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Around one in eight contactless journeys in London now being made using a mobile phone or smart device
Half of all Tube and rail pay as you go journeys are now regularly made using contactless payment cards or mobile devices, the latest figures from Transport for London (TfL) have revealed.
The convenient payment method, which launched on buses in London in December 2012 and across Tube and rail services in London in September 2014, is now being used to make around 17 million journeys a week across London. Since it launched, more than 1.7 billion journeys have been made across the capital, showing how Londoners and visitors have taken to using contactless payments as part of their daily life.
The number of journeys made in London using contactless has risen from around 25% just two years ago. On buses and trams, the use of contactless is also increasing rapidly, with around 45% of all pay as you go journeys now being made using contactless.
While half of all pay as you go journeys across London are now made using contactless payments, a number of stations, including Blackfriars, Shoreditch High Street, Canary Wharf and Clapham Common, are consistently seeing more that 60% of all pay as you go journeys made using contactless. Close to half a million contactless pay as you go journeys are made from Oxford Circus every week, the equivalent of 50 cards touching in every minute.
Contactless journeys made using mobile devices continue to increase, with around one in eight contactless journeys in London now being made using a mobile phone or smart device.
On the London bus network, the most popular bus route for using contactless is the route 521 from Waterloo station to London Bridge station via Holborn, which regularly sees more than 60% of all pay as you go journeys being made using contactless.
London’s airports where pay as you go is accepted continue to see a growing proportion of contactless journeys made from both UK and overseas customers. More than 35% of pay as you go journeys from Heathrow airport, more than 40% of pay as you go journeys from London City Airport and more than 55% of pay as you go journeys from Gatwick airport towards London are now made using contactless.
TfL’s contactless ticketing system automatically calculates the best value fare based on the customer’s specific journey history and then charges them at the end of the day, ensuring customers always pay the best fare in the easiest and most convenient way. This means that customers could save money compared to buying a one day Travelcard, helping them to travel around London more affordably. Customers using contactless also benefit from weekly capping, which will be expanded to Oyster card users later this year, as well as the Hopper fare, which allows bus and tram customers to make unlimited journeys within an hour for the price of one.
Commented Simon Black, CEO, PPRO Group: “The news that half of all London Tube and rail pay as you go journeys are now made using contactless is a clear sign that Britain is well on its way to become a cashless society by 2020, and the introduction of smartwatches is helping to lead the charge. In fact, PPRO Group’s research found physical money is fast becoming redundant in today’s increasingly connected society with a third (33%) of the UK stating that they never use cash anymore. Unsurprisingly this figure rises to 51% among millennials, while older generations are stoically sticking to the coins in their purses as only 27% prefer to shop online.
“Given the option 26% of us would never choose to pay cash when buying an item in a shop,” added Black. “In fact, more than a quarter of us (26.35%) find it irritating when we have to pay by cash rather than by card. The popularity of mobile and contactless payments clearly demonstrates the acceptance of change when it comes to payments in the UK.
“We live in a culture of increasing convenience which has influenced, and will dramatically transform, the way in which we’ll pay for items now and in the future. From using contactless cards to pay for a train journey, taxis at the click of an app with UBER, to a one-click shop on Amazon, quick and easy is winning the war,” Black concluded.
Shashi Verma, CTO at TfL said: “Contactless ticketing has made travelling in and around London and the South East by bus, Tube or rail quick, convenient and affordable. We’re delighted with how popular this innovation has become and, with the future extension of this technology across the Elizabeth line, even more customers will benefit in the future. We are also now working with other world cities to share our experience and knowledge to help them introduce a similar ticketing system in the coming years.”
The success of contactless in London is now leading to more world cities introducing the technology as a convenient method of paying for travel. In 2016 TfL signed a deal worth up to £15 million with Cubic Transportation Systems, allowing them to adapt the capital’s contactless ticketing system worldwide. Since then, New York, Sydney, Miami and Boston have all announced that they plan to introduce contactless payments in the coming years. From May 2018, pay as you go will also be extended to cover TfL Rail services between Heathrow airport and Paddington station, and will also cover the entire Elizabeth line when it launches from December 2018.


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Lego reports sales jump after Covid crisis kept families at home
Lego has received a lockdown boost to sales after families around the world were forced to spend more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Total sales rose by 14% in the first half of 2020 and sales were up by more than 10% in its largest markets – including the Americas, western Europe, Asia Pacific and China – despite the closure of toy shops for months in some countries, including the UK.
Lego launches braille version of its plastic bricks
Lego, which is the world’s largest toy company ahead of the Barbie manufacturer, Mattel, and the Transformers owner, Hasbro, has spent heavily on direct-to-consumer sales, which are generally more profitable and have also proven resilient when families were locked at home.
Visitors to Lego’s website doubled year on year during the first half of 2020.
Revenue for the January to June period grew 7% to 15.7bn Danish kroner (£1.9bn) compared with the first half of 2019. Operating profit was 3.9bn kroner, an increase of 11% year on year. The most successful products included themed playsets from Harry Potter, Disney princesses and Star Wars.
Lego was established in 1932 in the small Danish town of Billund and has grown to become one of the most powerful brands in the world, including a successful film franchise. In 2016, Lego sold 75bn bricks, adding to the hundreds of billions of bricks already in existence.
The rise in profits in the first half of 2020 came despite the continued infrastructure spending and increased shipping costs after the governments of China and Mexico mandated the temporary closure of factories as the coronavirus spread.
Lego’s chief executive, Niels Christiansen, said the company had benefited from its longer-term pivot towards online shopping and added that the coronavirus lockdowns had resulted in more families playing together.
“Our strong portfolio appealed to builders of all ages and our recently upgraded e-commerce platform and agile global supply chain allowed us to fulfil online demand,” he said. “More families are playing and learning together with Lego bricks and we are seeing more adults than ever before enjoying building our more challenging sets.”
Beyond the pandemic, Lego faces a particular challenge around sustainability. The vast majority of its products are made from difficult-to-recycle polyethylene plastic. However, the company argues that the durability and backwards-compatibility of its pieces mean they can be reused repeatedly and it last month joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which is focused on promoting a circular economy and fighting plastic waste.
In 2018, Lego said it would produce its first plant-based plastic, sourced from sugar cane.
Source: Read Full Article

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LG has launched its latest flagship smartphone, the G7 ThinQ. At an event in New York, the company revealed its flagship smartphone which has features like AI integrated camera, enhanced sound system and much more.
The smartphone will have Android Oreo and will come in four colours Platinum Gray, Aurora Black, Moroccan Blue and Raspberry Rose.
It is the first smartphone with dedicated a Google Assistant key which means that you can launch Google Assistance with a single tap while a double tap will boot-up Google Lens.
A rear-mounted fingerprint scanner is also available with the phone. LG still has a 3.5 mm headphone jack with a Hi-Fi Quad DAC as well. It also gets a new "Boombox System" which will make the G7 ThinQ louder than all its contemporary competitors.
The phone has a 6.1-inch LCD display with resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels. Another highlight in the display is that it offers a "Super Bright" technology which will increase brightness up to 1,000 nits.
The device is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor with 4GB RAM with storage of 64GB or 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. It gets a micro SD and support with a battery of 3000 mAh.
The phone comes with glass on both the front and rear which supports wireless charging. It is water and dust resistant with IP68 certification.
G7 ThinkQ flaunts a back camera that has 16 megapixel primary sensor with f/1.6 aperture and a wide-angle 107-degree 16 megapixel shooter at f/1.9 aperture. The front camera houses an 8 megapixel sensor. The AI features kick-in on the basis of what one is shooting.
For instance, if the user is clicking food pictures, the camera will enhance the colours to make it look more appealing.
LG G7 ThinQ may have all the ingredients of a flagship and then some more but it seems the device will have to struggle for limelight in the premium segment.
The ThinkQ will compete with the Apple iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S9+, Huawei P20 Pro and the upcoming OnePlus 6 which will launch in London on May 16.


