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Want to have a really happy new year? Invest now in stocks that are likely to really take off in 2022. Granted, that's easier said than done. There's no way to know for sure which stocks will perform well in the future.
However, you can get some ideas from the analysts getting paid big bucks to research companies from top to bottom. Here are three growth stocks that will skyrocket 50% or more in 2022, according to Wall Street.
1. Sea Limited
The consensus 12-month price target for Sea Limited (SE -1.79%) reflects an upside potential of 89%. Sea wasn't too far away from achieving that target in October. However, the stock has plunged more than 40% from its high -- in part due to the company badly missing Q3 earnings expectations but mainly because of the overall sell-off of growth stocks.
Sea's past success has been primarily driven by its Free Fire mobile game. Although Free Fire was launched four years ago, it's still the highest-grossing mobile game in India, Latin America,and Southeast Asia, according to App Annie. It has also been the highest-grossing mobile battle royale game in the U.S. for three consecutive quarters. Sea expects even more growth as it rolls out new features.
But don't think of Sea Limited as just a video game stock. The company's Shopee e-commerce platform dominates in the Southeast Asia and Taiwan markets. It's also made significant headway in Latin America.
Sea also has SeaMoney. It's a top digital payments and financial services provider in Southeast Asia. In the third quarter of 2021, SeaMoney's total payment volume more than doubled year over year.
Gaming, e-commerce, and digital payments are all strong growth markets. There aren't many companies that have the potential to win in all three, but Sea Limited could.
2. Teladoc Health
Teladoc Health's (TDOC -1.10%) shares are down more than 50% year to date. But Wall Street thinks this virtual care leader could rebound in a major way in 2022. The consensus price target for Teladoc reflects an upside potential of nearly 66%.
Why has Teladoc fallen so much? One main factor is that some investors thought that the end of COVID-19 lockdowns would lead to slowing growth. While Teladoc did experience some slowing, its business continues to perform very well.
The company's near-term prospects look quite good. Teladoc's contract with HCSC, the fifth-biggest health insurer in the U.S., goes into effect in January 2022. Primary360, Teladoc's virtual primary care service, also continues to gain momentum.
Teladoc's long-term prospects should be even better. We're still only in the early innings of the adoption of virtual care. Sure, there are other companies competing against Teladoc. However, the company has a wider moat than you might think as the largest player in the industry.
PayPal Holdings (PYPL -0.82%) has fallen more in recent months than it has since the fintech stock first traded publicly as a stand-alone entity in 2015. Analysts think this decline will be only temporary, though. The consensus price target for PayPal is 50% higher than its current share price.
Wall Street's optimism could be well-founded. PayPal ranks as the most accepted digital wallet in the world. More than 75% of the top 1,500 biggest merchants allow customers to pay with PayPal. As e-commerce grows, so will PayPal.
New features should enable PayPal to gain even more momentum. The app's cryptocurrency wallet has been a big hit. PayPal plans to launch high-yield savings to the app in early 2022.
PayPal's Venmo mobile payment app should also enjoy a significant boost next year. Amazon.com will allow customers to make purchases with their Venmo accounts beginning in 2022.


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Ferro Co. (NYSE:FOE) – Research analysts at Seaport Global Securities cut their Q1 2018 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Ferro in a report released on Tuesday. Seaport Global Securities analyst M. Harrison now forecasts that the specialty chemicals company will earn $0.34 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.38. Seaport Global Securities currently has a “Buy” rating on the stock. Seaport Global Securities also issued estimates for Ferro’s Q2 2018 earnings at $0.44 EPS, Q4 2018 earnings at $0.39 EPS, FY2018 earnings at $1.57 EPS, Q1 2019 earnings at $0.41 EPS, Q2 2019 earnings at $0.49 EPS, Q3 2019 earnings at $0.46 EPS, Q4 2019 earnings at $0.43 EPS and FY2019 earnings at $1.78 EPS.
Ferro (NYSE:FOE) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $377.54 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $336.94 million. Ferro had a return on equity of 33.58% and a net margin of 4.08%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 34.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.27 EPS.
A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on FOE. ValuEngine upgraded Ferro from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 1st. Northcoast Research restated a “buy” rating and issued a $28.00 target price on shares of Ferro in a research note on Tuesday. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Ferro from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $27.00 target price for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, KeyCorp restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Ferro in a research note on Friday, November 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. The company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $24.50.
Ferro (FOE) opened at $24.19 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $2,000.48, a P/E ratio of 35.57 and a beta of 1.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 2.32 and a quick ratio of 1.41. Ferro has a one year low of $13.56 and a one year high of $25.50.
In related news, insider James Barna sold 12,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.37, for a total transaction of $280,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 8,428 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $196,962.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, General Counsel Mark Hugo Duesenberg sold 18,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.89, for a total value of $430,020.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 130,545 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,118,720.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 143,246 shares of company stock valued at $3,396,897. 2.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FOE. Glenmede Trust Co. NA bought a new position in Ferro during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,176,000. Paradice Investment Management LLC increased its position in Ferro by 46.4% during the 3rd quarter. Paradice Investment Management LLC now owns 3,318,174 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $43,667,000 after buying an additional 1,051,915 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Ferro by 22.2% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,130,687 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $73,854,000 after buying an additional 568,876 shares in the last quarter. Luminus Management LLC increased its position in Ferro by 73.3% during the 4th quarter. Luminus Management LLC now owns 479,202 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $11,304,000 after buying an additional 202,629 shares in the last quarter. Finally, King Luther Capital Management Corp bought a new position in Ferro during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $3,028,000. 95.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Ferro Corporation (Ferro) produces specialty materials that are sold to a range of manufacturers. The Company’s segments include Performance Coatings (metal and ceramic coatings), Performance Colors and Glass (glass coatings), and Color Solutions. Its Performance Coatings segment includes Tile Coating Systems and Porcelain Enamel.

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Egyptian non-petroleum exports increased 11% in 2013 to register EGP 147bn, up from EGP 132.7bn in 2012, according to a statement from Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade.
This value represents 101% of the country’s target to double exports to EGP145bn in 2013, the statement added.
December’s exports slumped 2% on a year on year basis however, down to EGP 12.2bn from EGP 12.4bn in the preceding year.
The ministry is targeting to increase exports to EGP 160bn by the end of 2014, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade MounirFakhry Abdel Nour said in the statement.
Abdel Nour pointed out that 1,392 new exporters have entered the market this year, achieving EGP 3.6bn worth of exports from the total value in 2013.
The remarkable increase in industrial exports is owed in large part to a significant rise in exports from the Chemical and Fertilizers Export Council, Food Export Council, Agriculture Export Council and Ready-Made Garments Export Council, according to the statement.
The Arab market topped the list of the export destinations, as the value of exports to the region reached EGP 61.4bn in 2013 compared to EGP 53.6bn in 2012. Meanwhile, exports to the European Union countries came in at EGP 40.1bn, an increase from EGP 33.1bn in the preceding year.
In the first 11 months of 2013, Saudi Arabia ranked as the primary outlet for Egypt’s exports, registering EGP 12.8bn compared to 10.8bn in the same period in 2012. Turkey’s and Italy’s imports from Egypt have also grown in 2013.
However, exports to the United States decreased to EGP 7.7bn until November, down from 8.8bn in the same period last year.


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Greg Asman has joined CNN as its new vice president of research and analytics for CNN Digital, where he will provide research strategy, analysis services and methodological oversight for CNN's Digital Network, which includes CNN.com,CNNI.com, HLNtv.com and CNN's mobile and video products.
He will also work close with CNN's digital leadership on providing insights into industry trends that may impact the business.
Asman, a 20-year veteran of the online advertising and consulting industries, joins CNN from Moxie, which is part of Zenith Optimedia and a Publicis Groupe agency, where served as vice president of analytics responsible for the entire analytics offering of the agency.
Prior to that Asman had worked at such companies as Aspen, Deloitte and Scient/iXL.
The smarter way to stay on top of the multichannel video marketplace. Sign up below.


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ISSA Member Profile: Kärcher b.v.
Categories: Member ProfilesBy ISSA Staff | June 4, 2013 << Back to Articles
Kärcher b.v. is a truly global player in the cleaning industry. The company provides cleaning solutions to both the consumer and commercial markets on all continents and has subsidiaries in more than 55 countries. Currently, Kärcher has more than 10,000 employees and is continuing to grow.
Kärcher has long been a member of ISSA, and when we spoke to Kärcher Sales Director Professional Jean Paul Christy, he was keen to highlight the value of being part of the ISSA family, what the future holds for the cleaning industry, and the role ISSA should play in it.
“In Europe, ISSA is most commonly identified with the ISSA/INTERCLEAN® shows―particularly the Amsterdam edition—which is not surprising as it is, in my opinion, the No. 1 event of its kind in the world,” Christy said. “From our experience, however, the value of ISSA is about more than these events. ISSA members are part of a global community, and ISSA creates bridges between markets and between manufacturers and customers.”
One example of ISSA’s ability to connect can be seen in founding of the ISSA BeNeLux Working Group. ISSA’s BeNeLux Working Group was established in 2011 as a service for our members in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg (BeNeLux). Several major manufacturing and distributing companies operating in the region, including Kärcher, have joined the group and are proactively working together to seek solutions for regional cleaning industry issues.
“We in the BeNeLux Working Group see ISSA’s role as linking manufacturers to local building service contractors and in-house service providers in order for them to then come up with innovative products and solutions that fit the specific requirements of that market and then to ensure they are successfully implemented,” Christy said.
Such industry cooperation also is vital to tackle what Christy sees as one of the primary challenges facing the cleaning industry today. “The cleaning industry is one of the largest employers in the world, but sadly it is not always regarded as exciting,” he explained. “In many markets, it can even be a challenge to attract creative and talented people to join our industry.”
One of ISSA’s paramount goals is to ensure that the general public appreciates the huge impact effective cleaning has on society. For example, in the United Kingdom, one of the biggest growth areas is domestic labour. Great Britain has acquired an additional 170,000 cleaning workers in the last 50 years―not an insignificant figure during a time of global economic uncertainty.
But the cleaning industry does not just create jobs where other sectors are continuing to shrink. Our contribution to society goes beyond that. What if our schools, hospitals, parks, and public transport were cleaning-free zones? “We all know what it feels like when our offices are not cleaned, even if it is only for one week,” said Christy. “To combat this challenge, ISSA and its members should continue working to improve our industry through initiatives like the BeNeLux Working Group. Being successful, professional, and dynamic is the best promotional tool we have.”


