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COAST Brewery; we know ‘em, and we love ‘em. We love them even more for all of the events they hold, and these upcoming June and July events will surely not disappoint.
Don’t have Flag Day plans? Worry not, because COAST, along with several other local breweries, has got you covered — head out to Holy City Brewing for the Flag Day Burger and Beer Festival this Sat. June 13 starting at 12 p.m. for a food and drink overload, benefitting local shelters Pet Helpers and The Charleston Animal Society. Plus, tickets are only $10.
Fives Loaves, Left Hand Brewery, and COAST Brewery have teamed up to present the Cannon Street Beer Dinner on Sun. June 14 at 6 p.m. Come to kick off summer with a six-course meal and tasty craft beer pairings. Tickets are $50.
Get off the couch and come to F3 Columbia’s CSAUP event The Cottonmouth on Sat. June 27 at 6 p.m. You’ll be burning incredible amounts of calories with this eight to ten mile rugged outdoor obstacle course through the old Charleston Naval Shipyard, eventually ending up at COAST Brewery for beer and food trucks. You earned it. Jaime Tenny, co-owner of COAST says, “It’s not like CrossFit — it’s crazier than that.” PS — this event is free, but you should bring a few bucks to chip in for water along the way, as well as for food and drink at COAST.
In the name of patriotism, COAST will be changing their regular business hours on the Fourth of July and staying open from 11 a.m. till the fireworks end. You’ll get front row seating to some of the best fireworks in the area, and you can also feast on some grub from local food truck Hot Links (others are expected but unconfirmed) at the event, so don’t stress dinner plans. Jaime Tenny says, “It’s a fun place to have some beer, some food, and watch the fireworks. We always keep things simple.” That sounds like a great way to celebrate America to us.
COAST is also bringing in more food trucks this month that include Dashi on Fri. June 12, The Immortal Lobster on Sat. June 13, Hot Links on Thurs. June 25, and Short Grain rounding it out on Sat. June 27.
4-7 today.Welcome new to us Dashi food truck!Fresh Boy King bottles to boot!
Posted by COAST Brewing Company on Friday, June 12, 2015
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OFT Publishes Provisional Findings on Yellow Pages Undertakings
The Office of Fair Trading has published its provisional findings that undertakings given by Yell Group plc (‘Yell’ now known as hibu plc) relating to its Yellow Pages business may no longer be appropriate and that the Competition Commission should consider whether the company should be released from them.
Yell gave the undertakings in 2007 after a Competition Commission market investigation found that the company’s market power meant that prices for classified advertising in the Yellow Pages were higher than they would have been in a well-functioning market.
Under these undertakings yellow Pages advertisement rates are subject to a cap; restrictions apply to Yell’s ability to publish second tier directories and themed guides; and Yell is required to provide to the OFT a comprehensive advertising rate card, as well as accounts relating to its printed regulated directory business.
In line with its duty under the Enterprise Act 2002, the OFT has reviewed these undertakings to consider whether they are still appropriate. Based on its own research, an external report and surveys, and discussions with industry players, the OFT has provisionally found that there has been a change of circumstances, and that the Competition Commission should consider whether it would be appropriate to release Yell from these undertakings.
The OFT’s review has provisionally found that the major driver of change has been the growth in internet access and usage by both consumers and advertisers which has led to a potentially broader range of competitive constraints on suppliers of printed directories.
Nisha Arora, Director in the OFT’s Services, Infrastructure and Public Markets Group, said: “We have provisionally found that the market has undergone change, and as a result we are proposing to advise the Competition Commission to consider releasing Yell from the undertakings agreed in 2007. Third parties now have the opportunity to comment on our provisional findings.”
The consultation on the OFT’s provisional findings will be open until 21 September 2012. If the OFT concludes that there has been a change in circumstances, it would expect to provide its final advice to the Competition Commission later this year. The Competition Commission would then be responsible for deciding on any changes to the undertakings.

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Highlights from the American Feed Industry Association's largest annual event
The American Feed Industry Association's 2012 International Feed Expo, organized in conjunction with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s International Poultry Expo, concluded on Jan. 26 in Atlanta. More than 20,500 visitors from 100-plus different countries attended this year’s event supporting the feed, pet food and poultry industries.
The annual trade show and expo, the world's largest event of its kind, housed 895 exhibitors who displayed the latest in products and technologies, while sponsoring associations provided numerous educational programs and international networking opportunities.
"The International Feed Expo is a place for everyone to come together on a global basis and access the latest technology in the marketplace, to receive education on best practices and also share a good networking opportunity with other people in the industry," said Joel Newman, AFIA president & CEO. "With over 20,000 attendees here at the show, it’s the place to be.”
From sanitation to loading, maintaining the quality of grain in storage begins at harvest — starting with cleaning the empty bins. The time to spring into action and clean is now according to Dirk Maier, professor of grain science and industry at Kansas State University.
In the feed and grain business, when we talk about safety we often think of physical safety: fall protection and enclosed space safety for employees; spill protection; safe handling practices for grain and feed products
Restaurants are in the business of providing foods that people like to eat. And people certainly should have a wide range of options and choices for meals. Still, I can’t help but think the recent decision by Chipotle to move away from using genetically modified organisms is more marketing than science.


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With consumer spending accounting for 70 percent of economic growth, national retailers and associations plan to blaze new trails. They started to do just that on Sunday at the Annual Council of Retailers Association meeting in Deadwood.
150 national leaders got together at the Deadwood Lodge to exchange ideas and discuss issues affecting the retail industry.
Research firm, ShopperTrek estimates 2011 holiday retail sales to trek behind last year’s 4.1%. Despite the low estimates, retail leaders say two other issues have topped their list.
“Immigration affects retailers and hiring of employees,” said Marty Jackley,South Dakota’s Attorney General.
“The other thing that can really help is trying to get online retailers to collect sales tax,” said Michelle Ahmes, Executive Director of Arizona’s Retail Association.
Attendees say they hope to network, as well as get a better understanding of other retail leaders’ perspective on the business. National retail leaders will visit tourist attractions in the Black Hills in addition to attending the educational meetings, which wrap up on Tuesday.


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E3, the big video game expo, is June 5-7 2012. What will be the highlights of the show?
sort by best latest
It's confirmed from ign that neither Microsoft or Sony are gonna reveal a console, even though they code names for it....They will be revealed at next years e3. Which is stupid because Nintendo will have a head start again.
That is stupid, the next generation needs to get started sooner rather than later. This console cycle has already been one of the longest in the history of video games. Hopefully, if they are announced next year than that means release shortly after.
Microsoft and Sony will release their consoles holiday 2013
So they say, yet, there is always the possibility of delay.
True true, we'll if they don't try to rush anything like last time with microsoft, then they should be in good shape.