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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- The Trump administration is looking at levying tariffs on over 100 Chinese products and the president is asking to pump up planned tariffs of US$30 billion on Chinese imported goods, according to a Politico report.
On the heels of Trump's announcement of tariffs on steel and aluminum, he is considering a raft of new tariffs on China after reports have come in of the extent of Beijing's intellectual property theft from American companies. As a retaliatory measure, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had provided Trump with a plan to impose US$30 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese imports, however, according to Politico he has asked Lighthizer to think bigger and come up with a higher figure and wants his staff to be ready to make an official announcement as soon as next week.
Though the details are still being hashed out, Trump is weighing the possibility of imposing tariffs on more than 100 Chinese-made products. In addition to the tariffs, Trump is also looking into the feasibility of imposing restrictions on Chinese investment and visas for Chinese citizens, as well as limiting exports of goods or technologies that have dual civilian and military uses.
The original US$30 billion figure was based on an estimation from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative of market value of technology U.S. technology companies are forced to fork over to the Chinese government every year.
The Trump administration is gearing the broad spectrum of tariffs and other punitive measures at countering Beijing's Made in China 2025 industrial policy, which is designed to accelerate the funneling of Western technology into China's state-run corporations.
As can clearly be seen in the chart below, Chinese exports to the U.S. increased dramatically after it entered the World Trade Organization (WTO), while American exports to China increased as well, but much more modestly, resulting in the U.S. suffering an ever-increasing trade deficit with the communist country.
(Wikimedia Commons image)


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Washington -- The number of U.S. auto dealers rose slightly in 2012 to 17,815 -- up for the second straight year, according to a report released Thursday.
Dealer consulting firm Urban Science said average auto sales at dealerships rose 13 percent in 2012 and it expects the number of auto dealers to remain stable for a third straight year. As of Jan. 1, 2013, there were 17,851 dealerships, a 0.5 percent increase from 17,767 a year earlier.
"In the past, a 2 percent dealership annual decline was considered normal," said John Frith, vice president, retail channel solutions, Urban Science. "But barring unexpected economic changes, network growth of 0.1 to 0.2 percent will become the new benchmark for the next few years."
The dealership count has a big impact on profitability of individual dealers because of its relationship to the average number of sales per dealership, known in the industry as throughput.
Based on 2012 vehicle sales of 14.5 million, Urban Science's analysis showed a 13 percent increase in the number of vehicles sold by dealerships, with an average of 812, compared to 719 in 2011.
Urban Science estimates that if 2013 vehicle sales reach 15 million, average sales per dealer will shatter the current all-time high and increase to 839.
At the state level, the biggest dealership increases occurred in: Texas, 25 dealerships; California, 24 dealerships; and Florida, 11 dealerships.
As of Jan. 1, 2013, there were a total of 31,608 franchises, an 8 percent increase from 29,380 as of Jan. 1, 2012.
The 8 percent net increase is due largely to the addition of 2,277 Ram franchises -- which Chrysler spun off from its Dodge brand -- offset by 187 Saab franchise closures.
The U.S. had 20,000 dealers in 2008, and shed about 11 percent since then. Much of the decline came as General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC used their 2009 bankruptcy restructurings to get rid of hundreds of dealers. GM shed its Hummer, Saturn, Pontiac and Saab brands.
Some automakers are trying to re-establish some dealerships in urban areas in places like California. High land prices and the shift of people to suburbs have resulted in some major metro areas having fewer dealers than automakers would like.
"If sales stabilize around 15 million, we expect the overall dealership count to remain relatively flat," Frith said. "While there are fewer dealerships today than a decade ago, they are larger and should be able to easily manage the increased sales and throughput. We have a good balance of sales and stores, allowing for fewer incentives and increased dealership profitability -- key reasons why it's critical to maintain a right-sized network."
The report also found in Mexico, the number of dealerships increased 3.9 percent to 1,839 as of Jan. 1, 2013.
The number of franchises in Mexico also increased 4.3 percent year-over-year. Urban Science attributes the growth to new brands, including Fiat, Mazda and Suzuki, entering the market, and other brands expanding their networks as a result of investments in new factories.


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With the long-running industry battle between the USA and China proceeding to escalate, the Trump management is now threatening to institute a 25% tariff on an extra $300 billion in items from the rustic, a transfer that might quilt virtually all Chinese language exports. In gentle of that risk, Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony issued a letter lately asking the management to exempt online game consoles from this kind of tariff plans.
The seven-page letter, signed by means of the industry affairs VPs of the 3 main console makers, argues that any tax on sport console imports would “injure customers, online game builders, outlets, and console producers; put hundreds of high-value, rewarding U.S. jobs in peril; and stifle innovation in our trade and past.”
Since sport consoles are bought at or quite above the price of manufacture, the price of any import tariff would need to be handed immediately directly to “extraordinarily value delicate” customers, the letter argues. “A value building up of 25% will most probably put a brand new online game console out of succeed in for plenty of American households who we think to be available in the market for a console this vacation season,” the letter says.
That will reason a right away lack of $350 million for the USA economic system every 12 months, in line with a cited learn about from Industry Companions International, and “ripple results” for third-party accent and sport makers and outlets down the road. That is not to say the possible affect at the 65,000 US staff hired by means of the sport trade, in line with the letter.
Greater than 96% of US online game consoles are manufactured in China, the letter says, and moving that production to every other nation would “reason important provide chain disruption and… building up prices—even past the price of the proposed price lists—on merchandise which are already manufactured underneath tight margin stipulations.”
The console makers additionally argue that console price lists would prohibit the forms of wider generation inventions led to by means of the console sport trade prior to now, such because the Xbox Adaptive Controller, the Wii’s movement controls, and PlayStation VR.
Console makers are some distance from by myself of their pleading in this wide-ranging tariff risk. Masses of businesses testified at industry hearings this month to argue that price lists would lead immediately to value will increase for US customers that might be terrible for companies and the nationwide economic system at massive. Whilst earlier rounds of Chinese language price lists have been focused at particular production sectors to restrict the direct impact on US customers, the brand new tariff threats surround almost all items made in China, from sneakers and jewellery to toys and electronics.
Discussions for a brand new industry deal between China and the USA fell aside ultimate month. The management has indicated a last resolution on any price lists will come after a gathering between Trump and Chinese language President Xi Jinping on the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, later this week.


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Swinburne Online turned two today, reaching this important milestone by leading the online education charge in delivering best-in-class online degrees.
With over 5,000 students and growing, Swinburne Online’s unique approach to online study has been successful in offering online students a highly engaging and productive learning experience.
‘Swinburne Online was created to deliver innovation in online learning to a new group of students for Swinburne University of Technology. But we have delivered on more than this.
‘We have developed excellence in pedagogy and teaching and operationalised these within an organisation which is absolutely student focused,’ says Professor Kay Lipson, Academic Dean Swinburne Online.
To date, Swinburne Online offers 14 different degrees in Business, Education, Communication and Social Science. These courses are increasing in popularity amongst working adults as online delivery allows students to work and study concurrently.
Online students also have the benefit of receiving a great deal of support from the vast range of services offered by the Swinburne Online community.
‘There is no aspect of the company, and no person working within the team, who is not passionate about our students and their success. This drives everything we do every day, and I am very proud of what we have achieved in just two years,’ says Professor Lipson.
Swinburne University and SEEK’s public private venture has certainly grown since 2011. Swinburne Online has exceeded expectations in such a short period by leveraging the University’s quality course content with SEEK’s online marketing capabilities.
‘Like SEEK and SEEK Learning, Swinburne Online has a fantastic team of people, doing really great thinking and work,’ says Pete Everingham, Managing Director, SEEK Education.
‘Swinburne Online’s own enrolments are growing strongly and this venture is way ahead of where we thought it would be at this stage. It’s an incredible story – thanks to an exceptional team of people executing with much vigour and care.’


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The Launch of a Limited Edition Watch with The Prince’s Trust
Wednesday April 26th, 2017: To mark the occasion of more than 40 years of supporting disadvantaged young people in the United Kingdom, Hublot has partnered with The Prince’s Trust to create a Special Edition charity timepiece the ‘Classic Fusion Chronograph Prince’s Trust’.
In recognition of this prestigious new philanthropic partnership haute horology watch brand Hublot hosted an exclusive evening at London’s historic Kensington Palace Gardens. Guests were invited to attend a private tour of the grandeur of The King’s Apartments, followed by a seasonal gala dinner held in the magnificent surroundings of The Orangery.
The exclusive Prince’s Trust edition was showcased inside the iconic Orangery framed by the Hublot “H” sculpted from blue hydrangeas, paying homage to the beauty of the grounds at Kensington Palace.
Hublot CEO, Ricardo Guadalupe, hosted the evening and was joined by special guests Paul Brown, The Prince’s Trust Marketing Director and Helen David, Harrods Chief Merchant. The event was organized by the charming and accomplished broadcast journalist and presenter Natasha Kaplinksy.
Also in attendance at the event was former England Football superstar Rio Ferdinand and Chelsea FC legends Nemanja Matic and Asmir Begovic. Hublot brand ambassador Maxime Büchi, creative designer and artist who worked on Hublot Sang Bleu watches, also joined the charitable event.
Swiss Haute Horology specialist Hublot revealed the new limited edition timepiece the ‘Classic Fusion Chronograph Prince’s Trust’ – a distinctive yet understated collectors timepiece featuring a 45mm case in polished and satin-finished titanium and blue sun-ray satin finished chronograph dial powered by the self-winding movement featuring a 42 hour power reserve. The on-trend blue theme continues with the rubber and alcantara strap. The timepiece is completed by The Prince’s Trust logo shown at 12 o’clock.
Hublot has limited this timepiece to just 100 pieces available exclusively in the United Kingdom, with a portion of proceeds from the sale of each one going directly to the Prince’s Trust charity. Harrods will launch the collection with exclusivity for 1 month starting April 27th, 2017.


