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The Office on the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a bureau within the U.S. Office on the Treasury tasked with regulating the country’s banks as well as thrift institutions, has posted a public sales copy clarifying that national banks as well as cost savings associations are able to provide cryptocurrency custody services to clientele.
In the sales letter released these days, the OCC concludes that providing cryptocurrency custody services, this includes holding the unique cryptographic keys associated with cryptocurrency, is a modern day form of regular bank things to do relevant to custody services, based on an announcement from the bureau. Crypto custody offerings might extend over and above passively carrying keys.’
Custody of cryptocurrency as bitcoin is solely a situation of managing the private keys associated with this cryptocurrency. Being a solely digital entity, bitcoin is only accessible via Bitcoin addresses, and they contain two keys: a public ingredient and a private key. While public keys are actually provided in order to get bitcoin transactions, private keys need to be protected, since they allow places to deliver bitcoin – ultimately determining the custody belonging to the coins.
Prior to this particular clarification, just firms with exclusive licenses might control the custody of cryptocurrency on behalf of clients. The announcement suggests that now, any federally regulated institution giving common providers for standard assets can do so as well.
This could be the initial step in a big wave of new cryptocurrency solutions offered by U.S. banks as Wells Fargo or Bank of America. They could, for instance, start supplying multisig wallet expertise. Inside the announcement, the OCC framed the clarification like an all natural step for these institutions to carry on meeting purchaser needs in the digital age.
By safe deposit boxes to virtual vaults, we will have to make certain banks can meet up with the fiscal services requirements of the clients these days of theirs, stated Brian P. Brooks, the acting comptroller of this currency, per the announcement. This viewpoint clarifies which banks are able to continue gratifying their customers’ desires for preserving their most valuable assets, which today for tens of countless Americans involves cryptocurrency.


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Suppliers have begun shipping cases and pallets of goods affixed with radio-frequency identification tags through Target Corp.'s Tyler, Texas, distribution center to 10 regional stores. The rollout follows a trial deployment earlier this year that involved 19 suppliers, including Hewlett-Packard, Kimberly-Clark, and Procter & Gamble, two participants say.
Target installed readers and antennas at storage-room doors leading into stores, at shipping and receiving dock doors, and near trash compactors, participants say. Equipment from ADT Security Systems Inc. was installed at the first five stores, and gear from Symbol Technologies Inc. at the remainder.
To get the effort going, Target assembled a board of experts. Physicists from RFID service and consulting companies such as Extra Prize, Oden, and R4, which VeriSign recently acquired, were brought in to assess and address frequency interference from other technologies deployed within stores and the distribution center. "If Target starts with a core group of RFID experts and consistent methodology with a plan and a blueprint, they should be able to install the required RFID infrastructure in 40 stores weekly," says Peter Regen, VP of global visible commerce solutions at Unisys Corp., who's familiar with the project but not directly involved. "Target has about 1,500 to 1,600 stores, and they could finish the rollout in about a year." Target declined to comment on the project.
Microsoft Wants Its Buzz Back
In the 10 years since the launch of Windows 95, Microsoft has stopped being the coolest company in the industry to work for. Apple Computer and Google Inc. have the buzz today, and Microsoft wants it back.
And it's not just about pride and ego. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in an interview last week that getting in tune with the times will help the company with its recruiting troubles. Young workers talk differently and compute differently than even those who've reached the not-so-advanced age of 35. Microsoft is finding ways to weave instant messaging and other new tools into its jobs, for instance. Ballmer says IM is a "basic communications medium" for people in their early 20s entering the workforce, and "a good example of trying to make the job more natural--you could say more fun."
CA Makes Another Acquisition
In buying its fourth company in a year, Computer Associates went after one that offers software that will help make its Unicenter systems-management framework more useful to customers. Unicenter, which generates $1.5 billion annually in sales and maintenance fees, is designed to monitor and manage most parts of a company's IT infrastructure, generating alerts when things go wrong and reports on how systems, applications, and networks are performing.
CA last week said it will pay $350 million for Niku Corp., which offers a product called Clarity IT-MG that can take advantage of the information provided by Unicenter to help IT managers make better decisions about IT investments and projects. "The great strength of Unicenter is in telling how the network is doing," says Josh Perkins, Niku's president and CEO. "We'll attach business perspective to that data, reveal how IT is doing for the business, and help ensure dollars are spent the right way."
Perkins will become a senior VP in CA's business-service optimization unit, where Niku's software will become part of a line of products to help companies make better use of technology to improve business processes. Clarity IT-MG helps companies make better technology-investment decisions, track the execution and delivery of technology initiatives, and assess the results.
The two companies have had a reseller agreement in place since January, and "CA will deepen Clarity integration with its business optimization products," says Melissa Webster, an analyst at IDC. "That should lead to better alignment between business and IT."
In the past year, CA has acquired Pest Patrol, an anti-spyware company; Netegrity, a networking company; and Concord Communications, a network-management company.
--Martin J. Garvey

domain: news


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FULL CLAIM: “In Germany, a fence separates vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The biggest symptom of COVID is insanity”
A Facebook post published by the political activist group Young Americans for Liberty claimed that a photo showed a fence being used to separate vaccinated and unvaccinated shoppers in Germany. That post received more than 4,600 engagements from users. Other social media users also made the same claim, like this tweet that received more than 12,000 engagements, including more than 3,000 retweets.
However, both posts are partly inaccurate. The photo wasn’t taken in Germany but in Romania, as these Facebook posts show (see here and here). And Romanian media also covered this incident (see here and here), as reported by German fact-checking organization Correctiv.
As part of the European Union, Romania employs the EU Digital COVID Certificates, a form of health pass or certificate that serves as proof that a person has been vaccinated against, tested, or recovered from COVID-19. As the website for the U.S. Embassy in Romania states, this pass has been mandatory for accessing shopping centers since October 2021, although exceptions are made for essential services like supermarkets and pharmacies. The fence was put up in order to prevent shoppers without a “green certificate” from accessing non-essential businesses.
It’s important to note that a “green certificate” can be held by unvaccinated people as well, since it is also issued to people if they test negative for infection or have recovered from COVID-19. Therefore, the claim that the fence is being used to segregate vaccinated and unvaccinated shoppers is inaccurate.


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Transcript for Hot Sauce Makers Feel Heat Over Odor Complaints
-- the Los Angeles area hot sauce Plante at the center of controversy has been ordered to partially close neighbors had complained that the smell around us Iraqi plant was making them sick. The maker had argued there is no reason to close the -- now because harvest season for red hot Halloween -- peppers is over this horse is key ingredient. The ruling won't affect this year's supply of the popular sauce.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.


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OzHarvest and Mobile Muster team to feed Australians in need
OzHarvest Founder and CEO Ronni Kahn recycling mobiles
Non-for-profit’s OzHarvest and MobileMuster are teaming up to encourage Australians to recycle their old mobiles for more than one good cause.
The two charities are partnering to relaunch their ‘Mobile for a Meal’ campaign which will see a meal donated to an Australian in need for every old mobile recycled with MobileMuster this summer.
Australians interested in donating an old mobile can visit https://www.mobilemuster.com.au/ and find their nearest drop-off point. There is over 3, 500 public collection points across Australia.
Spyro Kalos, Recycling Manager at MobileMuster, said the campaign is certainly a win-win situation.
“It is one of those beautiful win-win situations where no one wants these old phones – you can’t use them, or sell them – they are quite literally useless, but if we recycle them over 99 per cent of the material can go back into making new products,” Kalos said.
“In return, we will deliver a meal to someone in need.”
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According to a new investor's note shared this morning by reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, refreshes are expected for the iPhone, iPad, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Apple Watch.
His list of coming attractions is pretty lite to us, but it has been enough to get the Tame Apple Press moist.
iPhone - Three iPhones: two OLED models in 5.8 and 6.5-inch sizes and one lower-cost LED model that will be available in a 6.1-inch size. All three will feature Face ID and upgraded A12 processors. While the two OLED models will have dual-lens cameras, the slightly cheaper model will have a single-lens camera.
iPad Pro - Two new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models that are equipped with a full-screen design similar to the iPhone X and no Home button, with Apple to replace Touch ID with Face ID.
Mac mini will get a processor upgrade is expected. The Mac mini has not been updated for 3.5 years and still runs on steam. It is not clear if Apple will upgrade it to the new fangled electrickery. It might have a redesigned chassis so that users think it is more advanced than it acutally is.
MacBook Pro and McBook will get processor upgrades.
New Low-Priced Notebook. Apple is clearly worried that Microsoft's new low-priced surface might be a good idea and Kuo believes Apple is designing a new low-priced notebook.
He originally said that this would be in the MacBook Air family, but now has changed his mind. Previous rumors have suggested this machine could be a 12-inch MacBook, so Apple may be planning to expand the MacBook lineup with an additional low-cost option to replace the MacBook Air.
iMac - Kuo says to expect a significant display performance upgrade presumably by increasing the number of quick sketch artists shoved behind the screen.
Apple Watch - Apple is working on two new Apple Watch models for 2018 that will have bigger displays and enhanced heart rate detection features. The two Apple Watch models will measure in at 1.57 inches (39.9mm) and 1.78 inches (45.2mm), roughly 15 percent bigger than in the current models. Rumors have not been clear on whether the Apple Watch itself will be larger or if the bigger display will come from a reduction in bezels.