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With Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus due out next week, I'm sure I'm not the only one revisiting some of the highlights of the series. Wolfenstein 3D invented the FPS genre. Return To Castle Wolfenstein provided a refreshing alternative to the proto-Call of Duty world of Medal of Honor. Wolfenstein: The New Order rejuvenated the franchise.
14th September 2009
14th September 2009
21st August 2009
28th May 2009
15th July 2008
Legendary and maybe part-machine programmer John Carmack will receive this year's BAFTA Fellowship award, joining the likes of Gabe Newell, Shigeru Miyamoto, Will Wright and many others. He'll receive the award at the BAFTA Games Awards 7th April in London - an event happening alongside EGX Rezzed.
UPDATE: Bethesda has announced Wolfenstein: The New Order, a first-person shooter due out on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and unspecified next-generation consoles at some point during Q4 2013.
Bethesda has revealed a short, untitled video teaser for a new project.
Rage developer id Software's seminal first-person shooter Wolfenstein 3D is 20 years old.
EA has released a Brutal Legend demo on Xbox Live Marketplace.
Activision has recalled Wolfenstein in Germany, reportedly because you can faintly see a swastika on a poster, which is a big no-no in the country.
The cross-platform console games having been gradually piling up over the summer, and it's about time the decks were cleared to best ready ourselves for the upcoming Q4 gaming tsunami. On this particular occasion, eight recent titles are put to the test, including our very first multi-format PSN/XBLA face-off.
As is the norm, the analyses are backed up with a comprehensive range of assets: full 24-bit RGB framebuffer dumps of each game (including 1080p shots where supported on PS3), embedded comparison videos using the very best in h264 compression, along with new high-definition clickthroughs in order to get the full picture. These Eurogamer Face-Off features have been gradually evolving over time, and once more the range of available data has increased: discrete frame-rate and v-sync readings have been added to the HD videos.
Onto the gaming line-up then:
Wii Sports Resort edges past newcomer Wolfenstein to top the UK All-Formats chart for the week ending 22nd August. There are only 2000 sales between them, though.
Can we appreciate games ironically yet? You know, like how people will say a film is "so bad, it's good", or how people (well, students mostly) will dance to a rubbish pop song, precisely because of its naffness.
That's the feeling that the 2009 model of Wolfenstein evokes. A belated series reboot, arriving the best part of a decade after the rather good 2001 Xbox outing, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, it's a wonky, glitchy and often idiotic game. It's also occasionally amusing - certainly more than a game with this many issues should be - but I often can't tell if I'm laughing with the game, or at it.
Once more, you step into the sweaty combat boots of BJ Blazkowicz. You're summoned to the German town of Isenstadt, where your talents have been requested by the local resistance. The Nazis are doing something peculiar at a nearby archaeological dig, and it involves something called Black Sun energy. Long story short, they've found a hellish alternate dimension called The Veil and are siphoning its power to help create yet more supernatural ubermensch.
On the same day that Activision releases its latest title in the Wolfenstein franchise, our sister site GamesIndustry.biz can confirm that a number of the team responsible for the multiplayer portion of the game have been laid off.
A man from Raven Software has promised to pay for your copy of Wolfenstein if the game outsells Madden NFL 10 in August.
Endrant Studios has detailed the online portion of the new Wolfenstein game, which arrives on 21st August on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Raven's upcoming first-person shooter Wolfenstein has been delayed until the week beginning 17th August in the US.
"Everybody hates Nazis so they're just more fun to kill," beams Peter Sokal, id's community manager. That notion has, in essence, been at the pumping heart of the WWII shooter genre's popularity since Wolfenstein 3D took aim at the Führer in 1992.
Activision and id Software have firmed up European release dates for the upcoming Wolfenstein game and the downloadable version of Wolf 3D.
Reich on target.
Activision has revealed the new instalment in the Wolfenstein series is coming this summer.
According to a press release promoting the publisher's E3 line-up, Wolfenstein will be released for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 on 4th August.
It's not clear whether that date applies worldwide, but seeing as 4th August is a Tuesday and games are usually released on Friday in the UK, it could be US-only. We shouldn't have too much longer to wait though.
"Have you ever played an Xbox first-person shooter before?" says the man supervising the Wolfenstein hands-on demo. "You know, like Halo?"
Activision has revealed that the new Wolfenstein title will be released this year.
Although it was to be bettered (perhaps even battered) a few months later by Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, our memories of Return to Castle Wolfenstein are probably fonder. Thinking about it, it might be down to clarity of recollection. Set-piece Nazi clashes bled through an MOH stencil into a dozen successors, but RTCW was the Serious Sam of the Second World War: a brutal, relentless tour of late-'90s FPS clichés, preferring rooms full of baddies to more fashionable scripting. We miss that. So, inevitably when we sit down with the newly-minted Wolfenstein from Raven Software, it looks completely different.
Id Software and Raven may be returning to Wolfenstein to blow up a legion of new Nazis on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, but Adolf Hitler won't be among them.
The Wolfenstein movie is still in development and Roger Avary is "working on the script right now" according to id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead.
John Carmack delivered his annual QuakeCon sermon to devoted id Software worshippers in Texas tonight. Following a few announcements and brief trailers of Rage and Wolfenstein, introduced by CEO Todd Hollenshead, Carmack took the microphone and (after a while) a seat and rambled absorbingly about everything from mobile games and in-game ads to his admiration from Nintendo and his thoughts on the rest of this console generation. Here are few hastily transcribed highlights.
Nazis. I hate these guys.
Activision has finally revealed new information on the long-awaited Wolfenstein game.
Previously known as Castle Wolfenstein, the latest nuggets of info bill the Raven-developed game as "the ultimate supernatural thriller".
Wolfenstein will once again be set in a fictional reinterpretation of World War II, where you control OSA agent BJ Blazkowicz. He is sent hurtling into the unknown where he will biff Nazis, "otherworldly forces" and dark science on the nose.
The long-awaited new PC/Xbox 360 Castle Wolfenstein game could be pitching up at E3 next week, judging by a teaser press release put out by GameTrailers TV.
Hollywood director Roger Avary has been chatting about his big-screen take on Wolfenstein.
id Software has announced that Wolfenstein will become a major Hollywood film.
Id Software's Todd Hollenshead has revealed that the Quake and Doom creator is working on a new gaming franchise, powered by a brand new engine from developer John Carmack, GamesIndustry.biz is reporting.
id boss Todd Hollenshead has given us an update on the progress of the new Castle Wolfenstein title - but don't hold your breath, as its release is definitely "not this year".
As we speculated on the night of X05 (us being clever-boots and all), id and Raven Software's new Castle Wolfenstein title will lead on Xbox 360 but is definitely also coming to PC.
id Software and Raven are collaborating on a new title based on the Wolfenstein World War II franchise, which will lead on Xbox 360, we've just heard from Amsterdam, where the X05 press conference has now finished. For now the game's called Castle Wolfenstein.


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U.S. Individual Disability Income Market - Good news first…
May 12, 2012| By Drew King | Disability | English
It finally looks as though there is some good news in the U.S. Individual Disability Income Market - some encouraging sales figures for 2011. According to our latest US Individual Disability Income Market Survey, there was a measurable increase in new sales premium, number of policies placed, premium per policy and benefit amount per policy.
Total new sales premium increased by 7.1% to nearly $349 million, while the number of new policies grew by 6.6%. Non-Cancellable in-force premium grew by 2% to over $3.96 billion.
Guaranteed Renewable in-force premium also grew, by 1.9%, to $562 million. Recent years have seen flat to negative growth.
However, despite this good performance, there are still some trends causing concern. The current mix of business is heavily skewed towards medical sales - representing over 40% of new Non-Cancellable sales and in-force policies - and with the current uncertainty over healthcare reform, there are worries that major legislation could have an impact on disability coverage.
Another concern is that the industry continues to focus on the higher income segment, and very few carriers are providing income protection solutions for grey and blue collar markets. This is a vast, untapped market, and increasingly, individual disability income carriers will face stiff competition from alternative disability solutions such as group LTD or critical illness plans.
So while we are cautiously optimistic about the way the market is heading, it is important for carriers to continue to innovate, and work to differentiate the product from alternative solutions.
View the U.S. Individual Disability Income Market Survey to find out more.