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International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), Sydney Showground and event technology company eTechSuite and were among the winners at last night’s 2022 Exhibition and Event Association Australasia (EEAA) Awards for Excellence.
ICC Sydney was recognised across three categories at the Awards. The venue’s corporate social responsibility leadership and implementation of its effective Waste Management Plan won the Sustainability Initiative of the year.
Jimmy Kadwa, senior manager, event operations at ICC Sydney, was celebrated as the Unsung Hero for his contribution to the exhibition and events community for over 20 years, while Jack Weatherby-Fell, ICC Sydney’s senior event manager, was awarded the Richard Geddes Young Achiever Award.
“ICC Sydney’s success as Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue reflects our team members, such as Jimmy and Jack,” said ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy.
“We are immensely proud of their individual achievements and contribution to ICC Sydney as we work to deliver our premium services – from audio visual to culinary services, event management, sustainability and beyond.”
Domenic Genua, EEAA’s CEO, congratulated the ICC Sydney team on the raft of accolades.
“My great appreciation goes to ICC Sydney for their partnership with the EEAA, enabling the Association to deliver this series of industry events,” he said.
Sydney Showground scooped Best Venue Team while eTechSuite took home the Digital Innovation Award.
Sydney Showground was recognised for their work on the 2021 Sydney Royal Easter Show, which was the largest ticketed event to occur globally since the pandemic began in 2020.
“The Show was an incredibly challenging event for our team, it ran at a time when no other large-scale events had occurred since the pandemic began, and as a venue and organiser, there was no roadmap to follow,” said Sydney Showground general manager Darryl Jeffrey.
“We put everything we had into bringing this event to life, so to be recognised for that hard work and innovation is extremely rewarding for our team. The Show is what it is due to the hundreds of staff that go the extra mile to make it happen, and this award is for them.”
eTechSuite has had a big year having collected and facilitated the review of 17,462 abstracts, full papers, digital posters, awards and presentation submissions in eOrganiser across all its 2022 events worldwide.
General manager Marcel van Egdom said the eTechSuite team were honoured to be recognised for their expertise and creativity.
“This award recognises our innovative technology and its flexibility in achieving a wide range of client objectives,” he said.
The full winners of the 2022 Awards for Excellence are below.
- Best Consumer Show – The Good Food And Wine Show ‐ Sydney 2022, Talk2 Media & Events
- Best Trade Show (Under 10,000m2) – Queensland Mining and Engineering Expo, RX Australia
- Best Trade Show (Over 10,000m2) – Decor + Design 2022 ‐ Informa Connect Australia,Informa Australia
- Best Association Event – afac22 Powered By Interschutz, Hannover Fairs Australia
- Best Custom Stand – e&s Trading Stand At Interiors Australia & DENFAIR 2022, Harry the hirer
- Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign – Online Retailer Conference & Expo 2022, RX Australia
- Best New Product or Service – Smart Badge, Harry the hirer
- Best Show Team – The Good Food And Wine Show 2022, Talk2 Media & Events
- Best Venue Team – Sydney Showground
- Best Supplier, Product or Service – Harry the hirer
- Sustainability Initiative Award – International Convention Centre Sydney
- Digital Innovation Award – eTechSuite
- Best Overall Show – Queensland Mining and Engineering Expo, RX Australia
- Richard Geddes Emerging Leader – Jack Weatherby-Fell, International Convention Centre Sydney
- Unsung Hero – Jimmy Kadwa, International Convention Centre Sydney
EEAA also presented the Trevor Riddell Presidents Award to Rod Peter and Spiro Anemogiannis. Appreciation Awards were presented to Business Events Australia and International Convention Centre Sydney, while Jo-Anne Kelleway and Peter King were awarded Life Memberships.
“The Conference and Awards Dinner were a great reminder of how far we have come,” said Genua.
“Huge congratulations to our award winners and also the finalists, you’re all very deserving of recognition for your ability to deliver even in the most challenging circumstances.”


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US Conference Board Consumer Confidence rose from 99.1 to 102.0 in November, above expectation of 101.0. Present Situation Index ticked down slightly from 138.6 to 138.2. Expectations Index rose from 72.7 to 77.8. Expectations Index remains below 80 for a third consecutive month—a level that historically signals a recession within the next year.
“Consumer confidence increased in November, following three consecutive months of decline,” said Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board. “This improvement reflected a recovery in the Expectations Index, while the Present Situation Index was largely unchanged. November’s increase in consumer confidence was concentrated primarily among householders aged 55 and up; by contrast, confidence among householders aged 35-54 declined slightly. General improvements were seen across the spectrum of income groups surveyed in November. Nonetheless, write-in responses revealed consumers remain preoccupied with rising prices in general, followed by war/conflicts and higher interest rates.”


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Mijo! Brands will proudly unveil Puerto Vallarta´s new mobile website to an audience of an estimated 500 participants at the social media conference Súbete al Tren (Get on Board), co-hosted by the Vallarta CVB, the Canaco (Business Association) and Mijo! Brands.
The new mobile site is part of a fully integrated social network and social media strategy that incorporates leading and emerging trends in Travel 2.0.
During the 3 hour presentation, Ramon Lopez, Web director at Mijo! Brands is expected to present the advances the official Website has achieved in terms of global ranking, audience reach and vacation bookings in the 10 months since the site was first launched in 2010.
A targeted social media marketing campaign has seen both official Websites Visita Puerto Vallartaand Visit Puerto Vallartaclimb steadily in global rankings. The language Spanish version has taken a lead over the official website for the country in terms of global rank, while the English language version has become one of the highest ranking official websites in Mexico beating out Cancun, Los Cabos and Riviera Nayarit.
Mijo! Brands attributes the project’s success to the support of the local community, an integrated social media strategy, integration of leading technology and a personal commitment amongst everyone at the agency to promote their home.


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Netflix shares soared Wednesday after the embattled home entertainment company said it had landed more than 600,000 new subscribers during a stronger than expected fourth quarter.
That's just the tonic for a company that saw its share price plunge in the wake of customer defections and outrage.
Netflix reported earnings of $41 million or 73 cents per share, as its revenue rose 43 percent to $876 million.
That left Wall Street whistling, with shares of the company jumping more than 10 percent to $105.03 in after-hours trading.
Profits were down 13 percent, but the financial picture for the red envelope company beat analysts' expectations of 54 cents a share and $857 million in revenue.
The company has been plagued by subscriber losses in the wake of a price increase to its most popular subscription plan and a controversial plan to spin-off its DVD by mail business called Qwikster. However, Netflix has apologized profusely to its membership and has shelved its ambitions to create a stand-alone DVD business.
Some of these mea culpas may have done the trick. Netflix grew its subscriber rolls slightly over the earnings period. Though the number of Netflix subscribers dipped below 24 million in the previous period, Netflix reported that its U.S. subscriber base had added some 610,000 people to its rolls and now numbers 24.4 million.
The improved earnings come as Netflix is betting heavily on original content. The company is poised to launch the Steve Van Zandt mystery series "Lilyhammer" next month via its streaming service and has Kevin Spacey's political series "House of Games" waiting in the wings.
Looking ahead, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said he continues to see paid television networks like HBO and Showtime as the company's true rivals, not Hulu and Amazon, which have also bet heavily on video streaming.
"As we’ve often said, we see the biggest long term threat as TV Everywhere, and in particular, HBO GO, the leading implementation of TV Everywhere to date," Hastings and Netflix CFO David Wells wrote in a letter of shareholders. "HBO has some great content, particularly their original series, but today for most people it is locked behind a linear interface, or at best, behind a DVR interface and in all cases tethered to a linear subscription plan. As HBO GO grows and becomes the primary way that consumers experience HBO, it will become a much more effective competitor for viewing time."


