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The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, on Friday took to Twitter to announce that he has approved the Draft GSR Notification to introduce Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme).
Under this, automobiles in India shall be accorded Star Ratings based upon their performance in Crash Tests, he tweeted.
Gadkari said that the testing protocol of Bharat NCAP shall be aligned with Global Crash Test Protocols factoring in the existing Indian regulations, allowing OEMs to get their vehicles tested at India’s own in-house testing facilities.
The new programme will serve as a consumer-centric platform allowing customers to opt for safer cars based on their star ratings while promoting a healthy competition among OEMs in India to manufacture safer vehicles, he said.
As per him, the Star Rating of Indian Cars based on crash tests is crucial to ensure structural and passenger safety in cars and increase the export-worthiness of Indian automobiles.
“Bharat NCAP will prove to be a critical instrument in making our automobile industry Aatmanirbhar with the mission of making India the Number 1 automobile hub in the world,” he said.
Photo is representational; courtesy: Global NCAP.


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Note: I am an Electroneum fan and investor. Here’s the latest news…
As you may have seen, we’ve recently announced some exciting news for Electroneum, as we’ve brought on a real crypto and blockchain heavy weight to our Board of Advisors. Cointelligence CEO, often known as the industry’s fiercest scam hunter, On Yavin, has agreed to join us as an advisor and ambassador. I got the chance to sit down with On to talk about his thoughts on Electroneum, his experience and what he thinks he can bring to the project. You can find out more in our interview.
You may recall that earlier this year we opened our doors to On and his team and asked them to audit our project and specifically our numbers, and to report, without bias, his findings to the industry. We all know that the crypto industry can loaded with lies and as a result, we’ve faced a lot of disbelief and cynicism about our incredible figures. That’s why we reached out to On and asked him to verify our numbers.
We have always been open and very proud about having some huge numbers in terms of our community and real-world usage. Our latest stats this week confirmed we have almost 4m registered users, and 2.6m app downloads. We’ve seen over 170k mobile top-ups and we’re close to 300k app-to-app instant payments. We’ve recently committed to reporting these numbers to our community on social media each week. Check out our latest stats here.
We asked On Yavin to carry out an in-depth report on Electroneum, knowing that he is the biggest whistle-blower in the industry, with over 100 scams identified. But we were not intimidated by having him investigate our numbers, as we knew we had nothing to hide. He is a qualified lawyer, who became involved in crypto and blockchain over the last 3 years. And while he admits it took only a short call to convince him how big the revolution is, not only because it’s already being used in real life industries, he is a huge enthusiast – in his own words, a fanatic. What better ambassador to bring on board?
He and his team were invited to review all things Electroneum, from our internal figures, to Google figures and more. He came to the office to meet the team and was really impressed. Electroneum has seen mass adoption like virtually no other coin, helping people around the world to add value through ETN. He also called out how impressed he is with our community. Not only our unrivalled size and that he can verify its authenticity, but also how engaged and passionate the community is. He saw that again with how involved the Electroneum community was at the ANON Summit – he noted that we had the most active community by far at the event.
On Yavin and the contacts he has in the industry, promises to open doors to new activities and partnerships we couldn’t access before. We believe this places us in a stronger position than any other coin outside of the top 5. We’re proud that the industry’s biggest scam hunter, having looked at and verified the figures we’ve published, believes in the future our project, and is now involved in its future success.
We’d like to welcome On to the team and we’re excited to update you in the future as we develop our relationship and how our project continues to grow.
For those of you who attended the ANON Summit last month, you’ll also have seen we’ve shared a gift card to spend on AnyTask.com with all attendees. I wanted to point out to the community that this is being funded from the advertising budget of the business, and not the rewards pool. Imagine that 100% of the advertising budget was also SPENT inside the platform! That’s what gift cards enable us to do. Sorry Zuckerberg! I’d rather see the ad spend producing even more usage of AnyTask, than making FaceBook richer! If the gift cards don’t get used, they cost us nothing, so it’s a very, very productive way to spend advertising budget.
We have purchased ETN on the open market over the last couple of months at KuCoin and Huobi and you’ll see this activity grow over time. One of the exciting things about AnyTask is that as it expands and acquires market share, it requires more ETN. Sales on AnyTask involve new fiat money (US dollars) coming in to ETN, that is going straight into ETN purchases on the exchanges.
Even if you don’t have a gift card – if you run a small (or large!) business, you should head over to AnyTask.com and buy some social media content (such as a great explainer video, or perhaps have your logo animated). You’ll LOVE the price you can buy tasks for!
And if you have a digital skill – don’t forget to list it on AnyTask – we had our first day with over 100 sales, earlier this month and that is becoming more common now – so plenty of tasks are being taken up. Get your skills listed and earn some ETN – or learn a new skill. I’d love to see some time-lapse animations from some of our unbanked users – all you need is a free time-lapse app and a smartphone and you can animate people’s logo’s with anything. Get creative! We’ll carry on driving buyers into the system, which is powering ETN from strength to strength.
Thanks for being part of the Electroneum community.
CEO and Founder of Electroneum

domain: news


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By Lisa Berwin2007-12-06T08:30:56
Alexon Group has become the second fashion retailer in as many days to issue a profit warning, as like-for-like sales slumped 7 per cent in the 18 weeks to December 1.
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One popular gaming site should rename themselves 32Black following the latest set of results to come out, this after the gaming company 32Red announced record revenues of £7.8m for the first half of 2010, an increase of 34% on the same period last year. The growth that 32Red experienced is largely thanks to the continued growth of their flagship casino brand. The company also generated significant revenue from the recent acquisition, and full integration, of Nedplay and Golden Lounge, which amounted to £0.5m. Read more.
Kindred Group shares spike 12% after record revenue, earnings
October 27, 2017
Kindred Group record revenue following 32Red acquisition
July 26, 2017


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So we may not have gotten the future we wanted with flying cars, robot butlers and holidays on the moon. But we did end up with fantastic advances in science and modern medicine, and the internet. However, there was a catch. A very costly addition to the fine print that proves you don't get something for nothing. [DogHouseDiaries]
What The Internet And Modern Medicine Really Cost Us
Trending Stories Right Now
Amazon is setting up shop in Australia, and according to a recent survey, a massive 90 per cent of us online shopping-types will use the service - if it comes good with the low prices, vast selection and fast delivery we've been promised, of course. And why wouldn't we?
Australian scientists have developed a new efficient catalyst that converts carbon dioxide from the air into synthetic natural gas in a "clean" process, using solar energy.


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Great Initiative! E-Autos Driven By Women Sell Tea And Snacks On The Streets Of Chennai
Gilli Chai, which is an outlet for beverages and snacks has launched mobile tea shops run by women, as per a report in The New Indian Express. They are basically e-autos that sell tea and snacks on the streets of Chennai.
These are to offer different types of tea, coffee, snacks and cookies.
“These autos serve hot tea and snacks... the fleet would mostly be managed by the women workforce. The city will see more of these outlets in bus stands, railway stations, parks, playgrounds, IT parks and tourist spots,” said Mohamed Rahmathullah, the managing director of the company.
“In addition to the mobile chai outlets, traditional outlets have been opened in Chennai, Puducherry and Dubai,” said Azhagar Raja, operations director of Gill Chai.
It's a step towards woman empowerment and has an overall workforce that includes men, women, transgenders, and the differently abled.
It's a nice initiative and the chain is looking to expand across the state and may even go national in the long run.


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If Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t one of those games that gets mostly shown behind doors this year, I think it could be the main sleeping giant of E3 2018. We know almost nothing about it, but what little we do know sounds extremely ambitious, and it’s from the developer of one of the best-rated games of this console generation. To me it just feels like it has the most potential in proportion to how little people are talking about it in the run-up to E3. Other than that I guess Super Smash Bros. for the Switch is the big thing I’m looking forward to. That’s another game we know almost nothing about other than what’s obligatory in Smash Bros. games, but is gonna be a main-pillar game for some people (myself included).
Those are the two games that immediately pop into my head in terms of personal interest and potential future hype at E3 2018. In March I wrote about my anticipation for a new Splinter Cell as well, which is looking increasingly likely to be revealed at E3. Something else I hope E3 reveals is the Prey expansion pack Arkane has been teasing. Microsoft is also rumored to be bringing out the bulk of its first party lineup at E3: Halo 6, Gears of War 5, and Forza Horizon 4. I guess enough time has passed since the last entry in each of those franchises for at least one of them to show up this year. Another rumor going around is Mortal Kombat 11. The last rumored reveal I can think of right now is that people are speculating Nintendo will show off the new Metroid Prime and a new Star Fox game… or whatever it is Retro Studios has been working on. Continue reading


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Leave the crowds, camping outside, and toy grabbing to Black Friday. Holiday shopping no longer is set solely on the Black Friday deals. Small Business Saturday offers locals a chance to support their Downtown community.
Doors open at Blue Skies in Chattanooga for Small Business Saturday. People stroll Frazier Avenue gazing at the holiday window displays. In six years, the national movement is catching on.
"It is a campaign put on by American Express. It started in 2010 as a rebuttal to Black Friday and Cyber Monday," said Kaitlin, Manager of Blue Skies
For the Manager at the Tiny Knick-Knack Store in Chattanooga's North Shore. She believes shopping local gives you a more personal experience.
"More personal, it is a personal experience for the shopper and for the gift they are getting. If you come into the store you are going to be able to find that perfect gift for your mother, brother, really anybody," said Kaitlin.
If long lines are fighting for a parking spot stresses you out, small businesses may be the answer to keep that in-store experience.
"We have items you're not going to find at big chains. Some artist we work with exclusively, you won't find anywhere else, Kaitlin said.
Another benefit for shopping local, Kaitlin says the money stays right here in the our community. "Small local businesses brings diversity to the Chattanooga shopping scene. We don't have a location anywhere else so this is unique to Chattanooga so I think it adds character."
According to American Express last year, shoppers spent $14.3 billion dollars at locally owned stored and restaurants on Small Business Saturday. A recent survey found 55% of shoppers are aware of the "Buy Local" movement. 83% say Small Business Saturday promotions make them want to shop at small businesses all year.


