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Apple has announced the schedule for its virtual WWDC or short for Worldwide Developers Conference that kicks off June 7 with the keynote address. The company says that WWDC 21 will be available free to Apple developers as well as other participants. The event will likely give us a glimpse of iOS 15 alongside other major software-related updates to iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Apple had first announced the dates of virtual WWDC 2021 in March.
The Apple keynote during WWDC 2021 will take place on June 7 at 10 am PDT or 10:30 pm IST. "WWDC21 kicks off with the unveiling of exciting new updates coming to all Apple platforms later this year. Streamed directly from Apple Park, the keynote address will be available via apple.com, the Apple Developer app, the Apple TV app, and YouTube, with on-demand playback available after the conclusion of the stream," the company says on its dedicated Developers Conference page.
Apple promises over 200 in-depth sessions, one-on-one labs, and more for developers attending WWDC 2021. The Cupertino-based giant will also have the Apple Design Awards during the WWDC 21 event, which will happen on June 10.
Apple also announced an all-new initiative called Pavilions, which is new for WWDC 21. It will provide an easy way for developers to explore relevant sessions, labs, and special activities for a given topic. Conference attendees will be able to customise their WWDC experience and check out content organised around specific areas like SwiftUI, Developer Tools, Accessibility and Inclusion, and more. This will be available exclusively within the Apple Developer app.
WWDC 2021 possible announcements
iOS 15, the next mobile operating system from Apple running on the next iPhone, will be one of the event's biggest highlights. Apple CEO Tim Cook traditionally talks about some achievements during the keynote address of WWDC, to begin with, and gradually move to updates. The iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are likely to be revealed during the event.
Based on leaks so far, the upcoming iOS 15 is expected to feature all-new notification settings that will keep the apps on top that were open in the background. The new iOS update is also likely to see some customisation and interactive widgets. Some leaks have pointed towards a new iMessage feature that may help it take on the competition from the Facebook suite of apps like WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has already said that iMessage is like a competition for WhatsApp. Other changes may include more customisation options. It's worth noting that considering iOS 14 was visually a massive update, we can expect iOS 15 to improve further and polish some of these features. This could mean that the iOS 15 update may not be as big as the iOS 14 update last year. Similarly, the new iPadOS is likely to get new customisation features.
The WWDC 2021 will also see the name reveal of the macOS 12 update, which is interesting every time. The new macOS update may focus on improving some of the functions of M1-powered Macs.
The next thing to watch out for during the WWDC 21 event will be the watchOS 8 updates, which we expect could be bigger than ever. Apple is rumoured to be working on the next set of health-related features for the next-gen Apple Watch model, and we could get a glimpse of what we should expect later in the year. Some reports have suggested that Apple is planning to add mental health-related features to its Apple Watch. The company is also likely to announce updates to tvOS.
We will have to wait till June 7 to see what Apple has in store for its Developers Conference this year.
Stay tuned to India Today Tech for all the news related to Apple WWDC 2021.


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STATEMENT: EPA acts to protect drinking water from PFAS
New survey report reveals Whole Foods’ failure to cut back on plastic waste
California gets a ‘C’ for efforts to get the lead out
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EPA, DOT to increase accountability, safety in wake of Ohio chemical train derailment
Federal government requiring Norfolk Southern to pay for cleanup; new rail safety rules coming
RELEASE: Call for Amazon to ‘break up with plastic packaging’ this Valentine’s Day
Advocates from U.S. PIRG Education Fund, the Environment America Research & Policy Center and the Student PIRGs gathered outside Amazon headquarters in Seattle on Monday to call on the e-commerce company to “break up with plastic.”
‘Failing the Fix’ scorecard grades Apple, Google, Dell, others on how fixable their devices are
Updated report helps consumers buy products that last.
Statement: Soaring household gas prices affirm volatility of fossil fuels
As Californians across the state receive their January household gas bills, many are shocked to find these bills have doubled in the last month.
‘You have the power’ webinar details how to electrify homes with new tax credits
Experts share how new federal policies can save Americans money, reduce pollution
Release: New bill would make electronics easier to fix, reducing e-waste
Current lack of repairability results in high consumer costs and unnecessary waste.
Advocates to lawmakers: Say farewell to fluorescents
This spring, lawmakers in more than 10 states are considering policies to phase out fluorescent bulbs to reduce utility bills and protect public health, which could set precedents for further federal and international action.
Statement: 3M to stop making, using PFAS
Major manufacturer to discontinue use of hazardous ‘forever chemicals’ by end of 2025
McDonald’s sets targets for responsible antibiotic use in its global beef supply chain
Fast food giant sets targets for responsible antibiotic use in its global beef supply chain
Statement: US Postal Service’s electric vehicle purchases will help deliver a cleaner future
USPS to announce a significant increase in electric vehicle purchases

domain: news


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NEW YORK AND LEXINGTON, Ky., March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Viamedia, the television industry's leading independent provider of outsourced local television advertising services on behalf of cable companies, today announced major changes with the appointment of Kim Norris as Chief Operating Officer. A veteran television and advertising executive, Norris will be responsible for the day-to-day operational leadership of Viamedia's advertising sales and advanced advertising including Viamedia Online and placemedia, Viamedia's recently launched programmatic ad exchange. With dual headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky and New York City, this appointment comes after the hiring of leading media industry entrepreneur Mark Lieberman as the company's new president and CEO.
"It's a new day at Viamedia," said Mark Lieberman, President and CEO, Viamedia. "Kim is a well-respected industry veteran who brings unparalleled leadership skills and a proven track record. Throughout her career, she has been a driver in strategic corporate alignment and growth. Viamedia now has a realigned executive leadership team, and new CEO, COO, CFO, and new business development team. With a new enhanced focus on our core business, emerging advanced advertising product lines and the tectonic shift happening in the cable industry, the new Viamedia is well positioned to drive change."
Most recently, Norris served as Executive Vice President of Emerging Business and Data Analytics at Cablevision where she brought to market new data-driven insights and advanced the industry's interactive and addressable ad market. Before that, Norris has held leadership positions at organizations that include Comcast where she built and oversaw the advertising division for the company's Northeast television markets, and the Digital Place-based Advertising Association, formerly the Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau, where she served as founding president. Norris has held advisory board positions with Cable Advertising Bureau, is a Betsey Magness Leadership Institute alumni, and has been recognized by a number of industry awards, including: Top 100 Women in Cable Tech by CableFax Magazine for the years 2013, 2012, and 2011; 2013 Wonder Woman by Multichannel News and WICT; and 2010 Most Significant Product or Platform-Optimum Select by ITV Today/TV of Tomorrow.
Norris replaces Joe Noonan who will be exiting as of March 24th. During his 6-year tenure, Noonan served as the company's Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Operating Officer.
"Viamedia has an incredible team with a salesforce of over 300 TV, digital sales representatives across 64 markets in the US serving 50 MVPD partners and over 10,000 local advertisers as well as an innovative, next generation audience based buying platform that will benefit advertisers and MVPD," said Norris. "I look forward to working with Mark and the talented Viamedia team and helping to drive the company's continued success."
Norris' appointment comes on the heels of exciting news for Viamedia this year. The company secured partnership agreements with Vyve Broadband, Metronet, Hawaiian Telcom, CDE Lightband and Bledsoe. CableFAX also recognized Viamedia for Overall Tech Innovation for its ViamediaGO technology platform for small-medium businesses.
Earlier this year, company President & CEO Mark Lieberman realigned his senior leadership team to better support the company's employee base, MVPD partners and advertisers. His direct reports include Chris Black, Chief Financial Officer; Randy Lykes, Chief Technology Officer; Brian Hunt, Senior Vice President, Affiliate Relations and Business Development; and Becky Jones, Vice President, Marketing and Research.
ABOUT VIAMEDIA Viamedia is a leading provider of outsourced local advertising sales services. The company specializes in selling DMA-based advertising to local, regional and national advertisers on behalf of U.S. cable and telecommunications service providers, utility companies and municipalities. For more information on Viamedia, visit www.viamediatv.com.
Copyright (C) 2014 PR Newswire. All rights reserved


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Entertainment Desk: Bollywood actress Sunny Leone, who made her way into the Hindi cinema through Bigg Boss, will soon be see judging Mr. & Mrs. Attitude 2017.
Mr. & Miss Attitude 2017, East Zone, is a unique Fashion event aimed at facilitating entry of young talent from eastern states of the country to mainstream Bollywood and fashion industry and simultaneously reach out to the masses to create awareness about HIV/AIDS.
The event will take place at the Morabadi Open Ground, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India, on the 27th May 2017 at 06:00 pm. The panel of judges include Sunny Leone (Actor), Geeta Kapoor (Choreographer), Rajeev Khinchi (Fashion designer), Manavendra Singh Gohil (AHF’s Goodwill ambassador), Rohit Verma (Fashion designer), Vikas Verma (Actor) and Anuradha Tiwari (Film director).
The pageant comes with a unique concept and a social cause of raising awareness of HIV among the unreached population of the Eastern states of North India. India has an estimated 2.1 million HIV positive people and through this initiative, AHF wants to reach out to the youth all over the world to get involved in this worthy cause. The programme is aimed to seek and de-stigmatise public opinion about HIV/AIDS through collaboration with fashion designers, musicians, film celebrities and other artists.
Sunny, who recently bought a new home in Los Angeles, US was last seen hosting the seventh and eighth season of MTV Splitsvilla. She had also made a guest appearance on Bigg Boss 9.


