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Inflation rates in the UK have fallen. Below is the latest from the Office for National Statistics:
- The headline rate of retail price index inflation fell to 2.9% from 3.2% in July
- The rate of consumer price index inflation fell to 2.5% in August, from 2.6% in July
- The underlying rate of retail price index inflation fell to 2.9 % in August from 3.2% in July
More top news
Emmerdale star Anthony Quinlan has revealed he split his trousers in front of the rest of the cast and crew during filming.
Home Secretary Theresa May and French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve call on EU nations to tackle the root causes of the migrant crisis.
Downing Street is likely to confirm that the UK will fund extra security guards at the Eurotunnel perimeter.


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‘There’s still life in the pub’ says New Inn boss after overseeing turnaround
- Credit: Copyright: Archant 2017
At a time when many pubs around Norfolk are closing their doors, a Broads-based establishment has proved that given the right combination of factors, they can still be successful.
Mark Stockley, the owner of The New Inn, Horning, has masterminded the pub's turnaround.
Three years ago when he and wife Kim took over, The New Inn was rated in the bottom 10% out of over 600 establishments in the greater Norwich area on TripAdvisor. Today it is ranked number 20.
Although it is an industry under pressure – 27 pubs have closed around Norwich in the past decade – this didn't stop Mr Stockley from making a significant investment in The New Inn.
He said given the right set of factors, a pub could be profitable.
'We took over The New Inn in June 2014 and started making some significant changes to the decor, the kitchen, toilets and layout.
'The location with its terrace and river frontage made it really attractive and we wanted to create a relaxed family friendly environment offering locally-sourced, quality food that was still good value.'
- 1 M&S to close 32 stores as part of move away from town centres
- 2 Where you can see the Red Arrows over Norfolk this weekend
- 3 EXCLUSIVE: US tycoons in Norwich City investment talks
- 4 Every household in the UK to get £400 to help with rising energy bills
- 5 'Our homes will be destroyed' - Neighbours' fears over proposed pylon route
- 6 Explained: What the cost of living support package means for you
- 7 Man claims supermarket fuel was contaminated as he reveals £200 repair bill
- 8 Revealed: Your favourite fish and chip shop in Norfolk
- 9 Norfolk holiday home named one of the best in the UK
- 10 WATCH: 'Unplayable' delivery from Suffolk bowler goes viral
Mr Stockley, who has a background in investment management and has worked in London, Singapore, New York and Hong Kong, said he had never previously given serious thought to owning a pub.
'I had loosely joked about it, but it was not something I was really thinking about. But when I sat down with the previous owner and started looking at the figures, I saw it as a viable proposition.'
He said he had been attracted by the pub's river-front location, and the prospect of creating a family-friendly environment.
But he cautioned anyone wanting to enter the industry to do their homework carefully, saying independent pub owners faced many challenges.
'You're up against big groups with massive purchasing power offering cheap drinks and dining. Some independent pubs are trying to operate under unrealistic economic conditions – the rent is too high, tied drinks are expensive and there are forced retail price index increases which keep costs going up.'
He said in today's trading environment, the right combination of 'golden criteria' needed to be present for a pub to be successful.
'These include locality, knowing your clients and focusing on what they want, serving freshly cooked food, offering good service and creating a relaxed family friendly atmosphere.
'The bigger pub companies work on quantity and price, not necessarily quality.'

domain: news


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Although many criticize, there is no doubt that the current iPhone 7 are phones with good features and that allow to enjoy iOS 10 in all its splendor. In fact, the iPhone 7 Plus remains the most powerful smartphone , in addition to its sales hit records . But in spite of this, the truth is that many users choose to wait for the iPhone 8 .
For months, there has been a steady stream of information describing what Apple's next terminal will look like, such as the integration of the main camera into the apple , or even the use of laser beams for facial recognition . However, the arrival of the iPhone 8 or "iPhone X" - which would commemorate the tenth anniversary - has generated rumors as disparate as there will be no such device or that Apple would have already started the production process.
Despite the rumors, in September we will see new iPhone
The next phone in the block is expected to be a milestone in the company's history, as it constitutes a revolution that breaks with the models we have seen so far. That is why, as we were advancing yesterday, the production of the iPhone X could have started earlier than expected , in order to ensure the largest possible stock .
More data coming today suggests that it will probably be released in September . According to the Apple Insider , which echoes two reports from the supply chain, one from one analyst and the other from a spare parts supplier, it seems that Apple does not have on its road map deviate from its usual dates to launch New phones .
Although the two reports differ on when manufacturing will start, they do agree that the new iPhone will arrive in September. The aforementioned media also refers to Apple's increased production , which could be 300% greater than that of previous generations. In any case, it seems that there will be no changes to the release dates we are used to, but we will see a radical change in the next iPhone 8 or "X".


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The company Omaks International (Ukraine) launched the production of scented tights. Ukrainian tights will be available in three different aromas: flower, fresh and talc odors.
Specialists of the company believe that the new product will be capable of standing five laundry sessions. The administration Omaks International used such a marketing method because they think that scented tights will raise the status of their production. "A good smell is a very important factor, which testifies to the product's quality," a spokesman for the company said. As a rule, cheap makers do not want to spend extra money on scents.


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The Meetings Show’s 2020 education programme will feature a global line up of expert speakers aimed at helping event professionals to navigate these challenging times, including headliner Andy King of Fyre Festival.
The virtual event, taking place on 19-21 October, will see King discuss all things Fyre, reputation management and recovery, becoming a viral sensation, the importance of sustainable events, and of course…his willingness to do ‘whatever it takes’!
The session will include a Q&A, so get your thinking caps on and you’ll be able to submit your questions for Andy nearer the time.
The Meetings Show’s event director Jack Marczewski said: “Our industry has been facing some huge challenges in light of the pandemic, so over the last six months we have been continually consulting with industry professionals to ensure we deliver an education programme that directly meets those changing needs.”
The three-day programme also includes sessions in areas such as career development, future trends, effective use of technology, measuring ROI as well as event design and formats, creative thinking and sustainability that will be streamed both live and on-demand, with many offering the chance to pose questions and interact.
Meeting Design Institute President Maarten Vanneste will deliver several sessions focused around techniques for designing interactive and effective online and hybrid meetings, while The Meetings Design Lab will tackle the topic of ‘Getting speakers ready for online delivery’.
Join Event Tech Founder Dr James Morgan for his yearly round up of the latest event technology ideas and applications. In this popular multi-media session, James will explore the latest event technology that will increase audience engagement, planning and production efficiencies as well as enhance sales and marketing functions.
Find out ‘Everything you wanted to know about ROI’ in an interactive masterclass about designing better meetings and proving the value afterwards with Event ROI Institute Managing Director Elling Hamso.
And hear from panellists including The Delegate Wranglers Founder & Director Neil Thompson and London & Partners Head of Business Events Paul Black in a session on ‘Industry fortitude in the face of adversity’. They will share valuable insights on how they have re-skilled, launched and adapted to do things differently and what have been their most successful achievements and proud moments.


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Sep 27, 2016
Sendspace shrugs at phishers exploiting free service The fifth suspect to be arrested in connection with the megahack of TalkTalk last year has appeared in court today. Daniel Kelley, of Heol Dinbych, Llanelli, was arrested in Llanelli last November and arrived in court today charged with 14 offences relating to hacking, blackmail and fraud conducted between March and November last year, reported Court News UK. The court heard that following the attack on TalkTalk, Kelley sent a demand for 465 bitcoin (£217,000) to TalkTalk's CEO Dido Harding. He is also alleged to have demanded payment from individual TalkTalk customers to prevent him releasing their personal information, with four individuals blackmailed for a single bitcoin each. Alongside the TalkTalk episode, Kelley is accused of targeting other companies and individuals, allegedly demanding a total of 596.12 bitcoin (£279,216) to prevent him releasing company and personal customer information in eight attempts at online fraud, though he faces four further charges relating to cybercrime and two counts of fraud. Other alleged victims named by the prosecutor included Zippo Lighters, which was allegedly blackmailed for more than £11k; a shoe shop from Westfield Stratford which was asked for £12k; and the higher education internet service provider JISC, which was allegedly blackmailed for over £6k. Another company, London-based tobacconists JJ Fox Ltd, were allegedly blackmailed for more that £9k. It was alleged that the suspect also had international targets, among them Australian remote control car company RC Hobbies (£7k) and Aus-based education provider TAFE Queensland, who were allegedly asked for over £12k for the return of their customers' information, it was said. Deputy District Judge Martin Steen granted Kelley conditional bail to appear at the Old Bailey on October 10. He did not enter a plea. ®
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Mexico’s biggest retailer says local consumers are trickling back into stores to buy everything from washing machines to high-end televisions. But so far the trickle has yet to become a flood.
Wal-Mart de Mexico, better known as Walmex (WMMVY), is seeing signs of discretionary spending coming back after the global recession.
Same-store sales climbed 5.4% in May and CEO Scot Rank says June is “off to a good start.”
Going forward, the company — the Mexican affiliate of Walmart (WMT) — plans to expand aggressively throughout Central America, but the big push probably will not come before early 2012. It will take at least that long to integrate existing stores into the Walmart network, Rank says.
Clothing and appliances have been good sellers for the company as the domestic economic mood brightens. The World Cup is also helping with television sales.
WMMVY is thinly traded in ADR form, making it a somewhat speculative play for individual investors with limited portfolios and patience. Rival Grupo Gigante (GPGJY) is the only other Mexican retail ADR, but turnover there is even worse.
One interesting way to play the television side of the story: Grupo Televisa (TV). If Mexicans are buying more TVs, then it follows that they are watching more TV, and if they are watching the World Cup, they are definitely watching it on Televisa channels.