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CAPE VINCENT, N.Y. (WWTI) – Due to COVID-19 exposure concerns, The Snug Harbor Bar Restaurant has announced their temporary closure.
Following a staff member being exposed to the Coronavirus, the business stated their closure early on July 12 and confirmed until announced otherwise later that day.
According to the Snug Harbor Bar Restaurant Marina & Hideaway facebook page, the employee was exposed to the virus at their second job. All other staff members will also be tested and the business will remain closed until it is deemed safe for the public.
Stated by the business: “As we get the rest of the results back we will let people know if there is a positive result. Keep in mind we feel the chances are low that one of us is positive as we are all wearing masks and social distancing but we want to be certain.”
The full statements can be found on the restaurants facebook.
- American Idol holds first ever virtual auditions
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- Tracking the Tropics: Tropical Storm Isaias whips up eastern US
- Clorox wipes won’t be fully restocked in stores until 2021, says CEO
Stay up-to-date by liking ABC50 on Facebook.


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Woman dies, has baby, comes back to life
Two Walmart shoppers were caught stuffing a garbage can full of merchandise and then trying to leave with it without paying.
An Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River in Washington has collapsed, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol said Thursday.
People and cars were in the water.
The bridge is located in a rural area, said Trooper Mark Francis, the spokesman.


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Chrysler Financial’s Value Jumped 33% After U.S. Exit
Cerberus Capital Management LP’s sale of Chrysler Financial Corp. values the lender at least 33 percent more than when the U.S. Treasury Department sold its holding to the buyout firm seven months ago.
In a deal that valued the auto lender at $4.75 billion, the Treasury got $1.9 billion from Cerberus in May to pay off Chrysler Financial’s bailout debt. Yesterday’s purchase by Toronto-Dominion Bank values it at $6.3 billion. After the Treasury’s exit, Cerberus injected about $500 million into Chrysler Financial, and plans to keep about $900 million of the lender’s assets, people briefed on the deal said. Without those moves, the firm’s value would be 41 percent higher than in May.
The Treasury’s $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program is likely to suffer the “bulk” of its losses from aiding the auto industry, American International Group Inc. and homebuyers, the Congressional Oversight Panel said in a September report. The Treasury, which last week called TARP “one of the most effective crisis-response programs ever,” has said the main focus was to stabilize the financial system.
“We’re not a private-equity fund,” said Tim Massad, the Treasury’s acting assistant secretary for financial stability, about the agency’s management of TARP in an interview last month. “We believe that promoting financial stability means we should exit as soon as we can.”
Helped by GM
Cerberus, led by founder Stephen Feinberg, 50, may have benefitted from Detroit-based General Motors Co.’s (GM) agreement in July to buy auto-lender AmeriCredit Corp. for $3.5 billion. That deal valued Fort Worth, Texas-based AmeriCredit at 46 percent more than its book value of $2.4 billion.
“That’s our most recent auto finance comp, and that was a very expensive transaction for GM,” said Adam Steer, an analyst at research firm CreditSights Inc. in New York, in an interview Dec. 8. “That could potentially be impacting values.”
Toronto-Dominion’s $6.3 billion cash purchase of Chrysler Financial includes $5.9 billion in assets and about $400 million in goodwill, Canada’s second-biggest bank said yesterday in a statement.
The Treasury’s holding in Chrysler Financial stemmed from a $4 billion bailout loan to automaker Chrysler LLC’s parent, Chrysler Holding, in January 2009. The loan went into default when Chrysler LLC declared bankruptcy in April 2009. Two months later, the automaker’s best assets were bought out of bankruptcy by a new company run by Fiat SpA. (F)
More Than Expected
In an agreement with Cerberus, the government had the right to receive $1.375 billion from Chrysler Financial or 40 percent of any distributions the lender made to Cerberus -- whichever was greater.
The $1.9 billion repayment, “while less than face value, is significantly more than the Treasury expected to recover on this loan,” the agency said in May.
The Treasury made the deal because it had a willing buyer and wanted to exit the business, said a person familiar with direct knowledge of the transaction, who declined to be identified because the considerations aren’t public. The agency wants to resolve bailout holdings quickly rather than trying to time the market, the person said.
The government bailout of the car industry helped Chrysler Financial. A liquidation of the carmaker may have threatened warranties on vehicles, hurting the lender’s value.
Before resolving its debt to the Treasury, Chrysler Financial mostly collected payments and was restricted in issuing new loans, a business it has resumed. It is no longer related to Chrysler Group LLC based in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
U.S. equity values have climbed since May 17. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 10 percent through yesterday, and the 25-member Bloomberg World Auto Manufacturers Index advanced 32 percent.
Chrysler Financial earned $300 million in the third quarter, exceeding management’s $36 million forecast, Debtwire reported last month, citing two people familiar with the situation.
The jump in Chrysler Financial’s value wasn’t entirely caused by used-car prices, which increased 2.7 percent from May to November, according to the Manheim used-vehicle price index. Prices had soared 22 percent from January 2009, when Treasury first took a stake in Chrysler Financial.
‘More Value to Be Gained’
Franklin Templeton Investments, one of Cerberus’s outside investors in the buyout, said in U.S. regulatory documents that the value of its Chrysler Financial stake almost tripled during the first nine months of this year.
“Although initially it was an illiquid position, we recently began to see renewed investor interest in Chrysler Financial from a pricing perspective,” Franklin Mutual Recovery Fund said in a report to investors filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Nov. 29. “There is still more value to be gained going forward.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Jeffrey McCracken in New York at email@example.com; David Welch in Southfield, Michigan at firstname.lastname@example.org; Dakin Campbell in San Francisco at email@example.com


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Looks like OnePlus has partnered with Amazon India to release its One smartphone in the country. The e-retailer on Friday started teasing the impending release of the phone on its website and social media channels.
While we are still waiting for an official announcement regarding the availability or pricing of the phone, the Amazon.in teasers are pretty good indication that we would be hearing from OnePlus soon, however if the company co-founder and director Carl Pei is to be believed, OnePlus One could get a price-tag around INR 25,000 for the 64GB version.
The company has earlier stated that it will be using an invite-method to sell the phone in the country, but it is unclear how these invites are going to work on Amazon India.
To remind you, OnePlus One is the first smartphone from the company and comes with features like 5.5-inch full HD display, 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, Android 4.4-based CyanogenMod 11s, 3GB of RAM, 13MP rear camera and 5MP front shooter.


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Normally, when we bring you spy shots, we’re filled with happiness knowing a brand is busy testing and making its best car yet. But seeing spy shots for the 2016 Holden Commodore Series II rings differently. The 2016 Commodore Series II will be the last-ever locally-developed, locally-manufactured Holden Commodore.
But Holden doesn’t want a pity party. Instead, they’re going to throw a rager.
The 2016 Commodore Series II SS is poised to be the most powerful mass-produced large car in Holden history. That’s because chances are very good the current 6.0-liter V8 will be swapped out in favor of the 6.2-liter LS3 engine, something us Stateside have already enjoyed in our Chevrolet SS. But if the blokes at GoAuto are to be believed, it’s also likely the HSV tuned LS3 V8 may be reporting for duty, making 425 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque.
The Commodore has come a long way since 1968 when a 5.3-liter V8 was introduced to the Commodore range in response to Ford’s Falcon. That engine only made 250 hp. 425 hp sounds like our kind of going-away party.
A few other party favors adorning the 2016 Commodore Series II are reported to be an HSV-style bi-mode exhaust, which further opens up under heavy acceleration and Brembo brakes at all four wheels. New black-painted 20-inch alloy wheels appear to adorn this Series II as well.
The 2016 Commodore Series II test vehicles wore camouflage up front, leading us to believe minor facial details will with a nip-tuck, which can be seen in the spy shots here. The V6 versions of the 2016 Commodore Series II should remain fairly similar to their Series I counterparts, according to the shots.
Going away parties can be some of the most memorable get-togethers. On one hand, you’re ecstatic to see a lifelong companion one last time. On the other, this is the end of the road as you know it. That’s where we stand with 2016 Commodore Series II. Fortunately for us, we have nearly two years to party with the Commodore like it’s 2017.


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TripAdvisor last week consumed LaFourchette to make a big move into online reservations against OpenTable, and Google gobbled up Appetas to battle with Yelp and raise its game with restaurants looking for more marketing presence online. Now city guide app Yelp is also biting back: today the company is announcing a new, free Yelp Reservations service.
Incorporating technology from SeatMe, an OpenTable competitor it acquired last year, Yelp will now offer restaurants the ability to take bookings with no fee paid — as long as the restaurant has “claimed” its Yelp profile page.
As a point of comparison, SeatMe’s normal service, which sits on a restaurant website, is charged at $99/month.
“Reservations is a free and simplified form of SeatMe and they’re essentially different products,” a spokesperson tells me. SeatMe will continue to operate as before.
But it looks like Yelp Reservations will offer at least some of the same features as the paid SeatMe service, including the ability to accept invites and alert customers with confirmations. And it will let restaurant owners run the free reservations service via a widget — meaning that it appears to be competing directly with Yelp’s own paid product on a basic level.
Restaurants control the free Yelp Reservations through their Yelp Business Owners Account.
The point of Yelp Reservations seems to be twofold: first, adding another free feature, Yelp’s giving restaurants another reason to come into Yelp’s walled garden. And if Yelp could get restaurants to engage with their profiles on Yelp, there is more of a chance that they will keep details up to date, making the listings more accurate, and also buy into other services Yelp has to offer them. Today, that primarily comes in the form of selling ads and other marketing services on top of basic listings.
“By simplifying the reservation process and offering this feature free of charge to all businesses that have claimed their Yelp business page, we continue to deliver on our fundamental goal to connect people to great local businesses,” said Elliot Adams, a spokesperson for Yelp in London. “As consumer demand grows for the ability to reserve a restaurant online, and business owners look for ways to translate online search results into custom, Yelp Reservations connects the dots to deliver a solution, at zero cost.”
The second is that it will keep those restaurants away from shifting attention to other portals like Google’s, or Foursquare’s, both of which also offer free listings that consumers use to find places to eat. Currently, it looks (at least here in the UK) like Google’s online restaurant listings take you through to other services like OpenTable to make reservations. Google’s acquisition of restaurant site builder Appetas could point to Google wanting to take more control of more features over time.
The idea of adding in reservations to Yelp’s walled garden is also a natural progression of the state of play in the restaurant world today.
While there are some restaurants out there with their own, standalone sites, it’s estimated
by one researcher that only around half of the restaurants in the U.S. have any online presence. And from personal experience, among those that do, there are many that are useless. Yelp and other listing sites like it have bridged the gap by giving restaurants active, feedback-filled online profiles, and so a booking facility would help Yelp continue to “own” that route to online presence.