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MicroHarvest pilot to produce single-cell protein ingredients
MicroHarvest, a leading industrial biotechnology company dedicated to advancing sustainable protein production, has launched its cutting-edge pilot plant in Lisbon – enabling the company to produce single-cell protein samples.
The official launch of the pilot, marked by an event held on November 16 in Lisbon and attended by partners and investors, is a significant milestone in MicroHarvest’s mission to reshape the landscape of sustainable food production.
With the ability to operate beyond lab scale in-house, the pilot plant will accelerate MicroHarvest’s journey toward commercialization and market availability. The plant will produce protein samples for customers, allowing the company to further hone its technology and test production runs before bringing them to commercial scale.
The pilot plant is located at its Factory Lisbon site. In a span of six months, MicroHarvest transformed a portion of its office space into a fully equipped laboratory and pilot plant.
“This pilot plant serves as tangible evidence of the scalability of our process,” said Luísa Cruz, chief technology officer of MicroHarvest. “With a lower investment when compared to alternative technologies, and within a mere 200 square meters, we can achieve a daily production of 25 kg.”
Simultaneously, after successfully transferring the technology and scaling up production to reach daily outputs in tons, the team engaged a commercial production partner.
“The speed at which we accomplished this demonstrates that we have the right team and the right technology to make sustainable protein readily available at scale,” said Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Roberz. “This is of crucial importance as our food systems’ ecological footprint must be minimized to remain within our planetary boundaries.”
MicroHarvest’s proprietary technology enables the sustainable production of high-quality protein ingredients containing more than 60% raw protein within just 24 hours. The pioneering approach significantly reduces resource consumption compared to conventional methods and has the potential to reshape the industry. It offers highly competitive, scalable and consistent protein solutions applicable across diverse sectors, including feed, pet food and human food.
MicroHarvest’s pilot plant launch is a transformative moment in the journey toward addressing the global challenge of feeding a growing population while minimizing environmental impact. The company’s proprietary biomass fermentation technology is at the forefront of this launch, showcasing a revolutionary approach to sustainable protein production.


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Crypto exchange Coinbase has recently announced the discontinuation of support for native Bitcoin and other Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) coins on its merchant payment service, Coinbase Commerce.
This decision was revealed by Lauren Dowling, the head of product at Coinbase, in a thread on X on Feb. 18. She explained that the move was prompted by challenges faced while trying to integrate recent updates into the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) payment protocol for Bitcoin.
The updated Coinbase Commerce product now aims to provide detailed payment information on the blockchain, support a wide range of assets, including native and ERC-20 tokens, and automatically convert payments to USDC on the blockchain at a guaranteed rate for merchants. The absence of smart contracts and stablecoins on the Bitcoin blockchain posed significant challenges, ultimately leading to the decision to exclude support for native Bitcoin and other UTXO-based coins.
Despite this change, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong emphasized that Bitcoin users could still utilize Coinbase Commerce if they have an account with the exchange.
In addition, Armstrong mentioned the ongoing integration of the Lightning Network into Coinbase, expressing optimism about facilitating commerce payments through this protocol in the future. The Lightning Network aims to streamline and reduce transaction costs on the Bitcoin blockchain, making transactions faster and more cost-effective.
Expanding on the broader perspective of cryptocurrency payments, Armstrong stressed the importance of transitioning away from the base layer of blockchain (layer 1) to decrease transaction fees and confirmation times. This shift, he believes, is essential for widespread adoption of crypto payments online.
The UTXO model, utilized by Bitcoin to track transactions, prioritizes transparency and security. In contrast, Ethereum’s account-based system offers more flexibility and resembles traditional banking operations. Similar to Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin, Litecoin, Dash, and Bitcoin Cash also employ the UTXO model.
Coinbase’s decision has sparked debates within the cryptocurrency community, with some expressing concerns about its potential impact on Bitcoin adoption. Critics have raised issues regarding the assumption that all customers are based in the U.S. and willing or able to open a Coinbase account. This has drawn comparisons to requiring all customers to bank with a specific institution to enable payments.
Expanding on the discussion around Bitcoin’s UTXO model, it is essential to understand its implementation and significance in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The UTXO model stands for Unspent Transaction Output and plays a crucial role in recording transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain. When a transaction occurs, it creates outputs, which become inputs for subsequent transactions. These outputs remain in the UTXO set until they are spent, ensuring the integrity and security of the network.
One of the key advantages of the UTXO model is its ability to enhance privacy and security in transactions. By tracking individual outputs and ensuring they are spent only once, the UTXO model prevents double-spending and reduces the risk of fraudulent activities. Additionally, the UTXO model allows for more efficient transaction validation and scalability, contributing to the overall reliability of the Bitcoin network.
While the UTXO model has demonstrated its effectiveness in maintaining the integrity of the Bitcoin blockchain, it also presents certain limitations. The UTXO set can grow significantly over time, potentially impacting the performance and efficiency of the network. Moreover, managing a large UTXO set requires additional resources and computational power, which can pose challenges for network participants.
As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, developers and industry experts are exploring alternative approaches to transaction validation and blockchain design. Some projects are experimenting with new models that aim to improve scalability, privacy, and security while addressing the limitations of existing frameworks like the UTXO model.
In conclusion, Coinbase’s decision to discontinue support for native Bitcoin and UTXO coins on its merchant payment service reflects the company’s efforts to adapt to evolving industry trends and technological developments. While this move has generated mixed reactions within the cryptocurrency community, it underscores the ongoing innovation and experimentation in the digital asset space.


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📩 14/11/2023 15:28
Junioshow Fair, the gateway of the baby and children's wear industry to the world, opened its doors in Bursa. At the fair, which will host its visitors for 3 days, more than 50 buyers from 1.000 countries met with business professionals from Bursa.
Junioshow Bursa International Baby, Kids Ready-to-Wear & Children's Needs Fair, organized by KFA Fuarcılık under the leadership of BTSO with the support of BEKSİAD, UTİB and UHKİB, opened its doors for the 19th time. At the fair, which was visited by approximately more than 50 foreign buyers from 1.000 countries at Bursa International Fair Center, companies introduced their new trends in baby and children's clothing for 2024 - 2025. Within the scope of the fair, Deputy Governor Hamdi Bolat, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş, Osmangazi Mayor Mustafa Dündar, BTSO Deputy Chairman İsmail Kuş and BEKSİAD President Ömer Yıldız visited the companies that opened stands.
“Our Priority is to Open Our Companies to the World”
BTSO Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, İsmail Kuş, stated that the 19th fair continues to add strength to the sector with a new concept, understanding and history and said, “Our world is going through a difficult period. Economic crises and geopolitical events affect everyone. We hope that these will end as soon as possible in the coming period. As BTSO, we are working to open our companies to the world. Fair and purchasing delegations are of great importance in this respect. These programs will continue in different sectors. Our Junioshow Fair for the baby and children's wear industry makes a significant contribution to the industry. We host over 50 visitors from 1.000 countries. “I hope our fair will be beneficial to our city and our country.” said.
“Participation in the Fair is Very Good”
Deputy Governor Hamdi Bolat stated that they witnessed a beautiful fair in Bursa, which is a leading city in industry, agriculture and education, and said, “Our city has a significant production capacity in baby clothing, which is one of the important areas of textile. The sector has important brands around the world. Participation in the fair is quite good. The fact that the number of foreign buyers is quite high increases the importance of the fair. I hope the fair will further pave the way for the industry and our companies will be rewarded for their efforts.” said.
“Each Fair Means a New Hope and Excitement”
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş stated that an important organization that will add value to Bursa was held under the leadership of BTSO in cooperation with BEKSİAD and said, “Each fair carries a new meaning of hope and excitement. Bursa is a city identified with textile. We have significant experience in textile. We have become a city that sells textiles to the whole world. I believe that this fair will add value to our industry and our city. Our companies are very well prepared for the organization. I hope the fair will be beneficial and fruitful.”
“Bursa is a Successful City in Fair Organization”
Osmangazi Mayor Mustafa Dündar stated that Bursa is an industry, trade and production city and said, “Our business people go all over the world and sell their products. At the same time, important buyers also visit our companies in Bursa. Bursa is a successful city in this regard. It is a great success that over 1.000 buyers came to the Junioshow Fair. "I hope the fair where producers and buyers meet will be fruitful," he said.
Bursa, the Center of Baby and Children's Apparel Production
BEKSİAD President Ömer Yıldız stated that the fair, organized under the leadership of BTSO and in cooperation with BEKSİAD, with the experience of KFA Fuarcılık, made a significant contribution to the goals of the sector and said, “70 of our companies opened stands at the fair. We brought together buyers from different geographies of the world with our companies. The new date of our fair will also increase participation considerably. Bursa is a city that is the center of production in baby and children's clothing. "Despite the many negativities experienced in the world, we will continue to do our trade and produce for our country and our city." he said.
A Platform Focused on Both Innovation and Design
Junioshow will host its visitors until the evening of Thursday, November 16, 2023. While 2 companies opened stands in 70 separate halls at the fair, which determines fashion and trends in the sector, current fashion and designs are exhibited in trend areas. The fair, where participating companies introduce baby and children's models with special decorative stands, offers its visitors a platform focused on both design and innovation.