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The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the city’s de-facto central bank, Tuesday said it concluded its market consultations on technical and policy grounds towards the city’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), estimating at least two to three years to build the wholesale system.
See related article: Hong Kong flirts with e-HKD as it talks of marriage with e-CNY
- A wholesale CBDC is an interbank settlement layer, which lays the foundation for the future launch of a retail CBDC, known as the e-HKD in Hong Kong.
- The HKMA is expected to release a work plan for the wholesale layer in about nine months.
- On the legal front, the HKMA said it will be working with the government to enact required amendments, but has not specified a target finalization date.
- The wholesale CBDC is set to lay the foundation for the HKMA’s research in e-HKD use cases, including a digital wallet, cybersecurity, tokenized securities settlement and potential integration to decentralized finance.
See related article: A Hong Kong CBDC is coming — for institutions


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*(Via Washington Post) — T-Mobile USA and Metro PCS will merge, the companies announced Wednesday, after getting approval from both company boards.
In a statement, the companies said they will combine their efforts to roll out a high-speed 4G LTE network.
The deal, T-Mobile hopes, will give the new venture the “expanded scale, spectrum and financial resources to aggressively compete with the other national U.S. wireless carriers.”
MetroPCS shareholders will receive $1.5 billion cash and 26 percent ownership in the new venture. T-Mobile USA parent company Deutsche Telekom will have majority control with 74 percent of the stake.
“We are extremely pleased to announce this transaction with MetroPCS, which enhances Deutsche Telekom’s position in the expanding U.S. wireless market,” said René Obermann, the German carrier’s chief executive officer. “The T-Mobile and MetroPCS brands are a great strategic fit – both operationally and culturally.”
Both companies are known for offering cheaper plans — MetroPCS is a no-contract wireless carrier — and have a strong base in the lower end of the market. More importantly, T-Mobile and MetroPCS have rights to LTE spectrum in the same band — meaning that it will be easier for them to work together as they move their networks forward.
Read/learn more at Washington Post.
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US Farmers and the Trump Tariffs
Trump Tariffs To Hurt U.S. Farmers More Than China Counterparts By Investors Business Daily
President Donald Trump's new tariffs on Chinese agricultural products are likely to hurt a lot less than the retaliatory tariffs Beijing levies on the U.S.
The White House, while delaying tariffs on big-ticket consumer products until December, decided to push ahead with 10% tariffs on Chinese agricultural products as well as antiques, clothes, kitchenware and footwear from Sept. 1. The list ranges from the exotic — live primates, whales and foxes — to the more usual fare of milk and edible oils.
But the amount of farm products China exports to the U.S. is much smaller than what it imports from America, even with the retaliatory tariffs in place. China shipped $3.1 billion worth of farm goods to America in the first half of this year, while it purchased $5.6 billion of U.S. agricultural items over the same period, according to Chinese customs data.
One area where Beijing may feel some pain is in textile exports. The material is already subject to U.S. tariffs and shipments have been falling, according to an industry trade agency. Sales of garments to the U.S. fell 19% in the first half of this year and will drop further as more textile products have been included in the fresh U.S. tariffs, the trade group said. This could hurt China's cotton imports, which were revised down by China's agriculture ministry this week.
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A recent article in the Washington Post highlighted how millennials (age 25-34) change the cities and suburbs in which they choose to settle down. In Arlington, Virginia, the impact has been felt acutely by the county library system:
The county’s public library system has built a robust series of programs that cater to young professionals, sponsoring trivia nights in local bars, book clubs in restaurants, and adult recess and game nights at the Central Library.
Another recent story highlights how New Jersey libraries have had to adapt to the rise of the millennial generation. Much of what millennials seem to want from their libraries is digital access—3D printers, video studios, and text message reference help. As libraries become more digital, use among younger generations should increase, librarians say.
But it is an ambitious Dallas Observer article titled, “Dallas Libraries Strive to Survive in a Digital World,” that asks the important question: Does anyone even need libraries anymore?
The digital revolution, which helped send the Borders bookstore chain to its grave and has left the sales floors of Barnes & Noble looking like the computer tablet section at Best Buy, didn’t spare even the free books at libraries. Smart phones and e-readers ate into their bread and butter: serving as central repositories of information. With a digital library open in your pocket 24-7, who needs the analog version? What happens to libraries when books are no longer enough?
A 2014 report by the Pew Research Center found that college-aged adults (ages 18-24), were less likely to use public libraries than many other age groups, less likely to see libraries as vital for themselves or their community, less likely to have visited a library recently, and are more likely to purchase most of the books they read than borrow them from a library. According to the study, they were also least likely to say that libraries were “important.”
All of this is great news for Amazon.com and terrible news for libraries—which continue to think the answer to their diminished status is to “adapt or die,” which means becoming less about books than about social spaces and technology hubs. Librarians point to millennials who have been raised on Amazon.com’s promise of one-click shopping and near-instantaneous delivery as driving this trend. After all, with Amazon you don’t have to deal with parking and interlibrary loans; librarians also need to sleep and libraries close overnight, while Amazon fulfillment warehouses do not.
The question at the heart of the future of libraries is this: What is information and what do we want citizens to use information for? Millennials tend to think they can learn anything with a simple Google search. But bound books on shelves have always represented more than fragments of information; they represent ideas, arguments, lessons, and whole stories, and librarians are our indispensible guides to them.
The Dallas library system was started with funds from the industrial giant Andrew Carnegie. After coming to America as an immigrant and working as a bobbin boy in a textile factory (and with only four years of formal schooling), Carnegie became one of the most frequent users of the personal library of Colonel James Anderson. The military man turned his 400-book library into a free lending library for any working boys in Pittsburgh—and acted as the librarian. In his autobiography, published in 1920, Carnegie wrote of the “blessing from above” that this access (to “the treasures of literature”) represented:
Every day’s toil and even the long hours of night service were lightened by the book which I carried about with me and read in the intervals that could be snatched from duty. And the future was made bright by the thought that when Saturday came a new volume could be obtained. . . . Books which it would have been impossible for me to obtain elsewhere were, by his wise generosity, placed within my reach; and to him I owe a taste for literature which I would not exchange for all the millions that were ever amassed by man.
Can you imagine someone talking about libraries this way today?
When Carnegie began giving away his fortune to help start local libraries he said, “There was no use to which money could be applied so productive of good to boys and girls who have good within them and ability and ambition to develop it, as the founding of a public library in a community which is willing to support it as a municipal institution. I am sure that the future of those libraries I have been privileged to found will prove the correctness of this opinion.”
We are approaching the day when the millennial generation will have to confront Carnegie’s vision and decide if it will be (as it has been for so many generations since Carnegie) their vision too. The answer to that question can’t be found on Google.


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- Nintendo's biggest game of the year, "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate," is scheduled to launch on December 7.
- It's the fifth major entry in the "Super Smash Bros." fighting game series, which stars a massive cast of classic gaming characters from Nintendo and elsewhere.
- Despite the game still being nearly two weeks from launch, software pirates are already leaking the game online.
Nintendo is playing whack-a-mole with leaked videos of its next big game, "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate."
The Japanese video game powerhouse is issuing takedown notices to countless YouTube and Twitch videos that offer an unfiltered look at the next big Nintendo Switch game.
The game appears to have leaked via software pirates over the weekend, according to a report on Motherboard.
As of this writing on Monday afternoon, it's easy to find everything from live gameplay streams to cutscene compilations — much of the focus of early leakers is to demonstrate the many facets of "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" that Nintendo has yet to reveal.
The issue is that "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" isn't scheduled to arrive until December 7.
As such, Nintendo is attempting to shut down the many, many videos of "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" that are repeatedly sprouting up.
It's a game of whack-a-mole that's unlikely to end, as more people download the game illegally and stream it online — an especially frustrating situation for Nintendo given how far we are from the game's official launch on December 7. Company representatives didn't respond to our request for comment.
Nintendo has a long history of taking legal action against piracy. Most recently, the company won a lawsuit against an Arizona couple who ran a website that distributed free versions of classic games.
It's unclear what action, if any, Nintendo will take regarding the piracy of "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate."
One thing is clear: With over 10 days to go until the game launches, and an ongoing flood of videos showcasing the game ahead of launch, Nintendo has a ton of work on its hands.


