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Amid the online explosion when it comes to digitalisation and delivery of food and drink, new data shows that subscription services are rapidly taking hold.
Stats from the latest TWC Trends study shows that consumers are three times more likely now (than before the Pandemic) to say that at least 80% of their retail interactions are digital in nature. Alongside this, subscription box services are being adopted fast – a market that is set to grow 72% by 2022 with consumers in the UK currently spending an average of £2bn on subscriptions every year.
TWC’s development director, Tom Fender, highlighted that the market is ripe for subscription services with the average spend on a subscription box currently ranging from £7.5 to £30.
“The big one of course, is Netflix, which now has over 16.7 million subscribers here in the UK,” he said. “However, subscription box services are rapidly emerging in every compartment of our lives, whether groceries, health and beauty products, contact lenses, wines, beers and general living. Food remains the most popular subscription box in the UK but it covers anything that is bought on a repeat or regular basis.
“The data shows that women are more likely to sign up for subscription services than men are and right now, London is the epicentre of services but this looks set to spread fast to the regions.
“One could argue that for businesses who have based their offer on subscriptions, they know exactly what they are delivering when which avoids the highs and lows in supply that we have seen over the past few months whether due to Brexit Covid or delivery driver shortages. Commensurately, consumers are believed to feel more secure in the knowledge that they will be receiving their regular goods”.
“Right now, delivery issues are dominating the media headlines. There’s an irony that as demand grows and comfort factors increase around the ease and use of online ordering, we are now in a position where fulfilment cannot keep pace. You can have the best online platform in the world but if you can’t get the products delivered, it’s all worthless!
“In London alone, the number of available drivers has fallen by 14% whilst shifts and demand has soared by 53%. It’s not hard to see that we are about to enter a period of real disconnect that has no short-term quick fix. It is becoming apparent that the market for subscription services will benefit from this current driver shortage.
Fender concluded: “As brands go digital, or go direct as B2B businesses learn new channels, we believe that digitalisation, the economy and Millennials will drive lasting changes to consumer behaviour with subscription services.”


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The fourth in a series of webinars focusing on trade agreements in South Africa looked at how trade agreements are being utilised in the country. The webinar was sponsored by Access Bank and presented by Donald Mackay, founder and director of XA International Trade Advisors, and Francois Fouche, founder and director of Growth Diagnostics and a research associate for Centre for African Markets and Management at GIBS Business School.
Trade agreements in South Africa
Free trade agreements – along with preferential origin requirements – have expanded in number and complexity over time. As well as increasing trading costs though, this increased complexity may also have diminished the appeal of some of these preferential agreements to traders.
While 24 World Trade Organisation (WTO) members currently grant unilateral trade preferences to the world’s least developed countries (LDCs), the split of trade agreements between countries is not evenly weighted across the globe.
According to the WTO, the EU has the most trade agreements, with about 45 in place with individual countries and other free trade areas (including SADC), plus a free trade agreement with themselves. On the opposite side of the scale, countries with no trade agreements are mostly found in Africa, where trade agreement density is generally fairly low.
However, it’s important to realise that a country doesn’t need a free trade agreement in order to trade with another country – it simply needs the ability to ship goods there. As an example, South Africa doesn’t have a free trade agreement with China, but we can and do trade with them, and our Chinese exports have grown significantly over the last decade.
South Africa and free trade agreements
South Africa currently has a number of free trade agreements in place. However, research shows that far more of our trade happens outside trade agreements than within them, and this has consistent since 2010.
For example, while South Africa’s trade with the EU has grown since 2010, this growth has mostly been in trade outside of trade agreements. There is nothing wrong with this per se, but given that the majority of the tariff book is at a preference with the EU, one would expect this duty preference to have a greater impact. In the same way, the bulk of trade between South Africa and the rest of the SADC region happens outside of our trade agreement with them.
Why don’t we see better utilisation levels?
At the aggregate level, it appears that South Africa is not doing a whole lot with the preferences it has under all of its current trade agreements. So why don’t we see better utilisation of trade agreements in the country?
- They’re not negotiated for economic purposes and hence poorly negotiated. For example, when South Africa’s democracy started in 1994, it seemed to be “fashionable” to have trade agreements, and South Africa entered into many of them without serious thought. Beyond political motivations for these agreements though, there is very little evidence that the important components needed to make the agreement work were actually properly addressed.
- There is no connection between negotiation and utilisation. Companies who are actively involved in the negotiation of a trade agreement are far more likely to use it, so utilisation rates are higher with people who are sitting around the negotiation table – and they may be few and far between.
- Business barely participates in any meaningful part of the negotiations. This is not a uniquely South African problem: we see this in the EU as well where after government does the negotiations, they do very little to connect companies with the benefits of the agreement once it is in place.
- There is no follow up to help business utilise the agreements. In South Africa, the negotiations for trade agreements are done by one group of people while the promotion of trade is done by a completely different group – and there isn’t good handover between the two.
Which opportunities should South Africa pursue?
While we mainly export mining products such as platinum, in almost no country do minerals attract a duty, so these products wouldn’t benefit from a trade agreement. South Africa’s automobile industry is good at utilising trade agreements, but it is an industry that is subsidised by the South African government. And then some agricultural industries, such as the citrus industry, do benefit from trade agreements.
Beyond citrus though, there are many other material opportunities for better trade agreement utilisation within the agricultural sector. Given this, which opportunities should South Africa pursue?
- Get involved with the AfCFTA process. This agreement is currently being negotiated, and it’s important for South African businesses to get involved. While direct participation is not typically allowed and is done by sector, it is important to remain aware of what is going on with it, so that when the agreement is finally implemented, business is in the position to utilise the benefits that flow out of it.
- Work with experts to find opportunities in existing agreements. There are several trade agreements that aren’t widely known about, so there’s an opportunity to look at them and see how they can be leveraged more fully.
- Leverage agricultural products. While the agricultural sector has done well, there are significant opportunities which are simply not being considered around trade agreements and exports. This pertains not just to primary agricultural products, but also to agro-processing and products made with agricultural goods too.
- Get training on trade agreements. It’s important to understand how trade agreements and rules of origin work in order to fully make use of the benefits to your business. For example, this could be done either by importing raw materials and components to make your business more competitive, or exporting to regions you are not currently active in and where the agreement may help you have better access to those markets.
Overall, there are huge opportunities for South African businesses with the trade agreements currently in place, and if the utilisation these improves, they will begin yielding a larger economic benefit. The onus therefore is on business to learn more about these opportunities and how best they can be leveraged for competitive advantage – not just at a company level, but also for the country as a whole.

domain: news


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Samsung Display selected blue OLED + QDCF (blue OLED) as next generation display technology following LCD TV, and started the necessary development. Blue OLED is a technology, in which blue light emitted from blue OLED passes through a quantum dot color filter to represent red and green colors (b). The WRGB OLED used in OLED […]
This author has yet to write their bio.Meanwhile lets just say that we are proud UBI contributed a whooping 86 entries.
Entries by UBI
According to OLED Market Track, which was published by UBI Research in the first quarter of 2018, AMOLED sales and shipments amounted to US$ 8.86 billion and 130 million units, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2017. The sales amount is 100.2% higher than the fourth quarter of 2016. Among them, Samsung Display’s sales and […]
UBI Research (CEO Choong Hoon YI), specialized in OLED market research, published 2018 OLED Market Track and 2018 OLED Industry Report which analyzed in detail the OLED market performance and forecasts including demand supply analysis data. Market Track is based on the market performance data and projected system that UBI Research has accumulated over […]
Flexible OLED shipments are expected to exceed rigid OLED shipments in 2019. According to the ‘2017 Flexible OLED….
UBI Research published ‘2018 OLED Panel Industry Report’ on February 12, 2018, which analyzes the indicators of OLED industry for the year of 2017. This report seems very helpful to forecast OLED industry, which is most likely to become the main display in future, since it analyzes panel makers’ development trends, key issues, applied products, […]
According to the market performance data of the AMOLED Display Market Track published by UBI Research in February 2018, total AMOLED shipments and sales in 2017 were recorded as 440 million units and US$ 27.1 billion, up 13.6% and 62.3% respectively, compared to the previous year. The number of AMOLED smart phone shipments grew to […]
The net area capacity of AMOLED production worldwide is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48% from 2018 to 2020….
According to the investment trend data from AMOLED Display Market Track published by UBI research, the net area capacity of AMOLED production worldwide is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48% from 2018 to 2020. As a result of analyzing the glass area based on the overall equipment capacity, the net area capacity of […]
OLED Korea Conference, the global OLED conference, will be held on 7th(Wed) to 8th(Thu) of March. The 4th OLED Korea Conference will be held on the theme of ‘OLED with opportunity & adding value to your business’ at the Novotel Ambassador Hotel in Seoul, Korea for two days. It is expected to provide a platform […]
■ Flexible OLED is expected to ship 480 million units in 2019, surpassing Rigid OLED shipments. ■ Full-screen OLED among Flexible OLED is expected to have an average market share of 78.3% by 2022, dominating the market. ■ Foldable OLED is expected to ship in earnest from 2019. Flexible OLED shipments are expected to exceed […]