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Stores fight Sunday rules
CHAIN stores and supermarkets are planning to turn Sundays into ordinary shopping days.
Two thirds of retailers say they would like to open for longer on the Sabbath, effectively ending its religious and family focus.
Asda and Tesco, together with the DIY giants, are leading the crusade and insist that it is what their customers want. Industry leaders are now pressing for Sunday hours to be extended from six to nine.
But the Church of England says the proposal would have devastating consequences and the Keep Sunday Special campaign warns it would destroy a vital family day.
Shopworkers' union USDAW is also fighting the idea, saying its members need a day of rest. The British Retail Consortium, which represents most major traders, is officially neutral but confirmed that large stores are now demanding longer Sunday hours.
'A 4pm closing time seems to be a bit of a constraint, particularly in the large shopping centres that have sprung up over recent years,' said consortium director general Kevin Hawkins.
'We are not talking about 24-hour opening and total deregulation, but rather an extra couple of hours at the end of the day and an hour at the beginning.' Among the malls keen on a shift are London's Brent Cross and the Trafford Centre in Manchester.
But there is a dispute over whether the move would require major legislation or simply a change to regulations. Sunday trading in large stores was approved 11 years ago following a fierce battle.
It was decided that stores with more than 280 square metres of shopping space could open for a maximum of six hours. Smaller stores were allowed to open for as long as they like.
The case for longer hours is being made by retail industry lawyers Bond Pearce, which said two thirds of stores would open for longer on Sunday, if allowed.
It also claimed that a survey of 900 shoppers found that 56% want longer Sunday trading. Support rose to 69% of those aged 16-25. Company partner Tony Askham said: 'This isn't about whether Sunday shopping is a good idea or a bad idea. That argument was won 11 years ago.
'We know that most retailers would welcome longer hours, and our latest survey suggests that most consumers feel the same.'
At B&Q, a spokesman said: 'We have disgruntled customers who turn up at 10am and can't understand why we aren't open. Similarly, it is quite difficult to get people out of the store at 4pm.'
A Tesco spokesman said: 'Our customers lead increasingly busy lives and want to be able to do their shopping at a convenient time.' A spokesman for Asda said: 'Some customers do not understand why we have short hours on a Sunday especially when stores in Scotland have no restrictions.'
However, Sainsbury's took a different line. A spokesman said: 'There has been no customer demand to extend the opening hours of our supermarkets on Sundays.'
The Keep Sunday Special Campaign also said there is little demand. 'People are beginning to realise that family and friends bring greater happiness than shopping,' said chairman, Dr Michael Schluter. 'And time is more precious than money.'
The Church of England is taking an even more direct approach. Spokesman Steve Jenkins said: 'Sunday is not a normal day, it is a holy day.
'You cannot seriously argue that the nation needs more time to shop.'
WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
GERMANY: Federal Constitution Court last year upheld laws which impose a total ban on Sunday trading.
FRANCE: Technically allowed, but laws barring the employment of workers mean there is a de facto ban.
SPAIN: Government allows only four Sundays a year though regional authorities can permit additional trading.
SWEDEN: Abandoned regulation of trading hours in 1984.
NORWAY: No Sunday opening other than self-service shops not larger than 100sq m.
ICELAND: No regulation of Sunday trading.
DENMARK: Stores allowed to open on nine Sundays
ITALY: Trading allowed but with regional restrictions and in practice only large stores in major cities open.
UNITED KINGDOM: Stores greater than 280sq m may open for six hours but must remain closed on Easter and Christmas Day.
PORTUGAL: No regulation of Sunday opening.
BELGIUM: No regulation of Sunday opening.
POLAND: No regulation, which has led to an influx of German shoppers on a Sunday.
HOLLAND: Deregulated after it found businesses were suffering when compared with European neighbours.
US: Trading is allowed though the level of regulation varies state by state.
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NEW YORK -- The market value of Alibaba Group Holding briefly exceeded that of Amazon.com on Tuesday for the first time in 28 months on the New York Stock Exchange.
The Chinese e-commerce company's market capitalization has been steadily growing as shoppers in China, Southeast Asia and elsewhere make more purchases online.
Alibaba's American Depositary Receipts ended Tuesday's trade in New York at $183, up 0.5%, with its market value briefly topping $470 billion.
Amazon shares finished down 0.4% at $987.20 on the Nasdaq exchange. Investors reacted to Wal-Mart Stores' announcement that it plans to enhance its online shopping operations by selling Amazon shares.
Alibaba ADRs listed in the U.S. in September 2014. The share price at one point fell below the initial offering price of $68, leading to talk that expectations for the Chinese brand were unrealistic. But Alibaba ADRs have since been on a strong run, backed by encouraging financial results.
Amazon, meanwhile, is spending huge amounts of money on research and development and other investments, putting a damper on its profit.


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Verizon CFO Fran Shammo decried the price at which AWS-3 spectrum went in the most recent FCC auction, noting that capacity could be achieved by other means.
Speaking at an investor conference Tuesday, Shammo said that in the past spectrum cost less than it did to add capacity using technology. “This auction flipped that balance. We can build capacity for a third of what this spectrum is going to cost,” Shammo said, noting that the FCC’s bidding rules need to be revised to account for companies like Dish, which took home huge amounts of spectrum at a discount while driving up prices for others.
Shammo said that until the cost of spectrum comes down there is “no reason for us to go into the secondary market and buy spectrum at this price. It just doesn’t make sense.”
During the talk, Shammo touched on a number of topics, including the overall state of competition, which he said has been overblown by the media.
“The press makes this price war out to be a lot more than it is,” he said. “It’s just a repositioning of how the customer pays for certain things.”
Shammo said that competition has become less regional and more national as companies consolidate, repeatedly stating that Verizon builds its brand on marketing reliable, fast service as the most important factor when it comes to consumer’s decisions about wireless.
However, “the consumer’s very confused right now about what the best is,” Shammo said. Verizon commercials have tried to explain what exactly a consumer will get with faster service – more reliable video play, for example. “The network of Verizon is our crown jewel. We have consistently stated our brand around the quality of the network, and we will continue to do that,” Shammo said.
Shammo couldn’t avoid the current regulatory debat over the FCC’s Title II “net neutrality” provision. He reiterated Verizon’s position that the new regulations will have “unintentional consequences.”
Verizon’s lawyers have not yet looked at the full 300-page document that makes up Title II, but they will do so soon, Shammo said. He expects a lot of litigation from companies who feel the regulation is detrimental to their business.
“We want to pass regulation that says we don’t expect the ISPs to prioritize, we don’t expect the ISPs to block anything. And at least to my knowledge not one ISP has ever done any of that in this industry,” Shammo said. “So it’s been a very free-flowing internet. Without regulation, we’ve had a lot of investment, we’ve had a lot of innovation, we’ve had companies like Facebook and Google and Apple all of a sudden come to the forefront with all this technology that’s been built. And for some reason now we feel we need to put in a 1933 regulatory legislation to fix what was never broken.”
Shammo predicted that innovation would decrease under Title II, and that jobs would be lost. He was in support of tax reform for the industry, and said that the government should “let the industry work on a commercial terms basis.”
The industry is entering a new world in which almost every device is wireless, Shammo said. Verizon plans to contribute to this world with Verizon Vehicle and an upcoming over the top mobile service.
“I think as the pie expands there’s enough room for all four carriers to expand within that pie, but again for Verizon it’s going to be around the quality of the experience and the quality of the network, and I think we’ve got it right and we’re coming out with some real nifty things this summer,” he said.
Filed Under: Industry regulations


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Deirdre Bosa, the co-anchor of CNBC’s bi-coastal tech-focused program “TechCheck” has had a very relevant footing on social media. She took to Twitter on the 9th of May to announce that the chief executive officer of Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi sent out an email to his employees with the title stating ‘The next best chapter’.
In the mail, he listed out multiple points that the company will have to act by. The first stated that the market is ever changing and volatile and that the company should adapt accordingly to survive.
He said that the priorities of companies are slowly changing and that free cash flow (FCF) is the new way to go.
He went to say that the investors of the company are questioning as to why the ride sharing option has not been bringing in as much money as they thought it would. They have also asked whether delivery would be a viable avenue to explore.
He also stressed to his employees in the email that the size of the total market and industry just does not matter if the company is not able to generate profits in the first place.
He ended his email with a motivational line with full capital letter stating, ‘This will be epic. We will make it legendary. GO GET IT!’
Deidre Bosa said he ended his email sounding more like Travis Kalanick, the co-founder and former chief executive officer of Uber and not like Dara Khosrowshahi himself amusingly. She ended her tweet asking her followers what Uber 3.0 will like.
The tweet has been up for less than 12 hours and it is already closing on 2,000 likes. She attached screenshots of the email to the tweet. In the email. Dara Khosrowshahi, says to his employees that he is certain that Uber will win, but it will be difficult and it will take a lot of effort, hustle, grit, and some industry revolutionizing innovation. He said that in some situations, they will be forced to slow down so that they can sprint faster and that they will have to make do with less to achieve more. He said that this effort will not be close to being easy, but in the end, it will be awesome. He said that we should never forget who we are. A company that revolutionized that industry, whose name became a verb, etched in vocabulary. Mr. Dara Khosrowshahi definitely has some strong penmanship only time will tell if Uber will be able to dominate the industry.


