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If your Facebook page starts to look different or the platform starts asking you whether you’re okay with having your data shared in the coming weeks or months, you’ll have Europe to thank for it: The company has begun to roll out Facebook privacy changes to comply with a new data protection measure in the European Union.
Late on Tuesday, Facebook announced the first steps it is taking to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, a new privacy law out of Europe designed to make sure users know and understand the data companies collect about them and consent to sharing it. Set to be enacted on May 25, the GDPR is the most sweeping overhaul of online privacy in more than two decades.
Starting this week, Facebook is introducing what it called new “privacy experiences,” said Facebook chief privacy officer Erin Egan and deputy general counsel Ashlie Beringer in a post laying out the changes.
The announcement seeks to cast the changes as something Facebook wanted to do — which, given the company’s past bad behavior in protecting user data and Mark Zuckerberg’s history of privacy violations and apologies — it probably did not.
European users will start to see changes this week; they’ll be prompted to agree to certain elements of Facebook and asked to give the terms of service a second look. Facebook users in the US and the rest of the world are expected to get the same treatment “on a slightly later schedule.”
Here’s what Facebook says is changing, starting with Europe:
- Facebook will prompt users to say whether they want to see targeted ads based on the political, religious, and relationship information they’ve shared on their profiles or data collected by Facebook’s partners. They’ll also make it easier for people to delete information they don’t want shared.
- Users in the European Union and Canada will be asked whether they want to turn off Facebook’s face recognition feature it uses to, for example, suggest tagging you in pictures posted by others. (Face recognition technology is already optional for anyone on Facebook.)
- Facebook will prompt users to agree to its terms of service and data policy, which was updated earlier this month.
- People under the age of 18 will have some special features, including requiring parent or guardian permission for those between the ages of 13 and 15 to see targeted ads in some European countries, and restricted sharing and less personalized ads. Later this year, Facebook will introduce a new “global online resource center” for teens.
Facebook said new settings and privacy shortcut features it unveiled last week were built with GDPR in mind and will start appearing this week. They essentially make Facebook’s privacy tools easier to find, including those that let you locate, download, and delete your Facebook data. (Vox’s Jen Kirby has an explanation of how to do that, and what you’ll discover Facebook has been tracking about you is pretty wild.)
Facebook’s GDPR adjustments are a first step in a long road ahead toward fixing its data privacy problems
The Cambridge Analytica scandal, which left the data of an estimated 87 million people exposed, has kicked off a global debate about Facebook’s privacy practices and just how much it knows — and shares — about its users.
Before news of the scandal broke, Europe, which has traditionally been tougher on big tech, had the GDPR ready to go. But in the United States, lawmakers and regulators have been caught flat-footed. There are a handful of ideas out there for cracking down on Facebook in the US, including the proposed Honest Ads Act on political ad disclosures online and potential action from the Federal Trade Commission, but most of them are in nascent stages at best.
Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO and chair, testified for several hours before Senate and House committees last week, and the results were less than satisfying. Many lawmakers, specifically in the Senate, seemed confused about what Facebook does and what its problems even are. Much of the time, Zuckerberg pivoted to easier answers or said his team would follow up.
“Right now Congress can’t even decide on lunch, so I don’t expect them to do anything meaningful,” Kara Swisher, a veteran tech journalist and executive editor of Recode, recently told Vox’s Sean Illing.
Zuckerberg has said many of the GDPR-required changes will be applied globally, though he has largely stopped short of specifics. As European users start to see changes this week, the rest of us will have to wait and see.


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Internet Explorer has lost half of its users in a year’s time. In January 2016 the browser accounted for 40% of the browser market. Now, a year later, Microsoft’s browser has a market share of slightly less than 21%.
The numbers come from market research company Net Applications.
Internet Explorer especially lost a lot of market share due to Windows 10, where it has been replaced as default browser by Edge. But many Windows 10 users don’t use Edge and moved to Google Chrome. This browser saw its market share grow with about 20% the last year. More than half (56%) of all internet users now uses Google Chrome, according to Net Applications.
Mozilla’s Firefox also reports positive numbers again, its market share stabilized pretty much last summer. But in total Firefox only grew with 0.5% over the entire year. From 11.7% to 12.2%.
Edge, the browser that replaced Internet Explorer in Windows 10 has a market share of 5.3% which means that Microsoft currently accounts for about 26% of the browser market.

domain: news


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Copenhagen-based Podimo, a podcasts and audiobooks platform that offers a subscription service for creators, announced on Wednesday that it has raised €58.6M in a fresh round of funding.
The round was led by 83North, Highland Europe, and Saban Ventures, with the participation from existing investors Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker, Heartcore and Headline.
In November 2021, the startup had raised $78M (then, approx €69.37M) in Series B funding. Previous fundraises include €11.2M in February 2021, €15M in a Series A round in May 2020, and €6M in July 2019.
Podimo says it will use the funds for market expansion, content, and enhanced investments in its technology and product.
CEO and founder, Morten Strunge, says, “Our international expansion is progressing beyond expectations, and we continue to see our growth and content strategy scale efficiently. As we continue to focus on growing our existing markets and opening new ones, we are also building on our extensive catalogue of content. With the current market conditions, it’s also important to demonstrate financial sustainability, which is why we are pleased to see our first market turn profitable just three years after the launch of Podimo, with multiple markets on a similar trajectory.”
Fast-growing subscription service for podcasts and audiobooks
Founded in 2019 by Morten Strunge, Nikolaj Koppel, Sverre Dueholm, Andreas Sachse, and Eva Lægdsgaard, Podimo is a premium audio platform that offers exclusive podcasts, audiobooks, and experiences in both short and long formats.
Morten Strunge says, “We believe that spoken-word audio calls for a different and tailored product experience. Adding unique features such as skip-intro, personalised audio recommendations, and full-length video versions of our shows continues to drive strong engagement and sets our service aside from other players, not just with our exclusive unique content, but also through product experience differentiation.”
The company’s app features podcasts from around the world via open RSS feeds and is free to download and listen to with no login required. Currently, the app is available in Denmark, Germany, Spain, Norway, The Netherlands, Finland, and across Latin America.
Podimo claims it offers subscribers access to a rich catalogue of more than 950 Podimo-produced original exclusive shows from exciting names and titles not available anywhere else.
Additionally, the company’s app also offers personalised and curated editorial recommendations, and access to an expansive selection of engaging stories through partnerships with iHeartMedia, Wondery, German audio platform FYEO, influential voices like Norwegian bestselling crime writer Jo Nesbø, and more.
Podimo supports creators directly through their user-centric revenue share model, distributing 50 per cent membership fees shared directly with the content that customers listen to each month.
The Copenhagen-founded company has doubled its employees since 2021, attracting talent from around the world. The service was also able to increase the amount of paying members 5x year-on-year and became the fastest growing podcast and audiobook subscription service in Europe in 2022.
After acquiring Dutch production company Dag en Nacht, Podimo debuted in The Netherlands in April, with Finland following in August – both reaching #1 in the App Store upon launch.
Recently, Podimo also launched Podimo Kids in Denmark, Germany and Spain. It is an independent channel with specific content for children between 2 and 10 years old.


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McDonald’s plan to sell breakfast sandwiches throughout the day has delighted many customers, but the move risks exacerbating egg supply woes in the U.S.
Restaurants and other food companies have already been struggling to get enough eggs following the worst outbreak of bird flu in U.S. history. With the world’s largest fast-food chain shifting to all-day breakfast next month, the strain is only going to increase, said Darren Tristano, an executive vice president at research firm Technomic.
That could mean higher prices for consumers, as well as chains having to get more creative with where they get their eggs.
“It’s going to make it harder for everyone,” Tristano said. “It’s going to lift prices across a lot of those products that use eggs.”
Never miss a local story.
Already, U.S. retail egg prices have soared in recent months. They reached a record $2.57 a dozen in June and remained at that price in July, according to the latest data from the Department of Agriculture. Prices spiked after bird flu killed more than 48 million fowl in the first half of the year. The expense may rise even further as Americans begin stocking up on eggs for the holiday season this fall, Tristano said.
“The cost will likely be passed through to the consumer,” he said.
McDonald’s announced plans on Tuesday to offer all-day breakfast across its 14,350 U.S. locations beginning Oct. 6. It’s part of chief executive Steve Easterbrook’s effort to revive domestic sales, which are mired in their worst slump in more than a decade. Selling its signature Egg McMuffin sandwich all day could increase McDonald’s sales as much as 2.5 percent a year, according to the company.
Under a plan approved by franchisees, the full morning lineup won’t be available all day. Restaurants will sell either muffin- or biscuit-based sandwiches, along with hotcakes, sausage burritos, fruit-and-yogurt parfaits, oatmeal and hash browns. McDonald’s may get rid of other items to make room for breakfast.
Still, that probably means selling a lot more egg sandwiches. And when McDonald’s makes a menu change — even a seemingly small one — it has huge reverberations. After the company announced plans earlier this year to bring back chicken tenders, it helped the poultry industry stave off a supply glut.
Selling breakfast at all hours requires store owners to invest in new equipment. They will need ways to prepare eggs and other fare alongside the usual Big Macs and McNuggets, a process that wasn’t as difficult when meals were delineated. There’s concern about adding more complications to McDonald’s already bogged-down kitchens, potentially slowing down orders.
In any case, the change alone probably won’t spur a McDonald’s comeback, said Peter Saleh, an analyst at BTIG.
“We remain uncertain about the offering’s incremental traffic potential and concerned about the complexity it adds to restaurant operations,” he said in a note. “The brand needs several other menu enhancements, including a stronger value offering, to facilitate a turnaround.”
McDonald’s sales at U.S. stores open at least 13 months have dropped for seven straight quarters. The company also is facing more competition from Taco Bell, which is now selling breakfast, as well as Burger King, which recently introduced spicy chicken fries.
Some restaurant chains are coping with high egg prices by switching to other products. Panda Express is selling corn in its fried rice instead of eggs, and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is putting cucumbers in some of its salads rather than hard-boiled eggs.
The crisis has shown signs of abating.
“It’s a net increase in demand for shell eggs in what’s already a tight market situation,” said Tom Elam, president of FarmEcon LLC. “It just adds more pressure.”