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Quiznos Bankruptcy May Have Roots in Long Beach Franchisee’s Suicide
The former Quiznos on Spring St. in Long Beach
When Quiznos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Delaware court on March 14, most of the business-news chatter surrounding the move linked it with similar ones made recently by other fast food chains like Sbarro and Hot Dog on a Stick.
But behind Quiznos’ claims that the poor economy and increased competition forced the Denver-based company to seek protection from its creditors, lie deeper financial issues that have been plaguing the “mmm-mmm toasty” brand for the last seven years, ever since a Long Beach franchisee committed suicide amid legal battles with the firm.
In 1998, Bhupinder “Bob” Baber drained his life savings to open and sustain two Quiznos in Long Beach, including one on Stearns St. near Bellflower Blvd. When the company allowed another Quiznos to open nearby in 2004 (against what he said was originally promised) and Baber’s sales dropped, he claimed that he was unable to get help from the company.
By the end of 2004, Baber had formed the Quiznos Franchisee Association, a group for California franchisees to commiserate and hopefully bring changes to what was felt by some franchisees as unfair practices in the company.
Quiznos responded by terminating both of his franchises, citing customer complaints and failed corporate inspections. Baber felt his cancellation was retaliation for forming his group and responded with his own litigation, which resulted in more than a year of suits and countersuits that drained the franchisee of more than $100,000 in legal fees.
In October 2005, it was ruled that Baber’s claims would be arbitrated in Denver (as his contract demanded), but Baber feared that traveling would cost him his job and whatever money he had left. A month later, Baber walked into the bathroom at his friend’s Quiznos in Whitter and shot himself in the chest.
His suicide note—which calls for an investigation into what he calls Quiznos’ “criminal” activities—was subsequently posted online by other franchisee organizations, members of which also expressed feeling trapped by the company’s pricing and increasing royalty fees.
After Baber’s note was made public, a half-dozen class action lawsuits were filed against Quiznos by angry franchisees, including ones in Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Illinois. According to the company’s own 2013 Franchise Disclosure Document, those class action suits have all been settled, but in 2012 alone, 14 more individual suits were filed by current and former franchisees.
All of the lawsuits allege claims similar to those asserted in the previously settled class actions, including that the defendants “engaged in fraudulent schemes to sell mandated essential goods at inflated prices and to sell franchise agreements, abusive couponing and discounting programs, and unlawful control over franchisees through a pattern of racketeering activity.”
Whether the allegations are true or not, the affect the claims had on the number of current and potential franchisees is hard to deny.
At the height of Quiznos’ popularity in 2006, there were more than 5000 stores in 50 states and 34 countries. Today, the company claims only 2100 stores. Comparisons between 2004 and 2013 franchise lists show that Long Beach once has as many as 12 Quiznos in city limits. Only one remains.
March 14’s bankruptcy filing is another indication of the company’s ongoing financial woes, though Quiznos’ senior leadership already secured a pre-packaged restructuring plan that will reduce their debt by $400M while ensuring franchise stores remain open and are not affected.
In filing paperwork, however, the company says it currently has $626M in outstanding debts, which comes just two years after the company underwent another financial restructuring, this one out of court, which eliminated about $300M in debt and, according to Bloomberg, gave majority ownership to billionaire Marc Lasry’s Avenue Capital Group LLC through a $150 million equity infusion and debt-to-equity swap.
Eight years after Baber’s suicide, the Long Beach franchisee’s fight for change at Quiznos may finally be seeing results. In a statement announcing the bankruptcy, Quiznos CEO Stuart Mathis said the restructuring will allow the company to follow through on its new business plan which puts more support into its franchisees.
“The actions we are taking are intended to enable Quiznos to reduce our debt, execute a comprehensive plan to further enhance the customer experience, elevate the profile of the brand and help increase sales and profits for our franchise owners,” Mathis said. “Our business plan includes several key elements aimed at supporting our franchisees, including reducing food costs, implementing a franchise owner rebate program, in certain circumstances making loans available to franchisees for restaurant improvements, investing in advertising to improve location awareness, and providing new incentives for prospective franchisees.”
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Nick Cannon, host of ‘America's Got Talent’, flaunted a pair of diamond encrusted shoes worth $2 million on the finale of season nine of the reality show.
A suspected Chinese jewellery thief accused of stealing millions of dollars worth of diamonds across the world has been arrested in Switzerland during another robbery, Interpol said Friday.
German researchers have developed a unique X-ray technique that brightens the prospects of locating diamonds hidden deep in rocks.
Researchers have conducted experiment to find the potential of diamond`s potential in computing.
Actress Jennifer Lawrence sported a backwards diamond necklace worth $2 million at the 86th Academy Awards.
Rapper Drake says even though R&B star Rihanna is his ultimate fantasy, the two are nothing more than just friends.
Ahead of the Diwali festivities, jewellery brand PC Jeweller (PCJ) has reworked one of its flagship stores here by introducing a new concept - Luxury with Literature - lounge for its customers.
Scientists have claimed that Jupiter and Saturn just might be filled to the brim with diamonds.
Scientists have found the first-ever comet material on Earth - a black pebble filled with diamonds - left behind when an `apocalyptic` comet exploded over modern-day Egypt, 28 million years ago.
Diamonds and the festive season form the perfect cocktail for a woman.
Rihanna`s fans slammed her performance at the F1 Grand Prix in Singapore for being `disappointing`, on Twitter.
Have you found yourself mulling over which jewellery to buy - gold or silver? Or over when to wear which piece?
City police registered a case of theft after diamonds worth Rs 3.91 crore that were to be exported to Belgium went missing from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
A Russian citizen attempting to smuggle 26,000 diamonds, worth a staggering USD 162,000, into the country has been arrested at the Moscow airport.
In one of the most daring heists ever, eight men made off with diamonds worth 50 million dollars from the hold of a plane at the Brussels International Airport.
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Day in Pics: 23rd September
Showbiz World - September 23, 2014
'Kill Dil'- Posters


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TipTop the first start-up uses Dark Store concept to deliver groceries in Iraq
TipTop, an Iraqi food & grocery delivery company, held a launch event for its mobile applications in Erbil on Thursday evening, February 21/2021 at Rotana Hotel - Erbil. The ceremony was attended by some representatives of the embassies of countries, local press, television stations, local & foreign investors, university professors, social media influencers, and some institutions supporting the start-up ecosystem business in Iraq.
The Founder & CEO of the company, Mr. Hasan A., stated, “TipTop will be a friend to all people & it will solve people's problems at home too!” and that the idea of establishing the company was based on a shortage in the local market, according to which customers wanted to deliver more different foods to their places of residence at maximum speed and in safe ways. TipTop product delivery apps rely mainly on modern technology to fill those gaps in the target market.
Managers of different departments in the company focused in their speech on the importance of entrepreneurship in Iraq, what are the strategies and studies followed before starting, as well as choosing cutting edge technologies to deliver the value for TipTop customers and partners.
The application features & the company's vision were presented to the attendees & what makes TipTop mobile apps and its various services the best choice, especially if it’s compared to the current services and the local market's thirst for new sustainable and reliable solutions that meet the customers' desire with the best means, since there is a huge number of companies were closed after a short period of time due to low sufficiency & weak establishment. Nowadays technology plays an important role in people’s life therefore its very important to find solutions that ease people's life and save their time.
TipTop CEO Mr.Hasan A., also announced the launch of the first Dark Store which is “TipTop Market” in Iraq to deliver groceries to consumers within 30 minutes, thus contributing to filling a gap that consumers suffer in the market by offering a wide range of grocery items, including fresh products, fruits & vegetables, meat, as well as other groceries all of which are sold at the same prices in other grocery stores.
Also, a plan has been announced to expand to all governorates of Iraq in the near future, since the company's cadres have been trained for a period of 6 months by experts and developed to start in a correct manner, on specific rules and strategies to secure delivery services that are the best, fastest and easiest, as the company provides a large group of specially designed solutions and services to suit all needs and to develop them in the future with wider services. The company has expressed its willingness to cooperate with universities and institutes to support entrepreneurship, as well as employ people for an internship in the company to gain experience from international specialists and experts from various nationalities and domains.
At last the Co-Founder & CBO Mr. Kerem A. said: It is our duty to provide customers and our partners the restaurant owners with sustainable and reliable solutions, and with our participation in the local market we will provide new logistical solutions and technology which provides added value to our customers and shareholders. And as an Iraqi company, we are proud of what we have come till now and there are more services to come in the near future.
It is worth noting that Iraq has a tremendous amount of opportunities as there is great competition between global and local companies to provide the Iraqi market with such services and applications, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic due to the thirst for delivery services as for many years a large number of companies were suffering to provide the best services with well-developed applications.
TipTop is an Iraqi company that started working on building smart applications with international standards in April 2020 and the official launch of its apps was in January 2021 which comes in several languages: Arabic, Kurdish, and English, and planning to expand its services to all Iraqi provinces soon.
To download the App: https://bit.ly/2O3J5zt


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About 10% of the stores in Mecca that cater exclusively to woman are expected to be closed down in the next three months due to their failure to employ female staff in the stores, reported Al Arabiya news.
A member of the Chamber of Commerce in Mecca, Hassan Kensara, said that they conducted a job fair. Around 18 companies participated in the event to hire employees for their shops. More than 400 women were interviews and about 80% of them were hired.
These companies offered a salary of nearly SR 4,000 a month, including social and health insurances. The Chamber of Commerce also plans to unify the work timings for all women’s stores to either 3pm-11pm or 3pm-12am including a break time.


