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LONDON — Twenty-five years ago, Stephen Webster designed Crystal Haze, a fine jewelry collection that was all about mesmerizing color, precious stones in all their natural glory — and unusually chunky cocktail rings for women.
It was partly thanks to those rings that the then-fledgling label took off: Madonna bought a silver obsidian one, was photographed next to Guy Ritchie wearing it on her index finger, with bucket loads of attitude and from then on, Webster’s rock ‘n’ roll spirit and designs soared in popularity.
“At the time, women self-purchasing jewelry was still new, fine jewelry was still a boys’ club. But the Crystal Haze rings were a more reasonable price and we mainly had women buying them for themselves. It was a wardrobe piece, they weren’t wearing it because they were engaged,” the designer said. “My favorite piece of jewelry has always been a cocktail ring. It’s a celebration of life and comes without any baggage or commitments.”
Two and a half decades on, Webster is bringing back the “ring that changed [his] life” and the broader Crystal Haze range, which has now been re-christened as “CH2.”
There was a launch planned at Bergdorf Goodman for later this month, one of the first stores that had shown interest in the collection, but given the current lockdown measures and worldwide closures of department stores, Webster took a different route: Make the launch a real family affair and present the collection via Zoom, alongside his wife Assia, daughter Amy and some mouth-watering “Hazy Daze” cocktails.
“This is Lockdown Websters. When we’re not cutting each other’s hair, we try to go on as normal,” said the designer, who kicked off the virtual meeting with a quick cocktail-making class at the “No Regrets” lounge of his family home, featuring a stocked up bar, stylish silver ware and a “No Regrets” neon sign, that was previously making the rounds at his boutiques across the U.S.
The cocktail was a mix of lemon juice, Crystal Head vodka and Blue Curacao liqueur that mirrored the color of the large turquoise stones on the cocktail rings.
“It’s like a swimming pool on your arm,” said Webster’s wife Assia, who had a clear soft spot for the large cocktail rings.
Amy, who is the younger addition to the Webster team and had been the one urging her father to reimagine Crystal Haze for her generation, pointed to a new addition of more subtle, day-appropriate stacking rings which allow customers to play with mixing colors and stones.
The collection also includes drop earrings and pendants featuring sharply cut stones, in line with the natural shape of the crystal; clip earrings, as well as stackable bangles. Webster has mainly used turquoise, white opalescent and falcon’s eye for the launch, but plans to introduce new stones and colors every season.
His aim was to stay as close to his original concept as possible and just delve further into his love of fine materials by using stones with less regular facets and going the extra mile to source everything himself.
“It’s about the journey from something that was buried under the surface to something beautiful and sophisticated,” said Webster, sharing images of the big lumps of stones he sources at gem shows. “Beyond the intrinsic value, there’s the value of craft and design, in combination with the value of the material. We always wanted to add some of these other elements to make people more comfortable with fine jewelry. The moment we merged life with jewelry, that was the moment of democratization of fine jewelry.”
Prices for the range start at 1,900 pounds and the launch is slated for May 25, on Webster’s e-commerce platform.
“You can buy it and wear it as a celebration of anything — even going to your back garden,” he added.


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Google shutting down sync services in winter purge
Google said today that it is closing down a handful of products, including several that make it easier to synchronize data between devices.
Google Sync, Google Calendar Sync, Google Sync for Nokia S60, and SyncML will all go away. In the case of Google Sync — which allows access to Gmail, Calendar, and contacts via Microsoft Exchange’s ActiveSync protocol — customers won’t be able to create new accounts after January 30, but existing connections will continue to function.
Google said the recently developed CardDAV protocol would make sync possible after its own sync product goes…
See more here: Google shutting down sync services in winter purge
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domain: news


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Chinese-made Halloween makeup could be unsafe, say advocates
A new report shows face paints manufactured in China often contain heavy metals. Should the FDA require more transparency?
Halloween makeup can have unexpected consequences, warns New York Sen. Chuck Schumer.
In a press conference on Sunday, Senator Schumer informed families about the potential dangers of using face paint manufactured in China, according to the New York Post. He said these products often contain potentially unsafe ingredients such as chromium, nickel, lead, and cobalt.
“Parents are totally clueless as to what they’re putting on their child’s face. If they see it on the shelf they think it’s safe, but it’s not,” he said. “When you buy makeup for your kids, make sure it doesn’t say made in China.”
He held up makeup palettes by Rubie’s Costume Company, Wet N’ Wild Fantasy Makers, and Fun World, as examples.
Schumer is advocating for stricter regulation, and says he sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration urging ingredient transparency for these products, which do not list the toxic ingredients on their packaging. Many companies may be unaware of the contaminants in their products.
In a report released by the advocacy group the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, all of the face paints they tested contained lead, and most contained the other toxic ingredients mentioned by Schumer. Canada and Europe have banned the use of lead in cosmetics, but the US has no such regulation.
The report also found that products were often labeled with claims like “hypoallergenic,” “skin friendly,” and “non-toxic.”
In fact, notes the organization, the FDA has little power to ensure product safety when it comes to cosmetics. The agency rarely tests cosmetic products, and it lacks the authority to make companies assess their own products for harmful contaminants.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics says the inclusion of these toxic ingredients are likely unintentional, the result of complacency by the companies and manufacturers. The group blames the supply chain’s poor-quality ingredients and “a lack of manufacturer testing and regulatory oversight.”
“The FDA should require that raw materials be tested for purity, that ingredients in cosmetics be shown to be safe for children and other vulnerable populations, and that all chemical constituents in personal care products, including fragrance ingredients and contaminants, be listed on ingredient labels,” the report suggested.
Contaminated Chinese-manufactured products are nothing new. In 2007, The Christian Science Monitor’s Peter Ford wrote about a spate of regulatory oversights by China on exports to the US, including pet food contaminated with toxic waste, defective truck tires, lead paint in toys, and even poisonous toothpaste. While Beijing began a concerted effort to crack down on these violators, Ford suggested the real culprit is a lack of free elections, press, and independent courts:
While China does have such regulatory institutions and allows the media to tackle product quality, can it simply continue to rely on the iron hand of unelected leaders to correct millions of businesses? And can it continue to prevent journalists from asking if China must adopt truly representative government?
Not when lives are at stake, both within China and wherever its exports go.
While Schumer will push for increased oversight in the US, the safety of products manufactured in China can only be regulated by China itself, whose exports to the US amount to $423 billion a year.


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Bodynits Gains In Leotard War
Lynn Tan, right and modelling the latest creations: the company has already captured 25% of the local market.
Five Singaporean sisters, the Tans, are cashing in on the aerobic craze with their new brand of low price leotard. Sid Astbury interviewed them and looked at their competitors.
Leotards are selling like hot cakes at the Dance Centre of Singapore. ‘We’ve already sold 30 today and it’s only three o’clock,’ said a sales assistant at the city state’s largest retailer of dance costumes. ‘ A woman came in earlier, an Indonesian, and bought S$500 worth at one go.’ With women in Singapore and throughout the region in hot pursuit of fitness and body beauty, outlets like the Dance Centre are doing a roaring trade in high fashion ‘sweat’ suits.
The Dance Centre prides itself on exclusiveness and only stocks leading foreign brands like Bloch, Carushka and Roberto. The retailer does not, however, carry leotards made by a Singapore manufacturer known as Bodynits. Fortunately for Bodynits, other Singapore outlets and their customers cannot afford to be that choosey. By pricing competitively and marketing aggressively, the company has won around 25% of the local market for leotards, and a significant presence in the Malaysian and Indonesian markets as well.
Bodynits is managed by five sisters and is an offshoot of a lingerie store their parents started in the 1970s. Explained Yinn Tan, the sister who handles advertising and promotions: ‘The store could not keep pace with demand for leotards when the aerobics craze hit in 1982 and we saw an opportunity to manufacture ourselves.’ By chance, the Tan sisters met an American experienced in the design of leotards and she gave them a crash course. The Tan parents agreed to provide S$150,000 in seed money. Bodynits was born.
In 1984, the first full year of production, Bodynits posted sales of S$600,000. This year the company is expecting revenues to reach S$850,000, some 30% of which will come from exports to Malaysia and Indonesia. Next year, when further markets will be opened and the Bodynits range of products extended, revenues should rise to nearly S$2 million. The average Bodynits leotard sells for S$30 – about half the price of imported designer labels – and the profit margin for Bodynits is between 20% and 25%. Accessories like headbands and pullovers, shorts and tights, carry higher profit margins and are an increasingly important segment of the Bodynits range.
The basic formula for success is simple: a product of a quality similar to leading imported brands, but at a price the average Singaporean can afford. The Tan sisters have added refinements that give their product particular local appeal. Explained by Lynn Tan, the sister in charge of Bodynits (the other sisters handle production, accounts and general administration): ‘Our strong point is that we design for the Asian figure and not the western figure. We have more colours, more style and are less revealing.’ Tom Rao of Her World, one of Singapore’s leading women’s magazines, agreed with Lynn’s assessment. Said Rao: ‘Women here are very fashion conscious.’
Taking risks; being lucky
Design is indeed one of Bodynits strongest suits. Rather than employ a team of in-house designers, the firm accepts designs from anyone who cares to submit them. Said Lynn: ‘That way we get designs from women who are dancers themselves. They have a feel for the local market and for requirements like ease of movement.’ New designs are produced every three months and brochures sent to all Bodynits outlets. Orders are fulfilled on a sale or return basis. Said Lynn: ‘We knew the sale or return arrangement was risky, but we have been lucky and hardly any have ever been returned.’
Though progress so far has been sure-footed, Bodynits has exhausted the right of the firstborn and is now contending with companies cast in its own image. There are cheaper brands on the market and there is fierce discounting at shops specializing in foreign brands. Pirated versions of Bodynits designs are appearing. Worst of all, there are signs that aerobics will go the way of the skateboard.
To ensure there is life after leotards, Bodynits is diversifying into other garment lines it can feed into its superslick distribution channels. The company is spending heavily on advertising and linking up with other manufacturers for joint marketing exercises. A recent joint sally was with a producer of diet cola. Said Lynn: ‘We believe that with a good name and a good image we can expand into other types of leisure wear.’
Bodynits has no intention of forsaking leotards and is now honing strategies that should keep it ahead of the pack. To make sure Bodynits is not squeezed at the lower end of the market, there will be a budget range of leotards. ‘We need to do something for those with limited budgets and for the first time user,’ said Lynn. A more ambitious gambit is the impending move upmarket with a designer-label range aimed at the upper crust locals and the foreign market. The new label will compete head on with name brand imports.
But perhaps the most serious challenges will be internal rather than external. Bodynits has yet to come to terms with its own success. The sisters are contemplating a restructuring that will include a graduation from the current partnership format to limited liability status. Part of that restructuring would mean a firm delineation of lines of responsibility and of the profit sharing arrangement. Just how well the present sisterly relationship will stand up to the trials and tribulations of consolidation remains to be seen.
Source: As published in Asian Business Magazine