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Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg called the latest 3D movie technology “the greatest innovation to occur in the movie business in 70 years.” A bevy of theater chains — including AMC, Regal, Carmike and Cinemark, among others — are exploring or installing digital cinema and 3D systems in the second half of 2008 into 2009. And Intel and others are creating tools for companies like Dreamworks to make a new generation of 3D animation films. Experts at Wharton say 3D movies are back in vogue, but it’s unclear whether the latest greatest technology can give theaters a sustainable competitive advantage over other forms of entertainment.
Movie theaters are installing 3D projection technology and digital cinema systems which streamline movie distribution by using digital media or satellites instead of expensive reels of film to deliver movies to theaters. Progress has been spotty, however, and executives like Katzenberg have said there’s a need for more outlets for 3D movies.
Three-dimensional technology — the ability to add the appearance of depth to a flat image, typically when viewed through special viewing glasses — has been the movie industry’s answer to outside competition on and off for more than 50 years. Scott Kirsner, author of Inventing the Movies, says 3D first became popular in the 1950s. Why? The movies needed a competitive advantage over television, then an upstart technology. Kirsner adds that the movie industry is in a similar situation today as it tries to fend off encroachment from home theater systems. For the next five years, he says, “you’ll have to go to the theater” to see movies in 3D. Even though the 3D fad in the 1950s died quickly, Kirsner is more optimistic regarding the current generation of 3D movie technology. “The technology is better this time around,” explains Kirsner.
Katzenberg, whose company has partnered with Intel to develop 3D moviemaking technology, is certainly an evangelist for the next generation of films. Last month, at Intel’s Developer Forum in San Francisco, Katzenberg predicted that 3D “will reinvent, redefine and completely transform not only how we make movies, but even more excitingly, how audiences experience them.” Katzenberg likened the latest 3D technology to the third revolution in movie making. First, movies transitioned from silence to sound followed by the move from black-and-white to color. Katzenberg argues that 3D will be the third revolution. “This is not your father’s 3D,” said Katzenberg, adding that the latest technology will make the audience feel like “they are leaping buildings with Spiderman.” Unlike the red-and-blue cardboard glasses common in the 1950s, the newfangled 3D viewing glasses use polarized lenses, and Katzenberg says the consumer “won’t feel like a dweeb” wearing them.
Experts at Wharton say there’s a lot riding on whether Katzenberg is correct. If he is, movie theaters may be able to use 3D technology to stay relevant at a time when consumers have multiple entertainment options. “This is really about staying competitive with the home viewing experience,” says Kendall Whitehouse, senior director of IT at Wharton. “The threat is the home theater. There used to be huge differences between watching TV at home and seeing a movie in a theater. There still are differences, but the gap is closing. What was once a dramatic difference in image and audio quality has become much smaller.”
Can 3D widen that technology gap again for movie theaters? “If it is possible to do 3D in a theater and not at home, then theater becomes differentiated,” says Eric Clemons, an operations and information management professor at Wharton. “And if the experience is considered demonstrably better by consumers, then movie theaters are not just different from the TV and DVD experience, but superior to it. That potentially eliminates the erosion of ticket sales to alternative media.”
However, questions about the future of 3D in movie theaters abound. Will theaters switch to digital cinema and 3D cinemas fast enough? How will theaters and movie studios share the burden of the capital expense required for new technology? And how soon will 3D technology make it to the home and negate any advantage previously offered by movie theaters?
Movie Theaters Go Digital … Slowly
Jehoshua Eliashberg, a marketing professor at Wharton, and Daniel Levinthal, a management professor, question whether the movie industry is progressing fast enough to roll out the digital cinema systems necessary to move to 3D and beyond. “3D is a step in the right direction, but it isn’t enough,” says Eliashberg.
Eliashberg considers 3D technology to be a mere complement to digital cinema technology, which would represent an upgrade to the way films are distributed today. “In a broader context, 3D is an add-on to digital cinema. Digital projection is more fundamental. How quickly digital cinema penetrates theaters will determine how successful 3D becomes,” says Eliashberg.
According to the National Association of Theater Owners, a Washington, D.C.-based trade group, there are 38,000 movie screens in the U.S. with an estimated 5,000 of them equipped with digital cinema technology.
Digital cinema technology allows theaters to show movies on the big screen based on digital media rather than reels of photographic film. For the studios, digital movie distribution is less expensive because there’s no need to print and transport reels of film. With digital technology, studios can distribute movies via satellite or digital media such as computer hard drives. Eliashberg says the savings from digital conversion should make the capital spending easier to swallow.
Despite those potential efficiencies, the move to digital cinema technology has hit speed bumps as studios and theaters bicker over who should foot the bill for the installation of the new digital systems. Other hurdles to the implementation of digital theater systems are standards for digital projection technology and usage fees among content creators, studios and theaters. Katzenberg acknowledged on Dreamworks’ earnings conference call that “3D and digital screen conversion is not taking place as rapidly as we had hoped.” Movie studios, which are planning a full release schedule of 3D movies, are hoping theaters can install enough digital systems before the studios’ films are released.
“There’s an interesting contrast behind the slow move to digital systems,” explains Levinthal. “Theaters don’t want to put up capital costs for new equipment. For distributors, moving to digital affects costs, but doesn’t increase revenue. From a systems point of view, it makes sense to go digital because there are unambiguous cost savings [for both sides].”
The logjam between studios and theaters appears to be breaking, however. The Wall Street Journal reported on October 1 that Lion’s Gate Entertainment would join four other studios in a joint venture led by theater owners to share digital conversion costs. The joint venture, Digital Cinema Implementation Partners (DCIP), owned by AMC, Regal and Cinemark Holdings, had previously announced that it was working with Paramount Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures and Walt Disney to find the most effective way to create a digital distribution system to go with technology being installed today. DCIP represents 14,000 screens.
Individual theaters are upgrading to digital projection technology, but progress has been spotty. Experts at Wharton note that the DCIP is large enough to start a groundswell of digital conversions if it can reach deals with the major studios.
Alan Stock, CEO of Cinemark, said August 8 on an earnings conference call that DCIP had signed a digital deployment agreement with a major studio. Reuters had reported in July that DCIP’s deal was with News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox, which has not confirmed such an agreement. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sept. 8 that DCIP reached deals with Universal and Disney. Stock added that DCIP’s deal with one major studio could lead to others. “DCIP achieved its first concrete step towards completion with the signing of a digital deployment agreement with a major studio,” said Stock. “This should get the ball rolling for additional studios. Once these agreements have been finalized, DCIP can start moving ahead with securing the necessary financing. While the credit markets are certainly more challenging today than when DCIP was formed, we continue to feel confident that they will be able to secure financing. If everything goes as planned, we expect to be able to begin our digital and 3D rollout around the year-end.”
Is 3D a Sustainable Edge?
As these new digital cinema systems and 3D movies hit the theaters, one question remains: Will 3D movies give theaters a permanent technology edge?
For now, it is clear 3D movies are an audience draw. On Carmike Cinemas’ second quarter earnings call August 11, CEO Michael Patrick said the company showed Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D on 327 screens and generated five times the per-screen revenue compared to regular films. Patrick also reported that “we experienced no customer push-back from our $2 3D surcharge.”
Patrick added that Carmike is currently evaluating whether to install another 100 3D projection units. “The current units have the newest technology, allowing us to offer the 3D experience in our largest auditoriums, an ability we could not offer at the time we rolled out our 3D program in the last two years,” said Patrick, who noted that there are 23 3D movies expected through 2010 as of August 15.
That continuing stream of movies will be critical to determining 3D’s success. Dreamworks Animation is committed to putting all of its future films in 3D starting with the March 2009 release of Monsters vs. Aliens, but Levinthal says that it’s unclear whether there will be enough films taking advantage of new technologies. Will dramas, comedies and documentaries follow animated and action movies to 3D?
Eliashberg agrees that content remains the wild card. If movie studios don’t get enough content to take advantage of new technologies, the upfront capital spending won’t pay off. “The biggest threat is supply of good movies,” says Eliashberg, noting that Warner Brothers recently announced it was cutting its slate of planned movies to focus on films based on its comic book characters, such as Superman and Batman.
Meanwhile, it’s still unclear whether 3D technology is just a gimmick or the beginning of a mainstream trend. Whitehouse points out that many innovations in cinema technology are initially exploited as gimmicks. Some, like Smell-O-Vision and AromaRama, which dispersed scents into the theater, quickly fade. But others live on past the gimmick phase to become a standard part of the movie viewing experience. As an example of the latter, Whitehouse cites Sensurround, which used powerful low-frequency speakers to add ground-shaking effects to movies like 1974’s Earthquake. While Sensurround came and went, slightly less intense low-frequency subwoofers became a standard component of multi-channel theatrical sound systems and home theater systems.
Whitehouse stresses that 3D similarly needs to advance beyond the gimmick stage. “We need to move beyond jutting objects off the screen at the audience and use depth as a natural component of the world on screen,” he says. Critics such as Roger Ebert have panned 3D technology because they feel it diminishes the story telling in favor of special effects.
Clemons adds that 3D can detract from the movie-going experience. For 3D movies to be much better than alternatives, it “requires that the 3D experience does not eliminate the joys of sharing. Going to the movies can be a social experience, but not if you are in a 3D headset that eliminates interaction with people around you.”
The Future: Beyond Just Movies
Perhaps the biggest question about 3D’s effect on movie theaters revolves around how soon 3D may be available for home theater systems. Indeed, Intel’s partnership with DreamWorks focuses on taking 3D technology into new markets. While Intel’s efforts are still in the early stages, experts at Wharton say it’s just a matter of time before 3D goes beyond the movie theater to home theater systems.
If 3D isn’t the Holy Grail for movie theaters, what is? Eliashberg says theater owners should think of themselves more as entertainment facilities where movies are just part of the value proposition. If a night out includes a dinner and a movie, why not have both in the same facility? Just as Las Vegas morphed from a gambling destination to an entertainment center, so can movie theaters adopt a broader role, he suggests. “Theaters need to evolve from film facilities to entertainment facilities. There has to be other activities beyond just going to the movies.”
Eliashberg also added that cinemas could also improve customer targeting. For instance, 3D movies may not work in all theaters because the demographics may not support it. Will a retirement community go to see the latest animated film in 3D? “The promise of digital cinema could be to get the right movie to the right audience. The movie industry is not custom designing movies to clientele,” says Eliashberg. “Exhibitors can have all the technology and gizmos, but they increasingly have to act as retailers and make sure their offering is in line with the clientele. 3D is just one part of the equation.”