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As we reported yesterday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk gave a rare interview with CBS This Morning in which he is supposed to give the first look at Model 3 production line.
Now, CBS is apparently really milking the interview after they posed a preview yesterday ahead of the planned full interview today, but they now have pushed it to tomorrow and shared another preview in which Musk comments about Model 3 delays and ‘production hell’.
Here’s the new excerpt from the interview with Gayle King, which is now planned to be released in full tomorrow morning:
King: “Should customers be worried? Should they be worried about what’s happening with their Model 3 and when they will get their Model 3?”
Musk:” No – it’s best to look at this not in an exact, numerical way, but in a, on a calendar basis….There shouldn’t be a question mark as to whether somebody’s gonna get their car, it’s just, yes, you’ll definitely get your car. It’s gonna be six to nine months longer than expected. It’s a six-to-nine-month time shift, that’s literally it, and three of those months have already passed.”
Asked if there’s been many cancelled orders by customers frustrated by the long wait, Musk said,
Musk: “It’s mostly like people cancel because, you know, they just needed a car and we didn’t have a car for them.”
King: “But do you feel, Elon Musk, personally a lot of pressure and a big burden on your shoulders because so many people believe in this product and believe in this company because of you?”
Musk: “Okay. Well, I hope their faith is not misplaced,”.
Before panic sets in, I don’t think he is announcing any new delay here, but it looks to me like he is referencing pushing the original 5,000 units per week production rate from December 2017 to June 2018.
That’s the 6 months with already 3 months in and now maybe he is opening the door for a potential 3 additional months of delay if things don’t go as planned in the current quarter as Tesla ramps up from ~2,000 units per week to ~5,000 units per week.
That’s how I interpret it, but let me know in the comment section below if you have another view on this.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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What Is Kanye West’s Net Worth?
In recent years, Kanye West net worth has significantly dropped. His net worth was once $2.5 billion, but with the end of his $1.5 billion contract with German shoe-brand Adidas, Kanye West’s fortune is now estimated to be $400 million—at least according to Forbes.
There’s a lot of conflicting information about Kanye West’s net worth, even from Kanye West himself. According to him, Forbes “undervalues” his work and that he was actually worth $7 billion before the Adidas deal ended, making his estimated net worth around the $6 billion mark.
However, other sources claim that his net worth is actually $1 billion. So, what’s the truth?
- Kanye, who now goes by the name “Ye,” has an estimated net worth of $400 million
- Kanye lost his lucrative multi-year deal with Adidas with his fashion brand YEEZY after making anti-sematic comments in interviews and social media
- Following this, other brands proceeded cut ties with Kanye, too, including CAA, Balenciaga, and GAP
- According to Forbes, Kanye is “no longer a billionaire” and was taken from the Top Billionaires list
- By removing Kanye from Forbes’ Top Billionaire list, Forbes effectively ended its “years-long saga” with the rapper
Forbes Kanye West Net Worth Value
As of December 16, 2022, Forbes estimates Kanye West’s worth to be $400.1 million.
It’s important to note that Forbes isn’t a scholarly source, and thus some of its information is biased, overstated, or false. Its primary news website is generally considered reliable, but its net worth section is dubious at best. After all, Forbes only has access to public information.
Still, Forbes has done its homework. In the article, “Billionaire No More,” Forbes states that the rest of Kanye’s fortune comes from his music catalog, cash, real estate, and a 5% stake in Skims, which belongs to Kim Kardashian.
According to Kanye, Forbes has always underestimated his worth. In 2020, when he was first added to Forbes’ Billionaires list, Kanye wasn’t happy with Forbes’ report of his wealth.
“It’s not a billion,” Kanye reportedly said to one of the editors at Forbes, “It’s $3.3 billion.” Kanye also stated that “no one at Forbes knew how to count,” implying that any and all reports about him by the news magazine couldn’t be trusted.
Nevertheless, Forbes is still one of the most credible sources of celebrity net worth news we have. Even Business Insider uses Forbes as a source.
So while Kanye West’s net worth is almost assuredly over the $400 million mark, public information regarding his assets, real estate, car collection, and the like, say otherwise.
Kanye West Family and Early Life
Kanye Omari West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, to English professor Dr. Donda C. West and photojournalist Ray West.
Kanye West grew up in a moderately wealthy family. His parents divorced when he was at the young age of three, after which he moved to Chicago, Illinois for school.
His mother, Dr. Donda West, was present throughout his childhood and raised him for the majority of his life, though he’d occasionally spend his summers with his father, Ray.
Even as a young boy, Kanye West demonstrated a fondness for arts and music. He started writing poetry in kindergarten, began rapping in third grade, and created musical compositions in seventh grade.
Shortly after his high school graduation, Kanye West received a scholarship to Chicago’s American Academy of Art. He dropped out of college at 20 to pursue his musical career, which greatly displeased his mother.
However, Donda was nothing if not supportive. She saw his passion as an artist and tried to be as encouraging as she can of his decisions. And that proved to be fruitful, as Kanye West is one of today’s most popular artists.
Early Career: Kayne West’s Beginnings
Kanye West’s career began humbly, creating beats for local artists in his area.
His first “official” production came at age 19 during the production of Down to Earth, Chicago rapper Grav’s 1996 debut album.
Later, Kanye West formed a rap group called the Go-Getters, which consists of him, Timmy G, GLC, Arrowstar, and Really Doe. The group released its first and only studio album in 1999 but didn’t receive much attention.
Go-Getters broke up when Kanye West moved to New Jersey, where he spent most of his 1990s career producing records for well-known music groups and artists.
When 2000 rolled around, West began producing for artists under the Roc-A-Fella label.
He was often credited for “revitalizing” Jay-Z’s career through his efforts in Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint, which received global acclaim and even ranked in Rolling Stone’s list of greatest hip-hop albums.
After having been placed in the spotlight, Kanye West began producing music for other famous artists, such as Janet Jackson, Ludacris, and Alicia Keys among others.
Music Career: Kayne West’s Rise to Fame
While working as a producer, Kanye West was trying to secure a record deal as a rapper.
Kanye didn’t have much luck at first, with record companies deeming him unsuitable for the role because he lacked the “gangsta” image of mainstream hip-hop at the time. Later, he managed to attain a spot in Roc-A-Fella with the help of then-label head Damon Dash.
As Kanye West began making records of his own, his mother took on a more integral part of his life and became a manager.
Kanye released his debut solo album in 2004 entitled “The College Dropout,” which was a massive success from the get-go. Critics gushed over his clever use of wordplay, which had a blend of insight, humor, faith, and political awareness.
The album placed No. 2 on the Billboard 200, while his debut single, “Through the Wire,” peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five entire weeks.
The second single, “Slow Jamz,” which featured Jamie Foxx and Twista, placed No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, while the fourth single, “Jesus Walks,” reached the top 20.
The College Dropout received triple platinum in the US and garnered 10 Grammy nominations. He won the “Best Rap Album” Grammy in 2005, beating Nelly LL Cool J, Jay-Z, and Beastie Boys.
His second album, “Late Registration“—which took over $2 million to produce—mirrored the success of the first. He received multiple awards and sold over 2.3 million units in the US alone, making it the only successful major album of that fall.
Kanye West has always made his interest clear in the fashion and clothing design industry.
He launched his first clothing line in 2006 but was ultimately shut down in 2009. In the same year, Kanye West released Air YEEZYs in collaboration with Nike, making them the first non-athlete shoe of the brand. He also introduced the first shoe line he designed for Louis Vuitton, which was released in the summer of 2009.
Kanye West collaborated with several other known fashion lines and designers throughout the years, including Fendi, Giuseppe Zanotti, and A Bathing Ape.
In 2015, Kanye West officially unveiled his long-awaited fashion line YEEZY in collaboration with Adidas.
YEEZY featured men’s and women’s streetwear, which included sneakers, boots, military-inspired jackets, oversized sweaters, and more.
Following its success, Adidas announced a long-term partnership with Kanye West in 2016 and extended the YEEZY line to sports performance products like soccer, football, and basketball.
Come 2021, West signed a 10-year YEEZY deal with GAP. However, Kanye pulled out of the deal in 2022, claiming that the company breached its contract because GAP didn’t release his clothing in retail stores in accordance with the agreed timelines.
Kanye West has had his fair share of controversies. In fact, it can be argued that he rose to stardom because of his flamboyant, brash, no-care-given personality.
From his decade-long fuel with Taylor Swift to Kanye’s statement about slavery being a “choice,” he always seemed to appear in tabloids due to his “inexcusable” actions, especially since he has a tendency to stir the pot.
Normally, Kanye would face backlash for several months and bounce back as if nothing happened. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case in recent events.
White Lives Matter Controversy
In October 2022, Kanye hosted a private show in Paris Fashion Week, where he was seen wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt—a slogan that many criticized as a fascist call. Some of his models, which showcased the YEEZY collection, wore similar t-shirts.
Anti-Sematic Comments Towards Jews
In the same month, Kanye posted several inflammatory comments about Jewish people on his Twitter and Instagram, going as far as to state that he “likes Hitler” in some interviews. This act cost Kanye some lucrative deals as Balenciaga, Vogue, GAP, and Adidas cut ties with him.
Following this, he faced severe backlash from famous names such as Reese Witherspoon, Florence Pugh, Sarah Silverman, and his own ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.
“Hate speech is never OK or excusable,” Kim Kardashian wrote in a Tweet on October 24, 2022, “I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.”
Fall of the YEEZY Line
Ye’s biggest downfall came in the form of Adidas. After seeing his comments online, Adidas quickly broke off any and all connection with Kanye, resulting in the end product of YEEZY-branded products. YEEZYs were taken off shelves and online stores, effectively killing the YEEZY killing line. The resale value of YEEZYs also dropped significantly.
With Adidas’s termination of contract and other companies dropping him en masse, Kanye lost most of his $2 billion fortune. His entertainment-based income is in jeopardy, as well, as it’s been rumored that he’s been dropped by Def Jam Records.
Days after Adidas ended its multi-million dollar deal with him, Kanye reportedly showed up uninvited at Skechers’ office in Los Angeles, in hopes of making a new deal.
This didn’t end well, as Kanye was escorted out of the building after having a brief discussion with Sketcher’s officials.
Private Life: Past and Present
One can’t discuss Kanye West without at least mentioning Kim Kardashian. After all, he’s been married to Kim for six years before their inevitable divorce in 2021.
Before he was with Kim, however, Kanye dated designer Alexis Phifer on and off from 2002 to 2008, with Kanye proposing in 2006. But when Kanye mother passed away in 2007 after complications from plastic surgery, he ended his engagement with Alexis to deal with his grief.
Two years later, Kanye began dating American model Amber Rose but went their separate ways in 2010.
In 2011, Kanye started dating Kim Kardashian and got married in 2014. The pair tied the knot in Italy and had a total of four children: North (2013), Saint (2015), Chicago (2018), and Psalm (2019).
Kanye and Kim’s relationship was rocky, to say the least. According to Kim, the decision to divorce Kanye West was because they have enough in common and she was no longer happy being with him.
Reports stated that Kim “needed to end the marriage for the sake of her kids and her own sanity.” Following the divorce, Kanye owes Kim $200,000 every month for child support.
In September 2022, Kanye began dating South African model Candice Swanepoel. The fling was short-lived, however, as the pair broke things off in less than a month.
In October 2022, Kanye was seen going on several dates with model Juliana Nalu, and was even spotted kissing on more than one occasion. It’s yet to be officially confirmed whether they’re dating or not.
Despite the significant drop in net worth, Kanye remains to be one of the richest Black people in US history. He’s sold over 140 million singles and albums in his career and owns over $100 million worth of real estate.
Even without his YEEZY enterprise, Kanye still makes a decent amount of money throughout his career. Today, he’s said to be “working on himself” after the backlash he’s received from multiple channels.
What will be seen next from Ye? We’ll just have to wait and see.