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DT, February 2017
February 1, 2017
By Steve Mott
The payments business has had more than a year of chip card struggles. Now, a long-time observer of the payments industry argues there is a better solution for the threat of rising fraud.
As 2016 wound to a close, nothing short of a massive business hangover loomed over the U.S. payments system. The reason? EMV—which has been a source of hope for some, but agony for others—is producing far more problems than it’s solving.
So let’s review what happened with the U.S. migration to EMV. Specifically, we’ll look at why its adoption created so much acrimony in the industry and what might be done to pick up the pieces. Spoiler alert: It’s not a feel-good forecast for the rest of 2017.
The analysis begins with what we’ve learned since October 2015, when the card brands imposed their ill-advised liability shift. Despite widespread appeals to delay the shift because the industry would not be ready (and clearly wasn’t), Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. went ahead anyway.
The biggest reason for this, which the network brands asserted at several industry conferences, was to “preserve the issuers’ business case” for making the change. Prior to the shift, the brands told numerous issuers that EMV would be a “revenue opportunity” for them, in that it would open the way for them for the first time to flow certain chargebacks to point-of-sale merchants.
Immediately after the shift, a deluge of chargebacks did hit merchants, including those that had invested in EMV and were ready (certified and live). Of the chargebacks, which ran to hundreds of millions (if not billions) of dollars, more than 40% were under $25 with some brands.
Historically, issuers didn’t charge back such transactions, for a couple of reasons. Fraudsters didn’t waste their stolen credentials on coffee and donuts, and the fees and costs for doing chargebacks in the payment card system were more than what might be recovered with a successful contest.
Still, some issuers, with a glint in their eyes, swore hackers were stealing $8 to $10 fast-food orders from them all along, and now merchants had to pay!
Abuse by some issuers of the change in chargeback rules was so pronounced (and irrational) that some of the network brands were forced to prohibit chargebacks under $25. And some brands also told issuers that, after 10 chargebacks on a single compromised account, they could no longer push more transactions back on merchants, and had to close the account or eat any subsequent chargebacks.
With lawsuits pending, an accounting for the apparently vast amount of bogus chargebacks is still likely to come. What’s more worrisome is that the brands—particularly Mastercard—are claiming up to 50% or more reduction in counterfeit fraud, when industry experience from many merchants belies any such benefit from the $10 billion to $15 billion invested in the two-decade-old EMV protocol.
The problem in the coming year is that accurate EMV data capture and flows, while improving, are still a mess. To wit, as one top-five issuer reported after plumbing a new chargeback system to EMV specs from Visa, it had to shut it down the second day of the liability shift because the number of inaccurate chargebacks was exploding.
Pining for PIN
A more tangible benefit of EMV deployment around the world has historically been the use of PINs to reduce lost-and-stolen card fraud. Not here. Although many countries used chip-plus-PIN to reduce this source of fraud, Visa’s wide-eyed antipathy to PIN (its only source of competition from national networks) and Mastercard’s insouciance (official term: neutrality) on the matter meant little support for PIN was available—even to issuers that believe it is safer and cleaner for transacting.
Mastercard did offer a liability shift on lost-and-stolen fraud for those issuers and merchants that implemented PIN for EMV. But the host of problems that have developed with implementing the U.S. Common AID made it difficult if not impossible to get the same proportion of PIN debit with chip that exists with mag-stripe. Indeed, some merchants are seeing 20% to 30% of what would have been PIN transactions process instead as fraud-prone signature-based debit.
(For those who came in late: The Common AID, or application identifier, was the late-emerging industry compromise on EMV debit to enable lawful deployment of the mandate in the Dodd-Frank Act’s Durbin Amendment for merchant choice of networks for routing).
Moreover, when The Kroger Co. decided not to honor any EMV transactions (including credit card purchases) without a PIN, Visa fined it $7 million before the country’s largest grocer took the brand to court. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Home Depot Inc. filed their own suits, claiming abuses by Visa of their right to encourage PIN transactions.
Late in the year, the Federal Trade Commission intervened in still other complaints about Visa co-opting and restraining PIN-debit use, forcing the brand to “clarify” the legality of its rules. The confusing display of the “Visa Debit” and “US Common Debit” prompts on many POS terminal checkout screens also must be made intelligible to consumers (and merchants) who prefer the more secure and efficient choice of PIN debit.
This situation is not likely to improve any time soon. Though some 800 million EMV cards were distributed to issuers last year, the companies that produce the cards report that up to half were still in bank vaults as of late last year. That inventory of last year’s cards—the vast majority of which do not support PIN—is taking a long time to burn off, given the largely frustrating and disappointing introduction of EMV so far.
Moreover, at year-end Visa reported that only 22% of debit transactions and 46% of credit were chip-on-chip—far below original forecasts. And that was mostly the top 200 merchants that had committed early and got to the head of the lengthy certification queue.
Over the Top
Merchants and their card-acceptance systems live at the tail end of the industry processing flows, so every upstream provider—issuers, issuing processors, networks, acquirers, third-party processors, terminal manufacturers, and so on—has to have its data act together before merchants can produce a reliable and accurate set of transaction inputs.
Yet the incomplete and apparently erroneous specifications for the U.S. card market—by far the world’s largest and most complex—were clearly perceived to be a problem early on. In mid-2014, the brands’ hand-picked collection of payment-industry participants, the Payment Security Taskforce (PST), identified the complicated, voluminous, and obscure EMV certification processes as a showstopper for October 2015.
Uncharacteristically, Visa and Mastercard reportedly agreed on streamlining the specs and cross-certifying to expedite the already-bulging queues to get live with EMV, but claimed the processors weren’t ready to change their systems. Two years later, with merchants screaming about chargeback abuses when they were hopelessly mired in certification queues and validation delays, the brands produced those improvements.
What also became apparent to everyone—even the issuers—was that the next bomb to explode was fuel and convenience stores. Though their liability shift was originally put off to October 2017, the woeful state of EMV-processing readiness at retail at year-end, coupled with a screaming paucity of technical support for pump deployment, made this sector’s compliance with EMV in the coming year a pipe dream.
Faced with both rational appeals from the sector (as well as the thinly veiled specter of still more lawsuits), Visa and Mastercard relented, delaying the fuel-pump liability shift three years to 2020.
Hard-bitten payments industry skeptics noted that, with the torrent of near-universal criticism of EMV deployment, the consensus was that the debacle had put merchants over the top in terms of resistance to the brands. Retailers of all shades and stripes are ready to work together to expand legal challenges to the brands and big issuers. So the outlook for 2017 is still grim, even as the industry’s EMV hangover appears to be waning.
With EMV, there is a multitude of exigencies and “gotchas” that often require perplexing and complicated fixes or accommodations. All this extra work takes time, effort, and precious programming resources, at least for merchants and maybe a growing number of issuers.
The U.K. Experience
And that begs the question of how to proceed from here. EMV deployment will likely continue—albeit with a long tail of adoption. But the real question is whether the benefits will be worth the continuing investment and effort that could be better applied to more effective solutions such as tokenization and encryption.
Let’s start with a look overseas. While the objectives of EMV are well-intended, and in some instances quite worthy, the post-adoption experience of the most comparable card market to the U.S. is concerning.
The United Kingdom is about as signature-credit-based and debit-card-centric as the U.S., and enjoys, as does the U.S., a mature but fraud-prone e-commerce marketplace. It also has the huge advantage of a real representative payments ecosystem—the U.K. Payments Council—to mandate universal collection and assessment of fraud data. And it has enlightened, unified national policies of fraud mitigation measures. Its experience is instructive—and yet worrisome.
With card fraud growing steadily, the U.K. in 2004 committed to a forced march to chip-plus-PIN. Bingo, counterfeit and lost/stolen card fraud began to drop.
But the fraudsters simply shifted their activities to a more tolerant venue—online transacting. Total fraud dropped for a couple of years, but began to grow again overall in 2008.
That’s when the U.K. doubled down on aggressive implementation of the brands’ 3-Domain Secure (3DS) protocol, and it worked for a while. By 2011 (the year Visa announced its EMV migration plan for the U.S.), total card fraud in the U.K. looked like it was under control, and brand fraud-mitigation programs had been responsible for meaningful reductions in fraud losses.
In fact, between 2006 and 2015, non-remote sources of fraud as a proportion of total fraud had all been pared—especially counterfeit fraud (owing to the difficulties of counterfeiting a chip or fooling a working chip-based system into thinking a dual-mode mag-stripe counterfeited card was not a chip card).
But by 2013, all types of fraud had begun to grow again. Indeed, total card fraud in 2013 surpassed that of 2003. By 2015, total fraud was growing smartly again, and nearing the record level of 2008.
The brands argue that absolute transactional volumes are up, and so is fraud. In fact, by some relative measures, fraud rates per monetary value increments is at least under control, if not declining in some instances. However, the absolute level of losses worries everyone (even the brands).
A Better Way
The inescapable conclusion from this experience is that, as long as the brands support transactions (including EMV) with all (or in EMV’s case, nearly all) account credentials in the clear, brand programs to reduce fraud are simply dogs chasing their tails. Even the brands have conceded ground, turning to the goal of getting rid of the mag-stripe at some point with tokenization.
Tokenization offers some short-term promise. That’s why Visa and Mastercard recently agreed to interoperate their tokens to keep control of and augment their card-transaction operations. They also started emphasizing somewhat more secure, and tokenized, contactless options versus contact cards.
But it looks to be a while before EMV card transactions get tokenized offline or online, and longer still before the brands or their big issuers give up completely on mag-stripe transactions. And some security experts advise that tokenization is just an interim solution, when the long-term solution is solid encryption of card credentials and transaction data end-to-end.
Such a solution—given how difficult the U.S. EMV deployment has been—would seem unrealistically daunting by comparison. Even other-worldly, some might assert.
It’s that kind of thinking that keeps the industry in its current funk. The players (other than the brands and big issuers) keep scurrying to keep up with brand programs that merely tweak the existing environment. Each program creates even more complexity and unrequited returns on the investment in deployments. And the fraud hole, as the U.K. experience seems to portend, just keeps getting deeper.
The actual solution, to be clear, is open standards-based encryption for all participants. To address the harrowing threats of cyberattacks going forward, even the payment networks and issuers will have to bite the bullet to encrypt end-to-end. That’s a big change, for the issuers in particular. They managed to put off EMV for a decade until bogus-chargeback profits gave some of them a business case to justify this change. How can they justify encryption?
End-to-end encryption is indeed a paradigm shift. But it’s a new foundation that can be crafted without abject surrender to the growing complications of an antiquated processing infrastructure that weighs like an anchor on the efficiency and safety of the U.S. payments system as it exists today.
In that sense, every dollar invested in tweaking today’s infrastructure to accommodate EMV is beginning to look like a road to nowhere.
SPECIAL FEATURERead Digital Transactions Online


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Sekhmet Ventures has launched a new venture capital fund focussed on beauty and wellness. The fund focuses primarily on companies with science-based products in the beauty and wellness markets.
Sekhmet Ventures provides its portfolio companies with more than just capital. Sekhmet Ventures has assembled a team of experts who support its portfolio companies with expertise and extensive experience in marketing, sales, manufacturing, regulatory compliance and other commercial aspects of a beauty and wellness company. By providing these services, portfolio companies are able to accelerate growth without the additional time, capital and potential dilution that would be required to build the infrastructure required to perform these functions.
“We focus on companies with 100 per cent natural and ultra-pure products backed by science,” says Barbara Paldus, founding partner. “The investments we have already made are off to strong starts and we look forward to investing in other high growth potential companies which meet these criteria.”
“We are extremely pleased to be one of Sekhmet Ventures portfolio companies,” says Asa Siegel, CEO and Founder of STAMBA Inc. “Sekhmet Ventures has delivered on its promise to provide us with the expertise and services we have needed for our growth without having to seek additional outside capital and potential dilution.”