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The first thing that stands out in the leak is how terrible the game looks in comparison to other battle royale games like PUBG Mobile, PUBG: New State, or even COD Mobile. However, this remark can be overlooked because the game is currently in the alpha testing stage, which implies it isn’t in its final form yet and will be updated. Players are dropped from a plane into the map, where they must equip themselves and engage in gunfights much like in any other BR game. In many ways, the game is similar to its PC predecessor in terms of mechanics.
According to announcements made earlier this year, Call Of Duty: Warzone, the wildly popular battle royale game from the famed COD franchise, will be coming to mobile devices soon. Following the first announcement, the game was put into a restricted alpha test phase called Project Aurora that took place all around the world. The latest COD Warzone Mobile leaks and rumours have shown the first gameplay video from the game’s alpha testing phase, which we’ll go through in this piece.
Not to mention COD’s own unique self-renewal methods and Gulag. The movements appear fluent thus far, and with more developments planned before the final release, we should expect a well-polished game. COD Warzone Mobile will look to deliver a premium experience to gamers around the globe As of now, it’s also been stated that the alpha test gaming is only available on high-end devices like the Samsung S21 and iPhone 12, among others. Given that the game is still in its early stages, we can safely predict that it will be a tough experience.
Self-revival is possible, and kills are certified by knocking down and finishing the enemy player without allowing them to recover. When a player is killed, they are taken to the Gulag, where they must fight their way back into the Warzone on the next revive trip. Gunplay appears to be accurate and involves a lot of mechanical and movement-based skills, which should present players with a new challenge. The game keeps the conventional battle royale model popularised by games like PUBG while adding fast-paced action and gunfights similar to Apex Legends.
It is justifiable, given the great amount of rendering required by the game due to its cityscape and interior elements. However, this means that it will be a luxury experience available exclusively to those with a capable handset, while those with less powerful devices would have to make do with games like COD Mobile. Any fresh information or leaks will be posted here.


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Chennai: Despite the festival season being just round the corner, car financiers are not rolling out the big bang schemes that are de rigueur this time of the year. Although car loan rates are the lowest in the last 12 months, auto dealers and marketers say banks and financiers are being extra cautious in view of the moratorium-related non-performing assets (NPAs) that they are expecting.
Kotak Mahindra Prime MD Vyomesh Kapasi said, “The car loan interest rates are down 125 basis points (100bps = 1 percentage point) year on year. The ongoing interest rates are the lowest in a long time with sub-9% for all segments and sub-8% for luxury vehicles. Even used car rates are now down to 12-12.5%.”
M&M dealer Nikunj Sanghi of JS 4Wheel Motor said, “The festival season normally sees major offers by financiers as well, but right now there is very little. And the only sops are on-road funding and 5-year instead of 3-year tenures.” With the moratorium coming to an end, “banks are trying to optimise profits” and being “extra cautious”, he added.
Car marketers say the NPA flood business customers is making financiers chary of being aggressive. But finance support is critical for demand revival. Toyota Kirloskar Motor senior VP (sales & service) Naveen Soni said, “Finance availability and rates are a great enabler to improve market sentiment.”


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India is one of the fastest growing markets for Twitter and the growth engine for the Asia-Pacific. And the volume of conversations on the social media platform are only growing…
Archit Ambekar | Mumbai | March 28, 2016
Twitter Inc. founded on March 21, 2006, completes a long and successful decade on the worldwide web. Over the last ten years, it has evolved in many ways – but most of all, it has become a platform for free speech and expression.
Twitter has been a game changer in the realm of social media. Even as Twitter pursues more users, its core mission seems to be that of creating and sharing ideas and information instantly - and without barriers. Judging by the social media site’s phenomenal growth, it has a long journey ahead. As it maps its path, will Twitter stick to its core character or will it spring surprises on its users?
Taranjeet Singh, Business Head, Twitter India, shared some insights on the path Twitter had mapped for itself in India, where it is increasingly becoming a platform with a mass reach for both celebrities and decision-makers. Singh said Twitter was beholden to its users, partners and clients for the first successful decade.
“Today, the Indian market of Twitter is in a stronger position with respect to both audience and marketers. India is one of the fastest growing markets for Twitter and the growth engine for Asia-Pacific,” Singh said. “From Head of States like Prime Minister Modi, Nirmala Sitharaman, Amitabh Kant; to sports personalities like cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood actors, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor - Twitter bridges the live connection to influencers.”
Singh pointed out that the volume of Tweet conversations in India was enormous. “87 per cent of Mass Affluent respondents surveyed, use Twitter in India,” he said, adding, “1.4 billion impressions on Twitter related to the Cricket World Cup in 2015; 3.5 million mentions of Diwali on Twitter in 2015 - a 13 per cent year on year increase; 100 per cent of professional sports leagues and teams in India are on Twitter and 80 per cent of the players in the Indian cricket team squad for the World T20 are active on Twitter.”
Singh pointed out that every market was different and so was India. The challenges notwithstanding, Twitter has evolved into a leading internet player in the world today. The social media platform, he said, was constantly iterating user and brand experience to suit market demands and conditions.
Last year, for instance, Twitter had introduced the video auto play globally. The feature was set to Wi-Fi-only for select markets including India, to ensure that the internet bandwidth did not affect user experience. India is also one of the markets where Twitter continues to provide the SMS Fast Follow service to cater for the needs of users.
While Twitter has turned ten as a company, it is still in its infancy in India. In the short span of time in which the company has built a team on ground, Twitter India has grown to be the growth engine for Twitter Asia Pacific. In 2015, India became the fastest growing sales market for Twitter in the region.
“Brands have been increasingly open to experiment and innovate with their marketing campaigns on Twitter,” Singh said. “Most recently at the #AutoExpo2016, 75 per cent of brands (18 of 24) advertising on Twitter in conjunction with the show, were using video on the platform. Brands including Audi, Mercedes, Mahindra, Nissan, Tata Motors, were all participating with integrated Twitter video campaigns at the show.”
Mercedes India ran a rich media campaign, the first TweetCam campaign in Asia. When users tweeted to @MercedesBenzInd using the hashtag #TweetToClick, they received a live photo tweet from the Mercedes Pavilion at #AutoExpo, based on what was going on at the pavilion at that moment.” That, Singh said was “possibly the next best thing to actually being there!”
Video consumption continues to grow on twitter and 90 per cent of video views on Twitter are on mobile phones. Video views raised 220X globally in 2015. “We saw a 400 per cent increase in video consumption on Twitter in India last year,” Singh said. “For example, @RelianceGroup came on board with the objective of wanting to own the conversations on Independence Day in 2015.”
The Twitter India team helped put together an inspirational campaign - #SaluteSelfie. It was based on the insight that Independence Day was a time in the year when people thought about the contributions that the country's Armed Forces make every day to preserve the independence of the country and asked users to send in a #SaluteSelfie that they would share with the soldiers. Celebrities got involved and the campaign turned into a movement, achieving close to 1,00,000 mentions. A promoted video, the 'Silent National Anthem' followed on Twitter and @RelianceGroup achieved a high engagement rate of 21.55 per cent and a CPV of $0.05.”
At the moment Twitter is busy working with brands on the cricket hotspot, to exploit the opportunities that the ICC World Cup Twenty 20 and the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournaments presented. Twitter engagements with both the cricket tournaments have witnessed a massive year-on-year growth.
Asked how Twitter was monetizing its stupendous growth in India, Singh said jovially, “If you’re asking about how business is doing in India, we’re doing very well. As mentioned above, India became the fastest growing sales market for us in the region in 2015. India is a high potential market with $1.1 billion 2016 digital ad spends, 25 per cent growth, 322 million internet users. We continue to see demand from clients across all verticals, from auto brands like Audi, FMCG brands like Nestle and Unilever, Telco’s like Airtel, and electronic goods brands such as Samsung.”
On the global front, Twitter’s addressable audience has grown from 300 million to 800 million. In 2015 Twitter earned a revenue of US $2.2 billion in sales, which was a whopping 58 per cent jump over the previous year. Twitter feels that its journey had just begun. In the year ahead, Twitter plans to stick to five priorities – refine core service, live streaming video, creators and influencers, safety, and developers.
The company feels that each of these areas was critical for strengthening the platform and audience around live web interface. Twitter plans to focus on the live experience, as it grows its service for users, partners and advertisers. The platform also sees a growing momentum with its younger audience, who enjoy hyper-local, interactive and media-forward content. Twitter plans to continue to invest in live experiences to delight its young users and advertisers.
Industry speak on Twitter turning ten:
Now that Twitter is ten, the expectations from the social media platform are growing. There has been an almost unanimous demand from users for discarding the ‘140 characters’ stricture that restricts users from saying more. But will Twitter change?
Ashish Limaye, CEO, APAC, Happy Finish, felt that Twitter should introduce a feature that was more graphics friendly. Since Limaye is associated with augmented and virtual reality, he would like to see a combination of Instagram and Twitter. Not everyone was good with words, Limaye argued, pointing out that images speak a lot too. Limaye was happy, though, that Twitter was not an advertising platform and had maintained the purity of a core social media platform.
Anish Tripathi, AVP, Product Design, BookMyShow, felt that Twitter should be more interactive, and introduce a new ‘tag’ apart from the ‘hastag.’ Like Limaye, he too felt that an image based media was more effective and that Twitter should consider incorporating the change.
Sanjay Shetty, Senior Vice President, Brand Platforms, Asymmetrique, felt that Twitter should be more user-friendly. He felt that a major challenge for both the website and companies that were trying to leverage it as a platform, was increasing the user base.
Twitter has come a long way – and has a long way to go. As it lives up to the expectations of its users and industry, BestMediaInfo can only hope that it sticks with its core focus and continues to be a platform for free speech and expression.