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It’s hard to ignore all the commotion around vaping these last years. All you have to do is check the news to find articles like this https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-24/u-k-to-launch-inquiry-into-e-cigarettes-amid-boom-in-vaping everywhere. Although it seems like the devices have finally peaked in popularity as the discussions surrounding them have gone down in frequency a little bit lately, their presence all around us is still undeniable.
However, as many continue to invest time and effort into upgrading their devices and researching new exciting juices and mixtures, others are convinced that this is all in vain, as vapes will be all but gone in just a few years. Is that really what the future holds for e-cig lovers though?
A Good Alternative to a Bad Habit
The whole reason vaping caught on in the first place is because people recognised it as a safer, healthier alternative to smoking regular cigarettes. While it’s still not perfectly healthy on its own, various studies continue to demonstrate its safer nature compared to smoking tobacco. This has also made it an effective tool for those trying to kick their smoking habit, and the success rate of e-cigs in this regard has been quite high so far.
And while the popularity of cigarettes is noticeably going down all around the world, the same can’t be said for vaping. Quite on the contrary, more and more people seem to be catching on to the idea that it can be a great alternative to filling their lungs with smoke. With the availability of nicotine-free juices too, there are few serious arguments against the use of vaping as a substitute for smoking. As long as it’s done within reasonable bounds, it can be a very fun addition to a person’s everyday life.
The Industry Is Expanding Fast
Those who are just getting started with vaping have picked the best time to join the crowd, as there are tonnes of different customisation options available to explore nowadays. From modifying the actual device itself, to looking up exciting new juices to try out, there is so much you can do that you’ll hardly ever get bored. This alone makes it highly unlikely that vaping is going anywhere anytime soon, as the industry around it is still growing at a rapid rate, and stores like Grey Haze keep coming up with exciting new offers to entice their customers into trying something new.
As long as people keep an eye on the market and maintain good relations with their favourite vape store, they should get plenty out of this hobby. That’s without even going into any advanced modifications, and there’s no shortage of options available in this regard either. It’s no wonder vaping has managed to draw the attention of geeks particularly strongly – after all, it’s the perfect combination of a smoking-like activity and a toy with an endless potential for customisation and tweaking.
Heavy Interest Among Online Crowds
This huge variety of customisations, combined with the potential for vapes to be used for tricks, has led to a lot of interest in the activity from various online crowds. Entire communities have formed around vaping, sharing videos and providing tutorials on all sorts of topics on a regular basis. You don’t have to look for too long to get plenty of information on how you can customise your device, as well as the appropriate safety guidelines for that.
Those who find themselves bored with what they currently have can also take advantage of the opportunity to post a request for new recommendations at an online forum. The popularity of the activity means that replies are practically guaranteed to start flooding in very fast, and from there, all it takes is to compare the various new ideas and check some of them out.
Last but not least, vaping is significantly less expensive in the long run compared to smoking cigarettes, which alone has drawn many people to it as a replacement for their smoking habits. More importantly, this is a strong guarantee for vaping’s long-term relevance, as many people would be disappointed if they had to let go of such a fantastic alternative to their regular cigarettes.
The industry seems well aware of this fact too, as we regularly see various new devices coming out at relatively low prices, while at the same time many manufacturers keep pushing the boundaries of vaping technology with new additions to their products. But in the end, one doesn’t have to dig deep into their wallet in order to continue vaping over a longer period of time.
With all that in mind, it’s probably safe to assume that vaping is anything but a fad, and that it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. There are many factors that have played into its popularity over time, and the vaping industry is deeply invested into ensuring that it remains a popular alternative to smoking, so those who enjoy it should not have anything to worry about.


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The China – Sudan Cooperation now shines as a model for developing Sino- African nations
, showcasing China’s contribution to Africa’s development. Thanks to the funding and technological aid from China, Sudan has largely achieved energy independence by establishing its oil industry. Similarly, China is helping Sudan transform its economy, through its efforts to create a cotton industry with complete chain of production. To illustrate the close economic and trade relationship between the two countries, China is the biggest trade partner for Sudan, which is the third largest African trade partner for China.
Sudan’s relationship with China is historical, deep-rooted and strategic. This is a model relationship that Khartoum hope will continue and shift to wider horizons. The great contributions which Beijing provided to Sudan are the Friendship Hall, the new presidential palace and Khartoum refinery this are constituting the mark of cooperation between Khartoum and Beijing. The two sides have strong desire and determination to make their strategic cooperation as partnership in all aspects.
In the field of agriculture China wants with an honest willingness to turn Sudan’s cotton into white gold, this is the second contribution provided by Beijing to Khartoum , who follows the economic resources in Sudan he will know that Sudan is also famous for growing quality cotton. But unfortunately Khartoum able not to utilize these important resources it has failed so far to establish a complete industry with a production chain from cotton, processing, to textile and clothing making.
Now, China is making huge efforts to help Sudan build a cotton industry, based on its successful experience in the oil industry. China has already achieved success in helping Sudan improve its cotton farming, in Al-Faw in Al-Qadarif state, it funded modern cotton research center, which has played an important role in development of agriculture’s sector, China also funded China Aid Agricultural Technology Demonstration center, has successfully introduced a new type of quality cotton seeds from China. In addition to cotton growing, Chinese companies plan to help Sudan build textile and ready- made clothing factories to complete the cotton industry’s chain production.
Generally Khartoum, benefiting so much from the previous cooperation with China, is now eager to take advantage of the new opportunities offered by China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The partnership between Khartoum and Beijing has brought about so many benefits, now Sudan needs to get more help from China in the field of infrastructure construction.
The two sides would draw road map to develop their bilateral relations in all fields and exert a huge efforts in order to make it strategic in the upcoming period. Khartoum and Beijing have a solid determination to work hand- in – hand due to achieve their common interests and benefits. The cooperation between them needs motivation and transform the tradition relations to strategic and common partnership deal with strong basis for their coming generation. The two countries would promote their friendly relations and bolstering ties of cooperation in all fields. However, relations between Sudan and China are developing and progressing in all domains. China is a most important strategic partner to Sudan in field of economic development. The two sides shared identical views over all over economic issues, the Sudan – China relations would witness great prosperity and further progress within the coming stage.


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Establishment of the next-generation EV relay development base within Tohoku University
We are pleased to announce that EM Devices Corporation has established NEXEM Advanced Technology Center as a base for accelerating research and development of EV-related products. This Technology Center will be established within the Material Solutions Center of the Industry-Academia Collaboration at Tohoku University to promote joint research through industry-academia collaboration and to further strengthen competitiveness.
More than 80% of the power relays for automobile electrical equipment that we produce are sold overseas. Electric vehicles (EV) are expanding overseas, mainly in China, Europe and the United States, and the market for EV-related products is expected to expand rapidly. In September 2022, we also concluded a joint research agreement with Specially Appointed Professor Hideaki Sone of the Organization for Innovations in Data Synergy TOHOKU University in order to develop relays for next-generation EVs. To further increase the speed of development, we have decided to open a new development base “NEXEM Advanced Technology Center” within MaSC (Material Solutions Center).
At our Technology Center, we analyze electrical contact arc discharge phenomena, analyze contact dynamics, and contact stability during current flow, and analyze electromagnetic relays that support high voltage and high current, for which demand is expected to increase in the rapidly developing EV-related market. We will conduct research and aim for the practical application of lighter and higher performance relays, and will carry out activities that take ESG into consideration.
The opening ceremony of the Technology Center was held on December 21, 2022 at Tohoku University’s Kitamon Commons Espace. At the opening ceremony, we invited people related to Tohoku University, as well as our suppliers and distributors, who then toured the NEXEM Advanced Technology Center.
We plan to announce and sell next-generation high-voltage, high-current relays to the world in April 2025, utilizing the R&D results of our Technology Center.
(Overview of the new development base)
Name: NEXEM Advanced Technology Center
Tohoku University was founded in 1907 as the third imperial university in Japan. Tohoku University value the tradition of “research first” and “respect for practical learning”, and this tradition is reflected in the fact that in 2007 we ranked number one in Japan in terms of the number of published patents by university.


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Chivas Brothers faces strike action over wages
Employees at Chivas Brothers, owner of The Glenlivet Scotch whisky distillery, could be set to strike over a pay dispute.
Trade unions GMB Scotland and Unite said staff at Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky arm of Pernod Ricard, would vote on strike action unless a ‘significantly improved’ offer was made.
GMB Scotland said Chivas Brothers, whose brands include Ballantine’s and Chivas Regal, is sticking to a 6.4% pay increase offer despite what it described as ‘surging sales’.
David Hume, GMB Scotland organiser, said the offer was unacceptable when Chivas and its French parent company, Pernod Ricard, have seen ‘unprecedented’ sales around the world.
He said: “Our members are being asked to accept a pay rise that is below the rate of inflation while reading how the owners are celebrating some of the highest sales ever recorded.
“Sales of the whisky made in Scotland are booming around the world but the workers making it are told they must accept an effective pay cut in the middle of a cost of living crisis?
“It is no surprise our members have refused that offer and are absolutely united in their willingness to take the action necessary to secure an offer that fairly reflects the value of their work.”
The salary offer was rejected by 97% of Unite members.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Chivas Brothers is getting dizzy on £168.5 million (US$205m) in profits, which were achieved through the hard work of our members. Yet, the company is refusing to make a fair pay offer.
“Chivas can well afford it, it is just choosing not to – and our members will not have it – Unite will back them all the way.”
Parent company Pernod Ricard, which also owns Absolut Vodka and Jameson Irish Whiskey, reported an organic sales rise of 10% in fiscal 2023.
‘Committed to its people’ – Chivas responds
The Scotch whisky producer released a statement regarding the potential move to ballot for strike action.
A Chivas Brothers spokesperson said: “Chivas Brothers prides itself on being a longstanding Scottish employer, committed to its people and the communities it calls home.
“We have, and will continue to, reward our people competitively, while responsibly managing our business for the long years ahead.
“We firmly believe that our offer strikes the right balance, ensuring our salaries remain highly competitive in the context of a normalising business environment and enabling us to build a successful and sustainable future, for the long term – as evidenced by our recent investments in distillery expansions and decarbonisation, site safety and our communities across Scotland.”
In June 2021, the Scotch whisky producer avoided strike action across its Scottish operations after GMB and trade union Unite accepted an ‘improved’ wage offer from the company.
Chivas Brothers employs around 1,600 workers in Scotland.
Earlier this month, the company revealed investment plans to improve its bottling site in Kilmalid, Scotland.