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Were you lucky enough to secure a pre-order of the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5? If so, congratulations! You’re one of the few who managed that feat. Both consoles sold out as soon as pre-orders were available, meaning a lot of people hoping to pick up one of the new machines this year were left disappointed.
A lot of factors came together to make this happen, and we’ll look at them in turn. First is the confusing way in which both Sony and Microsoft made their consoles available. Pre-orders for the PlayStation 5 “accidentally” went live hours ahead of schedule, meaning a lot of people who had planned to pre-order at the promised time missed out. There is no one place where consoles may be pre-ordered either, with retailers from big outlets like Amazon and supermarkets down to smaller specialist games or electronics shops all offering to take customers’ money. As many found out later, problems with stock availability and allocation meant that a lot of pre-orders were either cancelled, rejected, or could not be fulfilled on launch day.
Then there are the “bots.” Automated computer programmes bought up a significant percentage of the available supply of new consoles, leaving many machines in the hands of touts and scalpers. These consoles are currently being re-sold for well over the asking price to disappointed gamers who missed out.
Finally there’s the question of how many machines were manufactured. When coronavirus hit China hard earlier this year, production of next-gen consoles was majorly disrupted. Some factories were closed for weeks, others cut back their output, and the consequence for both Sony and Microsoft was that far fewer next-gen consoles were available in time for launch than they expected. I noted this a few months ago when I asked the question: is now really the right time to launch these machines?
There was always going to be high demand for these machines, and both Sony and Microsoft knew that they’d sell out on launch day. In fact that’s usually part of the plan; selling out makes a machine look exciting and cool, and fear of missing out drives sales. No company wants to see images of huge numbers of unsold machines sitting on shelves in the period after launch.
But even in that environment, the reduced manufacturing capability has had a huge impact, make no mistake. The plan had been for millions more consoles to be available; Sony told us this directly when they announced a few months ago that they would have several million fewer consoles ready to go on launch day than they initially planned. When their business model was already based around artificial scarcity, the loss of several million units has made an already difficult pre-order process practically impossible when combined with the other factors listed above.
So on to the title of this article: how much does an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 really cost if you want to get one before the end of the year? I went to a popular auction website and compiled a short selection of listings. Take a look:
As you can see, prices are approaching double the recommended retail price here in the UK, with scalpers and touts even selling pre-ordered consoles that they don’t actually have in their possession yet. Anecdotally I’ve heard from friends in the United States of PlayStation 5 consoles being sold for upwards of $1200 – well over double the asking price.
In a way, this is “pure capitalism.” This is what happens when companies don’t have enough stock for consumers; the law of supply and demand kicks in. If someone is willing to pay £900 for a PlayStation 5, then there will be a market for that. The true price of these machines right now, in November 2020, is not the recommended retail price of £450. It’s £700, £800, or £900. And with no indication of the availability of either console improving before Christmas, those prices may yet rise further.
Companies are totally fine with this. It doesn’t matter in the slightest to Microsoft or Sony whether a genuine player buys a console or a bot picks up that console for a scalper or tout to re-sell later. They still make just as much money no matter who the buyer is, so they have absolutely no incentive to find ways to stamp out this behaviour. Likewise, retailers from game stores to supermarkets to giants like Amazon don’t care – and it’s through online retailers that the vast majority of pre-orders have been taken.
The market – that amorphous entity that economists love to talk about – determines the price and value of products. If people are willing to pay £900 for a PlayStation 5 then that’s its true value. But is it worth it? Could any video game console possibly be worth £900?
It will come as no surprise to you to learn that my answer is a resounding “no.” Not only are these machines not worth such a ridiculous amount of money, they’re probably not even worth their official price right now.
This new console generation is, at best, a minor improvement over the current one in most of the ways that matter. Add to that the fact that practically every game currently available for the PlayStation 5, and every single game currently available for the Xbox Series X, are also available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, most players would find it hard to tell the difference between playing on a current-gen or next-gen machine. There are iterative changes, such as faster loading times, better controller battery life, and so on. But there’s nothing significant in terms of graphics or gameplay that make either console a “must-buy” in 2020. Any such improvements won’t be seen for a year or more; perhaps by 2022 you could make the case that games are getting better thanks to these machines. But not yet.
There was a lot of hype and buildup to the launch of these new consoles, as is to be expected. And a lot of players were sucked in by the hype and decided that they needed a new Xbox or PlayStation on launch day no matter what. If they paid over the odds for their machine from a scalper or tout, I bet a lot of them regret that investment today.
With the new consoles offering small improvements at best, there’s no need to get one right now. Don’t reward the scalpers and touts with their scripts and bots who bought up as many consoles as they could. Jump off the hype train and be patient, and enjoy the exact same games on current-gen hardware. Chances are you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference anyway.
The Xbox brand – including the Xbox Series X and Series S – is the copyright of Microsoft. The PlayStation brand – including the PlayStation 5 – is the copyright of Sony. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.


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Tesla Stops Installing Mobile Chargers In Its Vehicles
May 02,2022 | Chloe Lacour
Tesla's recent move was met with opposition for discontinuing mobile chargers as standard equipment, but Tesla is not the automaker to do so today.
In late April, Tesla removed the mobile charger, a cable with a NEMA 14-50 plug that allowed cars to be charged directly from those outlets. CEO Elon Musk explained the decision on Twitter, saying that the automaker's "usage statistics" showed that hardware usage was "extremely low. The product will be available at an additional charge in the future.
However, Kia has also decided to include a 120-volt Class 1 AC mobile charger as an option for the EV6. According to a recent Reddit post, users report that the charging cable is not included with the car.
Tesla and Kia have been the top two brands in electric vehicle sales for the past few months. Tesla recently took the lead in researching the home charging experience. Electrek said he also lowered the price of the mobile charger and its wall connector to mitigate the impact of discontinuing the standard mobile charger. The mobile charger currently sells for $200, while the wall connector costs $400.
The EV6 is Kia's first dedicated EV model. Unlike other Teslas, it is compatible with bi-directional charging. The same is true of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which shares the EV6's E-GMP platform. However, the Ioniq 5 still includes a mobile charger.
Not everyone chooses a physical charging cable. A broader range of wireless chargers for home use is coming soon. However, with this hardware, EV drivers may eventually be able to disconnect the power cord, but now the charging cable can provide much-needed flexibility when planning a charge.


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Atlus has released a preview trailer showcasing the new and exclusive Continue reading
The Atlus faithful received an email today from Atlus discussing a new trailer for Devil Survivor Overclocked, titled “Auction & Fusion”. Continue reading
When Catherine was 1st announced by Atlus Japan, myself and other hardcore Atlus fans were excited to find out that one of our favorite developers was going to be making their 1st HD, PS3/Xbox 360 title. Continue reading
Atlus USA tweeted that it has sold 200,000 copies of Catherine since its release last Tuesday. Atlus celebrated with this cake:
Great news Atlus, now can you guys please start working on Persona 5 if you haven’t already.
3DS owners looking for a great RPG game to play on your system? Mark August 23rd down on your calendar and pick up Devil Survivor Overclocked. If you haven’t already played the DS version or even if you have, here’s a chance to play a rare gem from the creators of Catherine and the Shin Megami series.


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- Papa John's on Monday said it has received a $200 million strategic investment from the hedge fund Starboard Value and appointed Starboard CEO Jeffrey Smith as its chairman.
- The pizza chain appointed three new directors, including Smith, to its board.
- Around half of the proceeds from the deal will be used to repay debt, with the rest going towards investing in the business, Papa John's said.
- Watch Pizza chain trade live.
Papa John's was rallying, up 5.17% to $40.50 a share early Monday, after announcing a $200 million strategic investment from the hedge fund Starboard Value and appointing Starboard CEO Jeffrey Smith as its chairman.
Starboard agreed to make the investment through the purchase of new convertible preferred stock, and the deal includes the option of an additional $50 million investment through March 29, 2019, according to a statement.
Smith, along with Anthony Sanfilippo, former CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment, have been appointed to be the two new independent directors of the pizza chain. Papa John's CEO Steve Ritchie is also joining the board, the statement said.
Around half of the proceeds from the deal will be used to repay debt, with the rest going towards investing in the business, Papa John's said.
“Our agreement with Starboard concludes a comprehensive strategic review conducted over the past five months to better position Papa John’s for growth, improve the Company’s financial performance and serve the best interests of our stakeholders," said Olivia Kirtley, a member of the Special Committee and most recently chairman of the Papa John's board.
"This transaction provides the Company with financial resources and strong and experienced directors on the Board in order to position the Company for success over the long term. We believe we have found terrific partners to advance Papa John’s strategy, especially given their record of reinvigorating and growing premier restaurant and consumer brand companies."
The pizza chain also announced preliminary financial results for the three months and full year ended December 30, 2018. Its system-wide North America comparable sales decreased 10.5% and its international comparable sales were flat for the period December 31, 2018, to January 31, 2019.
Meanwhile, its 2018 adjusted diluted earnings per share are expected to be near the low-end of its previously provided range of $1.30 to $1.60, impacted by a $51 million special charge following its founder John Schnatter resigning as chairman in July after he used a racial slur on a media training conference call. Analysts were expecting $1.47 earnings per share.
Papa Johns was down 30% in the past 12 months.