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Influencers have become a key part of the games industry in a very short amount of time.
It’s why this month we’re running articles like the below to get a closer insight into this important part of the games industry.
We’re also taking things further with the imminent launch of a brand new site in the influencer space. It’ll be looking at influencers in all areas, not just gaming and not just mobile (though naturally mobile games will play a big role in our coverage).
The PR industry has evolved dramatically in the past 10 years and online marketing and distribution has become more favourable than ever.
With an array of free tools, a huge concentration of content creators and a saturation of social influencers, a new game - or indeed any product - could be the recipient of a huge buzz without you having to spend a penny.
Here are our top four things you have to know about the role of influencers right now.
Main image credit: FreeImages.com/Marcelo Barboza
Click here to view the list »


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Department stores eye VIP customers as key to overcoming pandemic
A 30-year-old woman who spent some 140 million won ($124,000) in Shinsegae Department Store’s Daegu branch last year was shocked when she recently learned that she had failed to be selected as "Trinity," the highest level in Shinsegae’s VIP membership program. Instead she was selected for the second highest level, Diamond.
“The year before last, I spent only 120 million won in a year and was selected as Trinity,” she said. “But last year, I failed to qualify even though I spent an additional 20 million won.”
Shinsegae Department Store has six different levels it uses to rank their VIP customers depending on the amount of money they spend per year. Only the 999 people who spend the most annually qualify for the Trinity level.
“Our VIP customers spent more in the department store last year,” said a spokesperson for Shinsegae Department Store. “Even a VIP customer who spent more than 160 million won last year failed to be selected as Trinity.”
According to the three major department stores in Korea — Lotte, Shinsegae and Hyundai — the number of VIP customers who have spent more than 100 million won per year sharply rose last year, largely thanks to the strengthened social distancing guidelines that prevented people from traveling overseas.
At Lotte, Shinsegae and Hyundai, only people who regularly spend at least 4 million won per year are classified as VIP. The VIPs are also ranked by different levels depending on the amount of money they have spent in the particular department stores.
At Lotte Department Store, the number of VIP customers who have spent more than 100 billion won last year increased 24 percent compared to a year earlier. The number of VIP customers in Hyundai Department Store also rose 10 percent year-on-year.
“More VIP customers splurged on luxury goods last year as they were banned from traveling overseas,” said an anonymous source from the industry. “In particular, the VVIP customers spent a lot.”
A 50-year-old woman who is in Lotte’s Avenual level — the highest VIP level of the department store's membership program — said she replaced all of her home appliances and furniture last year as she had to spend more time at home due to the pandemic.
“Sales of costly jewelry that is priced at some tens of millions of won also jumped last year,” said a spokesperson at Lotte Department Store. “As customers are not allowed to enjoy certain leisure activities in the country, more VIP customers spent lavishly at department stores.”
For department stores, which have been suffering from a decline in the number of customers due to the virus outbreak, VIP customers are what they need to attract.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, sales from 57 branches of three major department stores across the country declined 9.8 percent last year compared to a year ago. Sales dropped in almost all sectors including clothing, food and sports.
The total sales of women’s casual wear plunged by 32 percent year-on-year, while sales in the men’s clothing sector fell 31 percent on year. Sales in the children and sports department also dropped by 17.7 percent and sales of food decreased by 17.1 percent.
Only two sectors in the three department stores saw an increase in sales — home appliances and luxury goods. Sales of home appliances increased by 10.6 percent year-on-year while sales of luxury goods surged by 15.1 percent on year.
The increases can be attributed to VIP customers.
“In particular branches including the Gangnam branch in southern Seoul, saw some 40 percent of total sales come from VIP customers,” said a source from the industry.
As part of efforts to attract more possible customers, department stores are scrambling to come up with unique services and benefits that are only available for VIP customers. VIPs are offered services such as exclusive use of lounges and discount coupons.
Department stores are also enthusiastic about dividing VIP customers into as many different levels as possible.
Lotte Department Store recently added “Avenual” on top of its highest level “Lenith.” Only customers who spend more than 100 million won are classified as Lenith while those who spend over 100 million won, in particular on luxury brands, are deemed Avenual.
“We recently revised our VIP customer level system as part of efforts to secure our VIP customers for a longer period of time,” said a spokesperson for Lotte Department Store.
Hyundai Department Store is also catching up at rapid speed.
The department store recently introduced a new VIP membership program dubbed Club YP, targeting younger customers. YP stands for Young VIP.
Members of Club YP will be selected from customers born in 1983 or after that have spent more than 20 million won at the department store last year.
Of total sales at Hyundai Department Stores, purchases by people in their 20s increased by 37.7 percent last year compared to a year earlier while sales by people in their 30s rose by 28.1 percent on year.
BY BAEK MIN-JEONG, CHEA SARAH [email@example.com]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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Moto M leaks in new images, renders, suggests near launch date
Having already cleared its TENAA certification back in August of this year, it is surprising that we still haven’t seen the launch of the Moto M from none other than Motorola but it seems that things would be changing soon because we have been able to spot it in a lot of promotional renders and live images now and if that should mean anything, it is that the wait is not long anymore.
From what we have heard, this would be the first device that would leave the works of Motorola with a fingerprint scanner on the back of it and carrying a premium build of pure metal, we are expecting them to complement the 5.5 inch of screen with a 3000mAh battery.
Under the hood, here is the expectancy of either 3GB or 4GB of RAM and paired to this would be an internal storage space option of either 32GB or 64GB too. On the front, there is an 8MP camera to suit your selfie needs while the back is adorned with a 16MP snapper which keeps the fingerprint sensor company. While the information on pricing is still at large, we now already that it would run the Marshmallow 6.0 out of the box.
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Hyundai Motor has revealed the first glimpse of the new i30 ahead of its public world premiere at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show.
Hyundai has teased the all-new i20, indicating that it will feature a completely new design and that it will be the first car in Europe to carry Hyundai’s new design language: ‘Sensuous Sportiness’.
In response to significant customer demand, Hyundai Motor UK has announced that customer waiting times for the new 2020 Kona Electric will be significantly reduced.
The all-new Hyundai NEXO has taken BTS to the 62nd Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, grabbing global headlines for their partnership promoting the fuel-cell electric vehicle.
Hyundai Motor UK has claimed another two accolades, with both the IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid and the i10 being named the UK’s best plug-in hybrid and city car respectively.


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West Grey Police execute search warrant on alleged cannabis dispensary in Dornoch.
On Monday the 27th of August, 2018 at approximately 8:30am, the West Grey Police Service executed a search warrant on an alleged cannabis dispensary in Dornoch, Ontario.
Police received public complaints and concerns that a local ice cream shop was selling ice cream as well as selling cannabis in the same building and that children were entering this store. Signs displayed out front of the store indicated that drug paraphernalia was sold in the store and a sign had been posted across the storefront stating “marijuana kills pain.” A deep concern was that children were attending this narrow ice cream shop which had ice cream for sale on the one side and the other side there was marihuana, pipes and bongs for sale behind a glass counter.
Upon entry to the building, Police arrested the 63 year old owner who has a registered address in Mississauga, Ontario. Police located a large amount of what is believed to be cannabis as well as over one-hundred bags of what is believed to be “edibles.” A large quantity of drug paraphernalia was also located and seized. The “edibles” where packaged to target children being sold in the form of gummies and lollipops.
It is important to note that Health Canada only recognizes that medical marihuana be either grown by a licensed user for their own medical purpose or the sale of medical marihuana by a licensed medical marihuana producer. The sale by a licensed producer is done online or by telephone, and there are no legal store fronts to purchase medical marihuana. Health Canada’s website provides a list of authorized licensed producers of cannabis to which the Dornoch dispensary address was not listed as an authorized vendor. These stores are not legal and the product they are selling is not tested or regulated. The product they are selling is potentially harmful because they do not know what it is in the product.
Further, it is imperative to remember that possession of cannabis remains illegal until it is legalized on October 17, 2018. Ontario’s Government will be ready with rules that keep cannabis out of the hands of children and youth, and keep our roads safe.
Ontario has passed new laws about how, where and who can buy, possess and consume cannabis in the province. These rules are similar to those in place for alcohol and tobacco, with some differences. Every consumer should educate themselves as to what laws apply to their specific case. Information can be found at www.ontario.ca/page/cannabis-legalization .
Subsequent to Police investigation, the 63 year old home owner was arrested and charged with four counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking contrary to the Controlled Drug and substances Act (CDSA) and one count of Possession of Marihuana contrary to the CSDA. The accused was held in custody for a bail hearing which will occur out of the Walkerton Courthouse on the 28th day of August, 2018.
The Federal Government has committed to changes to laws and regulations as they relate to cannabis; however, until such changes are proclaimed law, the present provision of the CDSA in relation to possession and sale of cannabis remains in force. The West Grey Police Service will continue to investigate all allegations of criminal activity, including the sale and trafficking of cannabis dispensaries.
Cst. Cory Trainor
West Grey Police Service
Media Relations Officer
Facebook: West Grey Police Service


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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has been urging retailers to pull products from manufacturers in Thailand who practice monkey labor.
In this clip, Pat and the guys discussed that, since 2019, PETA's investigation allegedly found animal abuse on every monkey plantation.
According to USA Today, one of the brands removed from Costco is Chaokoh, made by Theppadungporn Coconut Co. Ltd, which is one of the largest manufacturers of coconut products.
"No kind shopper wants monkeys to be chained up and treated like coconut-picking machines," PETA President Ingrid Newkirk stated. "Costco made the right call to reject animal exploitation, and PETA is calling on holdouts like Kroger to follow suit."
"What really drives this change is retailers not supporting the product, and of course, customers not buying the product. Costco is a major player that should have an impact," Stein said.
"See, we want coconut milk, but we don't care how we get it," Pat said with sarcasm.
Watch the clip for more details.
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To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