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In 2020, the internet garden products market is estimated to achieve growth of 25%, profiting from the surge in internet usage as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the latest internet garden market report from AMA Research, it is likely that online sales will continue to expand as social distancing measures remain in place, constraining in-store retailing for the remainder of 2020 and potentially into 2021.
Online shopping is following an upward trajectory, with 87% of UK adults shopping online in 2020. As both fixed and mobile internet speeds increase, and smartphone ownership expands, it is likely that more consumers will use the internet for shopping in the coming years.
Consumers are also becoming increasingly aware that cheaper prices can be found online, with price comparison websites facilitating easy comparisons. Product research via blogs, reviews, social media and YouTube is likely to cause an increase in purchases of garden products online.
During April, May and June, internet sales accounted for 31% of total retail sales in the UK, compared to 19% in 2019. Correspondingly, the value of the internet garden market has risen significantly in 2020.
In addition, demand for garden products was notably high during lockdown with consumers spending more time at home during the sunniest spring on record. Items such as barbecues and grow-your-own products were particularly popular online purchases during the lockdown period, contributing to estimated market growth of 25% in 2020.
Jane Tarver, market research analyst for AMA Research comments: “Whilst in-store purchases currently still dominate the retail garden sector, into the medium-term, online sales are likely to feature more prominently across all channels in the garden distribution sectors. Garden centres in particular are likely to increase their presence in the online market, which could significantly increase online sales of horticultural products.”
“Garden centres in particular are likely to increase their presence in the online market, which could significantly increase online sales of horticultural products.”Jane Tarver, market research analyst for AMA Research
Market growth continues to be underpinned by the popularity of ‘click & collect’ services. Whilst home delivery lead times have improved considerably in recent years with next day delivery being a common requirement, many consumers prefer the convenience of collecting items from a local store. Online promotions have also helped to sustain market growth, retailers regularly offer discount codes, special offers or free delivery on purchases over a certain amount which often encourages consumers to purchase online.
It is expected that the internet garden market will continue to increase to 2024, although the amount of growth will be dependent on the recovery of the retail sector post-lockdown. Lower growth levels are forecast after 2021, assuming that in-store retailing begins to recover, with annual growth of around 8% forecast towards the end of the review period as the market begins to mature.


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SARASOTA, FL – Nuevo Advertising Group today launched its new website, www.nuevoadvertising.com. Nuevo Advertising Group’s focus is on bridging the gap between businesses and the Hispanic community, and the new site contains data on the Hispanic market, why this population segment needs to be reached, and how to reach them appropriately. Visitors to the site can view a list of services offered by Nuevo Advertising Group, their professional and community affiliations, news about the company and request information for their own Hispanic marketing initiatives.
Nuevo Advertising Group’s focus is on bridging the gap between businesses and the Hispanic community through concise advertising messages delivered through the most effective mediums. For more information, visit nuevoadvertising.com or call 941-752-4433.


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The Microsoft's Points system, used for Xbox Live Marketplace and other Microsoft marketplaces, is set to be abolished by the end of the year, according to a Inside Mobile Apps report.
The site reckons that local, real-world currency will replace points. Microsoft only uses real-life money for when games are bought from Games on Demand, although the option is available to also buy them with Microsoft Points.
Microsoft Points has been around the release of Xbox 360 in 2005, and has also been around for other storefronts including Zune Marketplace, Games for Windows Live and Windows Phone 7.
Microsoft's refused to comment. Thanks, Kotaku.


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Chris Pole and Mark Orton from KPMG’s Restructuring practice were appointed Joint Administrators of Lingerie Outlet Store Limited on 3 September 2019.
The Swindon-based company, which employed 26 staff, was founded in 2011 as a specialist online retailer of lingerie, swimwear and active wear, trading via eBay, Amazon and its own website across the UK and internationally, with a strong presence in the USA and Germany.
Immediately following their appointment, the Joint Administrators sold the majority of the business and assets to L F Retail Limited and Book Library Limited. All employees have transferred to the purchasers, who will continue to trade the business from its base in Swindon.
Tim Bateson, Director at KPMG, said: “The Lingerie Outlet Store was a British online retail success story, achieving consistent growth between 2011 and 2018, and winning the ‘Specialist e-Tailer of the Year’ award in 2017. However, the Company experienced a number of challenges in 2019 which put significant pressure on the cash flow of the business and its ability to replenish stock and maintain sales.”
Jas Singh, on behalf of the purchasers, said: “The Lingerie Outlet Store has a strong track record in the online retail space, so we’re delighted to be able to secure this deal. We look forward to working with the team to drive the business forward.”


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It’s the month of June, plenty of historic events have happened over May over here in Malaysia, such as appointing a new government, getting rid of GST, and a whole host of other exciting news for Malaysia. 🙂
That said, we’ve been hard at work at the trophy shop – connecting with plenty of award manufacturers all over the world.
100s of New Trophy Designs
We’re proud to announce that we’ve added hundreds of new trophies and awards in our shop. You can check out a few samples at our acrylic, crystal, metal product categories, and many more new trophies we’ve added…
That’s all for June 2018.
Hope all of our clients enjoy the new trophy and award additions!


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U.S. GDP Growth Slowed on Tepid Consumer Spending -- Update
The U.S. economy stumbled in the first months of the Trump administration, growing at the slowest pace in three years in a sobering reminder of the nation's economic sluggishness.
Gross domestic product grew at a 0.7% annual rate in the first quarter from the preceding three months, the Commerce Department said Friday. Economic output has grown an average of roughly 2% during the nearly eight-year expansion.
Friday's data offered the broadest report card on the economy in the nearly 100 days since President Donald Trump took office pledging a return to faster growth, and the outlook was mixed. Economic output failed to match the surging confidence expressed by consumers and businesses since the November election.
The broader trend of subdued but steady growth remains intact. Economic output grew 1.9% in the first quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. Fed officials project output will expand 2.1% this year.
In the first quarter, consumer spending grew at the weakest rate since late 2009 as Americans cut purchases of big-ticket items such as cars. Businesses also whittled down their inventories, a potential sign of caution.
Other signs pointed to stronger growth ahead. Companies invested in facilities and equipment at a healthy clip, suggesting renewed confidence in the medium-term outlook. And exports rose steadily amid a strengthening global economy.
Economists brushed off the slowdown as a blip due largely to temporary factors. Most economists expect growth to rebound to a rate of between 3% and 4% this quarter, returning the economy to its underlying trend.
"You look at the whole weight of evidence, if anything the evidence is suggesting the trend in growth is accelerating, not decelerating," said Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. "If you look at the backdrop for spending, including [rising] income, wealth, as well as confidence, I think it's pretty clear the trend in consumer spending has not suddenly collapsed."
Economic output often varies widely quarter to quarter. The economy has a habit of starting the calendar year off sluggishly and strengthening later on.
Some economists point to possible flaws in the government's methods for adjusting its data to account for seasonal factors. And temporary factors may have weighed on growth early this year, including unusually warm weather that led to lower utility use and a delay in households receiving tax refunds.
The main factor behind the latest slowdown: sluggish consumer spending. Household outlays grew by the smallest amount since late 2009, as Americans reduced purchases of big-ticket items like cars and spent less on home heating during the warm winter. Rising inflation also cut into paychecks.
Other reports showed auto sales slipped 1.5% in the first quarter from a year earlier, even as car companies offered sweeter deals to keep buyers interested, as an unprecedented seven-year run of sales growth shows signs of petering out. Light-vehicle sales are projected to decline for the fourth straight month in April.
"Clearly it's a more competitive market that we're dealing in than it was two or three years ago," General Motors Co. finance chief Chuck Stevens told reporters Friday, adding that the "industry is plateauing."
Car dealers were sitting on a 72-day supply of vehicles on average in March, up from 66 days a year earlier, according to researcher WardsAuto.com. Vehicles are piling up despite higher discounts. Car makers spent an average of $3,499 on incentives in the first half of April, the highest level for the month since 2009, according to J.D. Power.
Government spending also fell in the first quarter. One possible factor: a three-month hiring freeze imposed by the Trump administration. State and local government spending also fell.
A downturn in businesses' restocking their shelves and warehouses also weighed on economic output. Weak inventory investment dragged down the overall number in GDP growth by nearly a percentage point.
In a hopeful sign, businesses stepped up spending on long-term projects. A measure of business investment -- nonresidential fixed investment -- grew at a 9.4% pace, the biggest jump since late 2013. That coincided with surveys showing a surge in business confidence since the November election.
New strength in the global economy pushed up demand for U.S. exports, which grew at an annual rate of 5.8%. That helped narrow the trade deficit.
Inflation picked up. The price index for personal consumption expenditures -- the Fed's preferred inflation gauge -- rose at a rate of 2.4% in the first quarter, the biggest jump since spring 2011. Core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, increased 2%.
--Mike Colias contributed to this article.
Write to Josh Mitchell at firstname.lastname@example.org
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 28, 2017 12:05 ET (16:05 GMT)


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Organizers putting up a provocative new billboard said the goal is to encourage drinkers to compare the effects of pot to the pint they're about to drink.
The Marijuana Policy Project is hosting a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in front of their new billboard at Southwest 13th and Alder Street in Portland.
The sign features a pint of beer, a glass of wine and a marijuana leaf. The words above each item, in order, say "Beer," "Wine" and "Safer."
The organization said the goal of the billboard is to highlight the "relative safety" of marijuana compared to alcohol, while also making a statement to the people who will be drinking at upcoming beer and wine festivals.
"Our goal is to make this year's beer and wine festivals as educational as they are enjoyable," said Roy Kaufmann, Oregon representative of the Marijuana Policy Project. "We simply want attendees who are drinking to think about the fact that marijuana is objectively less harmful than the pint of beer or glass of wine they have in their hands."
Starting with the Spring Beer and Wine Fest on March 29, there will be at least four festivals specifically related to alcohol in Portland through July, along with others centered on food or other activities that include available drinks.
The Marijuana Policy Project also noted the Billboard is going up in advance of April, which is Alcohol Awareness Month.
Copyright 2013 KPTV-KPDX Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.