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While digital content and social media continue to grow and gain “share of mind” among Serious Golfers, traditional print publications, as well as televised golf, remain significant sources of information. This is one of several key findings from Golf Datatech, LLC (www.golfdatatech.com), the golf industry’s leader in independent insights and strategy, which has released its 2015 Multi-Media Evolution Study. The Company’s third edition of the study investigates consumer behaviors and attitudes that will impact the way golf hard goods and apparel companies market to Serious Golfers.
“This is the third time in four years we’ve examined developing media trends,” said Golf Datatech partner, John Krzynowek. “The importance of this trending is that we can confirm the growing significance of digital media, as well as surging attitudes about social media by golfers, while also determining that traditional print and TV still have substantial impact when it comes to gathering information on golf equipment.”
Results of the just released study track changes in serious golfers’ preferences for gathering golf information, but also indicate that not all demographic segments are taking the same path at the same pace. In fact, while younger golfers are heavily engaged in social and digital media use, the majority of serious golfers (who tend to be older) still are frequent users of traditional mediums like television and print for their golf news and event coverage.
Krzynowek adds, “Every Company in golf, whether they sell clubs, apparel, media, distance devices, or training devices, can benefit from the results of this study.”
Among the key findings, the study concludes that while general readership of printed golf magazines among serious golfers fell slightly, as digital sources gained ground, the magnitude of the shifts might surprise many in the industry.
“Digital media sources are not replacing traditional print/broadcast, but rather these developing mediums are in addition to, resulting in Serious Golfers are taking in more information than ever before,” said Krzynowek.
The 2015 Multi-Media Evolution Study is the third study (2012 and 2013) that Golf Datatech has conducted to track the media behaviours of golfers. Over 2,000 respondents from Golf Datatech’s exclusive Serious Golfer database provided input into their golf media habits including monthly and weekly print publications, digital weeklies, network and cable television, social media and general internet usage and shopping for golf products.
In spite of traditional print media remaining a valuable source of information for serious golfers, the move to digital media is growing, as evidenced by the evolving reliance on digital golf publications, Facebook and Twitter. In fact, daily use of Facebook among serious golfers has reached 50%, while Twitter use is significantly lower.
Moreover, 1 in 5 serious golfers say they regularly watch downloaded/streaming video of golf, in addition to regular broadcast coverage on television. This is up from 1 in 9 in the 2013 study. However, televised golf remains the leading source for reaching the largest number of serious golfers on a regular basis.
Other points of interest from the study related to obtaining golf information and content include:
- Serious golfers indicated they use iPhones over Android Smart phones by a 5 to 4 margin. In 2013 it was virtually 50-50;
- Over 40% of serious golfers now use wearable or digital devices during play;
- Almost 75% of respondents purchased golf products online in the past year.
For more information about the report or to purchase a copy, please contact Tom Stine at Golf Datatech at 888-944-4166 or visit www.golfdatatech.com.
View more stories about Golf Media News and latest list of Most-read stories


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Constellation Brands CEO Rob Sands says Americans have shifted their taste profiles to more expensive, premium alcohol.
Constellation owns brands such as Corona, Ballast Point, and Svedka Vodka.
“You know, you look at wine, and clearly all the big growth in wine right now is in these higher price points like The Prisoner,” said Sands in a quarterly conference call Wednesday. “You look at beer, it’s almost the same in that it’s better beer and higher price points that are driving that market.”
Sands highlights the company’s recent acquisition of Ballast Point, a craft brewer.
“I think Ballast Point is a great example of that. I mean, that’s like at the highest end of the beer market and it’s got the fastest growth of any major craft brewer,” said Sands. “It’s almost a little contradictory in the sense that it would be the highest price and have the highest growth, but that’s what makes it as attractive as it is.”
With the explosion of the craft brew and craft spirits businesses in the United States, the increase in premium beverages spans well beyond Constellation Brands.
“But craft spirits much like craft beers is pretty interesting, but much more developmental in that the craft spirits business is much less developed than the craft beer, and the brands are even smaller, okay, than in craft beer,” said Sands.
Sands doesn’t explain why Americans are trading up, but he believes the trend will continue and his company plans to continue to capitalize on growing trends towards premium products.
“It’s also strategic in that you know, clearly premiumization is an important part of the strategy whether it’s wine, beer, or spirits,” he said. “Margin enhancement is important to us as we look at various opportunities across the three segments.”


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Africa Blockchain Institute Partners with Web3 Tech to Drive Blockchain Innovation
In a strategic move towards advancing blockchain technology and education, the Africa Blockchain Institute has recently forged a promising partnership with Web3 Tech. This alliance builds upon the notable momentum generated by Web3 Tech, a blockchain developer supported by the Moscow Export Center, which showcased its innovative solutions at Gitex Africa in May. Building upon this success, Web3 Tech has formalized a second memorandum of understanding, this time with the Africa Blockchain Institute, a pioneering entity renowned as one of the leading blockchain competency centers across the African continent.
With a shared vision of leveraging blockchain technology for positive impact, the collaborating companies are embarking on a multifaceted approach. The cornerstone of their endeavor involves in-depth research into the integration of blockchain within Russian enterprises and government sectors. This research will serve as a valuable resource to explore how these insights can be adapted to suit the unique dynamics of the African landscape. The partnership is also geared towards co-hosting educational events, fostering increased awareness of blockchain through seminars, conferences, and hackathons, and jointly conceptualizing and executing blockchain projects spanning diverse domains.
Collaborative Effort Aims to Foster Blockchain Education and Solutions in Africa
Integral to their collective pursuit is the joint undertaking of research and development projects. Recognizing the paramount significance of engaging with local communities, the Africa Blockchain Institute intends to leverage its on-ground presence and understanding of the African context to drive blockchain awareness through various events and initiatives. On the other hand, Web3 Tech is poised to offer its rich expertise and resources to collaboratively craft blockchain-based solutions that address specific African needs.
The partnership will additionally encompass an incubation program designed to nurture burgeoning African blockchain startups. This initiative will be complemented by a bridge between African and Russian blockchain projects, fostering the exchange of knowledge and technology transfer. This symbiotic exchange stands to enhance the Africa Blockchain Institute’s educational and research programs by incorporating tangible use cases and pragmatic insights gleaned from Web3 Tech’s ongoing projects.
Mr. Kayode Babarinde, Executive Director of the Africa Blockchain Institute, expressed high hopes for the partnership, asserting that Web3 Tech’s successful deployment of blockchain technology in various sectors, such as the Russian Tax Agency, e-voting, and fintech applications, holds potential as instructive case studies for Africa. Babarinde envisions the collaboration as a catalyst for transformative change, economic growth, and innovative adoption of blockchain technology across Africa. He highlights the synergy between the two entities as a means to reshape the contours of blockchain education, research, and application across diverse sectors.
On the other side of the partnership, Web3 Tech views the Africa Blockchain Institute as an instrumental player in their endeavor to extend their technological reach. Highlighting the Institute’s role as a key partner in southern Africa, Web3 Tech underscores the potential for mutual benefits. Their collective aim involves expanding business horizons, advancing technology, and cultivating a robust regional blockchain ecosystem.
As the partnership takes shape, its promise of shared knowledge, cross-border collaboration, and technology transfer is set to contribute significantly to the growth and innovation of blockchain technology in Africa. The amalgamation of expertise from Web3 Tech and the Africa Blockchain Institute is poised to forge new pathways in the realm of blockchain education, research, and practical implementation, ultimately driving progress in diverse sectors across the African continent.