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Rockstar has revealed it's planning to celebrate 10 years since Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas with a special weekend in GTA Online.
Kicking off this Friday, the weekend celebration mainstays of Double RP and Double GTA$ will be present, but four new T-shirts bearing the logos of popular San Andreas radio stations will also make the cut. Other promotions include a 50 percent discount on all green clothing, BMX bikes, bandanas and other accessories. Vehicle suspension, meanwhile, is down 25 percent.
In case you missed it yesterday, rumours started swirling that Rockstar may be planning a re-release of San Andreas to celebrate the 10-year mark. Until the company comments officially however, we'll have to make do with this.
The new-gen console versions arrive on November 18, but we'll have to wait until January 27, 2015 for the PC version. For more, check out our one-year-later GTA 5 feature.
Luke Karmali is IGN's UK News Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter.


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Three Chinese Internet companies are preparing to list on the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York City, according to a report in the Financial Times. Travel site eLong, job site 51job.com and online gaming company The9 had appointed advisors to execute initial public offerings of a minimum of US$100 million each, the Financial Times reported. The report said that the three listings had the potential to raise as much as a total of US$1 billion, but that US investor sentiment toward Chinese Internet company IPOs had waned in recent months.
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Hyundai nixes plan for standalone Equus luxury line, even as sales skyrocket
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- Dan Eaton
The grand piano inside the showroom Ricart Automotive Group built seven months ago to display the Hyundai Equus will continue to play Frank Sinatra, but the car-shopping audience won’t quite be what the dealership planned to attract.
Hyundai Motor Co. launched its Equus luxury car late last year with thoughts that the automaker could use it and the Genesis sedan to launch a full-blown luxury line, making it competitive with Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus brand and Honda Motor Co.’s Acura badge.
Rhett Ricart bought into the idea, spending $250,000 on a showroom renovation to accommodate the Equus. That was before Hyundai killed further talk of spinning off the models into a new brand.
“I’m happy, and I’m not so damn happy,” Ricart said. “I probably could’ve spent less on the showroom.”
Ricart’s outlay wasn’t at the request of Hyundai. Jim Trainor, a spokesman for the South Korean automaker, said more than 400 dealers have been approved to sell the $58,000 Equus but the only requirement was a $30,000 upgrade to create a special display area for the car. Ricart said he was planning to renovate the dealership’s former Isuzu showroom anyway, still he understands Hyundai’s decision.
“I’m glad they decided they weren’t going to do it if they weren’t going to channel the car correctly,” he said. “That’s a huge commitment, and if they weren’t willing to make it, then it’s good they decided against it.”
Hyundai executives said in an interview last month with trade publication Automotive News that the cost to dealers and advertising expense would be too high, and they were concerned that separating the luxury vehicles from the other models would undermine the car maker’s branding efforts.
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If you think the Tegra 2 is strong and powerful, you better wait for NVIDIA’s Tegra successor, codenamed Kal-El, which promises a qhopping quad-core processor coupled with a 12-core NVIDIA GPU to support display resolutions of 2,560 X 1,600 pixels. According to the chip-maker Kal-El delivers up to 5 times the performance of Tegra 2.
The Tegra 3 chipset is slated to launch in an Android tablet in August 2011. NVIDIA will still be committing to improving its mobile chipset. Wayne, the Batman codenamed Tegra 4 chip will deliver 10 times the performance of Tegra 2, or double that of the Tegra 3, and will hit in 2012. Tegra 5 will deliver 50 times what Tegra 2 offers today and Tegra 6, codenamed Stark, will offer 100 times the performance of today’s mobile chipsets.
With hardware innovation like this, mobile processing power will only increase the capabilities of what smartphones and tablets are capable of in the years to come. It will definitely be interesting to see what mobile devices will be capable of, and how they will be evolved in the future.
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The specter of showrooming has haunted the Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) boardroom for years. At every turn, the electronics retailer has run into suspicions and claims that it will never overcome the omnipresence of Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), which now pervades the everyday shopping experience. The only problem with the claim is that it's false. Best Buy is suffering, and it's suffering because of online sales, and it may even be suffering due to Amazon, but the problem is not showrooming.
Online doesn't equal showrooming
Online sales are taking up more of the retail pie than ever before. In 2013, the Census Bureau estimated that sales made online accounted for over 7% of total U.S. retail sales -- in 2010, it was just over 5% . The increase in online sales means that Best Buy isn't able to take advantage of the benefits of having a strong sales corps.
Showrooming -- going into a store, trying a product, then buying it online -- has largely been dealt with through Best Buy's price matching program. The retailer will sell an item for a cost equal to that of online retailers, including Amazon. The company instituted the program during the 2012 holiday season, and maintained it when it proved successful.
In its second-quarter earnings announcement this week, Best Buy even highlighted the trend. It said that traffic to its stores had fallen due to online sales, but that in-store conversions were on the rise. That's not a sign of showrooming, which would see in-store conversions falling as shoppers left to buy on Amazon, but the news reports still claimed showrooming was the problem. But by trying to treat the alleged showrooming issue, investors can overlook the real path to success.
What Best Buy can do about it
Right now, Best Buy is doing the right things. It is focusing on converting in-store traffic into sales and it is strengthening online sales. In the last quarter, domestic online sales were 22% higher than the same period in 2013. That's a good start, but it's not going to be enough to make up for the traffic shortfall in stores.
The company needs to push online sales even higher. One leading opportunity for doing that may be as simple as promoting its program that allows customers to make purchases online and then pick up the goods at their local Best Buy. The price match is still in effect and customers can avoid shipping costs and times. Not only does this increase online sales, but it also gets customers into the store.
Bringing those customers through the door is still an important point for Best Buy. While it has to compete with Amazon online, once the shopper is at the brick-and-mortar location, Best Buy's sales force can go to work. Studies have shown that knowledgeable and experienced salespeople can increase sales by a substantial amount. As about half of us still look for advice when we go shopping, there's ample room for Best Buy to move in and take advantage of these online sales.
Of course, it could all still go wrong. Amazon remains a major threat, and if Best Buy doesn't sort out its traffic and online issues, the crowd will just keep shifting Amazon's way. Luckily, Best Buy has a lot of levers, and plenty of opportunity to pull them this year. New phones, rising home sales -- affecting sales of appliances -- and the potential for further growth in the employment market are all good news. Best Buy may have gotten over its show-rooming hurdle, but there are still plenty of obstacles left.
Andrew Marder has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Bandai Namco Filmworks, in collaboration with virtual reality (VR) production company Atlas V, has announced a groundbreaking VR anime project for the Gundam franchise, titled "Mobile Suit Gundam Silver Phantom for Meta Quest." This immersive adventure will offer fans a unique interactive experience in the Gundam universe, a significant leap in anime storytelling. The announcement was made during a panel at Anime NYC, where Pierre Zandrowicz of Atlas V and Ken Iyadomi of Bandai Namco Filmworks presented the project and showcased a teaser video, as spotted by Anime News Network.
A Fusion of Worlds in Immersive Adventure
"Mobile Suit Gundam Silver Phantom" aims to push the boundaries of traditional anime by providing an immersive adventure that combines the best aspects of gaming and narrative storytelling. While it may not be a traditional game, it offers viewers a level of interactivity that goes beyond a typical narrative experience. This ambitious project represents a new frontier in anime entertainment, offering fans a unique and engaging way to explore the Gundam universe.
Sunrise and Atlas V Collaboration
Notably, this project marks the first collaboration between Sunrise, the renowned Gundam creators, and a French company, Atlas V. The partnership between these two entities signifies a significant milestone in the expansion of the Gundam franchise into the realm of virtual reality. With the combined expertise of Sunrise and Atlas V, "Mobile Suit Gundam Silver Phantom" promises to deliver an unforgettable VR anime experience for Gundam enthusiasts.
While specific details and a release date for the VR anime have not been disclosed yet, the project demonstrates Bandai Namco Filmworks' commitment to pushing the boundaries of anime storytelling. In addition to "Mobile Suit Gundam Silver Phantom," Bandai Namco Filmworks has also revealed the "Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance" project, consisting of six 30-minute episodes that will be available for streaming worldwide. The animation for this project will be produced entirely using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5, showcasing innovative techniques in anime production.
As the world of anime continues to evolve and embrace new technologies, "Mobile Suit Gundam Silver Phantom" stands as a testament to the Gundam franchise's enduring legacy and its ability to adapt to the changing landscape of entertainment. Gundam fans can look forward to embarking on a unique and immersive adventure in the near future, redefining the way they experience their favorite series.


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The Surprising Thing That Might Make Your Kid a Better Reader
A study has found that a healthy diet can affect your kid's reading ability.
Could a healthy diet make your kid a better reader? Maybe, according to an interesting, if small, study out of Finland.
Researchers studied 161 students between the ages of 6 and 8 (first grade to third grade), comparing their diets—which had been recorded in food diaries—with their reading abilities determined by standardized test scores.
What they found and published in 2016 was pretty fascinating: Kids' reading skills improved more between first grade and third grade if they refrained from consuming a lot of sugary foods or red meat and if their diet consisted mainly of vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grains, and unsaturated fats. And get this—the healthier diet led to better reading skills by third grade, no matter how well the students could read in first grade.
How do you like them apples?
Interestingly, a healthier diet did not result in better math skills. "One reason for these observations may be that reading requires more complex cognitive functions than basic arithmetic calculations," the researchers postured. "Therefore, an unhealthy diet may be more strongly related to reading skills than arithmetic skills in children."
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But what if you've got a picky eater on your hands? Does that mean it's time to toss out the Kindle? Not so fast. For one thing, the study is pretty small. And for another, the researchers only found an association between healthy foods and reading skills; they didn't prove cause-and-effect.
Still, it's another good reason to make sure our kids are eating well, and the researchers hope the findings will encourage parents and educators to advocate for healthier choices in schools.
"Parents and schools have an important role in making healthy foods available to children," they wrote. "Furthermore, governments and companies play a key role in promoting the availability and production of healthy foods."