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Plastic plumbing market to see upward trend to 2021
The plastic plumbing market has been on an upward growth
The growing infrastructure developments in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait are anticipated to boost demand for HVAC and plumbing systems, and thereby, drive the market for pipes, coils and fittings in these countries through 2021.
Residential plumbing pipes come in many varieties and types of metal and plastic pipes. For example, copper pipes (metal), galvanized steel (metal), polyvinyl chloride pipes or PVC pipes (plastic), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipes or CPVC pipes (plastic), cross-linked polyethylene or PEX pipes (plastic), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and many more.
With the construction market booming as a result of upcoming mega events, Jan Lohoff, regional director MEA at Aliaxis, said in an earlier interview with MEP Middle East, that the plumbing industry is quite buoyant in that aspect. He said: “Looking at the entire GCC MEP market, the drive is more towards sustainable transformation related to material and systems used, e.g., while copper and metal might have been used in the past, the trend is towards plastic piping systems, and sustainable and innovative solutions.
“For example, acoustic drainage piping systems, which reduce noise levels in buildings and increase the comfort of living, are becoming the preferred choice in high-end and prestigious projects that are known for setting new market standards.”
Lohoff also says that nowadays operating costs are being considered as important, which often leads to using plumbing material of better quality and value.
“LEED and other environmental standards, especially in the UAE, are of great importance as the country strives for a more sustainable environment. This also impacts new requirements for plumbing-related products due to the relevance of water quality and consumption,” Lohoff added.
In a late 2017 interview with Tatiana Abou Chedid, marketing manager at API (Advanced Plastic Industries), she too said that the Middle East has been crowned a main converter of plastic materials, and has enjoyed the growth of regional plastics processing markets. She said: “As the strive for economic diversity amongst the petrochemical nations of the GCC persists, so will the demand for superior performing polymers. Additionally, the region’s rapid urban development and ongoing infrastructure investments also demand a wide range of plastic processed products.
“In general, the plastics processing industry follows the growth trend of a given economy. Today, with provincial producers subjected to falling revenues due to weakened economies, and competitor accessibility to cheap raw materials, we are unquestionably at the core of a challenging business environment. However, it is the manufacturers’ responsibility to minimize production costs and improve economies of scale, without compromising quality and performance of their products.”
She said that the Middle East still offers great prospects, especially in the piping sector, as there are countless infrastructure opportunities that require advanced solutions.
Chedid said that the Middle East is witnessing intertwined drivers that power growth in the plastic piping industry, such as fast infrastructure growth and boom in urbanisation. As the piping industry expands in parallel to the building and construction industry, the demand for highly engineered polyolefins for infrastructure systems ascends. Plastic pipes are excessively replacing traditional metal ones in various applications, especially since they can be equally durable, are healthier, inexpensive, and also recyclable. Massive residential and commercial developments require the latest innovation and technological developments in material performance, as well as wider fields of application.
An additional hot industry driver is sustainability and environmental protection. Pipes made of new plastics, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), minimise environmental footprint, enhance social responsibility, and serve as a green solution.
She said: “The entire downstream of the industry in the region is fueled by various intertwined drivers, which provide impetus for growth and opportunity in the piping industry throughout the Middle East.”
Some of the advantages of using plastic pipes are that they are corrosion resistant — a plastic plumbing system pipe isn’t easily corroded by exposure to water and common household chemicals; offer low heat conductivity — unlike metal, plastic doesn’t conduct heat well so it’s better able to maintain the temperature of the water it carries; offer easier installation — because plastic pipes are light and easy to handle, plumbing jobs done with these pipes nearly always cost less than those that involve metal pipes; has fewer blockages — some plumbers find plastic drainpipes are less likely to clog than metal ones and are easier to unclog when they do.
The advent of the plastic plumbing system has reduced the manual labor it takes to install pipes, but it’s increased the amount of knowledge required to design a plumbing system.


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One year after the severe power failure that threw 50 million North Americans into darkness, only 30% of Ontario bu...
August 11, 2004
One year after the severe power failure that threw 50 million North Americans into darkness, only 30% of Ontario businesses have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan in place, according to a survey of Ontario businesses by two companies that provide disaster recovery and business continuity services.
The survey, commissioned by Fusepoint Managed Services and Agility Recovery Solutions, found that only about half (45%) of decision-makers in Ontario’s medium to large-sized businesses are confident that government leaders have taken the necessary steps to ensure another blackout or similar state of emergency will not occur.
Only a third (30%) of the organizations surveyed have a full-blown business continuity plan in place, while another 32% claim to have an “unofficial” plan.
“If another disaster strikes – and it will – Ontario businesses not only risk revenue loss, but also potential damage to their brand reputation and disruption of their services,” said Robert Offley, president and CEO of Fusepoint Managed Services.
“A business continuity plan isn’t an accessory – it’s an essential component of good corporate governance, and an ‘unofficial’ plan isn’t enough. Implementing a solid business continuity plan is not as expensive or as time-consuming as people may believe.”
The August 14 blackout cut power to 50 million people across North America, and resulted in 18.9 million lost work hours in Canada alone.
“Not every disaster affects most of North America,” said Bob Boyd, CEO of Agility Recovery Services. “A fire, a lightning strike or even a major theft can put a company out of business if they don’t have a solid plan in place.”
The survey found that 44% of business decision makers believed computer, Internet and web-site failure were the most critical impact of the blackout, while another 36% cited facility failures such as lights, elevators and air conditioning.
Though three-quarters claim to be better prepared than last year, and almost all (90%) of businesses believe they have an obligation to have a sound business continuity plan in place, nearly half (47%) agree that the cost and lack of internal resources have limited their ability to get a formal business continuity plan in place.
The online survey of 300 decision makers in mid-sized and large companies in Ontario was conducted between Aug. 3 and Aug. 8 by Leger Marketing.


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- Kylie Jenner is celebrating her 22nd birthday in Italy on a yacht.
- The makeup mogul took to Instagram to share photos of the jaw-dropping gift that boyfriend Travis Scott gave her.
- The huge diamond necklace is styled to look like the Kylie Cosmetics logo.
Kylie Jenner's 22nd birthday is already the one to beat.
From being photographed making out with Travis Scott during a romantic night out to shopping in the little cliffside town of Positano off of Italy’s southern Amalfi coast with daughter Stormi Webster, the trip has been perfect so far. But judging by some of the presents Jenner has been receiving, the day is about to get a billion times better.
Taking to Instagram to celebrate, Jenner posted a photo of herself posing on the deck of the $250 million yacht she hired. Wearing a chic, feathered bright pink dress, Jenner showed off her gift from Scott.
The lavish diamond necklace, featuring the Kylie Cosmetics dripping lips logo, is completely on brand for the mogul who built her empire on her makeup business. The custom jewels are so sparkly, and just the right amount of drama for the billionaire.
Jenner also stepped out with friends and family at the idyllic Restaurant da Paolino, which is magically located in a field of lemon trees in Capri. The restaurant excitedly posted about the Jenner's visit to its establishment and wrote, "When wonderful @kyliejenner @travisscott @krisjenner come to #paolinocapri for a little 🍋🍋🍋 celebration 💛🎂 grazie mille."
Aside from her new bling, Jenner has also been fueling wedding rumors after boarding her private jet with a garment bag. The speculation continues.
Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.


