reflect wistfully on the fun they used to have and their ability to shrug off the aftereffects.
“My grandmother still likes to have her vodka, and she’s in her 80s,” said Reed. “So, it’s for everyone who likes to drink and wants to make sure they don’t lose the next day to recovery.”
The co-founders bootstrapped the business for the last two and a half years, and Reed said that by the grace of God, he and Morrison had successful careers that enabled them to invest in their dream.
Reed said they brought in one partner to help from a financial standpoint, but the majority of LIV 21’s funding came from their savings accounts. The St. Petersburg Distillery is the sponsor for the official launch party (June 24, at LIT Cigar & Martini Lounge). The event, which is open to the public, begins at 8 p.m. at 908 N. Franklin St. in Tampa.
The duo has 10,000 units of LIV 21 on hand for both the launch party and sales through their website. Morrison noted they are also launching a Kickstarter campaign June 24.
“We have been funding it this far, but we want the support to kind of take us to the next level,” added Morrison.
Morrison explained that the business partners began as a couple of “not-so-cool kids.” He playfully recalled Reed not getting picked for pickup basketball after moving to St. Pete from New York and said he had to save him “from a life of loneliness.”
Reed credited Morrison for showing him the Floridian culture, which he called a blessing, but said he made his counterpart “a little bit cooler in the process.”
For any best friends also dreaming of starting a business together, Morrison said the brotherhood must always come first.
“If LIV 21 went away right now, me and Reggie would be fine,” said Morrison. “We did the business for the friendship, not the other way around.”
For more information on LIV 21, visit the website here.


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In the third quarter ended March 31, ADM reported net profit of $578m or $0.86 a share, up from $421m or $0.65 a share for the same period last year. Revenue was up 33 percent to $20.08bn, the company said.
ADM also had to deal with volatile commodity markets during the quarter, and widespread political unrest, which led to uncertainty in grain supplies.
ADM chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz said: “Against a backdrop of volatile commodity prices, a challenging margin environment and geopolitical instability in the Middle East, North Africa and Côte d’Ivoire, our team worked smart and hard and delivered strong results.”
ADM results are considered an important bellwether for agribusiness as a whole, as the company is active as a buyer or seller in every part of the industry. Its corn processing division’s earnings nearly doubled as volume rose 13 percent, on increased demand for sweeteners, starches, and lysine, an animal feed additive.
Meanwhile, strong North American results underpinned a $107m rise in profits in its oilseeds processing division.
Woertz added: “Overall, global demand for crops and agricultural products remains relatively strong. In these conditions, ADM will use our unique global asset base and strong balance sheet to serve vital needs, efficiently connecting the world’s growers with the world’s buyers, and delivering value for our customers and our shareholders.”
ADM noted that global demand for crops and agricultural products continues to grow, and there is steady demand for protein meal worldwide. In addition, Mexico is leading higher demand for corn sweetener in North America, the company said, and volumes have risen, although operating profit for sweeteners and starches has remained “essentially flat” as higher prices and volumes were mostly offset by higher corn costs.


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The verdict is out on the UK road network
A recent survey by Transport Focus has measured the satisfaction of HGV managers from 526 logistics and coach businesses on the country’s motorways and A-roads, with more than a third stating they were unhappy overall.
It found two fifths of businesses that run lorries and coaches on England’s motorways and major A-roads are satisfied with how those roads meet their business needs, but three in ten companies overall were dissatisfied with road performance.
The rating was based on five key areas: planning information, accident clear-up, roadside rest facilities, roadworks and the quality of the road surface, with Transport Focus saying that clear up after accidents and roadside rest stops were the lowest rated areas for logistics businesses.
Consideration of drivers’ working hours when clearing up after accidents as well as the security and value for money of rest facilities were highlighted as key causes of dissatisfaction.
Chris Floyd of DPD Group said: “This survey represents an important message from the logistics sector to Highways England. The events of 2020 have made it even more apparent than before that the bulk movement of goods and people are the strategic pillars of our economy. Highways England set up a steering group this year to gain insight into the freight industry’s needs. Members include the RHA, Eddie Stobart, Royal Mail, DPD and Logistics UK."
Chris Yarsley, Logistics UK policy manager, said he was “unsurprised” that so many businesses were unhappy with the state of the roads and added: “Communication from Highways England and roadside rest facilities, in particular, are ongoing issues our members need to see improved within the coming years. We urge Highways England to listen carefully to the concerns of businesses shared in the report; effective road networks and robust transport connections are vital to helping business return to pre-Covid-19 levels of activity and enhancing the UK’s competitiveness.”