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Tokyo, Japan - August 31, 2021 - KLab Inc., a leader in online mobile games, announced that its head-to-head football simulation game Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team will hold the worldwide Dream Championship 2021 tournament starting Friday, September 17. Additionally, the official Dream Championship 2021 website (https://www.tsubasa-dreamteam.com/dcs/en/) is now open.
The Dream Championship is an official tournament for Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team hosted by KLab Inc. for players 20 years old and above. The tournament will use the mobile game Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team, which is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
The first Dream Championship was held in 2019 and this year marks its third installment which will be held exclusively online. The tournament was created as the ultimate chance for players to face off against strong opponents from all over the world to decide who is number one.
Dream Championship 2021 Overviewctdt_dcs2021
The Online Qualifiers will be held in game from Friday, September 17. After that, the Final Regional Qualifiers will be held online and will consist of 5 blocks representing different regions of the world. The tournament will be streamed live on YouTube.
The top 3 players from the Online Final Regional Qualifiers from each of the 5 regions held and "FX|Daigo", the winner of Dream Championship 2020, make up the 16 players who will compete in the Finals to decide this year's champion. The finals will also be streamed live on YouTube.
Dates (Based in JST/UTC+9)
Online Qualifiers *Held in-game
・Round 1: From Friday, September 17 at 16:00 until Friday, September 24 at 13:59
・Round 2: From Friday, September 24 at 16:00 until Friday, October 1 at 13:59
・Round 3: From Friday, October 1 at 16:00 until Friday, October 8 at 13:59
Final Regional Qualifiers *Broadcast on YouTube Live
・Europe/Africa/Middle East Block: Saturday, October 23
・Asia/Oceania Block: Saturday, October 30
・American Block: Sunday, November 7
・East Asia Block: Saturday, November 13
・Japan Block: Saturday, November 20
The top 3 players from the Online Final Regional Qualifiers from each of the 5 regions will get to participate in the final tournament.
Dream Championship 2021 Finals *Broadcast on YouTube Live
・Saturday, December 11
The winner will receive the following prizes.
・Ball (DCS2021 Winner-specific)
・Stadium (DCS2021 Winner-Specific)
・Kit (Home+GK) (DCS2021 Winner-specific)
For further details, players are encouraged to keep an eye on the official game website, Dream Championship website, and official social media.
Official Tournament Website
About Dream Championship 2020
The previous tournament, Dream Championship 2020, was held online from September to December 2020. It was "FX | Daigo" from Italy, who was also a finalist for Dream Championship 2019, who came out victorious against players from all over the world.
"FX | Daigo" will also participate in the Dream Championship 2021 final tournament.
About Captain Tsubasa
Created by Yoichi Takahashi, Captain Tsubasa is a Japanese manga that centers on the sport of football. Since premiering in Shueisha’s landmark manga anthology Weekly Shonen Jump in 1981, the series has grown into a legend that has inspired and delighted countless football fans around the world for decades.
Even after the end of the initial serialization, the story has continued to evolve with new works highlighting the growth and development of main character Tsubasa Ozora. The series’ popularity continues to thrive, with Captain Tsubasa Rising Sun finishing its appearance in Shueisha’s manga anthology, Grand Jump in 2019, and a special issue called Captain Tsubasa Magazine began serialization in 2020.
The series has sold over 70 million volumes in Japan alone. Captain Tsubasa’s popularity extends beyond borders, having been translated and published around the world in 20 languages, finding fans and winning the hearts of football lovers around the globe.
Overview of Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team
|Title||Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team|
|Supported OSes||Android™ 4.4+, iOS 11.0+, HarmonyOS 2.0+
* Not available on some devices.
|Supported Regions||Global (Excludes Japan and Mainland China)|
|Supported Languages||English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, and Thai|
|Genre||Head-to-head football simulation game|
|Price||Free-to-play (In-app purchases available)|
|Official Website Official X Official Facebook Official Discord|
Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android, Google Play, and the Google Play logo are registered trademarks of Google LLC. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
KLab is a leader in online mobile gaming. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Tokyo, the company is listed on the Prime Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. With its emphasis on quality and innovative games, KLab continues to grow at a rapid pace, expanding beyond the Japanese market with an office in Shanghai.
For more information about KLab, please visit https://www.klab.com/en/.


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Golden Matrix Group (NASDAQ: GMGI), a developer and licensor of gaming platforms, systems and gaming content, has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Elray Resources Inc., which trades as Elray Gaming. The agreement gives GMGI exclusive rights to provide all gaming content to Elray Resources’ clients. According to the announcement, Elray Resources will launch a business-to-business online Crypto Casino systems and technology with content provided by Golden Matrix; that content will be available to and used by Crypto Casino gaming operators. “Online entertainment and virtual currency have become particularly aligned in recent years,” said Golden Matrix CEO Brian Goodman in the press release. “These blockchain, digital concepts have created a unique way of generating profit in the form of online gambling casinos. The exclusive distribution agreement reached between Golden Matrix and Elray is expected to generate sizable revenues for Golden Matrix over time. It seems as though nothing can slow the growth of the online casino industry. Online casinos continued to generate business during the pandemic and are now following the latest trends including allowing cryptocurrencies as payment methods. The collaboration between Golden Matrix and Elray Gaming is a perfect scenario. Elray Gaming has proprietary blockchain technology that will result in numerous gaming operators not only utilizing Elray’s blockchain technology but also Golden Matrix’s gaming content, a win-win for both companies. When you factor in how far cryptocurrency has come and how the gambling industry has embraced it, it is safe to say that the crypto gambling market will keep expanding with the number of Crypto Casino operators to grow in the future.”
To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/xCTpb
About Golden Matrix Group Inc.
Golden Matrix Group, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is an established gaming technology company that develops and owns online gaming IP and builds configurable and scalable white-label B2B gaming platforms for its international customers, located primarily in the Asia-Pacific region. The company’s gaming IP includes tools for marketing, acquisition, retention and monetization of users. GMGI’s platform can be accessed through both desktop and mobile applications. Additionally, Golden Matrix generates revenues in Great Britain from RKings Competitions’ scalable B2C tournament platform and has recently launched a licensed proprietary B2C online casino in Mexico. For more information about the company, visit www.GoldenMatrix.com
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GMGI are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GMGI
TinyGems is your guide to the best and brightest in the under-appreciated small-cap sector. As one of 50+ brands within the InvestorBrandNetwork (“IBN”), TinyGems provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) enhanced press release solutions to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to reach millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions. It’s time to uncover some of the best-kept secrets on Wall Street. TinyGems features innovative small-cap companies with huge potential, putting a spotlight on the best and brightest of these disruptors that have the technology, the talent, the drive, and the business models to make a huge impact in the markets and in portfolios. Whether it’s a game changing technology, a new more profitable product or service, or a star in a hot sector, TinyGems is the go-to source for actionable intelligence.
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For more information, please visit https://www.TinyGems.net
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It’s approaching flu season, and Google.org released Flu Trends to identify the relationship between where people have the flu and where people search for the flu online. Researchers at Google noticed that there are more flu-related searches during flu season, and the search trend actually matches that of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s data. The flu-related search terms are found to be good indicators for the flu, and Google maps where infection zones are minimal, moderate, high, and epidemic. The data is automatic, where traditional flu tracking systems can take one- to two-weeks to collect and release data, according to a Google statement. The Flu Trends tool can aid healthcare newsletters to develop more targeted messages, and advertisers to determine where to geo-target search campaigns, to name a few possible uses for the Google tool.
As it prepares for a 2017 IPO that could be the largest in the social media space since Facebook went public in 2012, all eyes are on Snapchat.
Amazon Prime was launched in 2005 as an express shipping membership program and more than a decade later it has tens of millions of subscribers who enjoy a lot more than just free, fast shipping on millions of products Amazon sells.
Here we take a look at sales and abandonment data from the 2016 Christmas shopping season.
Facebook isn't just the world's largest social network. In the past two years, it has also become one of the world's most popular online destinations for consuming video content.


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November 24, 2006 (LBO) – Young urban Sri Lankans are steadily patronising India’s Barista Coffee Co.’s, chains in Colombo, for a piece of cheescake and sip cappucino, while they surf the Internet, play board games and browse through magazines, officials said.
“Our aim is to add two stores every year. We managed to do that this year, and hopefully next year in the outskirts of Colombo adding services like a drive through for busy customers.”
Business is booming for this three-year old Indian joint venture, despite runway inflation and regular roadblocks in the city for security reasons.
“We have done quite well here, in a heavy tea drinking country, with our three year operation due to make 65 million rupees worth of sales this year,” Ajith Dias, Chairman of Barista Coffee Lanka (Pvt) Ltd said Friday.
Dias, former Sri Lankan cricketer Aravinda de Silva and businessmen Aslam Omar and Dian Gomes jointly own 49 percent, while the Indian partners retain the 51 percent stake.
Coffee sales have not really stirred the storm they were expected to be. But this has not deterred the investors from stretching their cafes outside Colombo city.
Set up in 2002, total investments to date exceeds 50 million rupees, and Barista’s added its fifth store in Sri Lanka’s capital of Sri Jayawardenepura, catering to young professionals who live away from the Colombo city lights.
“Barista’s is a place to socialise, do a few business deals, listen to music, surf the net or read, over a coffee and a bite (food),” says de Silva. “Its also a place where you can bring a date and play board games with your friends.”
The orange and brown painted coffee house is expecting steady business from its neighbour, the 300-seater HSBC call centre and also plans to offer a drive through services for motorists crawling through traffic on their way home.
In India, call centres have been one of the growth triggers for Coffee houses, as they also cater to a new breed of night time workers.
De Silva says the Barista concept relies on the power of the youth and their increasing disposable income.
“People working in the call centres, for instance, start work at a young age, sometimes straight after school and they have the purchasing power,” de Silva says.
“We are pitching ourselves slightly cheaper than upmarket restaurants, a clean place, that’s away from the city, because people are sometimes deterred from going to Colombo to meet up due to the heavy security and traffic,” Dias said.
The firm’s general manager Athula Nanayakkara says around 250 people patronise their four stores daily, to try out various coffee blends, soft drink concoctions and other beverages mingling their selections with snacks and mini-meals.
Bulk of its sales are brewed from coffees, teas and smoothies.
“Though we sell a lot of savouries, Sri Lankans seem to prefer cheesecakes and cappucinos, in fact we sell around 10 kilos of cheesecakes daily through our four stores,” Nanayakkara said.
With the fifth store in Rajagiriya, Barista has also put in a new kitchen to expand their food range, which was earlier supplied through third parties.
Dias sees growth in the business, as changing lifestyles and work habits force people to entertain away from homes.