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Sydney Sweeney rebuilds classic vintage car on viral TikTok page
No, but seriously, is there anything that Euphoria starlet Sydney Sweeney can’t do? We’ve seen her take over TV for the past few years, but it looks like she’s also got her sights set on becoming the queen of classic cars.
Sweeney took us through her journey of restoring her cherry red 1969 Ford Bronco which she purchased in February 2021 on her TikTok account, @syds_garage. And sure enough, videos of her working under the car in overalls and pink gloves instantly went viral, with fans obsessed with her skills.
His dream car project, however, was neither quick nor easy. In an interview on The late show with James Corden, Sydney talked about all the work she put into the vehicle.
“I completely changed the transmission, changed the front and rear axles, went from drum brakes to disc brakes, changed its power steering,” she said of the restoration.
The most recent post on the account showed the actress in January taking the Bronco for a spin after completing all necessary restorations. Sydney captioned the clip, “She’s finally fit to drive! Send her for stuffing this weekend :)”
After completely restoring the Ford, the actress took the car on a trip to eBay Motor’s New York Auto Parts Show to show off her hard work as part of the show’s restored car exhibit.
“Since buying my Ford Bronco last February, I’ve done everything from rebuilding the transmission to brushing the cables for rust,” Sweeney said in a press release for the auto show. . “It’s really important to me to preserve the integrity of the original Ford build, so when I need a rare part – like a unique transmission adapter that’s almost impossible to find – eBay Motors is always my first stop.”
In a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, Sweeney revealed his love of the hobby and why it is so dear to him. She said, “Anyone can go out and buy a brand new car, but not everyone can have something rare that has history.”
And how did Syd get into the cars, you ask? Well, for the same reason, we’ve all found things to occupy our time during the height of COVID-19.
“In quarantine, my creative juices were overflowing. I was very bored and got addicted to auction sites for cars. I wanted a Bronco so badly. But I wanted to build one so that when I drove it and people were saying ‘cool car’, I could say ‘Yeah, thank you’ and I know I made it,” she told Cosmopolitan.
After her first restoration, Sydney isn’t quite ready to hang up her goggles. In a May 2021 post, Sweeney introduced us to his new project. “Here’s my new baby Britney 🥰💙 I’ll start working on her soon! #cartiktok,” she wrote in the caption.
Let us know when the Mustang is done, Syd – we’re free for a test drive!
Abby is an editorial assistant at Seventeen, covering pop culture, beauty, life and health. When she’s not busy watching the latest true-crime docu-series, you can find her strolling through Sephora, finding the perfect dress, or jogging with her pup.
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Executives agree: energy efficiency is “critical” for brand buildingAugust 20, 2012
A recently released survey, reSources 2012, found that over 80% of companies believe that reducing their electrical consumption is critical to building their brand. Furthermore, “more than three-quarters of the organizations surveyed say they are actively promoting their energy efficiency efforts to their customers.”
Lighting retrofits are often the first step in improving efficiency. The installation process is much simpler than for solar panels, HVAC replacement, or other efficiency upgrades, and the excellent rebates make for very short payback periods.
Our customers see an average payback period of only 5 months. And, based on this recent research, our window stickers that read “This facility has been NEWLIGHTED with an efficiency upgrade” are just the kind of branding that everyone is looking for.
Full story via Sustainable Brands


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Adreno 512 GPU
31 May 2019
Chinese tech-giant Realme has started rolling out Android Pie-based ColorOS 6 update to its budget range Realme 2 Pro in India.
10 Apr 2019
Realme has again reduced the prices of its popular budget smartphone, the Realme 2 Pro, in India.
16 Feb 2019
Realme has reduced the prices of its popular budget smartphone, the Realme 2 Pro, by Rs. 1,000 in India.
09 Jan 2019
Expanding its portfolio of mid-range smartphones, OPPO has launched the R15 Pro in India.
10 Dec 2018
Realme C1 and Realme 2 Pro, which were sold via flash sales until now, are now available on open sale via Flipkart from December 9.
27 Sep 2018
Days after launching the Realme 2, China-based Realme has unveiled its most-powerful smartphone yet - the Realme 2 Pro.
25 Aug 2018
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy A8 Star, which was recently teased by Amazon, is expected to soon launch in India.
14 Aug 2018
As a bigger version of its 8-inch Mi Pad 4, Xiaomi has launched the Mi Pad 4 Plus in China.
28 May 2018
Just days ahead of becoming official in India, the Vivo X21, with an in-display fingerprint scanner is now available for pre-bookings.
22 May 2018
Vivo will launch its latest mid-budget smartphone, the Vivo X21, in India on May 29.
13 May 2018
Vivo is planning to launch its latest mid-range smartphone in India- Vivo X21 UD on May 29.
06 May 2018
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo is reportedly planning to launch its latest mid-range smartphone in India - the Vivo X21.
10 Jan 2018
Neither Apple's iPhone nor Samsung's Galaxy device, but a Vivo smartphone will have the world's first under-the-screen fingerprint scanner.


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In recent consumer class action news, two complaints were filed against ConAgra Foods alleging that the company deceptively marketed its cooking oils as “100% Natural,” while Kellogg’s settled a suit over false advertising of its Rice Krispies and Cocoa Krispies cereals.
Plaintiffs in California and New York filed suit against ConAgra just days apart, making identical allegations that the company is deceiving consumers by claiming its four types of cooking oils are “100% Natural” even though the oils are made from genetically modified plants or organisms.
Genetically modified organisms are “‘unnatural’ by definition,” according to the New York complaint filed by plaintiff Kelly McFadden, “engineered by the cross-breeding of seeds to allow for greater yield and resistance to pesticides.”
“The reasonable consumer assumes that seeds created by exchanging genetic material between different species to exhibit traits not naturally theirs are not ‘100% natural,’” according to the complaint. ConAgra also marketed its oils to “evoke wholesomeness and health,” using the image of the sun around the Wesson name, the plaintiff alleged.
The suit seeks to certify a class of New York purchasers of Wesson’s canola oil, vegetable oil, corn oil, and best blend products, asking for a halt to use of the allegedly deceptive claims as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
The California suit makes similar allegations.
“Plaintiff paid for a 100% natural product, but did not receive a product that was 100% natural. Plaintiff received a product that was genetically engineered in a laboratory, and had its genetic code artificially altered to exhibit not ‘natural’ qualities,” according to the complaint filed in California federal court by Robert Briseno.
Briseno’s suit seeks similar injunctive and pecuniary relief for a nationwide class of plaintiffs.
In other class action news, Kellogg’s agreed to pay $2.5 million to fund a settlement for repayment to class members who alleged the company falsely advertised its Rice Krispies and Cocoa Krispies cereals as supporting the immune system even though the company lacked scientific evidence for the claims.
Plaintiffs can receive $5 per box purchased during the relevant time period – without proof of purchase – for up to three boxes per household.
Last June, Kellogg’s settled with the Federal Trade Commission over similar charges, agreeing to advertising restrictions related to health benefits about its food products. The agreement updated a July 2009 consent order relating to claims that its Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal was “clinically shown to improve kids’ attentiveness by nearly 20%.”
Under the expanded order, Kellogg’s can no longer make claims for Rice Krispies that the cereal “now helps support your child’s immunity,” and was prohibited from making claims about any health benefit of any food unless its claims were backed by scientific evidence and not misleading.
To read the complaint in McFadden v. ConAgra, click here.
To read the complaint in Briseno v. ConAgra, click here.
To read the settlement agreement in Weeks v. Kellogg Co., click here.
Why it matters: Both the ConAgra lawsuits and the Kellogg’s settlement are examples of common issues in advertising class actions. Health claims have received close scrutiny recently, as demonstrated by Kellogg’s multiple actions with the Federal Trade Commission. And a number of other lawsuits have been filed alleging that “natural” products are no such thing, including those against Ben & Jerry’s for its use of the phrase “All Natural” on its ice cream and frozen yogurt packaging as well as against Snapple, for labeling its drinks “All Natural” when they contained high‑fructose corn syrup.


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Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. Newer, faster, better, Google is breaking technological advancements bit-by-bit, day-by-day, with chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt, and his partners in a steadfast trio of Google bosses, leading an average of two acquisitions per month.
What Made Him Haute: Eric Schmidt was brought on board at Google in 2001, and he took the company public in 2004. The Google tri-chief oversees an agenda that continues to wield influence in the tech industry and rake in the dough. It’s moved into new markets (and into more direct competition with Microsoft) with the launch of a mobile phone operating system and an open source web browser. Schmidt’s also been busy integrating acquisitions into Google, such as YouTube. He currently sits on the board of trustees for Carnegie Mellon University and Princeton University, and is a member President Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
What Makes Him Haute Now: After unveiling Nexus One and announcing an upgraded version of Chrome browser earlier this year, Eric Schmidt’s fortune is up $1.9 billion from 2009. Google just picked up Slide.com, a maker of widgets for social networking sites. Google’s acquisition of Slide, in addition to its $150 million investment in Zynga, lays the foundation for Schmidt’s social networking expansion plan. Also in most recent news is Google’s Android phone, the top mobile OS sold to consumers in the United States, which outdid BlackBerry and Apple’s iPhone in 2Q. Schmidt confirmed that Android is seeing an activation rate of about 200,000 per day, accounting for a third of all smartphones sold in the U.S.; a 25 percent increase for Android in the past two months. Dr. Schmidt landed No. 117 on the Forbes 2010 list of the world’s billionaires.