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Even though the term corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been around since the late 1960s, it has only really gained tremendous momentum and meaning since the financial meltdown of 2008. CSR can be defined as the way companies integrate social, environmental and economic concerns into their values and operations in a transparent, accountable manner. Simply put, how are we giving back?
However, the issue has been how to make a profit while doing the right thing, as CSR initiatives have been seen to be long-term in nature, accompanied by softer metrics. Therefore, can CSR initiatives be sustainable and help drive profitability? Or from a marketing perspective, can CSR help drive brand equity?
Adweek (March 31, 2010), reported on a survey that measured consumer perceptions of CSR practices and ranked companies that are the most responsible. It found that, despite the recession, 75 per cent of consumers believed social responsibility is important, and 55 per cent of consumers said they would choose a product that supports a particular cause against similar products that did not. The same article noted that one industry where perceptions have declined significantly is healthcare. This is very sad news, but perhaps not a big surprise.
For an industry like the pharmaceutical sector that does so much good for the health and wellbeing of patients and stakeholders, it is unfortunate that its favourability rating is in the same category as financial institutions, oil, petrol and tobacco companies.
This perception stems from business issues that the pharma industry is constantly addressing, whether it is about new government interventions (and there are plenty happening in Europe), market access and price, patent expiry and so on. It has become an industry that is always on the defensive. Yet, while it works to both enhance and save lives, it is judged through one-dimensional financial measures (i.e. price) and therefore seen as too expensive.
The result is that credibility has been eroded and it is now time to rebuild it. This is best summed up by a quote by Leroy Stick (aka @BPGlobalPR) in reference to the BP oil spill: “You know the best way to get the public to respect your brand? Have a respectable brand.”
The implications for marketers are:
Adapt or be left behind
From a communications perspective, it is getting more complicated. First, the target audience or stakeholders has expanded dramatically in the last decade. Previously, it was quite straightforward: rep to doctor to patient to pharmacist. Now, there are more specialities of healthcare professionals in the mix: market access/payers, advocacy groups, caregivers, case managers, nurses, personal assistants, group practices and so on. This has resulted in the need to address these fragmented audiences with more synchronised efforts and communications.
Second, as important as it is to define to whom communications should be targeted, it is just as important, and perhaps more so, to understand where to find them.
A decade or so ago, it was straightforward. Virtually all material was in print and delivered by the rep. Today, the digital environment has made some of this traditional mix less important as the shift has gone towards digital. However, in the digital space, there are so many communication channels: opportunities from web, augmented reality, mobile, blogs and social media, to name a few. In fact, technology is outpacing the ability to learn all the new media for digital communications.
The point is that where customers receive information from has changed and those customers are in charge of selecting when and how they receive that information. As such, to make an impact with brands, it must be ensured that the brand and what it represents match what the customers want to experience. Therefore, this means marketing for the customers rather than at them.
Who cares wins
The study 'Generating Global Brand Equity Through Corporate Social Responsibility to Key Stakeholders' (Anna Torres et al, Economics and Business Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain) examined 57 global brands from 10 countries: US, Japan, South Korea, France, UK, Italy, Germany, Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands, over a six-year period. The report demonstrated that CSR to various stakeholders, including customers, shareholders, employees, suppliers and community, had a positive effect on global brand equity.
Furthermore, policies aimed at satisfying community interest helped reinforce the credibility of socially responsible policies to other stakeholders.
As noted in David Jones's book, entitled Who Cares Wins, the most successful businesses in the future will be those that are the most socially responsible. A major global study found that approximately three-quarters (74 per cent) of consumers think that business bears as much responsibility for driving positive social change as governments.
How to embrace CSR
Tips for including CSR as an integral part of the brand include:
Ironically, pharma had been displaying strong CSR since well before the term was recognised. Think about all the healthcare programmes that have been set up for indigenous populations in developing nations; the vaccination programmes, the free medication, the subsidisation of clinics, for example. The industry has often done so much good behind the scenes but it has not been good at gaining recognition for this.
Consider the actions of parent company, Havas, which has been actively involved in CSR over the years, too, making it part of the company's strategy. One programme that illustrates its commitment is One Young World (www.oneyoungworld.com), a global forum for young leaders. In fact, no other youth-dominated event gathers representatives from more countries, except the Olympic Games.
At the 2011 summit in Zurich, 1,200 delegates from 171 countries issued calls to action to young people around the world: on the role of corporations within the developing world; on government policy on social media; on inter-faith dialogue; on the impact of climate change; the obesity epidemic and immunisation policy, as well as starting the #wakeupcall movement targeting governments everywhere.
In their deliberations, they were inspired and activated by counsellors – leaders including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Yunus, Bob Geldof, Donna Karan, Fatima Bhutto, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Wael Ghonim and Unilever's Paul Polman.
Recognised world leaders are invited each year to lend their stature as counsellors to the delegates at that year's summit, inspiring them to take up leadership roles and responsibilities and drawing the attention of the world's governments and business leaders to the demands and aspirations of the next generation.
With over 100 actions taken by One Young World Ambassadors 2010, almost four million people have been impacted directly by, for example, the first African Student Leaders Summit, the Haitian and Zimbabwe Schoolbag projects and one of the ambassadors became the youngest person to ski to the geographic North Pole. Within months of Summit 2011, delegates had spoken at several international events, such as the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and two had begun running for political office: for the US Congress in Arizona and to become an MP in Uganda.
The third summit will be held in Pittsburgh, US, in October. There, the One Young World Ambassadors of 2011 will be reporting on the results of their global actions and the 2012 delegation will take up their roles in acting for positive global change.
The right image
The pharmaceutical industry has an opportunity to do what is right and provide customers with a brand experience that will make a difference beyond the clinical features. CSR opens the door to creating a more meaningful and tangible relationship with customers. Now is the time to embrace the environment of doing right and doing it well, thereby restoring the credibility and reputation of the industry. It is up to everyone to play a part.
Ed Stapor is partner and CEO Europe at Havas Health, as well as a member of the EACA Health Communications Council


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General Motors Doubles Bet on Electric Cars in China
General Motors announced plans Tuesday to launch 10 more new-energy vehicle models in China from 2021 through 2023, doubling the 10 it has already planned for 2016 through 2020.
The world’s largest automaker is the latest to extend its electric-car investments in China as the world’s largest auto market aims to gradually phase out fossil-fuel-powered vehicles.
- 1China’s Moon Explorer Posts Photo of Sprouting Cotton Plant
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- 3Luckin Coffee Reportedly Seeks IPO in Hong Kong
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- 5UnionPay International’s U Plan has covered over 1600 stores overseas


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GREENVILLE, S.C. – A popular country music-themed bar and grill chain that planned to open a location in Greenville has abandoned those plans.
Earlier this year, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill announced plans to open a restaurant at Magnolia Park on Woodruff Road, a move that it said would have brought more than 100 jobs, but the restaurant chain changed its mind.
Christine O’Rourke, a spokeswoman for Magnolia Park, said the Arizona-based restaurant chain decided it no longer wanted to expand into South Carolina.
“We see businesses every day in our business that have to make decisions like this,” said Greenville-based business consultant Phyllis Graydon. “Why is it not a good economic decision to be here? The timing is not right. Maybe they have other issues in their business, which we don’t know about.”
O’Rourke said Magnolia Park is already in talks with several well-known national chain restaurants and retailers that have expressed interested in the space.
She said the park plans to make an announcement on a replacement for Toby Keith’s within the next month or two.


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PayPal with cryptocurrency can pay at millions of online sellers. This could give a huge boost to the use of cryptocurrency in everyday trading.
What coins does PayPal accept?
Right now they are starting with Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin.
It is expected that customers who have bitcoin, ether, bitcoin cash and litecoin in PayPal’s digital wallets will be able to convert them into fiat currencies at checkout to make purchases. This will be rolled out to all 29 million sellers in the coming months.
“This is the first time you can use cryptocurrencies seamlessly in the same way you can use a credit or debit card with PayPal,” CEO Dan Schulman told Reuters.
Rise in price
Since November 2020, customers have been able to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrencies through PayPal’s platform. You can’t give PayPal all the credit, but since then the bitcoin price rose to a high of $61,000. Bitcoin has nearly doubled in value since the beginning of this year, spurred by increased interest from larger financial firms betting on greater acceptance and seeing it as a hedge against inflation.
Tesla announced about a week ago that they will accept bitcoin for their products. However, there is one big difference between Tesla and all PayPal affiliated sellers: Tesla keeps the bitcoins paid, but PayPal sellers receive dollars, even though the buyer pays with cryptocurrency. These are automatically converted.