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Mobile payment systems options are growing for small businesses. Soon, customers won’t even have to bring their wallets to purchase items at the local coffee shop, or the garden center.
Cell phone app Square is starting to make a splash as it expands its reach, and will start handling credit and debit card transactions for Starbucks this fall. The free Square card reader attaches directly to the retailer’s cell phone, allowing an individual to swipe all major credit cards. The app allows customers to download the payment program and pay with their phones.
Isis, a joint project from AT&T, T Mobile and Verizon Wireless, is still under development, but small businesses are starting to take notice. Through it, customers would pay through a special chip in their phone, a credit card number stored in an app, or a small attachment that that allows a smartphone to read cards.
Others, like Google Wallet, GoPayment and LevelUp are all making strides in development as well. As the technology progresses and makes it easier for potential customers to spend, it may be coming to a garden center near you.


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Pragmatic Play goes live with Brazilian operator Aposta Brasil
PRAGMATIC PLAY has again extended its footprint in the dynamic Brazilian market, taking three of its verticals live with Aposta Brasil.
The latest operator partner in Pragmatic Play’s continued dominance in Latin America, Slots, Live Casino and Virtual Sports content are now available to Aposta Brasil’s customers and offer a market-leading selection of player favourite titles.
Slot titles including recent releases Happy Hooves and Striking Hot 5 as well as the multi-award-winning Gates of Olympus are now live, with a full complement of Live Casino hits like Sweet Bonanza CandyLand and Mega Wheel. Virtual Sports products such as Fantastic League along with horse and greyhound racing complete the entertainment options now ready to be experienced in Brazil with Aposta Brasil.
This boost to Pragmatic Play’s Brazilian prolife furthers its commercial growth in the country and is mirrored across neighbouring regions in Latin America, which remains a key sector for the industry’s premier supplier.
“Our reputation in the region goes from strength to strength thanks to our rollout with Aposta Brasil and provides yet more Brazilian players with access to our ever-growing library of content,” said Pragmatic Play vice president of Latin American operations Victor Arias. “We’re delighted to be maintaining our growth in the region and look forward to elevating more brands with our high-quality, diverse titles.”
A spokesperson for Aposta Brasil said: “This is a fantastic development for us as Pragmatic Play’s games are must-haves for any operator in Brazil. We’re sure that our players are going to be thrilled with the multitude of new entertainment options and we’re anticipating a significant boost to our revenues as a result.”


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Note: Testing for this review was done on a Nexus One
I love drifting. As I tuck myself into bed, I can be heard to whisper "Good night, Dorikin". So when I read that Reckless Racing, so long anticipated on the Droid Forums gaming section, had finally been released, I immediately bought it from the market.
My first impressions weren't particularly positive. The country hick theme (RR was formerly known as Deliverace) did not appeal to me, and the single-thumb control scheme was terrible.
Welcome to the weekly roundup of the best new Android applications and games that went live in the Market in the previous week or so. Compared to last week's roundup, this one is huuuuge and is a real testament to how seriously developers are starting to treat Android.
Please wait for this page to load in full in order to see the AppBrain widgets.
To the sound of a resounding “Meh”, Sony Ericsson have publically indicated that they have dropped Symbian off their roadmap for future handsets. Having been a member of the Symbian Foundation since its creation, Sony Ericsson are now jettisoning the aging platform for greener fields, leaving Nokia as the sole steward of the Symbian brand. According to spokesman Aldo Liguori:
“[Sony Ericsson] have no plans for the time being to develop any new products to the Symbian Foundation standard or operating system”
Funnily enough, Sony Ericsson are still part of the Symbian Foundation, they just don’t have any Symbian handsets planned.
Word has it that id Software is considering releasing their newest hit game, Rage, onto the Android platform. During QuakeCon 2010 live keynotes, id announced that they would be bringing Rage to the iPhone/iPad and that the Android platform was being considered.
Rage by id Software is the newest addition to their FPS line of games; it has become extremely popular and received three Game Critics awards this year at E3: Best Console Game, Best Action Game, and Special Commendation for Graphics.
Recently it has been reported that Google plans to add carrier billing options to the Android Market. This is great news for developers, but it may be moot, as we’re getting reports that a lot of users are having issues downloading apps that they have purchased. When a user tries to purchase an app, it seems that the market is hanging while authorizing their payment, regardless of their checkout method (credit card or carrier billing).
So, by now, you’ve probably already heard that the Samsung Galaxy S is a beast at gaming – it can produce a staggering 90 million triangles per second compared to the Nexus One’s 22 million. But that is just one spec, and real world tests are what most people care about. Quake 3 has now been ported to both devices, and it acts as a great test of each device's gaming capabilities.
Unity3D recently announced that pre-sales are going on for their Android version of their great 3D engine. Game developers who are still on the border as to whether or not they want to make the jump to Android or, if you already are developing for Android making the jump to Unity 3D, have a little more incentive now. Unity3D will give the first 500 Unity Pro for Android pre-sale orders a free Nexus One.


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Anand Balasubrahmanyan will be responsible for the Malaysian bank’s private equity products according to Reuters, which said the firm is expanding its investment banking business after buying Asian operations from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
CIMB has added a private equity page to its website, but it currently contains no information.
Carlyle is still searching for its first Asia-based investment, most recently being linked with a minority stake in WNS Holdings, the Mumbai-based business process outsourcing (BPO) company backed by private equity heavyweight Warburg Pincus.
Warburg Pincus is understood to have initiated fresh talks to sell a 29 per cent stake in the New York-listed BPO business after shelving a planned sale in 2009.
The firm is also said to be eyeing the purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Indonesian telecom tower operator Solusi Tunas Pratama.
The firm is hoping to pick up the share in the publically-traded company for about $100m.
Copyright © 2012 AltAssets


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By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Digital Publishing Surged 13.5 PercentFrance’s book publishing industry has made a number of surveys of reading habits during the still ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, including a “special containment” report in December and a “confinement report” in January, as Publishing Perspectives readers will remember.
Today (June 24), however, in a video-conferenced general assembly, the Syndicat national de l’édition (SNE) has presented some new book sales figures to its membership, calling them proof of “an exceptional capacity for book resilience in France.”
The announcement follows by a week (June 17), Emmanuel Macron’s designation of the next 12 months’ focus in France on reading as “a great national cause,” from now until summer 2022. In France, the “great national cause’ is an annual focus of attention on issues as public interest campaigns.
The National Book Center will be taking the lead in this year’s program, and—music to any publishers’ ears—”restoring the desire to read” is one associated theme of the new campaign already surfaced.
As it happens, though, France’s booksellers are the beneficiaries of what looks to be a very healthy regard for reading, as is,
Book sales in 2020, the organization says, came to €2.74 billion (US$3.268 billion), representing “a moderate decline” of 2.3 percent as compared to 2019 figures. The number of units sold was 422 million in 2020, according to media messaging this morning.
In a statement on the announcement, the association’s president Vincent Montagne is quoted, saying, “The figures for the 2020 edition reflect the lives and concerns of the French during this period of the health crisis: the need to read in order to learn, understand, provide schooling at home, have fun, cook.
“The closures of bookstores for three-and-a-half months could have been a disaster for our sector, but the exceptional rebound of the summer and the end of 2020 testified to the unwavering support of the French for books and booksellers.
“It has enabled everyone to realize that books and reading are essential goods and constitute social issues. All of us, authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, readers can rejoice at the president’s decision to make reading a great national cause in 2021.”
The ‘Digital Acceleration’
As in so many markets that entered the pandemic with good e-commerce infrastructure, France reports an acceleration of adoption in digital formats. The market saw digital publishing surge 13.5 percent, digital publishing overall generating revenue of €263.3 million (US$314).
And the SNE’s report reveals big differences in how various genres fared in 2020, including:
- Comics: +6 percent
- Manga: +29 percent
- Fine art books: -36 percent
- Tourism/Travel books: -59 percent
General literature, the key sector that holds some 22.4 percent of the market, gained by 2.4 percent in 2020.
And some more key points from today’s information:
- International rights activity for titles from French publishing houses contracted in 2020 by 3.5 percent in comparison to 2019
- Translation rights for 14,021 titles were sold in 2020
- And the publishers association also points to a downturn in production in 2020, editorial output declining from 107,143 titles published in 2019 to 97,326 titles in 2020, a drop of 9.1 percent
- Production in the number of copies fell by 11.6 percent from 516.8 to 456 million copies between 2019 and 2020, as well
- As has been seen in other markets—to the detriment of debut works and their authors—new products in French publishing were down 15 percent compared to 2019
- Authors’ royalties, meanwhile, increased by 1.06 percent compared to their levels in 2019
- They represented on average 10.9 percent of publishers’ turnover in 2020, against 10.5 percent in 2019
In this research, aggregate data was carried out on a sample of some 160 publishing houses, representing more than 650 publishing brands.
A special note for those interested in audiobooks and their performance in France and other markets relative to the pandemic’s effects: The SNE reports that it did survey publishers on audiobook sales for a fourth year, in looking at 2020. “However the number of respondents (fewer than a dozen) and the absence of certain major market players in the sample make it impossible to publish the data,” according to the report.
The organization is making a strong pitch to its publisher-members for better response in its next round of evaluations so that new information on the audiobook market in France can be gathered. It’s the report writers’ impression that “this market is booming.”
You’ll find a 24-page extract from the members’ report in PDF here, its text in French, of course.
More from us on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on international book publishing is here.