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2020 has definitely kept us on our toes, but DC Brau is not slowing down as we move headlong into the holiday season. Here’s what the brewery has planned for the rest of the year.
The pandemic can’t stop the annual post-Thanksgiving release of Wake Up in the Future. This year’s vintage of the barrel-aged Imperial Stout has been soaking in bourbon barrels for the last nine months and will be available in single 16oz cans for $9.99 starting on Black Friday.
The team has cellared a limited amount of the 2018 and 2019 vintages to offer a special mixed 4-pack vertical, featuring one 16oz can each of the last two vintages with two cans from this year’s release. The WUITF vertical will be available for PRE-SALE STARTING November 5th at dcbrau.com/order for $49.99. There are only 200 available, which can be picked up at the brewery on Black Friday, that will likely sell out well before then!
For the uninitiated, Wake Up in the Future’s crushing amounts of chocolate malt and character from the barrel bring this prodigal stout home at 15.5% ABV. Its concentrated nose of raisin, orange marmalade, and black strap molasses gives way to a palate of roasted cacao, malted milk balls, and decadent Dutch chocolate interspersed through layers of toffee and vanilla. Thick and silky with a smooth, yet warming impression, this is a gem enjoyed now…or in the future.
The second installment of DC Brau’s barrel-aged sour Harmonious Funk series will also be offered via pre-sale starting tomorrow for pick up at the brewery on November 27. Harmonious Funk #2 is a 6.9% ABV Saison with Brett aged for two years in Sauvignon Blanc barrels and dry-hopped with Mandarina Bavaria just prior to bottling. Each 500ml bottle costs $10.99 and will be sold exclusively through the brewery. Pre-order online at dcbrau.com/order.
Fans of ON THE WINGS OF ARMAGEDDON will be seeing a new batch of 4-packs on shelves at Giant grocery stores around the region starting the week of November 16th, just in time for Thanksgiving. OTWOA will also be available on the brewery’s website at dcbrau.com/order for pick-up and District delivery around the same time.
Turkey is fine, but we all know the best part of Thanksgiving is the pie. DC Brau is partnering with our friends at Whisked! for a special beer and pie pairing with an accompanying tasting sheet — perfect for socially-distanced gatherings during the holiday. The $39.99 package includes a six-inch Chocolate Chess Pie, a six-inch Pumpkin Pie, a six-pack of Penn Quarter Porter, and a four-pack of Barrel-aged Stone of Arbroath, which won’t be available to anyone else until its official release in early December.
The Whisked! Pie Pairing package is available now for pre-order through November 16th at dcbrau.com/order, with pick-up at the brewery on Sunday, November 22, 2020.
DC Brau. Address: 3178 Bladensburg Rd NE suite b, Washington, DC 20018. Phone: (202) 621-8890.


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Threads, Meta’s latest microblogging software, received a lot of attention right away. According to reports, the stated app received over 100 million sign-ups within a week after its July 5 introduction.
Unfortunately, scammers have used the platform’s popularity to defraud unwary users. This concerning trend has piqued the interest of Crypto Twitter users, who are actively exposing these imposters acting as major personalities in the crypto community.
Members of the cryptocurrency community are becoming increasingly concerned about the increasing number of bogus accounts on Threads and have grown more careful in recognizing and reporting potential scams. Furthermore, the community is asking users to be cautious and skeptical of any activity on the network.
Impersonating Incidents on Threads
Wombex banking, a decentralized banking network, issued an alert on July 8 after discovering a Threads account mimicking their project. Because their project is not on the new trending site, they immediately informed their followers that it could be a hoax.
Similarly, NFT influencer Leonidas warned their 93,000 followers a day earlier about “large NFT accounts” impersonation on Threads. Leonidas responded by creating an account on Threads to challenge these impersonators.
Another situation worth featuring for the Threads impersonating incident is Jeffrey Huang, also known as Machi Big Brother on Twitter, who uploaded his Threads profile on July 6 only to discover that there was already an impersonator on the platform utilizing his Twitter persona.
Although the accounts referenced in this Threads have not yet published any scam or phishing links, they have been publishing crypto-related articles. Scammers on Twitter, on the other hand, have typically used strategies such as hacking into the accounts of well-known individuals and publishing dangerous links.
These links frequently attempt to dupe victims into disclosing sensitive information such as login credentials, wallet seed phrases, or connecting wallets to cryptocurrency-draining smart contracts.
Scams in the Crypto Industry
According to a survey by Web3 security firm Beosin, phishing attacks stole nearly $108 million in cryptocurrencies in the first half of this year. This data emphasizes the persistent problem of scammers targeting cryptocurrency fans on social media sites, taking advantage of their trust and influence to carry out fraudulent schemes.
In light of this, despite its rapid increase in popularity, Meta’s Threads has not been immune to this tendency. Recent events involving the impersonation of prominent crypto figures and projects serve as a warning that scammers are actively looking for ways to trick users in the crypto ecosystem.
Engaging in dubious connections that promise successful cryptocurrency airdrops or giveaways might have serious implications. This includes but is not limited to, the loss of important digital assets. Scammers use a variety of strategies, including phishing schemes and rug pulls, to prey on naïve consumers and deplete their cryptocurrency holdings.
Beosin’s frightening numbers highlight the importance of improved security measures and increasing user awareness within the Web3 ecosystem. Individuals must exercise caution, undertake comprehensive research, and remain watchful to avoid falling prey to these misleading schemes, with total losses reaching a whopping $656 million in the first half of 2023 alone.


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The trade ministry has set a new surveillance price for imported smartphones. Customs fees per unit for phones were increased from $200 to $350.
Evaluating the decision to Bloomberg HT, Mobile Communications and Information Technologies Businessmen’s Association (MOBISAD) President Mustafa Kemal Turnacı pointed out that the decision would increase the market share of domestic production, but that supportive steps should be accompanied by it.
Turnacı said, “Imported smartphones were more attractive when they were $200; because it was an affordable price. It is aimed to get ahead of imported products by increasing it to 350 dollars. However, these steps should also be accompanied by supports that will increase investments in line with the dynamics of the sector.” said.
MOBISAD President Turnacı stated that the market share of the domestic smart device industry has decreased to 55 percent and that it will rise to 70-75 percent with this decision, and continued his words as follows: “It is a very important step for domestic production. However, supporting incentive packages such as the incentives received in 2020 should come.
Drawing attention to the installment limitation, Turnacı said, “60-65 percent of high-end smart devices are brought from abroad. This situation has more harm than contribution to our country. If the installment limit within the country is increased, domestic consumers will have the opportunity to buy high-end phones from abroad without bringing them from abroad.” made evaluations.


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So it seems like BlackBerry and Typo has ended their long dispute. Back in 2014, Typo released the not so popular Typo keyboard for iPhones which BlackBerry sued them for and won. That said, Typo continued to hold a contempt of the court order and even released a version 2. But today, BlackBerry announced that they have finally reached a settlement with Typo manufacturers.
Today’s settlement brings the news that Typo now essentially is prevented from making keyboards for any smartphone in the future. While neither company has released the full settlement terms, a brief press release from BlackBerry notes that Typo has agreed not to produce keyboards for devices with screens smaller than 7.9 inches. Typo, however, can still make keyboards for any smartphone, but only for those with a screen larger than 7.9 inches.
As part of the settlement, Typo Products LLC, Typo Innovations LLC, Show Media LLC, Hallier Investments LLC, and Laurence Hallier have agreed to permanently discontinue selling anywhere in the world keyboards for smartphones and mobile devices with a screen size of less than 7.9 inches. Typo Products LLC, Typo Innovations LLC, Show Media LLC, Hallier Investments LLC, and Laurence Hallier may continue to sell keyboards for devices with a screen size of 7.9 inches or larger. Other terms of the settlement are confidential.


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Disney Dreamlight Valley, a popular sandbox title, is about to receive one of its most significant updates to date. The Remembering update, scheduled to launch on June 7, 2023, promises a vast expansion of the in-game story, as well as highly anticipated new features such as customizable furniture and dressable mannequins. Players can expect a revitalized gaming experience, as the developers have also addressed and resolved various bugs and issues.
The Remembering update boasts an impressive and expansive addition to the game's storyline. Players who have already invested hours uncovering the secrets and adventures of Disney Dreamlight Valley can now delve even deeper into the narrative. The update is sure to pique the interest of veterans and newcomers alike, as its rich plot will undoubtedly captivate players' imaginations and contribute to a greatly enhanced gaming experience.
One of the most exciting features introduced in The Remembering update is customizable furniture. This added layer of personalization allows players to transform their in-game homes into truly unique spaces. Whether recreating a childhood bedroom or designing a fantastical dwelling, this update enables players to express their creativity and individuality like never before. Veteran players, in particular, will likely appreciate this opportunity to further personalize their environments as they continue to explore Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Another notable addition to the game is the implementation of dressable mannequins. This feature provides players with an innovative way to showcase their in-game wardrobe and interact with the extensive array of available clothing items. Whether strategically placing mannequins throughout their homes or devising fashionable displays, players can experiment with different combinations and styles while injecting an extra flair of creativity into their gameplay experiences.
In conclusion, Disney Dreamlight Valley's The Remembering update delivers an exciting and extensive expansion to its ever-evolving story while also introducing highly desirable new features, such as customizable furniture and dressable mannequins. Combined with important bug fixes and improvements, this update is guaranteed to reignite the passion and excitement of long-time players while providing countless hours of fresh gameplay for those new to the world of Disney Dreamlight Valley. Be sure to mark your calendars and prepare for an unforgettable adventure when The Remembering update goes live on June 7, 2023.