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It is expected that the transition to a circular economy in the world’s two largest economies could accelerate adoption of circular economy practices at a global scale, creating the potential for a “system shift’” towards a regenerative economy for plastics.
“This MoU sends out a strong message to the global community that the circular economy is key to a sustainable future,” sustainability expert and Director at Emagine Packaging, Richard Coles, tells PackagingInsights. “It is the way to go for both advanced economies and newly industrializing countries – in particular, for rapidly urbanizing ones like China with its unprecedented growth in production and consumption of goods that has generated vast amounts of municipal solid waste (MSW), including plastics packaging.”
“Much of China’s domestic MSW plastics packaging appears not to be recycled (in 2011, recycling rate estimated by WRAP to be 25-30 percent) and, unless landfilled or incinerated, leaks into the environment creating other forms of pollution,” he says.
Click to EnlargeAccording to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 80 percent of global marine plastics pollution originates from many rapidly developing middle-income countries in Asia in large part due to the absence or lack of a formal waste management infrastructure.
“Both the EU and China are starting to tackle resource inefficiencies with plastics and address fast-growing pollution concerns,” Coles continues. “The MoU outlines several ‘Fields of cooperation’ which cover a range of ‘strategic exchanges’ such as extended producer responsibility, green supply chains, legislation, best practices of the circular economy for plastics and waste; innovative CE business models, eco-labeling and eco-design.”
“Such ‘strategic exchanges’ aim to support the management of resources from cradle to cradle – i.e. the circular economy as well as the realization of ‘closed loop’ material flows and beyond,” he adds.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation claims China has been a frontrunner on circular economy policy for more than two decades. Its long-standing commitment to the circular economy was reaffirmed by President Xi at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last year. In Europe, the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy, launched by the European Commission in 2015, established an ambitious programme of action and a timeline for its delivery.
The economic benefits of the transition to a circular economy in Europe are well recognized: a 2015 Ellen MacArthur Foundation report found that transition to a circular economy could add €0.9 trillion (US$1.03 trillion) to Europe’s GDP by 2030.
The benefits of collaboration
According to The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, this historic agreement could pave the way for China and the EU to align key mechanisms, and potentially create the building blocks for product standards and policies, which can enable an effective circular economy in the area of plastics.
Indeed, plastics has been a recent policy priority for both China and the EU, as the focus of the EU’s circular economy agenda in 2017, and covered by China’s foreign waste import ban in 2017.
“Collaboration is key to successful innovation and the international exchange of ideas, technology transfer, R&D initiatives and commercial ventures between these economic powerhouses and will no doubt spur the development of a wide range of circular economy initiatives and, in doing so, support several UN SDGs,” Coles explains.
“For several years, China has embraced the notion of a circular economy and its 13th ‘Five Year Plan’ (2016-20) extends reuse, recycling, renewable energy source targets and productivity targets.”
“It is early days and it remains to be seen whether China and the EU will fully deliver a circular economy. However, the MoU is most certainly an important milestone which will, hopefully, serve to inspire and motivate other nations to engage with the circular economy idea,” he concludes.
The NGO view
“The question is what value the EU brings to this agreement as it looks that China has all the knowledge?” Harmen Spek, Innovation & Solution Manager at the Plastic Soup Foundation tells PackagingInsights. “What does the EU have to offer? Feedstock? Maybe the EU likes to exchange knowledge about collection and transportation, but that is not rocket science.”
“For a successful recycling economy, a high-quality recycling output is needed, otherwise there is no business case for the trade of the recycled content to the production markets, who are quite demanding regarding the quality. Recycling of plastic is doable, but setting up a good functioning value chain without hiccups is something different; you need every stakeholder!”
“Processes like collection and segregation of plastics are probably the most important phases because the quality of the input mainly determines the quality of the output. When segregation of plastics waste is on a high level, all following processes will benefit.”
“Unfortunately, these phases are mostly lacking in all circumstances worldwide. I am convinced that transportation of waste should be limited as much as possible to avoid climate change but also leakage of plastic during processes like transshipment,” he says.
A step closer to a global recycling economy for plastics?
It remains to be seen whether other leading economies, such as the US, will sign similar MoUs, and how much value such agreements have in the search for a solution to global plastic pollution.
Harmen Spek thinks it is “strange” that such global agreements are necessary and that “to get to grip with packaging pollution, processing of waste on a local level is more desirable and should be the focus.”Click to Enlarge
The likelihood of the US pursuing a similar MoU appears increasingly unlikely given the ongoing trade wars with China.
However, as Richard Coles highlights, “US businesses have started to embrace the circular economy in recognition of the commercial (as well as resource and environmental) benefits that the circular economy business model offers.”
“Their entrepreneurship, innovativeness as well as the strength of the US digital economy are key enablers which will help motivate the development of the circular economy,” he says.
In the view of Spek, it is probable that other large economies will follow in the footsteps of the China-EU MoU because of the shared urge to find a solution to waste disposal issues, particularly with plastics. However, he is skeptical that the circular economy model as currently envisaged offers the complete solution.
“The annual plastic production worldwide was set on 320 million tons in 2014 but will probably grow rapidly and triple or even quadruple in 2050. These amounts are not manageable in any way!” he stresses.
“The only way and the best way to deal with the plastic problems is to limit production and use. Especially single-use plastics have to be limited on every level. Look at reusable systems, alternative materials and just reset our minds about the need for plastic.”
“In this way, we can maintain plastic for high-value use in durable products which will make plastic recycling more valuable. The circular economy is not the magic trick to reduce plastics in the environment; it is an endless fight,” he concludes.
By Joshua Poole
This feature is provided by FoodIngredientsFirst's sister website, PackagingInsights.
To contact our editorial team please email us at


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Hyderabad: As mangoes are flooding markets of Hyderabad in the current month of May, the sellers and fruit vendors are resorting to distress sale. The price as cheaper as Rs30 per kilograme is luring the consumers. This is resulting in increase in purchase. However, the doctors warn the consumers should be careful in their daily in-take of mangoes as they contain high calories.
On an average, a big-size mango has 130 to 150 calories of energy. A person could gain a reasonable weight easily within a week by consuming two mangoes a day. Since, people without physical exercise may face trouble with weight gain, doctors are suggesting not to indulge in consuming more mangoes.
Doctors suggest to have the fruit only after 30 mins after vigorous physical exercise or cardio in the morning.
Since mango contains high levels of fructose, a type sugars typically found in ripen fruits, there will be high supply of insulin to the body, which would prove fatal for diabetic patients. So patients should keep away from having mangoes.
Doctors also warn not to consume mangoes ripened with the help of chemicals like carbide which will lead to numbness in legs and hands and other body parts too. So ensure that the mangoes are naturally ripened with grass and other traditional methods.
Better avoid half-ripened mangoes since they cause indigestion problems and stomach ache. Raw mangoes are not advised to have heavily.
Heavy in-take of mangoes may cause skin allergy, itching, rashes and hives.


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Realme's launches two 'Pro' phones
Chinese mobile company 'Realme' has introduced its two budget phones, ending the wait of customers.
The mobile company claims to introduce 'Realme 10 Pro' and 'Realme 10 Pro Plus' with advanced camera software including upgraded technology, processor and chip.
Realme 10 Po Plus
The company has made this phone 7. Offered with a 6-inch AMOLED screen and its colors and panels, including its touch screen, are also claimed to be further improved with modern and fast technology.
This phone weighs 173 grams, while the size of this phone is less than 9 mm and it has a 5,000 mAh battery with a 67-watt fast charger.
Three cameras have been given on the back of the phone and the main camera is 108 megapixels, while the second is 8 and the third is 2 megapixels and the sensors of all cameras have been upgraded.
A 16-megapixel selfie camera has been given on the front of the phone and it also has other features including fingerprint sensors.
'Realme 10 Pro Plus' has been offered in different modules of 8 and 12 GB RAM, this phone is offered with 512 GB memory including 128 and 256 GB.
The prices of the modules of this phone have also been kept different, the price of the low GB module has been kept up to Rs 35,000 while the price of the remaining modules has been kept between Rs 62 and Rs 74,000.
Realme 10 Pro
According to the company, powerful processors have been given in the phones - Photo: The company
continues to write
This phone is also 72. Offered with a 6-inch screen and a 108-megapixel main camera.
It has a Snapdragon 695 chip and this phone is also offered in slim design and extremely low weight.
This phone has also been introduced with a 5,000 mAh battery and a 53-watt fast charger.
Two cameras have been given on the back of the phone, out of which the main camera is 108 megapixels and the second camera is 2 megapixels and samsung camera technology has been introduced in the cameras of this phone.
This phone has also been offered with 8 and 12 GB plus 128 and 256 GB memory.
The price of this phone's 8 GB module is Rs 50,000 while the price of 12 GB module is up to Rs 58,000.
Both phones are offered with android 13's operating system and 5G support has also been given in 10 Pro.
Both phones have initially been offered for sale only in China, but they are likely to be offered soon in other Asian countries, including Pakistan.