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Compulsory face covering measures in public spaces are likely to continue to play a part in the day-to-day realities of consumers in many countries for the foreseeable future. The mandatory mask wearing rules are expected to outlast the pandemic, creating long-term opportunities for personal care brands to design products that meet emerging health and hygiene related needs, such as facial eczema or rosacea.
The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly affected consumer attitudes and concerns. According to GlobalData’s 2021 Q1 consumer survey, 78% of consumers globally are still either extremely or quite concerned about the impact of the pandemic in general, 55% are equally concerned about their physical fitness and health, and 52% are worried about their mental wellbeing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those serious concerns are accompanied by everyday disadvantages of social distancing or mask-wearing. Addressing those inconveniences may help brands reach those worried consumers and provide them with some sense of control; much needed in the uncertainty-filled times.
The introduction of mandatory face covering rules has brought instant growth to the face mask market, quickly followed by the appearance of mask “complementing” products; anti-bacterial mask cleaners and fragrance sprays have followed suit, catering to shoppers who sought an enhanced anti-germ reassurance and those who strived for a pleasant sensory element to rarely enjoyed new rules.
Over the course of 2020, personal care brands have pioneered tailored products that target specific issues arising from face covering rules, such as “maskne”. “Maskne”, or professionally known as acne mechanica, is where breakouts are aggravated by prolonged mask use, which can cause a build-up of sweat, oil and bacteria on your skin. The customised releases that banish acne breakouts caused by face masks include Revolution Beauty’s lower face sheet mask. Marketed directly towards “maskne” sufferers, the product contains willow bark extract, betaine and hyaluronic acid which aims to repair the skin damage related to the fabric covering wear.
Similarly, Hard Candy’s anti-chafe stick, with a cooling formula infused with shea butter and aloe, claims to create a skin-protective barrier behind the ears and on the face for an “instant relief.” Furthermore, some new mask-related products not only minimise the disadvantages of face covering but also offset their inconveniences by providing innovative benefits. For example, the Morilabo barrier stick launched in Japan creates an invisible shield when applied on the outside layer of the mask. The essential oil-based barrier works to block allergens and, consequently, bring relief to hay fever sufferers.
Months spent under new regulations have encouraged consumers to seek ways of improving the comfort of wearing masks. Brands that have shown their flexibility and eagerness to adapt to changing consumer needs are likely to successfully resonate with a wide audience.
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Poundstretcher has announced it is launching a new delivery service to Derry as it has been unable to find temporary premises to trade in.
The retailer has been absent from the city since a fire gutted its premises on Bishop Street last July.
Efforts haver made to try and find a suitable temporary replacement since then, while staff have been relocated to other stores. The company took to Facebook to confirm that it was “still working hard and trying our best to locate a suitable site within the city”.
The company added: “We have taken feedback from some of our customers and we are going to trial a delivery service to Derry in order for our customers to continue to get great deals. This will be run from our Omagh store.”
Items being purchased for delivery must be of a minimal value of £20.


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Statewide, sales of hotel properties last year totaled more than $5.3 billion, eclipsing the previous record of $5.1 billion, set in 2006, according to a report released this week.
Among major metro areas in California, San Diego led the way, recording nearly $1.9 billion in sales, accounting for a little more than one-third of the state's total dollar volume in transactions, reported Orange County-based Atlas Hospitality Group, a brokerage that tracks hotel transactions in California.
In all, the number of San Diego hotel sales last year was 42, up from 15 in 2010. The value of those transactions surged 655 percent over 2010, when the value of hotel sales totaled $247 million.
"A 655 percent increase in dollar volume is phenomenal in terms of the market size," said Alan Reay, president of Atlas Hospitality. "That’s the highest dollar volume we’ve ever seen in San Diego County since we began tracking sales 16 years ago.
"In fact, San Diego's total sales in 2011 eclipsed the sales volume for the entire state in 2009, when the total was $524 million."
Leading San Diego's hotel transactions in 2011 were the 1,625-room Manchester Grand Hyatt, which Host Hotels & Resorts purchased for $570 million from U-T San Diego publisher Douglas F. Manchester, and the 1,190-room Hilton San Diego Bayfront, which Sunstone Hotel Investors now has a majority stake in, purchased at a cost of $475 million.
The Hilton deal also had the highest per-room sales price, at $399,160. In California, the highest price paid per room was $578,059 for the Mondrian Los Angeles in West Hollywood, according to Atlas Hospitality.
It could be some time before San Diego ever sees the kind of high-volume sales activity it experienced last year, when many iconic properties changed hands, such as the W in downtown San Diego and La Valencia in La Jolla.
Still, Reay expects that this year's volume could approach the billion-dollar mark.
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is currently in escrow, and two large hotels near Del Mar, the Marriott Del Mar and Del Mar Hilton, are up for sale.
"Hotel revenues are still increasing, and a lot of investors are on the sidelines looking to acquire hotel assets," Reay said. "REIT prices (on the stock market) are back up and sitting on a lot of cash, so they're back looking for deals. You also have international investors, specifically the Chinese, and private syndicators are looking around."
Statewide, Reay predicts a 10 percent to 20 percent increase in hotel deals this year. Trophy properties, which were one of the main factors behind last year's meteoric rise in sales, will continue to attract considerable interest, he added.Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune


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Miami Swim Week starts this Thursday, so it’s time to start planning those outfits for each day and night! That includes trendy swimwear for the parties in between, of course! Anticipation for Miami Swim Week has been very high for a long time, in fact, invites for shows and events have been sent out as early as May, creating quite the buzz. As we prepare to jump on a flight and head down for the week, here’s what to expect in just two days.
You can expect even more of the hottest swim trends and models from all over the world. Although expect a lot of new faces in swimwear and modeling. Perhaps the show everyone seems to be anticipating the most is the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show. Sports Illustrated has really helped change beauty and body standards in the last year, with having plus-size model (or rather just call her a model), Ashley Graham, on the cover last year. Now, for their Miami Swim Week show, Sports Illustrated will host the final round of their open-call competition.
What better way to debut the new Sports Illustrated Swim and Active Wear Collection with all new fresh faces. One of these lucky 15 contestants will win a spot in the magazine’s next swimsuit issue. Other shows that we will be attending will be the Kardashian favorite brand KAOHS as well as some others including Beach Bunny, Hot As Hell, Gottex, Baes and Bikinis, Verkasini, Blue Life x Issa Del Mar and Frankie’s Bikinis.
Stay tuned for overage of these events on Vainstyle during and after the main event.


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December 11, 2014
The Black Philanthropic Resource Library
In regions throughout the US, foundations and philanthropic groups convene panels, conduct webinars and interviews, create press releases, and develop various multi-media products to showcase the impact of philanthropic investment in Black communities. ABFE has compiled a growing list of these products to document the evolution of Black male initiatives in philanthropy and to highlight data of particular interest to members and colleagues throughout its networks. Visit their website.


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Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop’s much-anticipated Tustin, California, restaurant is open for business.
With its 10th California restaurant and first ever in Orange County, Capriotti’s introduces its nationally renowned subs to its newest market.
The newest location promises to offer Capriotti’s 36-year-old tradition of roasting whole, all-natural turkeys in store daily to guarantee only the freshest ingredients for Orange County residents.
Classic Capriotti’s favorites such as the signature sub, the Bobbie, will make their debut in Tustin.
Made with turkey pulled right off the bone, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and a touch of mayo, the Bobbie was voted “The Greatest Sandwich in America” by thousands of AOL readers.
Capriotti’s other specialties include the Capastrami, made with hot pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing, along with the mouthwatering Cheese Steak, which is also available as a meatless option.
For added variety, Capriotti’s offers an assortment of cold, grilled, and vegetarian subs, along with freshly prepared salads such as The Black & Bleu, made with chopped greens, homemade roast beef, tomatoes, diced cucumbers, sweet peppers, and topped with Bleu cheese crumbles.
“With our recent expansion in California well underway, Capriotti’s is excited to announce our newest restaurant in Tustin, where we are sure to win over Orange County residents with our delicious handmade subs,” says Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriotti’s. “We have a number of loyal fans throughout Los Angeles and San Diego, and we hope that this new Orange County restaurant will see the same success.”


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Microsoft will care more about Windows 10 Mobile Updates from Carriers to deliver them faster
One thing which still needs some improvement in Windows Phone is the Update policy. The latest Update, Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 and Lumia Denim, took almost ages to come for some devices. Mainly affected are carrier branded devices like a Lumia Icon or a Lumia 822 but also regular devices like the Lumia 1020 for example. Carriers in particular can be very cumbersome when it comes to testing and releasing new Updates for the devices which they have sold a while ago to their customers. At this point there is no way around to mention Apple since there updates are no problem, whether for branded or non-branded devices.
However, it seems like Microsoft is finally taking care of this problem since they have announced that they will take care by them self about future Updates. To be a bit more precious the Update policy will come with Windows 10 Mobile but since every Windows Phone device which is able to run Windows Phone 8.1 will also get Windows 10 this won’t be a problem.
Ed Bott from ZDnet has spotted some interesting lines of text in a blog post from Terry Myerson on the Windows Blog on 4th of May. The blog post is about Windows Update policies for Business and in the paragraph titled “Today’s Security Landscape” Terry Myerson is writing the following:
Here at Microsoft, we take our responsibility to keep Windows secure seriously. We follow up on all reported security issues, continuously probe our software with leading edge techniques, and proactively update supported devices with necessary updates to address issues. And today, we’re announcing this continuous update process applies to all Windows 10 devices, including phones.
This level of commitment and support is far different than Android, for example, where Google refuses to take responsibility for updating their customers’ devices, leaving end-users and business increasingly exposed every day they use the device.
After Ed Bott has spotted this statement he has contacted a spokesman from Microsoft who confirmed that this will apply to all Mobile devices running Windows 10 (Mobile). So it doesn’t matter if the device belongs to a consumer or business customers, all devices will be treated the same and will receive Updates in the same way like Windows 10 PC’s do.
So this might make you wondering whether there are meant only security updates or all updates, but according to the spokesman this will also included Feature Updates. So not only security Updates will be released for everyone at the same time but also situations like we had it with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 & Lumia Denim will not happen again in the bright future of Windows 10.
Mobile Carriers are still involved in the Update process of Windows for giving Feedback to Microsoft how new versions of Windows Mobile are performing on each network, though they do not have any direct influence on when and how new Updates are released.
This is a bold step for Microsoft trying to provide updates in time instead of waiting for providers to release these updates for their customers. We will see how this actually works in practice then but it definitely sounds good so far. What do you think of this new update policy by Microsoft? Drop me a comment below with your opinion and stay tuned for more information about Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile.