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Between political uncertainties and shoppers who were more fickle and demanding than ever, it was another wild year in the footwear biz. But in 2016, it was all smooth sailing for Adidas.
The German footwear brand continued to build on its comeback momentum from 2015 to deliver one of its most successful years ever, debuting innovative products that pushed athletic footwear forward while also greatly increasing its bottom line.
Though the year started off on a slightly dramatic note for the company when it was announced CEO Herbert Hainer would depart earlier than expected (he stepped down in September), Hainer was able to lead the company to continued sales growth through the end of his tenure. Shares of Adidas rose 56 percent this year, smoking rivals Nike and Under Armour, shares of which sagged 17 and 37 percent, respectively.
Better yet, the company was able to take back its position as the second-largest U.S. sportswear brand from Under Armour, which briefly surpassed it in 2015. According to data from NPD Group, Adidas’ market share of U.S. athletic footwear grew to 7.2% through the end of November, up from 4.3% just a year ago. Nike, meanwhile, saw its grip on the U.S. market slip to 37.3%, down from 41 percent last year.
Growth has so far continued under newly appointed CEO Kasper Rorsted, with revenue up 20 percent at the company’s namesake business during its most recent quarter. Even Adidas Group’s struggling TaylorMade golf unit, which the company is trying to sell off, posted a respectable 6 percent bump in sales.
On the retail front, Adidas continued to grow and innovate. In March, the company announced it would be greatly expanding its China footprint with the planned opening of an additional 3,000 doors there by 2020. And just this month, the company wowed shoppers in Sweden with the opening of its innovative virtual reality concept store.
Innovation was one thing Adidas was not short on in 2016, making great leaps forward in nearly every area of its business. From 3D printed sneakers, to biodegrade sneakers, to shoes made of ocean plastic, it seemed there wasn’t anything Adidas couldn’t make shoes out of.
In manufacturing, Adidas finally debuted its robotic Speedfactories, which the company plans to open in several locations around the world to increase speed to market.
Adidas is also aggressively courting sponsorship deals with top teams and athletes as a means of boosting its profile in the sport market. Two years ago, Adidas agreed to spend £75 million ($97 million) a year to sponsor Manchester United, the British soccer club which until that point was sponsored by Nike.
Stateside, the company currently sponsors around 20 athletes in both the NFL and MLB, but the brand is planning to sign up to 250 players in both leagues within the next three seasons, and may be planning to use its Yeezy brand as a sort of trojan horse to do so.
Speaking of which, it would be impossible to talk about Adidas in 2016 without mentioning Kanye West, the rapper-turned-designer who proved his Yeezy Boosts were far more than hype. In June, the company greatly expanded West’s role within the company with the launch of Adidas + Kanye West, a Yeezy-branded entity of men’s and women’s footwear, apparel and accessories for streetwear and sport.
Adidas continued its breach of the fashion world with the launch of Adidas Athletics, its newest category comprising trendy and functional activewear that bridges the gap between on-field performance and personal style. Adidas also extended its popular Stella McCartney partnership, while its collaboration with Alexander Wang took New York Fashion Week by storm in September.
Adidas also took time to grow its brand awareness among women, part of a larger trend within the athletic industry. In February, the company launched Avenue A, a women’s-only subscription service, and also debuted a sneaker designed specifically for women.
But when it came down to it, Adidas in 2016 succeeded because it continued to do what it does best: make sneakers people want to wear. Though not as hype-y as Kanye West’s Yeezy range, Pharrell’s line of shoes with Adidas proved to be big hits. And when it came down to the classics, the Stan Smith proved to be eternal, as the man himself told VAMP earlier this year.