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HAS the dramatic turnaround in profitability in Australian red meat processing operations this year lowered the appetite among prospective Chinese investors seeking to establish a processing interest in this country?
At least two of the large Chinese investment deals disclosed earlier by Australian-owned processors have failed to go ahead.
When those deals were first agreed to, the balance sheets of Australian processing had arguably never looked better, with an abundance of cheap cattle being pushed to market by drought, and a hungry international customer-base keen to source Australian product.
But wind the clock forward to 2016, and most processor balance sheets have become mired in red ink, with big losses being written on virtually every beast killed, as the national herd sinks to 20-year lows.
Yesterday, Bindaree Beef confirmed to Beef Central that its proposed $140 million investment deal with China’s Delisi Group had not been executed. We first wrote about the proposed investment deal with Delisi, one of China’s largest pork processors, seeking for a 45pc stake in the Bindaree business, in this article in September last year.
Two contract agreement completion deadlines over the deal came and went in July and August this year, without result (see earlier report).
Bindaree yesterday told Beef Central that it remained in discussions with the Delisi group about the prospect of finalising a capital raising deal, but also confirmed that discussions had re-opened with ‘others’ about potential investment, along the lines of that proposed earlier with Delisi.
Other parties (plural) were now in the process of due diligence over investment in Bindaree, a spokesman said.
Asked whether that meant that any deal with Delisi was now much less likely, he repeated that Bindaree was still in discussion with the company, as part of a ‘process’ that the company was going through. The company has not confirmed whether a deposit was paid earlier by Delisi.
The spokesman confirmed that Price Waterhouse Coopers, the financial advisors involved in Bindaree’s original capital raising process, were again involved in the latest round of discussions and due diligence with potential investors.
Some of the potential investors were involved in the original discussions, while others were new to the process. Most were looking to invest ‘in their own right,’ rather than co-investing in Bindaree with others, the spokesman said.
Part of Bindaree’s proposed China joint venture agreement with Delisi involved spending $20-$30 million on a processing facility in Qingdao (see earlier story), which was ‘still an option,’ the spokesman said, provided a capital raising deal could be struck and completed with Delisi.
He said Bindaree was continuing to progress its plan to grow its integrated supply chain business, linking collaborating beef producers with the company’s brand programs, either grassfed or grainfed.
“Despite the Delisi capital rising deal not reaching a conclusion, we are still looking to grow and integrate our supply chain,” he said.
Bindaree, like most Australian beef processors, had felt the squeeze during the past 12 months due to restricted cattle supply, but was currently processing about 4000 head per week, he said.
The specific reasons for Delisi’s apparent hesitancy to complete the earlier $140m deal remain unclear, but overwhelming speculation is that it is linked to current processing industry profitability.
The Bindaree spokesman confirmed that despite the Delisi group investment in Bindaree not proceeding at this point, there was no suggestion that the company would now dispose of its Myola feedlot near North Star, purchased in September last year after the Delisi deal was announced.
The Myola purchase was not contingent on funds coming from the Delisi capital raising, he said.
Myola was currently operating at close to capacity, and the company was exploring expansion plans for the site.
Churchill deal fails to eventuate, but perhaps for different reasons
While the circumstances are somewhat different, a second large processor has told Beef Central that an earlier agreement with Chinese investors had failed to eventuate.
Churchill Abattoir near Ipswich, west of Brisbane, had reached joint venture agreement with Taihua Food Co, based in Qingdao city, in the Province of Shandong. The new joint venture was to be called Taihua Churchill Food Co, but Taihua ultimately walked away from the commitment, sacrificing a substantial deposit.
Churchill is one of Australia’s largest domestic-only beef abattoirs. Located near Ipswich, west of Brisbane, the business has been heavily focussed on supplying the Woolworths supermarkets’ northern supply chain for the past 15 years, but planned to upgrade to an export licence following the capital injection, to supply beef into China.
Initially the trade was to be in frozen bone-in quarters, but a later phase of the proposed plan included a dedicated export boning room built to cater for boxed boneless cuts. The proposed JV was going to raise $35 million to upgrade the Churchill plant to export status and add a second daily killfloor shift, doubling capacity from 3000 to 6000/week.
Churchill is jointly owned by the DA Hall & Co, one of Australia’s largest poultry and pork producers based on the Darling Downs, and managing director Barry Moule.
Mr Moule said Taihua, a major producer and distributor of frozen fruit and vegetables in China, suffered a significant business setback following a food safety incident with frozen berries last year, which had caused the company to walk away from the Churchill deal.
He said Churchill was still in discussion with a range of investors – Chinese, Vietnamese and Australian – over possible investment in the plant.
Tabro Meats show signs of stress
Further south, Chinese-owned Tabro Meats continues to show signs of considerable financial stress, closing for a second time this year a month ago. The Tabro Meats abattoir at Lance Creek, shut down in December last year for a holiday break, but the facility lay dormant until the end of April.
Tabro Meats was purchased by the Chinese-owned HY Holdings Australia in 2014 and last year the company flagged plans for a $26 million expansion.
Tabro’s chief executive Jack Jiang told local media the most recent October 15 closure was “for two weeks only for internal work,” but local beef industry sources who live close to the facility say it has killed only skeleton numbers, one day a week, for the past fortnight.
Several large livestock agencies told Beef Central they refusing to trade with Tabro, such is the concern about the company’s financial position.
Appetite for expenditure from Chinese investors is also being seen in the feedlot industry.
One Chinese/Australian joint venture feedlot business is apparently struggling with cash flow for livestock purchases, because of the Chinese investor’s reluctance to inject further ‘phase two’ funds into the business, a reliable source told Beef Central.


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Business has been good for Steve and Jasmine Young since they opened their Wasabi Sushi Bar West at 2404 N. Maize Road in February. It’s been so good that they’re already talking about an expansion into Bel Aire in the next year or two.
The Youngs, who own the New Market Square Wasabi but not the downtown or east side Wasabi, have made firm plans to open another location in the planned Caban Marketplace along North Rock Road in Bel Air. That’s still a year or two away, though, says Wasabi general manager Matt Polk.
In the meantime, the restaurant is extending its half-price sushi offer that it started when it opened. Originally, the plan was to offer sushi for half price only during February, but customers responded so enthusiastically, Polk said, that the special has continued and will remain intact indefinitely.
Polk said he wanted to make clear, though, that Wichita’s various Wasabi restaurants are under different ownership and that the half-price deal is only good at the 2404 N. Maize Road location. The Youngs sold the restaurants at 912 E. Douglas and 32432 N. Rock Road before they opened out west.
Wasabi Sushi Bar West is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call the restaurant at 316-613-3318.


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Tesco has revealed it is giving all 250,000 shop floor staff two hours training on how to communicate more effectively with shoppers, after being left behind by rivals on service.
Having spent £2m on the equivalent of an extra 800,000 staff hours in its UK store turnaround, the Making Moments Matter initiative will also see a dedicated trainer in most stores. Staff will be drilled in how to help customers locate products, be more friendly and show more knowledge and pride about their stores.
“We want shoppers to choose to come to Tesco because of the outstanding service they receive,” said Tesco UK & Ireland support officer director Tracey Clements. Tesco won the G33 service award two years ago but service levels plummeted last year - while Morrisons took the 2012 award in June thanks to its HOT (Hello, Offer, Thank) staff initiative. But Tesco has won the G33 store of the week three times this term, including this week.
“There have been some improvements but there’s a long way to go,” said Danielle Pinnington, MD of Shoppercentric, which recently scored Tesco last out of the big five for service.


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Bluefly Partners with DynamicAction for Business Model Expansion
SILICON VALLEY, CA: Bluefly, an online fashion marketplace, has joined hands with DynamicAction, advanced analytics solution, to step into the SaaS space. With this, New York-based Bluefly is all set to transform its operating model by investing in the SaaS technology solution.
The company is undergoing rebranding by not just updating the website appearance but also enhancing the operations of its business model. Offering advanced analytical solutions for retail merchandising, DynamicAction will assist the ecommerce platform in analyzing their data to maximize profits. The analytics solution will offer real-time collection, integration and analysis of the data to present a unified view of profits by the Bluefly. The solution will collaborate with the operations of the ecommerce business and based on the analytics will offer necessary actions in marketing, merchandising and online sales.
“It was imperative to employ technology solutions that are uniquely poised to solve fashion retail issues, and find a partner who could seamlessly integrate, uncover and improve all aspects of our operations. I truly believe DynamicAction will help Bluefly complete our business transition,” said Carly Rosenberg, General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer, Bluefly. “We will now be able to both analyze our data in a historical mindset and solve immediate needs to capitalize on future opportunities, continuing to build our business as the leading fashion marketplace.”
“As we continue to aggressively optimize our marketplace business model, we needed action-oriented technology that provides business-building solutions,” said Rosenberg. “So often, the most challenging aspect of retail success is grasping what happened in the business today, yesterday or last week, understanding exactly why it happened, while simultaneously offering immediate actions to improve performance and customer experience. This is precisely what DynamicAction will offer our team.”
In addition to this, Bluefly has rolled out its new ecommerce platform, Mozu to enhance shopping experience of the customers. Mozu will aid the ecommerce in managing their catalog and site content making the new updates and products available on the website and app simultaneously.
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A new Ford Australia president and CEO won’t impact the brand’s commitment to Supercars racing.
Andrew Birkic was named the new boss of the blue oval overnight, replacing Kay Hart who has been promoted to a role in Europe. Birkic is the first Australian to lead the company in a decade and has been promoted from a position overseeing the vital Ranger and Everest programs.
However, the company has made it clear that the new leadership won’t have any major impact on its short-term plans, including its support of Supercar racing, through the Mustang program.
“No, there will be no significant departure from our existing plans in the Australia and New Zealand markets,” a Ford spokesman told Torquecafe.com.
Instead he will continue to implement the strategy laid out during Hart’s two-year tenure as CEO, which will see a greater focus on new SUV models.
“Andrew is a proven business leader, who is looking forward to working with our employees and dealers to strengthen our vehicle lineup with the launch of the all-new Ford Puma and Escape SUVs, including our first electrified vehicle, the Escape Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and continue the great progress that’s been made in creating an even better experience for our customers,” the spokesman added.
Birkic’s previous role as chief product marketer for the Ranger ute and its Everest SUV underlines the importance of those models to the brand. The Ranger is not only Ford’s highest-selling model, but the second best-selling vehicle in Australia; behind the Toyota HiLux.
An all-new Ranger is due to launch in approximately 18-months and its success will be crucial in determining the brand’s success.
Birkic has been with Ford since 1994 and is understandably happy with his new role, which also encompasses Ford New Zealand.
“I am thrilled to be re-joining the fantastic team in Australia and New Zealand,” Birkic said.
“I know how passionate and accomplished the team is, having spent the past two years working with the Ranger and Everest development team to grow the brands across more than 180 markets. I look forward to working closely with our team and dealers to serve our customers.”