A spokeswoman for Highways England said: “We know motorways and major A-roads in England are vital to the logistics and coach sector and any research that helps us further support those who rely heavily on our roads is welcome.”


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An online marketer that falsely claimed ties to Google Inc. has been forced to stop operations as part of a Federal Trade Commission action that charged the defendants with marketing an allegedly bogus work-at-home scheme and charging hidden monthly fees to consumers’ credit card and bank accounts.
Under a settlement agreement reached with the FTC, the defendants are banned from selling products through “negative option” transactions – in which the seller interprets consumers’ silence or inaction as permission to charge them. The defendants also are barred from making misleading or unsupported claims while marketing or selling any product or service, and will give up cash and other assets exceeding $3.5 million.
As part of “Operation Short Change” – a crackdown on scammers taking advantage of the recession to bilk consumers through a variety of schemes – the FTC announced a complaint in July 2009 against several defendants that allegedly sold a bogus work-at-home product under names including “Google Money Tree,” “Google Pro,” and “Google Treasure Chest.”
By using the name and logo of the Internet search company Google and falsely promising that consumers could earn $100,000 in six months, the defendants lured consumers into divulging their financial account information to pay a modest shipping fee for a work-at-home kit. The defendants failed to disclose adequately, however, that buying the product would trigger automatic monthly charges of $72.21 for another product, and that those charges would continue until the consumer took steps to cancel, according to the FTC complaint.
The complaint charged that the defendants violated the FTC Act by failing to adequately disclose that consumers would be subjected to monthly charges; by making false or unsupported claims that consumers were likely to earn substantial income; and by falsely claiming that they were affiliated with Google Inc. The defendants also violated the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E by debiting consumers’ bank accounts on a recurring basis without obtaining written authorization, according to the complaint.
The settlement includes a $29.5 million judgment against defendants Jonathan Eborn; Michael McLain Miller; Tony Norton; Infusion Media Inc.; West Coast Internet Media Inc.; Two Warnings LLC; Two Part Investments LLC; and Platinum Teleservices Inc.
A fourth defendant, Stephanie Burnside, is subject to a judgment of $741,900. The defendants will give up cash and other assets that include two cars, interests in a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a boat, and a gun collection – which total approximately $3.5 million, in partial satisfaction of the judgment.
The unpaid portions of these judgments are suspended based on the defendants’ inability to pay, but the full amounts will become due if the defendants have misrepresented their financial condition.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the stipulated final order against the Google Money Tree defendants was 5-0. The FTC filed the proposed settlement in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.


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Could billions more spent on city infrastructure actually pay dividends for farmers? That’s our hope when it comes to Sydney’s second airport.
Farmers have welcomed the commitment to build a second Sydney airport.
I bet that’s a sentence you didn’t think you’d read! The last thing the bush needs is more money spent on city infrastructure.
Not when our country roads and rail lines are in disrepair, and many farmers can’t even make a mobile phone call from their place of business.
Well, it’s true we need investment in roads, rail and telecommunications and we need it STAT.
But also important are efficient, reliable pathways to deliver our farm produce to market. Markets which are, by and large, overseas. Air freight has a role to play in this.
Australian agriculture is export dependent - three-quarters of what we produce is exported.
And while our international customers are willing to pay a premium for the high-quality food and fibre products, they are still price sensitive. Take Asia, where much of our produce is destined - north Asia in particular. Europe, Russia, the United States are all relatively ‘close’ in export terms. And when the price is right and the quality is comparable, picky customers won’t hesitate to stray from the green and gold.
So to maintain market share, Australian farmers need to minimise costs of production and increase efficiencies - wherever possible. According to Infrastructure Australia, logistics are the largest, single cost item in the production of many agricultural industries, amounting to as much as 48.5 per cent of farm-gate costs.
A more efficient supply chain, i.e. from farm to an international market in less than one day, means lower storage costs, less handling time and ultimately better farm gate returns with the benefits flowing to regional and rural communities.
Australian agriculture is export dependent - three-quarters of what we produce is exported.Fiona Simson, President, National Farmers' Federation
It helps farmers to stay ahead of the game in our current markets, and helps open up new opportunities.