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Inmarsat has launched Fleet Xpress Enhanced, a portfolio of connectivity products to support the digital transformation of the maritime industry.
The world’s oceans can be dangerous and unpredictable but are vital for shipping, food, transport, and research. IoT sensors can help with minimising risks while supporting critical operational and sustainability efforts.
“This latest evolution of Fleet Xpress is not a standard VSAT service – it is a versatile, fully integrated modular solution offering our valued customers a path to operational efficiency, decarbonisation, and enhanced crew welfare,” said Ben Palmer, President of Inmarsat Maritime.
“The combination of the world’s most secure and reliable satellite network with our existing range of value-added connectivity solutions is supporting digitalisation across the industry and improving the safety and performance of international shipping operations.”
Fleet Xpress is powered by Inmarsat’s global Ka-band satellite network and is enhanced with the Fleet Edge platform which harnesses the power of edge computing and enables the company’s partners to integrate their value-added services and host applications.
Inmarsat says the connectivity provided by Fleet Xpress supports everything from email and basic office applications to the latest IoT-powered solutions.
According to a survey conducted by Wärtsilä Marine Business, two-thirds of shipping companies have begun their digital journeys. Furthermore, 69 percent of them are currently exploring digital solutions.
“The digitalisation of the global shipping industry is putting further pressure on companies to accelerate their transformation projects, and overcome their unique connectivity challenges,” explains Palmer.
Inmarsat is continuing to boost its satellite network ahead of expected significant growth over the coming years. At the end of 2021, the company launched the first of its new generation I-6 satellites.
The I-6 satellites are Inmarsat’s first hybrid satellites, featuring both L-band (ELERA) and Ka-band communications payloads.
Inmarsat is hosting its ELEVATE event at 6pm on 10 May 2022 at Cisco Lounge, Levi’s Stadium, 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA.
Attendees can enjoy some drinks and networking while learning how ELERA can help with your IoT deployments. Tech pioneer Kevin Ashton – who first coined the term “Internet of Things” – will also be giving a speech on his view of the current and future IoT market.
More details about Inmarsat ELEVATE can be found here.
Want to learn about the IoT from industry leaders? Check out IoT Tech Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London.
Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.


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Disney India is soon coming up with its own online store, says a new media report. The report says that the company’s own online store will be made available at ShopDisney.in.
Isn’t this an amazing piece of news that also during the wonderful occasion of Diwali? Well, the report says that the shopping website of Disney India will provide products from all of its largest brands such as Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and Disney.
However, there is no clarity right now if it will offer only what Disney India sells presently or it will expand to other products and services of Disney. Will the Indian-specific website match the standards delivered by the team at The ShopDisney.com? That only time can tell. As of now, there is no official confirmation from Disney India.
Currently, the merchandise of Disney is made available on various third-party platforms such as Ajio, Amazon, Bewakoof, FirstCry, Lifestyle, Max, Pantaloons, Reliance Digital, The Souled Store, and WYO.
The products of Disney are majorly restricted to clothing. It also has Reliance Digital (Disney-branded headphones) and First Cry (Disney-branded utensils, room décor, school supplies, and travel bags).
On a global scale, ShopDisney is a lot more widespread and offers action figures, jewelry, jigsaw puzzles, plush toys, ornaments, personalized gifts, playsets (Lego or otherwise), remote-controlled cars and trains, snowglobes, talking dolls, and watches, and many other more.
If you check out ShopDisney.in right now, you can see that there is a “coming soon” page. Although Disney seems to have missed the Diwali but looks like something big lined up. It means the company is planning something huge to launch with a lot of fanfare and enthusiasm in the Indian market. It would be interesting to see Disney as the first major Hollywood studio to sell its products directly to users in a large country like India.


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It’s almost too easy at this point to make a joke about Ubisoft and the mess it’s made with the Assassin’s Creed series. Once one of the most anticipated and hyped franchises in the gaming industry, rushed releases, botched, convoluted storylines, and low innovation quickly dropped the series towards critical panning. Its seemed the games have turned into endless meme fodder. (more…)
Victory is Life, the newest update to the Star Trek Online (STO) MMO game, launches June 5th. The new content focuses on Deep Space Nine. This is the fourth major expansion to the game.
For the first time Captains will be able to play as the Jem’Hadar and interact with ten of the original cast members from the show. To help prepare players for the new content the creators of the game put together a list of episodes from that series that relate to the story line in the game. Don’t have time to watch the episodes? Nerdbastards has got your back…here is a run down on those episodes and how they might tie in to the game.
Since 1998, when the original Pokémon games were released in North America, fans wanted nothing more than a main console Pokémon game. Core Pokémon games are usually released on Nintendo’s handheld systems. Then came Pokémon Go. This game brought pokémon into the real world with your smartphone. Catching pokémon while walking on your phone was something all Pokémon fans wanted. The next change in the world of Pokémon, Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee.
For almost two years, Nintendo has been knocking things out of the park. Well, the NES Classic was an issue, but it wasn’t the concept it was the process. The popularity of the NES Classic was the reason why we received the (and highly superior) SNES Classic. Oh, and then there’s the Nintendo Switch, which is hard to keep on shelves. What could Nintendo do to keep the money flowing into the company? Just trademarking N64, which could mean the N64 Classic is on the way!
Nintendo has announced the NES Classic Edition will return to retail stores on June 28, 2018. The NES Classic Edition, which comes with 30 classic games, will be available for the first time since April 2017 for $59.99, The mini console will come with Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Castlevania and many more. The NES Classic exceeded every expectation from Nintendo during its first manufacturing run. Undoubtedly, the second run will do the same.
First-Person Shooters are almost a genre in and of themselves. Call of Duty. DOOM. Duke Nuke ‘Em. Uber-Masculine and hyper-violent games that can be a bit much for those of us who lean more towards Role-Playing Games or other genres. Sometimes we dip our toes into an FPS, only to get our faces stomped and teabagged. It keeps us from diving into a genre of games that can be fun and stress relieving. So here’s a small list of more RPG-inclined FPS that focus on story, differing game mechanics, and unique experiences. (more…)
Enterprise D Comes to VR
Star Trek: Bridge Crew has been one of the most well-received VR games yet. GamesRadar ranked it 25th on their list of the best games of 2017. While it wasn’t the commercial success that Ubisoft hoped it would be, it still has the company’s support as Ubisoft has announced Star Trek: Bridge Crew – The Next Generation, a new expansion for its co-op multiplayer experience. (more…)
The world of gaming has maintained consistency in its forward evolution. The invention of enhanced technology has delivered more exciting video games for popular console !platforms Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation. The Google corporation’s marketing team has kept a finger firmly on the pulse of these industry giants and decided that it’s time to throw their hats in the ring and offer a video game platform of their own. Enter, Google Yeti!
What is Google Yeti?
Google Yeti is in the works and it is designed to become Google’s “Netflix for Games.” The services will offer video games that are hosted on their remote servers. Access to the games will be possible via hardware that allows streaming to a television. The service will be available through subscription that is similar to current gamer services offered through XBox Live and PlayStation already. This is Google’s answer to these popular providers who are doing well in their endeavors. They offer access to the entire collection for subscribers, but what that will entail has yet to be seen.
We just came out of E3, a solid week of video game related news from the front line of the console wars. Between Nintento’s various systems, Microsoft’s Xboxes and Sony’s Playstations, there’s more than enough video games out there for everyone, but is there any room left in the market for one more, ahem, player? Well one old name in the video game business certainly hopes there is. Once upon a time, if you wanted to play video games at home, you had only the one choice in the matter, but in today’s environment of choice, are gamers still going to want an Atari? (more…)
The announcements made at this year’s E3 conference have heralded some enormous news for gaming culture. Games across the board are looking more exciting and engaging and realistic than ever. The new consoles and accessories launched alongside them are creating innovative new ways to experience gaming with every new release. One new trailer that turned every head in the room – and plenty across the globe, too – was for God of War, the new Playstation 4 game from Santa Monica Studios due for release early next year. Although it is the eighth instalment in the God of War series, the new game is entirely unique. (more…)


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The largest cement maker In India literally pulled a rabbit out of its hat when it announced that sales had been excellent and that the company had managed to log a 23 per cent rise in quarterly net profit.
In its consolidated report ACC said that its net profit after tax surged from Rs 324.31 crore for quarter ended March 31, 2008 to Rs 399.34 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
Operating profit for the quarter was Rs 576.62 crore, which was 42.6 per cent higher as compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
Its profit before tax was up 24.2 per cent for the quarter ended on March 31, 2009 which stood at Rs 576.62 crore compared to Rs 463.60 crore for the quarter ended on March 31, 2008.
The increase in sales volume has been achieved in the face of the global financial crisis that has caused almost all major economies of the world to slow down and a spiraling effect was expected on infrastructure-dependent industries like cement. Still, ACC sold 5.73 million tonnes of its product in the January to March quarter of 2009, on the other hand in the same period of last year (2008) the company registered a sales volume of 5.40 million tonnes.
Despite the slowdown the company expects the cement industry in India to keep growing in the future citing the fact that it has managed to record a growth of 9 per cent in the first three months of the year (January - March 2009).
According to the company, the better-than-expected results were due not just because of great sales but also because of to the tight control exercised on costs that positively impacted operations. While power and fuel costs went up by 12 per cent, overall manufacturing costs were constrained within 5 per cent only.