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BitComposer Games hope so. Today the company announced its plans to release Air Conflicts: Secret Wars. The game comes from developer Games Farm and features missions from both the First and Second World Wars.
The game itself will let players fly in over 50 missions spanning both of these global conflicts. 16 planes will be made available for players to operate as they bomb ground targets, participate in escort missions and attacking enemy convoys. Players will be able to upgrade their pilot skills after each mission. The game will support both an arcade mode and a more realistic simulation mode. Finally multiplayer modes will be available that will support up to eight players. The game is due out in the second quarter of 2011.


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PatcheD, a Disney-inspired removable patch collection has made its debut at the Disney Parks, creating a new way for guests to express their Disney style.
Want to go to the theme parks with us? Tune in live and interact during our weekly show, “Early Night Live”. [Read more…]
Disney Style is the latest store to open on the West Side of Disney Springs, and offers unique and fun Disney-inspired clothing and accessories, along with Instagram-worthy photo ops. [Read more…]


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The Il Sole 24 Ore talks about Up Solutions, ITMA but most importantly about Mobile and Artificial Intelligence!!!
ITMA has already begun but in the meantime the press already started to talk about our digital news! In the “ITMA 2019 – le tecnologie italiane in Fiera a Barcellona dal 20 al 26 Giugno” article published on the newspaper “Il Sole 24 Ore” you can meet the big news that will will present at ITMA2019: a mobile app that will help you to gather and check the data of your production chain in complete mobility with smartphones and tablets and the introduction of AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms to optimize the manufacturing.
Click on the image to read the article!
Which tools will enable supply chain digitizaion and manufacturing optimization of Textile & Fashion companies ? Discover it in Casablanca! More info here:
Each year, Microsoft Convergence brings together Dynamics customers, users, partners, and industry leaders to network with others, see things for the first time, learn about...


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Submissions have opened for the 19th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF), taking place in San Francisco in 2017.
The IGF and its award ceremony will once again be part of the 2017 Game Developers Conference (GDC), which takes place from 27th February to 3rd March 2017 at San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center.
The awards offer over $50,000 in prizes and recognise achievement in Visual Art, Audio, Design and Narrative. There will also be six finalists for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize which has a $30,000 prize. The special Nuovo Award also returns with a $5,000 prize on offer for the title that ‘makes the jurors think differently about games as a medium’. The IGF Audience Award and the Best Student Game Award will reward winners with $3,000. And this year sees a new alt.ctrl.GDC Award that will recognise games that use unique one-of-a-kind controllers.
The selected finalists will be playable at the IGF Pavilion on the GDC Expo floor from 1-3 March
At 2016’s awards Her Story was the big success, picking up the Excellence in Narrative award in addition to the Grand Prize. Other recent IGF winners include Papers, Please, Spelunky, World of Goo, Braid, and Limbo.
IGF submission deadlines and dates
- August 1, 2016 – Submissions are Open
- October 24, 2016 – Submission Deadline
- Early January, 2017 – IGF Finalists Announced
- February 27 – March 3, 2017 – Game Developers Conference 2017
- February 27 – February 28, 2017 – Independent Games Summit @ GDC 2017
- March 1 – March 3, 2017 – IGF Pavilion @ GDC 2017
- March 1, 2017 – IGF Awards Ceremony (Winners announced)
To submit your game, visit the 2017 Independent Games Festival website.
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When NBN first heard the news that Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley overdosed on Traumeel, a homeopathic remedy, we laughed. Not at the story of a depressed child of celebrity, but at the supposed cause of the hospitalization. Overdosing on a homeopathic medicine is impossible.
It is about as likely as buying the Brooklyn Bridge from some guy named Marty or Ivanka Trump shopping at Wal-Mart. In other words it just isn’t going to happen.
Heel, the German manufacturer has issued a statement in response to the news reports to the detailing why Traumeel couldn’t have caused the overdose.
While NY Newsday, MTV, and and others are reporting that the despondent Joel was indeed close to erasing the mortal coil with homeopathic medicine, The New York Daily News reported yesterday that overdosing on Traumeel is virtually impossible .
At the risk of seeming callous it’s lucky for the industry that the supposed victim of the overdosing is on the celebrity radar. In other words we can be sure that the real story will come out as the pop culture vultures swoop down on the story in search of what really happened. Good news for the industry, bad news for Alexa Ray Joel.


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Hospitality giant Accor has posted sizeable revenue growth for the first quarter of 2019, with the company’s boss praising its transformation and strategy.
The group’s revenue totalled €987 million ($1.5 billion) for the quarter – up a whopping 34 per cent on the previous corresponding period.
Accor’s hotel assets and other segment experienced the biggest revenue growth with 106 per cent, while its new business segment saw 22 per cent growth and revenue for HotelServices rose by 13.5 per cent.
The group’s revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased by 1.6 per cent in the first quarter, with mixed performances throughout the regions.
Europe was resilient with 3.3 per cent RevPAR growth, while Asia-Pacific was down 0.6 per cent.
Accor said this slight drop in APAC RevPAR was driven by Australia, where oversupply in major cities and the upcoming general elections affected prices and occupancy rates, resulting in a 1.6 per cent decrease in RevPAR locally.
RevPAR was also down in the Middle East and Africa region (-0.7 per cent), while North America, Central America and the Caribbean posted a 2.1 per cent decrease in RevPAR,
Accor has continued to recover steadily in South America, with RevPAR rising by 11.2 per cent, mainly driven by prices.
During the first quarter, Accor opened 71 hotels, representing 8,300 rooms. At the end of March 2019, the group’s pipeline amounted to 1,135 hotels and 200,000 rooms.
Accor is forecasting RevPAR growth of around three per cent for FY19.
Sébastien Bazin (pictured above), chairman and CEO of Accor, said: “In a turbulent macroeconomic environment, the group’s first-quarter revenue performance highlights the effectiveness of our transformation and the soundness of our strategy.
“Europe remained strong, while South America continued its robust recovery. We achieved sustained business development over the period, in line with our medium-term objectives, and continued to strengthen our pipeline, with an ever-increasing share of luxury hotels, which generate higher fees per room.
“Performing well and growing steadily stronger, the group can tackle the rest of the year with confidence.”


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Cat attorneys are protesting online and in person against a cat in the rafters of the West Valley Walmart in Yakima.
The manager of 6600 W. Nob Hill Blvd. Walmart said the store is trying to catch the cat so it can be adopted. Animal rights activists say the store is mishandling cat rescue.
Depending on which side tells the story, the situation began on either Monday October 18 or Thursday October 21 when the cat was discovered in the upper rafters of the Walmart loading dock area.
An employee at the store contacted Koda Stacy, owner of Koda’s Rescue Kittys, a Yakima organization that traps and neutered feral cats and then either releases them or makes them available for other groups for adoption.
“I was originally contacted last Monday, nine days ago, by an employee who told me there was a cat stuck in the rafters of the truck bed,” Stacy told the Yakima Herald-Republic on Wednesday. “It’s a dangerous area for a cat, so I offered my help.”
Koda’s Rescue Kittys has captured, neutered, and released between 300 and 400 cats in the Yakima area this year, Stacy said, and helped adopt approximately 500 cats, either through local agencies or by transporting the animals to the west side of the state .
Stacy said the shop clerks have turned down both her and other community organizations, including Underground Community Cat Rescue and Yakima Valley Pet Rescue groups, on liability grounds. Stacy said the store also turned down the help of the Yakima City Animal Control Department and instead hired a company to catch the cat.
Stacy posted on Facebook about the situation and was then joined by about 20 other cat attorneys in a protest on Nob Hill Boulevard on Saturday because the cat was still not rescued despite having been provided with food and water by the store staff. The animal stayed in the rafters as of Wednesday afternoon, Stacy said.
“It shouldn’t take nine days to get a cat out of the rafters – it just takes a ladder or an elevator and a pair of gloves. It should take about 30 minutes, ”she added. “I’m disgusted with the way you handled it.”
Store manager Fernanda Jones disagrees with most of Stacy’s reports. She believes that she and her staff reacted appropriately and that the situation has been “disproportionately inflated”.
Jones said she was made aware of the cat on Thursday, October 21, and contacted the city’s animal control department. The officer told Jones that the cat was hiding in a corner and would come out when it was done.
Jones contacted a company that recommended a Naches pet rescue organization to catch the animal. A live trap was set up with food and water. So far, the trap cat has been able to eat and drink without getting caught, Jones said.
“The cat won’t set off the trap,” Jones told the Herald Republic on Wednesday. “It eats, then it goes up again (up to the rafters).”
She declined to name the Naches group or individual who tried to save the cat “because the guy is getting threats and so much harassment about it”.
“It was inflated so disproportionately. People say we’re going to hurt the cat, we’re trying to kill the cat – none of that is true, ”Jones said. “We’re trying to capture it so it can be put up for adoption.”