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U.S. Retailers Likely to Just Meet Holiday Sales Forecasts: Experts
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|U.S. consumers have not turned out in force for the final shopping days before Christmas, suggesting that traditional retailers will just meet industry sales forecasts in a season marked by deep discounts and growing encroachment from online rivals led by Amazon. Super Saturday - the last pre-Christmas Saturday, which fell on Dec. 20 this year - failed to make up for spotty performance this season. That included a disappointing Black Friday, the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday that is typically one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
All Rights Reserved


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Ola Electric Revamps Corporate Structure As It Looks To Go Public
Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ola Electric is gearing up for its IPO and restructuring its corporate structure to convert itself from a private limited company to a public company.
The restructuring of the company is a crucial step for the company as it wants to list on the stock exchange. The name of the company has now been changed to Ola Electric Mobility Limited from Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited.
Earlier, the EV maker had bagged INR 3,200 crore of funding as a part of its equity and debt rounds raised from Temasek-led marquee investors and project debt from the State Bank of India, respectively. The funds raised would be utilised towards the expansion of Ola’s EV business and setting up India’s first lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu.
The company has been long planning to go public, and according to industry sources it’s aiming to list itself before end-2023. At present, Ola Electric has close to 35 per cent market share in the electric two-wheeler space and plans to launch e-motorcycle and e-passenger vehicles soon.
It was also shortlisted under the central government’s ambitious cell PLI scheme, receiving a maximum capacity of 20 GWh. The ACC PLI scheme is expected to play a key role in making India self-reliant and localising the most critical aspects of the EV value chain. Ola’s Future factory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu has an initial capacity of 5 GWh in phase I which will be further scaled up in phases to 100 GWh at full capacity.
Ola Electric recently expanded its scooter portfolio to five products, with prices ranging from INR 89,999 to INR 147,499. Unveiled as part of Ola’s annual flagship event last month, the S1 Pro, S1 Air, S1X+, S1X (3kWh), and S1X (2kWh).


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Revealing the high-performance version of the ID.4, Volkswagen said GTX is the ‘GTI’ of the EV world.
To be unveiled at the 2021 Shanghai auto show, the new ORA EV clearly follows the design template of a motoring icon.
Volkswagen issued a press release insisting it was indeed changing its name in the USA to Voltswagen.
Up to 80 percent of all Volkswagen Group electric vehicles will adopt a single-cell battery by 2030.
Ford will spend $1 billion to revamp its factory in Cologne, Germany and make it a base for production of battery powered cars using Volkswagen’s mechanical framework.
Ford India, Bosch India, Honda, Audi, various other car manufacturers around the world hit by semiconductor shortage
Semiconductors power all the on-board technology in vehicles, including the infotainment systems, powered door mirrors, and others.
The auto industry is already reeling, with sales of cars, SUVs, trucks and motorbikes falling 18 percent last fiscal year to 21.5 million vehicles due to an economic slowdown.
German automakers Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes on Monday said they have introduced online sales initiatives in India in order to help customers book vehicles from the safety of their homes amid the coronavirus pandemic
The loaner cars can be called upon for delivering food to a local food bank, transporting masks and gowns.
US football gets first woman president in Cindy Parlow Cone amid fallout over federation's 'sexist' legal stance in gender discrimination lawsuit
Now 41, Parlow Cone scored 75 goals in 158 appearances for the USA from 1995 to 2006, winning the 1999 World Cup and two Olympic gold medals with the team
US Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro resigns amid outcry over offensive comments in gender discrimination lawsuit
The USSF sparked a backlash when its legal papers in a gender discrimination lawsuit claimed the women's national team players had less physical ability and responsibility than their male counterparts
Electric car batteries could be used to stabilise the energy grid by charging the battery in times of excess supply.
In 2019, Volkswagen turned out 70,000 units of EVs, whereas, the company only produced 50,000 units in 2018.
As we head into 2020, we can't help but think that everything that happened in 2019 seemed like beginnings of a massive shift in the auto sector.
The global market for EVs is expected to grow from two percent currently to over 30 percent in 2030.
Suzuki Motor Corp said it was no longer gung-ho about India’s auto market, the world’s fourth-largest, where it has seen relentless growth in the past seven years. And the parent of the country’s biggest car maker is not alone
Audi is facing penalties for its failure to remove illegal software from diesel cars that can manipulate emissions levels.
India to woo foreign firms like Apple, Foxconn and other to capitalise on US-China trade war: Report
The trade war between the US and China, the world’s two largest economies, has led to higher tariffs on goods worth billions of dollars
Ford is one of four automaker, that reached a voluntary agreement with California on fuel efficiency rules defying Trump
On 10 July, the last Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the company's assembly line in Mexico. The iconic car had been in production since 1938 and has enamoured generations of car lovers across the globe.


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E-tailer giant Amazon is planning to set up a digital Wallet in India. The company, as a part of its initiatives to create an online payment business, would create the new digital Wallet system through acquisitions, a local newspaper reported quoting insider sources from the company. The plans were revealed at a time when Flipkart, its biggest rival in India launched its online payment system last week. The competition in India’s eCommerce market has forced the major players to get more control over the transactions. According to the sources, the launch of the digital wallet in India is likely a quarter away.
According to the sources, Amazon India is trying to acquire multiple companies specializing in the online payment sector. It is a major focus area and the company is trying to figure out what it needs to do”, one of the sources said, adding that the company has initiated acquisition talks with digital wallet and payments startups. As a part of setting up the digital Wallet, Amazon has hired former Citibank chief Sriraman Jagannathan, to head its payment business. Jagannathan was instrumental in launching telecom operator Bharti Airtel’s digital wallet, Airtel Money, in 2012.
In addition, Amazon has taken over Delhi based payments services provider Emvantage, which was the first acquisition for the eCommerce giant in India. Amazon previously launched a digital wallet in the United States, its home turf, in 2014 but shut it in six months.
Currently, Amazon India uses its gift cards as pre-paid instruments for buying on its online marketplace, offering customers the option to top up these cards for up to Rs 10,000, which is the limit applicable to digital wallets under Indian regulations. This month, during its ‘Super Value Day’ sale, the e-tailer offered customers cashbacks on Amazon.in gift cards if they shopped for a specified minimum amount.


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UpOnly is extremely excited to announce a new partnership with ArcadeNetwork to stream high-quality Metaverse data on the UpOnly platform. This partnership strengthens UpOnly’s position as the leading analytics platform for Metaverse projects and also unlocks access to an entirely new field of data.
ArcadeNetwork is a cross-chain bridge solution for securely transferring assets across supported blockchain gaming and Metaverse projects. ArcadeNetwork has secured interoperability partnerships with more than 50 Metaverse games, and is on track to onboard even more projects.
The partnership with UpOnly will see ArcadeNetwork serve as an aggregator that connects games within its ecosystem to the UpOnly Metaverse Directory. These projects will deliver high-quality on-chain data to the UpOnly platform, giving gamers and investors clear insight into the viability of in-game and Metaverse assets.
UpOnly is proud to partner with Arcade.Network to unlock a new field of data for the booming play-to-earn and Metaverse economies. UpOnly will continue to explore and secure further strategic partnerships aimed at improving the quality of data delivered on its premier Metaverse Directory.
ArcadeNetwork to Host Highly-Anticipated UpOnly NFT Sale
UpOnly taps ArcadeNetwork as exclusive partner for upcoming NFT sale
UpOnly and cross-chain bridge solution ArcadeNetwork are thrilled to announce that they are further strengthening their existing partnership through an exclusive NFT listing. The duo previously formed a partnership where ArcadeNetwork would deliver high-quality on-chain data from it’s vast array of connected Metaverse projects to the UpOnly data directory.
UpOnly is pleased to further strengthen their partnership by tapping ArcadeNetwork as the exclusive partner to host its highly-anticipated NFT sale. ArcadeNetwork is underpinned by a robust and cutting-edge infrastructure and they were the natural choice to coordinate the NFT listing and sale.
The UpOnly NFT launch will take place within the next two weeks. The exact date will be announced on ArcadeNetwork’s Twitter Profile. Prospective holders in the limited collection of only 50 pieces will get access to an exclusive newsroom within the media arm of UpOnly. This newsroom will provide premium insights on play-to-earn and Metaverse developments to UpOnly NFT holders. It will also allow holders to communicate with other UpOnly NFT holders and experts in the blockchain gaming field. Such access will give UpOnly NFT holders a distinct advantage in the play-to-earn and Metaverse markets. More NFT utilities and airdrops to be added.
Prospective UpOnly NFT holders can find further information on how to participate in ArcadeNetwork NFT listings through the informational article linked here. UpOnly is setting standards for excellence in the play-to-earn and Metaverse and the launch of this NFT collection will provide further utility to their rapidly growing user base.