For example, a dedicated Cathay Pacific freight-service from Toowoomba now delivers Queensland fruit, veggies, and chilled meat direct to Hong Kong.
Canberra Airport’s partnership with Singapore Airlines has cracked open new opportunities for cold country, Tablelands and Western Slopes produce to Singapore - think wine, beef, lamb fruit and nuts.
A new 24-hour Sydney airport spells new, efficient avenues to market for Aussie perishables such as dairy, fruit, vegetables and seafood.
It’s entirely feasible that produce could be in market within 20 hours of leaving farm.
When contemplating the new Badgery’s Creek airport, our member body, NSW Farmers, is working with NSW industry and government stakeholders to promote creation of an advanced agricultural precinct linked to the transport hub. Such a precinct would ensure a new era for food and fibre value adding that leverages new technology across automation, energy and water efficiency, cold chain logistics, freight and advanced manufacturing.
It’s clear that for agriculture the sky is the limit when it comes to enhanced international air freight services via a second Sydney airport.
But, and there is a big but, a new state-of-the-art, all-day, all-night airport will be next to useless if the connections don’t exist. It will also be compromised if a damaging curfew is imposed.
For the airport to realise benefits for agriculture and for our regions there must be a rail line connecting the regions to the terminal. Free flowing, adequate arterial roads must also be developed. This doesn’t mean we don’t need more investment in regional and rural roads and rail to get high quality food and fibre from the farm-gate to current and new ports – it is all part of an efficient supply chain.
As Shadow Infrastructure spokesperson Anthony Albanese correctly said, the rail and the roads must be in place on day one of the airport’s operation. This requires big-picture vision from our political leaders. If we are going to do it, let’s do it right.


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Woolworths Lion King Ooshies collectables: Rare Simba $100k sale falls through
A rare Woolworths collectable toy was heading to the highest bidder for $100,000. But then the buyer pulled out.
Surprise, surprise. The ridiculous $100,000 bid for a rare Lion King Ooshie has fallen through, and the furry Simba is back up for sale online.
The limited-edition furry Simba was found in Plympton Park, Adelaide, and was reportedly sold on eBay for $99,900.00 on Monday. But that bidder failed to pay the crazy sum.
In the description online, the seller repeated words to emphasise the toy’s value: “Ultra ultra super super rare”.
Just 100 were released by the supermarket giant as part of its promotional campaign.
The furry Simba was first put up for sale on eBay on Thursday with a starting asking price of $10,000, and at that point of the sale it had attracted 108 bids.
Meanwhile, frustrated toy collectors have dobbed in Woolworths staff, claiming the new range of Lion King Ooshies is being pinched and sold online.
The supermarket giant confirmed last week it was investigating after a shopper posted on Facebook saying a huge range of the collectable toys were being advertised for sale on the internet the same day they were released in stores.
An ad allegedly posted from Adelaide was selling at least 50 unopened Ooshies — Woolworths’ response to the Coles Little Shop promotional campaign — for $4 each.
Christopher posted his complaint on Facebook to Woolworths, alerting the company to the possible collectable corruption.
“You may want to find out if this guy works for you as there is a lot of unopened and full set yet this promotion has been out for a day,” the post read.
Other users said they had seen the toys advertised for $50 on other platforms, declaring it “disgusting”.
In response to the post, Woolworths said it would look into the matter.
“Hi Christopher, we take the selling of The Lion King Ooshies and merchandise on eBay very seriously and we are making every effort to investigate this,” the company said on Facebook.
A Woolworths spokeswoman confirmed it had received the complaint but insisted it was a speculative claim at this point.
“We are aware of this report and at this stage are investigating it further,” she said.
Both Coles and Woolworths went head-to-head with the release of their collectables campaigns with an equally cute sets of miniatures — Little Shop 2 versus Disney’s The Lion King Ooshies.
Coles will rely on the success of its Little Shop campaign with an updated list of miniature grocery items, including Arnott’s Barbecue Shapes, Heinz Baked Beans, Maggi 2 Minute Noodles, Campbell’s Tomato Soup and the refreshing Eclipse Mints.
Vegemite will have its adorable version out again, but this time the vintage label will be up for grabs.
Just 100 limited-edition gold trolleys will be in circulation to add an extra challenge for the young ones wanting to fill their replica shelves.


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A Rochdale, Greater Manchester, fire door manufacturer has grown its workforce to 100 just 18 months after it was rescued from possible closure.