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Ex-Paddy Power boss Andy McCue takes top job at The Restaurant Group as previous chief executive ousted
- Frankie & Benny's owner forced to issue a profit warning in April
- McCue was Paddy Power's boss until its recent merger with Betfair
The Restaurant Group, the struggling owner of Frankie & Benny's has ousted its chief executive, replacing him with Andy McCue - the former boss of Paddy Power.
The FTSE 250-listed firm announced that Danny Breithaupt will step down with immediate effect, with Mr McCue taking over the reins by the middle of next month.
The group said: 'The board has completed the initial phase of the operating strategy review, and has decided that a new leader is needed to implement the initial actions and then prioritise the next phase of the review.'
Progress: Shares in The Restaurant Group rose this morning after the company announced a new boss and said that 'the business continues to trade in line with previous guidance'
Mr Breithaupt had been at the food firm - which also operates the Chiquito and Garfunkel's chains - for 15 years but under his leadership the group was forced to issue a string of profit warnings, its most recent being this April.
The group has been battling increased competition from food-led pubs and other branded restaurant chains and a drop in visitors to big retail parks, where many of its outlets are located.
Chairman Debbie Hewitt said Mr McCue's 'extensive strategic background, coupled with a strong commercial flair, proven hands-on operational expertise and digital credentials, will bring considerable strength and new skills'.
She added: 'Andy is a proven listed company chief executive, having recently held that role at Paddy Power, where he embedded a new growth strategy which delivered record revenues and profits, as well as playing a pivotal role in the merger with Betfair.'
Mr McCue was Paddy Power's chief executive until its recent merger with Betfair and is a former executive at OC&C Strategy Consultants.
The Restaurant Group reports its interim results for the first half of the year on August 26.
At the end of April it warned that like-for-like sales had deteriorated since the start of the year and appeared unlikely to recover any time soon.
In its statement this morning, the company said that 'the business continues to trade in line with previous guidance'.
Responding to the change of leadership, its shares topped the FTSE 250 leader board in late morning trading, up 12 per cent, or 49.1p to 425.9p.
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Huawei‘s midrange models including the Honor 7X, Nova 3 and even the Honor Note 9 are all rumoured to utilize a yet-to-be-announced Hisilicon Kirin 670 chipset. Huawei’s smartphones have lately been focused on using Kirin processors and with massive improvements in its chip business, they stand at par and sometimes even ahead of their contemporaries. The Kirin 670 chip isn’t going to be an exception, considering the details of the chip as featured in a new leak.
Information from industry sources highlights the Kirin 970 as coming with an integrated AI architecture with its own Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This is the same architecture featured on the flagship Kirn 970 and it is interesting to see that Huawei is keeping to its promise to bring the AI chip to its midrange models. In addition, the midrange chipset is also said to have a CPU design housing two Cortex-A72 cores and four Cortex A-53 cores which is the same with the Kirin 950. As we already revealed several months back, the chipset will be built on a 12nm TSMC FinFet process. The chipset will also be integrated with the ARM Mali-G72 MP12 GPU which first made its debut on the Kirin 970-powered Mate 10.
Presently, Kirin 659 is the latest chip in the Kirin 6xx series and it utilizes an octa-core Cortex-A53 architecture as well as a Mali T830 MP2 GPU. Thus, there is a strong indication that this new chipset would come with a significant improvement in performance compared to its predecessor. We don’t have any idea as to when the new chipset would find its way into a launched smartphone but that won’t be too far away, going by Huawei’s leaked product roadmap


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Defend Your Car Investment
Choose-Ups, these large, gas-guzzling monsters that in the United States every track – as far as the cliché. In my opinion for Geely to be a big player in the Australian Auto Market the bare minimum it will require to do is to set up a nation wide dealer network with state of the art workshops and all of the time earning the trust of the buying public by honoring its promised five year/one hundred,000 km warranty. The fourth Maruti in the list, and the second most effective sedan in India is the Dzire.
This is the spot to go for in-depth items such as press conference transcripts, interviews, and key news updates. But as the technological advances in the auto market continue to develop at rapid rates – autonomous navigation systems becoming a single of them – ‘s secret project” at some point came out. Sign up these days to get the best of Automotive News delivered straight to your e-mail inbox, free of charge of charge.
Often we hear so a lot undesirable news on the t.v. that we virtually become immune to truly hearing it. But this summer one particular tragic headline news story came via loud and clear. You will require some specialty tools even so, most auto parts stores have a rent-a-tool system, occasionally at nominal expense and often for cost-free. Much like radio, the net will also function your most current hi-jinks as the news of the day.
Just tonight we heard on the news that particular fruit had been imported, supposedly from New Zealand but it has been found it had originally had come from China and arrived in Australia by way of NZ. India accounts for world’s 12th biggest quantity of high net worth individuals, with a huge growth of 20.8%, the highest number in top 12 nations. You almost certainly are not an professional in auto repair if you happen to be related to most folks.


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A beloved longstanding pizza place has announced it is closing its doors after over four decades of serving up fresh, old-school pies in Hamilton.
Mattina Pizzeria, located at 104 Cannon Street East, has been a fixture of Hamilton’s food scene for more than 40 years with its menu of handmade pizzas, pastas, and chicken wings alongside some Portuguese fare such as Bitoque and Bifana sandwiches.
— Pring Guesthouse (@PringGuesthouse) September 1, 2011
But sadly, the pizzeria shared news on Sunday via social media that there are permanently closing up shop, effective immediately.
“We wanted to thank our loyal customers for all the continuous support throughout the years,” wrote Mattina Pizzeria on Instagram. “It’s been a slice.”
Comments readily flooded in from heartbroken locals sharing their well-wishes and lamenting the loss of what was, for some, their favourite pizza in town.
Read more on Mattina Pizzeria’s social media.
Lead image courtesy of Google Maps


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By Esme Bourne|
October 7, 2021|
3 mins read
After many years of fighting for justice, on the 27th of September 2021, governor Gavin Newsom of California signed into effect Senate Bill 62. More commonly known as the Garment Worker Protection Act, this new legislation in California will finally introduce an hourly minimum wage and protect garment workers from wage theft. After a turbulent few years with the pandemic exacerbating extreme working conditions, this historical landmark vote has never been more important.
Los Angeles in California is considered the hub of garment manufacturing in the US. Employing over 45,000 people, the Californian garment workers are operating in conditions rife with violations of minimum wage and overtime laws and health and safety standards. Stuck in a loop of a piece pay rate system, that means workers only get paid for every garment made. This policy means that many workers earn less than $3 an hour, well below minimum wage in America.
Credit – @garmentworkercenter
This system of piecework was designed to push the rapid production of fast fashion, resulting in the exploitation of workers. Alongside the global pandemic, it has worsened many problems the garment workers face, including economic and health issues. Due to the lack of appropriate measures during the pandemic, Covid-19 outbreaks spread through many of the LA factories. Not only did Covid-19 leave people unable to work, but fashion brands also cancelled contracts with these factories, with many denying pay. This left garment workers even more vulnerable and unprotected, a theme we have also seen with garment workers in Asia.
By outsourcing to factories, brands have been able to ignore many of the human rights issues that face garment workers. This new legislation is a game-changer for the fashion industry as fashion brands can finally be held accountable for these illegal pay practices.
Supported by Garment Worker Centre director Marissa Nuncio alongside workers rights organisations, labour activists and surprisingly hundreds of fashion brands, this new legislation hopes to be the blueprint for the rest of the global industry. For the first time, there is transparency in fashion.
This new law would protect garment workers from wage theft and will introduce a minimum wage of $14 an hour. The bill also expands responsibility for stolen wages, meaning brands would be held liable for paying out wage theft claims filed by garment workers. Normally, workers could only claim against factories, which would often last many years and leave unresolved.
This landmark bill hopes to create a positive and lasting impact on the American fashion industry and provide an outline for the rest of the globe to follow suit. Although, we may have a long way to go, with the renewal of the Bangladesh Accord last month, a legally binding agreement that protects the health and safety of garment workers in Bangladesh, that came about after the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013. There is hope that the fashion industry is turning a corner and becoming a safer and fairer industry for all. Let’s continue this progress and ensure all garment workers across the globe have the same protection that Senate Bill 62 offers.