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Israeli startup NUA Robotics has unveiled a prototype for luggage that uses Bluetooth technology to sync with a smartphone app, locate its owner, and follow along.
The case also features an anti-theft alarm, a USB port for charging electronic devices on the go, and can send real-time data, including its weight and location, to the app.
“Any object can be smart and robotic,” the co-founder and CEO of NUA Robotics Alex Libman told Mashable on Thursday. “We want to bring robots into everyday life.”
NUA unveiled its design at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Nevada last week. Of the thousands of companies represented at the annual show, NUA ranked an impressive 323, placing it within the top 92% of all the companies in attendance.
While the suitcase is still in its preliminary development phase, the Jerusalem-based company hopes to have the product available to customers within a year.
Libman said NUA has wider hopes for its robotics technology, and envisions the design incorporated into other consumer products such as shopping carts.
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Consumer electronics company Lenovo has topped a list of the most popular Chinese brands as perceived by people outside China.
Smartphone brand Huawei ranks second, with e-commerce company Alibaba third in the list published Tuesday by advertising agency group WPP and its research arm Kantar Millward Brown. The companies’ “BrandZ Top 50 Chinese Global Brand Builders 2018” report combined Google search data with an online survey of 395,000 consumers to find the Chinese brands highest in awareness and consideration in the U.S., Japan, Australia, U.K, Spain, Germany and France.
But even though Lenovo is the world’s largest PC maker and has dual headquarters — one in Beijing and the other in Morrisville, North Carolina — there is still a way to go for it and other Chinese brands to become known by U.S consumers, according to Doreen Wang, global head of BrandZ at Kantar Millward Brown.
So is the perception of “Made in China” changing outside China itself?
“I always think it takes time… One of the major challenges (is) still (that) overall awareness of Chinese brands is still very low, it’s not very high and people can probably only name a handful of Chinese brands. And I believe that the majority of the population in the U.S. probably couldn’t even name one Chinese brand,” Wang told CNBC by phone


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(Photo Credit: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN / AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
By Philip Hamilton
(BGF) On February 19, 2014 the Boston Global Forum (BGF) hosted an event in which it announced a new and exciting initiative to recognize companies, brands, and retailers who are leading the way in worker safety and rights through the use of best practices. The event featured notable contributions from Governor Michael Dukakis, Chairman and co-founder of BGF, Arnold Zack, a renowned mediator, arbitrator and lecturer at Harvard Law School’s Labor and Worklife Program, Hedrick Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former reporter and editor of the New York Times, and Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH).
Gov. Dukakis kicked-off the event with an announcement about BGF’s new initiative. As he noted, BGF is seeking to build off of the success of the November 18, 2013 online conference on worker safety and rights. It is BGF’s hope that the new initiative will result in continued discussion on ways in which companies, brands, and retailers can promote worker safety and rights. Additionally, Gov. Dukakis noted the potential that the initiative to recognize companies, brands, and retailers who are leading the way in worker safety and rights through the use of best practices could provide guidance or the necessary pressure for other brands and retailers, who are not currently utilizing best practices, to follow suit.
One of the key topics discussed throughout the event were the social and political causes for worker safety and rights issues. As Smith noted, the United States has undergone a transition from stakeholder capitalism, where CEOs answer to various stakeholders including their suppliers and customers, to shareholder capitalism, in which CEOs primarily answer to their shareholders. This focuses much more attention profits and reinforces a perspective that money and profits are the ultimate measuring stick against which everything else is measured. According to Smith, even when companies have corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs it will be interesting to see what companies are willing to do when worker safety issues impact their bottom-line.
Relatedly, political factors contribute greatly to worker safety issues. Zack pointed out that there are 250 different international conventions on worker safety and rights promulgated by the International Labor Organization. Despite the apparent abundance of international conventions, there are no international laws addressing the issue. Making matters worse, international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization and G20 focus primarily on issues such as protecting intellectual property and cracking-down on tax havens, rather than worker safety and rights. Finally, the U.S. labor laws are weakly written and enforced, which prompted Smith to raise the question of how the U.S. can compel other countries to put in place and enforce worker safety and rights legislation when it cannot manage to do that at home?
Even when social and political factors do not hinder efforts to promote worker safety and rights, issues of complexity and lack of transparency enter the picture. Goldstein-Gelb illustrated this point through a story about a man named Patrick who came to MassCOSH’s Worker Center. Patrick, Goldstein-Gelb said, worked on roofs in the Greater Boston area for an employer who refused to provide harnesses and other safety equipment. One day while working on a roof, Patrick fell and severely injured his back and legs. Yet, instead of taking Patrick directly to the hospital, Patrick’s employer took Patrick home, made Patrick change his clothes so it didn’t look like he was hurt on the job, and then made Patrick say he was hurt falling out of a tree while he was trying to save a cat. According to Goldstein-Gelb, these stories are not uncommon.
Goldstein-Gelb’s story about Patrick reflects similar conditions experienced in workplaces around the world. For example, double-bookkeeping is a major issue that disguises true occupational safety and health conditions, according to Zack. Even without outright deceit by employers who operate in unsafe conditions, the sheer complexity of global supply-chains and production makes tracking worker safety and rights nearly impossible. As Zack elaborated, Gap and Disney produced their products in more than 10-15,000 factories which are located in more than 50 different countries. Given this complexity it is extremely difficult to effectively monitor working conditions in each and every one of those factories. What is more, the cost of monitoring safety conditions on such a large-scale is prohibitive for many companies and governments, which brings us back to codes of conduct and CSR policies. Thus, not only will codes of conduct and CSR policies be costly for companies, which could impact their commitment to enforcing those codes and policies, they may simply just be too difficult to implement. Even if a handful of factories are promoting worker safety and rights, it is likely that another set of factories producing for the same country may very well be operating in unsafe conditions.
So, what can we do about all of this? One of the first things we need to accomplish, according to Goldstein-Gelb, is establish a workplace culture in which workers can speak up and raise concerns without having to fear that they will be penalized by their employers. The creation of unions and collective bargaining agreements can help in this respect by giving workers an outlet through which they can express their concerns. Ideally, this will create a scenario in which employers are willing speak up on behalf of state and federal workplace safety and health initiatives. These initiatives, according to Goldstein-Gelb, will benefit workers and employers as the workers will benefit from improvements in worker safety and rights, while employers will benefit from a level playing field in which all employers abide by the same standards.
Secondly, according to Smith, we can attempt to engrain CSR policies and the idea of corporate citizenship into the overall business culture through business schools and their programs. By exposing business students to the importance of CSR and corporate citizenship while they are still students, we can help create a wave of future business leaders who are committed to improving worker safety and rights.
nature of negotiations during the creation of Thirdly, we can push for greater transparency through supply-chain and factory audits, as well as the opening up of trade agreement negotiations. As Smith noted, the closed-door the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement resulted in a lack of transparency and ultimately locked worker organizations out of the negotiations. Any efforts to create a great sense of transparency around worker safety and rights can help leverage improvements in factories or supply-chains where worker safety and rights are not being promoted.
Finally, the Boston Global Forum attempts to recognize those companies, brands, and retailers who are leading the way on worker safety and rights issues. As Goldstein-Gelb noted, deterrence is a critical component to the improvement of worker safety and rights. Through the recognition of the companies, brands, and retailers who are leading the way on worker safety and rights issues through the use and promotion of best practices, BGF hopes to provide guidance and an incentive for companies to adopt best practices. Additionally, this initiative has the potential to enhance information-sharing and transparency around the issues of worker safety and rights. With your continued support, we can continue to push worker safety and rights to the forefront of international discussion and continue to pressure for change.


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Netflix continues its US password-sharing ban. The streaming giant charges $8 to add a user for US consumers. Here's the global clampdown. The US has now seen Netflix's password-sharing crackdown. On Tuesday, the streaming behemoth revealed it would charge US members $8 to add another user to their account to discourage password sharing. Only non-household members are charged.
After its first subscriber decline in over a decade in Q1 2022, Netflix hinted at a password sharing crackdown in July. Netflix consumers worldwide disliked it. Before the ban was implemented, numerous consumers threatened to cancel their accounts.
Research shows that many customers have canceled since the policy was implemented in numerous nations. Bloomberg claimed that Netflix lost almost one million members in Spain, where password-sharing laws were introduced in early February, in the first three months of 2023, citing Kantar research. Kantar found that first-quarter subscription cancellations increased from the previous quarter.
Reaction is expected. Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters predicted "a bit of a cancel reaction" to the policy in a January earnings call. Netflix expected the decline to be brief before "borrowers" signed up for their own accounts in its first-quarter results report on April 18. The process Netflix can detect password sharing outside a home, defined as persons who live in the same place as the account owner.
The company previously said it checked account location using IP addresses and device IDs. Netflix's help center says users can buy a "extra member" to share their subscription with a non-household member. Some countries offer this feature. Paid sharing was first trialled in Costa Rica, Chile, and Peru, where adding a member cost $2 to $3.
New Zealand, Canada, Spain, and Portugal joined later. Country-specific extra member costs. Canada charges CAN$7.99 ($5.96), whereas New Zealand charges NZ$7.99 ($5.09). Spain charges 5.99 euros ($6.45), Portugal 3.99 euros ($4.30). The corporation compared Canada's response to the new regulation to its US goals.
"In Canada, which we believe is a reliable predictor for the US, our paid membership base is now larger than prior to the launch of paid sharing and revenue 4 growth has accelerated and is now growing faster than in the US," the company wrote to shareholders after its first-quarter earnings release. Netflix has tested temporary-access codes for traveling to prevent password-sharing, Insider reported.