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Kenya and Ethiopia eye small players to help stimulate trade at their new border.
Kenya and Ethiopia are now relying on the recently opened Moyale One-Stop Border Post to enhance bilateral trade, with a particular emphasis on small traders.
Since their June opening, operations at the facilities in Kenya and Ethiopia have accelerated, with border officials clearing traffic, cargo, and people from both nations who are now physically located on either side of the border.
While truck mobility is currently limited due to trade obstacles, the two countries are eager to encourage small traders to use the facilities as heavy trucked volume development accelerates.
Currently, the two countries trade inside the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), where they share a 10% tariff reduction on imports and exports.
For years, traders have used porous borders to smuggle in goods due to a high tax band of up to 90%, which the two governments intend to alleviate by legitimising cross-border trade through the OSBP.
Ethiopia is promoting this by adopting protocols to facilitate the flow of commodities by small traders, including a favourable tax structure.
“It is a process that is now underway, and we hope it will be completed soon so that we can have tariff-friendly products. We are hopeful that the OSB would facilitate trade between the two countries,” said Abebe Ersumo, Ethiopia’s deputy manager of the Ethiopia-Moyale OSBP’s customs operations division.
Kenya intends to implement the ‘COMESA simplified regime,’ which specifies which items qualify for simplified clearance, mostly for small-scale cross-border businesses.
“We are prepared. We applaud Ethiopia’s move and eagerly await its implementation so that we can trade freely,” said KRA’s Joel Ndege, station manager Moyale OSBP and chairman of the Border Management Committee.
Trade volumes between the two nations have remained modest since Kenya has focused its efforts on trading with East African Community (EAC) members, primarily Uganda and Tanzania, which already have fully functional OSBPs.
The Moyale OSBP is expected to increase trade volumes, with Kenya exporting $67 million (Sh7.3 billion) to Ethiopia in 2019 and Ethiopia exporting $ 52.05 million to Kenya (Sh5.8 billion).
TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) conducted a baseline survey in 2017 and discovered that it takes an average of 21 hours and 52 minutes (Kenya-Ethiopia) and 12.5 hours (Ethiopia-Kenya) for a cargo vehicle to cross the border.
According to KRA, this has been reduced to one hour as part of the one-stop border clearance effort.
Pharmaceutical items, plastics, mineral fuels, oils, distillation products, machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers, and household goods, mostly kitchenware, are major exports from Kenya to Ethiopia.
Imports include leather goods, primarily shoes, as well as ores, slag, and ash, electrical and electronic equipment, and glass, as well as agricultural products, primarily beans and fresh tomatoes.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed commissioned the OSBPs on both sides of the border in December 2020, with the African Development Bank funding the projects (AfDB).
TMEA, which is the brains behind the OSBPs in the region, provided official training and the installation of systems and computer technology that enabled border operations to be digitised.
Other infrastructure projects include a 438-kilometer bitumen-standard road from Merille River to Moyale in Kenya and a 300-kilometer road in Ethiopia, both of which were financed by the AfDB, the European Union, and the Nairobi and Addis Ababa governments.
Moyale is the only road link between Kenya and Ethiopia that is currently gazetted, and it is intended to be a significant commerce route under the Sh2.5 trillion Lamu Port-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET).
It becomes Kenya’s sixth operating OSBP, joining Busia, Malaba, Namanga, and Taveta.


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Elon Musk continues to be relentless with his ventures to date. Musk's Boring Company was given the green light and granted a preliminary permit for a New York-Washington D.C. Hyperloop.
According to New Atlas, the concept of a Hyperloop would be a mode of transportation for passengers and freight. In addition, Musk explained the Hyperloop as a future replacement for bullet trains. For example, a commute from San Francisco to Los Angeles would take as little as 30 minutes.
For this particular project, Musk is looking to reduce the time to travel from New York to D.C. and this is just the first step in developing the vision for the Hyperloop.
"And while it's a very small, very vague step forward, Musk's Boring Company has received a permit for preparation and preliminary excavation of a site in the nation's capital. The exact location is 53 New York Avenue NE, next to a McDonald's and near the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives," according to the Washington Post.
As reported by Tech Crunch, Musk tweeted back in July a confirmation that he had received a verbal approval from the government to go ahead and build a multi-state underground Hyperloop. However, there is no official approval to date, but Bloomberg reported positive conversations between the White House and the Boring Company over the possibility of building a tunnel.The permit is the first step and still far from becoming a done deal. The proposed route would go from New York to Philadelphia to Baltimore to Washington D.C.
The location for the start of these operations is in Hawthorne, Maryland. The distance for the route will be 10.3 miles.
The project is only in the conceptual stage at the moment, but new modes of transportation are nothing to ignore.
The Boring Company is not just interested in building this Hyperloop transportation on the East coast. As the Verge reported, the company is currently interested in building a tunnel close to SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California.This is positive news Musk needed, especially with the Tesla setback. Earlier in February, Tesla notified buyers the Tesla 3 Model Sedan's release would be pushed back to 2019.


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LG has launched several gaming monitors, including the company’s first OLED gaming monitor.
Nubia launched new gaming smartphone with three colour variants.
Want a reasonably priced keeb that's customizable?
HETCH has a pretty damn good one (if I do say so myself) called the Hetch Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop for a darn good price to boot.
Nvidia finally pulled the wraps off its new family of Ray Tracing GPUs at Gamescom, and they can destroy current cards. Yes, we were surprised too.
The Mirage Solo sports a 110-degree field of view and won't need any type of connection to another device, like a PC or smartphone.
With an array of new high end gaming notebooks, MSI is on course to make you reconsider the limits of gaming laptops
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 users are advised to use caution when inserting the S Pen into the phone.
The “game” boasts weapons, crowbars, button-prompts, and real-life zombies.
Phil Spencer has confirmed he's constantly asking internal teams if its possible to extend backwards compatibility even further.
MegaBots has launched a Kickstarter so its Mk.II giant robot can punch Japan's giant robot.
Here’s your first opportunity to officially help name 32 exoplanets and 15 stars.
If you think console gaming is going away anytime soon, we have some numbers for you.
Twitter's letting people say as much as they want in a DM.
Mozilla brings a new version of the browser to the Windows 10 community.


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Snapdeal has claimed that it is not returning its stock inventory. The Snapdeal spokesperson termed it as a ‘regular practice’ which helps sellers move non-selling goods.
Earlier today, reports surfaced that Snapdeal has returned around 60%-70% of the goods from fulfillment centres. And that the company is only “stocking products for which sellers have special offers.” The report also claimed that Snapdeal is asking sellers to dispatch goods to a centralised warehouse from where courier companies can collect them for delivery.
However, in an interaction with Inc42, a Snapdeal spokesperson stated, “We are not returning anything, as the stocks are owned by sellers only and they are free to move them as required. This is almost a weekly activity to replace the less-selling or out of season goods with more selling goods, depending upon the demand and as per the ongoing online sales in different categories.”
Snapdeal has already claimed to have cleared off its seller dues in May 2017. Earlier, the founders also announced the possibility to offer a $30 Mn (INR 193 Cr) bonanza to its staff, if the deal with Flipkart goes through. Snapdeal founders will give half of their total payout i.e. $30 Mn for the proposed scheme which would cover the current employees of the company. Also, sources close to the development have revealed that Snapdeal also has plans to pay its ex-employees a one-time ‘ex-gratia’ (voluntary, morally bound) payment.
Jasper Infotech-owned ecommerce marketplace Snapdeal has been in the news for a while now. The ecommerce giant, once valued at $6.5 Bn has been on the slippery slope to infamy with a score of scandals and speculation hitting it, ever since news of the merger made headlines. The recent sellers stock issue is one such piece. While it remains to be seen how the merger story will play out, of more immediate concern is the fact that rumours of a less-than-ideal financial state – even with the spokesperson refuting these claims by stating a simplistic definition of the term bankruptcy – could likely harm the concerned stakeholders such as sellers, vendors, and employees.
Updated on June 15, 2017, 450 pm: A tweet by an anonymous user had appeared in a previous version of this post.
Updated on June 15, 2017, 735 pm: An earlier version of this story had reports of bankruptcy faced by the company. This has been edited.
(The development was reported by Financial Express)


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Wallis and Futuna was the third Pacific island nation that reopened to international travel and tourism in July after the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu on July 1st. Like the other island nations, this border reopening is expected to revive the nation’s tourism sector, which like the rest of the Pacific was hard hit by the pandemic.
The pandemic allowed the island nation to re-evaluate its purpose as a tourism destination and realign its priorities, especially in relation to resilience and sustainability and that COVID-19 and other pandemic threats have become the new normal.
The island nation as part of its efforts has developed and started the implementation of its first Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for the next five years. This is to ensure the development of the Territory’s tourism sector embarks on a sustainable pathway that will support income and job creation through a sustainable recovery.
Funding for the development of the strategy was made possible through the 12th European Financial Instrument allocation.
This funding is envisaged to also support the setting up of the Wallis and Futuna Tourism Office, planning and product development initiatives, recruitment and capacity development as well as the destination marketing for this emerging tourist destination