PDS, in Littleborough, had only 60 staff and a turnover of £7m when former co-founder Tim Fairley headed up a 14-strong consortium and bought it back in March 2019.
In just 18 months the company has recruited 40 new members of staff to take the workforce to exactly 100 and grown turnover to £10m – despite being locked down at the start of Covid-19.
The company has invested £1m in new machinery and product testing and certification and plans to expand into the healthcare and education sectors in 2021.
Managing director Tim Fairley said: “Our strategy has all been about going for profitable and organic growth. Our order book now stands at more than £2m so we’re very optimistic about 2021.
“Reaching 100 staff is a significant milestone for PDS but we hope it’s just the first of many.
“It’s also good for the local economy. 32 of our 40 new recruits in the last 18 months have a Rochdale postcode and the balance live within 10 miles and it’s vital that money goes into the local area.
"We’re also committed to recruiting even more apprentices.
“Although our work is UK-wide we’re working with a number of Rochdale companies like H Bell & Son and Jackson Jackson & Sons and our fire doors and screens are being installed in the Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum in Rochdale by contractor Casey Group.”
PDS are specialists in the manufacture of FD30 and FD60 security fire doors, with the number indicating the minimum minutes of protection the doors must offer against fires.
Mr Fairley co-founded PDS in 2003 and grew the company to a turnover of £13.5m and a workforce to 148 when it was acquired by US-based door manufacturer Masonite International Corporation.
However, by 2018 turnover had fallen to around £7m and the workforce to 60 when Masonite announced it was considering closing the Littleborough facility altogether.
In a bid to prevent it closing Mr Fairley formed part of a consortium that bought the business back and set about reviving its fortunes.
Its fire doors are mainly used in multiple occupancy buildings and their importance was highlighted by the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Mr Fairley said: “The product testing and certification is crucial because you cannot supply a fire door into the social housing sector that doesn’t comply with the most up to date certification and that’s exactly as it should be.
"It’s why we’ve continually invested so heavily in our product testing and development.
“Moving forward we think the education and healthcare sectors have real potential for us with the planned investment from the government. They all need fire doors, albeit to a slightly different specification.
“We are currently undergoing another tranche of investment in plant and machinery to get into those sectors but we’ll do it.”
Mr Fairley said PDS was on track to grow turnover from £9m to £10m this year despite the impact of Covid.
He said: “We estimate Covid cost us around £300,000 and we didn’t get a single invoice out the door in April.
“However we’re a healthy and resilient business, we didn’t panic and all our growth has been organic and done without any borrowing.
“It was a big decision to buy the business 18 months ago but we knew the potential and our approach of investing in new machinery and growing the workforce means the future looks bright for PDS.”
Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration, business, skills and employment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “PDS is a brilliant asset to Rochdale’s vibrant business community and its ability to grow during Covid is testimony to its leadership.
“The impact of closing would have been devastating but the fact they’ve grown by 40 staff to 100 staff is a fantastic transformation.”
See the latest news, information, conversations and much more, all tailored to your neighbourhood, in your InYourArea live feed here.


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During the past decade Iceland has seen a great increase in the number of tourists and today few nations rely as much on tourism as Iceland does. The current situation, caused by the Coronavirus/COVID-19, will therefore cause serious setback for industry, especially as the high season is approaching.
This is, of course, the situation in many other countries but Icelandic tourism is especially vulnerable. The reason is the very limited domestic market. Iceland has only 360 thousand inhabitants but welcomed almost six times as many tourists last year. So, even if Icelanders start travelling more in their own country, they will only fill a small portion of the huge gap that foreign visitors will leave behind in the coming weeks and months.
A voucher financed by the state is expected to get the nation on the road again. The voucher will be sent to all Icelanders, 18 years or older, who can then use it to buy services from companies in tourism. The value of the voucher will be little more than 5000 ISK (37USD/34EUR).
That amount is scarce when it comes to hotel accommodation, however, it could be used towards cheaper accommodations as well as to pay for various types of travel-related entertainment and food. Options in these areas have increased rapidly in recent years with the rise in tourism. As a result, a large part of the population could use the gift cards in their local communities instead of using them to lower the cost of traveling abroad.
The low amount could also mean that tourism companies are offering those who use their vouchers something extra to sweeten the deal.


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A safety passport scheme that has reduced serious and fatal accidents on petrol station forecourts for the last ten years has been refreshed and relaunched.