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Spokane Valley store opens as Amy’s Donuts’ fourth location
Nov. 1, 2018 Updated Fri., Nov. 2, 2018 at 8:01 p.m.
Brandon Hertz kicked off his 11th birthday with a half-dozen double chocolate, apple fritter and pumpkin doughnuts.
He and his grandmother, Jeanie Bryant, were visiting Amy’s Donuts, a doughnut shop that opened Thursday morning in Spokane Valley to much anticipation.
“It’s pretty cool, because there are different flavors to choose from,” Hertz said about Amy’s Donuts. “There’s a doughnut that everyone in your family would like.”
Amy’s Donuts features more than 120 varieties of donuts – which cost around $2 each – with toppings such as Captain Crunch cereal, Twix candy bars and rainbow sprinkles.
Bryant said the shop makes a nice addition to Spokane Valley’s growing selection of restaurants.
“They have a good variety of donuts, one of the largest I’ve ever seen,” she said.
If Bryant had to pick a doughnut that describes her personality, it would be one that’s “sweet with sprinkles and a little bit of old-fashioned underneath,” she said.
Chin and Amy Kim launched Amy’s Donuts five years ago in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a goal of building a small doughnut chain. The business rapidly gained a following for its quirky and colorful donuts through word of mouth and social media.
As a result, the couple opened other shops in Cleveland and Tucson, Arizona, which both had lines of people out the door on their opening days.
In May, the couple announced they would be opening a location in Spokane Valley. They cited affordability, quality of life and the need for a family-friendly doughnut shop as reasons for a fourth location, this time in the Inland Northwest.
Amy’s Donuts at 11519 E. Sprague Ave., includes seating for about 50 people. It is open 5 a.m. to midnight, and 24 hours Friday and Saturday. The drive-thru is expected to be open in two weeks.
Store manager Katherine Bich said business was steady Thursday morning, although there wasn’t a line out of the door when they opened the shop.
“We kind of thought there would be a line, but we’ll probably have one later on in the day,” she said. “Everyone seemed to be really happy. Overall, (the turnout) has been really good.”
Eric Hinnenkane and his daughter, Addy, make it a point to visit a new coffee shop or restaurant to grab breakfast on Thursdays – which is when she has a late morning start for school.
This week, it was Amy’s Donuts.
“We’re always looking for new places to go,” Eric Hinnenkane said. “We like to sit and talk. And, we like donuts.”
They purchased a half dozen doughnuts that included Amy’s Almond Joy, Maple Turtle – topped with pecans and chocolate – and a strawberry-filled doughnut.
Hinnenkane said Amy’s Donuts is a unique concept for the area.
“It helps bring people out to the Valley,” he said. “It gives people an opportunity to see different parts of town.”
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Illustrating the power of storytelling, clear communication and design elegance, ‘Cuisine Gastronome’, the heat and eat gastronomic product of SriLankan Catering, won three Gold Awards for its product packaging at the Sri Lanka Packaging Awards 2021. The packaging concept of Cuisine Gastronome appeals to the target audience with the clear and inspired design conveying a sense of gourmet food and fine dining, in the comfort of one’s home. Cuisine Gastronome clinched the three Gold Awards in the categories; ‘Food Packaging’, ‘Innovation’ and ‘Packaging that Saves the Food’. As a result, Cuisine Gastronome qualified for the World Star and Asia Star awards conducted by the World Packaging Organization.
Prestigious World Star and Asia Star awards honour companies with innovative and creative packaging designs for their products, taking into consideration areas of construction and materials usage, design, innovation technology and environmental consciousness.
“As the sole airline caterer to operate from BIA Katunayake, we at Sri Lankan Catering always exceled in culinary expertise. We have been catering to major international airlines such as Emirates, Qatar and Turkish Airlines. As an award-winning catering company, we remain steadfastly committed to the high quality of food, safety and hygiene standards. Hence, producing high quality consumer products was simply an extension of our existing excellence. We first launched Cuisine Gastronome during the first lockdown, when our revenue sources were fast dwindling due to the pandemic. But, it was challenging to reach out to our new customer base. We knew we had to maximize customer convenience to prepare the food within minutes while also retaining the nutritional integrity and flavours of our products. We are glad to have partnered on this project with the Dentsu Grant team who guided us from the very inception to the execution phase – their support in conducting research and benchmark studies across a number of areas supported us in understanding our audiences during challenging times.
The product soon captured consumer interest and we were able to reach the global market as well. The positioning of Cuisine Gastronome – ‘It’s Fine Home Dining’ beautifully captured the brand essence as well as the product promise we wanted to deliver to a discerning group of consumers,” said Mangala Wijesekara, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Catering.
“Packaging is not a communication piece that conveys product information alone. It is the spokesperson for the brand at the point of purchase – the key moment of truth. Packaging has to tie in all the aspects of a brand – the brand positioning, its values, emotional connection, consumer benefits, and the product promise creating a distinct brand experience that the target audience can believe in. It was a great pleasure working with SLC, building the next global Sri Lankan brand,” said Sajith Weerasinghe, Chief Strategy Officer at Dentsu Grant Group.
Sri Lankan Catering first launched Cuisine Gastronome in Sri Lanka. However, within a small-time frame, the product reached international markets, gaining popularity in Australia and the USA. The Company plans on making Cuisine Gastronome available across the globe, especially targeting markets with a sizeable Sri Lankan Diaspora.
Cavinkare Lanka unveils Meera Facewash – unique combination of natural actives
FMCG Major’s latest product for the Sri Lankan market, Meera Facewash was unveiled in an official event at Colombo. Celebrating the young contemporary Sri Lankan woman, Meera facewash will be introduced in three different variants providing functional solutions to everyday skincare problems – Red Sandal (for soft skin), Neem & Tea Tree (for pimple clear skin) and Wild Turmeric (for clear skin).
Meera facewash is a range of formulation that is Soap-free, Sulphate free, Paraben free and is milder on the skin. It has a unique combination of Natural actives mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic textbooks. It includes a very special product which is Salicyclic acid- free acne treatment facewash. It helps to remove 99.9% of acne causing bacteria using prebiotic technology.
Meera facewash is aimed at modern young women of Sri Lanka who hold a strong belief in traditional practices & natural ingredients. Today young women are well read, understand the importance of healthy skin and have a holistic view of how healthy skin is beautiful skin. It comes out from the confidence of understanding scientific literature that supports these natural ingredients rather than following it naively.
Virtually connecting at the event, Arun Chacko, Business Head of Personal care category (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Nepal) said, “With the Launch of Meera Face Wash today, we add to the hugely successful Meera portfolio of shampoos. With this, we intend to enhance the Richness of Tradition that Meera as a brand has been offering to the Sri Lankan Populace over the years. We are sure that the variants, would endear to the needs of Sri Lanka. We promise to bring more such exciting products to cater to the consumers.”
All-time record prices for two estates
Halpewatte Uva Estate located in Bandarawela, which is renowned for producing high quality, light liquoring bright orthodox teas established an all-time record price of Rs.1,000 per kg on a liquoring BOPSP grade in the Uva Medium Category at the tea auction held on 18th January 2022. This invoice of tea was purchased by Shan Teas (Pvt) Ltd.Halpewatte Uva Estate is managed by Halpewatte Estate (Pvt) Ltd, and the teas were marketed and sold by John Keells PLC.
Venture Estate located in Bogawantalawa which is renowned for producing high quality orthodox teas over the past years, established an all-time record price, of Rs 1,060 per kg on a liquoring FBOPF1 grade in the Western High Grown Category at this week’s tea auction held on 18th January 2022. This line of tea was purchased by Inter Tea (Pvt) Ltd. Venture Estate is managed by Madulsima Plantations PLC and the teas were marketed and sold by John Keells PLC.
HNB-Indra Traders offer exclusive leasing solutions for unregistered vehicles, freezers and pre-owned vehicles
Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank, HNB PLC, partnered with local automotive giant Indra Traders to provide customers with exclusive leasing solutions for unregistered and pre-owned vehicles and freezers.
Customers can make use of exciting benefits and discounts during the promotional period from January to December 2022. HNB Executive Director Chief Operating Officer Dilshan Rodrigo and Indra Traders Managing Director Rushanka Silva participated in the special ceremony to sign the MoU at HNB Towers.
“Given the import restrictions, the market for unregistered and pre-owned vehicles has grown exponentially. Each year we offer our loyal customers the very best deals in the market. As such, we have renewed our partnership with Indra traders, renowned for its incomparable service, to offer those looking for vehicles with access to exceptional after-sales services and great discounts,” HNB Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Dilshan Rodrigo said.
HNB will offer the prevailing interest rate for structured leases and lease facilities with a 25% residual value market value under the partnership. Customers also have access to special discounts on automobile products, servicing, spare parts, tyres, and batteries via the Prestige Prime card, with the annual fee waived off the first year.
“We are delighted to partner with HNB once again to offer our mutual customer base exciting leasing solutions and great benefits. Our continued partnership with the Bank has proven to be very beneficial to our customers, and we hope they will make use of this opportunity once again to invest in their own set of wheels,” Indra Traders Managing Director Rushanka Silva said.
Indra Traders will provide customers looking to purchase unregistered cars, vans and freezers with free insurance from SLIC for the first year. HNB customers are also eligible for discounts of up to 10% for spare parts from Indra Motor Spares and labour charges from Indra Service Park for the first year.
Customers investing in a new or unregistered passenger vehicles are eligible to have their vehicles outfitted with a free entertainment system and reverse camera. Indra Traders will also offer customers a two-year warranty for engines and gearboxes and a three-year warranty for hybrid batteries.
Notably, the company will provide free labour for services up to one year and a maximum of six services for pre-owned vehicles. A six-month warranty will also be offered for the engines and gearboxes of these vehicles.
Established in 1975, Indra Traders has diversified to various business segments in the automobile industry. A supplier of high-quality motor vehicles and related vehicles, Indra Traders today stands as not only a supplier of high-quality vehicles but also a transport solutions provider.
With 254 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically-innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd. The Bank was also ranked among the World Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine for five consecutive years. HNB was also declared Best Sub-Custodian Bank in Sri Lanka at the Global Finance Awards 2020.
Now, CEB plans to ‘rationalise’ tariff
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Minneapolis-based Cargill – a global producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and
industrial products and services – has re-acquired full ownership of NatureWorks LLC from
Tokyo-based Teijin Ltd. as a result of Teijin’s general portfolio restructuring in response to the
worldwide economic downturn. NatureWorks – the Minnetonka, Minn.-based manufacturer of Ingeo™
biobased plastics and resins derived from renewable resources – has been operating as a joint
venture between Cargill and Teijin since October 2007, when Cargill sold Teijin a 50-percent stake
in the company.
NatureWorks CEO, Marc Verbruggen, says the company – which will continue operations as before
– continues to grow. According to Cargill officials, establishing the business as an independent,
wholly owned enterprise will enable NatureWorks to pursue a variety of opportunities.
“The green product space is ripe for investment and expansion as never before,” said Paul
Conway, senior vice president, Cargill. “As a green pioneer, NatureWorks is well established with a
broad product and customer base. While others put up pilot plants, NatureWorks has been commercial
for six years, is increasing Ingeo production availability at its first facility and exploring
possibilities for a second plant. We’ve rounded the first turn while others are at the starting
“Ingeo fibers are used in applications including apparel, home furnishings, textiles,
personal care and hygiene.
July 7, 2009


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Rush hour commuting is a major woe in Mumbai, the city that never sleeps. Those who can, opt for getting stuck in bumper to fender traffic. Those who can’t do so trapped in stuffy train compartments and jam-packed buses. But for Jerin Venad and his friends, this bone-crushing discomfort seemed like a perfect business opportunity.
Taking a cue from redBus and cab aggregators like Uber and Ola, Jerin Venad along with five others launched Cityflo in May 2015. Cityflo, a technology platform facilitates interaction of private bus owners with commuters and is a point-to-point bus service connecting major business hubs to residential locations. Cityflo assures an air-conditioned ride to the commuter and its hassle free ticket booking through its Android app cuts short the agony of queuing up at the BEST stand.
“One day, my friends and I were discussing the improvement brought in by technology adoption in the mass transportation sector and as a result we came up with Cityflo,” says Venad. Explaining the revenue model Venad says, “We collect ticketing revenues from customers and charge the bus owner a fee for our services. Tickets cost about ₹3/km, and so far, our average ticket size is around ₹60.”
Fuelled with an initial investment of ₹20 lakh, the start-up recently raised $750,000 from IDG Ventures. Launched with 10 routes across Mumbai, Cityflo currently has 60 private buses and moves 1,800 customers daily. It has expansion plans in Mumbai as well as other cities. “There is a huge opportunity for what we're building. Commute needs to be stress-free and affordable. The key is to perfect the route operations alongside a scalable technology platform,” adds Venad.


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I was hoping Android wouldn’t get dragged into this mess, but because rules are rules, the following has happened.
Fortnite has been banned from Google Play, at least until it scales back its most recent update in which Epic Games, the developer behind one of the world’s most popular games, introduced a way to bypass Google Play’s payments system, and instead, allow users to directly pay Epic for in-game items.
This move takes away Google’s 30% cut on in-app purchases, which companies like Apple and Google are probably not fans of. If you missed it, Apple banned Fortnite from its app store today, which led Epic Games to sue Apple. Eh, what a mess.
In a statement, Google said the following.
The open Android ecosystem lets developers distribute apps through multiple app stores. For game developers who choose to use the Play Store, we have consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users. While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies. However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play.
As I said, this ban will likely only continue if Epic Games proceeds to bypass Google’s 30% fee on Google Play. In the meantime, you can still download Fortnite for Android directly from Epic Games.
Greed and money, amirite?
// The Verge


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When it comes to owning a home in 2016, increasingly Americans are deciding bigger is not necessarily better.
A new CNBC report citing data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Census today reveals the size of the American home shrank by 73 square feet in the second quarter of the year.
That’s a trend reversal from the typically increasing post-recession home size. That increase was fueled by home loan lending scarcity and financial belt tightening by cash-crunched consumers who declined to buy or sell homes following financial hardships, leaving a buyer’s market for wealthier home buyers. Those buyers then purchase larger homes for less money, the report found.
That’s not what’s happening now though, with newly built home sales increasing 12% nationally from June to July and the largest portion of that increase going to low-to-mid-range priced homes.
“The majority of it is a question of affordability,” said Bob Youngentob, president of the Maryland-based urban townhouse construction firm EYA. “People want to stay in closer-in locations,” he told CNBC. “Closer-in locations tend to be more expensive from a land and development standpoint and so, the desire to be able to keep people in those locations is translating into smaller square footages and more efficient designs.”
Increasing home prices and lack of financial resources may play a factor as well.
The finance site SmartAsset.com in December found that Millennials working in many major American cities could scarcely afford to buy housing space.
A Millennial New Yorker, for example, where the local median income was $42,108 in December, could only afford to buy 165 square foot home, if such a home existed. In Denver, the same purchasing power would get said Millennial a 173 square foot home, and in Washington, D.C. he or she could afford 218 square feet, according to the report.