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DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., and MINDEN, Nev. ShowMeTheParts.com has partnered with ExtremeWrench.com to offer electronic cataloging to independent repair shops via the ExtremeWrench portal. ExtremeWrench.com currently reaches more than 160,000 members.
Through the ExtremeWrench portal, participating independent repair shops will have access to more than 190 brands covering 2,800 part types and millions of applications available to users. Images, interchanges, specs and more are also available. ShowMeTheParts’ award-winning ShowMeTheParts-Mobile technology also is being made available to the ExtremeWrench community, offering mobile search by year/make/model, part number or even an industry part number interchange.


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A survey by the British Skin Foundation found that recession could increase the levels of stress, which may be bad for your skin. The stress could trigger skin conditions including acne, eczema and psoriasis and the distress of skin conditions may lead some patients to self-harm and could contemplate suicide.
They survey including one hundred and five doctors and nurses who specialize in skin conditions revealed forty-one percent has shown a clear rise in stress-related breaks-out. Five per cent alluded to a massive increase and almost half had shown a slight increase. The recession is taking its greatest toll on eczema sufferers.
The survey team also found that there had been increase in acne, psoriasis, characterized by dry red patches of skin covered with silvery scales and vitiligo, in which pale patches emerge on the skin. About half of study participants those questioned stated that the stress triggered skin conditions or fueled flare-ups, which should be taken more seriously.
One in six of men and women participated in survey stated their skin condition had led to them self-harming and seven admitted to having thought about suicide. Bevis Man member of the British Skin Foundation explained the recession brings with it a set of problems that add further stress and misery to the millions that live with a skin disease.
Dr Anthony Bewley, BSF’s spokesperson and a consultant dermatologist, stated patients with skin disease feel enormously upset about their skin condition, as it affects their self-confidence and self-esteem in so many ways. All too often, the impact of skin disease is under-estimated. Many patients consider their skin conditions to be more psychologically damaging than diabetes or heart disease.
Earlier study by the British Skin Foundation (BSF) has shown that many sufferers of skin diseases have been verbally abused in public. The study was presented in the annual conference of British Association of Dermatologists’.


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New rules from Washington will make it much tougher to get a credit card if you’re under 21.
Under the recently passed Credit Card Reform Act, legislators are taking square aim at financial services companies who dole out credit cards to younger consumers. The initiative comes after years of consumer advocacy complaints against card companies blanketing college campuses with offers of “easy access” credit cards.
The new legislation does put an end to the marketing assault on college kids by credit card companies. No question, recent data on college students and credit card debt isn’t pretty. According to a study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the average college student has $2,500 to $3,000 in credit card debt by the time they graduate. The consumer advocacy group Campus Progress, pegs the number even higher - at $4,100 - a 41% hike since 2004, the group reports.
On the other hand, if under-21s can’t get a credit card, they can’t get credit. Lenders are loathe to lend to individuals with no credit history.
The new rule stipulates that, to get a credit card, 21-and-under consumers will have to get a financially reputable co-signer (usually a parent) to co-sign on the dotted line. Or, younger consumers can make a case to the card company that they are financially stable enough to pay off debt incurred on a new credit card.
Are there any ways around the new rule? Yes, there are. The language in the actual legislation is vague, saying that it prohibit lenders from offering credit cards to consumers under 21 unless a parent or guardian accepts responsibility for the debt or the individual can prove they have the means to pay it back.
Get a co-signer. Parents may not be thrilled about adding their name to your card application, but studies show the longer you have a credit history, the higher your credit rating. The argument young consumers should use is this: getting a credit card with your parents actually helps you with your credit – but only if you pay your bills. To cover all the bases, use this “credit card contract” prepared by Dr. John E. Whitcomb, author of the book Capitate Your Kids. It spells out the responsibilities between parents and kids in a cosigned card agreement.


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Apple squares off against Eminem in court
Friday 25 September 2009
An attorney for Apple has defended the company's use of Eminem's songs on iTunes in court, as a trial got under way to determine who had the right to offer digital downloads of the rapper's music.
Eight Mile Style, Eminem's music publisher, and an affiliated company, Martin Affiliated, say their contract with Aftermath Records, which controls the recordings, did not entitle it to strike a deal with Apple to sell 93 songs over iTunes.
The case involves millions of dollars and the creative rights behind the hip-hop star. But the issue for the judge here in the rapper's hometown is narrow: What do contracts between Eight Mile and Aftermath say about the ability to peddle songs beyond traditional compact discs?
In his opening statement, Apple lawyer Glenn Pomerantz said it's a case of "common sense."
"Nowhere does it say only compact discs. Nowhere does it say ... not digital downloads," he told US District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor.
Record companies like Aftermath have rights to use the recordings and the compositions - "otherwise they couldn't sell records," Pomerantz said.
Apple pays Aftermath 70 cents for each iTunes download, and Eight Mile gets 9.1 cents of that share as the music publisher, he said.
Despite the legal dispute, Eight Mile cashed royalty checks and hasn't asked Apple to stop selling Eminem's songs, Pomerantz said.
"They've been paid a lot of money. We don't begrudge them that," he said. "But they're not entitled to that money and Apple's profits."
Eight Mile's lawyers claim Apple has wrongfully gained $2.5 million (£1.56 million) through iTunes downloads, including $466,915 (£291,400) from Eminem's biggest hit, Lose Yourself.
They say Aftermath has collected $4 million (£2.5 million) off his songs on iTunes.
Eight Mile attorney Richard Busch said the publisher has a history of making legal distinctions between digital downloads and other ways to distribute Eminem's music. He referred to an agreement with Universal Music Group to offer Lose Yourself as a download before iTunes was created.
"The publisher owns these compositions, not Aftermath. ... If Eight Mile had a direct licensing relationship with Apple, this kind of nonsense would not happen," Busch said.
Pomerantz said Apple doesn't make that kind of deal.
The first witness was Eight Mile manager Joel Martin, who said the publishing company can't protect itself financially without a download license with Apple.
"We can't look at their records. We can't look at their books. We can never make a claim against Apple - ever," he said.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, was not in court. He is not a plaintiff in the lawsuit and is not listed as a trial witness.
"He's well aware of what's going on," said Mark Bass, a songwriter and producer who, with his brother Jeff, is credited with launching Eminem's career. "It's important to all songwriters across the board."
The trial could last a week or more.
The judge is not expected to hear any music, but Pomerantz held up an unusual prop during his opening statement: a 1940s album by late crooner Bing Crosby.
He used it to explain the history of a music "album" and how song delivery has changed over decades.
Film Leonardo DiCaprio hunts Tom Hardy
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- 1 Video shows how to turn your phone into a 3D hologram
- 2 Artist Jamie McCartney: How The Great Wall of Vagina is a stand against 'body fascism'
- 3 Katie Hopkins reveals fear she will die during brain surgery to cure epilepsy
- 4 Dutch King Willem-Alexander declares the end of the welfare state
Poldark finale review: Not even the 'putrid throat' and tragedy to stop the Ross Poldark swoon-fest
Artist Jamie McCartney: How The Great Wall of Vagina is a stand against 'body fascism'
Agatha Christie: Experts discover secret formula to unmask killers in author's books
Cilla Black: Her 12 best songs, from 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' to 'You're My World'
Zoolander 2 trailer leaks online and it's really, really, ridiculously good looking
Yvette Cooper: Our choice is years of Tory rule under Jeremy Corbyn – or a return to a Labour government
Is Britain really full up? Are migrants taking our jobs? Leading academic answers the most common anti-immigration claims
Calais Migrant Crisis: Deputy Mayor of Calais labels Cameron's use of 'swarm' as 'racist' and 'ignorant'
Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity agenda will harm poor, says Labour shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie
While we fixate on Calais, the Home Office is quietly deporting dozens of migrants on 'ghost flights'
Calais crisis: The seven claims made about the migrants - and the reality


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Aston Martin has launched its first ever SUV in its 106-year history. Named in the style of their famed naming convention, the DBX, is a new kind of Aston Martin, one founded on the principles of beauty, luxury and driving dynamics.
The new model will be powered by a four-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which is already used in the DB11 and Vantage. The luxury car maker added that the DBX will be able to go from 0 to 62mph in 4.5 seconds and have a top speed of 181mph. The luxuriously handcrafted interior of DBX has been designed to provide equal space and comfort whether sitting in the front or rear of the car.
Built on brand-new architecture and intended to carry Aston Martin into a new era, DBX is designed to carry occupants in true Aston Martin style. Brimming with the latest technology to keep you safe, DBX is comfortable, sumptuously luxurious, and will thrill you from the moment you sit behind the wheel. The luxury SUV maintains a proud heritage as an Aston Martin DB: the initials belong to David Brown, the man who defined Aston Martin and whose vision continues throughout the company to this day.
DBX celebrates the Aston Martin design language in a new form. With a unique body architecture just for DBX, the design and proportions reflect the unmistakeable style of an Aston Martin.
The first deliveries for this model were due this quarter, however with the outbreak of the coronavirus we’re not sure when customers will receive them. Aston Martin announced their plans to close the factories from 25 March until at least 20 April in line with the UK governments plans to reduce the spread of the virus.
What are your thoughts on the car?
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This is the continuation of our series which takes a look at the close to 30 companies listed under the junior stock exchange.
Who are they, and is this a viable option for the small-enterprise sector in Jamaica? Read on and send your feedback to: firstname.lastname@example.org
Since listing on the junior stock exchange in 2012, CEO of Honey Bun, Michelle Chong said she is very satisfied with the company’s performance.
Chong, who was recently elected head of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association, said there have been several benefits from listing on the exchange.
“The equity was the first benefit, naturally, but there were other significant factors that had even greater values as it relates to sustainability,” she said. “The major two of these I would cite as corporate governance and mentoring, which has sustainable long-term benefits.” Chong said mentorship included more than corporate governance but also included business strategy.
“We don’t know what we don’t know, and many businesses out there may think they know enough or want to grow big quickly or get rich quickly, but we must do business within a high standard of governance to reduce any risk and to improve the general business environment nationally,” Chong added.
And the lessons were truly learnt as Honey Bun received the JSE 2013 Best Practice Corporate Governance Award in the Junior Market category for corporate disclosure and investor relations. That same year, Honey Bun also took the JSE 2013 Best Practice Annual Report Award for the Junior Market category.
Formed in 1982, Honey Bun has become one of Jamaica’s premier pastry companies, rolling out a variety of cakes, buns and breads. Among the Honey Bun favourites are the Goldie chocolate or cream-filled sponge cakes, and the cinnamon roll. Recently, a commercial featuring the roll won a gold award in the Caribbean Advertising Federation tier of the American Advertising Awards or ‘ADDY’ Awards. The company also operates the Buccaneer Jamaica and Island Bites brands.
“Our auditors recommended that we enlist based on the fact that they saw where we were running a very tidy operation – good governance and tidy books, and so we were ‘ready’,” Chong said. “The tax incentives made it easy for us to decide.” Chong said they expected to remain listed on the exchange.
The board members of Honey Bun (1982) Limited are Herbert Chong, director and chairman; Michelle Chong, director and CEO, Sushil Jain, non-executive director and mentor; Charles Heholt, non-executive director; and Paul Moses, non-executive director.