The Petrol Retail National Safety Group, a collaboration between major oil companies and Safety Passport Alliance (SPA), has revamped the training programme to take into account changes in the industry and recent legislation.
The safety passport courses were developed by the industry to provide best practice across the sector and today there are almost 14,000 petrol retail passports (similar to a driving licence, complete with a tamper-proof photograph) currently in use.
The specific training focuses on such practical issues as identifying potential hazards, safe working practices and controlling work in a petrol retail environment.
Ray Gibbs, managing director of SPA, said the passports were issued for three years and proved the bearer was aware of the basic principles of health and safety in the petrol retail environment.
The training programme is designed to follow ‘A Safe Day in Your Life in the Petrol Industry’, detailing a typical contractor’s working day. For example, on arrival, taking five minutes to look around and assess potential hazards; consider the activity to be undertaken; look at the forecourt layout; identify potential hazards prior to the job commencing; imagine worse case scenarios.


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As of April 2022, there are 5 billion internet users worldwide, which is 63% of the global population, and of this number, 4.65 billion are social media users. The global creator economy is estimated to be worth over 100 billion dollars, and this has been attributed to the 2020 lockdown which allowed creators like TikTok megastar Khaby Lame, with over 143 million followers, to spring up.
But while this emerging industry has padded the wallets of creators in the United States and some parts of Europe like Britain and France, this profit has nearly eluded African creators due to policies made by companies like TikTok. The social media company does not include African creators in their TikTok Creator Fund monetisation scheme. But what about those with similar ambitions who live and work on the continent?
TechCabal sought to answer this question on Friday, June 24, at a webinar titled “How can African creators make more money?” as part of its TC Live series.
The discussion at the webinar was geared toward educating creators on the best ways to increase and diversify their income stream and connect with a global audience. The session also highlighted the numerous opportunities on the internet that the audience can use to make a living.
The discussion’s panelists were Solafunmi Sosanya, YouTube lead for East and West Africa; Peace Itimi, host of Founders Connect, a YouTube show where she interviews African founders on their journey; Korty EO, a rising Nigerian YouTuber; and Douglas Kendyson, CEO of Selar, an online platform that African creators can monetise their content. David Adeleke, a communications strategist and media analyst moderated the talk.
The biggest social media platforms uphold policies that make it difficult for African creators to profit from their content, but others are actively coming up with solutions. Selar paid over $1 million to African creators last year, and over 25,000 creators in 11 African countries have used the platform. In 2021, Flutterwave acquired Disha, a Nigerian platform for curating and selling digital content.
Douglas identified payment access as one of the key problems African creators face, especially international payments, and he gave the current cumbersome payment process on the continent as the driving force behind this problem. According to him, creators often have to navigate a tricky and tiresome process to access international funds. He advised creators to define their audience and build a solid reputation, noting that some people pay up to $12,000 on online courses based on the creators’ reputation.
One of the biggest obstacles African creators face, according to Sosanya, is a lack of awareness that they can earn money and even make a living from the content they post on social media. She referenced the YouTube Partner Programme, which African creators can leverage to earn dollars and a living just by posting content on YouTube as the platform’s way of allowing African content creators to profit from their work. She also assured attendees that there would always be an audience for any type of content.
Sosanya also offered sage advice on other things creators could do to boost their profiles online, emphasising the importance of seeking out collaborations to grow one’s audience, especially if the creators have a similar amount of followers. Korty agreed, and advised creators to forge partnerships with people who produce similar types of content, or those who can offer more content. She added that when she was building her online presence, she often collaborated with creators that created similar content and had similar followers.
Korty also advised content creators to diversify their sources of income, pointing out that no creator can trend forever. She advised the audience to experiment with different types of content and to always strive to improve it. She also implored them to switch platforms till they get it right, referencing how she moved from Instagram to YouTube to grow her follower count. This advice rings true; according to Linktree’s 2022 Creator Report “2 out of 3 creators produce 2–4 types of content”.
Itimi added that distribution and feedback are crucial in building a brand, especially for creators putting out content for a niche audience, as proper distribution will allow creators to reach their audience quicker. She suggested that creators pay close attention to the feedback their audience gives them; that was how she learnt that her followers preferred longer videos on her YouTube channel.
Kendyson encouraged African creators to believe in the universality of their work, noting that many have been neglecting to sell their content internationally out of a fear that their content would not resonate outside of the continent and that their target audience could only be Africans. He said that 9 times out of 10, content is translatable, as long as creators were offering their audience something of value. He advised creators to think in the long term when growing their audience.