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After the pandemic that led to the temporary closure of many construction sites last year, 2021 has been a year of recovery for the construction sector.
However, since the spring, there have been growing concerns. Why? An unprecedented shortage of almost all the raw materials used in construction - aluminium, wood, plaster, concrete, iron, etc. - together with a very significant rise in prices with direct repercussions on construction contractors but also on consumers. Faced with this shortage, the profession is organising itself, helped by the State and by the possibilities offered by digital solutions...
The first lockdown led to a slump in activity which resulted in a shortage of many raw materials and rising prices. The rapid economic recovery that followed and the purchase of materials in large quantities, particularly by China and the United States, also contributed to this shortage. This is the case, for example, of European wood, the shortage of which can be explained by the taxation of Canadian wood by the United States, which has pushed American companies to obtain supplies from European countries at high prices. This has resulted in a 30% price increase.
This shortage of materials has led to a price spike. Today, no company is spared, whatever its size and speciality.
To comply with their quotes issued before this spike, some are forced to reduce their margins, others find themselves engaged in loss-making projects. Only 26% of them were able to pass on these increases to the sales price of their services.
Another consequence is that building contractors and self-employed artisans are finding it difficult to complete their projects. They are encountering heavy delays in delivery, with extended construction deadlines and even postponements.
More and more of them are now having to reduce the validity period of their quotes so as not to find themselves in difficulty.
To help businesses faced with this situation, some construction federations are asking the Government for aid such as the payment of furlough, the adjustment of schedules and the updating of prices.
On 15 June, the Government implemented measures to protect French companies: the suspension of late payment penalties for public contracts, the creation of a crisis committee, and the establishment of sector mediation to promote exchanges between the different stakeholders, joint discussions and identification of best practices.
The State has even recently gone further in supporting businesses facing supply difficulties or rising costs by announcing, on 13 December, a series of measures intended to support these economic players, including construction companies.
The Finance Ministry has therefore announced that the repayable advance system set up during the pandemic can now be combined with a loan guaranteed by the State (PGE) or a subsidised loan. It will also be possible to benefit from "payment facilities for certain welfare contribution and tax deadlines", when shortages are the cause of difficulties encountered by the company.
Finally, among the measures put forward, the launch of a new type of loan: the “loan for industry”. This loan is intended to help companies finance their working capital needs with a total 700 million euros allocated to the scheme.
In this transition period, which remains complicated, the solutions offered by digital technology can prove to be particularly useful for better planning a construction site while meeting deadlines.
Many solutions - software in particular - exist in fact to better plan construction sites, manage site activity, and ensure the quality of the work carried out in order to better control the quantities of materials necessary for projects and to better control the supply of materials and related logistics.
For example, a collaborative site monitoring platform like Finalcad One will allow operational staff in the field to:
- check the consumption of raw materials on site and anticipate supply delays;
- pool requirements, orders, logistics and delivery;
- optimise schedules;
- improve site purchasing procedures.
Supply problems have been going on for several months now and it is clear that there are no signals indicating a return to normal in the coming months. The stakeholders in the construction industry, who had hoped to see this crisis resolved before the end of the year, will therefore have to be patient. However, there is no doubt that the sector will once again be able to show resilience and creativity in the weeks and probably in the months to come to meet the unprecedented challenge it faces.
Are you looking for tools to digitise your worksites?
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The introduction of tints, heating, solar reflection and GPS technology as standard into the windscreens of modern production cars has led to replacement costs increasing by as much as 68% in only 10 years, reports Auto Windscreens. Added to this, the overall size of windscreens has increased dramatically making them more susceptible to stone chip damage.
The net result is that drivers are having to foot the growing bill for more frequent glass repair and replacement jobs than ever before, according to automotive glazing services provider Auto Windscreens. The findings follow news that the *price of car insurance has risen by 4.3% during the first quarter of 2010.
More glass overall is being used in the car body by designers. The windscreen of the new Citroen C4 Picasso is 20% larger than that of the older model alone. Similarly, the cost of a new model Ford Mondeo windscreen is 59% more than previous models; a VW Golf windscreen has risen by as much as 68% and a BMW 5 Series screen by 50%.
Nigel Davies, Auto Windscreens Sales and Marketing Director, explained; “Windscreens of standard production cars are becoming increasingly sophisticated as designers seek to improve aerodynamic efficiency, driving comfort and safety as well as appearance which unfortunately is hitting the pocket of the modern motorist.”
* Research by Confused and EMB
Copyright of edited Newspress release
20th April 2010
Motoview has evidence that shows in general, that there has been a rise in labour and parts costs which is directly related to the increase in technology used in today’s vehicles. A friend who works in the trade has just spent £4800 on a new diagnosis machine; I’ll have to ask him how much he will charge to diagnose a problem, and that is before it is rectified!


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Shanxi Province handles unqualified pesticide products according to law
Original title: The province has dealt with unqualified pesticide products in accordance with the law. Recently, the Provincial Agricultural Rural Office has conducted supervision and spotting work in the field of pesticide sectors in the province.Products involved 68 pesticide business units, total draws, 110 samples, 102 qualified samples, and the pass rate of 102.
Provincial Agricultural Rural House requires the municipal pesticide management departments to earnestly verify the unqualified products of the sampling inspection, and carefully verify the quality indicators found in the pesticide supervision spot check.Once the problem is found, the sale is immediately stopped and the sales have been retracted according to the sales file.For counterfeit products identified by the company, order the operators to stop the operation, immediately remove the product, track the source of the product, identify its logistics information, funds, etc., and investigate and investigate.
At the same time, the province has established the "blacklist" system of pesticide enterprises to conduct key supervision of unqualified enterprises in the sampling inspection, including the "blacklist" of the pesticide enterprises twice.(Reporter Wang Xiujuan).


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Roskill view: Although having hinted at plans back in April for a new large-scale lithium hydroxide plant, Tianqi confirmed earlier press reports last week on the approval of its construction at Kwinana Industrial Area, 25km south of Perth, WA. The state-of-the-art 24,000tpy plant will be the largest of its type globally and process spodumene concentrate from Tianqi’s Greenbushes mine, also located in WA and which may be expanded in the future. The Kwinana plant will join Tianqi’s other two spodumene conversion sites – Shehong and Zhangjiagang (purchased from Galaxy in 2015)—in China, together giving Tianqi a total capacity of around 50,000tpy LCE.
Tianqi’s plan comes only weeks after FMC announced it would build additional hydroxide capacity in China and Albemarle announced it was acquiring the hydroxide producer Jiangli’s plants, also in China. Surging demand for electric vehicles, which are increasingly using high-nickel cathodes using lithium hydroxide as a feedstock, is driving large investments in this lithium derivative.
Roskill will be exhibiting at The Battery Show in Detroit this week (619) and will be presenting at Avicenne’s Batteries 2016 event in Nice on 26-28th September.
For more information on Roskill’s lithium research, contact Robert Baylis: firstname.lastname@example.org or follow @robertbaylis on Twitter.


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SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd targets sales of nearly $30 billion from home appliances in 2015 and a 10 percent share of the global market, Hong Chang-wan, head of the company’s appliances division, said on Tuesday.
Cross-town rival LG Electronics Inc said on Tuesday that its home appliance business aimed to achieve $20 billion in sales in 2014 to position the company as the top global player, and targeted double-digit sales growth in 2011.
Samsung and LG compete with Whirlpool Corp, General Electric Co and Electrolux AB, in the global home appliance market.
Samsung’s home appliance business continued to lose money in the third quarter, which it attributed to rising logistics and raw materials costs, and investments.
Samsung Senior Vice-President Park Je-seung said the home appliance markets in advanced economies were sluggish in the fourth quarter but would grow 2 to 3 percent this year, while emerging markets were expected to expand 5 to 8 percent.
Home appliances is one of the smallest business areas for Samsung, which is ranked as the world’s top maker of memory chips, TVs and LCDs and No.2 producer of mobile phone handsets.
Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Chris Lewis


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A man from Catford has been sentenced to four years in prison for selling fake Olympic tickets, ripping off hundreds of people from across the world.
Christakis Ioannou, 44, of Crantock Road, pleaded guilty on September 6 2012 at Kingston Crown Court, to participating in a fraudulent business and possessing and concealing criminal property.
Ioannou set up two websites almost a year in advance of the Games opening. The sites, www.2012-londonsummergames.com and www.2012-londonsummergames.org were designed to look official and offered for sale unlimited numbers of tickets for all Olympic events.
Over 400 people purchased non-existent tickets from the sites, which took over 450,000 euros in five weeks alone. Parents of competing athletes from Greece and France were amongst the victims, who after purchasing tickets at over inflated prices never heard anything from the website or company again.
Ioannou was arrested as he stepped off a flight from Portugal at Gatwick airport. He was then carrying 17,500 euros in his shoes, cash from his fraudulent ticket sales.
He travelled frequently between Portugal and the UK and had opened bank accounts in Portugal to channel funds from both websites. All the money paid in had been withdrawn in cash.
The arrest came after investigation by Met’s specialist Operation Podium Team, which was set up to tackle serious and organised crime affecting the economy of the London Olympic and Paralympics Games 2012.
Evidence has been taken from victims in over 20 countries around the world including the USA; Italy; Netherlands and Denmark. In total the website took 510.494.59 euros.
Detective Superintendent Nick Downing, in charge of Operation Podium, said: ”Ioannou was the first fraudster of this type we identified and the biggest.
“This case clearly shows that online crime of this nature is not a victimless crime. Over 400 people missed out on a chance to be part of the London 2012 Olympic Games and instead were simply ripped off.
“Podium were so concerned about people falling foul of his scam we issued a number of public warnings naming the sites to try prevent additional people from getting conned.
“These sites were picked up as part of our proactive monitoring of the internet and referrals from LOCOG to spot and then prevent fraudsters like Ioannou from cashing in on the popularity of the Games. 340 websites were identified in this way.
“Never buy your tickets from anywhere but the official event organisers, or those people authorised to sell on their behalf. “


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The Coffee Project’s Founder James Vaughn has a new venture! James created The Coffee Project in 1997 when we were all figuring out this crazy home roasting coffee thing. He’s started a new venture in California’s El Dorado County wine region. The focus is solely on El Dorado Country wines from Northern California’s Sierra Foothills.
Is there a problem using coffee just after roasting? … Why wait between roasting and brewing? …if coffee gets better with age, why doesn’t it KEEP getting better with age? Waiting, letting the coffee “rest” or “degas” does help in creating a better flavor. It’s counter-intuitive to the idea of fresh coffee, but letting the roasted


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Microsoft has announced plans for a number of new features in Bing this month, propelling an improved web experience. The additions will roll out slowly and focus primarily on the US and UK but include some worldwide tweaks.
One of the international features is improved weather results. As well as the usual forecast information, users will be able to a live radar map of their city, with quick links to supporting weather sites. There will also be information on forecasts in nearby cities, as well as metrics for average temperature, rainfall, and snowfall.
In general, the idea is to help users plan better, and that's furthered by a new hotel booking system. Users will now be able to search for hotels in the location they're traveling to, with support for star ratings, price comparisons, and more. Those comparisons extend to third-party booking sites like Expedia and Tripadvisor, with easy links for bookings.
The functionality is currently exclusive to the UK and US, but Microsoft says to “stay tuned for more exciting updates soon”. In addition, though the feature is only available in those countries, they will be able to search for hotels abroad.
Intelligent Answers and Bing Homepage
Bing is also expanding its intelligent answers system, which first released in December. To combat misinformation, it pulls in information from multiple choices and checks to see if they're consistent.
Microsoft is now expanding those capabilities in the US and UK by delivering up to five websites that support Bing's answer, making it easier to find more information.
Finally, the homepage will soon feature urban photographer thanks to a community contest. The winner will get exposure, but also a Surface Laptop and Sony a6500 camera with lens. Microsoft is also throwing in a photographer backpack, and a $1000 airfare gift card.
The competition ends on June 16, with entry requirements available on the official Facebook page.