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In custody: Kenosha County authorities locate individual involved in Walmart incident
Updated; 10:39 a.m. on March 3, 2022
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A 42-year-old Racine woman was charged in connection to an incident that happened at a Walmart in Kenosha County.
Magdalena Ciechanowski is facing one count of criminal damage to property and one count of disorderly conduct.
According to a criminal complaint, on Feb. 28, Kenosha County sheriff's deputies were called to the Walmart on Brumback Boulevard for a report of a woman throwing candles and yelling in the store.
Cellphone video captured the incident.
Authorities spoke with a manager of the store who said the woman damaged a considerable amount of merchandise. The complaint says deputies observed broken glass in four of the store aisles.
A photo of the incident was shared on the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department Facebook page, and an anonymous tip came in leading to the arrest of Ciechanowski.
Updated: 2:58 p.m. on March 1, 2022
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department reports a woman involved in an incident at a Walmart store has been located and taken into custody.
Published: 9:54 a.m. on March 1, 2022
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Authorities are asking for the public's help to identify an individual involved in an incident at a Walmart in Kenosha County.
The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department shared a photo of the individual to their Facebook page.
The incident reportedly happened on Monday, Feb. 28.
CBS 58 obtained video of what happened inside the store. The individual used inappropriate and inflammatory comments while throwing things around the store.
Officials say the individual may have been driving a white vehicle with unknown Illinois registration.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau at 262-605-5102 or Kenosha Area Crime Stoppers at 262-656-7333 or (800)807-TIPS(8477). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $1000.


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Latest exec to leave AdMob since its sale to Google.
Tony Nethercutt has left Google's AdMob mobile ad network to join rival Mojiva as general manager, North America.
Nethercutt was VP of sales at AdMob, where he built the sales, account management, and creative functions. His duties at Mojiva are broader, encompassing both the company's Mocean Mobile ad management platform and its Mojiva mobile ad network.
Nethercutt is not the first senior AdMob staffer to make for the exit since the ad network was bought by Google. The most notable of its departures is CEO Omar Hamoui, who left in October. But the total number of the departed is small relative to its total headcount. AdMob employed an estimated 105 people at the time of its sale to Google, and a large majority is still there.
Speaking with ClickZ, Nethercutt said he was motivated by the opportunity to once again build a sales and marketing team - something he did at both AdMob and YouTube before their respective sales to Google. He said Mojiva intends to significantly hire up in the U.S., including in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.
"There's an advantage to being made for mobile from the ground up," he said. Among the benefits: "You can achieve scale rather quickly as a mobile network."
Learn Digital Marketing Insights From Leading Brands!
ClickZ Live Chicago (Nov 3-6) will deliver over 50 sessions across 10 individual tracks, including Data-Driven Marketing, Social, Mobile, Display, Search and Email. Check out the full agenda, or register and attend one of the best ClickZ events yet!
Until March 2012, Zach Rodgers was managing editor of ClickZ's award-winning coverage of news and trends in digital marketing. He reported on the rise of web companies, data markets, ad technologies, and government Internet policy, among other subjects.
Hong Kong, October 21-22
London, November 13-14
San Francisco, November 13-14
London, November 18-19
Google My Business Listings Demystified
To help brands control how they appear online, Google has developed a new offering: Google My Business Locations. This whitepaper helps marketers understand how to use this powerful new tool.
5 Ways to Personalize Beyond the Subject Line
82 percent of shoppers say they would buy more items from a brand if the emails they sent were more personalized. This white paper offer five tactics that will personalize your email beyond the subject line and drive real business growth.
October 23, 2014
1:00pm ET/10:00am PT


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Breitling launched its Superocean Heritage Ocean Conservancy Limited Edition watch in Bali with the support of its high-profile Surfers Squad members Kelly Slater, Sally Fitzgibbons, and Stephanie Gilmore. Working with the conservation group Ocean Conservancy, Breitling organized a beach cleanup to celebrate the launch of the chronograph, which is limited to 1000 pieces.
On May 10, 2019, Breitling introduced a limited-edition model to commemorate its important partnership with Ocean Conservancy. The launch, which was held in Bali in cooperation with Ocean Conservancy, was part of a beach cleanup initiative with 100 Breitling guests and hundreds of volunteers from Bali and the surrounding region. The cleanup effort resulted in hundreds of kilograms of trash and plastic being removed from the beach.
The 44-millimeter stainless-steel chronometer is presented with a pair of NATO straps made of ECONYL® yarn, an innovative material repurposed from nylon waste, one source of which is fishing nets from oceans around the world.


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Hino Australia has gone on the defensive following the revelations last week that its parent company had admitted to large scale falsification of emission and fuel economy data.
Hino Motors in Japan announced on 4th March, that it it had suspended the sales of three of its engine models and the trucks and buses those engines were fitted to in Japan.
Hino’s local subsidiary, Hino Motor Sales Australia (HMSA) said the situation in Japan does not affect vehicles it sells here in Australia.
“The suspension of sale in Japan affects engine variants certified by the Japanese regulator, which have not been sold in Australia,” the company said.
“HMSA distributes Hino vehicles with many engine variants available for a broad range of uses across its light-duty (300 Series), medium-duty (500 Series) and heavy-duty (700 Series) trucks, as well as buses including the Poncho, RN and RK models,” the company added.
That statement was tempered with the rider that while there are no implications for the Australian market at this time, HML’s investigations are ongoing and that HMSA is committed to engaging with the relevant authorities about the matters.
Hino said that the move followed its identification of ‘past misconduct in relation to its applications for certification concerning the emissions and fuel economy performance of its engines for the Japanese market’.
The misconduct it identified concerned the falsification of engine performance data in emissions durability testing for one engine model and in the measurement of fuel economy performance in certification tests for two other engine models. the company said
In addition, HML identified a problem concerning the fuel economy performance of another engine model.
The announced misconduct and issues related to engine performance do not affect the drivability of the affected vehicles and raise no vehicle safety concerns the company said.