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With social distancing measures and lockdowns in place, digital has become the go-to channel for brands. According to Magna, digital ad revenue is expected to grow by 19.7% this year to reach SG$867 million, representing 39% of the total ad market. With the plethora of ads online, brands will have to go the extra mile to impress and engage consumers. David Lim, HappyFresh's SEA VP, marketing and MD of Thailand told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that three questions are often asked when creating content.
1. Is this relatable to our target audience?
2. Is this bold and brave?
3. If it's me, will I skip or watch it?
According to him, the marketing teams are trained to answer these three questions whenever they discuss the content to be rolled out. "The Internet audience has a lot more options and power when it comes to ads consumption now, media placement, programmatic buying and other adtech solutions can only be part of the equation," he explained. Hence, creative and engaging content remains a key to ensuring money spent in production is "not blindsided" when it appears on any media channel, Lim (pictured below) said.
With Southeast Asia being a fragmented market, he said it boils down to how much each local marketing team knows about their respective market. The more knowledgeable they are about their market, the more localised the campaigns and content will be. According to him, nuances in each country's culture, media consumption patterns and even talents selection, can make or break a campaign.
"The way a tudung is tied in Malaysia is different from how a hijab is tied in Indonesia. Even the terms used are different too. If they are assumed to be the same, the content will not be relatable with audiences in one of the two countries," he explained.
To fulfill its hyperlocal marketing ambitions, HappyFresh currently works with C27, Small People Production and Salmon House for creative duties in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, respectively. Lim told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE previously that localisation is key especially when selling a service so personal. It has since launched two videos for its campaign in Thailand and the creatives for Malaysia and Indonesia are currently in the works.
"It has been extremely challenging to carry out shoots across all countries due to the pandemic, and animation has been a style that is overused by many brands in the past 18 months. There is also a lack of face-to-face brainstorming sessions which our teams and the agency teams are very used to," he explained. According to him, messages and angles also have to be altered very quickly depending on the situation and the government announcements in each country.
The pandemic has not only pushed HappyFresh to be even more creative but also tweak its media mix. Lockdowns have led to lesser commuter traffic and as such, HappyFresh shifted a large amount of its offline media budget to online media channels in the past 12 months. Facebook continues to be a top digital channel for HappyFresh in Thailand while Instagram is a stronger channel in Indonesia. While TikTok has been considered by many marketers in recent years, it might not be suitable for all target audiences in all verticals, Lim added.
Meanwhile, the remaining offline marketing budget is now concentrated on a few key offline channels that still make sense in respective cities, Lim said. With more consumers working from home, for example, it made more sense for TVCs to be rolled out in Malaysia where TV consumption is still high.
The same goes for certain cities in Indonesia where radio ads are still a prominent media channel for consumers. Another offline channel that has proven effective for HappyFresh during the lockdown in Thailand are elevator ads. At the same time, it has also cut back on OOH spending on trains in Thailand as there is no commuter traffic during the lockdown.
"Our local marketing teams have adjusted a small part of their digital spend towards these targeted media channels based on the change in user behaviour," he explained.
Aside from marketing, Lim has also taken an interest in the Internet of Things which has become a buzzword in recent years. Specifically, he is interested to find out how advertising can tap on IoT and be integrated into consumers' daily lives more so than ever. "Imagine your fridge sending you a push notification saying milk or eggs were already added to your cart in your HappyFresh application because they are already running low! These are ideas that keep me up at night," he said.
At the same time, Lim also believes that 2022 will be "a year of comebacks" for a few industries and media owners. Travel and hospitality will be industries that need to be ready to educate their target audience on how they can ensure safe travel and accommodation in a post-COVID era. Meanwhile, last-mile fulfilment and delivery service providers such as HappyFresh will have to focus on how users should continue to use their services to save time on grocery shopping and focus on the activities they miss doing, Lim explained.
"OOH will also return to business for B2C marketing teams. Lastly, MICE marketing will need to pivot back to how it was done before the days of never-ending Zoom or Google hangout calls, virtual breakout rooms and chat rooms," he added.
HappyFresh handpicks creative partners for 3 SEA markets
HappyFresh bags US$65m in fresh funds, doubles down on hyperlocal strategy
HappyFresh taps Thai influencer to show the way to mothers-in-law's hearts
HappyFresh rolls out music video with Malaysian celebrity Hunny Madu
HappyFresh partners LINE in Thailand to fulfil grocery needs via mobile


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Passengers in the EU have the right to request a refund when their flight gets cancelled and, according to the regulation on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, airlines have to issue the refund within 7 days after the passenger’s request. So far however there has been no established timeframe for when flights are booked through intermediary travel agencies.
Following a dialogue with the European Commission and national consumer authorities (CPC network), the three major European airline intermediaries (eDreams ODIGEO, Etraveli Group and Kiwi.com) committed to better inform consumers of their rights in case of flight cancellations by airlines and to transfer ticket refunds within 7 days after receiving them from the airlines, meaning that consumers should receive them after a total of 14 days.
This action is a new step to ensure that consumers get their right fully respected and get a timely ticket refund – no matter if they booked directly with an airline or via an intermediary.
Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice
“Since the Covid crisis we have acted to increase the resilience of the air travel sector and its capacity to respect their commitments towards consumers. For instance, by ensuring that companies have means to pay back passengers when flights are cancelled by an airline. Consumers will also be better informed of their passenger rights and of the possible hurdles that they could face in case of issues in connection with a booking through intermediaries”, explained European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders.
The online travel agencies made the following commitments, to be introduced to their practices ahead of the upcoming summer holiday season, by 30 June 2023:
- In case of cancelled flights, the online travel agencies will transfer refunds from the airline on to the consumer within 7 days from the day the online travel agency receives the refund from the airline. This will result in a refund in 14 days for consumers having bought their ticket through an online travel agency. Remaining backlogs in transferring refunds received from airlines have been or will be cleared by 30 June 2023 at the latest.
- The online travel agencies’ telephone number and e-mail address will be provided in or via the support or ‘contact us’ sections of their websites – so that consumers can choose whether to communicate with them via e-mail or telephone.
- Information on the specific benefits linked to different service packages offered by the online travel agencies will be made clearer for consumers.
- Consumers will be clearly informed about their statutory rights under the Air Passenger Rights Regulation to rerouting or reimbursement in cases where the airline cancels their flights. They will also be clearly informed if the flight was cancelled.
- Consumers will be clearly informed about the consequences that specific services offered by airline intermediaries can have on the consumer’s rights in the event of a flight disruption (e.g. that contact details may not have been transferred to the airlines, or that when only one leg of a trip is cancelled, the second leg may still have to be paid where there is no interlink between the flights constituting the journey).
The network of European consumer protection authorities will now close its dialogues with all airline intermediaries, but authorities will continue to monitor whether commitments are correctly implemented. The network will furthermore continue to monitor compliance by airlines with their commitments under the CPC action against 16 major airlines conducted in 2021.
This action complements a previous dialogue with 16 major European airlines that resulted in those airlines committing to respect the 7-day time limit for reimbursements and reimbursing over 500,000 flight vouchers that they had imposed on consumers following flight cancellations during the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2021 dialogue with the airlines had cast a spotlight on additional delays experienced by consumers when cancelled tickets had been purchased through an intermediary.


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The next generation 2018 Audi A8 has been spied testing on the Nurburgring for the very first time. While the car will be far from a racetrack focused racer for the road, testing at the unforgiving circuit will ensure the new A8 is perfect when it reaches production.
Internally known as Project D5, the 2016 Audi A8’s design is set to have blended British elegance with Italian sportiness as well as German solidity. Beyond these rather broad influences, the next-gen A8 is said to receive a smaller single frame front grille, a remodelled rear end as well as a large greenhouse feel thanks to a large sunroof.
The 2016 Audi A8 was originally pinned to ride on the MSB platform developed by Porsche. However, Audi wanted to go it alone and has decided that its new PL65 platform will support the next-gen A8. In order to make the platform more viable for the Volkswagen Group, the new VW Phaeton will also utilise it as will a potential Audi Q9 Coupe and Q8 crossover.
Elsewhere, the 2016 Audi A8 will introduce a host of new technologies for Audi including three levels of autonomous driving as well as an extremely advanced infotainment system. Additionally, the driving dynamics will be a key focus for Audi with it pinned to receive on-demand torque vectoring, re-engineered air suspension and more.
[Via Motor Authority]


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Southern California-based commercial lifestyle photographer Erik Isakson has been working for Samsung as both a photographer and producer for nearly five years, providing images for a series of projects across many different industries.
Since the 2015 launch of Chevrolet’s magazine New Roads, they have worked on multiple projects with Los Angeles-based photographer Erik Isakson for the publication. Recently, they asked Erik to depart from his usual sports and active lifestyle imagery to shoot their new Chevy Equinox with beach lifestyle imagery.
Los Angeles photographer Erik Isakson recently got a taste of GMC luxury as he took the Denali line on a road trip through Southern California. From climbing the cliffs of the Santa Monica mountains to sailing on a Catamaran in Marina Del Rey, Erik hit all the right places to create a photoshoot-worthy road trip.