You can watch the whole session on YouTube here.


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A mysterious US patent software, picturing a miniature bowling alley, a series of swiping arms, and diagrams of a dismembered banana, has precipitated enterprise-extensive speculation that Nintendo is planning a brand new style of social gaming for its Switch console.…
A mysterious US patent software, picturing a miniature bowling alley, a series of swiping arms, and diagrams of a dismembered banana, has precipitated enterprise-extensive speculation that Nintendo is planning a brand new style of social gaming for its Switch console.
The utility for patent has emerged as the Switch, which may be played both portable and via a tv, enters its second 12 months in the marketplace. Globally, it has bought greater than 16m units, breaking the organization’s very own statistics for a console release and maintaining Nintendo’s inventory close to a 10-year excessive.
The patent is the modern-day signal that the Kyoto-based entire organization is pushing hard to place the Switch as a domestic for gaming innovation. Last week, the organization announced a partnership with San Francisco-based assignment capital institution Scrum Ventures to locate start-up agencies that would come up with new thoughts for Switch accessories.
Later this week, Nintendo is launching Labo, a recreation to combine the Switch with a series of DIY cardboard fashions in an effort, in line with Junko Yamamura, an analyst at Nomura, “to triumph over parents’ resistance to video games by way of providing leisure that is also supposed to play an educational function.”
Despite the high share charge, a few analysts have raised concerns that, after a stellar first 12 months boosted using a continuing release agenda of hit games, Nintendo has fewer blockbusters seen within the pipeline and is now firmly reliant on Labo’s achievement within the first 1/2 of 2018.
The forty two-web page patent software shows that cut loose these goals. Nintendo is designing a gadget that might wirelessly link the monitors of several consoles to shape a single, big gambling area, with photographs “jumping” among them or acting to dance off screens positioned vertically as walls.
The layout reads like an attempt by way of Nintendo to break far from the restrictions of the fixed, double-screen set-up of the 3DS, its previous technology of handheld console. Without the limits of physical links between monitors, says Nintendo inside the software, a couple of sports units could be blended in a variety of layouts “with an excessive degree of freedom.”
The bowling alley recreation, as an instance, might have the ball rolled from one screen to strike the pins in every other. The banana that is shown cut into inconsistently shaped segments and jumbled among some of the distinctive monitors is used to demonstrate how the device can be used for desk-top puzzles and celebration games — an important selling point of the Switch’s pre-release advertising.
Although there’s no specific point out of the Switch in the patent document, and Nintendo might not verify that the patent related to an existing console, the diagrams, say games, developers, resemble the contact touchy, tablet-like display screen portion of the Switch.
The patent additionally mentions control via digicam and microphone — devices that have now not but featured actively as part of the Switch ensemble.
The patent turned into at the beginning filed with the USA government in April 2017, quickly after the Switch’s launch, but has been published handiest now.
Serkan Toto, a video games enterprise representative, stated Nintendo turned into a frequent filer of patent programs, lots of which in no way evolve into real products.
But, he introduced, people have come to anticipate lots more from the Switch than from previous consoles. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they grew to become this into something real,” said Mr. Toto. “It seems simple, and it doesn’t look as even though it calls for a whole lot of extra hardware.”
PS3 Games Patent:
Speculations approximately alleged prohibition of second-hand income of PS3 games and PS3 consoles have circulated inside the past months. These rumors have been fueled by market critiques about Xbox 360 consoles beating the Blu-ray-optimized Sony consoles in income come November. Naturally, the company could rent all measures to maximize PS3 video games’ personal profit and their new consoles. No confirmation nor denial changed into heard from the Sony camp, however now, the speculations appear genuine with the technology patent Sony had procured.
Sony patented an era – likely, a software – that would prevent the use of borrowed PS3 video games, rented consoles, and resale of sports software and digital hardware. This undisclosed era become patented five years ago in Japan. However, Sony had remained quiet about it. Queries about proprietorship are now conventional, harking back to the hullabaloo about Digital Rights Management. Whether the electronics giant attempts to trade the concept of possession in the virtual arena or no longer isn’t always yet clear.