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In a Nutshell: Pinnacle Credit Repair provides clients a technology-based approach to fixing credit scores and even offers personalized guidance from the Founder and CEO Andre Nguyen. The company often achieves fast results with its proprietary system that leverages AI and automates parts of the process. Pinnacle’s technology also analyzes credit reports and uses methods that yield the best results for each negative item.
Pinnacle Credit Repair Founder and CEO Andre Nguyen is all about results. That’s why testimonial after testimonial on the company’s Instagram page tells the story of how his company helped clients erase up to dozens of negative entries from their credit reports.
Nguyen refined his methods after learning strategies from some of the top minds in the credit repair industry. He began his journey as a web designer, but he decided to shift his focus after hearing that one of his clients was scamming people and ruining their credit.
He dropped the web design client immediately and got to work to help those people who reached out to him. He contacted one of the biggest credit repair services in the industry to help the scammed victims, and Nguyen made sure to learn as much as he could during the process.
Nguyen said he saw credit repair as an opportunity to help people. Using the knowledge he gained from studying under credit repair industry leaders, he launched Pinnacle Credit Repair with the goal to differentiate itself in the market.
California-based Pinnacle Credit Repair hit the ground running with an innovative approach that leverages artificial intelligence and automated processes in the credit repair process. Nguyen said that Pinnacle was already outperforming local credit repair companies across the state shortly after its launch.
Many clients turn to Pinnacle’s innovative methods after spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on other services and not seeing any results. Nguyen said his technology and expertise can help clients see results faster than most of his competitors.
“I learned how to fix credit using consumer laws — and even laws that are not necessarily in the realm of credit repair,” Nguyen said. “We also go through certain avenues to communicate with the federal government, instead of communicating with the Bureau’s directly”
Technology Surfaces the Best Solutions for Credit Repair
Pinnacle Credit Repair’s solutions use a mix of both automated processes and manual document work to ensure clients receive the best results possible. The company relies on technology it calls ACAT, which is short for Automatic Credit Analytic Technology.
Nguyen told us the program combs through all of the consumer data the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Consumer Data Industry Association hosts. ACAT finds instances where a dispute resulted in a removal and studies how to solve the problem.
The information helps Pinnacle Credit Repair draft documents an actual human would write to get accounts erased from credit reports. Nguyen said the entire process is similar to a game of wits he often likes to play: chess.
“There’s basically an outline and a list of possible strategies with the highest priority,” Nguyen said. “ACAT goes in and ranks the strategies by highest percentage of success and that’s how we attack negative accounts.”
Pinnacle’s ACAT system is entirely in-house and works in conjunction with the company’s employees. Nguyen said that, by using ACAT, Pinnacle reduces the process time for account removal by about half compared to the time it takes competitors to accomplish the same outcome.
“Credit repair leaders that worked with our clients previously sent out disputes with no success,” Nguyen said. “When we do it, customers might think it’s not going to work because they’ve heard it before. But when our system works, it just goes to show how great our technology is.”
Tailored Techniques Differentiate From Competitors
Fast Track Elite is the cheaper option with a smaller down payment and monthly payments. This option is for people who can’t spend as much money on their credit repair, but still need help.
Hire Me Personally is self-explanatory. By paying the one-time fee, clients receive access to Nguyen himself. He said he can usually take care of a client’s credit reports within 30 days.
Pinnacle’s Fast Track Elite service requires a $199 enrollment fee, and monthly payments of $99 paid until the company can fully clean up the client’s credit report with a 120-day satisfaction guarantee. The Hire Me Personally package ranges in price between $1,500 and $2,500 and will see faster results than the Fast Track Elite service.
Both tiers take advantage of Pinnacle’s ACAT technology. Nguyen said clients in both tiers usually see significant improvements to their credit score within a month.
Nguyen recalled a client’s experience with other credit repair companies. The client had paid more than $5,000 to several different companies with no success.
The client found Pinnacle Credit Repair and paid to hire Nguyen personally. Pinnacle’s system with ACAT cleaned up the client’s credit report within 30 days. By hiring Nguyen personally, clients receive personalized service tailored to their financial situation.
“When clients hire me personally, I do a one on one call with them,” Nguyen said. “I would look at the report and guide them on changes they can make to instantly raise credit. The small increase in credit may be enough for them to receive approval for a new credit card and, with continued financial responsibility, see credit scores continue to go up.”
Setting Financial Goals is Critical to Achieving Results
Nguyen speaks to his clients directly to better understand how Pinnacle can help their specific situation. One of the biggest challenges the company runs into are clients who don’t quite understand the benefits of repairing their credit reports.
Nguyen said it’s important for consumers to understand how improving their credit score can help their finances in many ways. The benefits could be to receive lower interest rates, or to receive mortgage approval to buy a house. But without a goal in mind, Nguyen said people are going to fall short of what they want.
“I would first tell them to look at themselves and understand why they want their credit score to go up because that’s important,” Nguyen said. “If they understand what they want to achieve, they will be able to have a goal in mind and a timeframe.”
Having proper goals and a time frame by which to reach them gives clients guidance on the package that is best for them. Pinnacle has also assisted homeless people who call and request credit repair at no charge to them.
“We just want to fix their credit and do it quickly,” Nguyen said. “We have to do everything ethical and do it faster and better than everyone else.”


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Cyber security for small businesses is a trending topic. Every day new cyber threats are emerging, which leads to new research being carried out and new cyber security solutions being developed.
Here’s a quick overview of the latest stats on cyber crime and the new cyber risks to watch out for. We’ll also look at the cost of a cyber attack, and how to approach cyber security as a business owner.
Cyber Security in Businesses
UK figures show that cyber crime has grown by 40% since 2020, putting the country at the top of the list when it comes to the number of cyber crime victims.
More specifically, in the last 12 months, 32% of small UK businesses and 24% of small charities reported a data breach or cyberattack according to the Government’s ‘Cyber security breaches survey 2023’. This figure rises to 59% for medium sized businesses, and 69% for large businesses. For high-income charities with £500,000 or more in annual income this figure sits at 56%. This means that small business cyber security is less protected.
Cost of Cyber Crime
It takes an average of 277 days to identify and respond to a cyberattack and the cost increases with every day that passes.
But what are the costs?
- Collectively, the economic cost of cyber crime to UK businesses is £21bn per annum, with IP theft address being the most costly at £9.2bn per annum.
- The average cost of cyber crime for UK businesses (counting loss of money, material, and data) is £4,200. Although the total figures for 2022 are lower than they were in 2021, this is not the case for medium and large businesses, where costs amount to £19,400.
- 60% of SMEs go out of business during the 6 months following a cyber attack.
A threat report published by Proofpoint – 2023 State of the Phish: Europe and the Middle East – uncovered some alarming facts regarding end user behaviour and how local nuances affect gaps in end-user awareness, resilience and risk. These include:
- 33% of EMEA end users admit to taking ‘risky IT actions’ such as clicking unknown links.
- 44% of EMEA working professionals think an email is safe if it contains familiar branding. However, most are unaware that imitating a reputable company is one of the most common scamming techniques.
- Overall, end users aren’t aware of cyber crime concepts, making it easier for cyber criminals to hack into business networks.
- 1 in 3 end users can’t define “malware”, “phishing”, or “ransomware”.
- Of all EMEA countries, Swedish organisations are the most likely to suffer a successful phishing attack, at 94%.
- The Netherlands is the most targeted for cyber attacks by both insiders (86% vs 66% global average) and outsiders (84% vs 68% global).
- Only 35% of German organisations train their employees on insider threats.
Types of Cybercrime
The ways in which malicious hackers target business and individuals online evolve every day.
The latest UK Gov data shows that between 2017 – 2023 the number of phishing attacks rose, whereas malware and ransomware attacks declined:
- Phishing attacks rose from 72% to 79% between 2017 and 2023. However, this figure reached an all-time high in 2022 at 83%.
- Virus and malware attacks fell from 33% to 11%.
- Ransomware attacks fell from 17% to just 4%.
According to Proofpoint’s 2023 State of the Phish: Europe and the Middle East report, phishing emails are the most common cyber threat currently facing UK businesses (96%).
Similar numbers are reported in the UK Government’s ‘Cyber security breaches survey 2023’ report:
- Medium businesses 84%
- Large businesses 93%
- Overall figure (including small businesses) 79%
Shockingly, Surfshark revealed that there were 323,972 phishing attacks reported globally in 2021, meaning 888 people fell for a phishing attack every day! Other stats from the report include:
Although malware attacks aren’t as frequent, they are more targeted towards businesses. According to Surfshark, 4,500 UK businesses fell for a malware attack in 2021.
Ransomware is a type of malware that threatens to publish the victim’s personal data or permanently block access to it unless a ransom is paid off.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre CEO, Lindy Cameron, believes ransomware is now the most immediate cyber security threat for UK businesses.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre believes social media hacking is also on the rise. Becoming increasingly problematic, social media hacking saw 8,023 reported cases in 2021/22 – a 23.5% increase on the previous period.
Cyber Security Solutions
Let’s see how businesses act in order to protect their valuable information, assets, and client data. How many had vulnerability scans, or managed security services or had regular audits from an external party?
Prioritise Business Security
- The UK is second on the Global Cyber Security Index, just behind the US in terms of how invested they are in protecting against cyber crime.
- 71% of UK businesses and 62% of UK charities report that cyber security is a high priority for their senior management team.
- That being said, the proportion of micro-businesses saying cyber security is a high priority has decreased from 80% in 2022 to 68% in 2023.
Risk Assessment & Recovery
- 3 in 10 UK businesses have undertaken a cyber security risk assessment or any type of IT security audit in the last year — rising to 51% of medium businesses and 63% of large businesses.
- Only 18% of small businesses have carried out work to formally review the potential cyber security risks presented by suppliers – rising to 27% for medium businesses and 55% for large businesses.
- Formal incident response plans are not widespread (21% of UK businesses and 16% of UK charities have them).
- A UK Gov report found that 49% of businesses report seeking information or guidance on cyber security from outside their organisation in the past year. The most common individual sources of information and guidance are:
- External cyber security consultants, IT consultants or IT service providers (mentioned by 21% of businesses and 15% of charities).
- Any government or public sector source, including government websites, regulators, and other public bodies (12% of both businesses and charities).
- General online searching (8% of businesses and 6% of charities).
- UK organisations have the highest rates of training for known target users (52%) among Europe and Middle Eastern countries.
Cyber Security Services for Small Businesses
Specialising in cyber security for small businesses as well as medium ones, DVAD has been helping businesses strengthen their cyber security in Manchester and Leeds, for over 35 years. We offer a comprehensive range of cyber security services and IT security solutions to protect your digital assets and mitigate the risks associated with any cyber threats.
Your current systems’ cyber risks to all the above threats could be identified with a vulnerability assessment or penetration testing. Even if you have already been affected, a anti-virus software could detect and remove malware from your systems. Plus, a managed firewall could monitor and control traffic to protect against unauthorised access.
Do you want to keep your business reputation protected? Find out the 6 Most Common Mistakes that Compromise your cyber security or book a FREE risk assessment for your business in this form.