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The battles between Apple and Samsung have taken up a large chunk of blog-space this year, but whilst the Cupertino company may have recently prevailed in the courtroom over its bitter rival, back in the mobile market, it appears the Korean company is making very good headway.
Samsung took Apple’s crown as the number one smartphone vendor earlier this year, and now its flagship Galaxy S III device has overtaken the iPhone 4S as the number one selling smartphone. When the S III was first released back in July, it sold in very high numbers, but Apple’s Siri-toting handset still managed to outsell its shiny Android rival.
Of course, the anticipation regarding the next iPhone, or the iPhone 5 as we’re led to believe it’ll be named, is to blame for the slump in sales, although Tim Cook will still be far from delighted with the findings, compiled by Michael Walkley at Canaccord Genuity. Whenever a new device is on the horizon, consumers hold back and wait for it to release, and anybody liking to own the latest and greatest would certainly be foolish to purchase an iPhone 4S with this month’s purported release looming.
Once upon a time, consumers could be a little more blasé with their handset decisions, for carriers did used to offer annual contracts. Now, though, the mainstream providers tie people down for eighteen months to two years, so those whom otherwise wouldn’t have minded owning an older device for a few months to a year will now cling on for that extra month or so to avoid owning an ancient device in future.
A fairer measure of the iPhone vs. Galaxy S series will be this Fall, when the two go head-to-head for the affections of holiday shoppers. The Galaxy will have the disadvantage of being slightly older, and having already shifted in excess of 10 million units, it’ll have its work cut out against Apple’s sixth-gen smartphone.
This is a minor victory for Samsung, nothing more; but with the likes of the very slick, very brushed-aluminum ATIV S dropping for Windows Phone 8 in the near future, the LCD specialist will have plenty of leverage for cementing its position as the number one smartphone manufacturer.
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.


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Google Chrome users should take extra precautions when using the browser to type personal data, such as credit card numbers, into website forms, experts say.
Additional steps are necessary because Chrome will store the data in plain text in its web history log on the hard drive. The browser retrieves the information as needed to avoid having the user retype the same data into other forms.
Researchers at Identity Finder created proof-of-concept malware that could take the data and send it to a third party. The security vendor claims Google could make the process more difficult for hackers by having the browser encrypt the data before it is stored.
Chrome lets the operating system encrypt the data, if that's how the user has the OS configured. With Windows, Microsoft offers full disk encryption through its BitLocker feature.
"It would be harder to get at the data (if encrypted)," said Aaron Titus, chief privacy officer for Identity Finder.
Google said the vendor is making a lot out of nothing because Chrome gives the user full control over how it stores data.
"Chrome asks for permission before storing sensitive information like credit card details, and you don't have to save anything if you don't want to," the company said in a statement sent to CSOonline. "Furthermore, data stored locally by Chrome will be encrypted if supported by the underlying operating system."
Security assessment is ongoing
Identity Finder specializes in software that finds sensitive information on PCs, so it's not surprising that it recommends better data management. For example, browser makers could detect when someone is typing in a credit card number and not store the data.
"Chrome, and probably browsers and other programs in general, need to deploy sensitive data management practices," Titus said.
Other experts did not consider Chrome's handling of personal data a serious problem.
"I believe it makes sense to store the web history information in an encrypted format to avoid this information leakage problem, but it is not a critical issue," said Wolfgang Kandek, chief technology officer for Qualys.
Malware written to steal information from a PC would go after much more than a browser history log, Kandek said. For example, the malicious software would likely intercept keystrokes to steal credentials used on websites and grab data from unlocked password stores.
Where extra precautions need to be taken is when a person sells or gives away an older PC. "If their hard drive is sold on something like eBay and was not properly wiped they are clearly at risk," said Paul Henry, computer forensics specialist for Lumension.
To avoid having sensitive data accessed, sellers need to reformat their hard drives before handing the system to a buyer, Kandek said.
But if the computer user is savvy enough not to save credentials or to regularly clear the browser cache, then the storing of history logs becomes a "non-issue," Henry said.
This story, "Chrome's effort at efficiency may leave users vulnerable" was originally published by CSO.


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Nintendo has released its Q4 results with data showing that the company earned a total of JPY 107.6 billion (USD 1.038 billion / EUR 659.6 million) from hardware sales in the past year.
That number breaks down into JPY 46.7 billion (USD 450.7 million / EUR 286.2 million) earnings from handhelds, JPY 49.9 billion (USD 481.5 / EUR 305.8 million) from consoles and JPY 11 billion (USD 106.1 million / EUR 67.4 million) from other hardware products.
The report also revealed that Nintendo sold 18.6 million Wii units in total over the year, selling 3.9 million units in Japan, 8.2 million units in the Americas and 6.4 million units in the rest of the world. This has brought the total number of units sold to 24.4 million since the console's launch and is an increase of 12.7 million units on the previous year.
Nintendo also sold 30.3 million DS handheld units worldwide, with Japan accounting for 63.6 million of the units, the Americas 10.6 million and the rest of the world accounting for 13.3 million. This represents an increase of 6.3 million units on the figures from last year.
The Game Boy Advance continued to sell well, shifting 15.9 million units worldwide, although that is significantly down from the 43.4 million units sold the year before. Figures for the GameCube were tiny by comparison, with the virtually obselete console selling 160,000 units worldwide.


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Watches recovered from the debris of the World Trade Center Disaster.
Families of victims killed in the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks will be able to claim jewelry belonging to them under a new system unveiled by police December 3, 2004. Police will match their own data with claimants' detailed descriptions of items including wedding rings, bracelets and watches to be registered on a new Web site. Jewelry experts from Tiffany and Co. and gemologists were consulted to create a fraud-proof system that took over a year to complete. Watches recovered from the debris of the World Trade Center Disaster are assembled in an evidence decontamination room at the Fresh Kills landfill on the Staten Island section of New York City in this January 14, 2002 file photo. REUTERS/Mike Segar-Files MS/HB


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Attack of the Show’s EPIC month of stunts, giveaways, and exclusives hits inter-galactic proportions with a Star Wars-themed week. From inside Skywalker Ranch, Attack of the Show! will deliver an Industrial Light and Magic Tour, interview six-time Oscar winning special effects wizard Dennis Muren, go behind the scenes of the sound and animation of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, and feature guest stars Jamie King and Daniel Logan from the hit animated series.
Beginning Monday, April 26th and continuing all week long, Attack of the Show! will also be giving away one-of-a-kind, world exclusive collectibles. It all starts Monday with a world exclusive give-away from Lucasfilm Ltd and Super7 of the Star Wars Stormtrooper Super Shogun, which marks the first authentic Super Shogun produced in over twenty-five years. One lucky winner will be the first in the world to own one, receiving an ultra-collectible artist’s proof!
Then, Attack will unveil a top secret prize from Gentle Giant Ltd. This World Premiere reveal will also serve as the official announcement of their biggest Comic-Con 2010 collectible exclusive. This will be the first time the newest addition to the Gentle Giant STAR WARS line is seen by the general public. To commemorate this event, Gentle Giant Ltd. has created a truly EPIC giveaway: a signed, limited edition 1 of 1 prototype of the new STAR WARS collectible. This hand painted variant is truly one of a kind and is destined to become a highly sought after item.


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- The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Trendon T. Shavers with running an illegal Ponzi scheme using Bitcoins. Using the online handle “pirateat40,”authorities claim the Texas man received some 700,000 Bitcoins from various investors through an unregistered fund he created…
Gamers using Microsoft's Xbox Live service have become the latest target of online phishing attacks as news spreads like wildfire about fraudulent transactions appearing on the credit card statements of its users. Microsoft was quick to clarify their gaming platform had not been hacked.
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Apple stock plummets
There were big swings in the stock market Thursday. After releasing its 4th quarter earnings Wednesday night, Apple shares plunged Thursday morning.
The tech giant's stock dropped more than 10-percent in early trading. Apple reported its best-ever quarterly profit but investors are skeptical about the company's future growth with more competition on the market.
In September shares hit $700 latest numbers have the stock selling for ____.