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From Aug. 11 through Sept. 15, shares of the troubled Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC) rocketed 235% higher. Shares of clinical-stage drugmaer Taysha Gene Therapies (NASDAQ: TSHA) soared an even more impressive 345% over the same time frame.
Are there more eye-popping gains up ahead, or is it already too late to buy these volatile stocks? To find out, let’s look at the catalysts that drove them higher.
Investors cheered Canopy Growth’s recent decision to cease funding its ill-fated dietary supplement business, BioSteel, to focus on selling cannabis and related products.
Top-line revenue from its dietary supplement business rocketed to CA$32.5 million (more than $24 million in U.S. dollars) in the fiscal first quarter from CA$13.7 million (more than $10 million USD) a year earlier, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. The costs of producing and warehousing supplements were a lot higher than Canopy Growth was expecting, again. Before factoring in sales, general, and administrative expenses, the company lost CA$0.24 for every dollar of BioSteel revenue recorded in the first quarter.
BioSteel’s fiscal first-quarter performance was nearly twice as damaging as the negative gross profit margin it reported in the prior-year period.
Canopy Growth was right to jettison its failing supplement business, but this still isn’t a good time to buy the stock. Investors should know that BioSteel isn’t the only operating segment with a negative gross margin.
Canopy Growth’s main operating segment, selling cannabis in products Canada, lost CA$0.01 for every dollar of revenue it reported in the fiscal first quarter. That’s a huge improvement over the negative 24% gross margin it reported a year earlier, but hardly a reason to ignore substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern for another 12 months as stated in its latest earnings report.
Canopy Growth expects to achieve positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) by the end of fiscal 2024. It’s probably best to wait and see if it can meet this expectation before risking any of your hard-earned money on this super-risky stock.
Taysha Gene Therapies is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing new gene therapies for inherited neurological conditions. The stock surged after the company reported early signs of success from a phase 1 trial with its experimental Rett syndrome treatment, TSHA-102.
The first Rett syndrome patient treated showed signs of improvement during a checkup conducted four weeks after receiving a single dose of TSHA-102. Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder often caused by a mutated MECP2 gene. TSHA-102 contains a shortened version of this gene, and it appears to work as intended.
In addition to a lack of negative safety signals, the first patient to receive TSHA-102 reported improvement on several tests of disease severity. The trial’s principal investigator also observed improvements in the patient’s motor skills and vocalization abilities.
Despite its stock price more than quadrupling, expectations for Taysha Gene Therapies are still fairly low. Its market cap at recent prices is just $213 million.
Rett syndrome is rare, but it still affects roughly 350,000 people worldwide. In other words, there are more than enough addressable patients to drive annual sales of TSHA-102 past $300 million if it continues to impress.
Taysha Gene Therapies expects to dose a second patient with TSHA-102 in the third quarter. If subsequent results fall in line with the first patient’s, the stock could rocket much higher than it already has.
While Taysha stock could jump again on positive results, gene therapy trials are often unpredictable. Any negative safety signal could lead regulators to pause the company’s development plans and crush its stock price in the process.
Before taking a big risk on this biotech stock, investors should know that Taysha finished June with just $45 million in cash after burning through $124 million over the past 12 months. Some new financing will inject $150 million into its coffers, but it will also more than triple its number of outstanding shares.
Taysha’s dilutive financing severely lowers long-term shareholders’ chances of realizing future gains even though it only lengthens the company’s cash runway until 2025. It’s probably best to watch this stock from a safe distance until the company has a lot more clinical trial data to digest.
10 stocks we like better than Canopy Growth
When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*
They just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Canopy Growth wasn’t one of them! That’s right — they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 11, 2023
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Throughout 2020, Superdrug has been proud to offer its first mentorship scheme to support young passionate voices on their missions to drive change for the causes close to their hearts. The three winners of the mentorship scheme were selected as part of Superdrug’s nationwide search to identify young change makers, within the causes that matter most to customers.
The search for Superdrug’s Faces of the Future launched this year in March, when the retailer set out to find customers looking to drive real change through their causes. From a large amount of online entries submitted via social media, Superdrug chose three upcoming grassroots campaigners to receive a dedicated programme of mentorship to help them shape and grow their activist campaigns throughout 2020. . The three winners included Amelia Flemington-Clare, founder of inclusive beauty brand ‘Human Beauty’, featuring innovative and accessible design features such as easy open closures and braille. Lolly, founder of #WomenCreateToo, a campaign to elevate and empower women of colour working in filmmaking, also won a place on the programme. The final winner was Ruby Thompson, founder of ‘DressItUpToBareItAll’, raising awareness on disabilities and mental health through the medium of make-up.
Throughout the year they attended a series of virtual workshops and sessions with Superdrug’s panel of mentors covering topics such as how to elevate and develop their campaigns, how to launch campaigns with impact and how to utilise social media to spread your campaign. Alongside this, the winners received exclusive business coaching from Superdrug’s internal team of experts across commercial, social media, PR and product development.
As part of the Faces of the Future campaign, a panel of groundbreaking female campaigners were chosen to be mentors to provide invaluable mentorship and bespoke 1-2-1 sessions with the winners. The winners were carefully selected and guided by the Faces of the Future mentors, each known for making positive and impactful changes of their own. The mentors included Char Ellesse (gender equality campaigner), Ella Daish (environmental activist), Georgia Rankin (disability advocate and influencer) and Jo Jones, co-founder of Beauty Banks charity.
Customer and people director at Superdrug, Joanne Mackie, says ‘At Superdrug, we are proud to be supporting grass route activists with the conclusion of the first year of our Faces of the Future mentorship programme. We are passionate about elevating voices within our customer community who are campaigning to make positive change, and are so pleased to have been able to offer our winners a programme of bespoke education and mentorship to support them in their efforts throughout 2020 and beyond.’
Mentor and environmentalist, Ella Daish, says: ‘My favourite part of the Faces of the Future campaign has unquestionably been seeing all the amazing work that the applicants have been doing, and meeting and working with the winners. Mentoring other women has been such a positive experience, there is so much power and strength in sisterhood and throughout the process I have learnt a lot from them too.’
Mentor and gender equality advocate, Char Ellesse, says: ‘I know how it feels to be at the beginning of a passion project and feel lost, so I wanted to be a part of something that was giving people at the beginning of amazing ideas an opportunity to be platformed.’


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The New Boxing Day: Are Black Friday and Cyber Monday Moving North of the Border?
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Ask anyone in Canada about the biggest shopping day of the year and time and time again they’ll tell you it’s Boxing Day. If you ask the same question to our friends south of the border they’ll tell you it’s Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday. Black Friday falls on the day following U.S. Thanksgiving Day and it offers shoppers promotional sales that help kick off the shopping season (it falls on Nov 23 this year). Americans also participate in Cyber Monday to take advantage of exclusive online deals (it falls on Nov 26 this year).
Canadians Expect Deals on Black Friday
With such good deals, it’s no wonder that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are taking Canadians by storm. According to a recent survey by Staples Canada and Vision Critical, 84% of Canadians now know about Black Friday and 48% of Canadians now know about Cyber Monday. And, in fact, 60% of Canadians now expect to get deals as good as they would get on Boxing Day on Black Friday and Cyber Monday as well.
More Canadians Plan to Shop Black Friday
Though only 17% of Canadians have shopped these days in previous years, 40% say that they intend to shop on Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday this year. After breaking these numbers down by gender, 42% of men, and 40% of women are planning to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year.
They Want More Tech
So what will theybe spending their money on? The answer is tech products. More than half of Canadians who are planning to shop want to get the best prices on tech. And in fact, a whopping 63% plan to spend their hard earned money on technology, and of that number, 33% plan to buy desktops, laptos and ultrabooks, 29% want to buy tablets and eReaders, 28% plan to purchase monitors and TVs, 20% are looking at cameras and camcorders, 18% want mobile and mobile accessories, and 18% want to buy video games. When Canadians were asked what products they were most interested in seeing offers for, desktops, laptops and ultrabooks were their top choice.
How Your Business Can Profit
As a small business owner you know that holidays are a good time to market special offers, so create some Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday promotions and increase your revenue. Since this trend is just starting to catch on in Canada, you have the unique opportunity to market your products directly to customers without all the clutter that occurs during Boxing Week. By breaking through the clutter you’ll have a better chance at getting your promotion in front of the customers particularly if you operate in the tech sector.
On the flip side, some Canadian retailers have started to introduce Black Friday deals so if you’re looking to cross a few items of your tech wish list now may be a good time to make those purchases and save yourself some money.