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Welcome to this week’s episode of Beauty News where we discuss new release and pre-release makeup and beauty products.
Originally published at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nVVA75qeEc
The post Ending 2021 with a bounce? | BEAUTY NEWS December 2021. Ep 311 appeared first on Beauty News.
This news story originally appeared at Beauty Gadgets Archives - Beauty News on 14 April 2022


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Called Agrisure Viptera, the genetically modified seed did receive approval in the US in 2010, and Syngenta approached China that same year to allow the importation of the corn. However, Syngenta began selling the seed to farmers before it had received the go-ahead from China.
READ MORE Syngenta GMO Corn Seed LEGAL NEWS
While China has subsequently approved importation of Viptera corn for feed and food use, the lawsuits are going ahead, as the farmers allege they have already been damaged by Syngenta’s actions.
According to one lawsuit filed in Ohio, Syngenta knew that Viptera corn would contaminate the US corn supply. Still, Syngenta “gambled US farmers’ livelihood on approval of Viptera by the major corn-importing countries,” the complaint states. Compounding problems for the farmers, Syngenta began selling a second genetically modified corn seed, Duracade, in late 2012, according to the lawsuit.
Currently, about 170 lawsuits are pending against the company, and more will likely follow.


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Bose’s new headphones are supposed to sound good and don’t cost more than $200. The first SoundTrue Around-Ear was a game changer for Bose, who finally realized that design is just as important as sound to many consumers.
When the first SoundTrue Around-Ear came out in 2014, it received excellent reviews. PC Magazine gave it four stars.
“But if you’re looking for solid-performing, distortion-free, lightweight, travel-friendly headphones in this price range, the SoundTrue is certainly worth your attention,” said reviewer Pierre Stemmelin.
Even though the headphones didn’t have noise-cancellation like more expensive Bose headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 25, they still offered great sound and could be used as a telephone headset.
Now, the SoundTrue Around-Ear II has just been released. It is even slimmer and lighter while coming in several different designs. CNET has given Bose’s new headphones four stars.
“Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II is a lightweight, very comfortable over-ear headphone that offers smooth sound with well-defined bass. Its new design, with a wider headband, seems more durable than its predecessor’s and its sealed earcups do a good job isolating the wearer from ambient noise.”
On Amazon, 88 people have given the Around-Ear II a 4.5 rating out of 5, which is around the same rating that Bose’s headphone products usually get. A couple reviewers have said that even though the bass is stronger, the high and middle ranges are somewhat muddled. If that’s the case, it’s very much like Bose’s first Mobile On-Ear brand headphones from 2009. When Bose updated those, many complained because they missed the intense bass, even though the middle and high ranges became more clear.
Bose may not sell as many headphones as Apple’s Beats by Dr. Dre brand, but they are certainly the most innovative headphone company in audio history. Bose is the company that has made noise-cancelling mainstream. Bose still has the best noise-cancelling technology that other brands have tried to emulate, but have failed. The closest is Sennheiser’s NoiseGuard technology, which is widely available on its wireless headphone products.
In the upcoming year, we will see the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker IV, which will likely have a speakerphone setting that the current model lacks. There are also rumors that Bose will release new noise-cancelling wireless earbuds. If you don’t already own a product by Bose, you are certainly missing out.


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Closing in on the weekend means it about time we start looking for things to fill that time that isn't just more work. The Exiled wants to fill that gap.
NCSOFT are still hard at work trying to retain their stance on MMOs. Being the folks behind the ever-popular Guild Wars franchise and having launched Blade and Soul last year, they're gearing up to support yet another new title alongside their current offerings.
Being the middle of March, it means we've reached the first year of Epic Games' entry into the MOBA race. Typically known for their hyper violent 'Bro Shooters' like Gears of War and Unreal Tournament, Paragon is the team's take on using the newest iteration of their mega-popular Unreal Engine to create a MOBA title that isn't all cartoony visuals and top-down gameplay.
Annoyed by gold farmers infesting your MMO of choice while you regularly ask other players for cash to boost them through content? You're no different from them, and Blizzard is about to step all over you.
Identifying the need for additional growth, BANDAI NAMCO aremoving ahead with plans to offer up a free version of Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade.
Reaffirming the One Year support Ubisoft seem to give to their big AAA releases these days, The Division received its last major update this morning.
Marking Marvel Heroes' 61st playable character since its launch back in 2013, Gazillian's Diablo-esque ARPG gains Black Bolt as its next.
Nobody ever does a decent job of predicting when a new League of Legends patch will spawn into official service - but at least you can anticipate what it'll bring.
Seemingly reaffirmed that people do indeed like what they put out, FunCom has reportedly decide to breath new life into their unique, ageing MMO The Secret World.
Being one of the only console MMORPGs on the market, it's odd that we don't hear more of Neverwinter with its ability to reach a broader audience than a single-release PC MMO.


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Google Will Kill Off Obnoxious Predatory Payday Loan Ads
It's adding these financial scams to a list that includes misleading pharmaceuticals, weight-loss scams, and damaging software
Your web browsing is about to get a lot less scammy, thanks to Google’s decision to ban ads for payday loans that prey on the down-and-out.
Google has made a strong effort to cut back on deceptive advertising over the last couple years. You might have noticed fewer ads for fishy-looking software or featuring before-and-after images comparing a c-list actor to what appears to be a wrinkled prune. That’s because in 2015, Google banned all ads for counterfeiters, misleading pharmaceuticals, weight-loss scams, phishing sites, and damaging software. According to Google, a staff of more than 1,000 people eliminated about 780 million ads in 2015.
Now, Google is expanding their policy to cover short-term cash advances. The company will begin implementing the update on July 13. “We will no longer allow ads for loans where repayment is due within 60 days of the date of issue. In the U.S., we are also banning ads for loans with an APR of 36% or higher,” said David Graff, Google’s product policy director. “When reviewing our policies, research has shown that these loans can result in unaffordable payment and high default rates for users so we will be updating our policies globally to reflect that.”
Google decision to include predatory financial companies to its list of banned ads came at the behest of civil rights and consumer protection groups. “This new policy addresses many of the longstanding concerns shared by the entire civil rights community about predatory payday lending,” Wade Henderson president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said in a statement. “Low-income people and people of color have long been targeted by slick advertising and aggressive marketing campaigns to trap consumers into outrageously high interest loans.”
Some privacy groups are also praising the decision, like Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law, which collaborated with Google on the new policy. “The Internet should not be a place that profits from your weaknesses. If you’re broke and search the Internet for help, you should not be hit with ads for payday lenders charging 1,000 percent interest,” Alvaro Bedoya, executive director of that group, said in a statement. “Yet that’s what happens on most search engines. For payday lenders, targeting the vulnerable is not an accident—it’s a business strategy.”
Now, if only Google would stop online stores from taunting people with products they looked at once but can’t afford.