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REI says store-employee pay up an average 10 percent
from The Seattle Times
The wage hikes REI announced last summer for store employees will cost as much as $24 million to $25 million, equal to "the vast majority of our profits last year," CEO Jerry Stritzke said at the co-op's annual meeting at the Seattle flagship store. REI last year reported $38.3 million in profit, after member dividends and taxes.
7701 Las Colinas Blvd., Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063


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In 2005, there were roughly 1,000 fintech companies. Now in 2016, there are over 8,000. For years, fintech developments were taking place without any real threat to the banking sector. Companies like Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters were helping banks by creating more sophisticated tools and processes to help with things like risk management and data analysis—things the traditional customer never thought about. Now, financial services is being disrupted by digital innovators that have changed the landscape of the industry. These are no longer simply advancing banking’s businesses, but rather replacing their services completely. According to a recent PwC study, 83 percent of banking executives believe that parts of their businesses are at risk of being lost to standalone fintech companies. It is hard to imagine a world in which banks disappear completely, but to thrive harmoniously, fintech companies will have to embrace some new realities.
Customer-centricity will continue to fuel fintech disruption
A new bar has been set with regards to what customers expect from the brands they interact with. Companies like Uber and Seamless have created experiences so streamlined, personalized, and efficient that they have set the standard for what customers expect. Peer-to-peer lending was the first wave of fintech—the digital matching of lenders and borrowers has yielded benefits to both. Today, the “Uber-ization” of financial services continues to evolve the industry. Companies that are building new financial products and services need to consider the user experience as the new benchmark, and must build their offerings based on convenience, accessibility, and level of customization.
While many companies have been created to fulfill a seemingly unmet need, scale only comes from continued customer-centricity. It’s about understanding what the customer wants and then delivering just that—and whether it be a financial institution or a startup, customer experience will continue to drive demand for products and services.
Technology-enabled disruption will come in many forms
Banks can no longer rely on their core competencies (i.e., risk management, investing, asset management, etc.) to drive sustainable growth. Digital services have become a key priority as more emerging players draw customers away from traditional financial institutions. There are numerous technologies that are driving this disruption—machine learning and cognitive computing, big data and analytics, digital currencies and blockchain technology, mobile payments. All are attracting more and more interest and investment, and giving rise to standalone companies that can serve certain needs more effectively than incumbents.
For banks, it is not as easy as acquiring innovators or embedding a new technology into one of their platforms. Bringing this technology to the forefront of their offerings requires a cultural shift as much as a technological one. It depends on the willingness to allow for risk and experimentation, while still ensuring the customer is protected. The world is changing, and banks must agree to change along with it in order to stay relevant. In the words of Mike Gardener, CEO of fintech company Agreement Express, “to truly modernize, [banks] have to make a choice: either they will become technology companies or they won’t. They’re either all in or all out.”
If you’re all out, partner up
Financial institutions are in a continuous race to figure out the best way to both adopt and deploy technologies that will change the way they work. Banks have begun to take bold steps to engage with fintech startups and grow in new directions—but the key is making sure these partnerships align with their overall strategies. Aside from simply acquiring emerging fintech startups, many banks have benefitted from new types of relationships, including white label partnerships, or simply negotiating deals that are beneficial to both parties.


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France has asked Apple to allow any app to access Bluetooth on our devices at any time in order to launch its app against the coronavirus. According to the Minister for the Digital Economy, Cedric O, France wants to launch the app on 11 May.
Before we get down to business, a couple of points need to be clarified. With the API that Apple and Google are developing, it will be the system that will manage the contacts between the devices (and their users). The system will take care of the access to the bluetooth, the key exchange, the comparison of the positive contacts, etc. In this sense, this API will work as an independent and totally opaque system for any application (and the same operating system), so that the apps will have a secondary role.
The importance of apps is that they are the way in which we, as users, can ask the system to activate contact tracking and subscribe to alerts of positive contacts. In addition, the app will provide relevant information such as news about the development of the outbreak or health care points.
This API will arrive this coming May , probably in time for the launch of the French-developed app which is planned to be launched on May 11th. So what is the French government asking for? The minister for the digital economy, Cederic O, has expressed himself in this way:
From this we can deduce that the app that France has developed wants to replace the API proposed by Apple and Google and have access to Bluetooth data autonomously. This access, which is not allowed in Apple’s operating systems, would allow the app to implement its own tracking system and collect a significant amount of data which would then be sent to a central server.
Any system that allows data to be sent to a central server is inherently less secure than the solution proposed by Apple and Google, since it can allow individual identification of users. More than 300 academics in a dozen countries signed a letter on Monday supporting Apple’s and Google’s proposed API. A system where we don’t have to give up our privacy and security to get the benefits of a contact notification system.
At AppleApple you can answer questions about the privacy of your app-web about COVID-19 and provide details of the Contact Notification API
For now, we will wait for events to unfold, but one thing is clear: ceding freedoms and rights for a supposed security seems a risky bet. Above all with viable and developing alternatives to offer both.


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The Cadillac CT6 is arguably one of the best cars General Motors has ever produced, so it was understandably upsetting for many car enthusiasts when the automaker elected to kill the car off at the beginning of the year. It’s hard to blame GM for deciding to bail on the full-size luxury sedan, though. Not only are many consumers flocking from four-doors to larger crossovers and SUVs, Cadillac is also pivoting to electric vehicles and working diligently on its upcoming new Lyriq and Celestiq EVs.
Fret not, GM fans, as the Cadillac CT6 has now returned as a pickup truck! That’s right, The General has made the very unexpected decision to put the CT6 back into production at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Metro Detroit as a pickup truck/ute/coupe hybrid. Sales will begin this fall, with prices expected to be announced at a later date.
In a statement, Cadillac president Beve Carlisle said the new Cadillac CT6 Ute solves the one glaring problem with the luxury sedan: it wasn’t a pickup truck!
“The pickup truck is America’s most popular vehicle bodystyle, so when our product team put forth the idea to put it back into production as a pickup truck, it was a no-brainer,” Carlisle said. “The CT6 Ute retains all the best parts of the sedan, like the Omega rear-wheel-drive platform and tech-laden interior, but with that extra bit of practicality that so many Americans crave.”
The Cadillac CT6 Ute is also a two-door, so those Cadillac enthusiasts who have been clamoring for a new coupe from the American luxury brand are also seeing their wish come true here.
Under the hood of the Cadillac CT6 Ute is Cadillac’s twin-turbocharged 4.2L Blackwing V8 engine. The automaker says it experimented with using its twin-turbocharged 3.0L LGY V6 engine, but found the more powerful Blackwing V8 was better suited to towing and hauling. The engine is paired with GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission in the ute.
In case you haven’t caught on by now, today is April Fools’ Day, and we are just pulling your chain a little. Stay sharp on this joke-filled day, readers, and don’t forget to subscribe to GM Authority for ongoing GM news coverage.


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The mobile app development market is currently experiencing a period of considerable growth. This trend is set to continue as an increasing number of users leverage their handheld hardware for personal and work purposes.
According to a VisionMobile report, the global app development market will more than double in value within the next two years, reaching a projected $143 billion by 2016. The sector is estimated to grow at a compound annual rate of 28 percent and will be comprised of more than 2.3 million app development professionals.
As the market continues its upward climb, it is important to take a look at development trends emerging within the industry, including new efforts to make apps functional offline and a boosted focus on cross-platform capabilities.
Underground apps: Offline functionality
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that app developers are working to address one of the most common headaches users experience with their mobile devices: the fact that most apps don't work unless there is an available Internet connection. The main issue here is that in order to operate correctly, many apps need to communicate with cloud servers which are unavailable in subways and other locations lacking efficient Internet resources.
However, one development company, Couchbase, is looking to change that with an innovative new invention that would allow for the creation of apps that do not require an Internet connection to function. Instead, developers would be able to establish a database and sync capability directly within the app itself.
"Couchbase's 'database-on-device' solution will allow the storage and synchronization of unstructured data - information not in numerical or tabular format of the sort found in spreadsheets," The Wall Street Journal stated.
Instead of directly transmitting this data to the cloud, the mobile syncable database engine will leverage the company's Couchbase Sync Gateway, which essentially forms an offline connection between the on-device database and the app's cloud server.
Rising focus on cross-platform capabilities
Another trend making headway within the industry is a boosted focus on app functionality in a range of different operating systems, noted EnterpriseAppsTech. As BYOD continues to permeate the business sector, administrators are increasingly demanding custom applications that will operate correctly on all employee devices, including those supported by iOS, Android or other platforms.
Instead of encouraging workers to migrate to a different operating system, company leaders are instead having custom HTML5 apps created that will allow for a more streamlined user experience no matter the device being used.