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OSI Industries has now merged with Turi Foods to help aim in its bid to create a sustain able and innovative approach to the food industry. Turi Foods brings a lot of expertise and direction to the merger table by having established itself as the one of the largest meat poultry companies in Australia. OSI Industries could benefit from this as they already have the scale and market size to take advantage of the production resources available from Turi Foods.
OSI Industries will begin to manufacture its signature products mostly out of the Queensland and Victoria areas of Australia, with the latter dealing more with its farming base there in Victoria. David McDonald, CEO of OSI Industries remarked that this merger will “have a shared ownership…. that will have tremendous potential to serve our customers in new and innovative ways”. The OSI and Turi Foods merger will become offical on May 4, 2018.
OSI Industries is no stranger to the innovation land having experienced over a century of growth leading out from that small family owned business in Chicago, IL to working with the McDonald’s fast food chain. The company continues its tradition of leading from the front by changing its production line facilities to meet the growing demands of its clients. It opened food processing plants outside Chicago, IL in places like Utah and Germany to include a multinational focus and mission.
This has lead to the company taking its rightful place at #58 on the Forbes list of largest private companies. By early 2000, the company has already expanded into Australia and India respectively. This global food supplier also has within its portfolio contracts with Subway, Burger King, and Yum Foods brands as its clients who value its global reach and production innovation capability. This company has built a reputation sustained over the years on quality, innovation, and service to its national and global clients to effectively create its own success!


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Positions the Brand For Long Term Growth
LEXINGTON, Ky., Oct. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX, “Company”) today announced that it is reacquiring the rights and acquiring the assets to manufacture, market, and distribute Sealy and Stearns & Foster branded products in the United Kingdom from its current licensee. The Company has entered into a new 50/50 joint venture (Sealy United Kingdom Limited) to develop, expand and reposition Sealy products in one of the largest bedding markets in Europe.
Sealy United Kingdom Limited is a 50/50 joint venture between the Company and its Asian joint venture partners. The joint venture in Asia has been successful in establishing Sealy in its markets as a premium brand with innovative innerspring products and strong retailer relations. Over the last 20 years, the Sealy Asian joint venture has grown net sales at an annual compounded growth rate of approximately 36%, opened seven new manufacturing facilities, and increased consideration for Sealy branded products across the Asia-Pacific region.
Tempur Sealy Chairman and CEO Scott Thompson stated, “We identified that the premium innerspring segment in the United Kingdom market is not being fully served. We believe we have brought together the right people, brands and strategy to satisfy the market’s needs. Sealy is the number one brand in the United States, and we believe this transaction will significantly improve our competitive position in the United Kingdom for generations to come. I would also like to acknowledge the Silentnight Group for their strong management of the Sealy brand in the United Kingdom over the last 47 years and thank our joint venture partners, the Dyer Family, for working with us on this new growth opportunity.”
The United Kingdom bedding market is estimated to be approximately $1 billion annually and growing at about 3-4 percent a year. The Company estimates that Sealy’s market share in the United Kingdom was approximately low-single digits in 2019.
About the Company
Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX) is the world’s largest bedding manufacturer. Tempur Sealy International, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets mattresses, foundations, pillows and other products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide through third party retailers, its own stores, and online. The Company’s brand portfolio includes many highly recognized brands in the industry, including Tempur®, Tempur-Pedic®, Sealy® featuring Posturepedic® Technology, and Stearns & Foster®. World headquarters for Tempur Sealy International is in Lexington, KY. For more information, visit http://www.tempursealy.com or call 800-805-3635.


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A NEW mum felt pressured into working from her hospital bed HOURS after giving birth - for a company that saw her earn just £20 in six months.
Vickie, 24, began selling products for cosmetics company Nu Skin when she was heavily pregnant with her first son - but struggled to make money despite "hours and hours" of work.
Nu Skin is a multi-level marketing company - which offers huge financial rewards, cars and holidays in return for selling products on social media.
A new BBC Three Documentary - Secrets of the Multi Level Millionaires - investigates the industry, and finds a trend of cash-strapped Brits being targeted to join - before finding themselves in debt, or working for as little as 50 pounds a month.
Vickie says she signed up to become a Nu Skin distributor a week before going on maternity leave, as she and her husband were worried about finances.
She was drawn in by social media posts showing "people at the top [who] had lovely cars, lots and lots and lots of money, and lots and lots of nice houses".
Vickie says she was told: "Follow this training, do what we do, copy what we do - and you will get the same success."
However speaking to BBC journalist Ellie Flynn, she claims the reality was far from glamorous.
"I was in it for about six months, and I earned about £20," she admits.
Vickie claims she spent "hours, day in, day out" trying to sell products and recruit team members in a bid to make a success of her business.
She says she felt pressured to work by her "upline" - the person who recruited her, and made money off anything she sold - or anyone she recruited.
The pressure to work was so extreme she worked for the first eight hours of her 25 hour labour - and soon after giving birth.
She tells Flynn: "I was in the hospital working hours after I had my baby, he wasn’t even a day old."
The BBC documentary finds Nu Skin places a heavy emphasis on recruitment in training materials.
While undercover at a training event, Ellie is told: "This is a recruitment business. That’s where the big money comes from."
This heavy emphasis on recruitment has led some people to claim these companies are operating as illegal pyramid schemes.
Action Fraud says: "Pyramid scheme fraud involves an unsustainable business which rewards people for enrolling others into a business that offers a non-existent or worthless product."
Vickie echoes these concerns, saying she herself "targeted" people as she knew that was the way to make money.
"You don't earn as much on what you sell, you earn on your downline - on their hard work," she claims.
A spokesperson for Nu Skin said: "As with any business venture, the level of success varies greatly based on factors such as a person’s goals, ambition, commitment and skills.
"We have strict policies against misrepresenting the opportunity or our products and making exaggerated claims.
"We also have a one-month 100 per cent, and one-year 90 per cent refund policy for resalable products to further ensure a sales leader is not financially harmed.
"We are committed to strict compliance with the laws and regulations where we operate and have implemented policies and training to help our sales force comply.
MOST READ IN MONEY
"We take seriously any misrepresentations made by sales leaders and take appropriate remedial action."
Secrets of the Multi Level Millionaires: Ellie Undercover is available on BBC Three, via BBC iPlayer, on Saturday April 27 at 10am.
The Sun previously revealed the shocking truth about the marketing scandal on Britain's maternity wards that target vulnerable new mums.
Another struggling mum claims she was chased for washing machine repayments by BrightHouse staff "while in labour".
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) will invest Rs 35,000 crore to set up its second manufacturing facility in Gujarat as it looks to ramp up annual production capacity to over 40 lakh units by 2030-31, Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki said on Wednesday.
Speaking here at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS), Suzuki said the plant would have an installed production capacity of 10 lakh units per annum.
“We will invest Rs 35,000 crore for the construction of a second car plant in Gujarat which would produce another one million units per year,” Suzuki said.
The new plant is expected to start operation in FY2028-29. Details of location and the models to be produced will be shared in due course.
As a result, the annual production capacity in Gujarat will be 2 million (20 lakh) units — 10 lakh units at Suzuki Motor Gujarat and 10 lakh units at the second new plant, he added.
Japanese auto major Suzuki Motor Corporation has around 58 per cent stake in MSI.
Suzuki noted that under the strong leadership and consistent support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for manufacturing industries, the Indian automobile market has been expanding steadily.
As a result, India has become the third largest automobile market in the world, he noted.
“We have also scaled up production capacity substantially in India. It is noteworthy that as compared to 10 years ago, we expect 1.7 times in vehicle production and 2.6 times in export sales in the current fiscal year,” Suzuki said.
He stated that the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) from the Suzuki Group will be rolled out from Suzuki Motor Gujarat by the end of this year.
“We plan to sell this model not only in India but also export to Japan and European countries,” he added.
Besides, in order to expand the BEV production in future, Suzuki Group will invest Rs 3,200 crore in Suzuki Motor Gujarat to add a new fourth production line which can produce 2.5 lakh units per year, Suzuki stated.
This will increase the annual production capacity of Suzuki Motor Gujarat from the current 7.5 lakh to 10 lakh units, he noted.
The fourth line is expected to start operation from FY2026-27
Suzuki noted that as far as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is concerned, the group will focus on a multi-pathway approach.
“That means, in addition to vehicle electrification, we will offer multiple options such as compressed natural gas, biogas, bioethanol and green hydrogen,” he stated.
Taking advantage of India’s animal wealth, the automaker will start production of biogas from cow dung, he added.
Together with the National Dairy Development Board, and Banas Dairy, Suzuki has already started construction of four biogas plants in Gujarat, Suzuki said.
Suzuki Group will always work to provide a variety of sustainable customer-oriented mobility options, he added.
The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India is looking to add another 20 lakh units-production capacity by 2030-31 with about 28 different models in the market.
Currently, the auto major has a cumulative production capacity of around 22 lakh units per annum across its two manufacturing plants in Haryana and Gujarat.
The two plants in Haryana — Gurugram and Manesar — together roll out around 15.5 lakh units per annum.
Suzuki Motor Gujarat, a unit of the company, has also set up a facility in Gujarat with an installed production capacity of 7.5 lakh units per year.
Besides, the car market leader is already in the process of setting up a new manufacturing plant at Sonipat in Haryana with an investment of Rs 11,000 crore in the first phase.
The new plant’s first phase with a manufacturing capacity of 2.5 lakh units per annum is expected to be commissioned by next year.