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Kareena Kapoor Khan recently flew off to London with her hubby and son Taimur – and grabbed attention like never before in an ad shoot that surfaced online.
In these latest pictures, Kareena looks like royalty personified appearing extremely effervescent in a yellow off shoulder gown with a thigh high slit. Her wavy hair and pink lips conclude her look for the day perfectly!
Ready to lose your breath. Here’s the princess ready to slay the world:
The Fevicol bombshell will soon be seen starring in Rhea Kapoor’s Veere Di Wedding along with Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar.


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2016 Volkswagen Passat spied in Sydney ahead of Australian launch
The all-new 2016 Volkswagen Passat has been spied on the road in Sydney this week, just weeks out from its Australian market launch.
The example shown here, spied by CarAdvice reader ‘tuzii’ around 20 kilometres from Volkswagen Australia headquarters, is badged as a diesel-powered 2.0TDI BlueMotion model.
Revealed in July last year and launched into European showrooms around four months later, the new-generation Passat has been a long time coming for Australian buyers.
As an all-new model, the 2016 ‘B8’ Passat sedan is a tiny 2mm shorter and a slightly more significant 12mm wider than its predecessor, the ‘B7’, while a new 2790mm wheelbase – 79mm longer than before – means that the passenger space has grown by 33mm.
A wagon body will also again be offered, and boot space has increased in both, up 21 litres in the sedan to 586 litres, while the wagon’s 650 litres (seats up) represents a 47-litre increase. Lay the rear seats flat and that grows to 1780 litres.
Australian specifications are still to be revealed, but, internationally, the new Passat range can be had with 10 different engines and tunes. On the petrol front, outputs range from 89kW to 209kW. For diesel buyers the most powerful engine has 179kW on offer.
A plug-in hybrid ‘GTE’ model will also be offered, although that variant is not expected to come to Australia.


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Despite an expected downturn in components such as flash memory, global spending on mobile hardware will balloon to $376bn this year, according to analysts.
Research firm IHS said that the mobile hardware market is set to grow by some 13 percent in 2012, in the first step of what analysts project to be a march to $570.bn in annual sales by the end of 2016.
Analysts attributed much of the increase to the emergence of the 4G LTE standard. As both consumers and telecoms carriers shift over to the new wireless broadband format, analysts believe that the hardware market will benefit.
Analysts noted that the growth comes as overall spending on hardware has slumped in 2012. Researchers have predicted that the PC market will see its lowest growth rates in more than a decade, while niche markets such as flash memory hardware and ultrabook models are projected to fall short of expectations.
"The wireless equipment market is continuing to grow this year despite facing daunting economic headwinds, including the slowdown in China and the turmoil engulfing the Euro zone," explained IHS senior principal analyst for wireless communications Francis Sideco.
"To be sure, growth this year will be lower than the much more sizeable expansion of 29 percent in 2011. However, the market’s double-digit rise in 2012 is a testament to the ongoing appeal of cellphones and tablets to global consumers."
Tablet and handset sales have shown signs of soaring adoption, particularly in the consumer space. Research from IBM suggested that the use of mobile devices for shopping this holiday season has nearly doubled over the same period in 2012.
Eleven 'normal' outer moons, and one described as 'oddball' found circling Jupiter
Scientific discovery has found a quadrillion tonnes of diamonds in the earth's mantle
Mobile payment app makes users' details public by default
2,400 signatures gathered against the development and production of lethal robots


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Is Honda American-Made?
It’s no secret that the models in Honda’s lineup have a lot of good things going for them. Most folks already know that Honda’s vehicles offer great performance and high-value standard features, but just as many have been surprised to learn that many of the Hondas on our lot are American-made! In the modern, global economy, no manufacturer can afford to build all of their vehicles in one place, but Honda has gone above and beyond in their contributions to the American manufacturing scene. Many of the vehicles in their diverse lineup are built and assembled in the U.S., and since 1982, they’ve produced no fewer than 25 million cars and light trucks here in the states. Even those vehicles that aren’t manufactured here contain many American-made Honda parts.
The American-Made Index from Cars.com
Unless you’ve done your research, you may not be aware that—even today—Honda produces more American-made cars than almost any other manufacture. That’s according to Cars.com’s American-Made Index, an indispensable resource for drivers who’d like to contribute to the health of American manufacturing. This year’s results show that three of Honda’s vehicles are among the top-ten most American vehicles on the roads today.
- Honda Ridgeline: The quietly-revolutionary Ridgeline has changed everyone’s idea of what a mid-size pickup should be able to do! Its capability is matched only by its comfort and entertainment features.
- Honda Odyssey: With three rows of seating and an enormous array of technology features, the Odyssey minivan has almost everything that drivers and their families could desire.
- Honda Pilot: This year’s Pilot is offering more interior features in every trim, but it’s still the same spacious, off-road ready crossover that drivers know and love.
Test Drive a Honda Today!
With one look at our current offers, you’ll understand why there’s never been a better time to buy American! When you act quickly, you can take a Honda of American manufacturing home with you today—for a price you won’t believe. Contact your local Central Illinois Honda Dealer to get started on your next adventure.


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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the government to end the arbitrary and ever-increasing customs duties.
The former Anambra State governor warned that the development was negatively affecting businesses and the cost of items.
In a message posted on his verified X handle (formerly Twitter), Obi added that it portended a high danger to the economy.
This is coming a few hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria raised the exchange rate for cargo clearance from N1,537/$ to N1,605/$.
The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, had again raised the exchange rate for cargo clearance to N1,605/$.
This is coming days after the rate rose to N1515/ $ and later dropped to N1,472.
Between January and this month, the rate has risen a couple of times, moving from N952/$ in December to N1356/$.
And it was readjusted to N1,413/$ before raising it to N1,444/$; it was further adjusted N1,515 before hitting N1.605/$.
When our correspondent visited the Nigeria Customs Service portal on Wednesday, the new rate was reflected on the portal.
Obi warned that such arbitrary charges could lead to further business closures and job losses.
He said, “A situation where, at the point of initiating importation, Form M and other documents related to importation are based on a particular exchange rate for example, N1000/$, being the prevailing exchange rate at the time which the importer of goods was used to calculate the entire process, from the import initiation to the receipt of goods in his warehouse.
“Then suddenly, when the goods arrive in Nigeria, the duties would be calculated at different rates, say N1,400/$, it becomes a serious business challenge that results in business losses. Worse still, it directly fuels the inflationary spike, which is the basis of increasing cost of goods and living,” Obi said.
According to him, at the time of the initiation of the business, calculations, including duties, have been made based on the prevailing exchange rate, and the prevailing market prices.
He expressed concern that, if not addressed, importers might consider using ports in neighbouring countries, resulting in under-productive Nigerian ports and a significant loss of revenue.
“The government should also show consistency in its policies, as this would help with economic forecasting and business planning. Businesses are dying and manufacturers are shutting down because of the poor and inconsistent economic policies of the government.
“All efforts of the government should be directed at supporting businesses, especially those in the manufacturing sector, to keep their businesses afloat and keep the economy growing, as the small business sector remains the most critical engine of economic growth,” he advised.a


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The news about new Moto M smartphone is expected to be announced very soon but before that some images of the been revealed and now we have a press shot of the handset.
The Moto M is rumored to feature a 5.5 inch full HD display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and the smartphone will sport a MediaTek Helio P15 processor and 4 GB of RAM.
The handset will come with 32 GB of inbuilt storage and a whopping 3050 mAh battery it will also come with front and rear cameras.
On the front the handset is said to be occupied with 8 megapixel cameras for selfies and video calls, while on the back of the device you will receive a 16 megapixel camera for photos and videos.
Stay connected with GadgetMeetsGuy to get updated about more news related to the smartphones and Tech release.