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Fisker, Inc. (NYSE:FSR), which has taken baby steps into the world of commercialization, has charted an ambitious product roadmap. The Los Angeles, California-based company showcased its future vehicles at its “Product Vision Day” held in Huntington Beach, California.
The electric vehicle startup unveiled four future products, including the Ocean SUV, the Ronin grand-touring four-door convertible, the Pear, and the Alaska EV pickup truck.
Commenting on the products and plans, CEO Henrik Fisker said, “We want the world to know that we have big plans and intend to move into several different segments, redefining each with our unique blend of design, innovation, and sustainability.”
The Fisker Ronin, the company said, will be the world’s first all-electric four-door convertible GT sports car. Going by the details shared by the company, reports suggested Ronin will be pitched against Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) Roadster if it ever enters the market.
The Ronin targets a 600-plus mile range and will be powered by a triple motor all-wheel-drive powertrain capable of delivering 1,000+ horsepower and 0-60 miles per hour acceleration in 2 seconds, the company said.
Fisker first teased the vehicle in May this year.
With bigger EV rivals fighting it out to make inroads in the electric pickup truck market, Fisker apparently doesn’t want to be left behind. The company showcased its Fisker Alaska, which it claimed is built for multiple cargo configurations.
The cargo bed is extendable from 4.5 feet up to 9.2 feet , and it comes with a Houdini bed divider to connect the cargo bed and rear cabin, the company said. It also claimed that Alaska would be the world’s lightest EV pickup truck with a projected range of 230-340 miles. The company expects to begin deliveries in 2025 and hinted at a starting price of $45,400 before incentives.
Incidentally, Tesla is getting closer to launching its Cybertruck – an EV pickup truck it first announced in 2019. Analysts expect the base trim to have a starting price under $50,000. Ford Motor Co.’s (NYSE:F) F-150 Lightning, Rivian Automotive, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:RIVN) R1T, and General Motor Co.’s (NYSE:GM) Silverado and Hummer are among the electrified pickup trucks currently available in the market.
This durable off-road package is meant to maximize the vehicle’s outstanding torque and power, Fisker said, adding that it is the best fit for offroading adventure. It would come in Ultra and Extreme trims and will likely be available in the first quarter of 2024. The company did not disclose the pricing.
“Our second quarter marked an important milestone for Fisker as we started deliveries of our first Fisker Ocean vehicles to customers. We are currently in a quarter that truly marks the inflections for Fisker – our business model has now been proven, by the fact that we are already making a positive profit margin on the first vehicles are selling,” said CEO Henrik Fisker in the delivery of the cars.
This low-end EV was announced by Fisker in 2022 and is offered in four trim levels. The EV will have a starting price of $29,900 and is scheduled to be available in mid-2025. It is promoted as a personal vehicle for city transportation.
The company commenced taking reservations for Ronin and Alaska with immediate effect.
Fisker recently announced Fisker Extreme Vigyan Edition all-electric SUVs for the Indian market, and first deliveries are set to begin in the fourth quarter. The company said in early July that it produced 1,200 Fisker Ocean SUVs in the second quarter. The company began the first deliveries of its Fisker Ocean SUV in Europe in early May and followed it up with U.S. deliveries in late June. The company’s vehicles are now being manufactured by its contract manufacturer Magna International Inc. (NYSE:MGA) in Austria.
Produced in association with Benzinga
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The Enforcement Directorate, or ED, has attached assets worth Rs worth over Rs 757 crore of one of the country’s most known multi-level marketing (MLM) and direct-selling companies, Amway India, as part of a money-laundering investigation. The central agency said that the company was using consumers to create a ‘pyramid’ scam, which only focuses on how members can become rich and is not focussing on the actual products. The ED has attached Amway’s assets across India, the probe agency has said in a statement.
ED Attaches Amway’s Assets: What We Know
- The ED issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for attachment of assets worth Rs 757.77 crore belonging to Amway India Enterprises Private Limited, it said in a statement on Monday. The probe agency further said the company is accused of “running a multi-level marketing scam”.
- “The entire focus of the company is about propagating how members can become rich by becoming members. There is no focus on the products. “Products are used to masquerade this MLM pyramid fraud as a direct-selling company,” the ED alleged in its statement.
- The money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate found out that Amway brought Rs 21.39 crore as share capital in India during 1996-97 and till the financial year 2020-21, it remitted a “huge” amount ranging in hundreds of crores in the name of dividend, royalty and other payments to their investors and parent entities. Companies like Britt Worldwide India Private Limited and Network Twenty One Private Limited also played a “major role” in promoting Amway’s pyramid scheme by conducting seminars for joining members under the guise of sale of goods by enrolment of members in the chain system, it alleged.
- The attached properties include land and factory buildings of Amway located in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, plant and machineries, vehicles, bank accounts and fixed deposits. Of the total attachment value, immovable and movable properties are worth around Rs 400 crore, while the remaining amount is deposited in 36 bank accounts “belonging” to Amway, the central agency said.
- Amway said the ED action was with regard to an investigation dating back to 2011 and since then, the company has been cooperating with the agency and has shared all the information sought by it from time to time. “Amway has a rich history of maintaining the highest levels of probity, integrity, corporate governance and consumer protection, which are much ahead of time in the interest of the consumers at large,” the spokesperson said.
- ED said that Amway provoked common, gullible people to join the company by promising them that they would get rich. The new members, it said, are not buying the products to use those, but to become rich by becoming members as showcased by the upline members.
(With inputs from PTI)
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The 2017 Geneva Motor Show is just around the corner and Toyota has already shared what fans can expect from their showcase. Reports indicate that the sportier version of the 2017 Toyota Yaris, the i-TRIL Concept, and the full Toyota Gazoo Racing lineup will be featured this March.
The brand new Yaris will be the brand's highlight model at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show since the automaker has experienced tremendous success in the market for the model due to its dynamic exterior and interior designs reported Toyota UK. In fact, the showcase will include a performance prototype in the form of the Yaris GRMN which had been inspired by the 2017 World Rally Championship entry. The said prototype is powered by a supercharged engine with a 1.8L capacity that can generate 210hp.
Other than the Yaris, the brand would also feature the i-TRIL Concept which was developed by the Toyota Motor Europe and design studio in Nice, France. The EV concept will show fans the innovative features of Toyota's research which paved the way for environmental-friendly mobility solutions. Furthermore, the on-plus-two seating layout also has the autonomous technological feature which has alternative A and B segment cars, motorcycles, and EV products under its design as well.
In other news, Automotive World reported that the full lineup of the Toyota Gazoo Racing cars which will be the official entries of championship races this year will also be showcased. These races include the FIA World Rally and World Endurance Championship race in Dakar. The 2017 Geneva Motor Show will showcase the design and engineering features of these vehicles by next month.
Toyota will hold a press conference on its stand in Hall 4 of the Palexpo exhibition center on March 7, 2017. It will be the first day of the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Will the surprise the fans with what's in store for their present and future automobiles?


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It introduced 1%-fat milk to the tertiary brand under which it also sells some cheeses two weeks ago. It has since confirmed the 1% variety will replace, rather than sit alongside, its existing 0.75%-fat Creamfields product.
"The reason is customer demand for 1%-fat milk," said a Tesco spokeswoman. Tesco was the only major multiple not to offer it, added Patty Clayton, senior analyst at DairyCo, arguing that consumers would find 1% more familiar than 0.75%.
"It could be that Tesco is changing the fat content of Creamfields from 0.75% to 1% to reduce confusion and ultimately to take advantage of the growing popularity of the product," she added.
Tesco's 1%-fat Creamfields milk is currently priced the same as the 0.75%-fat version was on sale at 88p for two litres and on offer at two-for-£1.50.
Sainsbury's was the first supermarket to offer own-label 1%-fat milk, which it launched in April 2008. Tesco launched 0.75%-fat Creamfields in October 2009, replacing Robert Wiseman's Fresh'n'Lo and The One.
Sales of 1%-fat milk have increased 51.3% by volume to 742,000 litres in the past year [Kantar 52w/e 31 Oct].
The move comes as Tesco announced that from 6 December the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group would start supplying all milk into its Creamfields brand, its filtered milk brand, Pure, and its own-label cream. Currently the group only supplies Tesco's own-label standard milk.


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Big shifts on the print and online fronts at Teen Vogue: longtime Style.com market director Marina Larroudé has been named fashion director at the pint-sized glossy, succeeding Gloria Baume, while Dan Koday will take on the digital director role, filling Naomi Nevitt’s shoes. Brazil-bred Larroudé began her career at department store Daslu in São Paulo, followed by a contributing editor role at Vogue Brazil, after which she moved to NYC to join Style.com in 2006, working in the men’s fashion department at the site. Koday joins Teen Vogue from Latina, where he was executive content director since March 2013, prior to which he spent two and a half years as director of digital at the title. Before Latina, Koday was at Alloy Digital for a year and a half; he got his start in the biz as web editorial assistant at Seventeen, where he spent nearly four years.
Both Baume and Nevitt had been at the title for lengthy stints, particularly the former. Baume has been with the title since 2003; earlier in her career, the Rome native spent time at Glamour, Marie Claire, and Vogue. Nevitt started as an intern at the teen mag, and became online writer in 2008, followed by a stint as online editor from 2010 to 2013, when she became online editorial director of Teen Vogue before bidding adieu last month. Between her writer and online editor jags at the title, Nevitt spent just shy of a year as a new media specialist at PR Consulting. No word yet on her next gig. Another Teen Vogue farewell from a longtime staffer came in April, when fashion news director Jane Keltner de Valle left the mag after a decade to join Glamour as fashion news director. Teen Vogue‘s spokesperson could not provide comment from the new hires.