Presently, no information has been released approximately the software program and its uses. But there have been scattered rumors that Sony may additionally incorporate the software in the upcoming PS3 video games and consoles. There would be time enough for Sony to cope with this before the video games and consoles’ release in November. Market analysts have agreed that it’s miles uncommon for an electronics and era company to patent new technology without the purpose of the use of it in their new products. If this is actual, then the $1 billion- well worth industry of used consoles and games are endangered. Social gaming is likewise under threat because the brand new era may save you sport-sharing. This method that gamers cannot come over to their buddies’ homes to proportion a new sport or definitely to play collectively.


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China News Agency, Beijing, September 14 (Reporter Xia Bin) TikTok's US business has undergone a new change.
As the most likely target to reach a deal before, Microsoft issued a statement on September 13 local time that Chinese technology company Bytedance has stated that it will not sell TikTok's US business to Microsoft.
Microsoft said in a statement: "ByteDance told us today that they will not sell TikTok's US business to Microsoft."
US President Trump previously issued two administrative injunctions against TikTok and its parent company Bytedance, and publicly stated that unless TikTok completes the signing of an agreement to sell its US business, it must close its US business before September 15.
According to many US media reports, Bytedance is negotiating a solution not to sell its US business.
What is more noteworthy is that some sources said that ByteDance will not sell TikTok's US branch, and at the same time "will not hand over the source code to any US buyer."
"South China Morning Post" reported that people familiar with the discussion of the board of directors of TikTok's parent company Bytedance said that Bytedance has decided that it will not sell or transfer the algorithm behind the video sharing application when it sells or divests its assets.
According to reports, the company will not transfer the source code behind this social media platform.


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Internet consulting company Proxicom on Friday posted a first-quarter loss that missed estimates as the company gears up to close its acquisition deal with Compaq Computer. For the quarter, Reston, Va.-based Proxicom said its pro forma net loss came in at $7.6 million, or 13 cents per share, compared with a profit of $2.7 million, or 4 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. Analysts surveyed by First Call projected the company to lose 12 cents in the quarter ending March 31. Proxicom, which last month agreed to be acquired by Compaq, said quarterly revenue was $39.1 million, slightly up from $38.2 million in last year's first quarter.
Proxicom also recorded a one-time charge of $57 million related to restructuring expenses in the quarter. The company said its first-quarter results reflected the overall slowdown in its sector, but believes it is well positioned to nab new business going forward.


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E3 haven’t seen Sony take part in their annual show in over three years, and while their presence was definitely missed this year, we still can look forward to PlayStation’s next State of Play soon. From the game’s in focus to when it all goes live, here’s everything there is to know.
E3 2021 is done and dusted with, and we got an ample amount of news about exciting games releasing over the next year or two. From BOTW 2 to Starfield, there’s plenty of upcoming games to get excited about.
However, PlayStation was once again absent from 2021’s show, opting to continue to stay out of the conference since their last appearance in 2018.
Instead, Sony has opted to go with separate State of Play broadcasts to highlight the biggest titles. With the next major broadcast now locked in, here’s a rundown on everything to expect.
When is PlayStation’s next State of Play?
Sony has confirmed that the next State of Play broadcast is locked in for Thursday, July 8. The latest stream will be kicking off at 2PM PT | 5PM ET | 11PM CEST | 7AM AEST (July 9).
The July 8 broadcast is set to run for roughly 30 minutes in total.
July State of Play streams and schedule
As per usual, the latest State of Play event will be streamed live across PlayStation’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
Headlining the broadcast this time around is Bethesda’s upcoming FPS Deathloop. A nine-minute gameplay sequence will be shown for the first time.
Additionally, this State of Play will also feature updates on various indie games and upcoming third-party titles.
- Read More: 9 most exciting PS5 games coming in 2021
Sony specifically addressed God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, and the next generation of PSVR in the announcement, confirming that none will be featured during this stream.
Future State of Play games
While the new State of Play is primarily focusing on Deathloop, Sony made note of various titles that won’t be on display. With this in mind, here are some of the bigger names that could instead have their moment in the spotlight during a later State of Play broadcast.
God of War Ragnarok
The highly anticipated sequel to the massive hit God of War has was first teased last year, and now a recent Sony presentation has hinted it may be coming later this year.
There is a lot to talk about with this game, as from the title alone we know Kratos and Atreus are going to be venturing through the end of the world, or better known as Ragnarok.
So, here’s hoping we see some official gameplay and a release date at a future State of Play.
Horizon Forbidden West
Although we just got a showcase for this game during May, we can expect Sony to reveal more about one of their flagship titles in the near future.