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Right at the end of last month, Sony spoke-up regarding the Ice Cream Sandwich updates that had been scheduled for some of last year’s Xperia models. We had been expecting to see them released before the end of March, but Sony ended up having to let us know that there would be a short delay. The best it would offer about just when the updates would eventually arrive was sometime around mid-April. It looks like that estimation was right on-schedule, as today Sony announced that ICS updates are starting to become available for the Xperia Arc S, Neo V, and Ray.
Sony fans in [...]
There was quite a debate regarding Sony’s Ice Cream Sandwich update for its Xperia 2011 line-up, especially that the manufacturer initially told its customers that the 2011 phones pack 512MB of RAM and a slower processor, specs below those “recommended” to run Ice Cream Sandwich.
In a recent blog post, Sony goes on about the differences between Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich, trying to get its customers informed. “We are actually proud to say that our Gingerbread software is very stable and has great performance, so it’s not a bad idea to stay [...]
Among Android manufacturers, Sony’s really been standing out when it comes to Ice Cream Sandwich, taking the unusual step of officially releasing various in-development beta ROMs for customers with unlocked handsets. We just saw one of the latest ones arrive, talking overnight about the new ROM available for the Xperia Play. It’s great to have access to these early builds, but ultimately what really matters is when Sony’s going to start getting fully-completed final Ice Cream Sandwich updates out to its phones. Today we learn that the company has adjusted its schedule [...]
According to the PTCRB site, a brand new firmware is listed as of December 20 with software version number 4.0.2.A.0.62. No, this is not the Ice Cream Sandwich update as the manufacturer was kind enough to let the world know we should expect it between March and May of next year.
If you have a Sony Ericsson Xperia arc, arc S, neo, neo V and PLAY, you might want to keep an eye out for the new firmware. According to the Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog, you shouldn’t expect any new features but a couple of bugfixes. The firmware itself is “mainly targeted to MENA (Middle [...]
Ever since Sony Ericsson officially stated that all of its 2011 Xperia smartphones will be updated to the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich, there were speculations regarding the actual roll-out date. If earlier the company told us the steps necessary to bring the new platform to the phones, now we have official roll-out dates.
End of March – beginning of May 2012 is the timeframe to watch for if you have a phone which is in the 2011 Xperia line-up. The first ones to get ICS in March/April will be the Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V and Xperia ray. Then, in April/May, the [...]
Sony Ericsson made its customers very happy once the company announced that it will bring all of its handsets in the 2011 Xperia-line to the Android Ice Cream Sandwich party. There were rumors of a January release and then those implying March but the thing is the update process is not that easy we’d like it to be.
In order to get the latest version of Android on the handsets out in user hands, Sony Ericsson has to go through a couple of steps necessary. They were kind enough to outline the process which you might find long but the posting says that the “summary of [...]
What we already know and Sony Ericsson — to be called only Sony after mid-2012 — emphasized many times in the past is that its entire Xperia line-up from this year will receive official Android 4.x Ice Cream Sandwich updates. What we don’t know is when exactly this will happen, with some indicating March and others pointing towards a sooner date, in January.
What appears to be Ice Cream Sandwich firmware updates for the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc and neo have been found online over at PTCRB. They are reportedly under certification and chances are other ROMs for [...]
Just yesterday we’ve heard from Sony Ericsson Italy that the Xperia 2011 line-up will get its Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich treat in March 2012 and now we have another version of the story. There are more possibilities here: Sony could roll out the updates at different times in different regions; we might be caught in a marketing war or some people give out information just for the sake of it.
Regardless, here’s the deal: a Sony Ericsson employee said that, contrary to the Italian branch information, the official Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the 2011 [...]
Sony Ericsson was recently kind enough to announce that its entire Xperia line from this year will be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich. What we didn’t know was when exactly the manufacturer was planning on doing that.
From Sony Ericsson Italy we find out that not only the company is the only manufacturer to update its entire 2011 line-up but that the refresh should be out in the first quarter of the next year. Maurizio de Palma, the Marketing Manager of Sony Ericsson Italy, said that March should be the month to circle in your calendar. Of course, this is a rough estimate as [...]
There were talks about the Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for Sony Ericsson devices but then the manufacturer backtracked the same day the initial rumors popped up.
According to recent information, it has been now confirmed that the entire Sony Ericsson Xperia line-up for 2011 will indeed get its Ice Cream Sandwich treat. “We are working on merging our current Xperia experience with the new features in Android 4.0”, says the manufacturer. The models targeted are the Xperia arc and arc S, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo and neo V, Xperia mini and mini pro, [...]
Sony Ericsson may be putting the Xperia X10 out to pasture when it comes to providing software updates, but luckily there are plenty of other Xperia models that continue to live on. The company has been talking about its plans for bringing Android 2.3.4 to the lineup for months, and we first started to hear about models beginning to receive the software back in September. Sony Ericsson has now announced that it’s moving past a limited, regional distribution, and is beginning a global push to bring that latest software to the Xperia Arc, Play, Neo, Mini, Mini Pro, Pro, Ray, [...]
CyanogenMod founder Steve Kondik, now working for Samsung, has shared one of Diogo Ferreira’s posts on Google+ related to CyanogenMod and Sony Ericsson. Great news for Xperia phone owners: they’ll get some CyanogenMod love for their devices.
No less than ten Sony Ericsson Android phone will be supported by the next release of CyanogenMod. These are the Xperia Arc, Xperia Neo, Xperia Mini, Xperia Mini Pro, Xperia Play, Xperia Ray, Xperia X10, Xperia X8, Xperia X10 Mini, and Xperia X10 Mini Pro. According to the same post, this will be possible thanks to a joint effort [...]
Sony Ericsson has been talking big about bringing Android 2.3.4 to its lineup of 2011 Xperia smartphones for a while now. We had been expecting those updates to start showing up in October, but it looks like they’re already on their way to users now.
Earlier today we talked about the update arriving for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo. We’re now hearing confirmation that the firmware is also out for the Xperia Play and Xperia Arc; there’s been no word yet on the Pro.
As promised, the update is full of goodies, including Swype’s virtual keyboard. It [...]
Earlier today we heard that Sony Ericsson had made a decision that would make users of its Android phones very happy, that it had committed to releasing Android Ice Cream Sandwich updates across its full lineup of this year’s models. That kind of future support is a question that’s on the minds of plenty of Android users, but none of us expected such a definitive promise this early on. Sadly, it turns out there’s probably a good reason we were surprised, since Sony Ericsson has now backtracked from that claim.
The company clarified its commitment to future [...]
The next version of Android, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, is going to be released sometime October/November, according to Google’s own Eric Schmidt. Then it will be up to OEMs to issue updates for their existing phones (taking longer for some while the others acting faster).
According to a Sony Ericsson representative, all of the manufacturer’s 2011 Xperia phones in this year’s line-up will be updated to Android Ice Cream Sandwich. That’s a lot of phones: Xperia Arc, Xperia Play, Xperia Neo, Xperia Pro, Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo V, and Xperia Ray. There [...]
Sony Ericsson today announced that it will start rolling-out Google Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread updates for all of its 2011 Xperia models. The process will start this October and will include the new OS, Google Talk with Video Chat, updated Facebook inside Xperia, USB peripheral support, Swipe text input and screenshot capability.
On the same note, the manufacturer announced the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V, available from the fourth quarter of the year. The phone will ship with the new update, Android 2.3.4, out-of-the box and will share the specs of the Xperia Neo launched earlier [...]
A few of Sony Ericsson’s newest devices are queued up to get CyanogenMod Custom ROM. Thanks to recent code submitted by Diogo Ferreira, the bits needed to bring my favorite custom ROM to three smartphones in the Xperia family:
– Xperia Play: r.cyanogenmod.com/#change,7126 – Xperia Neo: r.cyanogenmod.com/#change,7128 – Xperia Arc: r.cyanogenmod.com/#change,7127
Currently the code to add these phones to the CyanogenMod family is awaiting approval to be merged into the CyanogenMod repository. Once that’s done we can expect nightly builds to [...]
Sony Ericsson has a rather successful Android phone line-up with the MWC-launched Xperia Arc, Xperia Play, Xperia Neo and Xperia Pro. According to sources, the manufacturer is already testing a platform update for the above mentioned devices.
The update would contain Google’s newest Android mobile platform, Gingerbread version 2.3.4. In addition to the fresh OS files Sony Ericsson would also include a couple of new functionalities along with the Sony audio filter technology xLOUD. SEMC Blog’s source also claims that, while this update will be available for the [...]
Sony Ericsson has been struggling to get some of its new Xperias out the door, as the nation of Japan recovers from this year’s devastating earthquake. Several such phones, including the Xperia Neo, saw their releases postponed. The Neo, from what we heard, would be coming to the UK sometime this July. More recently, Sony Ericsson Italy tweeted that the phone would be available in mainland Europe the first week in July, reinforcing the earlier estimate. Those guesses may have been slightly too conservative, as some UK retailers are already showing the phone up for sale, ready to [...]
Sony Ericsson’s announcement that it would start offering a service to unlock the bootloaders on certain Xperia models came as great news. While there are a lot of restrictions for what devices qualify, it’s a huge step towards opening up the company’s hardware for Android enthusiasts. One thing that wasn’t clear at the time would be how the unlocked bootloader would affect normal software updates. Sony Ericsson has since confirmed that once you unlock your bootloader, you’ll no longer be able to update through its SEUS tool.
Earlier, the company [...]
Sony Ericsson has started to roll out the Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread update to the Xperia Arc in Europe yesterday — at least according to reports coming in from Italy and the U.K. — and it looks like they will have to wait at least four months for the next platform refresh.
Sony Ericsson Italy allegedly handed out information according to which the Xperia line-up will get its Android 2.3.4 update in October. The new version of the platform will bring features like video chat in Google Talk, an updated Voice Search, the latest version of Google Books and more. [...]
After showing us its new bootloader unlocking service, we were left impressed by Sony Ericsson’s support of the developer community. Now it is supplementing the bootloader unlock by releasing a guide to creating a custom kernel, an ability exposed by the unlocked bootloader.
Once again there are clear warnings present – bootloader unlocking may void warranty, and is not revertible to a locked/original state. Sony Ericsson’s guide walks the budding developer through downloading all necessary software and installing it to configure the development environment. [...]