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Georgia-based battery maker Exide Technologies has notified the state it may be laying off a number of workers or close its recycling facility in Muncie, affecting as many as 180 employees.
The company last week filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it attempts to reorganize the business. Exide said it is looking to sell all or a portion of the company assets.
Exide says a federal bankruptcy judge in Delaware last week granted the company first-day motions, which allows the company to continue to operate, pay employees and provide health benefits and to pay suppliers.
In the notice to the state, Exide said if it does not find a buyer, it may be “forced to conduct reductions-in-force or plant closings.”
Even if there is a buyer, Exide said the new owner could choose to cease operations and close the plant.
Exide said if layoffs occur, they could begin as early as the week of July 21. But for now, a company spokesperson says it continues to operate as usual.
“Our Board of Directors determined that, given the continued, unsustainable impact on our cost structure resulting from legacy liabilities in North America, and in light of the global economic COVID-19 slowdown that has amplified these pressures, a sale of our North American operations through a court-supervised process provides the best opportunity to continue delivering high-quality energy storage solutions and service to our customers,” said Tim Vargo, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Exide in a news release.
Vargo said the bankruptcy and probable sale does not include its European, African, or Asian operations.
The Muncie facility recycles spent lead batteries. Recovered materials are shipped to its manufacturing plants to produce new batteries.


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Amazon’s interest in buying American Apparel will fizzle now that Gildan has won its bid to buy the bankrupt basics retailer.
The Canadian apparel maker said in a statement Tuesday that it emerged as the winner in an auction to acquire the American Apparel and some of its assets for $88 million—higher than its initial $66 million offer.
As part of the deal, Gildan will acquire American Apparel’s worldwide intellectual property rights and certain manufacturing equipment. Gildan will also make a separate purchase of American Apparel’s inventory to “ensure a seamless supply of goods” as the company integrates the brand into its printwear business.
Gildan will not be buying any of American Apparel’s physical store assets.
“We are excited to be moving forward with this acquisition. The American Apparel brand will be a strong complementary addition to our growing brand portfolio,” Gildan president and CEO Glenn Chamandy said. “We see strong potential to grow American Apparel sales by leveraging our extensive printwear distribution networks in North America and internationally to drive further market share penetration in the fashion basics segment of these markets.”
American Apparel filed for bankruptcy the same day that Gildan placed its initial bid to buy it on Nov. 14 after struggling with sluggish sales and steady negative press tied to its founder and former CEO Dov Charney.
Amazon and Forever 21 had reportedly put bids in to the buy the company, and their offers may have been what drove Gildan up $22 million from its initial bid.
Faced with a mountain of debt and suppliers in retreat, Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy this week.Read more
Labeling could be a boon for retailers who are looking to address consumer preferences and prioritize sustainability measures.Read more
The Chinese government’s ongoing program to inspect factories throughout the country seems to have only a minor impact on apparel and textile facilities.Read more
If the world has been forever altered by the swipe left, swipe right culture of online dating, apparel sourcing may be forever changed by Foursource.Read more
When a company like MAS Holdings, a major Sri Lanka-based intimates, activewear and leisure wear supplier that produces more than one million garments every day starts eyeing startups, it’s clear where the industry is headed.Read more
Tempur Sealy taps American Textile for sleep line, Welspun certified for Made in Green and Microban picks U.K. distributor.Read more
New research on how animals spin silk could open the door for more sustainable synthetic fiber production.Read more


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Segre Recognized for Innovation, Leadership, and Growing Genesys into
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year(™) 2014 awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. These business leaders were selected from more than 100 nominations by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala on
“Since 2012 when we successfully completed a buyout of Genesys, we have implemented an aggressive growth strategy which has yielded record revenue and EBIT growth. We also have managed to complete eight acquisitions while building the industry’s largest cloud contact center business,” said
Genesys is the global multi-channel customer experience and contact center solution leader. With over 4,500 customers in 80 countries, Genesys orchestrates more than 100 million customer interactions every day across the contact center, front and back office. Sixty percent of the Fortune 100 are Genesys customers including: AstraZeneca, Procter & Gamble, Marketo, Ticketmaster, and many more.
Since becoming President and CEO at Genesys in 2007, Segre he has led the company to consistent yearly double-digit growth, including record revenues of more than
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (™)
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.
Genesys is a leading provider of multi-channel customer experience and contact center solutions. With over 4,500 customers in 80 countries, Genesys orchestrates more than 100 million customer interactions every day across the contact center, front and back office. Genesys helps customers power optimal customer experiences that deliver consistent, seamless and personalized experiences across all touchpoints, channels and interactions.


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Earlier this morning we posted a report titled "Samsung Slashes Smartphone Prices to Bump up Orders." In that report we briefly noted that "Samsung's profits fell 4.03 percent in the three months ending June compared to a year earlier," according to a South Korean tech site. The report further noted that "The latest profits, however, missed the 7.2 trillion won average of analyst estimates largely due to weaker than expected Galaxy S6 sales."
As many are reporting this morning, "Despite the earlier positive market reaction upon its debut in April, the new flagship smartphone has fallen short of luring customers from Apple's iPhone and cheaper devices made by Chinese handset makers."
The Wall Street Journal reported today that "When the Galaxy S6 and its curved-screen variant, the Galaxy S6 Edge, were launched in April, the phones were praised by reviewers and greeted with strong advance orders from consumers. But Samsung appears to have badly miscalculated in its expectations for what kinds of smartphones these consumers were after."
As you can see with our list of eleven reports below on this topic, we've been consistently reporting on Samsung's S6 sales not living up to the hype set by Samsung's mobile division co-chief executive J.K. Shin and all Android fans sites. Each time that we reported the news on this front, Samsung fans came out yelling that "everybody" is reporting how great the phone was and that I was a nothing but an Apple Fan Boy. Hmm, what will these lost souls say now that "everybody" praising the S6 got it wrong!
Samsung's co-chief J.K. Shin has lost all credibility. With the launch of the disastrous S5 and now with the S6, Shin has made all kinds of hyperbolic statements for both phones having record sales right out the gate and each time the phones have failed to deliver.
The Wall Street Journal added that "For Samsung, the expected drop in operating profit marks the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines, and is a steep come down from initial analyst expectations that earnings would rebound strongly from the dismal results after the Galaxy S5's launch in the second quarter last year."
Shares in Samsung, which tumbled 5.3% in the previous two sessions, to a 2015 low, weren't active ahead of the stock market opening in Seoul on Tuesday. The stock has fallen 17% since the April 10 launch of the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge.
Patently Apple – Samsung Reports about the S6 Smartphone +
The Success of the iPhone 6 is Depressing Korean Analysts - June 30, 2015 –
As Apple Fans Wait for the Next Hot iPhone Model to Arrive, Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge Catches a Break June 30, 2015
New Estimates Released show that Samsung's Illusionary S6 Comeback is failing to Stop Apple's iPhone 6 Mania - June 24, 2015
Apple Takes the Smartphone Lead away from Samsung in the Australian Market in Q1 2015 June 10, 2015
Apple Almost Doubles Sales in Latin America While Samsung's Dramatic Price Cuts Hit a Wall June 10, 2015
After taking a Beating all Week, Samsung Plays Marketing Games to Change the Subject June 4, 2015
Samsung may Quickly Shift Tactics against Apple's 4.7" iPhone 6 by releasing a 5.7" Galaxy S6 Edge later this summer June 2, 2015
Analyst States that Samsung's Galaxy S6 Can't Match the Performance of Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus June 2, 2015
Mixed Profits Picture from Galaxy S6 Suppliers Indicate that the new Smartphone isn't the hit that they were hoping for May 22, 2015
A new Report is claiming that Samsung's S6 is looking like another Disaster in the Making May 21, 2015
Samsung's Galaxy S6 Sales Disaster in Japan is Embarrassing! May 12, 2015


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Happy Easter everyone!
Here comes the first monthly update of new Wechat features.
With 800 million MAU, which is over 10% of the entire world’s population, Wechat is becoming this mega complex social media tool with updates all the time, so I thought it could be a good idea to give you guys an update every months, so you know what is going on in the Wechat world.
Find out someone’s Wechat public accounts with their national ID number
Consider the fact that there are over 20 million public accounts out there, and a lot of people managing a public account in their off-work life to gain some extra bucks. This can be a powerful stalking tool to check out your family, friends and colleagues’ ‘secret’ life.
You can also deactivate and retrieve accounts via Wechat public platform assisting account.
Mini Program accessible via QR Code
If you don’t know what is Mini Program, please read here.
Since it’s launch, Mini Program did not maintain the public attention it used to receive, many of Wechat’s users are still not understanding the core concept and it’s application. On the other hand, the social media marketing’ community is still pretty exicted about the Mini Program, many of the insiders and/or Mini program developers claim that they are satisfied with the Active User number.
Accordingly to Wechat’s official number, there are over 200k individual developers worked with the Mini Program since it’s launch in the beginning of 2017. Travel industry has been one of the most developed sectors in launching Mini Program. QUNAR.com, one of the most successful travel search engine reports over thousand DAU to their Mini program.
Before, one can only find Mini Program through a very buggy search. But now, Mini program is for the first time accessible through QR Code. In the coming months, we will definitely see many big public accounts pushing QR Code for different Mini Programs. Moreover, there will be more companies developing it’s own Mini Program, follow the footsteps of Chinese Uber and Chinese Foodora.
Search within public accounts’ previous posts
Now you can search within a public account’s past history. See you remembered Dior has published an article about it’s new 2017ss bag, instead of going through all the articles to find the one that introduce 2017ss collection, you can now type the keywords. Keywords apply to both title and content