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iPhone refresh could be straining Apple's flash memory suppliers
According to Ed Sutherland from Cult of Mac, three out of four Apple's NAND flash memory suppliers are feeling the strain as the company demands storage for its new line of iPhones.
Sutherland cites a research report by analyst Vijay Rakesh from ThinkEquity. Rakesh says that Samsung has set aside its inventory of NAND chips for Apple until April.
Hynix, another supplier, reported softer sales growth for its NAND chips, and Toshiba is having problems supplying customers with 56nm NAND chips. Apple's fourth supplier, Micron, wasn't mentioned in Rakesh's report.
Aside from a new iPhone handset on the way, what does this mean? Higher memory prices, for one. Rakesh said that he expects NAND spot and contract prices to rise.
Many analysts around the time of Apple's Q1 conference call said they had high hopes for a new iPhone during the first half of the year. Some rumors suggest June might be the target date for release.
Software Updatesmore updates
- Apple Remote Desktop updated with Yosemite support
- OS X Yosemite 10.10.2, iOS 8.1.3 updates now available
- Sports Illustrated 120 SPORTS channel comes to Apple TV
- Logic Pro X update brings AirDrop support, new effects, tools, and more
- Parallels Access 2.5 released, adds file manager, computer-to-computer remote access
- The Google Translate iOS app is about to get a lot smarter


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“The restaurant business has always been, and continues to be, all about warm hospitality, extraordinary service and great taste,” said Dawn Sweeney, NRA president and CEO. “Therefore, it is critically important to the National Restaurant Association that we hold our industry’s leading trade show in a location that possesses those characteristics.
“We continue to strongly believe that Chicago, Ill., is a world-class destination that provides outstanding business facilities, along with sensational culinary, cultural and entertainment assets,” she added. “Our 66,000 attendees and exhibitors from all 50 states and more than 100 countries deserve and expect excellence – and Chicago delivers.
McCormick Place, with the new legislation being implemented, will now provide an exhibitor-friendly, hassle-free and cost-effective facility that makes for an outstanding trade show environment, she said.
“The continuation of this amazing tradition will bring more than $600 million - that's in excess of one half of a billion dollars - to Chicago through 2016.”


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While at CTIA 2013 I had the opportunity to attend a media event where I ran into the folks with Bullitt Mobile who via a partnership with Cat, the heavy Equipment people just recently announced an exciting new rugged Android phone called the B15.
According to all things Digital:
Caterpillar is best known for making heavy equipment, but the machinery brand thinks it can add something to the phone business.
Cat has partnered with Bullitt Mobile, a British electronics firm that builds products using well-known brands to develop a rugged, waterproof Android phone.
The easiest way to make phones rugged is to just wrap them in a ton of rubber. But that also makes them big and bulky — something Floyd said his group was looking to avoid.
“It’s got to be a great phone — something that everybody would feel comfortable carrying,” said Dave Floyd, director of technology for Bullitt.
The result of their work is the Cat B15, a phone that is debuting at the CTIA trade show in Las Vegas and will sell for $349 without subsidies. The device packs a 4-inch screen, a dual-core MediaTek processor and the Jelly Bean version of Android into a device capable of surviving a 6 foot drop onto concrete and withstanding up to 30 minutes in 3 feet of water.
Its screen is also designed to work with a wet finger — something that trips up most smartphones. And all that in a phone that weighs just under six ounces.
Bullitt isn’t talking carriers yet, but it’s a GSM phone with support for HSPA+ networks, so either AT&T or T-Mobile USA would be a good fit.


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Colgate-Palmolive, like other consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, has experienced eroding sales recently as purchasing habits shift online and competition from small, upstart brands proliferates in both developed and emerging markets.
For example, in the first quarter of 2018, company revenue grew 6.5% to $4.0 billion; however, organic revenue, which adjusts for foreign currency effects and the effects of acquisitions, expanded by a mere 1.5% -- below management and shareholder expectations.
Colgate-Palmolive is also struggling somewhat due to its diverse revenue composition. The company has a more balanced geographical representation than most U.S.-based multinationals: North American sales made up just 21% of total revenue last quarter. Thus, the organization has a bit more exposure to wide global trends. Management has blamed flat volume growth in emerging markets as a headwind against revenue this year.
Raising prices in emerging markets to combat this sluggish volume isn't easy at present. In Colgate-Palmolive's largest geographical segment, Latin America, brisk economic growth over the last four quarters has tampered the high inflation experienced in the region, thus curtailing the ability of CPGs to hike prices. For those who are interested, I've described this phenomenon in more detail recently in regards to competitor Unilever (NYSE: UL).
On a more positive note, Colgate-Palmolive has weathered cost headwinds such as rising freight transportation in the U.S. as well as higher global commodity prices better than many of its peers. The company's "Global Growth and Efficiency" productivity program has helped stabilize gross margin. In the first quarter of 2018, gross margin declined just 10 basis points against the first quarter of 2017, to 60.2%.
The company is also controlling its bottom line, as a disciplined approach to general and administrative expenses in the first quarter resulted in an improvement in operating margin of roughly 40 basis points, to 24.6%. Between the higher reported sales and cost control, Colgate-Palmolive booked a credible diluted earning per share increase of 12.5% last quarter, to $0.72.
Investors won't have to wait long to get a read on how the first half of the year has ended from an earnings perspective. Colgate-Palmolive is set to report second-quarter 2018 earnings next week, on July 27.


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Starting a business is challenging on its own but doing it in the middle of a global pandemic sounds nearly impossible, however a Kelowna couple did just that with the launch of Model Bean Coffee.
Camilo Isaza and Diana Torres immigrated to Canada 15 years ago from Colombia and Isaza had been working in the entertainment industry before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
"Things happened and unfortunately that industry was the first to be hit and it's probably going to be the last one to be back in full business," he says. "It's going to take a very long time for us to be back to normal so we needed to reinvent ourselves."
So the pair turned to coffee, something that was very familiar back in their hometown in South America.
"We grew up with coffee. Coffee was part of our culture, it's an everyday thing back home in Columbia. We didn't realize how good it was until we moved here and started experiencing other things," says Isaza.
Then Model Bean Coffee was developed using their family's farm in the hills of Colombia. The coffee also comes in biodegradable packaging and follows a hand-picked organic way of production.
"The family recipe that we have is the original recipe from way back in the day so this is truly 100 per cent Colombian coffee," says Isaza.
Now that the business has launched, the pair says they did encounter some unique challenges along the way since they started Model Bean Coffee during the pandemic.
"Everything was closed so there was no doors you could knock on to ask any questions so basically Google was my best friend for the first two weeks," says Isaza. "After that it just became natural to me to just get out there and research and do more research."
Now the pair is busy filling orders from across Canada and they say the Okanagan community has been very supportive.
To learn more about Model Bean Coffee click here.


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Ahead of the commencement of its festive season sale, “The Big Billion Days 2023,” Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart unveiled a ChatGPT-driven shopping assistant named “Flippi” on Wednesday.
Furthermore, the company under Walmart’s ownership introduced a video-based browsing feature called ‘Vibes’ as an integral component of its ‘SwipeScreen’ experience. Flipkart users can engage with Flippi by swiping left on the homepage, and, conversely, they can explore products through video mode by swiping right.
According to a statement from Flipkart, the company aims to provide a personalized and streamlined user experience through these new features.
Flippi utilizes generative AI and is designed to assist customers who struggle with decision-making. It will function as an expert advisor, helping these users find the most suitable product to meet their needs. Currently, Flippi is exclusively available in English, but the company has plans to expand its availability to other languages and introduce voice support in the near future, making it accessible to a more diverse user base.
Conversely, Vibes offers buyers a product video experience, recreating the traditional window-shopping experience.
Flipkart emphasized that video engagement plays a pivotal role in facilitating customers’ shopping decisions with greater ease. Through Vibes, the prominent e-commerce platform intends to empower consumers to relish an engaging and enjoyable product discovery experience by viewing a vast collection of short videos.
Amidst the growing interest in generative AI from both companies and users, Flipkart and its competitor Amazon are introducing novel features harnessing this technology for the benefit of their customers and sellers in anticipation of their upcoming festive season sales.
Last month, Flipkart rolled out an AI-powered catalog designer aimed at assisting sellers in crafting compelling product catalogs, while Amazon introduced a suite of generative AI tools designed to help sellers improve their product descriptions, titles, and listing details.
Flipkart’s “The Big Billion Days” is set to kick off on October 8 and will continue through October 15. Meanwhile, Amazon originally announced its “Great Indian Festival” to begin on October 10 but later adjusted the date to align with Flipkart’s schedule.
In the meantime, Meesho’s highly anticipated mega-sale is slated to commence on October 6.


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Canberra, Australia: Australian lawmakers approved legislation last week to permit the licensed production and distribution of cannabis to qualified patients.
The measure amends the Narcotic Drugs Act of 1967 to allow “for the cultivation and production of cannabis and cannabis resin for medicinal and scientific purposes,” and to authorize “a state or territory government agency to undertake [in the] cultivation and production of cannabis and [in the] manufacture of medicinal cannabis products.”
The move by Parliament follows recent efforts by several Australian territories to provide patients participating in clinical trials with access to the plant.
“This is an historic day for Australia and the many advocates who have fought long and hard to challenge the stigma around medicinal cannabis products so genuine patients are no longer treated as criminals,” Minister for Health Susan Ley said in a statement. “This is the missing piece in a patient’s treatment journey and will now see seamless access to locally-produced medicinal cannabis products from farm to pharmacy.”
Government officials still need to develop and approve regulations for the new program before any production licenses can be issued.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: firstname.lastname@example.org.