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The biggest celebration in the mainstream videogame industry is getting ready to announce the winner of the greatest game of 2022. The titles of the games that will take center stage at the ninth annual Game Awards have been revealed.
Each of the three candidates that will compete for the coveted prize of the mainstream videogame industry was unveiled in a video by the event’s producer and emcee, Geoff Keighley.
With ten nominations, “God of War: Ragnarök” from SONY + Free Alert is in the lead for the majority of categories. “Elden Ring,” which received seven nominations, is in second place with “Horizon Forbidden West.”
These albums are anticipated to be the highlight of the gala, which will be broadcast live on YouTube and Twitch on December 8 at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.
More than 100 prominent media figures from around the world make up the jury that selects the winners. In 31 categories with more than 50 video games, they must evaluate and choose their favorites.
The inclusion of “Stray” among the GOTY 2022 candidates sparked the first major debate after the nominees were revealed.
Why the controversy?
One of the most resistant games on social networks was the one created by Blue Twelve Studio. In fact, a lot of people expressed concern on social media about how they would feel if the game took home the top prize.
Despite the criticism, Annapurna Interactive, the studio that created the game, and its publisher, received a total of six nominations for the upcoming The Game Awards.
Given that “God of War: Ragnarök” has earned a very unique spot in the new edition of The Game Awards, PlayStation may win the prize for the year’s finest video game. The primary star of the sales charts in this release, which has been sweeping the PS4 and PS5, and has brought Sony millions of dollars in income.
On the other hand, “Elden Ring” profited from “Game of Thrones” success on television and its FromSoftware predecessors. The fantasy game, which includes a partnership with “Game of Thrones” author George R. R. Martin, stands a solid chance of taking home the top prize.
For its efforts as a publishing firm, Sony was nominated for 20 awards in total. Similar to Nintendo (OTC: NTDOY), Annapurna Interactive has 11 nominations. Third-placed Bandai Namco NCBDY has eight nominations. Finally, Riot Games from Tencent TCEHY earned six nominations.
Remember that “It Takes Two” won “Best Videogame of the Year” in the previous competition?


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Filed under: Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Auctions, Car Buying, North America, Classics, Performance
Collector car insurance company Hagerty estimates that $1.3 billion in classic vehicles crossed the auction block in 2014 in North America, up slightly from 1.2 billion in 2013. About a third of that was just during the Monterey Car Week.
Continue reading $1.3B worth of classic cars were auctioned in 2014
$1.3B worth of classic cars were auctioned in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Dec 2014 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink
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Now that it’s Cancun…
Mexico is without question a place worth visiting. The country offers a wide variety of swoon worthy tourist destinations, like Mexico City – where and incredible food and art revolution is sweeping the vibrant young city. And of course, for those just looking for some fun in the sun- Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and many Mexican destinations offer some of the best options anywhere on earth.
But sadly, a recent crime wave has prompted further travel advice from the U.S. State Department, and with the violence reaching Cancun, it’s beginning to feel very real. Here’s the latest information on the travel safety warnings for Mexico.
While there have been longstanding advisories fervently warning against travel to drug cartel controlled areas of Mexico such as Sinaloa, Guerrero or Michoacán, travel advisories against the Quintana Roo area are a relatively new phenomenon.
In March, the U.S. State Department issued “Level 2” warning for popular areas such as Playa Del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Tulum and Cozumel after a series of unexplained explosions rocked tourist areas, including ferries. Cancun is now the latest popular destination to experience increased drug related violence, with 8 bodies in the last week discovered. Now before you panic – “Level 2” warnings are currently in effect for places like Italy, so it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go.
Realistically, these bodies are believed to be the result of drug turf wars between drug gang members, and did not occur in the main beachfront hotel areas. But the increased violence and callous spraying of bullets has given the U.S. State Department good reason to stress cause for concern, and issue a formal travel warning.
None of the recently discovered bodies are believed to include tourists. The new travel warning calls for exercising increased caution, avoiding travel late at night and sticking to toll roads when traveling.
Have plans to Cancun, or the surrounding Quintana Roo area? A level two warning of increased caution doesn’t merit refunds from airlines or hotels, so without some serious negotiating skills, expect to pay for your trip – whether you go or not. It’s important to note that many popular areas around the world, such as Germany, India, Italy Indonesia and Turks and Caicos are at the same “Level 2” travel advisory, so it’s not as if this is something inherently dangerous.
If you wouldn’t change plans to visit Italy, you shouldn’t necessarily change yours here. Just be smart. Leave the Rolex at home, stick to the main (guarded) beach areas and avoid buying dodgy goods at dodgy hours of the day. Basically, be the same smart traveler you should be in any part of the world.
Does this travel warning impact your Mexico travel plans?
Featured image copyright: DronePicR on Flickr.


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Announced today by the streaming video company, Netflix has snagged the exclusive rights to stream new films from companies such as Disney, Lucasfilm, Pixar and Marvel.
As detailed in the Netflix Media Center, this deal will start during September 2016 and run for multiple years.
Of course, Netflix subscribers will have to wait until after the release of digital versions and physical discs, like Blu-ray and Ultra HD, in order to access the content over streaming video.
Hypothetically, Disney could have developed a platform like HBO GO and force consumers to subscribe to yet another streaming service, specifically to access an exclusive library of content.
Beyond the licensing deal, Netflix also announced a barrage of films that will hit the streaming service over the summer months.
During July, Netflix will be adding The Big Short, a Netflix original film Brahman Naman and older films such as Back to The Future and Lethal Weapon.


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- July 28, 2011
One manufacturer wanted supply chain software that could meet its growing supply chain needs. Instead, it got a heated standoff between business and IT.
- July 26, 2011
SAP’s GRC platform deserves credit for its high rates of adoption and improvements in its new GRC 10 release, according to the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant report.
- July 20, 2011
The changes to the new release of SAP Business ByDesign begin with the GUI and continue through the cloud to mobile platforms.
- July 19, 2011
Discover how SAP Business ByDesign fits with SAP's other enterprise application suites, such as SAP BusinessOne and SAP Business All-in-One.
- July 18, 2011
One of the heads of SAP’s retail operations explains what new trends like in-memory technology, mobile computing and social media mean for SAP Retail customers.
Sponsored by Intel - IT leaders are rethinking how the data centre can meet digital demands thanks to a breakthrough in storage and memory technology that promises to transform agility, cost-efficiency and performance. See More
Sponsored by Intel - Organisations are increasingly reliant on unlocking the data held within IT systems to gain insight into how to better connect with customers, drive innovation and improve efficiency. See More
Sponsored by Intel - Even the most successful organisations today need to address the question: can you compete against emerging businesses that were born in the internet age? See More
Sponsored by Intel - As organisations move toward digital-first business, many are looking to a hybrid cloud model for the innovation, agility and scale it offers to accommodate their complex and varying workloads. See More
- July 14, 2011
Many applications are available for reporting in the SAP system. But what type of toolset do you really need to drive your business? Discover why it is helpful to evaluate the existing tools first.
- July 07, 2011
Next month, one of the newest SAP in-memory applications will hit the market, allowing utility companies to better manage energy supply and demand.
- July 06, 2011
Sports apparel maker Under Armour turned to SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation (formerly known as BPC) to gain better control of its production networks.
- June 29, 2011
A lack of planning -- or asking enough questions -- can result in software purchases that don’t include functionality companies need, according to experts.
- June 28, 2011
Acknowledging that it’s too much work for them to take on alone, SAP is counting on its partners to help modify its user interfaces.
- June 27, 2011
With planned availability in summer 2011, many companies are wondering if they should make the move to SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0.
- June 20, 2011
SAP’s head of business intelligence answers some of the most frequent questions about HANA and in-memory technology and explains what it all means for SAP customers.
- June 16, 2011
One California company is saving nearly $1 million a year by sharing its SAP IT staff with companies that have similar SAP environments.
- June 15, 2011
In a new report, Gartner says that SAP Duet Enterprise succeeds at something its predecessor failed to do, namely, making SAP ERP easier for business users and casual users alike.
- June 15, 2011
SAP is launching BusinessObjects Edge 4.0 and Crystal Server 2011, two new upgrades to its business intelligence suite targeted to small and midsize companies.