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Shoppers today use their mobile devices for a range of retail activities, from couponing to showrooming to finding parking spots at the local mall. Retailers, on the other hand, are being just as aggressive in using mobile to reach out to shoppers.
What are the hottest mobile marketing techniques we can expect to see this holiday season? Turns out there’s a bunch of them.
The Stalwart Still Works
The mobile display ad format may have been around a few seasonal cycles, but it provides enough value to make it a regular feature this season too.
“They are one of the most cost-effective methods for advertising, allowing retailers to reach a lot of consumers in a certain geographic for a very low cost,” Patrick Stack, manager for digital strategy at Acquity Group, told CRM Buyer.
That’s not to say more elaborate ad technologies won’t be out in full force, however, from geofencing to augmented reality to rich media, noted Andrew King, senior strategy consultant at Lyris.
Geofencing campaigns, for example, “have proved extremely successful in the past, and I expect to see them used more and more in the future,” King told CRM Buyer.
Showrooming Is the Devil….
By contrast, “augmented reality is still seen as a gimmick, but that could drastically change once Google Glass is released to the public and becomes mainstream,” King predicted.
Perhaps the most common of these formats is rich media, he said, especially as cellphone networks become faster and WiFi connections become more widespread. Videos, in particular, are very popular and will no doubt be a key component of many mobile campaigns in 2013.
Showrooming, meanwhile, is still the devil.
Retailers may hate it, but showrooming — that is, testing out a product in a store and then finding a cheaper one online via a device — is here to stay. Retailers are trying to steer consumers away from this practice via a number of tactics.
There are a number of ways they are doing this, but the larger goal or point is to build relationships with consumers at the same time, Bob Egner, vice president of product management atEPiServer, told CRM Buyer.
That may mean deemphasizing price matching while emphasizing discounting and promotions for future purchases, for example, perhaps even after the holiday season.
Price matching, though, will be surely be part of the mix in the war against showrooming. Many stores are beginning to offer immediate in-store coupons to consumers who show the same product at a different store for a lower price on their smartphone, Stack pointed out.
… Unless It Works in Your Favor
Of course, for every retailer that is hurt by showrooming, there is one that benefits. Expect this latter group to have their mobile landing sites souped up for the crowd, Rory Dennis, Amplience‘s general manager for North America, told CRM Buyer.
“It is critical that retailers ensure mobile landing pages are well-suited for high traffic during the holiday season,” Dennis explained. “Landing pages not only need to grab and keep a consumer’s attention, but they also need to be optimized for geography, competitor offerings and hot-selling items.
“Rich visuals, video and fast loading times,” he concluded, “are all critical.”


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Samsung suffered a public relations nightmare at the glitzy media launch for its new curved high-definition 105-inch TV screen when celebrity guest star Michael Bay, the Hollywood film director, walked out because of a problem with the autocue.
Technology websites and social media have been abuzz with video clips of Bay’s gaffe at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, the premier event for global electronic firms to unveil new devices.
When the autocue failed, Bay told the audience he would “wing it” but soon walked off.
The director of Transformers later admitted on his blog he had “embarrassed myself”, explaining he had “skipped over” the introduction given by a Samsung executive and that meant “the teleprompter got lost”.
He confessed: “I guess live shows aren’t my thing.”Reuse content


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Coles reinstates buying limits
Victorian and Tasmanian Coles have reinstated more product limits after distribution centre workers tested positive for coronavirus, hurting the supermarkets giant's ability to replenish shelves.
Panic buying has also re-emerged across Victoria in recent weeks as people raided shelves in anticipation of a second lockdown.
New two-pack limits apply to:
• Fresh milk
• Canned tomatoes
• Canned beans
• Canned garden veg
• Pasta sauce
• Chicken breast
• Canned fruit
• Chicken thighs
• Canned baked beans and spaghetti
• Prepacked carrots
• Canned meat
• Prepacked potatoes
• Frozen fruit and veg, including potato
• Hand sanitiser
• UHT milk
The measures apply to supermarkets, Coles Express and Coles Online in Victoria and Tasmania, as well as Lavington, Albury and Deniliquin in New South Wales.
They are in addition to the two-pack limits announced last week in response to panic buying and the one-pack limits on toilet paper and paper towel across the country.
A Coles spokesperson said a number of staff members at the Laverton chilled distribution centre in Victoria had tested positive to coronavirus.
They said the company was working with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to have all workers employed at the facility tested for COVID-19.
"While the Laverton distribution centre has been able to maintain operations, the reduced number of available team members has temporarily impacted our ability to replenish our Victorian stores with chilled and fresh produce lines," the spokesperson said.
"Our supply chain team has put in place a number of contingency measures, including re-routing some stock through Coles distribution centres in other states, introducing pop-up distribution centres in Victoria, and working with some suppliers to deliver products direct to our Victorian stores."
The workers who tested positive have not been present at the Laverton distribution centre since June 25.
The spokesperson said contact tracing was continuing, the distribution facility had been deep cleaned daily over the past week and a significant number of workers at Laverton had been asked to self-isolate at home as a further precautionary measure.
Coles apologised to customers who might find some chilled and fresh produce lines temporarily out of stock and said they were working with suppliers to replenish our stores as soon as possible.
Originally published as Coles reinstates buying limits


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A new resource developed by the two groups can be customized to help patients guard their data on third-party health sites.
With third-party applications gaining more access to patients' health information, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) have announced the launch of the “THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK” campaign.
The organizations are endorsing a seamless flow of data to these applications to enhance access and improve better health outcomes. Consumers must mitigate their risk, however, and the groups are offering five-step checklist designed to educate and empower consumers to take the necessary precautions before they transmit their health information to third-party apps.
This checklist is non-branded and is made available for free to any organization seeking to educate and protect its members.
“With new federal regulations allowing patients to direct providers and health plans to share their health information to a third-party app, there is concern that unintended disclosures of sensitive data could occur,” Russell Branzell, president and CEO of CHIME, said in a press release “Providing consumers with this simple-to-use checklist with recommended actions they can take before transmitting their data is a service we feel will help consumers protect themselves and their personal information.”
“We hope that critical consumer and patient organizations personalize this resource with their brand, widely disseminate it to their members and strongly encourage its use,” added Charles Stellar, WEDI's president and CEO. “The 'THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK' checklist will be made freely available on the CHIME and WEDI websites. We urge providers, health plans and health care vendors to leverage their communication channels to distribute this collateral directly to consumers.”
Scott Mace is a contributing writer for HealthLeaders.


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International Business Machines Corp. undefined said Thursday it will host President Joe Biden later Thursday for a tour of its Poughkeepsie, NY site as it announced plans to invest $20 billion in the Hudson Valley region over the next 10 years. "The goal of the investments, which will be strengthened by close collaboration with New York State, is to expand the vibrant technology ecosystem in New York to unlock new discoveries and opportunities in semiconductors, computers, hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence and quantum computers," the company said in a statement. IBM has more than 7,500 jobs located across the Hudson Valley. The company said it will directly benefit from Biden's CHIPS and Science Act, which will ensure a secure supply of next-generation chips for its computers and AI platforms. Poughkeepsie is home to IBM's first Quantum Computation Center. IBM shares were slightly lower premarket and are down 6% in the year to date, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average undefined has fallen 17%.
- Over 50% of CEOs say they’re considering cutting jobs over the next 6 months — and remote workers may be the first go to
- Peloton to cut another 500 jobs, the fourth round of cuts this year
- Amazon to hire 150,000 workers for holiday season and pay average of $19 an hour
- JCPenney to hire nearly 22,000 employees for the holidays
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. said Thursday it plans to invest about $500 million to build and operate a green hydrogen production facility in Massena, New York, as well as liquid hydrogen distribution operations. The industrial gases company expects the investment to create 90 jobs. The company expects commercial operation of the facility to begin in 2026 to 2027. Air Products said it is also looking into establishing a hydrogen fueling station network in the northeastern region of the U.S. to help serve its truck fleet. The stock, which slumped 1.1% in morning trading, has gained 1.2% over the past three months while the S&P 500 has declined 2.0%.
Target Corp. is recalling about 12,800 Hearth & Hand with Magnolia tea kettles because of the risk of fire and burn hazards. "The paint can chip on the bottom of the recalled kettles, posing a fire hazard," the company said. "In addition, the handle can break and/or the spout can leak, posing a risk of burn injuries." The kettles were made in India and sold at Target stores from July 2021 through October 2021 at a price of about $35. Target has received 27 reports of incidents involving the kettles and one user reported a fire caused by paint chipping off the bottom. Consumers can return the kettles to a Target call and receive a full refund. Target shares were up 0.7% Thursday, but have fallen 32% in the year to date, while the S&P 500 has fallen 21%.


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- Morrisons drops out of FTSE 100
- The grocer’s share price has slumped 13% this year to 151p
- Relegation could spark share sell-offs by tracker funds
Supermarket giant Morrisons has fallen out of the FTSE 100 for the first time in more than 14 years after its share price plummeted.
The grocer’s market cap has dropped to around £3.51bn following a 13% decline in its share price to 151p this year.
New boss David Potts took the reins in March, weeks before the grocer reported a 52% slump in profits to £345m.
Potts admitted it would be a “long journey” to turn the embattled retailer around and he has already axed 720 head office jobs and sold Morrisons’ M-Local convenience chain to concentrate on rejuvenating sales in its core supermarket business.
But a 2.6% drop in like-for-like sales during its third quarter ending November 1 sparked a further fall in its share price.
That has pushed Morrisons out of the FTSE 100 this afternoon, the London Stock Exchange said, based on Tuesday’s closing price, which left it 111th in the list in value terms.
The share price of a business is used to decide whether it is included in the FTSE 100 index. The top 90 firms gain automatic admittance, but if a company’s value falls outside of the top 110 then they face being relegated.
The grocer’s demotion into the FTSE 250 could trigger share sales by tracker funds which typically only follow the UK’s top 100 companies.