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City’s oldest chocolate maker relocates to Industry City
The sweet smell of success wafted through Industry City on Monday, November 17, as the newly-opened Li-Lac Chocolates factory and retail store welcomed in elected officials, business leaders and local activists to look around the spanking new facility housed in a repurposed industrial building.
As new as the factory is, Li-Lac — now located at 68 35th Street — has deep roots in New York, as the oldest chocolate manufacturer in the city.
Previously headquartered in Manhattan, the “stubbornly old fashioned since 1923” company wanted to stay in the city, with owner Christopher Taylor delighted to discover the amenities of the reimagined warehouse conglomerate near the Sunset Park waterfront, where Li-Lac chocolates are made by hand in a large open space that can be viewed by consumers strolling through, on the way, perhaps, to the chocolatier’s retail store.
“Now customers can actually see [the manufacturing process],” Taylor stressed. “It’s one thing to tell customers that everything is made by hand, but seeing is believing.”
Overall, “It was an amazing package at Industry City,” Taylor enthused, thanks to IC’s commitment to combining manufacturing with retail spaces. “What really sealed the deal,” he added, “is that Industry City is involved with the community. Our philosophy is that we want to be good corporate citizens, part of the neighborhood.”
Li-Lac’s small batch manufacturing fits in perfectly in Industry City, as well. “What’s exciting in New York is that people are making things again,” noted Andrew Kimball, the CEO of Industry City, who has been guiding the six-million-square-foot campus as it reimagines itself in an environment in which small manufacturers and start-up businesses have discovered such areas as Sunset Park which allow them to conduct business while also, as appropriate, inviting the public in.
Li-Lac, he said, was in tune with “our vision to bring innovation and modern manufacturing to Industry City but combining it with retail.” Not only is there a resurgence of manufacturing in the city, he went on, but “There is a new interest on the consumer side in buying things that can be made locally.”
In particular, chocolate manufacturing has been on the upswing in Brooklyn, said Carlo Scissura, president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, stressing that the trend is creating jobs in the borough. “Sunset Park is the place to be,” he added.
The opening of Li-Lac is just the latest in an ongoing series of manufacturing/retail developments in Sunset Park’s vast array of manufacturing and warehouse buildings. The first, noted Wendy Goldstein, president and CEO of Lutheran Medical Center, was Lutheran’s repurposing of an empty factory building as a hospital.
“This is a sweet continuation of our tradition,” she said.
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Gameloft for brands
Fri, 11 Dec 2020 09:58:10 GMT
Gameloft for brands, leader in gaming experiences for brands, has been awarded the TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal by the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG). The certification highlights Gameloft’s long-time commitment to fraud protection and full transparency for a healthy digital advertising ecosystem. Launched in 2016, the TAG Certified Against Fraud Program is the cornerstone of TAG’s efforts to combat fraudulent and invalid traffic and a key part of the world’s leading program to fight criminal activity and protect brand safety in digital advertising.
In line with Gameloft’s engagement to improving standards across the industry, the TAG certification gives brands a greater confidence that their content will be viewed by legitimate potential buyers.
The team believes that trust and transparency are at the heart of what Gameloft for brands offers to advertisers. This certification provides its clients with the reassurance that they can trust it to deliver safe and successful campaigns.
Alexandre Tan, VP brand partnerships and advertising at Gameloft said: "We are very pleased to recognise Gameloft for achieving the TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal, an important recognition of the company’s ongoing efforts to combat fraud across the digital advertising supply chain. We look forward to continuing to work with them to further raise the industry’s bar on fraud prevention."
CEO of TAG, Mike Zaneis, added: "Gameloft also ensures a safe, transparent and fraud-free advertising ecosystem by adopting industry standards including third-party verification solution MOAT, IAB’s certifications and compliance programs (with the integration of the Open Measurement SDK, Sellers.json, TAG Payment ID and App-ads.txt, the IAB Tech Lab’s technical solution for publicly declaring companies authorised to sell digital inventory.view more - Awards and EventsGameloft for brands, Fri, 11 Dec 2020 09:58:10 GMT


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Japan's unemployment rate jumped unexpectedly in July while prices and consumer spending continued to decline, raising a note of doubt on the strength of the economic recovery here.
Japan's unemployment rate rose for the first time this year, jumping to 4.9 percent for July from 4.6 percent for June. Economists had expected the rate to remain unchanged. Spending by households of salaried workers fell 2.5 percent in July from a month earlier, the third consecutive monthly decline.
''These numbers were generally on the weak side of expectations, so it does raise the question of whether economic growth was as strong as the market would portray,'' said Ryo Hino, an economist for J.P. Morgan in Tokyo.
A report earlier this month showed that Japan's economy grew at an unexpectedly weak annual rate of 1.7 percent in the second quarter, sharply slowing from 6.6 percent in the first quarter and 7.4 percent in the last quarter of 2003.
Still, Mr. Hino and other economists cautioned against reading too much into Friday's figures because other recent data, in particular strong exports and corporate profits, suggest Japan's recovery remains intact even if growth has backed off the torrid pace seen earlier this year.Continue reading the main story
Traders seemed to share that view. Stock prices initially declined on the reports, but Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average recovered to close up 0.7 percent, at 11,209.59.
Government officials and economists said the jump in the July unemployment rate was mostly a result of an increase in the number of job seekers as the improved economy drew people who had given up looking for work back into the job market. Some 90,000 new jobs were created in July, not nearly enough to absorb an increase of 320,000 entrants to the labor force.
''The economic recovery may be prompting people to look for new or better jobs, and is one reason the unemployment rate temporarily rose,'' Michio Matsumura, a statistics bureau official, told reporters, according to Bloomberg News.
The drop in household spending in July was also worse than expected. The decline came as a surprise to economists, who expected unusually hot summer weather to help spending. While sales of air-conditioners and beer have been rising, the increases were not enough to offset declines in spending on housing and entertainment.
Policy makers are counting on a rebound in consumer spending to act as a counterweight to exports, which have so far been the main driver of this recovery, now in its second year.
Consumer spending has been tepid amid a long decline in incomes. Although profits are growing in corporate Japan, many companies have been reluctant to raise salaries to keep costs down. That cost pressure stems in large part from Japan's six-year battle with deflation, which has limited revenue growth at companies and forced them to cut costs to raise profits.
A separate report Friday showed prices continued to fall. Core consumer prices, excluding fresh food, fell 0.2 percent in July from a year earlier, the government said. Consumer prices are watched closely because the nation's central bank has pledged to maintain its extremely easy monetary policy -- short-term interest rates are just a hair above zero -- until Japan surmounts its deflation problem.
Although Friday's reports suggest Japan's economy may not be as vigorous as previously thought, other economic data paint a different picture. On Thursday, the government said the trade surplus grew for the 13th consecutive month in July, rising to $10.3 billion. The trade surplus was larger than expected, with exports to China and other Asian countries remaining high despite predictions that they would begin to taper off.
''Today's releases are reasonably disappointing, but nothing to panic about in the context of the strong export figures seen yesterday,'' Richard Jerram, an economist at Macquarie Research in Tokyo, wrote in a report.Continue reading the main story


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STS, Poland’s biggest betting operator, which also operates in several European markets, has partnered up with Enteractive’s (Re)Activation Cloud®, iGaming’s leading conversion platform.
The plug-and-play service offered by Enteractive will aim at improving STS’s player retention rates. STS Gaming Group is a leading brand in the iGaming industry in Europe, with an extensive product portfolio including bookmakers, virtual sports, casino, live casino and eSports event bets.
The brand has recently signed up the legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel as well as ski jumper Martin Schmitt to drive its new ‘Bet with the leaders’ campaign.
STS dominates the Polish bookmaking market with a 47% share and is the main sponsor of Poland’s national football team as well as a large number of other major teams in the country. Over the last six years, STS has multiplied its revenue tenfold and is now pushing for further geographical and offer expansion.
The company currently counts 1,500 employees in Katowice, Warsaw, Prague and Malta, and is expected to grow further in the short term.
STS CEO Mateusz Juroszek comments: “We have found a partner in Enteractive which shares our values in terms of innovation and constant improvement. It is our strategy to lead the way in development in terms of technology that constantly pushes to do things better.”
“Partnering up with Enteractive and connecting to its Reactivation Cloud, we have added another vital tool to our CRM department so that we are able to communicate and engage on a large scale with our customers the STS way.”
Mikael Hansson, Enteractive Founder and CEO, said, “We are very happy to partner up with STS, a powerhouse in the important Polish market but also an agile and ambitious company with great potential in the rest of the world.”
“With STS connected to our (Re)Activation Cloud we have already seen good signs in terms of conversion rates and player reactions which further strengthens our belief that strong brands benefit even more from our qualitative and scalable product.”
“Now we look forward to continuing the ramp up and to lay the foundation to a strong and profitable partnership in the coming months.”