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Retailer benefits from pending sale of credit card receivables.
Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT)
- Headquarters: Minneapolis
- Business: Retailer
- Rank on the Business Journal's list of biggest Minnesota public companies: 2
Target's retail sales increased 3.4 percent to $16.6 billion for the quarter. Credit card receivables, meanwhile, declined 5.8 percent to $328 million.
The company's earnings of 96 cents per share included a 15-cent gain from the pending sale of its credit card receivables.
Target anticipates a strong fourth quarter thanks, in part, to a series of holiday initiatives, including a new price-match program and its limited-edition Target/Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection.
- Period: Third Quarter (ending Oct. 27)
- Sales: $16.6 billion, up 3 percent
- Analyst sales expectations: $16.9 billion
- Profit: $637 million, up 15 percent
- Profit per share: 96 cents, up 14 cents (includes 15-cent gain from the pending sale of its credit-card receivables portfolio)
- Analyst profit expectations: 79 cents
Gregg Steinhafel, CEO: "We’re pleased with Target’s third-quarter financial performance, which reflects superb execution across each of our business segments. We are well-positioned to deliver strong fourth-quarter performance."
>Click here to read the company's news release
Analyst expectations come from polling done by Thomson Reuters.


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Comcast lost 209,000 residential cable television customers in the United States in the second quarter of 2019, ending with 20.64 million. Meanwhile its Sky operation in Europe gained 304,000 customers, for a total of 24.02 million. Comcast executives appear unconcerned by the loss of cable television customers as they benefit from growth in broadband.
The loss of 209,000 cable television customers is an increase on the 107,000 Comcast lost in the first quarter or the 136,000 it lost in the second quarter the previous year. The company has lost 430,000 customers in 12 months. At the end of June 2019, it had 20.64 million, compared to 21.48 million two years previously. Video revenue was $5.59 billion for the quarter, compared to $5.63 billion for the comparable quarter a year before.
Residential internet customers increased by 183,000, compared to 352,000 the previous quarter and 226,000 in the second quarter the previous year. Comcast now has 25.63 million residential internet customers in the United States. Revenue from providing internet access rose to $4.66 billion for the second quarter, compared to $4.26 billion a year before.
As far as Comcast is concerned, customer numbers increased overall, with total residential customer relationships standing at 28.51 million in the United States, compared to 28.3 million the previous quarter and 27.60 million the previous year.
Average monthly revenue per customer was $156.44, compared to $155.91 a year previously.
Brian Roberts, the chief executive of Comcast said “I am very pleased with our terrific second quarter results and the continued, successful execution of our strategy. Each of our businesses demonstrated healthy growth in adjusted EBITDA, contributing to a double-digit increase in adjusted earnings per share.”
Group revenue for the year to mid-2019 rose to $53.72 billion, including the contribution from Sky in Europe.
Total customer relationships for Sky across Europe rose to 24.02 million, including broadband and mobile, a quarterly increase of 304,000. Customer growth mostly came from streaming subscribers.
“Across Sky and Cable, we added 456,000 new relationships this quarter and 868,000 in the first half of the year,” the Comcast chief executive told analysts. “In all the geographies in which we compete, we lead with superior products, content and technology.”
“If you take a step back, there’s significant competition and change in the ecosystem right now. But that said, for years, we’ve felt that video over the internet is more friend than foe. We believe it plays to our strengths. We’ve got a great roadmap in each of our businesses and an even better outlook when you add it all together — the fastest broadband married to world-class platforms as well as highly rated, relevant content.”
Michael Cavanagh, the chief finance officer, said: “Video will continue to play an important role in our strategy. But as we said before, we will not chase unprofitable video subs.”


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Beleaguered major tobacco company AHL Group, caught up in a K44 billion government bail-out scandal, had its warehouse for gutted by mysterious fire at Kanengo Industrial Site in Lilongwe on Saturday afternoon.
The fire is believed to have been ‘organised’ by AHL Group bosses as the rope is tighten close on their necks following revelations that government has bailed them out of a whopping K44 billion loss incurred under their watch two years ago.
AHL through its spokesperson Teresa Ndanga confirmed the warehouse gutted is for one of its subsidiaries TIL Limited which specialises in rhwandling tobacco, selling hessian sacks and the purchase of agriculture products.
Ndanga said the company is investigating “the cause of the fire” and that an assessment is also underway “to estimate the worth of the property we lost.”
Lilongwe Fire Brigade station officer Amin Katesefu confirmed that the fire started late Saturday afternoon at the warehouse where is it believed that some items were burnt to ashes.
But sources say the fire was organised.
“The issue is that AHL Group did not have the actual goods in the warehouse than what they had on paper and the best way of covering this up was through fire. Most of the bosses at AHL Group knew that there was going to be a fire today,” said a source privy to the story of the K44 billion financial loss at AHL Group.
“In this case, AHL Group will tell their insurers the goods that were in the warehouse which was in fact not in their warehouse but in their papers and they will be happy they have covered this,” he said.
AHL Group has been embroiled in the K44 billion financial loss which prompted a local bank to put on sale its two tobacco auction floors, Mzuzu and Chinkhoma.
Nyasa Times can reveal that government has bailed out AHL Group in a K44 billion loss to save the selling of Mzuzu and Chinkhoma floors to interested members if the general public.
The financial problems that AHL Group is facing now are said to have been masterminded by AHL Group Chief Executive Officer Evance Matabwa, a close relation to President Peter Mutharika, by diverting some cash resources to the ruling DPP hence the bail out by government.
AHL group which wholly owns Malawi Leaf Compnay, TIL Limited, Agriculture Trading Company (ATC), AHL Chemicals and Steel-Limited and AHL Commodities Exchange, was formerly known as Auction Holdings Limited until February , 2015.Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :


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1 In 4 Truck Buyers Considers Getting A Tesla Cybertruck: Survey• https://insideevs.com, By: Iulian Dnistran
A new survey conducted by AmericanTrucks.com shows that among the truck owners who are considering making the switch to electric, a little over one in four would buy a Tesla Cybertruck (27 percent), but that's just part of the story.
The survey's results show that the Cybertruck was bested by the Ford F-150 Lightning in terms of popularity, with the Chevy Silverado EV taking third place in the "most interesting" category, while the non-existent Toyota Tacoma EV is fourth on the list of electric trucks that drivers are most interested in buying.
In a rather unexpected twist, the Rivian R1T, which is available just like the Ford F-150 Lightning, is only in fifth place in this category.
Moreover, 56 percent of respondents think the Tesla Cybertruck isn't a "real" truck, while 43 percent of the participants said that Tesla's electric pickup will launch in the next 2-3 years, with just 7 percent saying that it will become a reality within the next year.
Nine percent of the people who participated in the survey said they would never switch to an electric truck, while 35 percent are considering switching in the next 2-6 years, but have concerns like the driving range, number of charging stations, and charging times that put them on the fence.


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AMSTERDAM, Sept 16 LeasePlan, the world's largest auto-leasing company, said on Friday it will appoint Tex Gunning as chief executive officer, effective Sept. 20.
Current CEO Vahid Daemi is retiring but will remain in an advisory role through next year.
23:47 2 years after the hack, Sony CEO Lynton exits for Snap Inc13
16:16 Luxottica, Essilor $24 billion merger creates eyewear giant17
23:33 Sony Entertainment CEO Lynton to step down; to become Snap Inc chairman19
19:08 U.S. indicts three Takata executives, fines company $1 billion in faulty air bag scandal15


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The owner of Chickie’s & Pete’s defended his company’s protection of the term “crab fries” in an interview today.
It’s a trademarked term and has been protected for years, said Pete Ciarrocchi, whose company has seven stand-alone restaurants in the Philadelphia market as well as locations in Parx Casino, area stadiums and arenas, amusement parks and the boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J.
Ciarrocchi was reacting to news of a growing grassroots battle over the term “crab fries,” inspired by some legal wrangling by Chickie’s & Pete’s with restaurants in the Chesapeake Bay region.
“We’ve been selling crab fries since 1977,” Ciarrocchi said. On printed materials, his company refers to them as “Crabfries.”
Most recently, devotees of Crabby Fries, a seasonal crab shack in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., put together a fan page on Facebook, while others started a blog called Crab-fries.com. They argue that crab fries in their different forms are part of the culinary heritage of the bay.
A blog we posted yesterday cited a story that ran on WVEC-TV in Norfolk, Va.
Russ Lay, co-owner of the Outer Banks Voice, wrote about the Crabby Fries issue last month.
In defense of the term “crab fries,” over the years Chickie’s & Pete’s lawyers have sent letters to restaurants in several states urging them to stop using the term “crab fries,” or face further legal action.
Crab fries at Chickie’s & Pete’s are French fries with spicy seasoning — or, as Ciarrocchi said, a seasoned potato.
A Richmond, Va., woman who contacted me Monday said in her area the term crab fries — the nontrademarked version — can mean different things. In some restaurants, it can mean fries seasoned with Old Bay or a homemade spice. In other places, it simply means fries topped with crab meat.
None of this fazes Ciarrocchi.
Restaurants that use the term “crab fries” have one option, he said.
“It’s an easy fix: Change the name,” he said. “I want to ask, ‘Did you come up with it on your own?’ I made it up.”
He said the latest battle is “people looking for free publicity.”
Large or small, “If you don’t enforce it with them, a big company could do the same thing,” he said. “We have no choice but to enforce it.”