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It aims to generate a growth of 30% in China’s HoReCa sector via this acquisition next year.
At present, CO-RO is already operating in China via CO-RO FOOD (China).
The acquisition, which was officially sealed on Nov 15, was the first time that CO-RO had ever acquired an overseas firm.
CO-RO and JKD will integrate into one company next year.
The deal, which was disclosed to be a “large two-digit CNY million investment,” would strengthen CO-RO’s presence throughout the whole of China.
This is because CO-RO produces its trademark product Sunquick in the south and JKD, which holds brand distribution license for China’s leading fruit juice brand Huiyuan, has a “strong foothold in the northern part.”
The acquisition means that CO-RO will enjoy the exclusive rights to sell both Sunquick and Huiyuan in China’s HoReCa sector nationwide.
“CO-RO’s acquisition of JKD perfectly underpins our growth strategy in Asia. The Asian market is very important to us, as it represents approximately 25% of our total turnover. In addition, the Chinese market is our largest one in Asia and clearly essential because of the high growth rate,” Mr. Søren Holm Jensen, CEO of CO-RO said.
“CO-RO is very pleased with the acquisition of JKD; a strategic step which enables us to realise growth as part of our general expansion plan for Asia. It is a great opportunity for increasing our Asian footprint with China as spearhead.”
Aside from China, CO-RO also has key production plants and sells Sunquick products in Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
Not only fruit juice
CO-RO can expect to benefit from JKD’s wide array of distribution licenses.
For instance, besides Huiyuan, JKD also distributes fruit and beverage items of other overseas brand, such as US’s Maxwell House coffee, Australia’s Frosty Boy ice-cream, and Austria’s Agrana fruit juice.
The global turnover of CO-RO is expected to reach RMB$2bn this year.
Other than China, CO-RO is looking to develop further in Sri Lanka, where a new factory will start production early next year.
It also entered Kenya last year by opening a factory.
Its biggest market last year was Saudi Arabia. To meet growing demands, it opened as new warehouse and a new head office in the country last year.
It also launched more than 20 new products last year, such as Suntop Apple in the Middle East and Sunquick juice drinks across South East Asia.


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The expansion of the Covington facility – opened in 1989 – will add a further 40 employees to the current 400-strong workforce.
According to a communications post by a General Mills employee, plans for new Cinnamon Toast Crunch production line is ‘one of the largest capital projects in General Mills history’.
“General Mills has a long legacy of making food the world loves, right here in Georgia,” said Roxie Simon, plant manager of the facility.
“Cinnamon Toast Crunch is one of our most beloved brands as the No. 2 cereal in the United States, and growing. We are proud to partner with the state to create new jobs, tap into some great local talent, and expand our capacity to make even more of this family favourite in Covington.”
Griffin Bell, senior associate brand manager for Cinnamon Toast Crunch, added, “This new line will give us the opportunity to expand our capacity and accelerate the brand.”
General Mills is also ploughing in $37m to upgrade its Cedar Rapids plant, which makes cereal, frosting and dried fruit snacks.
The money will be used to modernise an existing line with new, more efficient machinery and equipment to increase production capacity. The project is expected to create 50 jobs.


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July 13th, 2012 by Darren Cottingham
The base model X-Trail was the ride of choice for a jaunt from Auckland to Pirongia Mountain on a beautiful winter’s Saturday. An X-Trail is a good starting point for any kind of road trip because this mid-sized SUV is one of the most versatile in terms of boot storage.
The flat boot floor conceals a drawer and cubby hole into which you can place items that might normally roll around in the boot; it also allows you to conceal items out of view. On the right of the boot there’s another small receptacle with a lid, too.
Its practical interior is enabled by a practical exterior. If you took a Continue reading “Nissan X-Trail Wagon 2012 Review” »
June 2nd, 2012 by Darren Cottingham
Taking it to the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 is a bit of a daunting task so Nissan has upped the power stakes. How’s 23 more kW and 80 more Nm of torque? The ST-X 550 (for the 550Nm of torque) is fast for a ute – it’s no HSV Maloo, but a Maloo isn’t a proper off-roader with 4WD low range. All this power would be fine, but it also rides like a ute on its leaf springs and the traction control light is a frenzy of activity in the wet as it tames the 170kW.
The Nissan tips the scales at over 2177kg and you can feel it in the corners. The steering is heavy and it leans into any change of direction. Chuck another 833kg in the tray and hook up 3000kg (as long as it’s a braked trailer) and you’ve got six tonnes to deal with. And that’s where you’ll need Continue reading “Nissan Navara ST-X 550 2012 Review” »
May 21st, 2012 by Karen Joy Provo
Nissan New Zealand today announced its zero emission electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, would go on sale in July priced at $69,600.
In revealing the Recommended Retail Price, Nissan New Zealand Managing Director, John Manley said the LEAF family hatch was priced to deliver Nissan leadership in this fast developing zero emissions segment and offered true, premium car value with 21st century technology that would change the personal mobility landscape.
“Last year New Zealand achieved nearly 80% of electricity generation from renewable means, the third highest of all OECD countries.
With a Government target of 90 per cent of electricity generation to be from renewable sources by 2025 New Zealand provides an ideal environment for widespread utilisation of electric vehicles.”
Nissan has sold more than 20,000 LEAFs in its first year, which has already made it the highest-selling electric car in the history of the car industry. It has also garnered the highest critical acclaim; in the form of World Car of the Year, European Car of the Year and Japanese Car of the Year; the Nissan LEAF is now opening up new motoring alternatives across the Globe.
“With a range of up to 160kms on a single battery charge, the LEAF is expected to find favour early on in New Zealand’s fleets, as they seek sustainable transport solutions, and later with private customers who are interested in a zero tailpipe emission car ownership experience coupled with freedom from petrol service stations.” Manley said.
Nissan New Zealand is currently finalising plans for an EV dealer network concentrating sales points at key urban locations. These locations will be advised next month.
“Nissan dealers will be at the forefront of automotive generational change when LEAF arrives in their showrooms in July,” said Manley.
April 24th, 2012 by Darren Cottingham
For a car that’s a shade under $34,000 I was surprised at just how solidly built the Nissan Juke feels to drive. But then, I shouldn’t be surprised: look at it. You could stick an M16 machine gun on the top, paint it in camo and it wouldn’t look out of place as a military rapid response vehicle.
Nissan says it’s a cross between a sports car and an SUV. This is not true – there’s nothing much sporty about 86kW and 158Nm of torque and it is slow. However, it does drive very well, it’s not that thirsty for its size – 6.3l/100km on the combined cycle (I managed 6.7) – and there’s enough room for four adults and some light luggage.
In a market where some manufacturers produce boring-looking vehicles Nissan has (if you exclude the more conventional Tiida and Wingroad, and the corporate-styled Maxima) elected to create Continue reading “Nissan Juke Ti 2012 Review” »
November 11th, 2011 by Darren Cottingham
The hard working crew at Nissan UK are pushing on with building the Juke-R prototype and have revealed their latest video.
Fitting the mechanical bits from Nissan’s GT-R supercar into the tiny Juke crossover has proved understandably tricky. But as seen in previous videos, the team has got the engine and drivetrain in place and it’s time to start re-fitting the interior.
Just throw in a couple of buckets and some gauges right? Nah it’s not that easy. With the large GT-R engine pushed back into what was the Juke’s cabin, the builder’s needed to rework almost everything to make sure the controls were accessible to whatever brave soul is going to pilot this unnatural beast.
To see how the Juke-R team got on watch the video below. Continue reading “Nissan Juke-R video build continues – interior fit out” »
November 10th, 2011 by Darren Cottingham
The Tokyo Motor Show has become well known for having its share of wacky futuristic concepts and Nissan are making sure this reputation is upheld.
Nissan is taking its PIVO concept to the 2011 show in its third concept form. The first PIVO 1 was unveiled in 2005, the PIVO 2 in 2007 and now the PIVO 3.
The PIVO 3 is sticking to the same three-seat layout and central driving position as its predecessors but its styling has moved towards a more production-ready concept.
Francois Bancon, Nissan deputy divisional GM for product strategy, has said that Nissan is considering pushing ahead with the PIVO. “There is no decision to do this. We are now considering the next step of the EV after LEAF and Infiniti EV and an LCV EV. We are going to have many ways to propose to the market what seems radically different, it must be an EV signature [model], if you will.” Continue reading “Nissan PIVO 3 concept to debut at Tokyo Show” »
November 8th, 2011 by Darren Cottingham
Every year since the GT-R debuted in 2007, Nissan has made tweaks for each model year. In keeping with this tradition the latest Godzilla has just been revealed with more power and a couple of new tricks.
The new 2012 GT-R is set to officially debut later this month at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.
There’s no point looking for any styling differences because there are none with the main changes being mechanical. Power has been increased with the twin-turbocharged engine now producing 404kW and 632Nm of torque. Previous models made 390kW and 612Nm so the difference will be likely be enough to feel, just.
Nissan are also claiming that engine response and torque at mid- and low-speeds, and power at high revolutions, has also been significantly improved. Surprisingly there are also claims that fuel efficiency has been improved from the current models 11.8l/100km rating but new figures haven’t been released yet.
The power increase comes largely from improved intake efficiency. Air flow resistance, for example, has been reduced by adding an intake manifold fitted to the head of each unit and the use of special resin in the enlarged air intake duct for the intercooler. The intercooler and exhaust system have also received treatment. Continue reading “Nissan boosts power for 2012 model GT-R” »