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OSHA has announced they will be conducting an investigation after a tornado passed through an Illinois Amazon warehouse that resulted in the death of 6 workers.
This comes after reports of workers being forced to remain in the warehouse as the storm approached. (SOURCE)
The company is now being questioned on whether adequate shelter was available, whether workers were advised to go there immediately, and whether the shifts should have gone ahead that evening at all, given the warnings of severe weather.
In a public statement, Amazon says it will be "supporting OSHA" and that OSHA investigates all workplace-related deaths.
This is not the first time the e-commerce giant has appeared under the microscope about claims about poor workplace conditions.
Earlier during the pandemic, the company was criticized for allegations concerning not notifying employees and health officials about COVID-19 cases. Where social distancing, protective equipment, and disinfecting were reported to be nearly non-existent.
Throughout 2021, numerous viral Tiktoks made by Amazon employees showed different aspects of poor working conditions at the company, from being refused to use the bathroom, to toxic productivity culture. (SOURCE)
Although these events happened earlier in 2021, there have not been many attempts to provide a better workplace environment for drivers or warehouse fulfillers.
The holidays exacerbate these conditions with a surplus of orders having to be fulfilled before the holidays. Many workers suffer from injuries due to the combined pressure of orders as well as unrealistic goals put out by the company. (SOURCE)
Now, many activists are pushing for workers to unionize across North America in an effort to reduce the number of workplace injuries and improve working conditions moving forward.
Amazon has been famously known for being anti-union, with many efforts in Canada resulting in little to no progression. (SOURCE)
Consider purchasing your holiday gifts locally this year, in an effort to show solidarity for Amazon workers who continue to work throughout these busier periods.


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Theo Spierings, chief executive of New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, has become the new chairman of industry body Global Dairy Platform (GDP).
Spierings, who has been a director on the GDP board since 2012, will succeed Dairy Farmers of America CEO Rick Smith, who has chaired the Illinois, US-based organisation since 2015.
“More than ever, people are turning to dairy for nutritional security and sustainable food and every day we see the good that dairy can do,” Spierings said.
“We also recognise that the world will have more than two billion more mouths to feed by 2050. With food demand expected to increase by at least 50% in 2050, the challenge is how best to apply the goodness of dairy to the places and people that need it the most.
“Along with the role dairy plays in everyday nutrition, there is a real opportunity to work together and look at new ways we can make the nutritional benefits of dairy more available for those facing poverty and hunger and those fighting obesity.
“Through the Global Dairy Platform, we will continue to push forward with a global effort to make the goodness of dairy contribute more by providing better nutrition, empowering our communities and promoting sustainable agriculture.”
Former chairman Smith said: “Over the last two years, GDP has provided strong leadership and strategic thinking to increase the credibility and visibility of the dairy sector in the international community, particularly within the United Nations.
“We have built a solid foundation to grow on.”
Smith will continue to serve on the board, along with Arla Foods chief executive officer Peder Tuborgh and outgoing FrieslandCampina chief executive officer Roelof Joosten.


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The new entity, called The Functional Chocolate Company, pairs an executive exiting the cannabis industry with a category manager with long experience in the natural products industry. The company is based in Evergreen, CO.
CEO Nicole Smith, who until about a year ago headed up EvoLab, a Colorado-based cannabis products manufacturer, said she saw the potential of the formulas that COO Chris Peruzzi had been working on for about six years. Peruzzi has a long history in brand management in the natural products industry, including stints with Natural Balance, MegaFood, Garden of Life and Reserveage.
“We do believe the healthy fats in the dark chocolate are a nice carrier for the functional ingredients,” Smith told NutraIngredients-USA.
The company is launching with four products aimed at women. They are branded as Rhythm Chocolate for PMS, Carefree Chocolate for Stress & Anxiety, Hot Chocolate for Menopause symptoms and Sexy Chocolate for Low Libido.
Each product features a host of functional ingredients, including some branded ingredients from major suppliers. For example, the Carefree product features Suntheanine, a branded form of L-theanine from Taiyo International as well as Pharma GABA from Pharma Foods International. Similarly, the Hot product features Estro-G 100, a branded form of three herbal extracts marketed by Helios Corp.
Chocolate has marketing, functional benefits
Smith said chocolate was chosen as the delivery mode as it would provide both a powerful differentiator on the supplement aisle and could also be seen as appealing to women.
“We did believe that women might be better early adopters with a chocolate product,” Smith said. She said she also believed the products would stand out in the supplement aisle alongside the rows of generic pill bottles. It’s far easier than trying to get noticed amidst the cacophony of new chocolate brands, she said.
Perruzi said that was one reason the company chose to sell the products as supplements. Another was to get a return on investment for the many branded ingredients in the bars, by being able to make claims against them.
“We have specific ingredients that have specific claims. We decided we wanted to go with the supplements facts panel as opposed to a nutrition facts panel because we wanted to be in the structure/function part of the store as opposed to being over on the wall where all the chocolates are,” he said.
The bars sell for $7.49 a piece with each bar making up three servings. The branded functional ingredients are included as part of proprietary blends of 8-10 herbal ingredients which range from 185 mg to more than 400 mg per serving per blend. Smith said that while those dosages might be lower than what could be found in a standalone product, the company anticipates that consumers will more often than not consume an entire bar.
Solving the taste puzzle
Smith said that Peruzzi and the product development teams at the contract manufacturer the company is using worked long and hard to solve the taste challenges. Dark chocolate is a bod, forward flavor, but many herbal blends can be both bitter and astringent, so care was needed, she said. And in some cases the herbal ingredients provided a flavor benefit, such as the ginger that is the primary functional ingredient in the Rhythm product.
While the company is launching with the four products aimed at women, Smith said new products will be online soon aimed at energy and sleep.
The brand is being sold direct to consumer at the moment, which includes the ability to customize orders via mixed ‘boxes.’ Doing so gets consumers a bit of a discount via an extra bar or two per order. Smith said the company also has wholesale sales strategy, and plans to place the products in natural food stores as well starting with smaller independent stores.


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Move over, Nike -- Under Armour is building its own fitness technology empire. The company announced today that it has purchased MyFitnessPal and Endomondo in an effort to both sell you clothes to work out in and track those workouts, too.
According to the company's fourth-quarter earnings report, Under Armour paid $475 million for MyFitnessPal, a food-tracking app with a massive community of people that helps manage a database of nutritional information on almost every food item you can find. MyFitnessPal has apps for Android, iOS and Windows Phone that record every calorie you eat and help you stick to dietary goals, such as losing weight or eating more protein. The company has more than 80 million users.
Endomondo, an exercise activity-tracking app for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry, was acquired for $85 million. A competitor to RunKeeper and Strava, the app can record your runs, walks, bicycle rides and other activities. The company had 20 million registered users.
Those combined 100 million users from both apps will help grow Under Armour's existing Connected Fitness community, which already includes a fitness-tracking app called Under Armour Record. That app keeps tabs on your overall health by recording your workouts, daily step counts, sleep and more.
It's unclear if the two apps will be folded into Record or another app, and given MyFitnessPal's immense popularity, there would be significant outcry if the app completely disappeared. However, Under Armour acquired fitness-tracking company MapMyFitness in 2013, and its apps are still alive and well in Google Play and the Apple App Store, so there may not be any reason to worry yet.


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By Pet Age Staff//February 21, 2024//
By: Pet Age Staff//February 21, 2024//
Press release: Mella Pet Care
Mella Pet Care, a leading provider of innovative pet health devices, will be featured on Season 15 of the hit ABC show “Shark Tank.” In the show that will be aired at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, March 1, the Chicago-based startup will pitch Shark Tank investors Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, Daymond John and Daniel Lubetzky on an ecosystem of health monitoring solutions for veterinarians and pet owners.
The company developed the Mella Home, the world’s first accurate, pain-free underarm thermometer, to prioritize pets’ health and comfort. Mella CEO/co-founder Anya Babbitt, COO/co-founder Ben Seidman and chief of staff Daniella Morgan-Pascualvaca will appear on the episode.
“We’re thrilled to introduce the ‘Shark Tank’ investors and a national TV audience to our vision for pet care,” said Babbitt. “With the Sharks’ support, we can expand our product offerings, reach more customers and continue to transform how we all care for our pets.”
Babbitt founded the company in 2019 after her rescue dog, Mella, nearly died as a puppy due to a lack of data to diagnose and prevent her health condition. With the noninvasive axillary thermometer and coming products like a body fat analyzer, chip reader and pulse oximeter, Mella Pet Care enables pet parents to monitor their pets’ vitals and integrate with veterinary care.
Babbitt says the March 1 episode will show the team making their case for transforming pet care technology to empower pet parents, improve veterinary care and help pets live longer, happier lives.
“These are world-class investors with an eye for disruptive technologies,” said Seidman. “‘Shark Tank’ is a golden opportunity for us to reach an even wider audience and grow our community of pet lovers.”
By partnering with the Sharks, Mella hopes to accelerate product development, expand distribution channels and invest in marketing efforts to raise brand awareness globally.
(Photo courtesy ABC)