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Here’s what you might have missed Thursday on CNN Business:
Banned in the USA: This morning, the US banned Huawei from selling telecom gear to the US. That means resolving the ongoing trade war between China and the US just got harder. Much harder.
Warren Buffett’s big reveal: We knew that the legendary investor bought a chunk of Amazon, and now we know the details: His stake is worth more than $900 million. That huge sum is still less than a 1% stake in the company.
Something’s got to change: Boeing faces a crisis of confidence that threatens its century-old reputation for safety. CNN Business’ Matt Egan looks at how the company can fix that.
An about face on prices: Walmart is known for its low, low prices, but today America’s largest retailer said it will hike the cost of some items in response to the Trump administration’s tariffs on Chinese goods.
Fred’s cuts back even more: Back in April, Memphis-based discount chain Fred’s announced it was closing 159 stores. Now, it’s closing another 104 stores throughout the Southeast US.
Changing the battery: Tesla is upgrading the battery systems on its Model S and Model X vehicles ‘out of an abundance of caution’ after two cars unexpectedly burst into flames.
Taco Bell’s latest gimmick: Taco Bell is opening a pop-up hotel called The Bell in Palm Springs in August. The highly Instagrammable stunt aims to grab attention in a crowded market.


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A new flip phone? It’s not even Thursday yet
We’re starting throwback Thursday a little bit early this week, with Sharp’s newest smartphone, the Aquos K. The Aquos K is a cute little flip phone that harkens back to the early 00’s when it was still pretty cool to flip your phone open before calling someone. Anyway, aside from a quick trip back in time, the Aquos K also sports rather impressive specs: a 3.4-inch LCD display, 1410mAh battery, a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 13-megapixel camera and a water-resistant shell.
Aside from the Aquos K, Sharp also unveiled their rather normal looking Aquos Mini which still retains the almost bezel-less design of their Crystal X and Crystal smartphones in a smaller frame. True to its name, the Mini sports a 4.5-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 801 processor, 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2120mAh batter that’s rated to last around two days per charge because of the IGZO screen technology that’s implemented on the Aquous Mini. Like the K, it’s also water resistant.
As is with most of Sharp’s other smartphones, both devices are Japan only for the meantime, but we’re sure people on this side of the planet would love to get their hands on these two devices.


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There are several areas of concern for any professional that represents clients using Bitcoin for international transactions. The use of Bitcoin for cross border transactions is attractive for many reasons, including instant transfers, low cost and the lack of a need to use intermediary banks. However, there are some issues to consider when using digital currency for international business or personal financial transfers. Also, governmental bodies have begun to weigh in and create some parameters for international use of Bitcoin, and that trend is likely to continue.
The G7 Financial Action Task Force recently released a guidelines report on Bitcoin, primarily as a way to define illegitimate use of digital currency in international transactions. The overt concern of the Task Force is the use of Bitcoin for money laundering and funding of terrorist activities, but that may be more of a cover for broader regulation of digital currency.
As part of the report, a proposed definition of Bitcoin is offered that clearly eliminates its role as a currency and instead described is:
- A medium of exchange
- A unit of account, or
- A store of value without legal tender (currency) status in any country
This early attempt to place a finite legal definition on Bitcoin at an international level raises concerns. Cleary, international bodies are attempting to limit future growth of Bitcoin as a currency, and are using prevention of financial crimes as the platform. This conclusion is underscored by the fact that bribery and tax evasion were not included on the list of specific concerns, but each of those could represent a more common problem of illegitimate digital currency use.
This report may form the basis for definition and regulation of Bitcoin at national levels, as countries begin to draft their own laws regarding its use in the international arena. If countries simply adopt the definitions in the report as planned, Bitcoin’s future use as a real currency could be effectively curtailed.
Countries That Limit the Use of Bitcoin for Transactions
A more practical concern is the ability of foreign governments and banks to limit the use of Bitcoin as a currency for international business. Notably, China’s central bank made it clear that Bitcoin would not be considered to be a currency, although they still view it as an acceptable medium of exchange. Further, China’s largest Bitcoin exchange recently began to refuse deposits for Bitcoin in local currency. As a result, Bitcoins must now be purchased in either Hong Kong or US dollars, an international account is required for those who wish to use digital currency.
In France, a Bitcoin exchange was shut down because it had not obtained approval from the central bank, and was therefore presumed to be engaged in money laundering. That country’s law requires all Bitcoin exchanges to comply with approval processes, and any transfers to personal bank accounts from unapproved exchanges can bring criminal charges.
These steps are likely to continue as a way to maintain the central role of traditional currencies, and resist the emergence of a valid virtual alternative, even if it means limiting its use for business.
Uses for International Travel and Remittances
One potential area of growth for Bitcoin is in the area of international travel. Historically, visitors to foreign countries have been limited to ATM or credit card transactions that can carry high fees and poor currency exchange rates. As Bitcoin becomes more widespread in foreign markets, there may be a new wave of use by travelers. This can pose some challenges as Bitcoin ATMs begin to multiply offering easy conversion, and those carrying Bitcoins stored in personal ‘wallets’ may be subject to border scrutiny by customs officials. It is unclear if Bitcoins are subject to the currency limits imposed at many international borders.
For some developing countries, the area of remittances by offshore workers is another arena of potential use for digital currency. Although it would appear the high demand for low cost remittances would permit this type of use to soar, many foreign banks are reluctant to service the market given the potential for illicit use. More governmental regulation of Bitcoin will further chill the participation of smaller countries or those typically associated with criminal activity such as Mexico and its drug trade.
For legal and financial professionals, the evolving international arena probably presents the most challenge in advising clients on Bitcoin use. The laws and regulations are sure to change under competing pressures for a new medium of international exchange and efforts to place controls on potential abuse.


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Russian diamond miner Alrosa announced on Tuesday that it has sold a 6.21-carat cushion cut Fancy Intense Pink Purple diamond to Larry West, owner of one of the world's largest collections of exceptionally rare fancy-colored diamonds, for an undisclosed price. Alrosa cut and polished the diamond from a 20.18-carat stone found in Yakutia, a region in northeastern Siberia, in August 2018.
Larry J. West is the owner of New York’s L.J. West Diamonds and has been collecting for 40 years the most extraordinary natural color diamonds in the world. His magnificent collection has been featured in museums like the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and worldwide auctions, and includes a vast color spectrum of pink, blue, yellow, green, orange and red diamonds. “As global production declines, pink diamonds will become rarer and thus more valuable,” said Larry West. “This is the first diamond from Russia that I have bought directly from Alrosa. It possesses excellent characteristics and will certainly take a worthy place in my collection.” The GIA graded the stone as VS1 clarity and of excellent cut.
West started his career as a white diamond melee wholesaler in New York and transitioned into pink diamonds after a visit to the Argyle mine in Australia in the early 80's - long before fancy-colored diamonds surged in popularity and price. In 2016 he bought the 2.83-carat “Argyle Violet,” the centerpiece of that year’s Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, Rio Tinto’s annual sale of the top diamonds to come out of its Argyle mine, and the biggest violet diamond ever found at the mine.
To establish provenance, the famous collector received an electronic passport from Alrosa that includes a detailed visual history of the diamond’s extraction and production, as well as information about the craftsman’s background. As part of the company’s traceability initiative, a short film is automatically generated on Alrosa’s digital platform based on information about each diamond available for purchase. “Alrosa deposits are known not only for their colorless diamonds, but also for a variety of rough colored diamonds. Our cutter’s unique skills allow us to turn them into high-quality diamonds,” said Rebecca Foerster, President of ALROSA USA. “A closed production cycle guarantees the origin of each stone and allows us to track its path from its birth in Earth’s mantle. With these advantages, ALROSA may well become a world leader in the colored diamonds market."
In August of 2019, Alrosa sold 14.83-carat pink oval diamond, cut from a rare 27.85 carat clear pink rough diamond mined in 2017 by Russia’s Alrosa, which was expected to earn more than $60 million. The diamond miner has siad several times recently that it is aiming to become the leader in the international market for colored diamonds, giving a preview of its collection of large colored diamonds in February 2019.


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10 Dec, 2019, 18:05 ET
MONTREAL, Dec. 10, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Even with the global positive impact for Canada, the Canadian aluminium industry is disappointed today's agreement between the three signatory countries excludes definition for aluminium rules of origin for autos. Such an exclusion allows Mexico to continue to import metal from China and other parts of the world, significantly affecting the balance of the North American automotive value chain.
"The advantage thus conferred to Mexico makes it more or less China's North American backyard to dispose of the products of its overcapacity, thereby generating the gradual relocation of North American transformers to Mexico," said Jean Simard, President and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada. "There will be consequences on our value chain and more directly on our US customers, which will affect our competitiveness in the future".
Despite the fact that the eventual ratification of the agreement puts an end to some of the uncertainty of recent years, this breach in what was a robust and dynamic automotive market adds to the growing constraints facing our industry, in a market environment that is also increasingly demanding.
The aluminum industry will analyze the impact of the new rules over the next few weeks and will make representations to government authorities to ensure the continued competitiveness of a world-class industry here in Canada.
About the Aluminium Association of Canada (www.aluminium.ca/en)
The Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) is a non-profit organization representing three Canadian world-class aluminium producers: Alcoa, Alouette, and Rio Tinto operating nine smelters in Canada, eight of which are in Quebec, and employing over 8,700 workers. For more information, visit www.aluminium.ca or Twitter @AAC_aluminium.
SOURCE Aluminum Association of Canada
For further information: Antoine Kack, 581 984-0159, [email protected]
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