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Findings from digital piracy data specialist MUSO reveal that content piracy has significantly increased with unprecedented gains for film piracy since social distancing and lockdown measures were enforced in March.
When comparing the last seven days of March to the last seven days of February 2020, MUSO’s data shows film piracy website visits increasing as follows:
Italy + 66%
India + 63%
Spain + 50%
Portugal + 47%
Canada + 45%
UK + 43%
USA + 41%
France + 41%
Germany + 36%
This increase in visits to online film piracy sites in the last week of March reveals that as more countries enforced lockdown and required citizens to self-isolate, demand for content via piracy grew exponentially.
Total visits to piracy sites in March 2020
“Piracy or unlicensed consumption trends are closely linked to paid-for or licensed content,” notes Andy Chatterley, CEO of Muso. “So, just as Netflix has seen large subscriber gains, we have seen a significant spike in visits to film piracy sites. We will continue to monitor the data closely as the pandemic continues. Whilst these numbers give a snapshot view of piracy data, there are significant deeper insights to be found across our full data set.”


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The New York Times (NYT) and other publications are starting to cover the growing use of artificial intelligence, and have become increasingly concerned that the technology is being misused.
But for a company that is often considered a pioneer of the field, Google’s AI efforts have a long way to go.
The Times reported Monday that Google is testing its AI-powered self-driving car with two drivers, and the company is not yet testing its self-parking system.
Google’s self-policing system uses radar and cameras to determine whether a driver is a legitimate user of the car’s onboard sensors and can then ask for permission to take over the vehicle, the Times said.
Google is also working with car manufacturers to develop self-checkouts that could detect a driver who is not driving the car properly.
It said that Google’s efforts to develop automated driving systems will go forward “with an eye toward developing the most reliable and secure systems available for the autonomous driving market.”
Google said its self drive technology has been tested on a number of prototypes and that it is currently testing “some of the best self-learning systems for autonomous driving.”
Google’s technology is built on Google’s open-source software called DeepDream.
Google and other car manufacturers are also using DeepDream for self-propelled cars, but Google’s autonomous driving technology is far more advanced than those cars, according to a Google spokeswoman.
Google also said that it plans to start testing self-driven cars in 2019, which will require the use of more advanced sensors and systems, including artificial intelligence.
In a statement, Google said it is “committed to improving the safety of all users of our vehicles.”
It said the company would work with manufacturers to design more safe vehicles.
Google will also test its self driving system on some of the world’s most advanced autonomous vehicles, including Volvo and BMW, the company said.
The company also is working with some of North America’s top auto suppliers to develop the systems needed to safely drive an autonomous vehicle on public roads.
The autonomous driving system is currently being developed by Autonomous Vehicle Solutions and Audi.
Autonomous Systems Research Inc. is developing the technology, which was designed by Google, according of a company statement.
Audi, which is part of Volkswagen AG’s parent company, is developing its own self-drive technology.
Audi said in a statement that it was testing its own automated driving technology and expects to release its self driven vehicle in 2019.
“The company is developing an autonomous driving vehicle that is safer, more comfortable, and more environmentally friendly than other commercial self-placement technologies,” Audi said.


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A Ghana man has been arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit credit card to go on a luxury shopping spree in Pattaya.
Kwabena Yeboah, 28, was apprehended at The Avenue galleria on Second Road Sept. 27 following a report from the Kasikorn Bank security department that someone had been using at least one fake card several Pattaya shopping malls.
Police recovered three credit cards, two with different names than the suspects on them. Police said Yeboah confessed to having more counterfeit cards in his Bangkok hotel room.
Investigators later found four more fake cards and equipment to make more. The African was charged with a slew of electronic card fraud charges.


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Next year, you won’t have to worry about missing the buzziest commercials of the Super Bowl if you can’t get to a TV.
LOS ANGELES | Next year, you won’t have to worry about missing the buzziest commercials of the Super Bowl if you can’t get to a TV.
In the past, not all advertisers bought online time along with a pricey 30-second spot during the most-watched TV event of the year. That meant online viewers had to go to a Super Bowl ad repository, such as Hulu and YouTube, to watch what they missed on TV. Broadcasters sometimes ran substitute ads online instead.
This time, CBS says it’s making all advertisers buy an online spot with their on-air time, so ads seen during the online simulcast will be the same as the ones on TV.
CBS is broadcasting the next Super Bowl, which will be held in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 7. It’s not known whether this policy will continue after that, as CBS rotates the broadcast with Fox and NBC.


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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) The 25th Kroger Zoo Day was a success, it would appear.
The Kroger Co. presented a check for more than $81,000 to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo on Wednesday, money raised during Kroger’s Zoo Day that was held Wednesday, May 17. Kroger District Manager Chris Gomez made the presentation to Zoo Director Jim Anderson alongside Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry.
All 15 regional Kroger stores participate in the grocer’s annual Zoo Day. Three percent of sales from the day are donated to the children’s zoo, and Kroger customers can donate additional givings, as well.


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The Block news outlet recently reported that the famous ‘Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC)’ is planning virtual land sales as well as the launch of the ‘APECoin’ token for purchases in the BAYC’s metaverse gaming project.
The news went viral after The Block claimed they obtained a pitch deck from Yuga Labs, the team behind BAYC. According to the article, the creators were projecting revenue of $455 million for its metaverse and virtual land sales.
“In total, 200,000 plots will be distributed across two sales in March and August this year — and Yuga hopes to raise $178 million (in addition to secondary sale proceeds) from each sale,”
The Block shared in relation to BAYC’s plans.
The outlay of the 2022 plans, which are currently unconfirmed, include the following:
- January: BAYC vs. MAYC Game
- March: APE Token and Metaverse 1-100k Land Sale (Projected $180m revenue)
- March: Merch Drop
- May: Airdropping of Kodas (Mintable NFTs) ($2.3m revenue)
- May: Trezor Hunt
- June: APE Fest (+ Merch)
- August: The trial of Jimmy the Monkey
- August: Metaverse 101k-200k Land Sale ($190m)
- September: BAYC >> MechaDog ($20m revenue)
- September: Ultimate Mecha Ape ($50m revenue)
- October: Mecha Dog vs. Mecha Monkey Invasion (P2e Blockchain Game)
- December: Merch Drop
However, a co-founder of BAYC disparaged the pitch as “fake news”.
From @CryptoGarga himself.— hotlneblng.eth👑 (@hotlneblng_) March 15, 2022
Don't believe everything you see. 👀 pic.twitter.com/854bmW8dVF


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Wristbands are now available for this year’s Lancaster Firework Spectacular and the finale of the city’s popular Light Up Lancaster event.
The firework display will be launched at 8pm from the grounds of Lancaster Castle on Saturday November 5, bringing to an end what promises to be a magical two-day festival of music, art and light.
Free wristbands are now available for anyone wanting to grab some of the best spots to watch the display at the two official viewing areas at Giant Axe and Quay Meadow.
Wristbands to access the sites are free and can be ordered online (up to six per household) from lightuplancaster.co.uk
People wanting wristbands for groups of six or more, should contact Lancaster or Morecambe Visitor Information Centres (01524 582394 / 01524 582808) between the hours of 10am and 4pm (Monday to Saturday).
All wristbands will be posted out ahead of the event.
Those watching the display from the two main sites will also be able to enjoy the specially coordinated soundtrack as well as a range of food and entertainment and plenty of atmosphere. The other official viewing area, which does not require wristbands to access the site is Williamson Park.
For those who prefer to watch them from other vantage points in the city – if you can see Lancaster Castle, you will be able to enjoy the fireworks.
Councillor Sandra Thornberry, cabinet member for arts, culture, leisure and wellbeing, said: “The countdown has now begun to this year’s fantastic and unique Light Up Lancaster event which attracts thousands of people from across the UK and beyond to our beautiful part of the world.
‘’It’s great that so many partner organisations in Lancaster work together to produce this wonderful two-day festival which promises to be bigger and better than ever before and ending with the hugely popular firework spectacular lighting up the skies.”
The full programme will be available soon.


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Integrated supply chain services provider APL Logistics has signed a deal with Arab Global Logistics in Oman to form a new joint venture, APL Logistics Oman. The company said the joint venture would “spearhead efforts to develop Oman as a regional logistics hub to serve local and international customers in the Middle East and East Africa”.
Automotive is one of the main sectors for which APL Logistics provides end-to-end supply chain and logistics services. A third of APL Logistics’ business is dedicated to the automotive industry and it counts some of the world’s biggest carmakers and tier ones among its customers including Ford, GM, Renault Nissan, Toyota, American Axle and Lear.
"We are obviously interested in providing our global logistics expertise and region-relevant solutions to the domestic Oman market," a spokesperson for the company told Automotive Logistics. "In addition, Oman’s strategic location and developed transport infrastructure presents a compelling opportunity to develop it into a logistics hub to access the Middle East and East Africa regions."
The company said the new joint venture would provide both inbound production logistics services and the handling of finished vehicles. APL Logistics Oman’s scope will include multimodal transport, consolidation, order management, customs brokerage and packaging.
"We maintain good relationships with almost all automotive OEMs," said the spokesperson. "We are eager to strengthen or establish new relationships with customers that are growing, that are looking to enter the Middle East or East Africa regions, or are seeking to evolve their supply chains to flex or cope with shifting market conditions."
A number of carmakers are targeting the Middle East and Africa regions for their sales growth potential. The demand for cars is on the increase, driven by increased urbanisation and growing infrastructural and industrial developments. According to figures from analyst Frost & Sullivan sales in the Middle East are estimated to reach 4.4m by 2020 3.2m last year.
Last year, Kintetsu World Express bought APL Logistics from its parent company Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) for $1.2 billion.