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To ensure the import of safe food products, FSSAI has notified a new regulatory framework for foreign facilities bringing food into India.
Under the regulations, foreign food manufacturing facilities that manufacture products in certain categories for export to India will need to register with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and may also be subject to a inspection by Indian food safety officials. The first amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations 2021 will come into force on June 1.
This is similar to the protocols followed by international food safety agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Registration, a must
The FSSAI said it will from time to time specify categories of food products based on its risk assessment for which international factories will need to register with the regulator.
“Foreign food manufacturing facilities falling into these categories and wishing to export such food products to India must register with the Food Authority before exporting to India,” the regulation added. .
Registration will be given for two years. “Foreign food manufacturing facilities may be inspected if necessary … Officials from FSSAI and the relevant ministry, organization or department or recognized audit agency shall be appointed by the Authority. food for the purpose of inspecting foreign food manufacturing facilities, ”the notification added.
The inspection can be carried out even after obtaining the registration by these manufacturing facilities.
The FSSAI has said that registration of foreign food manufacturing facilities that fail to comply with food safety regulations can be revoked or suspended. The regulations were notified after a year-long consultation process with industry stakeholders.
Amit Lohani, Founder and Director of the Indian Importers Forum, said: “We are eager to read the fine print as the regulations state that the FSSAI will from time to time publish a list of high risk products. FIFI members are working diligently to bring food safe compliant products to Indian consumers and also understand the intention behind this decision. However, we hope that this will not result in a non-tariff barrier to trade and, furthermore, that imported goods will not be subject to a separate requirement compared to products of similar categories made in India.


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Key businesses from the UK’s manufacturing and distribution community gathered in Nottingham recently to get their first glimpse of Microsoft Dynamics AX7, the latest version of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, and the first Microsoft ERP offering for the Cloud, at an event which urged them to embrace digital technologies to create a competitive advantage.
This year’s ColumbusLive event, hosted by international consultancy Columbus, demonstrated the new features of AX7, including an enhanced user interface, Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, and improved mobile functionality. And as manufacturing and distribution businesses prepare for the release of the solution next month, the message from Columbus is that the time to embrace digital technologies is now, as the manufacturing industry in particular, faces an uncertain future.
Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that factory output in the sector reduced throughout the last quarter of 2015, while industrial production also fell. However, the same report indicates that the sector could be in for a promising 2016 with domestic demand rising and a weakening pound offering an export boost for UK manufacturers.
The message from Columbus’ Managing Director Mary Hunter, is that businesses need to start embracing digital technology now, and changing the way they think about their processes, if they are to continue to compete in an uncertain sector. She commented: “Competitors are coming from more channels than before and it is becoming more and more difficult to not only survive, but to thrive in business. The key is changing your mindset, stop doing what you have always done and start looking for new ways to gain efficiencies and deliver greater service to help make your customers more profitable, and technology can help you do this.”
Businesses at the event were introduced to a range of people and organisations who are successfully embracing technology to evolve and improve their business models. Honorary Professor Des Evans from The Aston Centre for Servitization, Research and Practice, delivered an inspirational talk on MAN Trucks’ servitization strategy. The business recently invented ‘Trucknology,’ a service-based business model which not only sells vehicles to businesses, but also delivers services to customers and measures their overall driving performance to help them realise cost savings from their vehicle investment. This transition to a service-based business model – or servitization – is a trend that Columbus expects to increase throughout the next few years as the manufacturing and distribution community is forced to change and embrace digital technology in order to remain competitive.
ColumbusLive showed businesses Microsoft’s roadmap for Dynamics AX7, which Columbus is supporting, following a cloud first, mobile first strategy. Columbus has a number of customers that are geared up to become early adopters of the technology, and many more which are utilising Columbus’ own solutions to not just collect transactional data, but using this data to empower their people to make faster, bolder decisions and facilitate servitization strategies, streamline factory automation, and make plant interconnectivity a reality.
Thomas Honoré, CEO of Columbus Global summed up the future of manufacturing. He said: “In just a few years’ time the valuation of a manufacturing or distribution business will be as much about their digital strategy as it is their other assets. As industry becomes more competitive those businesses with predictive services will be the most successful. There will be an increase in servitization adoption and everything will start to be connected. That is the long term plan for Columbus and for many of Columbus’ customers.“
The 2016 Annual Manufacturing Report, by Hennik Research was sponsored by Columbus, and also indicates a rise in servitization with 41% of manufacturing businesses polled already stating that they offer customer support agreements.


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UK wine importer Enotria has been taken over in a £25m management buyout.
Private equity fund BlueGem Capital Partners, alongside CEO Alison Levett and the Enotria management team secured £25m debt finance from Investec Growth & Acquisition Finance for the acquistion.
Enotria was founded in 1972 by Remo Nardone, to import mainly Italian wines. It grew, with the acquisition of Wheeler Cellars in 2008 and Great Western Wine in 2010, to one of the UK’s biggest specialist importers and distributors.
Nardone sold the business in 2008 for £8.2m to Isis Equity Partners, a UK-based investment group.
Headquartered in West London, it now employs 181 staff and in 2011 generated over £100m in sales. According to financial sources, between 2005 and 2011 turnover grew from £47m to £106m.
Tristan Nagler of Investec said they were delighted to support the Enotria management team and BlueGem Capital Partners.
‘We strongly support their ambitious plans for growth and acquisition…we are strong supporters of entrepreneurs and believe that, in the short term, an increasing number of mid-market companies will require innovative funding structures.’
Written by Adam Lechmere


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KUALA LUMPUR: ManagePay
Systems Bhd (MPay) has entered into a joint venture agreement (JV) with Contracts Rise Sdn Bhd to procure mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licence from the Malaysian Communication And Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and to launch and promote self-branded MVNO starter pack in Malaysia.
According to the filing with Bursa Malaysia Wednesday, MPay will hold a 40% stake in the JV company while Contract Rise will hold the remaining 60%.
MPay said Contract Rise would secure a project size up to 200,000 users for the JV company, while MPay would enable each user with e-Money capabilities via MPay E-Wallet, including issuing a MasterCard Virtual Card Number in each MPay Wallet.
The company said this provides growth and business prospects for MPay in the future.
“The company will fund its investment in the JVC through its internally generated funds,” MPay said.


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The Kosher salt is from Amazon @ 3.99 for 1.36KG
From the Daily Mail.....
You might not know exactly what it is, but by now you might have heard of umami.
Because the flavour — described as the fifth basic taste after salty, sweet, sour and bitter — is starting to make an impact in the UK as a food condiment.
It is available as a paste and a powder and adds an intensely savoury note to dishes.
Demand for umami has grown by 25 per cent in the past year, partly down to celebrity endorsements from chefs like Jamie Oliver and Nigel Slater.
Discovered in Japan, it is present in a lot of Oriental cooking as well as foods as different as anchovies, Parmesan, soy sauce, Marmite, mushrooms, shellfish, Worcester Sauce and balsamic vinegar.


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|Banner advertisements by bbqads.com|
In Reply to: Re: poll results posted by Oneye on March 30, 2012 at 12:56:58:
Quote: "This is an unmerited, unwarranted food scare. The reason we’re even here talking about this is somebody came up with a clever way of naming it. Otherwise, this is a 20-year-old product that has not had a safety issue surrounding it at all."
Among my friends and family and even on my local news coverage I've never heard anyone refer to it as a "food scare" or the safety of the product. What has upset many people is that it's not properly labeled. And now its' producers are surprised that people don't want to buy it anymore. They shouldn't be surprised at all.
I think there's a lesson to be learned by other food processing companies and industries. Why not be honest and forthright with consumers and let the free market decide?
The BBQ Forum Home Page


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The shrine will be on display in the foyer of the concert hall "Crocus City Hall" at the gala evening "Mawlid al-Nabi", tickets for which have been already sold out.
The relic delivered in a special capsule, which is stored permanently. Further, to keep it safe the piece will be placed in a container made of transparent glass.
According to TASS, the relic will be exhibited as a museum exhibit, as it is not accepted worship.
Mawlid al-Nabi or birthday of the Prophet Muhammad is one of the most important Muslim holidays of the year. It’s celebrated on the 12th day of the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This year's festival took place on 2-3 January. During the holiday prayers and read the hadiths (sayings and stories about the life of Muhammad), invite and entertain guests, give alms to the poor.
Samsung to launch flexible display, cut smartphone models in 2015
Guetst: VERY MUCH
A new official edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan was published
Abdujavlon: can I download a new edition
Turin University in Tashkent to Accept 175 Students
Guetst: Xurshidjon Abduxalilov
Dzhavohir Sindarov became world chess champion
Guetst: MY CONGRODULATION