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McDonald's entered the Indian Territory in 1996 as a Joint Venture between Oak Brook III and two local Indian partners. Connaught Plaza Restaurant manages North and East India franchise, and HardCastle Restaurant manages South and West Indian outlets. They were both known to be splendid success stories as building a burger business without a beef offering - it was never done anywhere else in the world by McDonald’s. Also, bringing in innovation through items like ‘aloo tikki’ and developing affordable price offerings as low as a soft serve cone at Rs. 14 pushed McDonald’s to be a very successful venture in India with two JV partners.
In a not so fortunate twist in this story, the recent tiff between McDonalds and Connaught Plaza Restaurant (CPRL) owner Vikram Bakshi, McDonald's is seen losing its shine and brand image to a larger extent. And of course, it has a direct impact on revenues; they are losing revenues in the Northern region due to the non-renewal of mandatory licenses to operate. On August 21, 2017, McDonald’s India terminated its franchise agreement with Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd (CPRL) for all 169 of McDonald’s outlets in northern and eastern India, citing non-payment of royalties as the main reason. This fight has put an axe on the 169 outlets managed by CPRL in the country.
Who are the real victims?
The closure of the restaurants would affect around 6,500 McDonald’s employees in northern and eastern India besides 3,500 workers as suppliers and business associates. Vikram Bakshi claims that till date salaries of all employees including for the restaurants that are shut down are being paid by CPRL and the landlords are being paid their rentals. However, there seems no direct and immediate resolution in sight. The branding too has taken a hit and the franchisees of competing brands are working on plans to poach the fast food major’s employees. At this juncture, the employees and related associates are in a fix on how to take the right plunge to safeguard them from this unwarranted turmoil.
- Should they join other rivals - who are seen rushing to expand by opening various outlets and grab the market share?
- Will individual brand loyalty give better benefits to the loyal employees in the longer run?
- Is it a worthy wait to see what the verdict comes out to be?
Impact of JVs in India
This unwanted saga of recent upheaval in such a huge brand clearly points out to the inherent challenges of joint ventures in India. Businesses need to clearly define every bit of leadership structures to succeed in a set up of 50:50 joint ventures. McDonald’s JV was one of the few remaining success stories which have taken such an unpleasant turn now. There is an interesting piece of analysis done by IndSight Growth Partners Advisors’ on India entry strategy. Out of 38 foreign consumer goods companies over the last 25 years, data shows that of the 21 JVs started, only six have survived. And of the 15 that were terminated, a third of them ended in a public conflict. There are many business reasons for these failures. Cross cultural differences, control expectations, Strategy, culture, team dynamics, resources and different ownership context are some factors which play a pivotal role. However, most JVs fail because they do not acknowledge and manage the inherent challenges within the structure of a JV in India.
The interesting journey of McDonald’s
Structurally, there was no distinction between the Bakshi and Jatia ventures (owner of HardCastle Restaurant) in the first 15 years of its inception. However, the changes began in May 2010, when the parent company bought back its shares in the Joint Venture (JV) with Jatia venture. And then in 2013, McDonald’s voted against the re-election of Bakshi as managing director of CPRL.
Bakshi is widely known as the corporate face of McDonald's in India. A player in real estate in the National Capital Region, and beyond; he challenged his removal at the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). NCLAT reinstated Bakshi as the managing director on 13th July. As per Vikram Bakshi, McDonald’s have earned royalty till September 2015. He has paid 5% of sales stake as royalty even for the period of dispute from 2013-2015.
On the other hand, as per the termination notice issued by McDonald’s India, Bakshi was supposed to cease using McDonald’s name, trademarks, designs, branding, operational and marketing practices, policies, food recipes and specifications from 6th September, 2017.
NCLAT will now hear the matter on 21st September, with the main appeal brought by McDonald’s India against the NCLAT’s order of July reinstating Bakshi as managing director of CPRL. A separate appeal was also filed by Bakshi requesting a fair valuation of the fast-food chain’s outlets in northern and eastern India.


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Introducing Data Mapping
“What PI does my organization process, and where is it stored?” “How...Read Now
September 16, 2021
California's Attorney General recently confirmed that companies captured under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) must honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals. Osano's Consent Management platform now understands and communicates GPC signals.
A coalition of tech companies, developers and privacy advocates worked together to create the GPC signal. It aims to create a global web browser setting that allows users to control their online privacy. By enabling Global Privacy Control in Osano's Consent Manager, Osano customers' end users can opt-out of the sale of their data across all websites that respect the signal. The GPC signal is either communicated by the browser's default settings (DuckDuckGo and Brave support this) or via an extension installed.
This change is optional, but Osano strongly recommends enabling the GPC toggle. Important: To implement the GPC change, you will need to do a "republish."
As one WIRED reporter put it in his story on GPC:
"What do you call a privacy law that only works if users individually opt-out of every site or app they want to stop sharing their data? A piece of paper. Or you could call it the California Consumer Privacy Act."
Here's what he meant: Under California's Consumer Privacy Act, organizations are required to offer users opt-out rights. Typically, users had to opt-out of data processing or the sale of their data at each website they visited. That was until a coalition of more than a dozen organizations began developing the GPC specification.
GPC aims to make opting out easy.
DuckDuckGo and Brave already incorporate GPC into their codes at the browser level. But for end-users that use other browsers, many extensions will add the functionality to any given browser. That control is up to the end-user.
But, as mentioned above, the reason this really matters is, while the CCPA doesn't specifically mention the GPC signal, the California Attorney General gets to issue regulations indicating specific compliance requirements. In July, the office added to its CCPA FAQs that businesses selling personal information must honor GPC signals.
To be clear: the GPC doesn't prevent data collection. It simply indicates that companies must opt users out of the selling of the data an organization has collected on them. When an end-user toggles the GPC, there's no documentation that they don't want their data sold within Osano's blockchain. That makes it auditable. It's now a permanent, traceable and timestamped record.
With this change, your organization can:
The Osano staff is a diverse team of free thinkers who enjoy working as part of a distributed team with the common goal of working to make a more transparent internet. Occasionally, the team writes under the pen name of our mascot, “Penny, the Privacy Pro.”


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PandoraMedia Inc presented its listeners with British singer Adele's best-selling album "25", days after streaming companies said the album would not be available for streaming at release.
Pandora listeners say hello to singer's "25"
The album is the first by the singer since releasing "21" in 2011, which sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
The U.S. online radio service said all songs from Adele's album, which broke records in first-week sales, are now available on its radio service, sending Pandora shares up on Wednesday.
"Since "Hello" was added to Pandora's platform last month, her total station adds are up 1,200 percent," the company told Reuters in an email.
"Hello" was released on Oct. 23 as a single-song teaser for the album which has 10 other songs.
The much-anticipated album "25" was not available for streaming on any other digital music services, including Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer.
The album has already broken first-week sales record held by NSync's 2000 album "No Strings Attached," which opened with 2.4 million copies. The album "25" was originally expected to sell more than 1 million units in North America in its first week, as estimated by Billboard magazine.
Sales of the album released on Friday continue to grow, selling at least 2.8 million copies in the United States in the first five days, Billboard reported, citing Nielsen Music data.
Representatives of Adele were not available immediately for comment.
Pandora shares closed 5 percent higher on Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.
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Pop-Dot today announced a creative partnership with WI-based tech-startup, Gigi. Gigi, whose flagship consumer product is a Bluetooth reminder device, has its sights set on the health-tech industry, aiming to produce custom health-centered versions of its device for hospitals.
“Working with innovative companies like Gigi is what we live for,” said Kate Ewings, the Director of Brand Development and a partner at Pop-Dot. “Not only is their product unique in its category, it has the potential to positively impact countless lives. That’s something everyone can get excited about, regardless of industry.”
Although many details surrounding the product launch remain under wraps, it’s known that Pop-Dot aims to introduce Gigi’s new device into the healthcare space through product partnerships with local and national providers. The device would serve a number of important health-related functions, from supporting current health initiatives to supplementing individual care plans.
The creative partnership comes shortly after the announcement that WI-based Prairie Estates Genetics named Pop-Dot its official Agency of Record. The two brands join a growing roster of national and international clients, some of which include: Johnsonville, Glue-Dots, Spectra USA, among others.
(Article posted with permission of original author)


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A white Christmas, indeed.
Walmart has issued an apology for an "ugly" Christmas sweater that was recently featured on its Canadian website, as it appeared to depict Santa doing cocaine.
The adult-themed holiday sweater featured a deranged-looking Santa Claus holding what appears to be a straw in one of his outstretched hands, and sitting in front of three lines of a white substance, alongside some snowballs. The phrase “Let It Snow” is also printed near the bottom of the sweater.
To really drive home the point that Santa was engaging in an illicit act, the sweater — which was marketed on Walmart.ca under the third-party seller FUN Wear — was accompanied by an incredibly lengthy description stuffed with painfully overt nods to cocaine.
“We all know how snow works. It’s white, powdery and the best snow comes straight from South America. That’s bad news for jolly old St. Nick, who lives far away in the North Pole,” the product description read, according to a screenshot posted on Twitter.
“That’s why Santa really likes to take savor the moment when he gets his hands on some quality, grade A, Colombian snow.”
Walmart has since pulled the sweater from sale and issued an apology.
“These sweaters, sold by a third-party seller on Walmart.ca, do not represent Walmart’s values and have no place on our website,” a spokesperson told Fox News in a statement. “We have removed these products from our marketplace. We apologize for any unintended offense this may have caused.”
However, despite Walmart apologizing for the sweater due to alleged backlash, those on Twitter seemed more upset by its removal from the website.
One person even posited that the illegal stimulant was how Santa managed to deliver all of the presents “in one night.”