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Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC.T), formerly Tweed/Bedrocan, is the dominant medical marijuana company in the Canadian public market space, and has been since there was such a space to dominate.
They’ve made mistakes – often expensive ones – and for a long time their market capitalization has been far outsized in comparison to their actual worth, simply because they had first mover advantage.
I’ve been critical of the company often, and it’s usually fully deserved the criticism, but I’ve always tempered that criticism with the words, “But they have so much money, they can buy their way out of trouble.”
And they have.
But today marks a moment where I shift gear a little on Canopy. For, as of today, I think they might actually be worth the price of the stock.
Canopy announced today that its Q1 fiscal 2017 numbers are out, and they’re.. well.. nuts.
First Quarter Fiscal 2017 Highlights
- Revenues of $7.0 million, representing a greater than 300% increase over the three months ended June 30, 2015 and a 39% increase over fourth quarter fiscal year 2016
- Over 16,500 registered patients at June 30, 2016 compared to over 3,600 at June 30, 2015
- Bedrocan began licensed sales of bedro-oils cannabis oil in June 2016
Those numbers aren’t just good, they’re officially crazy. The $7m revs are decent, though still significantly lower than you’d hope for a company with a $380m market cap, but the 39% jump in revs over last quarter is solid growth at exactly the right time.
And the 16,500 registered patients takes the company into a place where it can actually point to what I’d term a significant user base, something no marijuana company in Canada has yet been able to do. After years of weedcos doing business with users in the low thousands, now the rubber is hitting the road.
And the sale of cannabis oils having started means good things for the next quarter, because there’s real margin in oil products. Aphria and Mettrum are also pushing hard in that space, which will help in getting word out to doctors and patients that there’s an alternative to smoking your medicine.
In addition, the company closed a financing on August 24 for another $34.5 million, on top of the existing cash position of $19.5 million at the end of Q1. That’s $55 million with which to go shopping for any company that may add to the bottom line.
The company managed to move 984 kilograms of weed in the quarter, which finally gets the company to Scarface levels of supply.
And they’re moving into Australia and Brazil through partnerships with companies in those places, and Germany through an export permit.
CGC always said the problems it went through were nothing, and that the future looked bright, and investors that stuck with them have not hurt for the experience. To be sure, six months ago, when patient numbers were halved from what they are now, and revs were likewise, it was tough to justify what was then a $250m or so market cap.
That market cap is $380m now, with shares having briefly touched the symbolic $4.20, well above the $2.00-$2.50 range that had held the company for some time.
Others are making a challenge. Aphria (APH.V) for one has raised a fat piggy bank and made some interesting side bets. Aurora (ACB.C) blew up by 25% just this morning, on the back of news it’s raised the cash to expand to ten football fields in size. Supreme (SL.C) is up 20% as well, and it may be no coincidence that Aurora honcho Chuck Rifici recently visited the Supreme campus.
In general, despite a big flop on the day that Canada’s courts announced local yokel growers could continue with their back barn ‘personal use’ grow ops, the nation’s MMPR companies have thrived in the days since.
Supreme is up 73.6% since July 1. Canopy is up 38% in the same time. Aphria is up 55%.
Aurora? 116.6%. And their ‘active patient’ numbers ( as opposed to CGC’s ‘registered patient’ numbers) have climbed to 6500 in just seven months.
It would be silly to assume there’s going to be a repeat of these massive share price jumps in the 60 days to come. But for the first time in a long time, the weed business in Canada is thriving as a legitimate corporate concern, and not just on ‘promise’ of what might one day happen, but on actual dollars stacking on the floor.
The state of the union is strong. How strong?
Borrowed from Alan Brochstein’s New Cannabis Ventures:
$198 million raised in less than a year – for growth.
— Chris Parry


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TOKYO — When engineers at Toyota recently conducted a teardown study of the Tesla Model Y, it did more than expose key technological secrets of the popular American-made, full-electric crossover.
It also tore away a moldering complacency at the Japanese automaker.
What laid underneath the Model Y's sheet metal was a masterfully simplistic vehicle structure built with an advanced manufacturing prowess that would be the envy of any old-guard automaker.
"Taking the skin off the Model Y, it was truly a truly work of art," said one Toyota executive who scrutinized the Tesla part by part. "It's unbelievable."


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The venture capitalist Marc Andreessen once said that software is eating the world. You don’t have to look very far to see that in action. The ubiquity of smartphones and social networking apps, for example, has transformed how people keep in touch with family and friends. Amazon and other e-commerce sites have revolutionized shopping. Even in health care, digital technology has already started changing how consumers choose service providers.
The pace of change today is the slowest it’ll ever be. As a business executive, you need to keep your pulse on emerging trends to avoid disappointing customers and falling behind competitors.
If you’re wondering which tech trends are quickly becoming a reality, here are four technologies that are already shaping consumer behavior—and what they mean for your business.
1. Smart devices offer consumers convenience and peace of mind
Connected devices stole the show at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). From smart fridges to voice-activated trash cans, companies showed off futuristic gadgets that promise to make smart homes a reality.
The connected device market is ready to take off, but how can companies stand out? According to Carley Knobloch, technical consultant at HGTV Smart Home, companies should focus on customer needs.
“Consumers are voting again and again [through their purchases] for devices that offer peace of mind and anticipate their needs,” Knobloch explains to MediaVillage.
A recent study from Scripps Networks Interactive provides some clues on what consumers may be looking for and who the early adopters are. The research was conducted in the company’s insight community, Scripps Under One Roof, and found that safety and energy efficiency are two strong motivations behind smart home device purchases. For example, 75 percent of consumers said they bought a smart device to help keep their family safe and comfortable. Millennials, according to the study, are more likely to adopt smart home technology compared to Gen Xers and Boomers.
When it comes to connected devices, “thoughtful is the new smart," says Knobloch. To launch hit products in this lucrative market, companies need to use consumer insight and inform their product roadmaps with feedback from customers.
2. Wearables shape consumer lifestyle—and save businesses money
Most wearable gadgets allow consumers to track their own health data, including activities and diet. For many consumers, wearable tech is the first step to eating better, reducing stress, and adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Despite a sluggish start, the wearable market is still growing. Experts believe this space will reach $25 billion by 2019, with smartwatches like the Apple Watch taking 60 percent of the market value.
The growth of the wearable market impacts businesses, even those outside of tech. For instance, Reenita Das, SVP of health care and life sciences at the research firm Frost & Sullivan, predicts that more companies will provide wearables to employees in an effort to reduce insurance premiums. Some companies use data from wearables to motivate employees and give incentives for attaining health goals. Das explains, “wellbeing programs will become a central, critical business imperative, necessary for optimizing not just the productivity and performance of employees, but also for managing the bottom line.”
3. Fulfillment solutions drive seamless customer experience
Digital transformation has pushed e-commerce and mobile shopping into the mainstream. Now that digital shopping is the norm, companies need to optimize the supply chain to deliver a superior shopper experience.
According to the Future of Retail 2016, an annual study from the PR firm Walker Sands, consumer expectations for seamless shipping, delivery and returns have increased in the past three years. An overwhelming majority of consumers now expect companies to offer free and one-day shopping. Free returns and exchanges, as well as easier online returns, are also significant drivers of e-commerce growth.
Dave Parro, partner and vice president at Walker Sands, says retailers must now improve the end-to-end customer experience. “The priority for retailers no longer lies in increasing the number of consumers who shop online, but rather improving their experience—whether it be online, in store or across different product categories,” he said in a statement.
"The priority for retailers no longer lies in increasing the number of consumers who shop online, but rather improving their experience."
To gain competitive edge, many smart retailers are investing in supply-chain technologies. According to Luxury Daily, 29 percent of capital expenditures in retail now go to fulfillment solutions, which include transportation, logistics and order and returns management.
Walker Sands’ study reminds retailers that they should consistently focus on the omnichannel retail experience. More than ever, companies need to understand the entire buying journey, including what happens after the purchase. Removing friction in all steps of the customer lifecycle is a must.
4. Ad blockers allow consumers to avoid unwanted ads
Ad blockers, software that lets tech-savvy consumers filter online and mobile ads, pose a big challenge for the media industry. The Interactive Advertising Bureau found that 26 percent of desktop users already use ad blockers. Another study, from the media consulting firm Midia Research, found that 80 percent of consumers who are aware of ad blocking software have used it.
The good news for media organizations is that the use of desktop ad blockers has slowed down, according to a study released early this year. In some demographics, the adoption of ad blockers even declined slightly. While the panic over ad blockers has somewhat subsided in 2017, publishers and advertisers aren’t necessarily in the clear. After all, the lucrative Millennials are more likely to use ad blockers than any other generation. Also, many consumers have indicated a need for ad blockers for mobile software.
Unless ads become more interactive, engaging and clever than ever, people will eventually tune out marketing messages one way or another. More than ever, companies need to get closer to their target audience in order to optimize their ad content as well as the channels they use.
As the examples above show, technology is a powerful tool in influencing and changing consumer behavior. As new technologies emerge to disrupt industries, companies of all sizes can’t afford to sit on the side lines. In a world where new technologies pop up all the time, the companies that put consumer needs first are in a position to win.