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Dubai UAE, November 14, 2015: In honour of the 44th UAE National Day, SAINT HONORE, fine watch maker renowned for its unique contemporary elegance and legendary 'Paris Style’, announced the launch of a specially-designed gift set of a Limited Edition CARROUSEL watch and a SAINT HONORE pen, as a salute to the leaders and citizens of the country.
The UAE National Day CARROUSEL watch and pen set has been issued in a Limited Edition of just 44 pieces. A perfect combination of a classic spirit and a sporty allure, this piece is designed for the stylish, casual, modern man. Resplendently sleek and stylish in form with subtle, nuanced details, and a flat case-band, this special watch is a triumph of understated elegance.
“It gives us great pleasure to issue this Limited Edition UAE National Day CARROUSEL gift set in celebration of the 44th UAE National Day,' said Thierry Fresard, Chairman of SAINT HONORE. “We would like to salute the leaders and people of this great nation on this momentous occasion and wish them much peace and prosperity in the years ahead. This specially-designed CARROUSEL set is a symbol of our appreciation for the support we have received from the UAE citizens over the years that we have been present here,” he added.
The UAE National Day CARROUSEL Limited Edition boasts of a special dial marked UAE Limited Edition featuring the four colours of the UAE flag. This exclusive timepiece, which also features a case back engraved with the UAE map, will be available only at Paris Gallery points of sale across the country and is priced at AED 2,944 ($802).
CARROUSEL TECHNICAL DETAILS:
- Titan PVD finish case, 42 mm
- Stainless Steel bezel
- Sapphire crystal
- Case back engraved with the UAE map
- Date at 6h
- Quartz movement 3 hands
- Water-Resistant: 50m
- Black leather strap Bracelet
- SWISS MADE


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Consumers are Purchasing More Plant-Based Foods – Why it Matters and What it Means for Your Operation
We’ve all heard about the growing popularity of plant-based foods, but is this a product category that is here to stay? Should you be looking to add plant-based alternatives to your menu? While it’s always difficult to predict what the future holds, there are some early indicators that suggest growth in plant-based proteins is a real trend, not a fad. Here’s what you need to know:
Consumers are willing to pay more for meat alternatives because the products are perceived to be healthier and more sustainable.
Customers are changing their purchasing habits from less red meat to more plant proteins. Because plant-based foods are seen as healthier, 74% of consumers believe it’s worth the premium cost.1
It’s no secret consumers are becoming more interested in how their diet affects their health. Eating more plant-based proteins has been linked to reducing the risks of cancer, heart disease and other medical conditions. Customers are also buying into plant-based diets to help mitigate obesity with cleaner eating, increased energy and younger looking skin.
According to multiple studies, a plant-based diet has been shown to lower high cholesterol and blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic heart disease. Based on the findings of 95 different studies related to cardiovascular disease, researchers concluded that a person’s risk is greatly reduced by eating more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.2
Consumers also have a desire to purchase products that are less harmful to the environment. In fact, 81% of millennials are willing to pay more for a product if it comes from a sustainable brand and 37% of people are buying meatless alternatives because they are better for the environment.3 Production of plant-based foods also positively impacts climate change and 75% of crop “energy” converts to plant protein.4
According to Mintel’s plant-based proteins report from 2018, 64 million people are seeking more plant-based proteins. An overwhelming 79% of millennials are eating meat alternatives, while 20 million people identify as vegan or vegetarian. What’s more is 31% of consumers believe meat is no longer essential to the human diet and 23% of current meat eaters would like to follow a less-meat oriented diet, a study conducted by Dataessential Plant and Cellular Foodscape found.
Flexitarians, a rapidly growing consumer segment, are driving the popularity of these plant-based foods. This group has very specific and unique needs.
Vegetarians and vegans continue to be an important and growing segment, but there’s another developing category of consumers to keep in mind. Flexitarians, in contrast to vegetarians and vegans, eat meat or fish, but they actively seek to reduce their intake. For perspective, 32 million people identify as flexitarian and 95% of consumers who have ordered a plant-based burger in the past year also ordered animal-meat burgers.5
In another study conducted by Dataessential Plant and Cellular Foodscape in 2017, participants were asked to consider their current eating habits and then to consider how they wish to eat in the future. The amount of meat eaters decreased 16% when asked how they would like to change their eating habits, while those who would like to become flexitarian increased 6%.
Consumers are looking for diverse options. While veggie burgers continue to be popular among vegetarians and vegans, flexitarians are looking for products that go beyond. Based on findings from U.S. Mulo in 2018, frozen meat alternative entrees saw the highest category increase in sales at 26%. Plant-based nuggets and tenders jumped 19%, while frozen meatless sausage and center plate items increased 15%. Millennial families are believed to be driving this shift because they are seeking items that are not only quick and easy to prepare, but also options that their children will eat.
For Flexitarians, taste is a critical driver for purchase behavior and as manufacturers continue to improve formulations to better mimic meat, expect more consumers to jump onboard. Currently, 60% of those who aren’t interested in plant-based foods cite taste as the main reason.6
Restaurants that offer meatless proteins have not only seen sales increase, but have also welcomed a significant number of new customers.
Markets have already seen a significant impact. More than 31% of restaurants have added plant-based foods to their menus with that number expected to grow to 35.8% by 2023. From a financial perspective, sales increased 15% in 2017 and 17% in 2018. Sales are projected to be even higher in 2019.7
Still don’t believe it? A major chain restaurant that incorporated a plant-based item to their menu saw a staggering 36% increase in sales during the first month in the test market and 20% of the customers were new.8
The increase across the market is so large that plant-based proteins are no longer just a meat replacement – they are becoming a category of their own.
1Mintel, Protein Alternatives Report, 2017
2Bechthold A, et al. Food groups and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. In press. Accessed Feb. 27, 2019.
3Dataessential Plant and Cellular Foodscape 2017
4Beyond Meat Fever Turns the Tiny Pea Into America’s Hot New Crop, Bloomberg 2019
5Mintel, Plant Based Proteins Report, 2018
6Impossible Foods June 2019 Brand Tracker
7IRI, Ttl MULO, data CY 2014-2018; Total Meat Alternatives = Frozen + Refrigerated
8Burger King Bets on Impossible, Earnest Research 2019


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Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and Redmi K30 Ultra will launch on August 11 as part of the company’s 10th-anniversary celebrations
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and Redmi K30 Ultra will launch on August 11 as part of the company’s 10th-anniversary celebrations in China. Xiaomi has officially confirmed the upcoming announcement of both the phones and some of the key features along with storage variants and colour options are already out in the open. Apart from these new additions, Xiaomi is also expected to launch a 55-inch OLED TV and a 55W fast wireless charger.
The Mi 10 series and Redmi K30 series were both announced globally in March, earlier this year. The new ‘Ultra’ variants aim to offer slight upgrades such as bringing in high refresh rate display and advanced fast charging out-of-the-box. Some posters of the upcoming Mi 10 Ultra have been leaked already, giving us a brief look at the phone that’s slated to come with a periscope camera with 120x digital zoom and a 120Hz or 144Hz high-refresh-rate display. Similarly, the Redmi K30 Ultra is set to pack in a 120Hz refresh rate display up from the 90Hz panel on the Redmi K30 Pro.
Let’s take a brief look at the Mi 10 Ultra and Redmi K30 Ultra based on leaked specifications and rumours.
According to some leaks, the Mi 10 Ultra is expected to come in two colours, white and a Transparent Edition. Some official-looking banners made it online, giving us our first look at the upcoming phone along with a real-life image of the retail box if the Mi 10 Ultra. One of the most noticeable changes comes in the form of a periscope lens instead of the telephoto lens from the Mi 10 Pro. This periscope lens comes with upto 120x digital zoom which will form the marketing crux when the phone launches. The other three cameras are expected to be the same as on the Mi 10 Pro.
The Mi 10 Ultra is rumoured to feature a Full HD+ AMOLED screen with a 120Hz high refresh rate. It is likely, the screen size remains the same at 6.67-inches and is HDR10+ certified as well. It is rumoured to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset paired with UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5 RAM. The phone has also been leaked to comes with an improved vapour cooling chamber which helps in keeping the phone’s thermals in check.
The phone is expected to come with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 100W or 120W fast charging out of the box. It is also compatible with a 55W fast wireless charger that will debut alongside during the event. As per some leaked info, the Mi 10 Ultra in white colour will be offered with 8GB RAM/256GB storage and 12GB/256GB storage while the transparent variant is expected to come in 12GB/256GB and 16GB/512GB options to choose from.
The Redmi K30 Ultra builds upon the K30 Pro with a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen that has a 120Hz high-refresh-rate and a pop-up selfie camera. The K30 Ultra is rumoured to be powered by MediaTek Dimesnity 1000+ chipset with an octa-core CPU. This could be paired with 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, 8GB/128GB or a 512GB storage variant.
The Redmi K30 Ultra is rumoured to come with a 64MP quad-camera setup on the back along with a 5MP telephoto camera, a 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there’s a 20MP selfie camera housed within the pop-up mechanism on top.
It comes with a 4,400mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging out-of-the-box. We’ll know more details about the new smartphone during the launch which is scheduled for August 11.