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Metcash, the owner of IGA and Foodland, will not have to purchase Ritchies Stores despite it meeting financial hurdles for the first time in a decade, following a surge in sales during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a report published by the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Metcash – which owns a 26 per cent stake in Ritchies – has been spared having to pay at least A$150m to buy out chief executive Fred Harrison, chief financial officer Mal Cameron and 19 other minority shareholders, after Ritchies said it would not exercise an option to sell to Metcash.
Harrison said the major shareholders had no immediate plans to sell, even though Ritchies would easily beat the financial hurdles in the option agreement.
'We have achieved those numbers before, going back 10 years, and we never ran off and put the business to them [and] it's certainly not our intent here and now to put the business to Metcash,' Harrison told AFR.
'The directors are committed to their roles in running the business for the foreseeable future,' he explained.
The presence of the put option triggered speculation among Metcash shareholders after the food, liquor and hardware wholesaler had to point out the potential liability when it raised A$330m in April.
Metcash said if Ritchies had achieved the financial hurdle last year it would have cost between A$140m and A$155m to buy out the 74 per cent of Ritchies it does not own.
The cost would be even higher this year, as sales at Ritchies' 75 stores in Victoria, NSW and Queensland soared 50 per cent in March and by more than 20 per cent in April, May and June as more shoppers switched to neighbourhood stores.
Ritchies earned about A$21m before interest and tax on sales of A$1.25bn in 2019, according to company accounts. The hurdle is believed to be based on EBIT margins exceeding 2 per cent of sales, which is likely to be achieved this year given strong operating leverage.
Harrison told AFR sales in the last few days had risen 25 per cent in Victoria as shoppers restocked their pantries ahead of another six weeks in lockdown.
'People aren't being silly and trying to buy every toilet roll and every can of baked beans on the shelf, but they are adding more to their basket,' he said.
Metcash chief executive Jeff Adams said there had been no indication from Harrison and Cameron they intended to exercise the option.
'Obviously they'll be having a good year this year, as most of our retailers are,' Adams explained.
If the option were exercised and Metcash bought out the remaining 74 per cent it could retain the stores or sell them off to independents.
'We'd have to see at the time .... we could run it but would we send some of them back to independents? That's a possibility,' Adams noted.
Under former long-serving chief executive Andrew Reitzer, Metcash was reluctant to compete against its independent retailer customers by owning retail stores.
But in recent years Metcash has taken over more than 100 retail stores, particularly after the acquisition of Home Timber & Hardware from Woolworths and uses them to test new concepts and strategies.
It also has a 26 per cent stake in Dramet, a joint venture between Metcash and Drakes, which owns about 15 food stores in Queensland.
Analysts believe retail is likely to become a bigger source of growth for Metcash in future years.


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The more powerful a smartphone, the more power it uses. The bigger and brighter the screen, the more power it uses. The more tasks it can do at the same time, the more power it uses. Obviously, performance and battery life are at odds. But those who complain about poor battery life should be from the Android camp. Apple iPhones do not suffer from this. Well, the cure seems to be here. At least it should work for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones. Recently, Neowin published an article about the battery test results of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. According to the media, this phone can be charged every two days. Do you agree that this is something unheard of for flagship Android phones?
No Need To Charge Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Every Day
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra test results were compared with those of the S22 Ultra (Exynos version). Both phones had the same applications installed. During the test, the Samsung S23 Ultra retained 16% of battery power after 1 day and 8 hours of use. The S22 Ultra only had 4% left after 22 hours of use.
Gizchina News of the week
As a reminder, both phones come with 5000mAh batteries. It turns out that the S23 Ultra consumes less power when the screen is on, and several applications are running in the background.
We should also mention that when phones consume less power, they generate less heat. Phones with these capabilities will therefore perform better and last longer.
It is a shame that Samsung’s top-of-the-range model still supports a charging speed of 45W. At the same time, the highest wireless charge is only 15W. Obviously, Samsung falls behind its rivals, at least, in this sense.
But the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 200MP camera and a stylish look. So we have every reason to believe this is one of the best Android models on the market.


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Shares in payments company Finablr plunged 27 percent on Friday after it disclosed its majority owner, UAE-based Indian billionaire B R Shetty, had pledged over half the company’s stock as security against debts it incurred buying Travelex.
In response to the share price drop, Finablr in a statement said it had sought clarifications from BRS, an investment vehicle owned by Shetty, which had reassured it about the level of security represented by its holding in Finablr and the talks it has had with its banking group about repayment or refinancing of the debt.
Finablr declined to immediately give further details when contacted by Reuters.
Another of Shetty’s London-listed firms, United Arab Emirates’ largest private healthcare provider NMC Health has halved in value after being hit in December by US short-selling firm Muddy Waters.
Shetty’s Finablr in 2015 bought British travel money firm Travelex, which this month suffered a cyber attack that forced its systems offline for weeks and caused chaos for holidaymakers.
In its statement, published after markets closed on Friday, Finablr said the cyber incident at Travelex was being resolved and would not impact 2019’s results, nor was it expected to have a material impact on the company’s performance in the current year.
More than 300 million pounds ($394.32 million) was wiped off Finablr’s market capitalization on Friday, reducing it to 665 million pounds.
“The outlook for Finablr is poor. The fact the founder used roughly half of the company’s shares as collateral for a loan suggests the situation is serious,” said CMC Markets analyst David Madden.
“The Travelex crisis has clearly hit the founder hard and it suggests that he is scrambling around to get financing. Even if the funding issue is sorted out, Finablr’s share price will probably struggle to recover – like NMC Health,” he added.
Shetty did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Travelex hack left the majority of British high street banks, which use the company to provide travel money to customers, unable to take online orders.
Finablr floated on the London Stock Exchange in May last year and since then it has fallen nearly 44 percent in value.


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Planning to buy a car next year? Get ready to shell out more
Maruti Suzuki India will increase prices of its vehicles across models by up to Rs 20,000, Hyundai by Rs 30,000 and Toyota is likely to raise the prices by up to 3%.autos Updated: Dec 11, 2015 09:25 IST
Get ready to spend more while buying a car in the new year as carmakers including Maruti, Hyundai and BMW are increasing prices as a ripple effect of mounting input costs and foreign exchange fluctuations.
Maruti Suzuki India, which sells one in every two cars in the country, will increase prices of its vehicles across models by up to Rs 20,000 from January. Maruti’s move comes a day after Hyundai announced that it will hike prices of its products by up to Rs 30,000 from next month.
“We are looking at increasing prices of all cars across models by Rs 20,000 from January. This has been necessitated due to increase in the valuation of rupee against dollar and other administrative and input costs like electricity etc,” a Maruti Suzuki Ltd spokesperson said.
“In these challenging market conditions, we are constrained to consider the price increase on account of factors like increase in cost of components, weak rupee etc. The proposed price increase of up to Rs 30,000 will be effective from January 2016 across all models, including Elite and Creta,” said Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice-president (sales and marketing), Hyundai Motor India, the country’s second-largest carmaker.
Others like Japanese major Toyota, which operates in India through a joint venture with Kirloskar Motors (Toyota Kirloskar Motors), and German luxury car makers Mercedes Benz and BMW have announced a hike in prices of their vehicles across models from January.
Toyota will hike prices of its vehicles across all models in India by up to 3%. “We have been holding back a price hike and absorbing for a long time, but input costs, electricity, maintenance and foreign exchange fluctuations have increased. Therefore, we have decided to increase prices of our vehicles from January,” said N Raja, director and senior vice-president, sales and marketing, TKM.
The BMW Group, too, has announced a price hike of up to 3% for all models under the BMW and Mini brand currently on sale in India, with effect from January 1, 2016.
“The increase in prices is in continuation of our endeavour to offer the most aspirational and exceptional products to our customers and on adding more value to their overall ownership experience,” said Philipp von Sahr, president, BMW Group India.
A majority the car companies announced a double-digit growth in sales in November, as festive season continued to drive growth. While Maruti Suzuki India reported a 10.6% year-on-year increase in domestic sales during the month to 1,10,599 units, Hyundai India saw its monthly domestic sales rising up 23% to 43,651 units.
First Published: Dec 11, 2015 00:04 IST


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JioGlass, Jio5G Phone, JioOS, Jio-Google Mega Deal: Critical Highlights From Reliance AGM
After so much speculation, on 15 July, Mukesh Ambani announced that Google will be a strategic partner in Jio Platforms while addressing the 43rd Reliance Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday.
Jio Google Partnership
According to this strategic partnership, Google will be investing Rs 33,737 crore for a 7.7 percent stake in Jio Platforms.
This was confirmed by the Reliance Industries head at the firm’s AGM, further adding that the target of capital raise for Jio Platforms is complete with the onboarding of Google.
Apart from that Reliance Jio also launched JioGlass, which is a new mixed reality headset, that will help in enabling audio and holographic video calling for the post-Covid-19 world.
During the AGM, the director at Reliance Jio, Akash Ambani said, “Jio Glass is making teachers and students come together in 3D virtual rooms and conduct holographic classes through our Jio Mixed Reality cloud in real-time. With JioGlass, the traditional way of learning Geography will now be History,”.
According to Jio, JioGlass is at the innovative cutting edge of technology which provides the best-in-class mixed reality services to give users a truly meaningful immersive experience.
Ambani said that with the help of the Jio Developers program, that any app developer can develop, launch, and monetize their apps.
Jio 5G Technology
Further, they have announced about developing a complete 5G solution from scratch.
While talking about the 5G technology, he said, “5G technology is designed and developed in India and can be rolled out as soon as the spectrum is allocated. Jio’s home-made 5G technology can transform India,”.
Jio’s mobile broadband has become largest, and delivered 5 crore GB last month, and connected as many as a million homes on JioFiber, the telco said.
Jio Android-Based Smartphone OS
Further talking about its partnership with Google, Jio announced about creating a new “value-engineered” Android-based smartphone operating system.
Moreover, the company is planning to launch an affordable 5G smartphone based on this new and optimized Android platform with the help of Google.
Further, Jio aims to launch an entry-level Jio 5G smartphone which can be a fraction of the cost of current 5G phones with the help of a value-engineered operating system.
In the future, Jio plans to help millions of existing 2G feature phone users to make the shift to entry-level smartphones with the help of Google and the company says that this will be possible.
So far, Google with its Android Go initiative is aiming to bring millions of feature phone users in India to transition to smartphones.
During the meeting, they have also informed about the video conferencing app JioMeet as it has seen 5 million downloads within days of its launch.
Further talking on the subject, Isha Ambani said, “JioMeet is India’s most-secure and cost-effective video conferencing platform. It is designed to address real-life scenarios and solve some of the key challenges of our time,”.