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Evercore ISI media analyst Vijay Jayant believes that cord-cutting, after a record 2019, could ease up in 2020 as the remaining pay TV customer base appears more enamored of live news and sports.
In a research note, Jayant acknowledged that cord-cutting reached a peak in 2019 -- 6 million pay TV customers left the fold by his estimate, up from 4 million in 2018 -- but that there are signs that 2020 could be better for traditional distributors.
Jayant added that the 2019 results were in part artificially skewed by DirecTV, which lost 1.1 million customers in Q3 after discontinuing heavy promotional pricing. He also pointed to a survey conducted by Evercore ISI (using about 600 pay TV customers) that suggested that “with payTV penetration now sitting just over ~70%, the marginal cord cutter is more likely a stickier sports / news content consumer.”
As a result, he predicts that pay TVwould lose about 4.8 million subscribers to cord-cutters in 2020.
Virtual MVPDs, after two straight years of solid growth (2.5 million additions in both 2017 and 2018), slowed down in 2019, with Jayant estimating the category added less than 1 million customers in 2019. That slowdown should continue this year, especially since Sony PlayStation Vue, which Jayant estimated once had about 700,000 customers, has said it will close its doors early this year.
“The slowdown in MVPD subscriber growth has been driven by a combination of lower promotional discounts, higher list prices, and possibly increased password sharing,” Jayant wrote.
Growth in subscription video on demand services is expected to accelerate in 2020, as more new entrants come on the scene. The space, dominated by Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, is getting increasingly crowded with the November launch of Disney + and the expected debuts of HBO Max (May), NBC’s Peacock (April) joining other existing services like CBS All Access and Showtime. Jayant estimated that SVOD providers would add 30 million subscribers globally in 2020.
“While these services are not true substitutes for pay-TV, incremental content made available in the direct-to-consumer arena could still weigh on multichannel subscriber trends,” Jayant wrote.
While Jayant expects video margins to continue to contract -- he estimated programming costs per subscriber for Comcast and Charter would rise in the mid-to-high single digit percentages in 2020 -- that should be offset by broadband gains. The analyst expects about 3 million net broadband subscriber gains for the year, with cable continuing to take share from DSL. Fixed wireless 5G, he added, shouldn’t have an impact in 2020.
As far as wireless, Jayant noted that the key themes should continue to be ongoing consolidation efforts and the deployment of 5G offerings.
Jayant expects the 2020 election and the summer Olympics to drive TV advertising revenue up by mid-single digit percentages, with political spending expected to be up by 60% compared to 2016 given a number of tight races, with local broadcasters, MVPDs and cable networks being the biggest beneficiaries.
Among Jayant’s top picks for the year: ViacomCBS (which he says has an underappreciated digital business); Nexstar Media Group (due to political ad seasonality and benefits from its recent Tribune Media purchase); Charter Communications (he increased his price target on the stock to $600 per share citing strong operating free cash flow growth and market share performance).


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News headlines about MCBC Holdings (NASDAQ:MCFT) have been trending positive on Sunday, according to Accern Sentiment. The research firm scores the sentiment of news coverage by reviewing more than twenty million blog and news sources. Accern ranks coverage of publicly-traded companies on a scale of -1 to 1, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. MCBC Holdings earned a news sentiment score of 0.25 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave news stories about the company an impact score of 46.2540662427529 out of 100, meaning that recent news coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the company’s share price in the next few days.
Here are some of the news stories that may have impacted Accern’s analysis:
- MCBC Holdings (MCFT) vs. Malibu Boats (MBUU) Head-To-Head Survey (americanbankingnews.com)
- MCBC Holdings’ (MCFT) “Buy” Rating Reaffirmed at B. Riley (americanbankingnews.com)
- MCBC Holdings, Inc. to Host Earnings Call (finance.yahoo.com)
- MCBC Holdings, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2018 First-Quarter Results (finance.yahoo.com)
- MCBC Holdings misses 1Q profit forecasts (finance.yahoo.com)
MCBC Holdings (NASDAQ:MCFT) opened at $22.07 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $405.32 and a P/E ratio of 20.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.62. MCBC Holdings has a 52-week low of $12.76 and a 52-week high of $23.42.
Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. TheStreet upgraded MCBC Holdings from a “d+” rating to a “b-” rating in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded MCBC Holdings from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 29th. Aegis assumed coverage on MCBC Holdings in a report on Monday, October 2nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $26.00 target price for the company. BidaskClub cut MCBC Holdings from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, July 30th. Finally, B. Riley restated a “buy” rating and set a $24.00 target price (up from $21.50) on shares of MCBC Holdings in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. The stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $25.00.
MCBC Holdings Company Profile
MCBC Holdings, Inc (MCBC) is a holding company. The Company is a designer and manufacturer of inboard tournament ski boats and V-drive runabouts under the MasterCraft brand. The Company operates through two segments: MasterCraft and Hydra-Sports. The MasterCraft product brand consists of recreational performance boats primarily used for water skiing, wakeboarding and wake surfing, and general recreational boating.
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Hop uses a different business model which will allow it offer both drivers and passengers a better deal, according to the founder.
Hop is a ride-hailing service founded by Zeryab Cheema. Although he is only 20, he founded Taxi 24/7 five years ago to connect taxi drivers and passengers, and it has become the leading payment system among London's black cabs, Cheema said.
While Uber has established a significant market presence, Cheema noted that Lyft was able to gain traction against Uber in the US by treating drivers better, showing that "multiple players can exist in one market".
"Drivers are the biggest asset to a company," he said. So Hop drivers keep 100 percent of the fares they charge. At the same time, passengers pay less – about 40 percent less than a taxi ride, whereas Uber charges around 20 percent less than taxis, according to a Hop spokesperson.
Since Hop doesn't take a commission, drivers can earn more, even though passengers pay less, said Cheema.
So how does Hop make any money? Rather than drivers using their own cars, they rent from Hertz from as little as one hour up to 90 days, and Hop gets a commission from Hertz.
For example, a Nissan Dualis costs $6 an hour plus $0.20 per km or $66 a day for the first 200km, including insurance. (Hourly rentals will start in April.) If you want to drive something fancier, an Audi Q5 is $78 a day.
Renting allows drivers to use a near-new car without the capital cost of purchasing or the long-term commitment of a lease.
To mitigate the risk that drivers won't make enough in fares to cover the cost of renting the car, but Hop currently offers a "commission swap", Cheema explained. For example, it gave drivers the option of a $300 payment for being on the road between 6pm and 2am on the night of Thursday 19 January.
Hop has been piloted in Sydney, and the company has had promotional staff on the streets every day in certain locations to help people get their first rides. The plan is to extend this to particular venues and outlets, and to encourage operators - including bars, clubs and restaurants - to sell prepaid Hop vouchers.
The pilot will extend to Melbourne and Brisbane in the next two or three months before going into full operation in those three cities and spreading around the country.
The Hop app is currently only available for iOS, but an Android version is in beta test with release expected in February.


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Schawk Inc. to Be Acquired by Matthews International
CHICAGO—Pittsburgh-based Matthews International has reached a deal to obtain Schawk Inc. for about $577 million, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported.
As part of the deal, Schawk shareholders will receive $11.80 in cash and 0.20582 shares of Matthews stock for each Schawk share. The deal has been approved by the Schawk family and family trusts, which make for roughly 61 percent of the company's shares.
The deal is expected to close by September.
Matthews International is a marketing services and memorialization company. It provides cemetery and funeral home products as well as brand solutions. Matthews posted $985.3 million in sales for its latest fiscal year.


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London (UK) 1st December: The latest Global Media Landscape report, launched by GWI today, reveals the current picture of how consumers spend their media time. A key finding from the flagship report is how s-commerce may be the new wave of the future as social media usages continue to develop and evolve to meet consumer demands.
Consumers around the world now use social channels for shopping, catching up on the news, finding and researching the products they buy, and watching TV. The report finds that YouTube has become the new media norm for young consumers, with 80% of Gen Z and 73% of Millennials globally using the platform for watching TV. Some other key stats show:
· Social media is the dominant channel for the news – 58% of consumers in Q2 2022 globally consumed news via social media
· TV viewing habits are more competitive than ever – When it comes to TV viewing, it’s no longer a simple case of linear vs online TV battling it out for consumers’ attention. Global internet users still favour live TV (91%) and subscription services (73%) but video and social platforms such as YouTube are gaining traction here too, especially among younger generations. YouTube is the new media norm for young consumers globally, with 80% of Gen Z and 73% of Millennials using the platform for watching TV.
· Move over ecommerce, s-commerce has arrived – Since 2015, the number of people using social media for product searches has risen by 43%. There’s been a 7% increase in TikTok users who follow brand accounts since Q4 2020 and among users of the platform, 46% of Gen Z and Millennials admit to making an impulse purchase online at least every 2-3 weeks.
Jason Mander, Chief Research Officer at GWI, commented: “Our report uncovers the trends set to influence the global media landscape in the year ahead, with social media dominating the scene. Over the last few years, TV consumption habits have seen a rise in online and streaming TV and now, social platforms are starting to gain traction here too. Heavily influenced by the younger generations of Gen Z and Millenials, social media is continuing to gain momentum as consumers spend more time online. It’s no surprise we’re using social media platforms to not only get our daily news fix and watch TV, but for almost all phases of our online shopping journey too”.
The report represents more than 900,000 consumers and offers thousands of data points into consumer media usage patterns and behaviours of internet users around the world.
GWI’s latest Global Media Landscape report can be accessed here.
GWI is an audience insights technology company. Its SaaS platform and custom data products are trusted by the world’s biggest brands, media organizations, and agencies on a daily basis to gain a deep understanding of their audiences at speed.
The company’s flagship survey represents 2.7 billion people globally. Through a combination of survey data and analytics, clients can gather in-depth insights into behaviors, attitudes, and interests from rich data sets including GWI Kids, GWI Sports, GWI USA, GWI Gaming, GWI Travel and GWI Work.
All figures in this report are drawn from GWI’s online research among internet users ages 16-64. Our figures are representative of the online populations of each market, not its total population. Note that in many markets in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region, low internet penetration rates can mean online populations are more young, urban, affluent and educated than the total population.
Each year, GWI interviews over 900,000 internet users aged 16-64 via an online questionnaire for our Core dataset. A proportion of respondents complete a shorter version of this survey via mobile, hence the sample sizes presented in the charts throughout this report may differ as some will include all respondents and others will include only respondents who completed GWI’s Core survey via PC/ laptop/tablet.
When reading this report, please note that we focus on data from our ongoing global quarterly research, but also refer to our monthly Zeitgeist studies across 9 markets.
Throughout this report we refer to indexes. Indexes are used to compare any given group against the average (1.00), which unless otherwise stated refers to the global average. For example, an index of “1.20” means that a given group is 20% above the global average, and an index of “0.80” means that an audience is 20% below the global average.