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Expect big changes for global trade from ‘historic’ TPP agreement
The Trans-Pacific Partnership will have a dramatic effect upon trade between the 12 member nations
It’s a trade deal with such wide ranging consequences, it will have a profound and uplifting impact on activity around the Pacific Rim as we know it.
Analysts taking stock of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the US-led free-trade agreement formally signed by 12 participating nations on October 5, see the pact as a milestone in eliminating barriers to trade across a vast area.
As many as 18,000 tariffs are expected to be eliminated over time, according to some estimates.
“Once ratified…the accord will become the most significant, most economically impactful trade deal in history,” Frank Holmes, CEO of US Global Investors, wrote in an opinion column circulated in US media.
The pact includes Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Brunei, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, and Chile.
The deal is yet to be ratified. That’s not expected until next year, when the various governments of the participating nations will likely vote the agreement into law.
Still, judging by the research notes and reports circulating in recent weeks, figuring out the beneficiaries of the trade agreement is very much on the minds of analysts, even as uncertainties linger over when the agreement will kick in.
Credit rating agency Moody’s issued a report earlier this month that identified a number of beneficiaries, and highlighted Vietnam’s budding export industries as a major standout.
Data cited by the credit rating agency indicated that, once enacted, the pact will see Vietnam gain additional income worth 19 per cent of 2014 GDP, while Malaysia will gain a boost of around 7 per cent, while Japan, New Zealand and Singapore will each gain around 2 per cent. Australia is forecast for a modest 0.5 per cent boost.
In particular, Vietnam’s textiles and footwear industries should see significant upside.
“Vietnam has a distinct advantage in terms of its combination of low wages, improving infrastructure and scale,” Moody’s analysts wrote. “Authorities have promulgated wide-ranging changes – including the relaxation of ownership restrictions for public companies, real estate and banks.”
Analysts at Daiwa said the boon to Vietnam could indirectly benefit some Hong Kong-listed textile companies. In an October 8 note, the broker recommended shares of Shenzhou International, Texhong Textile, and Pacific Textiles. All three companies have operations in Vietnam and are expected to tap the expected surge in shipments to the US and Japan as tariffs are removed.
How much those tariffs will be whittled down is still uncertain, as the final text of the trade pact is still being drafted. Daiwa forecasts the tariff reduction will significantly increase Vietnam’s competitiveness vis-a-vis Chinese exporters. Textile shipments to the US face an import tariff of 12 to 20 per cent, whereas Chinese shipments face import tariffs of 10 to 25 per cent.
“Anecdotal evidence suggests that a portion of the strong FDI inflows into the country [Vietnam] over the past year has been in anticipation of the passage of the agreement,” Moody’s said.
Japanese carmakers and auto-parts suppliers also stand to benefit. For these companies, the importance of the trade agreement is in dramatically expanded market access to Canada, the US and New Zealand. Tariffs on 70% of exports of industrial goods will disappear when the trade agreement come into effect, and “eventually be eliminated entirely,” Moody’s said.
Japan’s farmers are among those to face the greatest downside, as the TPP lays ground for greater market access to Australian and New Zealand agricultural producers. Shipments of New Zealand beef to Japan will be subject to import tariffs of 9 per cent, down from 38.5 per cent currently. Australian farmers are also expected to be big beneficiaries from greater access to Japanese markets.
Property group CBRE said it expects agricultural land prices in Australia and New Zealand to gain from the projected increased output.
Singapore is also poised to benefit in its push to become a trade and professional services hub.
“As a small, open economy driven by external trade, the TPP will serve to complement [Singapore’s] existing pacts and boost investment and trade flows with partner countries,” Moody’s wrote.
CBRE said the trade agreement was positive for selected assets in the city state over the medium term.
Increased regional trade would likely translate into growth for Singapore’s logistics, chemicals and electrical services companies, CBRE said.
The TPP “will support office demand as the city remains a regional hub for multinationals,” CBRE said.
CBRE also highlighted commercial real estate in Japan as a beneficiary, in particular, manufacturing and logistics centres geared to the expected increase in Japanese exports.


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Kim Kardashian gave fans a glimpse at her all-white Christmas decor in her Calabasas home with Kanye West and fans immediately began clowning the duo over their indoor trees that “look like tampons.” The “Keeping Up With The Kardashian” star took to her social media on Thursday night and showed off her unconventional Christmas decorations. Kim, 39, posted several Instagram stories showcasing their outside lights and indoor abstract designed trees that line their hallway and blend into their minimalistic home decor. While the star seems to believe their seasonal decorations are brilliant, fans are laughing out loud at the bizarre display.
Kim Kardashian explained that every single tree that adorns their family hallway are custom and were used as part of their decorations for their Christmas party in 2018. Fans will recall that last year Kim and Kanye took over the annual KarJenner Christmas bash after getting passed the torch by the family matriarch, Kris Jenner. “I love these. They’re so whimsical, like Whoville, but all white,” the KKW Beauty founder stated while referencing the town in “Dr. Suess.” Kim also showed off their traditional family tree that sits inside with several lights, as well as a few outside lit trees, but fans are only focused on the white ones that look “like tampons.”
Several people immediately took to Twitter to make fun of the famous couple, although many aren’t surprised that they went with the non-traditional route. “Am I the only one who thinks Kim Kardashian’s Christmas decor looks like a bunch of tampons like wtf kinda shit is that that ain’t Christmas decor ??♀,” wrote one fan. “@KimKardashian’s Christmas decorations look like tampons #kardashian #christmas,” another added. “I am actually so confused at Kim Kardashian’s Christmas trees or decorations or whatever the fuck they are ?? JUST STICK A TREE WITH LIGHTS AND TINSEL UP AND BE DONE WITH IT,” tweeted a third. But not everyone hated on Kim and Kanye for their trees. “I wanna spend christmas at @KimKardashian’s house,” one fan posted.
I am actually so confused at Kim Kardashian’s Christmas trees or decorations or whatever the fuck they are 🤯🤔 JUST STICK A TREE WITH LIGHTS AND TINSEL UP AND BE DONE WITH IT. pic.twitter.com/JzMKtQX5cr
— Alice May Dear (@According2Al) December 6, 2019
In addition to the upcoming holiday, Kim Kardashian also celebrated her son Saint‘s 4th birthday on Thursday. The mom of four shared an adorable snap of her second oldest child on her social media wishing him a happy birthday. In the photo, Saint’s curls are flowing wildly and the tiny tyke is flashing his signature giant smile. Looking very fashion-forward like his famous parents, Kim and Kanye’s son is seen wearing a multi-colored button-down with several buttons undone and a silver cross necklace around his neck.
“I have no words to describe how much I love your smile and those curls of yours Saint! You bring so much joy into my soul. You are so kind, loving and just so thoughtful and sweet!” Kim wrote. “I am so happy today if your 4th birthday and We get to celebrate how much you’ve grown! Happy birthday my sweet sweet Sainty. (When I say to him my sweet sweet Sainty, he says back to me my sweet sweet sweet sweet Momma, the best momma in the world and the only momma I ever want! HOW CAN YOU NOT MELT AT HIS SWEETNESS).”


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When it comes to thin and light notebooks, Huawei isn't exactly a household name in the United States. The MateBook X Pro is going to change that.
Huawei's product chief had a lot to say about Apple and the U.S. government
Huawei has a new laptop with a hidden camera
The WWDC 2018 event is set to be one of the most important in the technology calendar, possibly leading to the unveiling of the the iPhone SE 2, ...


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US jewelry revenues slipped during the 2022 holiday period amid inflation and a shift toward spending on experiences, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse.
Retail sales for the category declined 5.4% year on year between November 1 and December 24, the data provider reported Monday. The drop also reflected a comparison with last year’s unusually strong season, when jewelry sales jumped 32% versus 2020 and 26% relative to 2019.
“This holiday retail season looked different than years past,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard. “Retailers discounted heavily, but consumers diversified their holiday spending to accommodate rising prices and an appetite for experiences and festive gatherings post-pandemic.”
Overall retail spending climbed 8% year on year for the two-month period, excluding automotive sales, with e-commerce growing 11% and in-store purchasing advancing 7%. Online spending comprised 22% of total retail sales this holiday season, up from 21% a year ago.
Aside from jewelry, electronics also fell, down 5.3% year on year. Meanwhile, spending at restaurants jumped 15%, “building on the ongoing demand for experiences,” Mastercard noted. Layout on apparel rose 4.4%, while spending at department stores was up 1%.
Black Friday remained the season’s number-one spending day, advancing 12% year on year. Purchases on the Saturdays during December followed close behind, Mastercard explained.
“Inflation altered the way US consumers approached their holiday shopping — from hunting for the best deals to making trade-offs that stretched gift-giving budgets,” said Michelle Meyer, chief economist for North America at the Mastercard Economics Institute. “Consumers and retailers navigated the season well, displaying resilience amid increasing economic pressures.”
Image: A couple shopping for the holidays. (Shutterstock)