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Yum! Brands chooses a new CEO for Taco Bell
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- Staff Louisville Business First
The succession plan unfolds on Jan. 1. The Louisville-based Yum's current CEO, David Novak, who also serves as the company's chairman, will become executive chairman.
Niccol, 40, is president of Taco Bell U.S. He was previously chief marketing and innovation officer for the Irvine, California-based chain.
Creed said Niccol "has a proven track record and the necessary vision to deliver our growth objectives,” the New York Times reported.
Niccol will be tasked with driving Taco Bell's brand strategy and performance. For the 10-year period ending in 2022, the company hopes to open 2,000 new restaurants and double system sales, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Taco Bell currently has more than 6,000 outlets. In addition to Taco Bell, Yum operates KFC and Pizza Hut.
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Instacart just hired a top Walmart advertising exec. Here are 38 other big hires by companies that are gunning for ad dollars in 2022.
A range of companies like retailers and delivery services are poaching people with deep ties with advertisers and technical expertise.
Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, and the makers of COVID-19 vaccines were particularly popular among federal lawmakers, an Insider analysis found.
Cargo ships have been waiting to dock and unload at the nation's largest port for as long as two months.
A retail analyst browsing a Home Depot store said a manager 'accosted' him to ask if he'd like to work there, a report says
The encounter, reported by The New York Times, comes as retailers scramble to fill vacancies ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.
I made Home Depot's 12-foot skeleton. My job is being a professional Halloween geek — here's what it's like.
I visit graveyards, tour haunted houses, and get advice from my son for job research — all of which inspires Home Depot's Halloween decorations.
President Joe Biden wants to clear traffic jams at US ports and save the holiday shopping season, but experts say he can't solve the problem.
More than 100 brands including like Samsung have run tests and boosted sales with Lowe's since March.
Home Depot executive says chartering ships to sidestep the supply-chain crisis 'started as a joke.' Now it's a critical lifeline for decorations, plumbing supplies, heaters, and more
Major companies are scrambling to overcome backlogs. From flying in power tools to chartering ships, Home Depot has worked to overcome port delays.
The creative ways retailers are trying to sidestep shipping delays, from Home Depot flying in power tools to Coca-Cola chartering bulk vessels used for coal
As record numbers of cargo ships clog key ports, many retailers have been forced to scrap traditional strategies for much more expensive ones.
Walmart first announced its new GoLocal service in August, and it's now snagged a major first client.
The 12-foot tall Home Depot Halloween skeleton is going viral on TikTok, selling out of stores fast, and selling for triple the price on eBay.
A group of 200-plus CEOs from companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot says it 'welcomes' Biden's vax-or-test mandate
A group of the nation's most powerful executives supports Biden's plan requiring companies with over 100 workers to mandate vaccines or weekly tests.
'This is actually physical work!' Overwhelmed by DIY, millennial homeowners turn to pros for bigger projects
With the housing market so competitive, many homeowners are instead investing in their own homes for the time being.
Shoplifting syndicates are costing retailers billions every year. Industry insiders are pointing to the ease of online reselling for helping crime rings thrive.
"They are stealing specific items that they know they can resell online," Jason Brewer, the spokesperson of Buy Safe America told Insider.
Meet the typical Home Depot customer: a 45-year-old white man with a college degree earning over $80,000
The typical Home Depot shopper buys six items per visit for an average cost of $74.13, and they make 13 trips per year.
A NLRB complaint claims Home Depot suspended a worker who refused to remove a BLM logo. Home Depot says the complaint "misrepresents" the facts.
Home Depot saw a 5.8% drop in customer transactions from 2020 to 2021, although average ticket size increased.
Insider spotted programmatic ads from Home Depot, TaskRabbit and Vrbo on sites NewsGuard classified as misinformation sites like Independent Sentinel.
"We certainly don't want to affect the 99.5% of our customers who are just there to pick up their hammers and nails," exec Scott Glenn said.
It's not just housing shortages. A lumber CEO says a boom in DIY projects is also driving up demand for the building material.
The pandemic drove many people to renovate their work-from-home space and many baby boomers chose to remodel instead of move into a retirement home.


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Daimler shares are higher Wednesday, after the company’s subsidiary, Mercedes, unveiled its first, all-electric SUV. The Mercedes Benz EQC has two electric motors and a driving range of over 450 kilometres. The new all-electric model is set to be available to buy in 2019.
By 1230 BST, Daimler shares were 0.37% higher at €54.40. The stock has been moving broadly lower in recent weeks activity.
Global production plan
Unveiling the new Mercedes electric SUV Tuesday, the car manufacturer said it will begin production in its factory in Bremen, Germany in 2019. It will then also roll out local production for its Chinese market during next year too.
“With the EQC – the first fully electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz – we are flipping the switch,” said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
“Electric drive is a major component in the mobility of the future. We are therefore investing more than ten billion euros in the expansion of our EQ model portfolio, and more than one billion euros in global battery production,” he added.
The car maker shared comprehensive details of the new electric vehicle and they include:
- The latest in driving assistance systems.
- Extensive crash testing.
- A variety of driving modes.
- Battery produced by the Daimler subsidiary Deutsche Accumotive.
Daimler taking on Tesla?
As details of the new all-electric vehicle from Daimler make their way around the world, there have been some comparisons drawn with Tesla.
However, Tesla has been beset with problems from its factory production line to its cash burn rate. Given Daimler’s existing presence and abilities in the market, plus its €10 billion investment, its unlikely the Mercedes Benz EQC will face the same troubles.
In addition, data published earlier Wednesday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed a rise in sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric cars in the UK during August.
Some one-in-12 vehicles sold in the UK was an electric one and they made up 8% of the overall market.


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BY Kyra McConnell May 29, 2020
After nearly a year in the making, Balmain has released its new eyewear collection, developed by Swiss luxury group Akoni. The frames feature a range of styles, all adhering to the codes of the Parisian house, and were last seen on the Balmain Fall/Winter 2020 runway. According to Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, the designer set his sights on the collection long before it was supposed to launch.
“As soon as I saw them, I was determined to have them immediately,” said Rousteing, who felt inspired after viewing the eyewear at a final prototype presentation in January. Under the designer’s encouragement, the Balmain team worked to ensure the frames were perched on models’ faces that very same month at the Balmain men’s show. For Rousteing, “they’re the ideal Balmain accessory for my designs.”
Made in Japan, the frames come in five distinct styles, each a symbol of the brand’s dedication to fine craftsmanship and intricate detailing. With gold touches, they harken back to Pierre Balmain’s affinity for opulent color, as seen in his signature gold medallions and buttons.
Each style draws inspiration from a different cultural or historical cornerstone for the fashion house. The B-1 shades are inspired by rock music styling with a thick acetate frame, straight brow line, and solid custom hinge system. The Wonder Boy is a particularly strong model, named after Rousteing’s autobiographical film and a personal favorite of the designer. “It’s that style that I slip on every morning,” he said. The striking sunglasses have become popular among celebrities and are now a staple of the designer’s daily wardrobe.
Along with the luxury shades comes exclusivity. In line with its commitment to highest-end quality control and a reliance on precious materials, Akoni has announced that the frames will be produced in limited quantities. Only 500 units of first-edition Wonder Boy glasses exist worldwide, each numbered and registered.
The Balmain Eyewear collection is now available in-store and online.


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The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to take on a legal challenge to Google's book-scanning project by a group of authors. That means a previous ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Google's favor will stand.
Google first began scanning millions of books in 2004 so that users can search their text for words and phrases. In 2005, a group of writers, along with the Authors Guild filed a lawsuit against Google, stating that Google's efforts went beyond the fair-use doctrine, depriving them of revenues from their works.
The case was dismissed in 2013, but the authors appealed the decision. According to Reuters:
Google argued that the effort would actually boost book sales by making it easier for readers to find works, while introducing them to books they might not otherwise have seen. The company made digital copies of more than 20 million books, according to court papers. Some publishers agreed to allow Google to copy their works.
In the end, today's decision by the Supreme Court not to hear the case means that the lower court ruling, made in October 2015, will stand as the final word on the matter:
A unanimous three-judge appeals court panel said the case "tests the boundaries of fair use," but found Google's practices were ultimately allowed under the law.


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Japan's Omron Healthcare To Set Up Medical Devices Manufacturing Plant In Tamil Nadu With Investment Of Rs 128 Crores
Omron Healthcare, a Japan-based manufacturer and distributor of personal healthcare products, will set up a medical devices manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu at a cost of ₹128 crore.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Osaka, Japan on Tuesday (30 May), according to a press release from the State government.
As per reports, the Kyoto-based manufacturer will begin work for the manufacturing unit, on a site of roughly 24,000 sq. meters in Tamil Nadu, as early as August this year. The plant is expected to be operational by March 2025 with 60 workers and produce about 3 million monitors in its first three years, with plans to increase production capacity as per demand.
Omron sees Indian demand growing to 14 million monitors by 2030, making the country the world's second-largest market, after China. The company estimates a spend of about 2 billion yen ($14.3 million) to build a factory for blood pressure monitors, enabling it to sell locally made devices in a growing market.
The OMRON Group has a diversified business presence, including in fields such as industrial automation, healthcare devices, and electronic components manufacturing. It has export business with over 120 countries.
Under its healthcare healthcare business, the company is into the manufacturing of home blood pressure monitoring kits, portable main management devices, fitness devices including wearables and respiratory devices such as table-top nebulizer systems, amongst others.
Previously, Omron has exported Chinese- and Vietnamese-made devices to India. The company also holds almost half of the global market for blood pressure monitors.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin has been touring Singapore and Japan over the last week to attract investments to the State and to invite business communities to the Global Investor Meet (GIM) to be held in January 2024.
Notably, on Monday, Tamil Nadu signed six MoUs worth ₹818.9 crore with Japanese companies to set up various manufacturing facilities across the State. Tamil Nadu inked six MoUs valued at ₹818.9 crore with Japanese firms to establish manufacturing facilities across the state.
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