After all, Horizon Zero Dawn was one of the best games the PS4 had to offer, and there’s no doubt fans are hoping the next one will live up to the hype.
One of the launch titles of the PS5 was Spider-Man Miles Morales, though many claimed this game was merely a DLC rather than a brand new Spider-Man title.
- Read More: Everything we know about Deathloop
Now, fans of the fantastic superhero are looking for more Spider-Man — and a sequel to the original game could be in the cards for Sony.
Sony’s next State of Play is now locked in and we’re amped to hear about everything that’s in store. We’ll be sure to update this piece throughout the year as future State of Play events are confirmed.


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While cable companies try to lure you to give up a real landline AT&T warns that in an emergency you may need a landline along with an AT&T cell phone. Some accuse the campaign of using scare tactics with the underlying theme, "If you don't want to die, keep your landline."
Remember cell phone systems do tend to get overloaded during an emergency as cell towers try to locate all the cell phones accessing the system and reach cell phone users.
AT&T and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) released survey findings showing the need for households to establish
home emergency communications plans that include a "home base" with a
corded landline phone in addition to a cell phone for making emergency
The findings show that while eight in ten respondents recognize
the importance of having both a corded landline and cell phone in their
home for use in emergencies, 68 percent do not have a comprehensive
plan for dealing with home emergencies.
On their website they have a list of reasons to keep a landline:
- You can't put a price on peace of mind -Your home phone is worth more than ever with service plans to fit any budget.
- You'll never be alone in the dark - Know where to find a reliable connection even when the power goes out.
- For that time you discovered you were allergic to peanuts - When you need it most in an emergency, 911 responders can know your exact location.
- You'll never get disconnected with grandma - For the calls that matter the most.
- For when you "work" from home - With a reliable connection, your home phone line can also be your fax line.
- You need a way to call your cell phone when you lose it - Never miss an important call.
- Your security system needs to be hooked up to something - Unmatched peace of mind knowing you're connected even in an emergency.
- It's better than having the whole family on speakerphone - Every person in the household can be on the phone at the same time.
There has been a trend where nearly 20% of American households are now wireless only.
The survey of 2,000 households in June was commissioned to measure
respondents' level of emergency planning and provide insight into their
communications preparedness. It found that many households recognize the importance of having several options
to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency and have taken some basic steps to
prepare themselves and family members for emergencies. However, most
households have not implemented a detailed plan to ensure all members
of the household are adequately prepared to contact emergency services
and maintain communications with each other.
"More than ever, families need to be prepared for emergencies.
Parents and other heads of households must be proactive in educating
family members - especially children - about what to do in these
situations," said NENA Chief Executive Officer, Brian Fontes. "A big
part of this is knowing about the options available for dialing 9-1-1.
The more choices you have to reach 9-1-1 in an emergency, the better,
and a corded landline phone should be one of those options. It provides
the security of a home phone line connection to 9-1-1 so that in most
cases first responders know your home address."
Key findings from the survey include:
- 80 percent felt that it is important to have both a corded landline and a cell phone in their home in case of emergency because it provides options to dial 9-1-1 reliably and quickly.
percent of those who said they have a landline in their home are not
prepared with a corded phone to use in the event of a power outage.
Corded landline phones that do not require a/c power for dial tone also
work even when the power is out, an important contingency to build into
home emergency plans.
- 68 percent of respondents do not have a comprehensive communications plan in place to deal with home emergencies.
A home emergency communications plan includes establishing a "home
base" for making emergency calls with a centrally located, easily
accessible landline phone; designating a safe location within the home
during an emergency and establishing a safe way out of the residence;
conducting an inventory of communications items including all landline
phones, wireless phones, batteries, and chargers; and making a list of
emergency contact numbers. For households with children, additional
elements include teaching them about proper use of the 9-1-1 system and
making sure they know where the "home base" is for making calls to
- 42 percent
of respondents with children ages 3-12 were only somewhat confident or
not confident that their child would know what to do in case of a home
- 27 percent of respondents' children have not received instruction on how to dial 9-1-1 from home base during an emergency.
"At AT&T, we understand how important communications services
are during an emergency, and our priority is to provide customers with
reliable services and multiple options to stay in contact," said Joey
Schultz, AT&T vice president consumer marketing. "At home, a
landline phone can serve as their reliable 'home base' in an emergency,
and it can give consumers added peace of mind at an affordable price."