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Wonder why your Apple iPhone reception sucks in San Francisco? Most of us will (rightly) blame AT&T but Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the local governments should also get some of the blame.
During the “Antennagate” press conference Friday, Jobs said it can be difficult to make network upgrades in certain markets. In Texas, it takes about three weeks to get a new cell tower up but it takes up to three years in San Francisco, Jobs said.
“That’s the single biggest problem they’re having,” Jobs said about AT&T.
One of the major reasons AT&T’s network is vilified for Apple iPhone coverage is that it’s terrible in San Francisco and a disproportionate amount of the tech press lives here. This makes the press narrative more negative than it may truly be about Apple iPhone reception.
AT&T wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of data demands that came with the Apple iPhone and that’s clear. To be fair though, the company has been making massive investments to improve its network and this does appear to the be paying off.
I’ve been accused of being a carrier apologist before because I don’t immediately blame the carriers for everything. These companies can definitely be doing a better job of investing and rolling out infrastructure improvements, but the carrier can’t just bulldoze its way to a better network, as it has to get the approval of local governments to put up new cellular towers.
I’ve lived and love San Francisco for the last five years but the local government can be maddeningly slow when it comes to new development. Many of these local politicians carry an Apple iPhone too, but they don’t want a new cell phone tower.
It’s a tough situation that could be helped by the moves of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, who is a big backer of the mobile industry. He recently implemented a “shot clock” for new cell tower implementation, which could make it easier for carriers to roll out new infrastructure.


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Heck Sausages Visit Cornwallis
There could be 'wurst' ways to spend an afternoon than tasting a selection of high quality sausages, as students at Cornwallis Academy will confirm!
A tasty selection of bangers were on offer in food technology lessons on Tuesday, 8th March, thanks to a visit from British sausage farmers, Heck.
The family-run business delivered a presentation to Year 9 students about their company, before challenging the group to design their own innovative recipes.
Angela Broome, head of food technology at the school in Hubbards Lane, Linton, said: "It was great to welcome Heck to the academy. They gave the students a real insight into the company, including its high standards when it comes to ingredients."


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Porsche was racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with their 2015 911 RSR model adapted to the new 2016 rules, being far from ideal to take on the likes of Ford and Ferrari, which were in with purpose built models from the first race of the new rulebook. But it’s not like a proper car wasn’t being prepared, and the kid was finally revealed to the public.
There were already some spy shots from its tests at Sebring earlier in the year, but nothing was confirmed in terms of changes other than what the eye can see.
The main change in the new 911 RSR GTE is the mid to rear engine position after some years in the rear mounted layout, which should offer some stability gains to tackle the other mid-engined monsters with more comfort. The road going 911 RS has a rear mounted engine, and despite this huge change, it was announced that a new batch of road going cars in the race car engine layout won’t be coming into production, as this kind of modification is still within the LMGTE rules.
The new car will stick to natural aspiration instead of going turbo like its rivals or what was speculated in the first test shots, with the reason to it being that the regulations do a good job at balancing aspirated and turbo engines, so the boxer six-cylinder unit is still there, producing around 510 hp. The noticeable aero changes are also a thing to watch, with the new rear wing inspired in the 919 Hybrid LMP1 model and the new big diffuser, following the trend of the new LMGTE cars.
The new 911 RSR GTE will do its real life debut at the ROLEX 24 at Daytona next year, but in the virtual world it will come to the Assetto Corsa simulator at the end of December.


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Apple Inc. needs a cheaper iPhone to keep pace with low-cost rivals, analysts said, after the company’s smartphone sales fell short of lofty expectations in the holiday shopping season.
Apple’s shares fell as much as 8.8 percent on Tuesday, their steepest decline in a year, a day after the company’s weak revenue forecast for the current quarter renewed fears about Chinese smartphone demand and a tepid global market.
The world’s most valuable technology company had lost $43 billion of its market capitalization — more than the entire market value of Twitter Inc — at the stock’s intra-day low of $502.07.
Activist investor Carl Icahn, who is waging a public campaign to get Apple to return more cash to shareholders, bought up $500 million worth of Apple stock — his third purchase of the same size in less than a week — to boost his total investment in the iPhone maker to more than $4 billion.
The record 51 million iPhones sold by Apple in the quarter ended Dec. 28 fell short of the 55 million expected by Wall Street.
The iPhone 5C sells for $549 without a two-year contract with a telecom carrier. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd’s flagship Galaxy S4 now sells for $530 without a contract in the United States, while Google Nexus 5 sells for $350.
Analysts said they were looking to the launch of the iPhone 6, a mid-range smartphone, and wearable devices such as iWatch in the second half of the year to boost investor confidence.
“Apple has the ability to lower the price of the iPhone to compete more aggressively in the midrange, and we believe the resulting elasticity would yield net profit improvements,” Goldman Sachs analysts said.
Apple maintained its gross profit margin of 37.9 percent for the quarter just ended, as more people opted for the high-margin iPhone 5S than the 5C.
But rival Samsung, which has a phone for every budget, widened its lead over Apple by cornering 29.6 percent of the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2013, ahead of Apple’s 17.6 percent, data from research firm Strategy Analytics showed.


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1. Chaldal Launches Bangladesh’s Largest E-commerce Warehouse
Chaldal, the leader in online grocery, is set to launch Bangladesh’s largest E-commerce warehouse in Dhaka today in a move to consolidate its position in the market. The new warehouse will work as the central warehouse, connecting other smaller ones enabling the company to improve its productivity, save cost and improve logistics.
2. CMED Health Wins The HEAD Foundation Innovative Social Enterprise Award At SVC 2018
CMED Health, the Dhaa-based preventative healthcare startup, has won The HEAD Foundation Innovative Social Enterprise Award in the DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge Asia (SVC Asia) 2018, jointly organized by NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, and DBS Foundation. As part of the award, CMED will receive an S$20,000 in a grant. CMED Health is the first enterprise from Bangladesh to win the prestigious award.
3. Introducing Founder Stories: The Largest Collection Of Interviews Of Bangladeshi Entrepreneurs
We are excited to share our first major collective knowledge project, Founder Stories, a collection of interviews with founders and entrepreneurs from diverse walks of life building consequential companies.
4. Light Of Hope Founder Waliullah Bhuiyan Wins The Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards 2018
Waliullah Bhuiyan, Founder and CEO of Education startup Light of Hope, has been named as one of the winners of the 2018 Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards. Waliullah is one of eight entrepreneurs who has been chosen for this year’s awards from 2,120 entrepreneurs who applied for the awards from every continent. The other seven winners are Andrew Almack, Founder of Plastics for Change, Diana Chao, Founder of Letters to Strangers, Samir Lakhani, Founder of Eco-Soap Bank, Priya Prakash, Founder of HealthSetGo, Adepeju Jaiyeoba, Founder of Mother’s Delivery Kit, Mayank Midha, Co-Founder of GARV Toilets, and Abi Ramanan, Co-Founder of ImpactVision.
5. With Its Sub-brand Growups, Cookups Tiptoes Into Online Grocery
Cookups, the on-demand homemade food marketplace, has been doing a lot of interesting stuff lately. For example, it has been selling fresh produce and groceries under a sub-brands aptly named Growups. It says it sells only safe produce and vegetables under this brand. The model for Growups is similar to Cookups overall model - a marketplace. It has enlisted a handful of producers and suppliers who sell safe food in Dhaka to sell their products using Cookups’s platform. It charges a small commission on each fulfilled order.
6. Shadmart’s Parent Company Gets Into B2B Cross-border Logistics Business, Launches Shadco Express
Shadco Group, the parent company of eCommerce startup Shadmart, has launched a new Shipping Solution for 3rd Party companies in Bangladesh who want to import products from Chinese companies. The service, aimed at the SME businesses in Bangladesh who already import from China and have suppliers there, plans to simply import from China to Bangladesh by offering an integrated shipment solution that includes paperwork to loading and unloading to customs clearance to final delivery. It also provides online tracking solution, SMS notification, free consultation, and 12-hour customer support.


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Episode 13 - HONOR General Manager Fred Zhou unpacks the launch of the Flagship Magic Series in South Africa
In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, HONOR South Africa General Manager Fred Zhou explains what makes the new HONOR Magic Series smartphones disruptive in South Africa.
HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices and was founded in 2013.
Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, HONOR has grown to become the biggest smartphone brand in the Chinese market and has quickly expanded this popularity worldwide.
With the launch of two new flagship smartphones, Honor expects to grow its popularity in South Africa’s premium segment in 2024, too.
In this episode of What's Next, Zhou unpacks HONOR’s launch of the Flagship Magic Series in South Africa and how they plan to lead foldable and AI technology in the smartphone industry.
Zhou begins this interview by unpacking HONOR as a company and discussing its history in South Africa.
He then focuses on the new HONOR Magic Series smartphones – the Magic 6 Pro and the Magic V2.
Zhou explains how HONOR’s approaches to foldable smartphones and smartphone AI differ from those of its competitors, before detailing how this manifests in the HONOR Magic series.
He unpacks the Magic Series’ target audience, before revealing the pricing and availability of these smartphones in South Africa.
Zhou ends the interview by highlighting HONOR South Africa’s key focuses in 2024.
More episodes from What's Next Season 9