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For details about Banksgiving 2019, click here.
Nearly every customer service call ends with the same question, “Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
But what would happen if you really answered that question honestly? Even if what you wanted had nothing to do with your customer service call, or the company you were speaking with.
What would happen if getting your wishes granted was that easy?
During this giving back season, we at Ally Bank brought this idyllic dream to life as a way to express what we’re truly grateful for: our customers. We were able to go above and beyond banking assistance and deliver what was really needed on a personal level. No matter what that was.
On a day we dubbed “Banksgiving,” we gave thanks to our customers by fully delivering on that basic question, and surprising unsuspecting customers with whatever they needed.
Watch how we gave thanks to our customers on Banksgiving:
On Banksgiving day, Ally Bank associates surprised unsuspecting customers who called in by asking how we could help beyond their banking needs. And then actually fulfilling those requests. There were simple needs, like help with fall yard cleanup and a holiday visit to see family, and larger requests that could touch the lives of many people.
We granted wishes big and small – from $25 gift cards to $55,000 to help a customer who helps others.
Being an ally means going the extra mile.
Luke and Brittany, two Ally Bank associates who played a big role in Banksgiving, also traveled to meet in-person with the customers they were able to assist.
“I’ll never quite ask it the same way again,” Luke said on his way to surprise Leanne, an Ally Bank customer in Hamilton, N.J. Luke made the trip to deliver news that we will make it possible for her to visit her partner in the Netherlands who she hasn’t seen since May of 2016.
Brittany was able lend a helping hand to Lisa, an Ally Bank customer in Gainesville, Fla. as she delivered Thanksgiving baskets to those in need in her community. Afterwards, Brittany surprised Lisa with an additional $50,000 donation to continue her good works.
“This time of thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to take a day to show appreciation to our customers and give back to them for their loyalty,” said Andrea Brimmer, Ally chief marketing and public relations officer. “We took our customer-centric approach a step further than usual to demonstrate to our customers our interest in them and the things they care about. We had a great time surprising these customers and putting a big smile on their faces during this holiday season.”
Giving back is a year-round initiative for Ally, but Banksgiving was a special opportunity to allow our allies to really bend over backwards for our loyal customers.


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Samsung has confirmed reports that some Galaxy Note 8 units died, but indicates that the issue is not really widespread.
For those unfamiliar with the matter, here's what happened. A week ago, news surfaced that some Galaxy Note 8 units became unresponsive and unable to charge once their battery level hit zero. For some reason, if the battery was drained completely, the smartphone would no longer turn on or charge at all.
Samsung Responds To Galaxy Note 8 Battery Issues
Last week, it was reported that Samsung offered replacement units to affected Galaxy Note 8 owners, but the company didn't make any statement on the matter. It just sent refurbished Galaxy Note 8 units to customers whose devices became unresponsive, without revealing what the issue might be or how it plans to fix it.
Samsung has still not clarified what went wrong with these Galaxy Note 8 units, but it did acknowledge that it received a few reports. To get to the bottom of things and come up with a solution, however, the company says that it has to investigate more.
"Of course, Samsung is taking all reports of this kind seriously, we only received a very small number of customer inquiries that could be linked to charge management, and unfortunately we can only comment on the matter further if we have more detailed information about the affected devices," says Samsung.
No Solution Yet For Affected Galaxy Note 8 Units
At this point, it remains unclear whether it's a hardware issue or a software one. If it's the latter, it would be easier to fix with an upcoming update. For now, it seems that most reports of affected devices originate from the United States, which indicates that the problem might only be affecting Galaxy Note 8 units with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and not Exynos-powered units.
Either way, there is still no solution available to fix this issue once the phone has died. Samsung has been replacing bricked Galaxy Note 8 units with refurbished ones although they should've been covered by warranty.
However, it has yet to issue a fix. For the time being, Galaxy Note 8 owners are advised to charge their device before its battery depletes completely, or they risk not being able to turn it on again.
Affected customers should contact Samsung Customer Service either via telephone or the company's website and request a replacement unit if their Galaxy Note 8 is bricked.


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Wrapp, the new social gifting service that lets friends celebrate with free gifts of real value from attractive brands, announced that it has secured $5.5 million in Series A funding.
The funding round was led by the international venture capital firm, Atomico. Headquartered in UK, Atomico (News - Alert) has invested in more than 50 companies on four continents. The company was formed by celebrated entrepreneur Niklas Zennstrom, who also co-founded Skype (News - Alert), Kazaa and other companies. Zennstrom is joining Wrapp‘s board of directors, Wrapp revealed in a press release.
Creandum, a Nordic venture capital firm investing in innovative and fast-growing technology companies within consumer, software and hardware industries also contributed to the series A funding round. Earlier this year, Creandu led the seed funding round and supported Wrapp’s proof-of-concept test followed by its commercial launch in Sweden.
The capital accumulated from Series A funding, will be used to launch Wrapp’s social gifting service in the U.S. and U.K. A part of the capital will go to support the firm’s ongoing development of the Wrapp application.
Gift cards make up a $100 billion industry in the U.S. and the Wrapp gift service seems to leverage two mega trends – social networks and smartphones. Created for social media and smartphone users, Wrapp makes it easy to give, receive and redeem digital gift cards using mobile devices. have been the most popular gift request for four years running, according to the National Retail Federation in Washington D.C.
Wrapp was started earlier this year by Hjalmar Winbladh and a team of young entrepreneurs, including Andreas Ehn, Spotify’s (News - Alert) founding chief technology officer; Carl Fritjofsson, digital media entrepreneur and former strategy advisor to Groupon.se; Aage Reerslev, founder of mobile browser Squace; and Fabian Mansson, former CEO of H&M and Eddie Bauer.
Wrapp is currently operating only in Sweden, but it allows people around the world to download the Wrapp mobile app for giving digital gift cards to friends in Sweden from partners such as the country’s largest sporting goods retailer Stadium, Sweden’s largest consumer electronics chain Elgiganten, designer underwear brand Bjorn Borg, street fashion brand WeSC, and home improvement chain Clas Ohlson among 20 others.
“Facebook (News - Alert) made it easy to connect and recognize our friends around the world with greetings. With Wrapp, friends and family can now celebrate each other with real gifts, just as easy as sending a ‘hi,’ ‘thank you’ or ‘happy birthday’ wish. Wrapp’s quick start in Sweden clearly indicates that people are ready to make gift-giving an everyday event,” Wrapp founder Winbladh explained in a statement.
“We saw early on that Wrapp is at the center of where the gift card industry is headed. With Wrapp, retailers can now create highly targeted pay for performance campaigns and drive sales offline from desired customers online. With Atomico’s investment and help we are strengthening Wrapp’s prospects tremendously,” Creandum partner and Wrapp board member Johan Brenner added.
Early this year, Atomico made $13.5 million investment in Fon, the world’s largest WiFi (News - Alert) network. The capital was expected to help Fon take advantage of the growing demand for WiFi from smartphone and tablet users, and to expand their efforts in the US and elsewhere. The funding follows many previous rounds since the company was founded by serial entrepreneur Martin Varsavsky (Jazztel, Viatel) in 2006.
Madhubanti Rudra is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Jennifer Russell


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Canadian Pacific will eliminate about 1,000 positions in 2016 as the volume of goods it transports slumps, the railway announced Thursday.
The downsizing will be primarily through attrition and will include managers and railroad workers alike, chief executive Hunter Harrison told a conference call after releasing its latest financial results.
Since embarking on a restructuring of its operations in 2012, CP has shed 6,000 to 7,000 positions. Most of them were simply not filled after the employees retired.
"There's probably 1,000 additional heads to come out potentially in 2016," Harrison said.
CP president Keith Creel blamed a "weak economy" for the job cuts, saying freight volumes fell three percent in 2015.
Canada, the world's fifth largest oil producer, has seen its economy hit hard by falling prices for oil and other commodities normally exported by rail.
"We've seen the last three quarters of 2015 economic headwinds across all business segments except for a couple of bright spots in forest products and Canadian grain," Creel said.
Canadian Pacific reported a profit of Can$1.35 billion in 2015, down eight percent year-over-year, while revenues rose 1.4 percent to Can$6.7 billion.


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World Cocoa Foundation convenes meetings
The purpose of the meetings was to raise Latin American awareness about issues related to fine flavor cocoa, quality and plant genetics.
The meetings were the first of their kind in El Salvador. Scientists, industry experts, government representatives and non-governmental organizations from the region discussed the market outlook, opportunities for further developing this segment of the market, the latest research and the role of capacity building.
Later in the week, researchers from public and private institutions in the region will meet to talk about strategies for adapting cocoa production to climate change and addressing disease pressures.
“Fine flavor, quality and genetics are important and interlinked issues the cocoa and chocolate industry is facing,” WCF President Bill Guyton said. “We’re pleased to bring people together in El Salvador to collaborate on these important topics.”
The meetings were opened by El Salvador’s Minister of Agriculture, Orestes Fredesman Ortez Andrade, and featured speakers from cocoa companies Casa Luker, Ecom and Guittard.
“Today, at this great event promoted by the WCF, we want to show how CasaLuker is adding value to the cocoa knowledge chain - agricultural and scientific – making it clear that this step will be very helpful for improving our sustainable and profitable model to our farmers keeping qualities of aroma and flavor in our products,” Francisco Gomez, international business manager at sponsor company Casa Luker and a member of WCF’s board of directors, said.
WCF's programs benefit farmers and their communities in cocoa-growing regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. For more information, visit www.worldcocoafoundation.org.


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LeBron James has signed with PepsiCo following 17 years with Coca-Cola, confirmed Brian Windhorst of ESPN (the news was originally reported by Front Office Sports).
James is expected to promote the Mountain Dew brand, which is one of the NBA's top sponsors.
PepsiCo has been the league's official beverage partner since 2015.
James initially signed with Coca-Cola in the summer of 2003. His deal expired last year with both sides unable to reach an extension.