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Published: 13 July 2014
People on the move
Latest round-up of appointments known to WorldCargo News in the shipping, ports and allied sector
Rolf Habben Jansen has been appointed as CEO of Hapag-Lloyd and Anthony J Firmin is the new COO following the previously announced departures of Michael Behrendt and Ulrich Kranich. Peter Ganz continues as CFO, a position he has held since April 2009.
Hansa Heavy Lift has appointed Steven Neuendorff as Head of Americas, based at its regional headquarters in Houston and responsible for the shipping line’s North and South American business, managing Hansa’s offices in Houston and S ão Paulo.
Christer Gransskog has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Finland-based shipping line Arctia Shipping Oy.
Port Everglades has announced the appointment of Jim Pyburn to the position of Director of its Business Development Division. He joins the port from Port Tampa Bay where he was the director of marketing and business development for Latin America.
Fábio Siccherino has been appointed as the director of new business development at Brazilian container terminal Embraport. A chemical engineer from the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, he was previously director of Log-in and traffic manager at Navegação Costeira Serviço Atlântico Sul. He then joined Vale in 2002, serving as business manager in the logistics area.
Antonio Sevilla has been appointed the new president of Cartagena port authority (APC, in Spain). A road engineer, he has been a director of Obras Públicas y Urbanismo of the CCAA since 2011, before stepping down in April of this year. He replaces Adrián Ángel Viudes, who held the position since 1996.
Marina Rimpo has taken up the post of manager, marketing and development, Baltic region with HHM, the Port of Hamburg Marketing Association. Mrs Rimpo has been working in the HMM marketing team since 2008 and supported the ACL Amber Coast Logistics project. In her new function she will coordinate the work in the Baltic region in cooperation with the HHM representative offices in St Petersburg and Warsaw.
The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR) has appointed Jack F Elmore Assistant Vice President, Claims. His core responsibilities include oversight and supervision of KCSR’s claims office in Shreveport, La, as well as a number of administrative duties for the department as a whole. He joined KCSR from CSXT.
Global shipping, logistics and marine services provider GAC has appointed Fredrik Nyström as its new Group Vice President for the Asia Pacific region. He takes over from Dan Hjalmarsson, who has retired.
Dirk Hoke has taken over as CEO of the Large Drives Business Unit of the Siemens Drive Technologies Division. Large Drives develops, manufactures and markets products, systems, solutions, and services for drive engineering in industrial and infrastructure applications as well as sectors such as marine engineering, mining, cement, pulp and paper.
Martin M Lin has been appointed Chairman of China at Cargotec Industries (China) Co Ltd as of 1 August 2014. He comes most recently from Textron China, Inc and before that he was with Rockwell Collins.
Netherlands-based Menlo Logistics has appointed Gert Jan van Sluis as its new European HR Director. He joins Menlo from global semiconductor manufacturer, NXP and is based at Menlo’s European headquarters in Amsterdam.
Richard Burnett has been appointed Chief Executive of the UK's Road Haulage Association. He joins the RHA from Samworth Brothers where he was Managing Director of Samworth Brothers Distribution.
The United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) has announced the appointment of Tony Mohan as its new chairman. He takes over from John Maguire, who had held the role since 2011. Tony Mohan joined Bibby Distribution in 1988 and has held various positions within the business, from operational roles through to the Business Development function.


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There are no known fires or injuries from this problem.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will recall a total of 34,633 examples of the 2016 Dodge Durango and 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee for a potential fuel leak. Only vehicles with the 3.6-liter V6 are part of this action. The campaign specifically includes 30,180 of them in the United States, 2,534 in Canada, 489 in Mexico, and 1,427 outside the NAFTA region. FCA U.S. believes as few as 30 vehicles might actually have the problem, but it needs dealers to inspect them all to be sure.
During assembly at the Saltillo Engine Plant in Mexico, there may have been damage to the fuel rail crossover tube for these V6 powerplants. Long-term thermal cycling, fuel exposure, and pressure pulsations can cause a fuel leak to develop. In a worst case scenario, this issue could lead to a fire.
The automaker discovered the issue during an inspection when an FCA employee noticed a fuel leak on a single vehicle. A further investigation of uninstalled engines found 21 with damaged parts out of 20,158 units inspected. The company eventually found that there was an assembly error from “inadvertent contact between a manifold fastener and the fuel rail” for an 11-week period in the first quarter of 2016 that caused damage to some powerplants.
FCA U.S. is not aware of any field reports of people reporting this problem, and the company has no warranty claims about it, either. There are also no known injuries.
Dealers will inspect the SUVs for damage to the fuel rail crossover tube. If harmed, technicians will replace the fuel rail assembly and the lower intake manifold. The recall will begin December 19, 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Jeep last needed to recall some of its recent products in October when there was an issue with the impact sensor on the 182,308 examples 2016 and 2017 Wrangler. There were no known complaints about that problem, either.
Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Gallery: 2016 Dodge Durango gains two new appearance packages
RECALL Subject : Damaged Fuel Rail Tube may cause Fuel Leak
Report Receipt Date: NOV 10, 2016
NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V814000
Component(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 30,183
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)
DODGE DURANGO 2016
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2016
Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 10, 2016, to April 28, 2016 and equipped with a 3.6L engine built at the Saltillo engine plant. During the assembly of the engine, the fuel rail crossover tube may have been damaged, which, over time, may result in a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly for damage to the fuel rail crossover tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S85.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Statement: Fuel Rail
November 18, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is recalling approximately 30,180 SUVs in the U.S. to locate an estimated 30 that may be subject to fuel leaks.
FCA US launched an investigation after a Company employee noticed and reported a fuel leak associated with a single vehicle. The probe discovered certain engines assembled during an 11-week period in first-quarter 2016 may have been subject to a manufacturing anomaly.
The anomaly – which caused inadvertent contact between a manifold fastener and the fuel rail – occurred infrequently. Resulting damage to the fuel rail may lead to leakage and, potentially, fire.
FCA US is unaware of any related injuries, accidents, customer complaints or warranty claims.
Affected are an estimated 30,183 model-year 2016 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs. Also included in the recall are an estimated 2,534 vehicles in Canada; 489 in Mexico and 1,427 outside the NAFTA region.
The campaign is limited to vehicles equipped with 3.6-liter V-6 engines. All vehicles will be inspected, and their fuel rails and lower intake manifolds will be replaced, as necessary.
Affected customers will be advised when they may schedule service. In the interim, customers should be alert to potential fuel leaks and contact their dealers accordingly.
Customers with questions or concerns may call the FCA US Customer Care Center at (800)-853-1403.


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FILE PHOTO: The Nissan logo is seen at Nissan Motor’s global headquarters building in Yokohama, Japan, Dec. 17, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
February 2, 2019
LONDON (Reuters) – Japanese carmaker Nissan will announce on Monday that it is cancelling plans announced in 2016 to manufacture a new model of its X-Trail compact SUV in Britain, broadcaster Sky News said on Saturday.
“Precise details of Nissan’s impending announcement were unclear this weekend, but sources said it was likely to initially involve abandoning the X-Trail production plans which had been announced in the autumn of 2016,” Sky reported.
Nissan announced in October 2016 that it would build its next generation Qashqai sports utility vehicle and a new X-Trail model in Britain after receiving government assurances over Brexit, in what was seen at the time as a major boost for Prime Minister Theresa May.
(Reporting by David Milliken, Editing by William Maclean)


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Your Friendly Neighborhood Movie Blog
Coming off of the huge (and somewhat underestimated) success of The Lego Movie earlier this year, it wasn’t long before Warner Bros. announced that a sequel would be released on May 26th, 2017.
And while a three year gap seems not-so-awesome for the masses of people who loved the first movie, it seems that Lego fans will be getting something extra in the meantime. In a sort move similar to the upcoming Minions movie that will be released between Despicable Me 2 and 3 to tide fans over, Warner Bros. has announced that they will release a Ninjago movie in September 2016.
Ninjago is a popular line of Lego, yes, Ninjas, that have been around since 2011. Ninjago has previously had its own television series on Cartoon Network, so it makes sense for a jump to the big-screen, especially after the money The Lego Movie so easily made.
Here’s what domestic distribution president of Warner Bros. Dan Fellman had to say:
“Following the huge success of ‘The Lego Movie,’ we are very excited to build on the Lego franchise. We know there are already Ninjago collectors who can’t wait to see their favorite characters on the big screen. This promises to be a terrifically fun and thrilling entry into our Fall 2016 slate, with broad audience appeal.”
The key here is “broad audience appeal”. That same idea is what allowed such a wide range of age groups to enjoy The Lego Movie as much as they did.
What do you think about a Ninjago movie? Expect it in theaters on September 23rd, 2016, and see The Lego Movie 2 on May 26th, 2017. In the meantime, the first Lego Movie hits Blu-ray on June 17th (of this year, thank god).
Written by Josh Sazin on 5/21/14


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Intudo Ventures, an Indonesia-only venture capital firm has closed its third fund at $115 million amidst the tech-segment boom in South East Asia’s biggest economy.
Intudo Ventures third fund limited partners include Wasson Enterprises LLC, Black Kite Investments, and President International Development Corporation (PIDC). Other limited partners include over 10 founders of tech unicorns, more than 20 leading global funds and managing partners, and over 30 Indonesian families and their conglomerates.
According to the company, this fundraise brings Intudo Venture’s total committed capital to about $200 million.
According to the firm, the oversubscribed round was raised in less than three months, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The founding partner of Intudo Ventures, Eddy Chan attributes the interest partially to the successful market debut of Bukalapak, an ecommerce company on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in August’21.
Bukalapak had become the first unicorn in the country, valued at more than $1 billion, to list on the IDX. The IPO of Bukalapak had attracted the attention of global investors, who are now looking at opportunities in the Indonesian market. According to a report from Teamsek, Bain & Company, and Google, the region’s internet economy, led by Indonesia, is expected to grow to $300 billion by 2025.
With this third fund, Intudo Ventures will invest in several startups in Indonesia that are set to grow quickly on the back of increasing digitization and rising private consumption. The firm will also seek less orthodox investment such as a local crypto-asset exchange, Pintu, it has funded.
Intudo Ventures said in a news release that it will continue to invest exclusively in the Indonesian startups including the “non-consensus” ones such as B2B, agriculture, education, finance & insurance, health & wellness, new retail & entertainment, and logistics.
According to the firm, the non-consensus sectors are likely to create new industry leaders and categories; and they are already witnessing that in their portfolio.
Intudo Ventures was founded by Eddy Chan and Patrick Yip in 2017. It is an Indonesia-focused independent venture capital firm with a concentrated portfolio approach capitalizing on the rising middle class in the country and rapid growth of private consumption.
The investment portfolio of Intudo Ventures includes Halodoc, a telemedicine platform; PasarPolis, an online insurance marketplace; TaniHub, an agritech startup. The startup has also made early-stage and new seed investments in Delman, a data management platform, Gredu, education Management Company, and in Wahyoo, a firm that enables informal eateries to automate and digitize.
Intudo Ventures also runs an office in Silicon Valley in California from which it has been courting the Indonesian talent studying at top business schools in the US to return to their homeland either to join fast-growing startups or establish their own startups or those working in the US.