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WELCOME TO The capital REPORT
Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
AppZen | June 25, 2021
AppZen, the pioneer in modern Finance Ai technology, announced the launch of the AppZen AppStore today, that also facilitates finance teams to easily streamline universal expense reviews and approvals, to comply with company laws and regulations. It is the only Finance AI AppStore specifically designed for finance teams, premised on the thousands of expense reports AppZen's Mastermind AI has scanned for 1,800+ customers. All worldwide clients will have access to these applications, allowing ...
AFS and Jingle Pay | October 12, 2022
Jingle Pay, a financial super-app that provides money services in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) region, has entered into a strategic partnership with Arab Financial Services (AFS), the leading digital payments solutions provider and Fin-Tech enabler in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Jingle Pay and AFS will join forces to deliver unique digital payments and exceptional customer experience in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The partnership expands Jingle Pay's footprint in the ...
Givex | December 13, 2022
Global fintech company Givex Corporation announced today the launch of its new website to showcase its elevated product offerings after acquiring four companies in 18 months.
Givex made the strategic acquisitions of Pi Cash Systeme, Kalex, Loyalty Lane and Counter Solutions, adding new products and capabilities to the already strong Givex product suite. Givex also went public in December 2021, creating a new audience of potential investors.
In addition to an u...
Adyen, Flywire | December 15, 2020
Adyen, the worldwide payments platform of decision for huge numbers of the world's driving organizations, and Flywire, a high-development vertical payments company, today reported a partnership which coordinates Adyen into Flywire's worldwide organization of payment partners.
Through the coordinated effort with Adyen, Flywire's clients – dominatingly, associations in the instruction, medical services, and travel enterprises – will profit by:
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Some Illinois dispensaries ran out of marijuana on day one of the state’s new recreational market, which sold nearly $3.2 million to more than 77,000 people.
January 1 was a historic day for cannabis in the state of Illinois, as the nation’s newest regulated market generated nearly $3.2 million in legal recreational cannabis sales.
In total, the first day of legal recreational cannabis access led to $3,176,256.71 in sales throughout the state. More than 77,000 transactions were processed with an average of $42 on cannabis flower, concentrates, vapes and edibles, according to local reports.
“As we start this new decade, Illinois has achieved a monumental milestone launching the legalization of cannabis in a way that includes communities that have been left out for far too long, creates good jobs, and expunges thousands of records for those who have lost out on opportunities, and ends prohibition,” said Toi Hutchinson, Illinois senior cannabis control advisor, during a Jan. 2 news conference.
According to estimates, each dispensary brought in an average of $94,000 in sales on day one. Several dispensaries ran out of product and had to temporarily close to replenish. For comparison, estimates from California’s day one sales on Jan. 1, 2018 indicate around 70,000 people purchased about $5.2 million in gross sales.
“Sales are great, but let’s never lose sight of the impact we’re having on families around the state,” Hutchinson said, noting that a significant portion of the cannabis sales will go directly to a state community investment program.
In Illinois, the cannabis licensing and application process is designed to invite diversity. Hutchinson said the program is intentionally dedicated to incentivizing equity applicants, or people who are from communities who were most impacted by cannabis prohibition.
“We wanted to be clear that if we did just what every other state did which was just to open the door, wide open, and just hand out licenses that there would only be a select number of folks who got them. This is very intentionally different,” she said.
Illinois Cannabis Reform
The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, which Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law in June 2019, has been one of the country’s most outstanding cannabis reform laws to date. It was the first in the U.S. approved by a state legislative process instead of via voter referendum, and the reform law has set the bar in a commitment to investing in communities most impacted by the War on Drugs.
One day prior to the launch of Illinois recreational cannabis sales, the state’s Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a pardon of more than 11,000 past low-level cannabis convictions. The pardons are part of the state’s cannabis reform program. More than 700,000 records are eligible for relief under the new cannabis law.
The new cannabis reform law includes the state’s Restore, Reinvest, and Renew program. The program directs 25 percent of cannabis revenue to “fund strategies that focus on violence prevention, re-entry and health services to areas across the state that our objectively found to be acutely suffering from the horrors of violence, bolstered by concentrated disinvestment.”
Illinois is the eleventh state in the U.S. to legalize recreational cannabis use.
Learn more about marijuana laws in Illinois.
More Marijuana News
Follow along as we continue to track Illinois’ progress in the legal recreational marijuana market by checking back in at our cannabis news page. There you can also find articles featuring cannabis news in policy, business, and scientific research.


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It turns out that similar-looking automobiles are not limited to Aston Martins. The iconic British company has spent a lot of money creating a new logo replicating the old one as it receives a billion-dollar bailout. Aston Martin has updated its recognizable wings logo for the first time in nearly two decades, though even car enthusiasts might find it difficult to distinguish the changes.
The legendary British brand revealed a “bold new creative identity” this week, shortly after disclosing it had received a sizeable $1.1 billion investment from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, possibly to divert attention from its financial difficulties.
The Saudi investment will aid in creating new models, such as the Valhalla plug-in hybrid supercar, and cover Aston Martin’s growing debt, which, based on the corporation’s own reporting, is close to $1 billion.
The hand-enamelled wings logo will be updated on Aston Martin’s upcoming sports cars as part of the company’s new “strategic repositioning.” At the French Grand Prix on July 24, the updated logo will make its official debut on the Aston Martin F1 team’s livery. The image makeover represents the brand’s first upgrade since 2003 and the eighth time the logo has undergone a substantial change in Aston Martin’s history of 109 years.
It’s interesting to note that the eight logo alterations have come after tough financial times for the business, frequently right before the company filed for bankruptcy. In 1920, 1927, 1930, 1932, 1954, 1984, 2003, and 2022, new logos were introduced.
The most recent logo redesign was done by the internal design team at Aston Martin, under the direction of British art director and graphic designer Peter Saville. The physical badges will be made by skilled workers in Birmingham’s jewelry district.
The new logo is a deviation from the initial Aston Martin logo, which was first used in 1920 and featured a circular design incorporating the letters “A” and “M,” even though it is not significantly different from its forerunners.
Once the name “Aston Martin” was reconfigured into a deep V shape, the marque adopted the wings motif for the first time in 1927. The company unveiled a more recognizable version of the current logo in 1932, one that was modeled after the scarab beetles of ancient Egypt, which were thought to represent “new beginnings.”


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Reckitt share price: Company withdraws Nurofen advert
Blue-chip personal goods maker Reckitt Benckiser (LON:RB) has withdrawn a TV advert for its Nurofen Express painkiller due to misleading content, the BBC has revealed.
The advert, which was launched in February last year and has not been aired since June, implied that the medicine directly targeted muscles in the head. Reportedly, the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has halted an investigation which could have led to the ad being banned after Barratt promised that it would not imply the product had a mechanism that makes it especially effective for headache pain.
Details of the ASA investigation have emerged before Christmas, after an Australian court ordered Reckitt to take certain Nurofen products off the shelves. The court said although they were marketed to treat specific pains, such as migraine and period pain, they were actually identical to one another. Each Nurofen Specific Pain product contained the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine 342mg, although customers were paying twice as much in the belief that the products were different.
Reckitt’s shares have been trading lower today, in line with the broader UK stock market trend. As of 13:48 GMT, the stock was changing hands at 6,536.00p, 0.27 percent down intraday. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 benchmark index had shed 1.41 percent to stand at 5,878.36 points.
Reckitt’s share price soared last week, after the personal goods maker said its full-year results had exceeded expectations. Adding to the upbeat sentiment, Liberum stated that Reckitt carried the “strong momentum” into 2016, underpinned by strong growth in health and emerging markets boosted by a bigger and stronger innovation pipeline.
As of 14:01 GMT, Wednesday, 24 February, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc share price is 6,537.00p.


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As Tata Motors Ltd. struggles to revive sales of premium vehicles in the midst of a worsening debt crisis in Europe, it now has to search for a new CEO. It has been three years since the company bought the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford Motor Co.
Carl-Peter Forster, who helped in turning the Jaguar Land Rover into a profitable unit in the year ended March 31, quit on Sept. 9 as the global head of the company, which is the largest automaker of India.
“Unavoidable personal circumstances” were cited, according to Autonews. Forster kept this position for less than two years. His replacement will face the challenge of reversing six consecutive months of dropping sales at Jaguar as European economies stall.
The company, which achieved 35 percent of its revenue from the U.S. and Europe last year, now needs to find a CEO soon to avoid derailing a plan to invest $2.4 billion yearly in new models and to expand in China, according to managing director Deepesh Rathore at IHS Automotive.
Analyst Andrew Jackson at research firm Datamonitor in London stated that the scenario is a “big blow” for Jaguar Land Rover, adding that Forster “signed off on a very bold change in direction for the company.”
Its shares have declined 44 percent this year, which qualifies it as the worst performing stock in the BSE India Sensitive Index. Chairman Ratan Tata at Tata Motors commented that the credit for the turnaround of Jaguar Land Rover goes to the company’s workforce and management team, adding that no single person can or should take credit for the improvement in the company’s operations.


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Employees working at the drive-thru have undoubtedly seen it all – from men ordering on horseback to customers climbing through the take-out window and even a cow passing through the line.
And while these bizarre incidents are basically comical, the experiences of others aren’t so funny.
A Starbucks customer in British Columbia, Canada found out the hard way when a Starbucks sign fell on his car as he drove through the drive-thru, causing a commotion the size of a venti.
TikToker Auvo (@nachoauvo) posted a video of the aftermath of what happened after a huge Starbucks logo fell directly on his car in a video that garnered 2.7 million views.
“It was very scary,” he captioned the video, which documents the building and the outline of where the logo should be before panning to him sitting stunned in his car showing his bumper. – cracked breeze.
@nachoauvo That was very scary #starbucks ♬ Laugh funny no no no – Sound Effect
In a follow-up video, the TikToker shows additional footage that appears to have been taken by a car behind it in which viewers can clearly see the sign begin to fall from the side of the building seemingly out of nowhere before tearing onto its bumper. breeze and fall to the side.
He told the daily hive that her son was also in the car at the time of the incident.
“It scared us a lot, my six-year-old son was in the car. It scared him the most,” he told the outlet.
@nachoauvo Part 2 at Starbucks sign falling on my car #starbucks @starbucks ♬ Oh no – Kreepa
Viewers were equally horrified and scoffed at the matter, joking that he should have taken the opportunity to claim an injury so he could get some settlement money from the company.
“I would need 20 franchises, a billion dollars and a drink named after me,” one user joked.
The video poster later clarified in the comments section that the incident was unfortunately part of an already bad day that had gotten significantly worse.
“We had a shitty day, my brother’s birthday who passed away,” he told viewers. “Fiancé locked the keys in the car. Starbies was supposed to come in gear.”
But don’t worry, he was actually compensated for the damage to his vehicle, and more.
“We spoke to Starbucks. They asked us not to talk about the settlement because we’re happy with how it worked out,” he shared. “I will say, —— Our wedding is paid for :)”
It’s sweeter news than a Frappucino!
Starbucks Canada told the daily hive that they are actively investigating the incident.
“Our on-site partners acted quickly to keep everyone safe. We spoke directly to the customer and are actively in discussion with them to offer further assistance,” the company said. “Starbucks Canada takes great pride in creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone and our priority is that this never happens again.”
Entrepreneur has contacted Starbucks for additional comment.